Synopsis
Podcasts to enable and encourage you - for God's sake.
Episodes
-
Wednesday Wisdom 10 - Proverbs 10
02/07/2025 Duration: 04minWednesday Wisdom Proverbs 10 G’day! Welcome to Partakers and to Wednesday Wisdom, where we are listening to what the Bible has to say through the Wisdom literature of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Come on in! 1 A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. 2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death. 3 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casts away the substance of the wicked. 4 He becomes poor that deals with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He that gathers in summer is a wise son: but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame. 6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a gibbering fool shall fall. 9 He that walks uprightly walks surely: but he that perverts his ways shall be known. 10
-
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 2
02/07/2025 Duration: 04minEdenic Covenant G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 2 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Genesis 1v27-31 So God created human beings in his own image.In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground." Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground-everything that has life." And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. Genesis 2v15-17. The Lord
-
Bible Thought - Strategy to Cope - Hebrews 3
01/07/2025 Duration: 35minDeveloping A Strategy to Cope How can we, as 21st century Christians, keep from falling away. I would call it the COPE strategy: Consider, Persevere and Encourage. Keep Considering! (Hebrews 3:1-6) The first thing we do is to consider Jesus or as the NIV here puts it "fix our thoughts". Now remember, that these are Hebrew believers. I guess we would call them Messianic Jews today. They believed that Jesus was their Messiah, Saviour and Lord. They were obviously coming under pressure from their Jewish friends and leaders to deny this Jesus and return to the fold. They would have been told how great Moses was. In the previous chapter we read how Jesus is greater than the angels, because He is God, but was made a little lower than the angels when he became a man. Moses was cool In this chapter, we read a comparison between Jesus and Moses. Moses to the Jews was like a super-hero. Moses was revered because it was to him that God revealed His will. Moses was t
-
Glimpses Into The Bible Part 1
01/07/2025 Duration: 04minIntroduction The Bible as you may or may not know is the story of God dealing with His creation. From the earth's beginnings there is a story portrayed in the Bible of the interaction between God and people. The Bible is broken into two sections: the Old Testament which contains 39 books and the New Testament which contains 27 books. The God of the Old Testament is the same God as that in the New Testament. It may surprise some people, but Jesus never actually makes an appearance in the Old Testament! However, there is the concept of some sort of saviour or messianic figure throughout. As Christians, we believe that this Messiah or Saviour is Jesus Christ. In this series, we will glimpse at the story of God's interaction with people from the beginnings to the end - the entire history of the world - beginning to end. I think one of the best ways to summarise the Old Testament in 7 quick studies, is to look at the covenants or promises that God made with certain people through history. T
-
Bible Thought - God of Love - WOW Word 33
30/06/2025 Duration: 03minWOW Word 33 God of Love For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 1 John 4:16 We live in a world that is in love with love. Love, according to some people, is what makes the world go around. In the Bible, God’s love is revealed. The Apostle John in 1 John 4 does not simply say that God loves, but rather that God is love. How is God love? How is God's love revealed today? How is that relevant to you? Play or download the audio below to hear more and how this affects you as a Christian in the 21st century! Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file
-
Bible Thought - Luke Looks Back Part 30
30/06/2025 Duration: 17minStudy 30 - Luke 24: 13-End The Appearances and Ascension of Jesus. We need to take an overview of all the major events that appear in this passage: the life and ministry of Jesus, the crucifixion, the resurrection and the ascension; and consider their inter-relations. Question 1: Why is it absolutely essential that the crucifixion and the resurrection did not happen until after the earthly ministry of Jesus was completed? Jesus was the representative and completely faithful Israelite who was also identified as God by the nature of the works he did, Messiah, Son of Man, Son of God – all this had to be firmly established before he could enter into his work of redemption. This is what the difficult phrase at the end of Rom 4: 25 means. Jesus was resurrected, therefore he was the Messiah, therefore he justifies us – brings us in Him into the Abrahamic family of God’s true people. Furthermore the Kingdom of God had to be announced, inaugurated and its establishment commence – a work
-
Bible Thought - Take Up Your Cross - WOW Word 17
29/06/2025 Duration: 05minWOW Word - Your Cross Jesus speaking “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26 ) What is our response to this to be? As followers of Jesus Christ we are commanded to count the cost of following Him. That is how we carry our own cross for the sake of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to be number one in the life of all those who choose to follow him! Jesus wants supremacy over everything in our lives, including family, friends, and possessions! Alas, that’s a cost too high for some! Here is one man who couldn’t give up something to follow Jesus! Let’s call him Basil. Ba
-
Bible Thought - Luke Looks Back Part 29
29/06/2025 Duration: 16minStudy 29-Luke 23:26–24:12 The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. All history pivots on the events described in these verses. The story is told with striking simplicity and absence of comment. We read Luke 23:26 – 43. Many people play a part in the judicial murder of Jesus. In order from Luke 22:47 on we read about:Judas, the arresting squad, Peter, the men guarding Jesus, the council of the elders, Pilate, Herod, the soldiers, the crowd in front of Pilate’s house, the soldiers leading Jesus to his death, the watchers and rulers at the place called a Skull and the criminals on their crosses. For each of these we might: Consider what their motives, if any, were for what they did. Think of a present day situation where the same motives might be apparent. Wonder which of these motives we might sometimes have ourselves. Question 1: Select 3 people or groups of people from that list and consider the motive, present day equivalent and personal reflection for each of them. The arresting sq
-
Bible Thought - The Cross of Jesus Christ - WOW Word 15
28/06/2025 Duration: 10minWOW Word - Cross of Jesus Christ ~ Our WOW Word today is Cross! Cross, as in the Cross of Jesus Christ! John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”. Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Even a cursory look at the world around you, will tell you that the world is messed up. Is there any hope? Yes there is! That is why God sent Jesus! Jesus is the hope! Jesus came to serve rather than be served. That is why Jesus came to give His life, so humanity may have a hope! God made the world perfect and humanity was in a harmonious relationship with God. Humanity messed it up and broke the relationship bonds with God. When the time was right, God became human, in order to bring humanity back into relationship with Himself. That man was Jesus Christ and it was His death on a Roman cross about 2000 years
-
Bible Thought - Luke Looks Back Part 28
28/06/2025 Duration: 26minStudy 28-Luke 22: 47 – 23: 25 The arrest and trials of Jesus. The story now moves steadily towards the death of Jesus. It is told with remarkable economy and simplicity in all four gospels. Not even the failure of the leading apostle and founder of the early church is left out. Read Luke 22: 47 – 53. Question 1: Would you be thinking more or less of the eleven now if they had NOT tried to defend Jesus with their two swords (22: 38, 49 ) probably against an overwhelming force? Why? Their reaction to the approach of the crowd, which Mark describes as ‘armed with swords and clubs’, is an entirely natural one. It shows that they were not cowards. It also shows that they had not taken all of Jesus’ message really into their hearts and minds. Few of us have. Presumably the clash of one or two swords could easily have led to a more general skirmish in which Jesus could have been killed. But in the purposes of God his Son had to be tried, falsely accused, condemned and judici
-
Friday Prayers Persecuted Church Worldwide
27/06/2025 Duration: 02minPartakers Friday Prayers for the Persecuted Church Worldwide We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray together! Prayers for the Persecuted Church Sovereign God, we worship you and acknowledge that you know all of those who suffer in your name because they follow you. We remember those who are imprisoned for their faith and ask that they would join with the Apostle Paul to see that even though they remain captive, their chains have furthered the gospel, not frustrated it. May they inspire and embolden their fellow believers to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. Amen God of all comfort, for those who are tortured both in body and mind, give them the grace to endure and to see their suffering as part of following in Christ’s footsteps. Merciful God, for those asked to pay the ultimate price; who are martyred because of thei
-
Bible Thought - Luke Looks Back Part 27
27/06/2025 Duration: 17minStudy 27-Luke 22:1-46 Joys and Sorrows In this chapter Jesus is a source of great strength and joy to his disciples as they gather to eat the Passover together. At the same time betrayal, misunderstanding and desertion surround him. Read Luke 22:1–6. Question 1: If ‘Satan entered Judas’ how responsible was Judas for what he did? When is it permissible for us to say ‘Satan entered somebody? To answer the second part of the question first:it is very doubtful whether we should ever say this. Judas was fully responsible as he eventually recognised; Matt 27:3, 4 says ‘When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. I have sinned, he said, for I have betrayed innocent blood. What is that to us? They replied. That's your responsibility. There is an interesting and important parallel in Isaiah 10 where we read:“Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my (t
-
Thursday with Tabitha - Amos
26/06/2025 Duration: 10minThursday with Tabitha 3. Amos Amos was a prophet during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel. His prophecy came somewhere roundabout the year 760 BC, give or take a few decades! At this time Israel and Judah were enjoying an unusual spell of prosperity and political stability. This was especially the case in Israel, where the land was very fertile and abundant crops were growing. The threat from the kingdom of Assyria seemed to have lessened, at least for the time being, so life was pretty good. Unfortunately the people of Israel and Judah had wandered far from the standards of holiness that God had intended for them. Idolatry was rampant, the rich were getting richer and more corrupt by the day and the wealthy were exploiting the poor. The Israelites falsely concluded that their prosperity was a sign of God's obvious blessing. They were looking forward to “the Day of the Lord” when God would finally crush their enemies. It is into this environment that Amos was called to prophes
-
Bible Thought - Luke Looks Back Part 26
26/06/2025 Duration: 21minStudy 26 - Luke 21:5-38 The fall of Jerusalem and the End of the Age First: some introduction. A quick google shows 9 occasions in which there was a major siege and capture of Jerusalem, from that by the Babylonians in 586 BC to one by the British in AD 1917. This chapter is very similar to Mark 13 and Matthew 24 (many think Mark’ gospel was a major source of Luke’s information). Matt 24, in particular, is worth reading to note the additional information it contains. These chapters are concerned with Jesus’ prophecies of the important siege and sack of Jerusalem in AD 70. This was carried out by the Romans in reaction to a rebellion of the Jews within the Roman Empire about 40 years after the death of Jesus (probably about the time Luke wrote his gospel). But these are notoriously difficult chapters to understand, mainly because the prophecies of the fall of Jerusalem act in part as a foreshadowing and illustration of what is still to happen at the end of the age. The fall of Jer
-
Wednesday Wisdom 9 - Proverbs 9
25/06/2025 Duration: 02minWednesday Wisdom Proverbs 9 G’day! Welcome to Partakers and to Wednesday Wisdom, where we are listening to what the Bible has to say through the Wisdom literature of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Come on in! Today it is Proverbs 9. Download this episode using this link 1 Wisdom has built her house, she has cut out her seven pillars: 2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table. 3 She has sent forth her maidens: she cries upon the highest places of the city, 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wants understanding, she says to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man,
-
Bible Thought - Luke Looks Back Part 25
25/06/2025 Duration: 21minStudy 25 - Luke 20:1-21: 4 Jesus challenges his hearers 7 times. The first 4 of these challenges are quite substantial with definite contexts; the others less so. Challenge 1 – Luke 20: 1 – 8 The question of authority is of great importance. There is no answer here so we need to go to John 5: 31 – 45 to find one. Question 1: Where does Jesus say his authority comes from or is testified to in these verses, which I am just about to read. Listen carefully and count the different sources you can hear. You should get six different ones. Where does the authority of what we say or do come from? You should have got as sources of authority: John the Baptist, his works, his Father, the Scriptures, Moses, his own words. Our main authority should be the Word of the Scriptures. All other authorities are secondary to them. Challenge 2 – Luke 20: 9 – 19 It is based on Isaiah 5: 1 – 7. This story of the Tenants, or rather of the Vineyard Owner, is one of the most significant of a
-
Psalm 56
24/06/2025 Duration: 01minPsalm 56 A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. 1 Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me. 2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me. 3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 4 In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 5 All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They conspire and lurk, watching my steps, they are eager to take my life. 7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God. 8 You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren’t they in your book? 9 Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this, that God is for me. 10 In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word. 11 I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Your vows are
-
Bible Thought - Luke Looks Back Part 24
24/06/2025 Duration: 16minStudy 24 - Luke 19:28–48 The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Jesus cannot complete his mission without entering Jerusalem and confronting the authorities there. This he does, first with actions and then with words Please read Luke 19: 28-38. It seems likely that Jesus had made some arrangements the twelve knew nothing about. Perhaps he had 2 sets of supporters: the apostles in spiritual matters and a group of organisers or deacons.) Question 1: What makes that a reasonable thing to say? Are there any alternative explanations? There is something a bit mysterious about the account of Jesus sending two disciples to get the colt. It is hard to be sure but there does seem to have been a prior arrangement made by Jesus that the two disciples did not know the details of. To think that Jesus knew through his divine powers that the colt would be there is probably to over-emphasize the divine in Jesus and forget that he was also human. The account of the way Jesus entered Jerusalem is full of hints of
-
Bible Thought - The Centrepiece of Joy
23/06/2025 Duration: 36minThe Centrepiece of Joy Leviticus 16:1-10 & Hebrews 10:1-10 Introduction Today, we dip into Leviticus 16, which I think is the centre and pinnacle of this magnificent book of joy. The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Moses: ‘Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover. (Leviticus 16:1-2) 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, “Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, my God.”’ 8 First he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them’– though they were of
-
Bible Thought - Luke Looks Back Part 23
23/06/2025 Duration: 18minStudy 23- Luke 18:31–19:27 Seeing and trusting There are 4 sections in this study all of which have something to do with seeing and not seeing, understanding and not understanding or just plain hidden. The first section, Luke 18: 31–34 serves as a summary of what is to follow. Do read Luke 18:31-34. The disciples had a reasonable excuse for not understanding. What Jesus was saying was so strange and unexpected they could be forgiven for not understanding. But we, in all probability, have some knowledge of how things turned out so we do not have that excuse. v 34 provides a challenge to us, the readers or hearers: will we be blind or deaf, will we see or hear and understand? Blindness and sight are metaphors for no faith and faith. Have you moved from blindness to sight? Remind yourself what the effect of your blindness was and how you first knew that you were seeing or, if you are in a group, share together your journey from blindness to sight, darkness to light. Question 1: What is the sign