Show Notes
Has friendship with Jesus felt like a distant, almost-impossible relationship—especially when you can’t see, touch, or hear Him? Today Kelly is walking through John 15:9-17 where we’ll study a fascinating conversation Jesus had with His disciples. Jesus called His followers friends and He did so right before He left them. This isn’t the timing you would expect. But we’ll find that even in Jesus’s physical absence, He intended His disciples to continue experiencing the blessings of being in a real, vibrant relationship with Himself. And He offers us the same. Today we’ll look at the blessings that come from a rich friendship with Christ—love, joy, never being alone, answered prayer, and a life that matters. Also, we’ll discover what it means to dwell in the blessings of His love. “A life of being in Christ is a life where you are never alone”
Scripture References John 15:9-17 John 15:8 Relevant Links *If you want to go deeper on this topic, check out Kelly’s Bible study called No Other Gods: The Unrivaled Pursuit Of Christ *Andrew Murray quote form his book, The True Vine . *D.A. Carson quote: The Gospel According to John *Tim Keller Twitter quote . *Sausage and Butternut Squash Risotto recipe
*Sign up for Kelly’s newsletter at Kellyminter.com and receive a 21-Day Devotional called The Blessed Life for a limited time.
Socials *Subscribe to accessmore.com or wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. *Follow Kelly on Instagram at Kelly_Minter. Or Facebook at KellyMinterAuthor . *Kelly works closely with Justice & Mercy International in the Amazon and in Moldova. You can check out their work here: justiceandmercy.org. *If you like the opening music to The Cultivate Podcast you can find it on Kelly’s record Hymns & Hallelujahs . The song is Time For Singing.
More from Cultivate with Kelly Minter
We’re back in the book of Ezra, walking with the exiles who answered the call to return to Jerusalem. For most of them, staying would have been easier. Just like the Jews in the Old Testament it’s easy to stay in our comfort zones, forgetting the privilege of sacrificing for God's call on our lives. In today’s episode, we’re talking about the high call of studying and obeying God’s word, living a life worthy of our call, and giving our all for Christ. And we’ll remember that nothing can be accomplished without the grace of God in our lives. Episode Points You can only obey what you know, and you can only teach what you’ve obeyed. God’s call on your life will require sacrifice. But it’s worth it! Since we’re called to handle holy things, we must live holy lives. Your calling can only be accomplished by God’s grace. Scripture References Ezra 7:1-6, 10 Ezra 7:13, 27-28 Ezra 8:15 Ezra 8:28-29 Ezra 9:8-9
It’s all too easy to hang on to the old when God is doing a new thing. In today’s episode, we’re looking at the exiles’ return to Jerusalem to rebuild God’s temple. Some had hoped God would help them rebuild what they had before. What the people didn’t understand is that God was doing a new thing. Like the exiles, sometimes we look around at what’s broken-down or overgrown in our lives, and we can’t imagine that God wants (and is able) to do something new. Today’s episode will encourage you to embrace “the day of small things,” to get going with what God wants you to do even if things aren’t “just right,” and to remember that just because we face opposition, it doesn’t mean God’s call on our lives has ceased.
Today we’re talking about the power—and challenge—of forgiveness, and why it’s so essential. Unforgiveness causes division in our relationships, is a strategy of the enemy, and disrupts our intimacy with Christ. On the positive side, Jesus empowers us to forgive, desires that we’re free from bitterness and anger, and loves reconciliation. Also, He is able to bring about justice. If forgiveness is essential, why is it so hard? In this episode, we’ll examine three reasons that make it challenging, as well as several benefits. Ultimately we’ll discover that forgiving others isn’t only a gift to the person who hurt us, but it’s one of God’s gifts to us.
Today we’re looking at the liberating healing of Jesus, and how that healing can sometimes be disruptive. Be encouraged, if the healing Jesus is bringing you is uncomfortable or even painful, you’re on the right path. If we’re honest, we often want His healing, but we want it on our terms. In this episode, we’ll confront the ways our unhealthy habits keep us from the good work He wants to do in our lives. Are we willing to abandon our own plans and comforts so that He can fully lead and have authority in our lives? Will we offer up all areas of our lives so that we can most experience His abundant life? We’re going to challenge ourselves to answer these difficult questions and find true freedom in giving it all over to Jesus, the One who is worth our all. I hope this episode will encourage you to surrender more fully to Him.
Today we’re looking at the significance of the cross and what it means for us. What specifically did the cross accomplish? Why was it necessary? And what hope does it offer for the present? We’re going to dive in deep (get ready for some big words!) as we talk about how Jesus acted as our substitute, not only taking our sin upon Himself on the cross, but wiping it out completely. And by doing so, freely bringing us into relationship with Himself. You’ll be blessed by this closer look at Jesus’s death on the cross and His love for you.