[{"success":"1","id":11192,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5037-%e2%94%82-prevailing-with-god\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5037 \u2502 Prevailing with God","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5037-CG-PrevailingWithGod","youtubeID":"BYzQnzNh3lg","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"<p>Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32 shows how God humbly engages with us, allowing us to boldly wrestle and be transformed. By surrendering ourselves to be molded and transformed by God&#8217;s unwavering love, we fulfill the intimacy desired by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SpOL5037-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Speaking Of Life 5037 <\/strong><strong>\u2502<\/strong><strong> Prevailing with God<br \/>\nCara Garrity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever spent any time in a park, you\u2019ve probably observed a parent with a toddler who wants to race. The three-year-old doesn\u2019t care that her legs are about a third of the length of her parent\u2019s legs \u2013 she simply wants the joy of running and connecting with her parent. You may have watched the parent let the toddler get a head start and then take smaller steps to give the little one a chance. The parent may have even let the toddler win despite being superior in size and coordination. When I see something like this, it makes me think of how God approaches us with humility, compassion, and kindness, wanting us to boldly wrestle and engage with him. There\u2019s no better story to illustrate this than Jacob wrestling with God as told in Genesis 32.<\/p>\n<p>The chapter begins with Jacob receiving the news that his brother Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men. Jacob is worried because he schemed to get Esau\u2019s firstborn birthright, and he was sure Esau was coming to take revenge. Jacob divided his camp to make it look smaller, and he sent his wives and children ahead of him, along with gifts for Esau. That night, alone and in his solitude, Jacob wrestles with an unidentified man until daybreak. Let\u2019s see what happens next:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob\u2019s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then [the man] said, \u201cLet me go, for the day is breaking.\u201d But Jacob said, \u201cI will not let you go, unless you bless me.\u201d So [the man] said to him, \u201cWhat is your name?\u201d And he said, \u201cJacob.\u201d Then the man said, \u201cYou shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.\u201d Then Jacob asked him, \u201cPlease tell me your name.\u201d But [the man] said, \u201cWhy is it that you ask my name?\u201d And there he blessed [Jacob]. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, \u201cFor I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.\u201d The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.<br \/>\nGenesis 32: 25-31 (NRSVUE)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Up to this point in his life, Jacob had relied on scheming and manipulation to get what he wanted. These methods weren\u2019t without consequence, though. He was estranged from his family and fearful of his brother\u2019s wrath. Jacob\u2019s wrestling match with the man, whom Jacob identified as God in verse 30, resulted in his transformation because Jacob refused to let go of God, and God was willing to let Jacob prevail to help him change.<\/p>\n<p>The evidence of this radical transformation is both physical and emotional. Jacob\u2019s damaged hip caused him to limp, and though we don\u2019t know how long his hip injury persisted, we do know that the Israelites would not eat that hip muscle of a sacrificial animal, out of respect for Jacob\u2019s wound from God. We also see that Jacob\u2019s name was changed to Israel, which means \u201cone who prevails with God and humans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We can learn from this story that some of our transformations come through perseverance and wrestling with God. More importantly, God wants us to engage this way \u2013 boldly asking for blessing, unafraid, not because we deserve it but because we know God wants to give it. Jacob\u2019s face-to-face confrontation with God shows us the intimacy God desires from us. God comes to us in humility, letting us prevail like a toddler racing a parent.<\/p>\n<p>May we boldly wrestle with God when the mysteries of life confront us, like great beauty and great sorrow. May we offer the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit the intimacy they desire by allowing ourselves to be sculpted, renamed, and transformed by the Love that won\u2019t let us go.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BYzQnzNh3lg","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-08-03"},{"success":"1","id":11169,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5036-stubbornness\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5036 | Stubbornness","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5036-GW-Stubbornness","youtubeID":"SMcDw0rS95c","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"<p>Just as we can demonstrate stubbornness in our unwavering love for our family or friends, God&#8217;s faithfulness and love towards us are characterized by an unyielding commitment that nothing can separate us from His love. In Romans, we are assured that nothing in all creation can hinder or break the relationship of God&#8217;s love for us in Christ Jesus, giving us hope, courage, and the assurance of His unwavering affection.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/SpOL5036-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Speaking of Life 5036 | Stubbornness<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Greg Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Have you ever been accused of being stubborn? I\u2019m sure we\u2019ve all had our moments. My wife and I sometimes joke around about which one of us is more stubborn. Truth be told, it\u2019s me.<\/p>\n<p>Stubbornness often gets a bad rap, and it is often equated with refusing to admit when you make a mistake. And that\u2019s a problem. But when we look at the definition of stubbornness, we see there is a good side. It is defined as a <em>dogged determination not to change one\u2019s attitude or position on something. <\/em>Some positive words associated with stubbornness include persistence, resolve, determination, and tenacity.<\/p>\n<p>When I talk about my love for my wife, children, or grandchildren, I\u2019m proud to say my love for them is not determined by their actions, their emotions, or their words. I have a stubbornness \u2013 a dogged determination to not change my mind about how much I love them.<\/p>\n<p>I share this because when I think of God\u2019s faithfulness, I see that same stubbornness. He refuses to change his mind about how much he loves me and you. He has a resolute commitment to his love to always have the last word.<\/p>\n<p>Take for example one of the most stubborn expressions of God\u2019s love found in the book of Romans.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>\u201cFor I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,&nbsp;nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/em><\/strong><strong>Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>God\u2019s stubbornness toward his love for us is what gives us hope, courage, strength in times of trial, and the motivation to love him in return. Stubbornness in his case includes faithfulness. We can absolutely trust that we will never be separated from his love for us.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the kind of stubbornness I\u2019d love my wife and family to blame me for. I\u2019d just smile and remind them of my love for them \u2013 much like God does for us in this passage from Romans.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SMcDw0rS95c","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-07-27"},{"success":"1","id":11168,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5035-he-is-already-here\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5035 | He is Already Here","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5035-HT-HeIsAlreadyHere","youtubeID":"IMerouSGc18","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"<p>In our mission to engage with the world, we must remember that we don&#8217;t &#8220;take&#8221; Jesus to places. Rather, we join Him where He already is. Just as God was present in Jacob&#8217;s ordinary place, Jesus is already at work in our neighborhoods. Knowing all this, we can confidently love our neighbors and bear witness to the greatness of our Lord, knowing that He is with us wherever we go.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/SpOL5035-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Speaking of Life 5035 | He is Already Here<br \/>\nHeber Ticas<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded his followers to go into the world and make disciples. Few believers could argue against the idea that Christians are commissioned by Christ to engage in mission. However, our missional mindset matters. Do we believe we are taking Jesus somewhere? Or are we joining him where he already is? Many Christians have been taught that we need to take Jesus out of the four walls of the church \u2013 where he has made his home \u2013 and into our communities. Do we really believe we can \u201ctake\u201d Jesus somewhere?<\/p>\n<p>Scripture reveals that we don\u2019t take Jesus, we join him. He is already at work in our neighborhoods. In Genesis 28, Jacob is given a vision of God\u2019s activity on earth.<\/p>\n<p><strong>He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.&nbsp;And he dreamed that there was a stairway&nbsp;set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.&nbsp;And the&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Lord<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;stood beside him&nbsp;and said, \u201cI am the&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Lord<\/strong><strong>, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring,&nbsp;and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring.&nbsp;Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.\u201d&nbsp;Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, \u201cSurely the&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Lord<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;is in this place\u2014and I did not know it!\u201d<br \/>\nGenesis 28:11-16 (NRSVUE)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The angels ascending and descending on the stairway symbolize God\u2019s continual work on the earth. The promises God made to Jacob would come about by God\u2019s effort not Jacob\u2019s. Jacob thought he was sleeping in an ordinary place. However, he came to realize that God was already there and at work and he was unaware. Even before the creation of the Promised Land, God\u2019s presence was already there.<\/p>\n<p>The same is true for our neighborhoods. As we go and engage our neighbors, we should have the mindset of participating in the work of Jesus Christ. Instead of doing what we think is right, we should be looking to see what Jesus is already doing.<\/p>\n<p>The truth is we cannot bring Jesus anywhere. He already fills all things and holds everything together. As Jacob learned, there are no ordinary places because God is everywhere. This should give us the confidence to love our neighbors and bear witness to the greatness of our Lord. As we go, not only is Jesus with us, he is already at work all around us.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Mi nombre es Heber Ticas, Hablando de Vida.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IMerouSGc18","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-07-20"},{"success":"1","id":12416,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/matthew-the-kingdom-hidden-in-plain-sight\/","title":"Matthew: The Kingdom Hidden in Plain Sight","fileCat":"RSB","fileID":"RSB054-YearA-Proper10","youtubeID":"jDBYrihAdVA","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":false,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"","videoimg":"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/jDBYrihAdVA\/hqdefault.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Matthew: The Kingdom Hidden in Plain Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes the most important things in life are easy to overlook.<\/p>\n<p>A small seed planted in quiet soil may seem insignificant at first. Yet beneath the surface, something extraordinary is happening. Roots stretch downward. Life begins to unfold. In time, what once seemed small, grows into something that gives shade, shelter, and nourishment.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus often spoke about the kingdom of God this way. Not as something loud or forceful, but as something quietly unfolding in the midst of ordinary life.<\/p>\n<p><em>(B-roll: Seeds falling into soil; a farmer\u2019s hand planting; time-lapse of plants growing.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In the stories Jesus tells, the kingdom is like a mustard seed growing into a great tree, like yeast slowly transforming dough, like treasure hidden in a field waiting to be discovered. These images remind us that God\u2019s kingdom does not always arrive with spectacle. It often begins quietly, working within hearts and communities until its life becomes visible.<\/p>\n<p>Yet Jesus also reveals that recognizing the kingdom requires more than simply seeing with our eyes. Some hear his words and understand, while others hear the same words and remain confused. The difference is not intelligence or status, but openness of heart.<\/p>\n<p>The kingdom is revealed to those willing to listen, to trust, and to receive what God is doing in their midst. The very life of Jesus is a revelation of the kingdom. And understanding is a gift from God. May we receive it.<\/p>\n<p>As the story unfolds, we see another dimension of God\u2019s kingdom through the actions of Jesus himself. He meets people where they are \u2014 feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and welcoming those who felt like outsiders. Again and again, Jesus shows that the kingdom is not only something we learn about; it is something we experience through his compassion.<\/p>\n<p>Where others saw limits, Jesus saw possibility. Where others saw scarcity, Jesus provided abundance. Where others saw barriers, Jesus extended grace.<\/p>\n<p>Through these encounters, we begin to see the heart of God\u2019s reign. The kingdom grows quietly. It transforms lives from the inside out. And it reveals itself most clearly through the compassion and generosity of Christ.<\/p>\n<p>Those who follow Jesus are invited to participate in that same kingdom life \u2014 trusting that even small acts of faith and love can become part of God\u2019s greater work in the world.<\/p>\n<p>The stories and actions of Jesus invite us to look deeper, to listen carefully, and to recognize the kingdom already unfolding around us. As we turn to today\u2019s passage, we hear Jesus describe the surprising and transformative nature of God\u2019s kingdom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong><sup>9 &#8220;<\/sup><\/strong>Whoever has ears, let them hear.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong><sup>10&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>The disciples came to him and asked, \u201cWhy do you speak to the people in parables?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong><sup>11&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>He replied,&nbsp;\u201cBecause the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven&nbsp;has been given to you,&nbsp;but not to them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong><sup>16&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.&nbsp;<strong><sup>17&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Matthew 13:9\u201311, 16\u201317<\/p>\n<p>As we continue exploring the Gospel of Matthew, may we grow attentive to the quiet work of God\u2019s kingdom among us. And may our lives reflect the compassion, generosity, and hope we see in Jesus.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jDBYrihAdVA","catslug":"rcl-sermon-bumpers","catname":"RCL Sermon Bumpers","rssurl":"","appleurl":"","playurl":"","googleurl":"","spotify":"","sticher":"","podaddict":"","airdate":"2026-07-13"},{"success":"1","id":11166,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5033-our-great-resolution\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5033 | Our Great Resolution","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5033-CG-OurGreatResolution","youtubeID":"akb_X9XB5RY","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"<p>Even when we struggle keeping resolutions, the apostle Paul reminds us that our own efforts often fall short. Instead, our hopes and answers lie in Jesus Christ, who brings us true change and delivers us from sin, offering us peace and the power to live transformed lives. He is the ultimate resolution we need, this year and every year to come.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/SpOL5033-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Speaking of Life 5033 | Our Great Resolution<br \/>\nCara Garrity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We are in the middle of the year and it\u2019s time to ask how your New Year\u2019s resolution is going. What was your resolution?<\/p>\n<p>One company tracked the top resolutions for 2022. Ranging from, exercising more, to having more time for friends and family, to spending less time on social media, and lastly reducing stress at work<\/p>\n<p>Some of us might be doing great. Some of us didn\u2019t make any resolutions. And some of us might want me to change the subject. I get it.<\/p>\n<p>If you haven\u2019t done so well on your resolution, don\u2019t be discouraged. In 2019, it was reported that only 8.9% of people polled succeeded in keeping their New Year\u2019s resolution throughout the previous year. That\u2019s a failure rate of over 91%.<sup>2 <\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n<p>A friend of mine told me about being quite convicted by a sermon when he was 13. He felt guilty about how he had been treating his younger brother, so he decided that he would show him kindness and not pick on him for an entire day. With all the strength and resolve he had in him, he set out to be a good brother. That lasted about thirty minutes. He discovered that while he knew what he should do, he didn\u2019t have it in him to do it. His resolve was good but misplaced.<\/p>\n<p>In the book of Romans, Paul shares our struggle with keeping resolutions as he wrote to Jewish leaders who were having a difficult time accepting the fact that they could not resolve their way out of sin. Paul explains his own struggle.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>So I find it to be a law that, when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched person that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!<br \/>\nRomans 7:21-25a (NRSVUE)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Paul empathizes with us. We know what we want to do \u2013 thus the New Year\u2019s resolutions \u2013 but we can\u2019t follow through. Paul, himself, had to come to the end of self-effort and throw himself upon the mercy of God.<\/p>\n<p>In this passage, Paul comes to the one answer that gives him peace. Thank you, Jesus. He is the only true rescuer; he alone saves us.<\/p>\n<p>Right after sharing this with his readers, Paul informs them that in Jesus they are no longer slaves of sin, condemnation is removed, and they have been adopted into God\u2019s family and now live by the Spirit.<\/p>\n<p>Resolutions don\u2019t bring about change; Jesus does. We can\u2019t change, but he can change us. We learn to stop trusting in our own efforts but trust in the accomplishments of Christ Jesus. He is our hope and our answer. He is our great resolution this year, and every year to come. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n<p>1) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/chart\/26577\/us-new-years-resolution-gcs\/\">https:\/\/www.statista.com\/chart\/26577\/us-new-years-resolution-gcs\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>2) <a href=\"https:\/\/dreammaker.co.uk\/blog\/new-years-resolutions-statistics\/\">https:\/\/dreammaker.co.uk\/blog\/new-years-resolutions-statistics\/<\/a><\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=akb_X9XB5RY","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-07-06"},{"success":"1","id":11165,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5032-therefore\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5032 | Therefore\u2026","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5032-GW-Therefore","youtubeID":"EDUOX1iqd54","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"<p>The word &#8220;therefore&#8221; in the Bible indicates that God&#8217;s commands are rooted in important truths or promises, and are for our good and based on his love for us. In Romans, Paul reminds us not to let sin dominate our bodies because of our union with Christ, which frees us from sin&#8217;s bondage and allows us to live in righteousness.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/SpOL5032-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Speaking of Life 5032 | Therefore\u2026<br \/>\nGreg Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Have you ever noticed how many times the word \u201ctherefore\u201d appears in the Bible? One rule of thumb that has been given to help understand a passage in scripture, is that when you see the word \u201ctherefore\u201d you need to look to see what it is there for.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a clever reminder that the author has previously told us something significant that will have implications for our lives. The \u201ctherefore\u201d means that what follows will be the implications of what the author shared. As a silly example, if I told you that your house was on fire, I may choose to add, \u201cTherefore, get out.\u201d I hope I would not have to tell you that, but I think you get the point. Because your house is on fire, you will want to respond in a fitting way, like getting out of the house or calling the fire department.<\/p>\n<p>The use of the word \u201ctherefore\u201d reminds us that when God gives us a command or some instruction, it springs out of an important truth or promise. Sometimes the actual word \u201ctherefore\u201d may not be written, but whenever you read a command or instruction, you don\u2019t have to look far to see what the command or instruction is there for. It may be in the immediate passage before or it may be embedded in several chapters leading up to it.<\/p>\n<p>In the book of Romans, we see an example where Paul has been talking about the reality of our union in Christ. On that basis, he then gives some implications of that wonderful truth with a \u201cTherefore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.&nbsp;No longer present your members to sin as instruments&nbsp;of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments&nbsp;of righteousness.&nbsp;For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. <\/em><\/strong><strong><br \/>\nRomans 6:12-14 (NRSV)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If we read that passage and never looked to see what the \u201cTherefore\u201d was there for, the words may come across as burdensome and even impossible. But, because Paul has been talking about our union in Christ, these commands are fitting implications to the wonderfully good news that we have been freed from the bondage of sin to receive and live in his righteousness.<\/p>\n<p>The recurring \u201cTherefore\u201d in scripture is letting us know that the triune God is not in love with raw and arbitrary commands. Rather, he loves us. Everything he tells us flows from that love, and from his good purposes for us. In short, there is nothing God tells us to do that is not for our good or that we must do apart from him. That\u2019s what the \u201ctherefores\u201d are there for.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EDUOX1iqd54","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-06-29"},{"success":"1","id":11137,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5031-%e2%94%82-dead-to-me\/","title":"Speaking Of Life 5031 \u2502 Dead to Me","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5031-CG-DeadToMe","youtubeID":"7QSSU1DJf-Y","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"<p>When Christ died on the cross, our old sinful nature died with him. This means we are free from the captivity of sin and can live a new life in Christ. We can live a life of love by helping, loving the people around us, and seeing the world through Jesus&#8217; eyes.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/SpOL5031-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Speaking Of Life 5031 <\/strong><strong>\u2502<\/strong><strong> Dead to Me<br \/>\nCara Garrity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The phrase \u201cdead to me\u201d has unknown origins but saying that someone is \u201cdead to me\u201d communicates that you no longer want to speak or have any kind of contact with that person. This can be a harsh statement to make, especially if we consider that forgiveness benefits us as well as the person we think wronged us. But what if we use the phrase \u201cdead to me\u201d differently and apply it to the shadow side of ourselves? You know, the parts of ourselves that we wish we could change, like acting selfishly, thinking ourselves better than others, or feeling abandoned by God and other people.<\/p>\n<p>The truth is, you and I should consider ourselves dead to these negative behaviors and thought patterns and be alive for something bigger and more life-giving.<\/p>\n<p>The apostle Paul has written about this idea of considering certain aspects of ourselves as being \u201cdead\u201d, especially in the way our baptism mirrors Christ\u2019s death and resurrection. Let\u2019s take a look at what he says in Romans 6:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, so we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin.<br \/>\nRomans 6:5-7 (NRSVUE) <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We learn that when Christ was crucified, our \u201cold self,\u201d our shadow side, was crucified with him. Why? So we would no longer be enslaved to sin. When we are in him, we are \u201cdead\u201d to those behaviors and thoughts that make us cringe and think, \u201cWhy did I do that? What was I thinking?\u201d Christ\u2019s death frees us from the power of sin and gives us another alternative.<\/p>\n<p>The old self, now dead to us, was preoccupied with egoic concerns, like personal preferences and opinions. If sin is dead to us, then we can be alive for something else. We\u2019re free to be alive in Christ. Let\u2019s continue this passage:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.<br \/>\nRomans 6:8-11 (NRSVUE) <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Notice that Christ\u2019s resurrected life is lived to God, and Paul is encouraging us to remember that we, too, are \u201calive to God in Christ Jesus.\u201d We are freed from our compulsion to egoic concerns and our feelings of unworthiness or separation from God. Instead, we are liberated to live a life of radical love, using our skills and resources to help those who are in need.<\/p>\n<p>Being alive to God means we view the world through Jesus\u2019 eyes and view others through his eyes as well. He often noticed tax collectors, women, and children \u2013 those who were judged by their culture. As we live to God, no longer slaves to sin, we allow him to bring to our attention the God-given dignity of all people.<\/p>\n<p>May you realize that sin is dead to you and no longer holds you in its grasp, thanks to our Savior Jesus. May you know the freedom of being \u201calive to God in Christ Jesus.\u201d And may you always join Jesus in looking for ways to lift up and bless others who need his radical love.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7QSSU1DJf-Y","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-06-22"},{"success":"1","id":11136,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5030-calling-911\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5030 | Calling 911","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5030-GW-Calling911","youtubeID":"j6ZtLJRo6wY","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"<p>Just as we rely on an emergency number like 9-1-1 for immediate help in serious situations, we depend on the Lord to answer our cries for help. The Psalmist expresses this trust, reminding us that we can call on the Lord in times of trouble and be confident that He hears us and responds with the right answer at the right time.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/SpOL5030-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Speaking of Life 5030 | Calling 911<br \/>\nGreg Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Have you ever had to call 9-1-1? I hope not, but if you have, it was probably because you were in a serious situation that needed an immediate response. That\u2019s why we call 9-1-1 here in the US. It\u2019s the one number we know will be answered immediately and we will get a quick response to our needs. Could you imagine calling 9-1-1 and getting a recording or being put on hold? Hopefully, that will never happen to you. When an emergency occurs, there is a bit of peace knowing we can depend on someone answering us when we dial 9-1-1.<\/p>\n<p>For those who have grown to know the Lord, 9-1-1 is likely the second call we make because our first cry for help is to the Lord himself. Like so many other believers, we have learned that the Lord is even more reliable than 9-1-1. He is always there to answer our call for help. Experience teaches us we can always turn to the Lord with our troubles, great or small because he has proven to be faithful to hear our call time and time again. Here is the beginning of a Psalm that expresses this trust:<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;<br \/>\nHe heard my cry for mercy.<br \/>\nBecause he turned his ear to me,<br \/>\nI will call on him as long as I live.<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>Psalm 116:1-2 (ESV)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>If you are watching this video, you probably don\u2019t need to call 9-1-1. But I\u2019m guessing many of you are facing troubles and trials. I encourage you to follow the wisdom of the one who wrote this psalm. Know and be confident in the truth that whatever troubles you are facing, either now or later, you can call on the Lord. Even when it seems he hasn\u2019t answered, or answers in a way different than you desired, you can be sure you are not getting a recording or being put on hold. He hears you and always responds with the right answer at the right time.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=j6ZtLJRo6wY","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-06-15"},{"success":"1","id":12394,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/romans-new-life-through-christ\/","title":"Romans: New Life Through Christ","fileCat":"RSB","fileID":"RSB053-YearA-Proper5","youtubeID":"z5mXo52zhuM","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":false,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"","videoimg":"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/z5mXo52zhuM\/hqdefault.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Romans: New Life Through Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Most people know what it feels like to wrestle with change. We recognize the gap between the life we hope for and the life we often experience. We try to do better, try to grow, try to move forward. Yet sometimes the struggle itself reminds us how much we need help beyond our own strength.<\/p>\n<p>In Romans, the apostle Paul speaks directly into that human experience. He reminds us that our relationship with God does not begin with our effort, but with God\u2019s grace received through faith. Through Jesus, the Father draws humanity into a relationship of grace and transformation by the Spirit.<\/p>\n<p>Long before laws, rituals, or systems of religious performance, there was a man who simply trusted the promise of God. Abraham believed that the God who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence could fulfill what he had promised.<\/p>\n<p>This trust became the foundation of his relationship with God. Abraham\u2019s story reminds us that faith is not about perfect certainty or flawless obedience. It is about trusting the<\/p>\n<p>faithfulness of the One who makes the promise.<\/p>\n<p>From this foundation of faith, Paul unfolds the larger story of salvation. Through Jesus Christ, humanity is brought into peace with God. What was once broken has been reconciled. What was once marked by fear now stands within grace.<\/p>\n<p>Salvation is not a single moment but a living story with depth and movement. We have been welcomed into peace with God. We are being shaped and renewed through the work of the Spirit. And we look forward with hope to the fullness of life God is preparing.<\/p>\n<p>Even our hardships can become places where hope grows. Perseverance shapes character, and character deepens hope, until we discover that God\u2019s love has already been poured into our hearts.<\/p>\n<p>Paul then turns to one of the most powerful truths in the gospel. Through Christ\u2019s death and resurrection, we are invited into a new way of living. The old patterns that once held us<\/p>\n<p>captive no longer define who we are. We are called to live as people who belong to a different kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>This does not mean perfection overnight. Instead, it means that our lives are now shaped by a new allegiance. Where sin once held authority, grace now leads us toward righteousness and life.<\/p>\n<p>Yet Paul does not pretend that the journey is easy. In one of the most honest reflections in all of Scripture, he describes the struggle many believers recognize within themselves. The desire to do what is good meets the persistent pull of old habits and broken patterns.<\/p>\n<p>This tension reveals something important. The law can name what is good, but it cannot give the power to live it. The struggle itself reminds us that our hope does not rest in our own strength, but in the grace of God at work within us.<\/p>\n<p>Romans reminds us that the Christian life is not a straight path of effortless progress. It is a journey shaped by trust, grace, struggle, and hope.<\/p>\n<p>From Abraham\u2019s faith, to Christ\u2019s reconciling work, to the Spirit\u2019s transforming presence, the message echoes again and again:<\/p>\n<p>These words lead us to the heart of Paul\u2019s message in Romans. In the passage that follows, we hear how faith in Christ brings peace with God and fills our lives with a hope that does not disappoint.<\/p>\n<p><strong><sup>1 <\/sup><\/strong>Therefore, since we have been justified&nbsp;through faith,&nbsp;we&nbsp;have peace&nbsp;with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,&nbsp;<strong><sup>2&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>through whom we have gained access&nbsp;by faith into this grace in which we now stand.&nbsp;And we boast in the hope&nbsp;of the glory of God.&nbsp;<strong><sup>3&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>Not only so, but we&nbsp;also glory in our sufferings,&nbsp;because we know that suffering produces perseverance;&nbsp;<strong><sup>4&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>perseverance, character; and character, hope.&nbsp;<strong><sup>5&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>And hope&nbsp;does not put us to shame, because God\u2019s love&nbsp;has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,&nbsp;who has been given to us.<\/p>\n<p>Romans 5:1\u20135<\/p>\n<p>As we explore the book of Romans, may we rest in the assurance that our lives are held within God\u2019s grace. The one who began this work in us is faithful to carry it forward.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=z5mXo52zhuM","catslug":"rcl-sermon-bumpers","catname":"RCL Sermon Bumpers","rssurl":"","appleurl":"","playurl":"","googleurl":"","spotify":"","sticher":"","podaddict":"","airdate":"2026-06-08"},{"success":"1","id":12346,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/trinity-sunday-3\/","title":"Trinity Sunday","fileCat":"RSB","fileID":"RSB052-YearA-TrinitySunday","youtubeID":"kXLsIEPqiKM","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":false,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"","videoimg":"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/kXLsIEPqiKM\/hqdefault.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Trinity Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Names matter. They carry meaning, identity, and story. To speak a name is to acknowledge who someone is and how we are related to them. When Scripture speaks of God\u2019s name, it is never casual. It is an invitation to wonder, worship, and relationship.<\/p>\n<p>On Trinity Sunday, we pause to rejoice in <strong>God\u2019s majestic name \u2014 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.<\/strong> This name reveals not only who God is, but the shared life of love, unity, and communion that has existed from the beginning.<\/p>\n<p>From the opening pages of Scripture, God\u2019s majesty is made known in creation. The heavens declare his glory. The earth reflects his care. And humanity is created in God\u2019s image. We are created <strong>not in isolation, but in the likeness of divine communion.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Father, Son, and Spirit create together, delight together, and share life together. This shared life is not distant from us. It is the very life into which we have been welcomed. Through Christ, and by the Spirit, we are drawn into relationship with the Father and with one another.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus names this life when he commissions his followers, sending them into the world to make disciples and baptize <strong>in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.<\/strong> This is not merely a formula. It is a declaration that the life of God is meant to be known, lived, and reflected among his people.<\/p>\n<p>The apostle Paul reminds us that the church is called to reflect this divine fellowship. Peace, love, unity, and maturity are not optional virtues. They are signs that we are learning to live within the life of the Triune God.<\/p>\n<p>To bear God\u2019s majestic name is to be shaped by it.<br \/>\nTo belong to Father, Son, and Spirit is to be formed into a community of grace.<br \/>\n<strong>As the Trinity lives in perfect communion, so the church is invited to grow into oneness, mutual care, and shared joy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As we celebrate Trinity Sunday, let\u2019s reflect together:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>What does God\u2019s majestic name ,Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reveal to you about who God is?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>How might the shared life of the Trinity shape the way we live together as the body of Christ?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The life of the Triune God is not only revealed in creation and mission, but also in the way God\u2019s people are called to live together. Hear now the closing words of the apostle Paul, a blessing that names the very life we share in Father, Son, and Spirit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFinally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.<\/p>\n<p>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>May we live each day grounded in the grace of the Son, held in the love of the Father, and guided by the communion of the Holy Spirit.<br \/>\n<strong>God\u2019s majestic name is not only spoken over us. It is the life we are invited to share.<\/strong><br \/>\nMay that shared life shape us as we walk together in faith.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kXLsIEPqiKM","catslug":"rcl-sermon-bumpers","catname":"RCL Sermon Bumpers","rssurl":"","appleurl":"","playurl":"","googleurl":"","spotify":"","sticher":"","podaddict":"","airdate":"2026-06-01"},{"success":"1","id":12342,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/pentecost-2\/","title":"Pentecost","fileCat":"RSB","fileID":"RSB051-YearA-DayOfPentecost","youtubeID":"GP5HWCcnEKs","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":false,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"","videoimg":"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/GP5HWCcnEKs\/hqdefault.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Pentecost <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are moments in the life of God\u2019s people when something long promised suddenly becomes present. What was once hoped for becomes tangible. What was once spoken about becomes lived out.<\/p>\n<p>Pentecost is one of those moments.<br \/>\nIt is the day when God shares his own life with his people in a new and expansive way. <strong>The Spirit who hovered over creation, who sustained God\u2019s people through generations, is poured out freely, generously, and without limit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>From the beginning, the Spirit has been the source of life. He is the creative genius behind all that exists and the loving caretaker of creation. Where the Spirit is present, creation flourishes and is continually renewed.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the story of God\u2019s people, the Spirit has never been meant for only a few. When elders were empowered to lead, when unexpected voices spoke with wisdom and courage, God revealed his desire that <strong>all his people would be filled with the Spirit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That desire comes fully into view at Pentecost. As believers gathered, the Spirit was poured out in abundance. Voices rose in praise. Languages crossed boundaries. <strong>What once divided humanity became the very means through which God\u2019s life was shared.<\/strong> This is the dawning of the age of the Spirit \u2014 not as a private experience, but as a gift poured out for the sake of the world.<\/p>\n<p>Pentecost also marks a profound shift in the life of God\u2019s people. No longer is God\u2019s presence centered in a single place or building. <strong>The Spirit moves the life of God from the temple into a gathered people.<\/strong> The dwelling place of God becomes the community itself, ordinary men and women filled with extraordinary life.<\/p>\n<p>From this moment on, the story of faith is lived not only in holy spaces, but in everyday places \u2014 homes, streets, workplaces, and neighborhoods. This is where the Spirit continues his work, shaping lives, forming relationships, and teaching the church how to walk faithfully with God day by day.<\/p>\n<p>As Pentecost gives way to Ordinary Time, we are invited to carry this gift forward. <strong>The Spirit who was poured out in power now walks with us in the ordinary rhythms of life<\/strong>, guiding, forming, and sustaining us as the body of Christ in the world.<\/p>\n<p>Long before Pentecost arrived, Jesus spoke of this moment. He stood among the crowds and issued an open invitation. An invitation not to a select few, but to anyone who was thirsty for life<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, \u2018If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, \u201cOut of his heart will flow rivers of living water.\u201d\u2019 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Spirit Jesus promises is not meant to be contained. <strong>Those who receive this gift become living fountains<\/strong>, channels through whom God\u2019s life flows to others. The Spirit forms a people who speak good news, embody compassion, and participate in God\u2019s renewing work in the world.<\/p>\n<p>Pentecost reminds us that the Spirit is not a reward for the faithful, but God\u2019s gracious gift to the community gathered in Christ.<\/p>\n<p>As we celebrate Pentecost, let\u2019s reflect together:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Where do you sense a thirst for renewal or life in your own journey right now?<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>How might the Spirit be inviting you not only to receive God\u2019s gift, but to share it with others?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On this day of Pentecost, may we rejoice in God\u2019s generous gift.<br \/>\n<strong>The Spirit is poured out, the church is sent, and new creation is unfolding among us.<\/strong><br \/>\nMay we walk into Ordinary Time as people filled with God\u2019s life, attentive to the Spirit\u2019s work in the everyday moments of our lives.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GP5HWCcnEKs","catslug":"rcl-sermon-bumpers","catname":"RCL Sermon Bumpers","rssurl":"","appleurl":"","playurl":"","googleurl":"","spotify":"","sticher":"","podaddict":"","airdate":"2026-05-25"},{"success":"1","id":11050,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5026-reaching-out-to-the-lonely\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5026 | Reaching Out to the Lonely","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5026-GW-ReachingOutToTheLonely","youtubeID":"d4tcSa131yA","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"<p>Loneliness is a common struggle, especially for younger generations in western culture. In Psalm 68, God promises to set the lonely in families. Allow the love of Jesus within you to extend to the people around you, and help them recognize that they are valued by God.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/d4tcSa131yA\/hqdefault.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Speaking of Life 5026 | Reaching out to the Lonely<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>Greg Williams<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Are you a fan of the Beatles? If so, you may remember their well-known song, Eleanor Rigby. In the chorus they sing, \u201c\u2026look at all the lonely people, where do they all come from? All the lonely people, where do they all belong?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the many tools we have to stay connected, younger generations in western culture have been described by mental health professionals as the loneliest generation.<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">&#91;1&#93;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Wrestling with feeling alone is an experience most of us can identify with and it brings us to ask the same nagging question posed by the Beatles \u2013 where do I belong?<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully God supplies an answer in a wonderful scripture, Psalm 68 tells us that God is for us and with us:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him \u2013 his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless,&nbsp;a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely&nbsp;in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Psalm 68:4-6a<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Where there is a need for relationship, we see our loving Father in heaven ready to step in and bring healing and an end to the loneliness. In the church, we are blessed to join in our ministry of inclusion. God sets the lonely in families, and we can be those families: ready to accept, love, and encourage the lonely souls God sets before us.<\/p>\n<p>Lend an ear to the chatty person on the bus in desperate need for conversation, not just once or twice, but whenever you are able!<\/p>\n<p>Make a point of speaking to the quiet individual often ignored in the back corner of the room \u2013 and not just about the weather \u2013 find out what they enjoy talking about!<\/p>\n<p>Keep your eyes and ears open so you can see those who are feeling lonely, and you can reach out to them.<\/p>\n<p>If someone seems like an outsider, then help them feel the belonging that can be found in a loving community that shares the love that God has given them.<\/p>\n<p>The ways in which we can join in God\u2019s ministry of inclusion are many, and often require us to be ready to step out of our own social bubbles, or out of our own state of loneliness so that we can truly engage with those in need of relationship and care.<\/p>\n<p>Let Jesus\u2019 love in you reach out to the lonely around you. Show them they matter. As the doors open, share God\u2019s love with them and help them see they are included among those God loves. And maybe, just maybe, you\u2019ll end up in a new relationship that God has prepared for you.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Greg Williams, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">&#91;1&#93;<\/a> https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/ca\/blog\/the-case-connection\/202208\/3-things-making-gen-z-the-loneliest-generation<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=d4tcSa131yA","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-05-18"},{"success":"1","id":11049,"url":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/media\/videos\/speaking-of-life-5025-not-an-orphan\/","title":"Speaking of Life 5025 | Not an Orphan","fileCat":"SpOL","fileID":"SpOL5025-MF-NotAnOrphan","youtubeID":"Up1Y9dS3eKA","isTooOld":false,"isVideo":true,"isAudio":true,"widescreen":false,"mp3Link":true,"mp4Link":true,"mp4LoRes":true,"mp4EngSub":null,"wmvVodLink":false,"wmvHRLink":false,"isoLink":false,"intro":"","teaser":"<p>In difficult times, we may feel alone like the characters in the books we read. However, Jesus assures us that we are never truly alone, and that life will continue after our sorrow. As members of God&#8217;s family, we are cherished and welcomed. Even in our darkest moments, Jesus is always there to guide us toward the light and back in his arms.<\/p>\n","videoimg":"https:\/\/www.gci.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/SpOL5025-Thumbnail-585x330-1.jpg","content":"","transcript":"<p><strong>Speaking Of Life 5025 <\/strong><strong>\u2502<\/strong><strong> Not An Orphan<br \/>\nMichelle Fleming<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When I was growing up, I remember reading several books that had an orphan as the main character. Maybe you did, too. Remember Cinderella, Anne of Green Gables, and even Harry Potter? The children in these stories were left without parents, and their plots revolved around how well they fit into another family\u2019s dynamic. Often, they felt like outsiders \u2013 unwanted and alone.<\/p>\n<p>At the Last Supper, Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for what was coming: his betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. He reassured them that while things would be different without him present, they would not be alone. Let\u2019s look at John 14:<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you love me, you will keep&nbsp;my commandments.&nbsp;And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,&nbsp;to be with you forever.&nbsp;This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be&nbsp;in&nbsp;you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.&nbsp;In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.&nbsp;On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>John 14:15-20 (<em>NRSVUE<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Notice that Jesus refers to \u201canother Advocate,\u201d the \u201cSpirit of Truth,\u201d who would always be with the disciples. Jesus was their first Advocate; now the Holy Spirit would be another companion who would always be with them. The Spirit\u2019s goal is not to replace Jesus, but to share the presence of the Father and the risen Son to those who trusted them.<\/p>\n<p>Since the Bible often refers to people as the \u201cchildren of God,\u201d it makes sense that Jesus would use the word \u201corphaned.\u201d We\u2019ll have the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit, and because of the triune relationship of Father, Son, and Spirit, we\u2019re brought into their fellowship. We\u2019re not like Cinderella who was mistreated and forced to become a servant. Instead, we\u2019re welcomed into the family of God as cherished members, never to be left on our own again.<\/p>\n<p>By sharing with the disciples about the Spirit of Truth, Jesus is telling them that life will go on after the heartbreak of the crucifixion. He says, \u201cYou will see me; because I live, you also will live.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The resurrection was not the end of the story but the very beginning, thanks to the Spirit of Truth who will never leave us as orphans. May you know how completely you\u2019re loved and accepted by the Father, Son, and Spirit, and may you trust that you\u2019re never alone.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Michelle Fleming, Speaking of Life.<\/p>\n","downloadYouTube":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Up1Y9dS3eKA","catslug":"speaking-of-life","catname":"Speaking of Life","rssurl":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/SpeakingOfLifeMp3","appleurl":"","playurl":"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Invbqg3jtwxr3zeouhpqgcgred4?t%3DSpeaking_Of_Life_-_Audio_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16","googleurl":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1NwZWFraW5nT2ZMaWZlTXAz","spotify":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0UEvj3BfvF58BdlJCg5Zxz","sticher":null,"podaddict":null,"airdate":"2026-05-11"}]