Black Sheep Believers | EP 16 Prophecy

**Episode Summary: Your Front-Row Seat to Prophetic Insights!** In this episode, we dive headfirst into the wild world of self-control struggles (trust us, you're not alone!), emphasizing how crucial it is to keep that connection with Christ strong, especially when life throws you curveballs. Join us as we reminisce about our podcast journey, highlight the power of prayer, and unravel the compelling concept of prophecy—what it meant back in the day and how it still resonates in your life today! We explore the fascinating realm of spiritual gifts and the nitty-gritty of what it means to be a prophet.

Get ready to sharpen your discernment skills, because we’ll discuss how true prophecy should lead to transformation and blessings for your community, not just personal glory. We’ll also navigate the sometimes murky waters of dreams and visions, pointing out the potential pitfalls of deception lurking in the spiritual landscape. Whether you’re already well-versed in prophecy or just looking to enhance your ability to discern, we’re here to serve up insight with a fair dash of humor—you won’t want to miss it!

Takeaways

Self-control is often a struggle, but relationship with Christ helps.
Life responsibilities can feel overwhelming, especially with family.
Taking a break from the podcast can be a form of spiritual Sabbath.
Prayer and reflection are essential for personal growth.
Understanding prophecy requires education and discernment.
Spiritual gifts can grow and change over time.
The role of prophets is to remind people of God's words.
The Holy Spirit empowers everyone to use their gifts.
Encouragement is a key aspect of spiritual gifts.
Prophecy involves discernment and speaking truth in love. Prophets served as God's communication channel to His people.
Understanding the context of Old Testament prophecy is crucial.
Modern interpretations of dreams and visions vary widely.
Prophecy is not limited to a select few; it can be for all believers.
Discernment is essential to differentiate between true and false prophecies.
The enemy can distort spiritual gifts, leading to deception.
True prophecy should encourage community and transformation.
Personal experiences with God can validate the continuation of prophecy.
The purpose of prophecy is to bless others, not just the individual.
Awareness of the Spirit's work is vital for spiritual growth.

Chapters

00:00 The Struggle for Self-Control
02:50 Navigating Life's Responsibilities
05:58 The Importance of Prayer and Reflection
08:47 Embracing the Podcast Journey
11:09 Understanding Prophecy
15:02 Spiritual Gifts and Their Significance
20:11 The Role of Prophets in the Bible
29:46 The Functions of Prophecy
34:05 Understanding Prophecy and Its Impact
37:55 The Role of Prophets in the Old Testament
39:12 Modern Perspectives on Dreams and Visions
43:08 The Continuation of Prophecy Today
48:20 The Deception in Spiritual Gifts
54:00 Discernment in Prophetic Messages
01:00:40 The Purpose of Prophecy for the Community

Black Sheep Believers | EP 15 Spiritual Gifts

In this episode, the hosts dive into the world of spiritual gifts—like superhero powers, but for your soul! We chat about these gifts, share some personal stories, and discuss why it’s crucial to use them to help others instead of just showing off. Confidence in your identity in Christ? Check! Humility is not using your gifts for your glory? Double-check! They also tackle sprinkling these spiritual gifts into daily life and making the community thrive. From the cool variety of gifts out there to the awkwardness of figuring out how to use them, it’s a rollercoaster of laughs and insights. Oh, and there’s a fun chat about the gift of tongues—let’s say, it involves a lot of tongue-twisting! Ultimately, they remind us that humility and a little trust in the big guy upstairs go a long way in using these gifts effectively. Get ready to feel inspired and chuckle a bit along the way!

Takeaways

Spiritual gifts are skill sets needed to serve God's people.
Understanding spiritual gifts can inspire personal growth and service.
Confidence in one's gifts should be rooted in God's love.
Gifts should be used to serve others, not oneself.
Humility is essential in recognizing the source of one's gifts.
Personal experiences can shape the understanding of spiritual gifts.
The Holy Spirit guides the use of spiritual gifts.
Overusing gifts can lead to unintended consequences.
Self-awareness is crucial in navigating spiritual gifts.
Spiritual gifts evolve with one's relationship with God. Spiritual gifts serve the common good and edify the church.
Diversity in spiritual gifts is essential for community growth.
Receiving gifts from others is as important as giving.
Spiritual gifts should work in harmony, not cause division.
The gift of tongues can be a personal prayer language.
Discernment is crucial when encountering spiritual gifts.
We are vessels for God's gifts, not the source of them.
Our identity is rooted in Christ, not in our gifts.
Operating in gifts may require stepping outside of comfort zones.
Faith-building often comes from trusting God with our gifts.

Sound Bites

"What are spiritual gifts?"
"You can remember like I am highly favored."
"It's a good humbling experience."
"I have confidence in his love for me."
"Our gifts always serve someone else."
"Spiritual gifts are always for the common good."
"We're a very communal species."
"I felt like I was being channeled."
"God will use His Spirit to work through people."
"Let the Lord use your gifts."
"You are just a vessel."
"Your identity is in who Christ is."
"We can be so faithless."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Spiritual Gifts
04:51 Understanding Spiritual Gifts
10:06 Personal Experiences with Spiritual Gifts
15:04 The Role of Confidence in Spiritual Gifts
19:55 Navigating the Use of Spiritual Gifts
25:09 Practical Application of Spiritual Gifts
31:56 Understanding Spiritual Gifts and Their Purpose
36:15 The Diversity of Spiritual Gifts
41:27 Experiencing the Gift of Tongues
45:44 The Role of Community in Spiritual Gifts
50:34 Navigating the Challenges of Using Gifts
55:54 The Importance of Discernment in Spiritual Gifts
01:00:11 Finding Your Spiritual Gifts and Identity

Black Sheep Believers | EP 14 Idols & False gods

In this episode of the Black Sheep Believers podcast, Jess and Alysha tackle the tricky business of idols and idolatry—yes, those pesky things we cling to that might just be getting in the way of our relationship with God. They share some personal war stories about their own idols (spoiler: it gets real!), discuss the panic that comes with surrendering them, and how politics can sometimes feel like a faith test (yikes!). The convo is all about taking a good look at your life and asking, "What’s holding me back?" because we all could use a little divine makeover. Tune in for some laughs, real talk, and a reminder that transformation is just a relationship with God away!

Takeaways

Idols can be anything we place above God in importance.
Understanding idolatry requires self-reflection and honesty.
Biblical examples of idolatry illustrate the dangers of misplaced worship.
Modern-day idols can be less tangible and more insidious.
Auditing our lives for idols is a crucial spiritual practice.
Every sin can be categorized into three main areas: lust of the eyes, desires of the flesh, and pride of life.
Surrendering idols can lead to spiritual growth and freedom.
The church must address its own idols to better serve its community.
Politics can become an idol when it distracts from the core message of Jesus.
True transformation comes from a relationship with God, not just religious practices.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Idols and Idolatry
12:02 Understanding Idols: Definitions and Personal Reflections
21:46 Biblical Context of Idolatry
32:17 Modern-Day Idols and Their Impact
39:11 Understanding Idols and Their Impact
45:38 The Pursuit of Validation and Productivity
53:19 Politics and Idolatry in the Christian Community
01:01:54 The Call to Live Like Jesus
01:12:52 Scriptural Insights on Idolatry
01:20:23 BSB Episode 14 - Outro.mp4