For Initiative: Recent Episodes
Jonathan Mast
The For Initiative exists to help people know God and find purpose. Romans 11:36 says "For from Him and through Him and FOR Him are all things". In this simple verse we find the purpose of our existence and the motivation of everything that we do. We are created FOR GOD.
This message comes from Acts 8:25-40. Philip was a follower of Jesus who obediently and passionately lived out the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. Philip preached Jesus and repentance.
This message was given at the Women's SHARE Conference in Traverse City, MI in April of 2022.
This message comes from the gospel of John 20:1-18 where you find the first disciple Jesus commissioned after His resurrection, Mary Magdalene.
The message was given at the Women's SHARE Conference in Traverse City, MI in April of 2022.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Words have power. Even the simplest words can change the trajectory of your life. Words like go, blessing, gospel and victory can set a direction for your life and change the way you live each day.
Each month of 2021 we will explore 12 words and the scripture that teaches them to us. What you will find over and over again is that you need the Word to live by. The Word who made His dwelling among us (John 1), His name is Jesus.
Our speech is important to God. We are commanded numerous times through the book of James to bridle our tongue, add action to our words, and guard our mouth from saying things that are not truthful or that cut down and destroy. Today James gives a final exhortation concerning the oaths that we make and judgment we will face if they are not kept.
Welcome to WK 11 of Keep It Real. Here in James 5:7-11 we are taught that the believer’s life should be characterized by patience and steadfastness motivated by Jesus’s sovereignty and imminent return. While that 👍 sounds good 👍, each of us know we struggle with being 🥴 impatient and 😱 about many things. In this study James gives us four examples to follow as we endeavor to live our lives mindful of the Lord’s sovereignty and imminent return.
Our view of the future has great influence on where we place our assurance. James urges us to humbly view all of our days as lived under the sovereign will of the Lord.
Our passions and desires are at war within us, and we must fight against them. While pride, boasting and divisiveness mark worldly people, humility, obedience and repentance mark the godly.
Our words can be either a blessing or a curse to those around us. Believers must learn to control their tongues and use their words for good, not evil. In living out our lives, we can follow worldly wisdom that’s false or godly wisdom that’s true. We must examine every thought and deed by the Lord’s truth—the Word—and no other standard.
This is part two of our discussion through this often confused and misinterpreted passage of scripture. As we have said already, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone. We don’t work to be saved, we work because we are saved. Works don’t save us, but good works should follow true faith and make our faith profitable.
difficult passage of scripture we explore what James means within the context from which these words are given. From it we learn that although works don’t save us, good works should follow true faith. We don’t work to be saved, we work because we are saved.
The gospel is for everyone.
The body of Christ is made up of every tribe, tongue, the young and the old, the rich and the poor. When the local church looks like this, it baffles the world. The world cannot explain how people of different races, economic and social levels, and age groups can come together in love and harmony.
But, when we divide ourselves along these lines we are not representative of His kingdom. We sin when we show partiality to some over others, whether they are rich or poor or different in any other way. To favor some people and to disregard others based on outward factors is a terrible sin that plagued the early church in James’ day. It has plagued the church in every generation, because it stems from our own pride.
Let’s talk about it.
True belief causes Christians to live out their faith according to the Word. We don’t just passively hear the Word and receive it, rather action should always follow genuine heart change.
As believers, we will face trials and temptations in this world, and these hardships test our faith and dependence on God. But enduring adversity is ultimately for our joy.
Welcome to week one of KEEP IT REAL. We are so glad that you have taken the time to join this community ad study through this book of scripture with us. The book of James is filled with practical wisdom for Christians, calling us to live out genuine faith in Jesus Christ in response to the grace shown to us in Him. As we introduce this letter we ask the questions: Who was James? What did he mean by calling himself a slave? What does that mean for us today?
Welcome to Week 10 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 119 where we see that “The Bible is authoritative, reliable and powerful because it is TRUTH.”
There is nothing more authentic, genuine and real than the Word of God. There is nothing closer to reality than this word we hold in our hands. Let’s be those who delight in and hold out the gospel of Jesus "The way, the truth and the life".
Welcome to Week 9 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 107 where we see that we are to "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love (hesed) endures forever!"
We would love for you to be a part of our community meditating on the Psalms over the course of ten weeks. Join our facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826833757843862
Welcome to Week 8 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 96 where we see that “Your Words Reveal Your Worship”
We would love for you to be a part of our community meditating on the Psalms over the next ten weeks. Join our facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826833757843862
Welcome to Week 7 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 90 where we see that “Wisdom is found in the One who redeemed us from wrath.”
We would love for you to be a part of our community meditating on the Psalms over the next ten weeks. Join our facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826833757843862
Welcome to Week 6 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 80 where we see that “Restoration is found in the Shepherd, the Vine and the Son of Man”
We would love for you to be a part of our community meditating on the Psalms over the next ten weeks. Join our facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826833757843862
Welcome to Week 5 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 73 where we see that “Earthly envy Is Overcome by eternal expectation.”
We would love for you to be a part of our community meditating on the Psalms over the next ten weeks. Join our facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826833757843862
Welcome to Week 4 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 51 where we see that “Concealing sin promises repetition; confessing sin promises restoration.”
We would love for you to be a part of our community meditating on the Psalms over the next ten weeks. Join our facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826833757843862
Welcome to Week 3 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 43 where we see that “While there are some valid reasons for discouragement, there are many more reasons for hope”
We would love for you to be a part of our community meditating on the Psalms over the next ten weeks. Join our facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826833757843862
Welcome to Week 2 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 23 where we see that “The Good Shepherd leads us through prosperity and Pain for His good purpose”
We would love for you to be a part of our community meditating on the Psalms over the next ten weeks. Join our facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826833757843862
Welcome to Week 1 of our series Summer Psalms. In today’s episode we are exploring Psalm 1 where we see that “Delight in the world leads to death but delight in the Word leads to life.”
We would love for you to be a part of our community meditating on the Psalms over the next ten weeks. Join our facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826833757843862