The ALIVEcast: Recent Episodes
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“Young man, young woman, the Bible must be your chart, and you must exercise great watchfulness that your way may be according to its directions. You must pay attention to your daily life, as well as study your Bible, and you must study your Bible so that you can pay attention to your daily life." - Charles Spurgeon
To Ponder: Can you think of any stories in the Bible where people are sustained by God’s word in suffering, or mockery, or a long journey, or through the night?
To practice: Is there a particular Christian song you love? Spend some time listening to and meditating upon God’s word through song today.
To pray: Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord;
and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of thy only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
To Ponder: Do you think all the different words used for God’s word are all the same or do they have slightly different meanings?
To practice: Pay attention to the different rules you need to follow today. What makes different rules restrictive in good ways, and what rules are restrictive in bad ways?
To pray: Dear God. To know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom. Amen.
To ponder: What selfish gain and worthless things are most tempting for you?
To practice: Take a moment to pray and ask for God’s help. Pray for him to teach you, to give you understanding, to change your heart, to keep you from temptation and to forgive your sin.
To pray: God, you have promised to do all these things. Please keep your promise! Amen.
To ponder: In what ways can you feel like dust? How do you resonate with the psalmist’s feelings of misunderstanding, or weariness, or deceitfulness?
To practice: Are there ways that you can come alongside another believer to help and strengthen them? Try to do that practically for one person over the next few days.
To Pray: Lord, I am weak. But with your help I want to run on your path. Amen.
To ponder: Does all this talk of paths and ways remind you of anything Jesus said? Today you could check out Matthew 7:13-14.
To practice: Walking God’s way can be hard. How can you encourage another Christian today to keep going on the right path?
To pray: Dear God, Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Amen
To ponder: People often think of purity as something stuffy or restrictive? How do these verses show us that purity is something glorious and good?
To practice: Is there a verse from the Bible that you can memorise? Meditate on it, learn to say it out loud, hide it in your heart.
To Pray: Guide me, O my great Redeemer, as I travel through this world. Amen.
To Ponder: Why do you think there is often such a gap between what we know about God’s Word in our heads and how we put that into practice?
To Practice: Verse 1 and verse 5 talk about our “ways”. Pay attention to your ways today (the way you talk, the way you listen, the way you treat people around you, the way you work, etc.). What do you notice? What words other than blameless or steadfast might you use to describe your ways?
To Pray: Oh God! These promises are so good! And so I pray that I would take these promises to heart and put them into practice. Please make my ways steadfast by helping me to walk according to your Word. Amen.
To Ponder: How would you describe your attitude to God’s Word? Are you more of a serious reflect-y type, or a joyful delight-y type? How might God grow you through reflecting on this gem of a Psalm?
To Practice: Skim over the Psalm if you have time. What things stand out to you at a glance.
To Pray: God who speaks. Help me to love listening to your Word. Amen.
Almighty God, Glorious and Good,
We praise you for your radiant and spreading glory. That you are pleased to reveal yourself to people like us. Thank you for sending Jesus, your one and only Son so that we might truly know who you are and be a part of your family. Help us to fear your Glory, and never doubt your Goodness.
Amen
A Practice
Each night as you go to sleep this week, give thanks to God that he is with you, and ask that he will be with you through the night, and into the day that is to come.
A Prayer for Today
Lord God of Heaven,
Thank you for the precious promise of your presence. Thank you for the fulfilment of this promise in the coming of Christ and the gift of your Spirit. Help me to live today in the knowledge that you are with me wherever I go. Amen
A Practice
Over your holidays, see if you can notice where the world is telling you to make a name for yourself. Remember that God has given you a greater name in Jesus.
A Prayer
Humble God,
I am sorry for all the ways I try to climb up to you and make a name for myself. Thank you for coming down. Thank you for not judging me as I deserve, but saving me and giving me Christ’s name. Today, help me to rest in all that I have through the Lord Jesus, and to follow his way of humble service.
Amen
A Practice
When you face a temptation to act or speak selfishly in the next few days, remind yourself that Jesus has come, and that the serpent’s head has been crushed. And you too can crush the serpent’s head under your feet! (Seriously, check out Romans 16:20)
A Prayer
Faithful God,
We praise you for not forgetting your first good news promise. Thank you for sending Jesus to do what no other human could do: crush the head of the serpent and set us free from the devil’s tyranny. In temptation today, help me to remember that Christ has come, and victory has been won.
Amen
A Pondering
If Jesus met you around the fire and raised the greatest sins of your life what you be talking about? Try to imagine what it would be like to have all your awkwardness and shame totally overwhelmed by Jesus’ grace.
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that Jesus came to bring grace upon grace to sinful people like Peter, and like me. Thank you that Jesus knows the very worst of me, and loves me still. Thank you that Jesus is my friend who feeds me and please help me to follow him. Amen.
A Pondering
Some people give Thomas a tough time (after all he’s seen how can he forget so quickly what Jesus promised!), others think that he’s just a rational person who is understandably looking for evidence…what do you think about poor old doubting Thomas?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that your Holy Spirit led John into all truth, helping him to write down the good news of his gospel. Please may your Holy Spirit lead me into all truth, that I would believe that Jesus is your son and my Messiah, and that I would have life in his name. Amen
A Pondering
John 20 begins with a comment about the time of the day, and the day of the week. How does this bring to glorious fulfilment the themes of light and dark we’ve noticed throughout John’s gospel?
A Prayer
Dear God, we praise you for Jesus, our teacher and King, our saviour and friend. Thank you that he is stronger than death, thank you that he conquered the grave. And thank you that he seeks me out and knows me by name. Amen
“The glory of God shines, indeed, in all creatures on high and below, but never more brightly than in the cross, in which there was a wonderful change of things — the condemnation of all people was made clear, sin blotted out, salvation restored to humanity; in short, the whole world was renewed and all things restored to order.” These are the words of John Calvin, and old dead guy from around 500 years ago. But they pick up on something we have been learning over the last few weeks: there is no greater moment of glory than the gory death of Jesus on the cross.
So on this episode, we’re reversing the order of the ALIVEcast. We’re going to start with a pondering and prayer, skip a point, then simply read the passage. So let’s pray:
Glorious God, please may your Spirit lead me into all truth as I read your Word now. Help me to behold the glory of Jesus in his death, and to marvel at my salvation. Deepen my trust in Christ and his cross, that I might receive him and all the benefits of his death. Amen.
I’m going to read John 19, and as you listen, why don’t you ponder how John’s description makes you feel, and how the death of Jesus brings together many of the themes we have noticed so far in John’s gospel?
A Pondering
In what ways does fear stop us from living the way that Christ wants us to live? How does a deep understanding of God's kingdom free us from fear and help us to live for Jesus?
A Prayer
Father, help us to always know that your kingdom is better than anything this world can offer. Help us to live free, fearless and radically generous lives, knowing that what we have in this world belongs to you, and what you have in store for us is far greater than we can ever begin to understand or imagine. Amen.
A Pondering
When the soldiers come to arrest Jesus, he asks his accusers to let his disciples go. What does this interaction teach us about the coming death of Jesus?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess that in this story I stand with Judas and Peter, the Religious leaders and Rome. My sin is the reason that Jesus had to die. I thank you so much that Jesus willingly laid his life down for me, so that despite all of my sin I could go free. Amen.
A Pondering
Look again at what Jesus prays for us. How are those things similar or different to what we might pray for ourselves sometimes?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, who is able to save us completely because he always lives to intercede for us. Please encourage me to pray knowing that Jesus is always praying with me. Please help me know that I am one with you, and that I share in your love. Please hear me and answer me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
A Pondering
What do you think it means for Jesus to say that glory has come to him, through his disciples? (Full disclosure, I don’t really have any idea, I’m really interested in what you think it means!)
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, we praise you that there is no difference between what you are like on the outside and who you are on the inside. Thank you that your heart is full of grace and love for undeserving disciples. Thank you for revealing that in your prayers, and thank you for revealing it even more in your death. Amen
A Pondering
Does Jesus’ definition of eternal life in verse 3 surprise you? How is this different to some of the other ways we could think about eternal life?
A Prayer
*Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be your Name.
Your Kingdom come, your Will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
Forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory are yours,
Now and forever,
Amen*
A Pondering
Join the disciples in pondering what Jesus means when he says ‘a little while’…
A Prayer
Dear God, Father, Son and Spirit, I marvel at your greatness. You are beyond my understanding and totally worthy of my worship. Thank you for overcoming the world through Jesus’ death, and thank you for dwelling in my heart by the Spirit. Please lead me into all truth, and help me in every trouble. Amen.
A Pondering
It’s pretty amazing that Jesus doesn’t call his disciples his servants but his friends. What difference do you think this makes to our understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus?
A Prayer
Dear Jesus, Lord and Friend, thank you for opening up the way for me to live with you. Thank you for promising to live with me. Help me every day and every moment to stick with you, trusting that you will always stick with me. Amen
A Pondering
Twice Jesus says in this chapter “do not let your hearts be troubled.” What does Jesus say in this chapter that will help us to have untroubled hearts in a world full of trouble?
A Prayer
Father in heaven, on my own I couldn’t find my way to you, I can’t know the truth about you, and I could never earn life from you. Thank you for Jesus, who IS the way, the truth and the life. Help me to trust in you, and trust in him. Amen.
A Pondering
At the end of verse 30, John tells us the very small detail: “And it was night.” How does this add to our understanding of the themes of light and darkness which we have noticed throughout John’s gospel?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess that like Peter, I can desire to serve Jesus with everything I have, but completely let him down. Thank you that Jesus came to lay his life down for me, not the other way around. Help me to receive the love of Jesus, and to follow his command to love, so that the world would know I am his disciple. Amen.
For more information about the Entr'acte 😂 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entr%27acte
A Pondering
Jesus says in verse 14 that we should now, wash one another’s feet? Sounds pretty gross! Even if we’re not literally meant to kick off our Birkenstocks and scrub each other’s toes, what does this story teach us about how we’re meant to serve each other as followers of Jesus?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you that Jesus took on the nature of a servant and humbled himself even to the point of death on a cross. Thank you for this perfect love. Help me to receive Jesus’ love and then live it out in my life every day. Amen
A Pondering
John says that Isaiah prophesied about all this when he “saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.” How should that verse impact the way that we read the OT?
A Prayer
I praise you Lord Jesus for driving out the devil by your death. I praise you for drawing me to yourself through the cross. I praise you for your glory. Amen
A Pondering
How can we show how important and worthy Jesus is to us, just like Mary did?
A Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank you for Jesus and we praise you that he is worthy. We thank you that he is humble and that he sacrificed himself for us. I pray that you would give us real, true and sincere faith, like Mary. And that you would always be making us more and more thankful for what Jesus has done for us. Amen
A Pondering
Look back over John 11 in your Bible. What is your favourite part of this amazing chapter and the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead?
A Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, no one takes your life from you, you lay it down willingly in order to save the world. Thank you that you chose to die so that I might live. Amen.
You can find out more about Rebecca McLaughlin's really great book here: 10 Questions Every Teenager Should Ask (and answer) About Christianity
A Pondering
What do you think of Rebecca McLaughlin’s answer to the questions we asked in this episode? What would you say if a friend asked you why Jesus allows his people to suffer today?
A Prayer
We thank you, heavenly Father, that you always work for the good of those who love you. We thank you that nothing can ever seperate us from your love, not even death. Most of all we thank you for Jesus, the resurrection and the life. Please help us to trust in him, even in those times when we can’t make sense of the sad things around us and in our lives. Amen.
A Pondering
This is not the first time that we’re told Jesus “escaped the grasp” of those trying to seize him. As we draw closer to the death of Jesus, what do these little remarks teach us about who Jesus is and what he came to do?
A Prayer
Jesus, Lord and friend. May I hear your voice and follow your steps. May I receive your life and trust in your love. “I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” Amen.
Shoutout to https://amenworldwide.com for the sweet beats used during the ALIVEcast. Check them out for lots of good Christian music. Also shoutout to Ronan for the thoughtful reflection on these iconic verses from John's gospel. With Jesus the Good Shepherd, it aint so bad to be a sheep!
A Pondering
It is a classic misunderstanding that faith means believing something despite the evidence. What does this passage tell us about the nature of Christian faith? (Hint: who are those ignoring the evidence in this case?!)
A Prayer
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see. Amen
A Pondering
It’s pretty intense for Jesus to call the Pharisees children of the devil. Yikes! How does a harsh truth like that fit with the grace and love of Jesus?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess that I am often captive to sin, that I’m too full of myself to make room for your word, that I can even listen to the devil’s lies rather than your truth. Please forgive me, please set me free, and help me to receive and obey Jesus’ life-giving words, Amen.
A Pondering
What are all the ways that people are in darkness? How does Jesus, the light of the world, help people who are stuck in the dark?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, the light of the world. Thank you that you sent him into this dark world to reveal the truth, and to rescue us from the dark. Please help me to listen to Jesus, and believe everything that he tells me. Amen.
A Pondering
You’ll notice in your Bible that these verses are not found in the earliest manuscripts of John’s gospel. Does this sound to you like something that Jesus would have said and done. What does the fact they put this information about the early manuscripts of John right there in our Bibles teach us about how we approach the Bible?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, I am sorry I am often quick to point out the sin of others than to see my own. Thank you that Jesus, the only person who could condemn me, was willing to die in order to save me. Amen.
A Pondering
Is there someone in your life that is searching for answers about who Jesus is? Spend some time praying for them now, and think of some ways that you could help them to “hear him and find out what Jesus has been doing.”
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, please help me to always keep listening to Jesus and find out who he is and what he has been doing. I pray for people who are still searching, that they would come to know and believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Amen.
A Pondering
Many of Jesus’ brothers and family members eventually did believe Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God, and became leaders in the early church. How might that fact give us confidence in the truth of Jesus’ claims?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, please help us to stop judging by mere appearances and to judge correctly. Help us to follow the evidence that we might know and believe for ourselves that Jesus is the one sent by you to save the world. Amen
A Pondering
What things in your life do you think must be worth something before God? What might it mean for you to realise that “the flesh counts for nothing.”
A Prayer
Lord, I can’t know you by myself, I can earn eternal life by myself, I can’t satisfy all my deepest longings, I can’t even come to you unless you call me. Where else can I go, you alone have the words of eternal life. Please help to me accept this. Please help me to believe and to know that Jesus is the Holy One of God. Amen.
A Pondering
The crowds and Jesus both talk about the bread called manna that the Israelites ate in the wilderness. Take some time to read about that story in Exodus 16. How does that help us understand what Jesus means when he calls himself the bread of life, and the grumbling reaction of the crowds.
A Prayer
God of heaven. Please help me to not love the gifts of Jesus more than the giver. Help me to seek Jesus and to find all my satisfaction in knowing him. Amen
A Pondering
Why do you think Jesus withdrew when he sensed the crowds wanted to force him to be king? What does this teach us about who Jesus is and what he came to do?
A Prayer
Dear God, please give to me an ever growing experience of looking to Jesus, and finding in him everything I need. Help me to hear his voice in every circumstance and to go forward in the peace of his presence and protection. Amen.
A Pondering
What are some ways that we can make sure we keep clinging to Jesus as we read and understand more and more of the Bible?
A Prayer
Dear God, we thank you so much for the Bible, that in it you speak to us and tell us everything we need to know about Jesus. Please help me to love reading the Bible, please help me to understand it more and more. And most of us please help me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, and to love him more than everything else. Amen.
A Pondering
The healing of the paralysed man took place on the Sabbath and this caused OUTRAGE! Why do you think Jesus didn’t just wait until the next day and avoid all the controversy?
A Prayer
Dear God, we praise you for sending Jesus to reveal exactly what you are like. Please help us to believe his word, to believe you, and so to avoid judgement and cross over from death to life. Amen.
A Pondering
Are there words of Jesus that you struggle to believe? What might it mean for you to take Jesus at his word in that particular area?
A Prayer
Dear God, we praise you that Jesus gives life — full life now, and full life even in the face of death. Please help me to take the words of Jesus more seriously than anything else, that I would always keep coming to him and always keep listening to him. Amen.
A Pondering
Is there someone in your life that you think would never become a Christian? Maybe you could pray now that Jesus would puzzle you by revealing himself to them and persuading them to believe?
A Prayer
Dear God, we praise you for the bombshell of your grace that you reveal in Jesus. Please puzzle us by reaching out to surprising people. Help us to proclaim what you have done to us. And please persuade many people to believe in Jesus, and receive life in his name. Amen.
A Pondering
A few days ago we heard about Nicodemus who met Jesus at night. And now this woman who meets Jesus in the middle of the day. What other differences do you notice between these two conversations Jesus had with two very different people?
A Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the gift of totally refreshing and completely satisfying living water that Jesus brings. And thank you for Jesus who fulfils our every desire and answers our every question. Please give to me this gift, in the name of Jesus the giver. Amen.
A Pondering
What do you think it would mean for you to decrease and Jesus to increase at school, or on social media, or at youth group?
A Prayer
Dear God, thank you that you have placed everything in Jesus’ hands, and that he uses everything you have given to him generously, for our good. We pray that Jesus would go viral in our day, for our good, and for his ever-increasing glory. Amen.
A Pondering
John 3:16 is one of the most famous verses in the whole Bible. Why do you think it it is such a popular verse for Christians all around the world?
A Prayer
Dear God, thank you for so loving the world that you gave your one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Please help me live my life now in the light with Jesus. Amen.
A Pondering
First impressions are a big deal. What stands out to you the most from Jesus’ introduction in John chapter 2?
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, that you that Jesus came to bring complete joy and perfect justice. Thank you that he died and rose again so that we can know your grace and truth. Amen.
A Pondering
What’s your favourite thing about following Jesus? How could you invite someone to “come and see” what you have found in Jesus?
A Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the people in my life who have shared Jesus with me. Please give me such joy in knowing Jesus that I can’t help but tell others to “come and see”. Amen.
A Pondering
In what ways is John’s job completely unique? In what ways to all Christian’s everywhere share in John’s job?
A Prayer
Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you that he is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Thank you that John pointed people to him, and we ask that you would help us to point others to him in our lives, too. Amen
A Pondering
In verses 9-13 John introduces the different responses people have to Jesus. Some people do not recognise him, and do not receive him. Others do receive him and believe in his name. What do you think it means to receive Jesus, and believe in his name?
A Prayer
Everlasting God, no one has ever seen you, and on our own we can’t figure out who you are and what you’re like. Thank you so much that Jesus came down to make you known. Thank you that he came full of grace and truth. Amen.