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Your Church Friends Podcast was started in hopes of helping Christians and non-Christians alike see God, Jesus, and the church through a Biblical lens. We cover a multitude of topics, ideas, theologies, and thoughts. We try our best to have honest and genuine conversations about them all. We enjoy taking a side by side look at what has been taught or is being taught and comparing it to what the Bible says. As Your Church Friends, we hope that our podcast helps all our listeners to listen to ...
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The word is spreading about who Jesus is and what He’s doing. Could He be the Messiah that the people of Israel have been waiting for? All the people knew was that they wanted to be where He was teaching, and Jesus drew the attention of so many—even the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. What they weren’t expecting to see was a miracle tied to the …
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Jesus dropped the reverse Uno card on leprosy when He touched the man plagued by the disease. Normally, when anyone came in contact with someone with leprosy, they would become unclean and fear they might also become a leper—a death sentence in those days. But Jesus didn’t become unclean. Instead, the reverse happened: the man with leprosy became c…
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Is being unclean the same as being sinful? From the perspective of many in the Bible, yes, it was. So, when Jesus has an encounter with a man with leprosy, the people's understanding is about to be shaken up, as all they knew about being unclean and leprosy is going to go out the window. Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine the differen…
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Full disclosure: this is the conversation that took place after the demon episodes and before the Peter episodes. We thought we lost it due to a file transfer error, but it turns out it was just hiding—sneaky file! So here it is! They wanted the miracle, but Jesus’ main objective was to teach about the Kingdom of God. His proclamation was that the …
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Full disclosure: this is the conversation that took place after the demon episodes and before the Peter episodes. We thought we lost it due to a file transfer error, but it turns out it was just hiding—sneaky file! So here it is! When Peter’s mother-in-law develops a fever, Jesus comes over and heals her. Interestingly enough, He rebukes the sickne…
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It’s something only God has done! Way back in Genesis chapter one, it was God who spoke and created fish out of nothing, but now Jesus has done the same. With this miracle, Peter understands he is in the presence of not only the Messiah but God. Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine an encounter with Jesus and how our response to that is…
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He’s a fisherman, but not just any fisherman—Peter is an expert fisherman. So, what happens when a carpenter from Nazareth named Jesus comes along and gives him advice on fishing? Peter then catches more fish than he ever has before. How does Peter respond to this encounter with Jesus? How would you respond to an encounter with Jesus? Join Your Chu…
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Is everything we struggle with today a demon? Many believe that is the case, but when you look at the demonic activity in the Bible, you may think otherwise. Jesus encounters a man possessed by a demon in the synagogue, and when Jesus rebukes the demon, it leaves. The people are amazed at the authority Jesus has, even over demons. Join Your Church …
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Have you ever sat back and wondered, where do demons come from? They are scarcely mentioned in the Old Testament, and then suddenly, in the New Testament, exorcising them from tormented souls becomes part of Jesus' mission. How did this eerie shift occur, and how does understanding the shadowy writings of the Second Temple period help? Join Your Ch…
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Jesus is in His hometown, the place He grew up in, and in the synagogue, reading from the scroll of Isaiah 61. Everything was going great—the people enjoyed His message—until He gave two Old Testament references: the Widow of Zarephath and Naaman. After this, the people wanted to kill Jesus by walking Him off a cliff. But why? Why did these two ref…
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After Jesus’ encounter with the Devil in the desert, He is now prepared to begin His earthly mission. The Spirit leads Him back home to Nazareth, where in the synagogue, He opens up the scroll and begins to read from Isaiah 61. Jesus uses this portion of the Old Testament to proclaim to all listening—and to us—the mission of the Savior. Join Your C…
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The confrontation between Jesus and the Devil continues, and it’s time for temptation number 3! There is a back-and-forth about Psalm 91, known as “The Exorcism” Psalm. That’s right, “The Exorcism” Psalm. After this exchange, the Devil leaves Jesus, and the battle is won. This victory, so early in Jesus’ ministry, is crucial to understanding the pu…
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After the riveting section on Jesus’ Genealogy, Luke picks up the story of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days and nights fasting, and the devil appearing after to tempt Him. But why forty? What was so significant about that number in the Bible? Also, why in the wilderness, and how did the devil get there? The answers may surprise you! Join Your…
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Genealogies might be considered some of the most mundane parts of the Bible, yet God saw fit to include them. They're simply lists of names, so why are genealogies so important, especially when it comes to the genealogy of Jesus? For Luke, he strategically pauses at the end of chapter 3 to provide us with Jesus’ genealogy, revealing who Jesus' Fath…
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We're going way back in the time machine to a conversation between Chris and Special Guest Rogelio Rodriguez Jr that took place in 2021. This conversation served as a follow-up to Season 1, 'The Sermon on the Mount.' In it, they discuss: What are the Beatitudes? How does Jesus' use of the word 'blessed' differ from our understanding of 'blessed'? H…
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Where did baptism come from? It’s not practiced in the Old Testament, but then you enter the New Testament and there is John baptizing in the Jordan. Where did he get the idea to baptize people in the Jordan for the forgiveness of sins, and what was the purpose of Jesus being baptized? Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine the origins of…
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Out of the desert came a man with a message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. That man was John the Baptist, and he did not shy away from telling people God’s truth. In fact, his first words in the Bible are, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” So, if repentance was so important at the establishment of the …
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We've all experienced that sinking feeling in our stomach when we think we've lost something important. When we find it, there's a profound sense of relief. For Mary and Joseph, they lost Jesus. Imagine the distress of losing the Savior of the world. Yet, we don't have to imagine, because sometimes in our Christian journey, we feel like we've lost …
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I believe that at some point, we've all daydreamed about what life would look like if we won the lottery. How it would "save" us from our woes. However, the Bible tells a different story. Our salvation is only found in Jesus, who was born into poverty. Yet, even in this poverty, He was recognized as the Savior by two faithful, elderly Israelites. J…
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Why shepherds? Why would God choose to have shepherds be the first people to hear the announcement of the birth of the Messiah? Why did the angels proclaim Jesus’ birth as peace on Earth? Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine the good news of peace and why it is an essential component in discovering a Savior. Visit our website: https://y…
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The question of Jesus’ existence has been debated since His birth, but today, we know that there are no issues with Jesus’ existence due to numerous references to Him outside the Bible. However, a lingering question persists about the virgin birth of Jesus. Was His birth a derivative of some other ancient deity story, or was it simply a fabricated …
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Zachariah writes his name as John! Immediately, his voice returns to him, and he begins to praise God with a song that sheds light on the mission of the upcoming Messiah and his son John—revealing who God had predestined John to be. Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine how God has predestined certain individuals to be His chosen instrum…
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John the Baptist is born, but controversy arises over what to name him. The crowd is ready to name him Zacariah, like his father, but his parents know his name was predestined to be John. With this story in mind, we ask the question: What is predestination, and where did this concept come from? Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine how u…
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Discovering A Savior: Mother’s of the Revolution
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Mary visits Elizabeth, and when they greet each other, there is a moment of celebration and joy for all around. Why would this meeting between these two soon-to-be mothers bring such joy? Could it be the spiritual revolution that was about to begin? Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine how joy marked the beginning of God’s revolution an…
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Ok, but seriously, can we trust prophecy, especially when it comes to prophecy about the Messiah in the Bible and how it all points to the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine the significance of biblical Messianic prophecy and how it’s an essential component to discovering a Savior. Visit …
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With so many people making predictions about the future, end times and the return of Jesus, how can we trust Prophecy? Also, why is it so hard to trust all the prophecy found in the Bible? Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine the significance of biblical prophecy and how it’s an essential component to discovering a Savior. Visit our Web…
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Why is the truth so important? Why is it so challenging for us to discern what is genuinely true? Join Your Church Friends as they closely examine the significance of investigating for the truth and why the truth is an essential component to discovering a Savior. Visit our website: https://yourchurchfriends.rocks/…
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Hey Church Friends, Chris and Muireadhach sit down to have a quick conversation about some big and exciting news about the podcast. They also give a quick preview of the next season. It’s a season you won’t want to miss, one that will take us on a mission, on a quest, on a search for the truth. Join us on our journey to Discovering a Savior. Visit …
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Chris sits down with Pastor Jay Kim to discuss his new devotional book, "Colossians: One Jesus, One People," a 40-day study through the epistle. They have a lively conversation about the Book of Colossians, what it means to know the truth, and why unity is so crucial. They also talk about the importance of studying the context of the letter and und…
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Excluded Books of the Bible: The Shepherd of Hermas - What Are You Going to do with God’s Word?
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The Shepherd of Hermas ends with ten parables given to Hermas by the Shepherd. These parables range from illustrations about two cities, an elm tree and a grapevine, a shepherd of luxury and a shepherd of punishment, to a cosmic willow tree and twelve mountains. All the parables drive home the same point: what are you going to do with God’s Word an…
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The Twelve Commandments from the Shepherd continue. Commandment seven serves as a reminder to Fear the Lord, emphasizing that fearing God prevents us from doing evil and enables us to do good. Commandment nine addresses double-mindedness, calling it the daughter of the devil, while commandment ten the Shepherd tells Hermas not to despair when God d…
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Excluded Books of the Bible: The Shepherd of Hermas - The Shepherd’s Wisdom pt 1
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The Shepherd is now on the scene and gives Hermas twelve commandments to live by, progressing from basic principles to the need for deeper spiritual discernment. The first six commands begin with a simple yet perhaps the most challenging one: believe in God. They then progress to abstaining from evil and practicing generosity, culminating in a genu…
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The visions of Hermas continue! A tower is being built with different types of stones. Some of the stones fit together so perfectly that they look like one united piece, and other stones are used from the depths of the waters. Then there's a vision of a great beast known as tribulation that scares Hermas until he remembers what God told him after h…
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He sees her bathing and has a simple thought: she would make an excellent wife. The only problem is that the woman bathing is his former master, Rhoda, and Hermas is already married. Sometime later, Hermas has a vision, and in it, Rhoda appears to tell him that the thought he had was wrong. This is how the Vision section begins in The Shepherd of H…
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The Shepherd of Hermas is an early Christian writing that focuses on the main character, Hermas, and his five visions, the twelve mandates given to him by The Shepherd, and ten parables on aspects of moral piety and holiness. The Shepherd of Hermas provides a wonderful insight into the life of the early church and Christians in Rome. The two main t…
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On this YCF Special presentation, join us on a journey back in time to April 23, 2023, when Chris spoke at our home church, Calvary Bellflower, about Mark 4:35-41. He delivers a compelling message on how fear can hinder our progress in faith. By embracing the principles of believing in God, maintaining our focus on Him, and placing our trust in His…
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It's the end of the Book of 1st Enoch, and it doesn't disappoint. A captivating tale unfolds about the birth of Noah and how his father feared he might not be his son due to Noah being born with fiery eyes and long locks of hair. Remarkably, Noah also began speaking immediately upon birth, and this is just a fraction of the story. Lastly, tune in t…
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Excluded Books of the Bible: 1st Enoch - The Apocalypse of Weeks Hope Amidst Woes
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In the Epistle of Enoch, Enoch gathers Methuselah and all his sons for a final word with them. There, Enoch shares with them the Apocalypse of Weeks, a summary of human history from creation to the Last Judgment condensed into a tale of 10 weeks. Enoch also warns them not to be misled by the practices of the world they live in, as the path of the u…
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Excluded Books of the Bible: 1st Enoch - Enter The Lord of the Sheep The Animal Apocalypse Part 2
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The Animal Apocalypse continues, and the story of Israel, told in animal form, unfolds further. The Israelites have transformed from cows to sheep, and the author of the Animal Apocalypse reveals the truth about their tendency, as well as humanity's, to stray from God, now referred to as the Lord of the Sheep. As a result, the Israelites face attac…
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Excluded Books of the Bible: 1st Enoch - Welcome to the Animal Apocalypse
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Welcome to the Animal Apocalypse! A tale of Israel's history, where the people are replaced with animals. The story begins with a bull and a heifer emerging from the ground, becoming the parents of a red bull and a black bull. Unfortunately, the black bull kills the red bull, and if this narrative sounds familiar, it's because it is. After the fall…
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Excluded Books of the Bible: 1st Enoch - The Astronomical World of Enoch and the Divine Order of the Cosmos
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The Astronomical Enoch, possibly the earliest among the Enoch writings, explores the celestial movements of the sun, moon, and stars as they traverse the heavens throughout the changing seasons. It unveils a unique 364-day solar calendar, divided into four quarters with three 30-day months and a day interposed between each quarter. This fascinating…
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Excluded Books of the Bible: 1st Enoch - Monsters, Guardians, the Wild Ride of the Third Parable
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The third parable takes you on an exhilarating journey through ancient mythology and celestial realms. Encounter the awe-inspiring chaos monsters, the Leviathan and Behemoth, representing the forces of the sea and the land, reminiscent of the enigmatic beast in the book of Revelation. Delve into the vivid descriptions of the Cherubin, heavenly bein…
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The second parable continues with a vivid description of the fate awaiting the wicked. In a parallel to the events depicted in Daniel 2, the kingdoms of the earth are brought down, signaling a profound judgment. Azazel, identified as the figure known as Satan in the Bible, faces punishment as he is cast into the lake of fire. The parable reaches it…
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The first parable from the Book of the Similitudes or Parables in 1st Enoch concludes with Enoch's visionary encounters, unveiling the concept of 'Mansions' and the embodiment of Wisdom that transcends human understanding, finding its ultimate manifestation in Jesus. The second parable begins by describing the Day of the Lord, referred to as 'That …
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Chapters 37-71 of 1st Enoch are known as the Book of the Similitudes or Parables. This section consists of three parables or visions received by Enoch, introducing new material through heavenly visions that primarily focus on the concept of final judgment. The Book of the Similitudes holds particular significance in New Testament scholarship as it …
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How we think about the Bible is important, and the truth is, sometimes we don't get it right. The problem we face is that we often prefer to be wrong in our interpretation, molding the Bible to fit our desires, rather than allowing it to speak for itself. In our insightful discussion with Jack Pelham, our Church Friend and fellow podcaster, we expl…
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World-renowned author Dr. Scot McKnight joins Your Church Friends to dive into his latest book, "Revelation for the Rest of Us." Together, they tackle the issue of speculation in reading Revelation and explore how Revelation chapter 1 verses 1-3 can shape our understanding of the entire book. They also delve into the unique struggle Americans face …
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Excluded Books of the Bible: 1st Enoch - Beyond Nephilim, Beyond the Flood
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The Book of the Watchers is more than just Nephilim and the flood. It includes the list of seven archangels and describes how they serve God. It also delves into Gehenna, a real biblical location used as imagery for the appearance of the underworld. Additionally, the book provides a description of the spiritual geography of the entire creation, whi…
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Genesis 6 has left many puzzled with its intriguing account of the sons of God, daughters of humankind, and the enigmatic Nephilim. But fear not, because the Book of the Watchers in 1st Enoch fills in the gaps! It unveils the story of rebellious angels who abandoned their divine duty to corrupt humanity and the earth. Discover the Archangels Michae…
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Excluded Books of the Bible: 1st Enoch - The Beginning Journey into the Controversial 1st Enoch
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The Book of 1st Enoch has caused controversy among scholars and believers for centuries. While some argue that it should be included in the canon of scripture, others consider it outright heresy. Your Church Friends decided to delve into this controversy and explore the book's contents. The journey begins with an examination of Enoch's character in…
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