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Preparation precedes The Promise – God made both the Garden of Eden and the wasteland, and He is present in both. We need to learn to reframe our mindset in a season of trial. We need to rename it a Season of Preparation and allow God to meet us there.

“Embracing the Dust” by Chaplain Jared LaCoste

Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) ; 以 賽 亞 書 43:19 (CUVS)
James 5:7-11 (NLT) ; 雅 各 書 5:7-11 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device.

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Christ has redeemed us and forgiven our sins, and we are not who we were. Alinani expands on this and describes how understanding this concept can help us live triumphant, new lives.

“A New Man”, by Alinani Sikalangwe

Colossians 1:15-22 (NLT) ; 歌 羅 西 書 1:15-22 (CUVS)
Romans 6:6-10 (NLT) ; 羅 馬 書 6:6-10(CUVS)
Colossians 3:9-11 (NLT) ; 歌 羅 西 書 3:9-11 (CUVS)
Ephesians 4:21-22(NLT) ; 以 弗 所 書 4:21-22 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device.

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Uncertainty can be unsettling, even scary. And many things in our world are unpredictable, or changing very quickly. Yet, God does not change, and His promises are firm. Rebecca Zhang unpacks this for us with stories about Cain, Abraham, and Kings Hezekiah and Solomon, and tells us why we can stand firm in our faith in an uncertain world.

“How to Live by Faith in an Uncertain World”, by Rebecca Zhang in Mandarin. English Translation by Kevin Sun.

Psalm 46:1-11 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 46:1-11 (CUVS)
1 John 2:15-17 (NLT) ; 約 翰 一 書 2:15-17 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also read Rebecca Zhang’s sermon notes in Chinese, with an English translation by Kevin Sun.

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In spring of 2025, Pastor Ryan introduced us to some of the Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143).

June 8 – Anguish (Psalm 6)
June 15 – A Newly Created Heart (Psalm 51)
June 22 – Lectio Devina of Psalm 130 (詩 篇 130) – no recording
June 29 – A Response from Lament (Psalm 102)
July 6 – Joy in Confession (Psalm 32)

The two Penitential Psalms not included in this series are Psalm 38 / 詩 篇 38 (of David, asking God to remember him) and Psalm 143 / 詩 篇 143 (also David, asking for help).

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We think of confession as something frightening, to be avoided if possible. But in David’s psalm 32, it’s more uncomfortable to keep our sins hidden. Confessing our sins to God brings a new and joyful relationship with Him. In fact, he recommends that “all the godly” confess their sins. And then he recommends that we do something else.

“Joy in Confession” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

1 John 1:8-10 (NLT) ; 馬 太 福 音 5:13-16 (CUVS)
Psalm 32:1-11 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 32:1-11 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also read Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

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In Psalm 102, the psalmist starts out with strong lament over the sorry state of his life, but moves to thinking about God’s everlasting nature and compassion, and confidence that God’s goodness will endure and lead to praises by people of all nations. This realization enables him to move forward out of guilt and self-pity. What is the connection, and what does he move toward?

Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT) ; 馬 太 福 音 5:13-16 (CUVS)
Psalm 102 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 102 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also read Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

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In Psalm 51, David cries out in sorrow and repentance to God after the prophet Nathan confronts him about taking Bathsheba for his wife and killing her husband. What is the essence of his confession? That is, what exactly is he asking God for?

“A Newly Created Heart”, by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Luke 15:20-24 (NLT) ; 路 加 福 音 15:20-24(CUVS)
Psalm 51:1-19 (NLT) ; 詩 篇 51:1-19 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also read Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash

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What if your letters were read out loud to your whole community? What if one of them put you in a very uncomfortable position? Paul’s letter to Philemon did just that.

“The Best Welcome”, by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Philemon 4-7 (NIV) ; 腓 利 門 書 4-7 (CUVS)
Philemon 17-22 (NLT) ; 腓 利 門 書 17-22 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash