Coeburn Presbyterian Church Sermons - Pastor James Ensley

About Coeburn Presbyterian Church Sermons - Pastor James Ensley

Sermons of James Ensley preached at Coeburn Presbyterian Church jamesensley.substack.com (https://jamesensley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Biblical Preaching from the Heart of the Mountains | Coeburn Presbyterian Church is in Wise County Southwest Virginia

Category

religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

26 Jul 2025

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

69 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   Mark 8:1-21 A Sufficient Savior's Warnings Against Legalism and License

   [small revisions in the below manuscript in what is actually delivered] We are nearing the middle point of Mark which has been making an argument for who Jesus is, the Messiah, and what he has come to do: To announce and bring the Kingdom of God through himself the Messiah. Which brings with it: forgiveness of sin, being made clean not by the ceremonial law and external religion, but by trusting in Christ’s ability to forgive, heal, and cleanse. Recall the pharisees have set it in their hearts to kill Jesus, he has healed, exorcised demons, fed the 5,000… Read: Mark 8:1-21 Prayer of Illumination #1 Feeding the 4,000 #2 The Pharisees Demand a Sign #3 And warning of the leaven of the Pharisees & Herod All three will argue that Jesus has the power to save that has been repeatedly demonstrated, and his salvation is better than the legalism of the Pharisees and the secular licentiousness of the Herodians/Sadducees. Look in verse 1, Jesus is going to do it Again, feeding the 4,000. 1. Where? We can say probably still in the Decapolis, so a mixed crowd with gentiles in it than the feeding of the 5,000. But we are not always anchored to a linear timeline, it may be topical not chronological since “in those days,” can vary in meaning...Mark doesn’t feel like repeating where, but instead emphasizing once again: crowds gathered to Jesus. Once again a Crowd with nothing to eat. De ja vu. 2. Is this so similar it is the same event? a. Well, it’s in two places in Mark, with two different numbers, with different ways of procuring the initial food, and Jesus tells the disciples in verse 19 to remember BOTH the feedings. So these are two distinct events. b. And once again Jesus’ has something he wants the disciples in particular to take away from this miracle. 3. Not to re-preach the whole of the 5,000: But what’s the same?: Jesus is the good shepherd, Jesus feeds his people, Jesus is a prophet whose words are manna from heaven, and we live by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God.... a. Our spiritual life is united to Jesus Christ, who is the Bread of Life; by the Holy Spirit our Life is abiding in Christ, who is the vine who nourishes us. What’s new in this passage? THE Number of days people stayed with Jesus. 3. b. We’ll call this “Jesus’ Magnetism”: What does it take for you to willingly stay while your food ran out....It’s like driving on a tank of gas well past where you know you won’t have enough to get home, but you are entranced by the landscape. 4. Second there is an emphasis on Jesus Teaching his disciples; a. He is teaching them his compassion for the crowds...vv. 2-3: they will faint; they have come from so far. b. William Hendrickson puts it this way, “Without compassion can a person be a true follower of Christ? The least these men could and should have done was to beg the Master to repeat what he had done before, and then to inform the crowd that help was on the way. That they failed is clear from verse 4.”(Hendrickson, 311). i. One takeaway here: our compassion is strengthened when we remember Jesus’ heart; Our compassion is strengthened when we are firmly confident that knowing Jesus is life-giving to us in our sorrows and needs; And confidentce that he is compassionate towards us will encourage our compassionate action towards others. ii. Because then it is no longer just “what can I do for them” it is “what will Christ do for them...through my faithfulness. Whether in prayer, fellowship, advice, tangible needs, etc... iii. Instead of “where will the supply come from, the prayer to Christ by the disciples, if you will, could be “we are unable, Christ, but you are able...how will you supply this time?” c. Then of course, you wonder why seven loaves, i. One answer is because there was seven loaves. Or we could say it’s a fitting number of completion, but there were 5 last time which has no meaning. Hendrickson remarks that it is to fix in the disciples’ minds the reality to remember what little they had so that no one could inflate the story into saying, “oh it was actually a story about sharing” ii. And not that he fed 5,000 + women and children with merely 5 loaves and now 4,000 with just 7 loaves. d. V. 7 “having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.” ...and the fish and all are SATISFIED. With Leftovers, 7 baskets! And he dismisses them and off he and the disciples go. On to Dalmanutha. i. For three days they sat under the teaching of Jesus. They are spiritually fed. ii. And they conclude with supper and are dismissed. Christ’s care for his sheep body and soul is full, complete, and satisfying. iii. He is not a one trick pony, he is able to repeat this miracle because obviously the disciples did not get it the first time. And he repeats it we see here in an even more isolated, more desolate season. A region we can note is more outside the people of the covenant, more gentile. 1. Two things: First, never suppose, “God had supplied and helped me in the past...but no more.” Jesus is a constant and faithful shepherd. He can repeat his mighty works in our lives, and from generation to generation. 2. Second, you may feel outside the reach of God. No, Christ is compassionate; what sin is in your life? Is it Difficulty to pray? Does Dullness of heart and ear makes you feel far from Christ, far from his name, far from the Baptism you have had? Distant...from the worship of God’s people.... 3. Remember Christ, for 3 days he spoke his words over them, drew them in, and changed their lives. a. The meal of Christ is set before you to take and eat today. Return to him, and he will return to you. And you will be fed. Renewed. And dine at the table with others who are poor sinners who likewise have simply received food from Christ, forgiveness of sins, and strength. Moving along.... The repetition of this Miracle, wherein Jesus acts in divine power to give manna from Heaven as the God-man. The miracle of testing and demonstration of God to his people is a double testimony and rebuke against what the Pharisees say next: #2 The Pharisees Demand a Sign, 11-13 [11] The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. [12] And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” [13] And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side. · My quintessential Pharisee in my mind is actually from The Incredibles....Mr. Incredible, Bob Parr is working a desk job and his boss calls him in, “I’m not happy bob, not happy!” And he proceeds to chew him out...for His Compassion, His Mercy, he keeping of promises the insurance company had made. SO of course the Pharisees come, and they demand a Sign from heaven in order to test him... · Recall...they already have it in their hearts to kill him. ...They weren’t there for the three days of teaching; they weren’t there to be fed. But they do show up being “not happy” · His prior miracles they have assigned to Beelzebul, to being satanic. · They want him to perform on command. · They want him to fail. And Jesus just sighs....Not to make light of it, but he has done signs and miracles all over the land, publicly, and in fact they want to kill him for those miracles...because he healed and exorcised demons on the Sabbath...So many signs but no proof? What I thought of with this is when I sometimes open the refrigerator and say, “Honey, there is nothing to eat!” ...There of course is plenty to eat in there...It’s just not what I want this instant... But it hurts, right? Jesus’ life the last 2 years has been teaching, healing with compassion, cleansing the unclean. He does it for his father’s glory; he does it knowing that he is fulfilling all righteousness. But it still, on a human level, hurts to have all you do questioned. · When a Friend says, “you never spend time with me” ...and you just spent the last Saturday with them. · Children, “you don’t love me!” · Your work, whatever it is, and a boss or a customer says, you don’t really do any work. · It hurts. For Jesus, the sin and the self-righteous, the hard-heartedness of the Pharisees is wounding, rightfully...angering. Because the Pharisees trick people into following them · Jesus sighs just as deeply today when: o We say “we would believe in the resurrection”; “we would trust Jesus...” § ...if God just gave me “a sign” discounting the eyewitness and written testimony of the Apostles, the 4 Gospels, the Messianic Prophecies, the work of the Holy Spirit to change the lives of individuals, the course of History that this is 2026 Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord. o Jesus says it in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus...The Rich man says, If only an angel would appear to my brothers, they would repent and believe....Jesus says, they have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them. § All of Creation screams of the Existence, the Power, the divine attributes of our creating God § All of Our Misery screams of our sin, our need, our just judgment before a holy creator. § And all of the Old Testmanet and New Testament scriptures proclaim that there is mercy, salvation, belonging, and the right to being forgiven and restored Sons and Daughters in Christ Jesus. § Creation, Fall, Redemption all fit together and start to make sense in Christ Jesus. · Verse 12 [Jesus] sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” [13] And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side. o Jesus speaks of this generation, this evil generation...the hard-heartedness of many within his covenant people, which will carry through the book of Acts. o Wait, Jesus, don’t you give plenty of signs? How can you say no sign will be given to that generation? o Matthew 16 clarifies in the parallel account: [2] He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ [3] And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. [4] An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed. (ESV) · Jesus is saying you know how to read the weather, but you are no good at interpreting and receiving signs. You do not know what time it is in redemptive history. You are resisting that the Messiah is here. So you will not be given on demand the kind of signs you are demanding. · Jesus is not a vending machine. He is not a call-in radio station where you just demand the song you want him to play next. · He will not play to them, do a little dance for them. · But he will give the sign of Jonah.... · Jonah of course, goes down down down into the sea, for three days as if dead in the belly of the whale, only to rise, rise, rise and be spit out on land again after the three days. · Jesus will lay down his life, and be buried only to rise again three days later. He is going to start telling the disciples that his life will be given as a ransom. o Remember: Humiliation precedes Exaltation · He will die. He will be resurrected. He will take up his life again. That will be your sign. Whether you believe the testimony and trust in Christ by faith that is the most important response you can make to any news in life. AfterJesus deals with the Pharisees. He then turns his attention to putting his own house in order. #3 The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, vv. 14-21 [14] Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. [15] And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” · A small oversight...the disciples who just fed thousands forgot to bring bread...And they are probably a little hangry, bickering—the kind of sin and lack of faith that just steals joy and clouds our thinking. And Jesus uses it to ask a question, to intervene by reminding them of their Spiritual need, that that little squabbling had a root though small, just like the Pharisees, just like Herod. · Unbelief is unbelief...But yes there is a deeper warning about TWO KINDS of unbelief....The doctrine and teaching of the Pharisees and Herod. o On the one hand Formalism and Legalism, on the other hand Skepticism, Lawlessness, Worldliness. · Jesus gives a simple visual illustration as a warning. That all it takes is a little yeast, a little leaven, to affect the whole loaf. ...a little false teaching in mind and heart... o Both the Pharisees and Sadducees will downplay the messianic and divine claims of Jesus. Blindness to Who Jesus is and His Power o Jesus, with this warning, is preparing the disciples to make a different profession of faith...he is prepping Peter and the disciples for his revealed glory in his transfiguration, his shining radiance, and the question, “Who do you say that I am?” Let’s unpack the warning, first the Pharisees. #3A What is the Leaven of the Pharisees? o Any doctrine which rejects the Salvation by Grace that Jesus is purchasing on the Cross and instead embraces a Pharisaical view of the Law and Salvation: § A little bit of Pharisaism, external, legalistic, self-righteousness will affect, will corrupt the whole heart. Will undo the grace of salvation. § The disciples are clueless....they are still thinking about perhaps the feeding of the 4,000. Or just lunch. o And Jesus says that their lack of understanding is because § Their hearts are hardened § Their eyes and ears are blind (like we talked about last week). Spiritual blindness and deafness to the word of God. o And Jesus says, remember your numbers, the loaves, the feeding. § Will you feed and depend on Christ Alone for life and salvation? Is Christ the sole and sufficientresource for salvation? § Or will you, like the Pharisees, listen to the commandments of man, attempt holiness and cleanliness by the ceremonial law and lists, will you try to find life in the Law? ...which can actually only reveal your sin and your need § Jesus wants the disciples to not have the Pharisees’ or Herod’s doctrinal understanding warp and twist their view of what he is going to accomplish on the Cross. The meaning of his death and resurrection. § The Forgiveness of Sins and the Righteousness of Christ is purchased for us on the cross and is received by Faith Alone... § And contrary to the pharisees, determining what Good works God commands by Scripture Alone #3B What is the Leaven of Herod? § Herod rejected the Words and Warnings of God § He heard the warning of John but never repented. He probably worried about his sin, knew he did a lot of wrong things but never actually did anything about it. § He may have said, “oh yah, I believe the bible” § Herod was not a legalist but an anti-nomian, meaning “against the law” he rejected the moral law of God....Or at least its right to judge him. To make him different from his culture, his friends, the expected behaviors of a king. § He rejected the warnings about his sin and need to both seek forgiveness. And to live a life according to the Moral law of God. To live according to the Commandments and Law of God. § Jesus is calling them to reject not a works-righteousness salvation. But a theological and moral liberalism. § Herod partnered with the Sadducees, who both had a lower view of Scripture and a more selective reading of the Old Testament. They were much more comfortable with Hellenizing. With embracing Greek culture, immorality, and syncretism with the world. § So by mentioning the Pharisees and Herod Jesus is able to warn against: § Legalism and Worldliness § Tradition OVER the Bible AND Secularism that picks and chooses what is sophisticated and approved by the morality of the day within the bible. [pause] · We are always being catechized...taught by the world. § Remember Herod’s morality was more caught than taught....Our morality is caught by what we view on TV, what we say among our friends and peers and the group agrees and say “that’s just the way things are” “its no big deal” “to think otherwise would be narrow-minded, and judgmental on morality towards others.” “the biggest standard is to not impose our standards on others” (because the word of God is not the standard it is assumed morality is just individuals who are busybodies..rather than care for others to know God good design for human beings in order for us to flourish by living under God’s rules as a blessing). o We catch life-scripts from the world § Life-scripts are the expectations of how things should go and what is acceptable and expected behavior...I got my life understanding of High School from “Saved by the Bell” Books, movies, music, friend groups, family, all shape yah that’s how work, family, dating, religion, faith, politics, teenagers, retirement looks like. § Beware Herod, Sadduccess, of any era...We can catch unbiblical scripts from subversive doctrinal errors in even things labelled Christian Culture...As Herod and the Sadducees were, of course they were perfectly good Israelites, the sadducees ran the Sanhedrin. Herod was King. He defined good Israelite culture. § So we should ask: What are worldly life-scripts and what are Pharisaical lifescripts....I’ll draw my application from Mark’s gospel, specifically what we saw in Herod’s life. Because that is who Jesus mentions...A man with a distorted dating and marriage life that impacted him. o Certainly, the world has a view of sexuality that is unbiblical. We saw that happening in Herod’s family. o Our Era our Time has a low view of marriages goodness, beauty, and blessings § Our culture says, Marriage is for after you live together—promises and covenant are for AFTER you’ve seen if your compatible over several years. (Herod’s culture said marriage was for Politics and Power...) § ...But ours says it’s what you do after you have finished your lease to Own. Lease it with no upfront commitment. § But Jesus consistently reminds his disciples of the beauty of God’s creation ordinance of Marriage, that promises and vows, come before playing House. o On the other hand, Jesus would be upset with going beyond scripture: What could be the opposite ditch: § Maybe by specifying a single exact and only way to Court/Date. With extra-biblical doom and gloom that no marriage will succeed unless it follows this one author’s dating and marriage book as if it was the bible. § I often say you can either read No books are dating and marriage and just talk to wise people in person...Or you need to read 3-4 books on Marriage, dating, parenting....So that you can distinguish advice, even wise advise, from DOCTRINE. Christians only follow these ten steps in courting. And if you do you are guaranteed a happy life.... · So Jesus warns his disciples. Beware the Pharisees. Beware the Herodians. ...Even as we know he loved them, and some come to trust in Christ like Nicodemus, Scribes, some of the Priests, and even the Royal family in the coming years...Today, God loves and rescues and redeems people who have fallen into either ditch in their life. · Practically how can we guard our hearts here: o First, Meditate and live by every word that proceeds from the Mouth of God o Second, Celebrate the Doctrines of Grace in Salvation o Third, Celebrate the actual Law of God which is a lamp unto our feet. o Fourth, Have your mind renewed after the image of Christ with wisdom. Wisdom, comes in Christian community as those who are both committed to Jesus and his word to us. · But really underneath it all...Is Jesus asking the disciples, “do you trust that I can provide for you life and needs?” Do remember the provision of the 5,000 and 4,000. Even this one piece of bread we have is enough. Jesus is enough. o You don’t need the fleeting promises of sin o You don’t need the emptiness of self-righteousness o You need a life supplied by Christ, fed by his word, and gathered by his holy spirit into a worshipping community that feeds upon Christ the bread of Life. J.C. Ryle leaves us with this thought: Let us often ‘examine ourselves whether we be in the faith,’ and beware of ‘leaven.’ Let us no more trifle with a little false doctrine, than we would trifle with a little immorality or a little lie. Once admit it into our hearts, and we never know how far it may lead us astray. The beginning of departure from the pure truth is like the letting out of waters-first a drop, and at last a torrent. ‘A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump’ (Gal. 5:9). Jesus knew the disciples needed correction, and all Christians are in constant need to have our hearts, our thoughts, our doctrines recalibrated from error, from hypocrisy, from wanderings. We must patiently be ever reforming our hearts and minds according to the teaching of scripture and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Prayer Benediction This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesensley.substack.com (https://jamesensley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Mark 7:31-37 Just Another Healing?

   Introduction: Jesus in this passage is finishing a long, meandering loop out deeper into gentile territory, and returning to the sea of Galilee in the Decapolis region; recall that this is the region the Demoniac man was healed in; it is still gentile territory. Jesus is continuing with two goals in mind in what is called his “Retirement Ministry”: teaching and showing mercy in his miracles to the crowds, but also increasingly teaching the 12 disciples and speaking of his impending death to them. Today, though, we have an account testing the thesis Jesus has declared to the Pharisees earlier in the chapter: That salvation is a matter of taking unclean, sinful hearts, and making them clean. Last week we saw salvation come by FAITH to a gentile family, to outsiders of the covenant brought in by faith, meanwhile, those who were raised inside but had no faith were not saved by the ceremonial law. Because the Pharisees only cleaned the outside of the cup, they are white washed tombs. And so again we ask: can Jesus save, restore, and spiritually wash us clean of our sins? And what proof will he give us that that is the ministry he is able to do as the Messiah as the Kingdom of God draws near? What will it actually accomplish and be like? What does Salvation restore in us and give us? Read: Mark 7:31–37 [31] Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. [32] And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. [33] And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. [34] And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” [35] And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. [36] And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. [37] And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (ESV) Prayer of Illumination #1 What is the Same in this account with other Healings? #2 What is different in this particular healing? #3 Jesus is the Lord and Ruler of our Ears, tongues, and Hearts A little context as we look at what is the same... For each new passage in a gospel always ask WHERE this is, WHO Jesus is interacting with, WHAT Jesus says, and WHAT the onlookers’ reaction is.... Verse 31, WHERE: [31] Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. Jesus leaves the region of Tyre, goes north through Sidon, then down to the Sea of Galilee “in the midst of the region of the Decapolis.” The route is a long Gentile arc, not the short way home. Decapolis is the loose league of ten Greek cities east and southeast of the lake. He has been here before: the Gerasene demoniac was sent home to tell what the Lord had done (5:19–20). Many believe this is the reason a crowd now knows to bring the sick to Jesus in this passage. Now we look in verses 32-37: What is the same...How is this healing the SAME · Patterns and Repetition help us know Jesus and his ministry patterns: So embrace the Repetition... o About 10 things are the Same § First, Jesus has crowds around him (which is exhausting and forces him to perform a balancing act between making them want to Kill because his teaching and claims of who he is...And his healing and miracles like feeding the 5,000, making them want to crown King by force. § Second, others are bringing the needy to Jesus; others’ faith often drive us to see our needs and have them addressed by Jesus. § Third, Jesus often pulls people to the side to have private conversations (Jesus loved the crowds, but he also loves us individually by name), § Fourth, Jesus often looks up to heaven to remind people that all he does is in the name of his heavenly Father. All his words and actions reveal God the Father to us. § Fifth, William Hendrickson points out that Jesus sighs, that is he is not half-hearted. Jesus here and in other places “always put everything he had into his work of mercy.” Deeply feeling the affects of the fall on us. The suffering sin creates in our lives. (Hendrickson, 304). § Sixth, Jesus often speaks commands in his miracles, “rise take up your bed and walk,” And here to in his native Aramaic tongue, he says “Be opened!” And it is So! § Seventh, Physical healing is pictured as freedom from bondage in some way than just physically, as with other places equally the spiritual reality of freedom from the Fall and the miseries of the Fall is being shown. § Eight, “At once” the healing is instantaneous, complete, and publicly visible, Jesus doesn’t collapse like his power is drained. Jesus once again is the opposite of a charlatan healer. The crowds, the Pharisees, will all acknowledge that he, in Truth, worked Miracles. And he always assigned it as unified with God the Father’s will. § Ninth, Jesus gives a command of silence as the humble healing messiah. The humble servant in his first coming. · This is both the same in that Jesus commands silence all the time, but it is different from the Demoniac man who Jesus told to tell the Decapolis, which is the same region....We can say this time there is a Crowd that could take Jesus by force and make him king...Whereas the demoniac went into a region where Jesus was unknown...perhaps the crowds are even here due to the Demoniac’s preaching ministry. His testimony. · In this account The man disobeys the charge to silence, which is the same as the Leper who was healed way back in Mark 1:43... § Tenth, The crowd is astonished again, ascribing praise to...though it is stronger this time “he has done all things well.” Like the creator who made all things Good, and indeed mankind Very good. · He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.... · Now, Mark reminds us that enthusiasm for Jesus’ miracles...does not make you a follower, a disciple; that takes Faith in Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior of the world, to Fear God, and flee sin. To by faith by united to Christ by the Holy Spirit made a forgiven son and daughter clothes in Jesus’ righteousness...Not just interested in Jesus’ displays of power. Transition: When you read your Bibles, it is good to start seeing what is the same and know that is an emphasis for the overall theme of a book or the bible.... But what is different is also like a bright yellow highlight in the account...what is different or unusual in an account that otherwise is similar helps us answer “why is THIS here? What is the lesson? As soon as you go “that’s weird”...or that is different than the other time...that’s important. Three things we will first, zero in on what is DIFFERENT and And second, find the SCRIPTURAL CONNECTIONS to what is unique here, and third, throughout this what is emphasized about Jesus and our salvation in this passage #2 What is different in this particular healing? o Jesus puts his finger into the man’s ears... o Jesus spits on his finger and then touches the man’s tongue. · Jesus is interacting with a deaf man, so his motions and actions on one level act as a comfort and compassionate explanation that he is going to do something to address his hearing and his speech impediment (an impediment probably arising from being deaf)... · But that is probably only the partial explanation. The context is Jesus’ argument with the Pharisees and what we just saw with the Syrophoenician woman. o Why touching? What do the parts of the body mean? § Jesus is making a point that he is the Messiah who can touch the unclean and make it clean...whole...useful to what God created it to be. § Jesus is also healing ears and a tongue, which hold significance in the biblical expectation of the messiah and relate to our hearts, our souls. § Ears and Tongues are not clean places. Both have ceremonial clean and unclean ramifications...Because · What we hear—impacts our heart, what we listen to words, music, manmade tradition, or alternatively God’s words to us impacts our hearts. · What is in our hearts...how our hearts have been affected impacts what we say, our speech. And determines if it is wise or foolish, clean or unclean speech. What we say is a reflection of the state of our heart. So Jesus is physically demonstrating his relationship to the ceremonially clean and unclean....And further his relationship to the greater spiritual reality behind the physical. Through this man’s deafness and slow speech. Look in vv. 33-34. [33b] he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. [34] And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” [35] And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. All of our sense faculty have spiritual impact: For example our EYES: What are eyes for? Ultimately, TO behold the goodness of God’s creation, to know light, and witness the splendour and glory of God by his creation. Eyes ultimately are the window of understanding and beholding either goodness or evil. And both the ears and eyes are the way to our hearts, whether for good or evil. Whether to hear and see what is right, holy, and good or to hear and behold evil... What are ears for? Truly for? ...To hear the word of the Lord and to know him, to rejoice in the voice of our savior and our God. And so what are tongues for? Speaking...Our tongues were created to speak truth (because our creator is truthful), to sing praise (because God is praiseworthy), to express joy, to express words of wisdom, to have speech flow from an upright heart as one made in the image of God to speak knowledge, to speak righteousness... But the fall has twisted us....right iniquity...twisting and Sin is what? Missing the mark. Sin misses our created purpose. The Fall has harmed our faculties. This miracle is a physical healing with a deep spiritual connection to Jesus as the Messiah the Savior of our souls, who by the Spirit is giving us new hearts, new minds, new sight, new tongues and so will fill our mouths with new songs of praise. How does this help you and me today? Jesus is not content with just re-arranging your external world...He has poured out his Holy Spirit into our hearts...But in his ministry on earth, he walked with unclean sinners. What are the marks of a sinner whose heart has been touched by Jesus, the Messiah? · First, we hear the voice of our savior in his Word by the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. · Second, we respond with Joy: “proclaiming”, “being witness” to what Christ has done in our lives. · In gathered worship, Paul says we are teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. The word of Christ dwells in us richly when our loosened tongues are employed to sing our Savior’s praise. #3 This brings us to our third point, Jesus is the Lord and Ruler of our Ears and Hearts. In two ways, first Jesus is never ashamed, he never draws back from touching what is unclean and sin-stained in our hearts, specifically what our ears have been hearing, our eyes seeing, or tongues saying. He is able to cleanse us from sin, and restore us to employ our body and soul well in all our faculties and senses. Jesus is repeatedly showing that he brings a complete salvation. He is not cleansing the outside of the cup, whitewashing tombs, or concerned with mere externalism. Whole-hearted transformation is offered in this miracle. Not just ears and tongue. [Transition] With these things in mind, listen carefully to how the bible develops and confirms this theme. Themes Jesus is drawing on. We can ask: Who has authority and power over our ears and mouths? God alone does... Listen to God speaking to Moses in Exodus 4:9–13 God is sending Moses as a prophet to Pharaoh to tell him to “let my people go” and Moses protests... [10] But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” [11] Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? [12] Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” [13] But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” (ESV) Right so God says, Moses I created you, I will speak words for you to say; I will teach you, and I can take the slow tongue and loosen it to do what? To serve God. Not just Moses, but Isaiah teaches on the messiah’s restoration of his people’s Ears and Mouth. To his praise and glory. Isaiah 35:5–6, speaking of the Messiah’s work. [5] Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; [6] then shall the lame man leap like a deer, [Matthews account by the way of this same event says that they also brought the blind and lame...Mark is just zeroing in on one example... blind see, deaf hear, and...Isaiah continues] the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; (ESV) Joy, refreshing, sight, hearing is granted to those whose sin had robbed them of all these things. And Jesus is, by this miracle, claiming he is the one accomplishing these things... Jesus, as a priest, is restoring the worship, the singing, As a prophet, he is restoring his people hearing God’s word. ...But he also does this as the Healing King. Isaiah 32:1–4 says, This healing shows the king is righteous and able to save his people. And we will become responsive, singing his praises; we will hear his word and be glad. Listen to Is. 32:1-4... [1] Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. [2] Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. [3] Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention. [4] The heart of the hasty will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly. (ESV) Oh for tongues that are used in service to a good and righteous king, how much sorrow has been done by our words, how much sorrow has been done when we listen to lies and live by lies rather than every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. Pray that Jesus, who is the King that he would grant you by his Spirit a heart ready to listen and that he would give you a tongue ready to respond to this salvation....TO speak truth distinctly! Clearly. Unashamed truth based on having listened to God’s word. Isaiah 35 and here in 32 verse 10 actually answers what are we to do with our newly loosened tongues? Sing with Joy.. ....A great salvation, ransomed sinners have but one response to sing because “they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” This message is reinforced in the Psalms, read psalm 51 sometimes. Forgiven sins respond with joyful singing. Jesus takes a heart mired in sin, giving the gift of repentance, a breaking with sin, and restores that heart to Praise and Joy. J.C. Ryle summarizes well, he says “Here we are meant to see our Lord’s power to heal the spiritually deaf. He can give the chief of sinners a hearing ear. He can make him delight in listening to the very gospel which he once ridiculed and despised. Here also we are meant to see our Lord’s power to heal the spiritually dumb. He can teach the hardest of transgressors to call upon God. He can put a new song in the mouth of him whose talk was once only of this world. He can make the vilest of men speak of spiritual things, and testify to the gospel of the grace of God. When Jesus pours forth his Spirit, nothing is impossible. We must never despair of others. We must never regard our own hearts as too bad to be changed. He that healed the deaf and dumb still lives.” (Ryle, 118). Charles Wesley captures the wondrous grace of salvation here well when he says in verse 3 of a famous hymn: 3. He breaks the pow’r of reigning sin, he sets the pris’ner free;his blood can make the foulest clean, his blood availed for me. 4. He speaks and, list’ning to his voice, new life the dead receive;the mournful, broken hearts rejoice; the humble poor believe. ...But do you know the first verse of that hymn? 1. O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise,the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace.5. Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, your loosen’d tongues employ;ye blind, behold your Savior come; and leap, ye lame, for joy. Our passage ends with Jesus’ saying, don’t speak of this. ...And they sin in breaking his command; their timing is off...once again. Not yet; he must go to Jerusalem and die on the cross. But the crowd is right. “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (ESV) Conclusion: Do you have ears to hear of the Savior this morning? Do you believe that he can make clean what is unclean? That he can forgive sins? That he can change what your heart loves to listen to...to draw you by his voice away from the world, your sin, and cause you to delight to hear his voice, to delight to hear him in his Word to you...And do you believe your tongue can be set free...set free to speak truth, to be employed fully to glorify and enjoy God. Mark’s Gospel has wrestled with who Jesus is, Faith and Fear, what it means to leave all behind and follow Jesus, and now it is asking whose voice will you listen to and what your words be in response....Peter is going to struggle with this, sometimes speaking well, other times denying Christ. But Jesus is a faithful savior. He sighs at this broken world, and he is making all things new. Let us pray and respond with singing praise to him... Prayer Sing Benediction. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesensley.substack.com (https://jamesensley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Mark 7:24-30 Better Faithful Crumbs than Hypocrisy at the Table

   Introduction Jesus in this account casts out another unclean spirit, he has power over evil; he has power to save and to make clean. The kingdom of God frees us from sin, from darkness, and brings us under Christ’s good rule. Mark has well established what Jesus has the power to do; by Chapter 7 his identity is clear to us as truly God and truly Man, the Messiah; soon the Messiah aspect of his identity will be clearly confessed by Peter. This passage teaches us nothing new about those things. This passage can be an exorcism or a physical healing, and the main new point would be the same. This passage is asking from a different angle, is Jesus a savior for ME. We know Jesus will have mercy on those already in the covenant community, yes, even sinners within the covenant community, but what about the gentile, what about those who AT first glance, appear outside the Abrahamic promises, outside the scope and interest of the Messiah? Mark is pressing that home this morning. Read: Mark 7:24–30 [24] And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. [25] But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. [26] Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. [27] And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [28] But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” [29] And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” [30] And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. (ESV) · OUTSIDER Setting: Gentile, poor and lowly, 24-25 · TESTING, Jesus’ testing of the woman, 26-27 · TRUSTING, the woman’s Response of Faith, 28 · DELIVERANCE, Jesus’ deliverance of a gentile girl, vv. 29-30 · · #1 First, our Setting is Jesus meeting and Outside, in Gentile territory, who is poor and lowly in vv.24-26a [24] And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. [25] But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. [26] Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. · She is a Phoenician, which includes Tyre and Sidon, and is known for many things great wealth and power, but important to any Israelite, it is the source of Baal worship. It is an unclean land. · But this woman is Poor, lowly, vulnerable; and this account asks, “What is Jesus’ heart beyond his covenant sheepfold being fed, as he clearly intentionally begins here and our next passage to tour Gentile territories, turning to those unfed and outside the warmth of the covenant community.... o The Disciples’ solution in Matthew is their normal one: “Get rid of her Jesus”...Let us be glad God is the God of Mercy and love towards those who are outsiders, not like the disciples, and so often our own hearts... · She is from the same region as the widow in the days of Elijah in 1 Ki 17:8 where Elijah, o Who after the Word of the Lord came to him, arose and went to Zarephath near Sidon. And God said I have commanded a widow there to feed you. ...And God provides the miracles of the jar of flour and oil that shall not be empty until the Lord ended the drought....In that scenario, she gave Elijah, in faith, a morsel of bread that was all she had left. ...And the widows son in 1 ki. 17 was revived from death. Not identical in details but in impact the Lord gave a foretaste of salvation: his word going to the Gentiles...And here is Jesus repeating history. o Jesus uses this very account to rebuke his hometown: though they are members of the covenant community, they do not appear to know the Lord or his gracious salvation. § Luke 4:25–28 Jesus said, But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, [26] and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. [27] And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” [28] When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. (ESV) o Jesus rebuked his hard hearted townspeople by speaking of Mercy to Gentiles, and he has just earlier in Chapter 7 argued with the Pharisees about the problem of the heart and the inability of the ceremonial law to make us clean, that we have a serious heart problem. § Now Jesus comes to a woman who IS considered ceremonially unclean, outside the Mosaic covenant...And yes she too is a sinner in need of grace, her daughter is suffering the affects of a fallen world. BUT since Genesis 12 And the promises of the Covenant of grace made to Abraham gentiles sinners have always been outside the covenant people, but inside the reach of Grace in Abraham, in whom all the nations will be blessed by his Offspring....As outsiders can be made insiders by faith, through grace. § And Jesus believes what he is doing will start with a few seeds...And will go forth as a tree, the kingdom of God a mustard seed whose shade will cover the world. § Later..Jesus in Mark 13:10 will say before his second, “the gospel must first by proclaims to all nations...” · Jesus has indeed gone FIRST to his covenant people, but as prophesied in Luke, “a light to the gentiles.” He speaks to this gentile woman, even as he has spoken to the Samaritan woman whos people are in the land but are heretical, to put in pejorative terms mixed ancestry, not really Jews....But this Syrophoenician woman is fully a gentile in a Hellenistic, culturally greek region. · The context is a tension felt and played out in Acts in 1) salvation comes in what order Jew first, but yes then...Gentile and by what means: ceremonial law, by circumcision? NO... says Paul in Galatians by Faith in Christ alone who fulfills the law “spiritual inclusion in the family of God by faith alone in Christ alone.” · Mark for the next few passages is TESTING what Jesus said to the Phrisees that it is the heart Jew and Gentile that makes us unclean, but with his coming he declared all foods clean... · But really it takes us until Acts 10 for Peter to have his threefold vision of the white sheet with the unclean animals in it and to be told, “ Rise, Peter, kill and eat for Peter to go to Cornelius, a gentiles house, and to witness the Spirit fall not just in Jerusalem but upon a Gentile home for the Church to truly believe Jesus’ words. · So much so we take it for granted now...But it was not easy... · We read just a few weeks ago In Galatians Peter chickening out and breaking table fellowship with gentiles because the strict Judaizer party came to town and he feared his reputation. § Jesus in this passage clearly speaks of where redemptive history is going as the dividing wall of hostility is being removed between Jew and Gentile. And he also anchors his covenant theology and his ministry to have a sequence to it, a principle of timing to it. Jesus is going to leave a full blown missionary journey to the Gentiles to the Apostle Paul. § But what about this specific gentile pagan woman in front of him. Who has heard that Jesus can save her daughter from this evil, unclean spirit. · #2 Testing: The Problem being shown by testing vv. 26b-27 And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. [27] And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” · She is earnest with him to save her daughter from evil, from suffering... · Jesus answer very carefully both truthfully speaks to the current situation that Israel is God’s covenant people. · But note two little details where Jesus is inviting her to wrestle with the Delay, the timing of Jesus’ salvation: “let the children be fed FIRST” FIRST ...We are not doing to deprive the bread, the Word of God going first to the God’s people, the children, the Jewish people...And that word fed has the same idea of “first eating their fill...until satisfaction like in the 5,000 being fed in Chapter 6.” · We cannot rob the children of eating what they desire first before the food is given to not children...and provocatively to be flung off the table to dogs... · And so she rightly pleads the response of faith. · But before we get to her answer, people ask: · What are we to do with Jesus’ non-committal response... o Jesus gives us an image of snatching bread from the children at the table and giving it to the dog under the table... § Children means God’s covenant people, the Children of Abraham, Israel. § Dogs is certainly not a compliment: She is a Gentile. This is indeed a reminder of the separation, there is a difference between being a part of God’s holy and set-apart people, and being an unclean pagan....the setting is softened by this being not wild dogs, but household dogs, those welcome to being around the family and table. § But still Jesus says, is it not right for the Children to be Fed first? · A close phrase may be, its not right to cut in line, but do you truly desire to be in line, the express lane and the slow lane all go to the same place, everyone rides the same rollercoaster in the end. o In Mk 7:27 Does Jesus have the right to “play out” the conversation to test faith? § Jesus’ words are distressing and many people through the years have objected or even accused Jesus of being in the wrong, a racist, a bigot...And this is serious, a charge of sin. § But we already noticed that Jesus is merely teaching, he is testing, he First, stated the focus of his earthly mission to Israel—He is stating redemptive timing and covenantal status, not ethnic bigotry or prejudice. § And he is second painting a scenario that acknowledges covenant priority, the “First language” and is putting the ball in the woman’s court. Just as God does in other places. · God asks Adam, “where are you?” he very well knows the answer · Jesus knows this woman, he is drawing out her faith, and it is teaching the onlooking disciples. o God the Father, and Jesus the Son do this regularly. If the hard word were sin, he would not be the Savior and God could not be a father whose word is living and active and able to test our hearts and reveal our sin. § Sometimes people fail the test Cain: “Where is Abel your brother?” (Gen 4:9). Same offer but met with a lie. § Abraham: you will have a son, and a delay of a years before it is fulfilled in order to teach us that salvation is by grace alone not our natural human effort our works. Abraham and Sarah endured pain to mature their faith and to teach every generation after them § Israel in the wilderness, 40 years.“that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart” (Deut 8:2). God already knew. The test made it visible, and trained them. § And in Mark already Jairus’ daughter....Jesus intentionally allows himself to be delayed that he might raise the daughter from the dead....The storm and the disciples: § In John’s gospel when Lazarus gets sick: “[Jesus] stayed two days longer in the place where he was” (Jn 11:6), explicitly “so that you may believe” (11:15). Love and delay stand in the same sentence (11:5–6). § To peter after he denied Christ, three times Peter: “Do you love me?” God ask questions whose answers he holds, to take our half-formed faith and clarify it. · The sinlessness of Jesus, the wisdom of Jesus, God’s pattern in the bible must shape our sensibilities; our American sensitivities to never inflicting short term pain for long-term health we not judge Jesus’ right to teach her and the disciples an important lesson about the importance of Faith and the means of Gentile salvation...We take it for granted Jesus knows the lesson that is needed. · But by the time this lesson is over the Pheonician woman is clearly better portrayed than the Pharisees. o Jesus honors the simple faith of a gentile woman o OVER the hypocritical “holiness” and covenantal status of the Pharisees...It is a matter of the heart and faith. Of a declaration of TRUST in Jesus to save · But what is Jesus getting her to reflect on? o Jesus by his statement is getting her (and the disciples listening) to ask, § What is the character of Jesus? § The Rule is Clear: God’s covenant people before the expansion to the Gentiles....But in his compassion, is Jesus the kind of person when presented with a present need, will show MERCY? o Yes, Absolutely Mark’s gospel has already said, § As this is intentionally shown toward the man with the withered hand healed on the sabbath, to the demoniac in chains, and over and over again. o William Hendrickson says, “Her God-given faith was strong enough to realize that Jesus was not turning her away. Overpowered by his love and tenderness, a compassionate attitude which even his apparent sternness was unable to hide.”(Hendrickson, 299). #3 Trusting: Her Response of faith trusts in Jesus’ mercy to Gentile Pagans vv. 28 [28] But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs [house dogs] under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” o Do we have a view of ourselves as sinners, our unearned status, as rebels...to see the hand being extended by Jesus to receive bread from the Lord.... o Humble persistency....even cheeky, bright, and simple faith is great faith. o Matt.15:28 Jesus makes it explicit that her declaration was one of “great faith” o She believed that she, though a gentile, would be saved. That salvation would overflow from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, to the ends of the earth even Pagan Tyre. The thesis of this passage is this: Salvation comes to the Gentiles through anyone trusting in Jesus for salvation. This means that: Regardless of our background, salvation is through Jesus....whether you grew up in the covenant or outside the covenant trust in Jesus and he desires to save you, he wants your heart, and your trust in him....Even if you are uncertain he wants you. He also wants you, like Jacob, to wrestle with him. To demand to be saved. Not because he isn’t willing and ready but because, I believe, he wants you to see your need, your desparate situation, That apart from him you are outside, but that he is the one bringing you in, reconciling you with God, and how sweet it is to be made a part of the family. We can also say when it comes to Christ saving you may not have grown up dining at the table getting the full meal all your life, but you can still be fed; salvation is overflowing from the table, and Christ saves. What does this reveal about the heart of Jesus? Jesus has the heart of the God who made gracious promises to Abraham and repeated them through his prophets Genesis 12:2–3 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. [3] I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (ESV) Isaiah 42:1, 4, 6 The LORD’s Chosen Servant [1] Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. (ESV) 42:4, the coastlands (Tyre, Sidon) wait for his law...42:6 God gives Jesus as the messiah as a covenant for the people (Israel) and “a light for the nations.” Just as Simeon knew and spoke as a blessing to God with baby Jesus in his arms,” (Luke 2:29–32) “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; [30] for my eyes have seen your salvation [31] that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, [32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (ESV) Where is this headed?? Matthew 28:19–20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV) ... for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17 ESV) Same words in Acts 10:43, “everyone who believes” whether Jew or Gentile, receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” ....So that by the time we get to Peter Acts 10:34, “God shows no favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” In the new covenant age God’s covenant people are a multi-national people, and we are children of Abraham by faith not by any ethnicity. Read all of Acts and Hebrews and Eph. 2:11-22 to see this clearly... And this woman is a foretaste of this salvation. By faith. #4 Jesus’ Deliverance in response to her faith (statement). V. 29-30 · [29] And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” [30] And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. · Instantaneous and from a distance: Jesus doesn’t have to have a power struggle with the demon...Jesus just says it is, as a past statement, and it is. · When you come to Christ and say, Jesus, I am a sinner, save me, you are saved. Your sins are forgiven; you arecleansed. o Anna and I have been pressure washing paint that is on brick. And we have had to try different solvents, and brush bristles, and some made no affect, some made it mostly clean...but its been a struggle will it ever be truly clean, keep working, keep cleaning, o ...But today, if you go to Christ and tell him of your sin and need. You are Forgiven. Cleansed. And are a righteous son or daughter of Jesus, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. You are clean. o And it happens “for this statement” her declaration of her heart and mouth... § It does not matter who calls upon the name of the LORD they will be saved. § Jew or Greek, male or female, child or old, we will be saved. § Satan has no right or power to possess someone who has trusted in Jesus. § This world has no claim on your nothing it can hold over your head to say, unclean. ...Because the holy spirit, unites us to Christ and presents us objectively, forensically as Righteous before the Father. § Your old heart is renewed by the Holy Spirit and IS new, the new man, the new woman, it is so. · DO you know anyone outside the promises and covenants? Who does not bear the name of Jesus? Salvation in Christ is offered to them. o And this woman really did believe Jesus. Because she left him behind to get back to her child, fully confident she had been delivered. § Let us likewise earnestly pray to the Lord Jesus for our children’s salvation, how much more for the salvation of our covenant children, who have inherited the promises of the covenant, sealed and signed in Baptism, and taught the faith from childhood. § And not ours only, for our children’s neighbors and friends entreat the Lord to save them to bring as many as are far off near. Acts 2:36–41 [36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” [37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” [38] And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Prayer | Benediction This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesensley.substack.com (https://jamesensley.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

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