<p>Christians are called to be different, but in a good way, and to shine like stars in the dark world. Tune into this episode to get encouraged to keep on being different for Jesus!</p> <p><br></p> <p>For all other episodes and more, check out our website at <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/thewordonthestreetpodcast.com">thewordonthestreetpodcast.com </a></p> <p>Follow Anna on her <strong>Facebook Page</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast">here</a></p> <p>Join The Word On The Street Podcast conversation on our <strong>Facebook group</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543910553118656">here</a></p> <p>Follow<strong> The Word On The Street Podcast </strong>on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast/">here</a></p> <p>Click <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-word-on-the-street/id1500950080">here to leave a review </a>on Apple Podcasts</p> <p><br></p> <p>Here are the bible verses quoted in today's episode:</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Philippians 2:15b-16</strong></p> <p>You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything they can say is wrong. Try to shine as stars in the world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life. Then on the day when Christ returns, I can take pride in you. I can also know that my work and efforts were not useless.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Today's Questions:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>What is it that you might do to show God that you are shining like a star in the world for him?</strong></li> <li><strong>What things might make it hard to shine like stars?</strong></li> </ul>

<p>We imitate all kinds of people in life, some on purpose and some accidentally. In this episode we discover who Paul encourages us to copy someone who considers others as more important than themselves - Jesus!</p> <p><br></p> <p>For all other episodes and more, check out our website at <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/thewordonthestreetpodcast.com">thewordonthestreetpodcast.com </a></p> <p>Follow Anna on her <strong>Facebook Page</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast">here</a></p> <p>Join The Word On The Street Podcast conversation on our <strong>Facebook group</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543910553118656">here</a></p> <p>Follow<strong> The Word On The Street Podcast </strong>on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast/">here</a></p> <p>Click <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-word-on-the-street/id1500950080">here to leave a review </a>on Apple Podcasts</p> <p><br></p> <p>Here are the bible verses quoted in today's episode:</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Philippians 2:3-11</strong></p> <p>Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about others as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought:</p> <p>Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain<br>    equal with God.</p> <p>Instead he gave up everything<br>    and became a slave, when he became<br>    like one of us.</p> <p>Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died<br>    on a cross.</p> <p>Then God gave Christ<br>    the highest place and honored his name<br>    above all others.</p> <p>So at the name of Jesus<br>    everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth,<br>    and under the earth.</p> <p>And to the glory<br>    of God the Father everyone will openly agree,<br>    “Jesus Christ is Lord!”</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Today's Questions:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>How can you ensure that Jesus is your role model?</strong></li> <li><strong>What is something you can do in the next hour to someone to show that you are being like Jesus and putting someone else first?</strong></li> <li><strong>Pray that God can help you because, due to our sinful natures, it is only possible with God.</strong></li> </ul>

<p>In this episode we dive into the first chapter of Philippians where Paul encourages his readers to continue helping him in the work of spreading the good news. What a fantastic goal for anyone who follows Jesus!</p> <p><br></p> <p>For all other episodes and more, check out our website at <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/thewordonthestreetpodcast.com">⁠thewordonthestreetpodcast.com ⁠</a></p> <p>Follow Anna on her <strong>Facebook Page</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast">⁠here⁠</a></p> <p>Join The Word On The Street Podcast conversation on our <strong>Facebook group</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543910553118656">⁠here⁠</a></p> <p>Follow<strong> The Word On The Street Podcast </strong>on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast/">⁠here⁠</a></p> <p>Click <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-word-on-the-street/id1500950080">⁠here to leave a review ⁠</a>on Apple Podcasts</p> <p><br></p> <p>Here are the bible verses quoted in today's episode:</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Philippians 1:3-7</strong></p> <p>Every time I think of you, I thank my God.<strong> </strong>And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Philippians 1:17-21</strong></p> <p>Some are preaching about Christ because they are jealous and envious of us. Others are preaching because they want to help.<strong> </strong>They love Christ and know I am here to defend the good news about him. But the ones who are jealous of us are not sincere. They just want to cause trouble for me while I am in jail.<strong> </strong>But that doesn't matter. All that matters is that people are telling about Christ, whether they are sincere or not. This is what makes me glad.</p> <p>I will keep on being glad, because I know that your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Christ Jesus will keep me safe.<strong> </strong>I honestly expect and hope I will never do anything to be ashamed of. Whether I live or die, I always want to be as brave as I am now and bring honor to Christ.</p> <p>If I live, it will be for Christ, and if I die, I will gain even more.</p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Today's Questions:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Why might a Christian have spreading the gospel as one of their goals in life?</li> <li>If you had a friend who asked, “What you have to believe if you want to be a Christian?” what would you say? And if you want to, do a role play now, taking turns to be the friend.</li> </ul> <p><br></p>

<p>Before diving into Paul's letter to the Philippians, we take an episode to discover what happened when he visited the town of Philippi and learn about all the adventures Paul and Silas had! Enjoy this episode as a prelude to the upcoming series on Philippians.</p> <p><br></p> <p>For all other episodes and more, check out our website at <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/thewordonthestreetpodcast.com">thewordonthestreetpodcast.com </a></p> <p>Follow Anna on her <strong>Facebook Page</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast">here</a></p> <p>Join The Word On The Street Podcast conversation on our <strong>Facebook group</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543910553118656">here</a></p> <p>Follow<strong> The Word On The Street Podcast </strong>on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast/">here</a></p> <p>Click <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-word-on-the-street/id1500950080">here to leave a review </a>on Apple Podcasts</p> <p><br></p> <p>Here is the bible verse quoted in today's episode:</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Acts 16:13-40</strong></p> <p>We spent several days in Philippi.<strong> </strong>Then on the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to a place by the river, where we thought there would be a Jewish meeting place for prayer. We sat down and talked with the women who came.<strong> </strong>One of them was Lydia, who was from the city of Thyatira and sold expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of the Lord God, and he made her willing to accept what Paul was saying.<strong> </strong>Then after she and her family were baptized, she kept on begging us, “If you think I really do have faith in the Lord, come stay in my home.” Finally, we accepted her invitation.</p> <p>One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners.<strong> </strong>The girl followed Paul and the rest of us, and she kept yelling, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved.”</p> <p>This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone!” At once the evil spirit left her.</p> <p>When the girl's owners realized they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court. They told the officials, “These Jews are upsetting our city! They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do.”</p> <p>The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip.<strong> </strong>After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully.<strong> </strong>The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.</p> <p>About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened.<strong> </strong>Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.</p> <p>When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself.<strong> </strong>But Paul shouted, “Don't harm yourself! No one has escaped.”</p> <p>The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas.<strong> </strong>After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?”</p> <p>They replied, “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.”</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Today's Questions:</strong></p> <ul> <li>When people hear the good news that Jesus died for their sins so that they can have eternal life, they all have different reactions. Discuss together what Lydia’s reaction was, the jailer’s reaction and the owner of the slave girl’s reaction?</li> <li>What is your reaction? </li> <li>What are your friends’ reactions?</li> </ul>

<p>For all other episodes and more, check out our website at <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/thewordonthestreetpodcast.com">thewordonthestreetpodcast.com </a></p> <p>Follow Anna on her <strong>Facebook Page</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast">here</a></p> <p>Join The Word On The Street Podcast conversation on our <strong>Facebook group</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543910553118656">here</a></p> <p>Follow<strong> The Word On The Street Podcast </strong>on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast/">here</a></p> <p>Click <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-word-on-the-street/id1500950080">here to leave a review </a>on Apple Podcasts</p> <p><br></p> <p>Here are the bible verses quoted in today's episode:</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Mark 7:1-23</strong></p> <p>Some Pharisees and several teachers of the Law of Moses from Jerusalem came and gathered around Jesus.<strong> </strong>They noticed that some of his disciples ate without first washing their hands.</p> <p>The Pharisees and many others obey the teachings of their ancestors. They always wash their hands in the proper way before eating.<strong> </strong>None of them will eat anything they buy in the market until it is washed. They also follow a lot of other teachings, such as washing cups, pitchers, and bowls.</p> <p>The Pharisees and teachers asked Jesus, “Why don't your disciples obey what our ancestors taught us to do? Why do they eat without washing their hands?”</p> <p>Jesus replied:</p> <p>You are nothing but show-offs! The prophet Isaiah was right when he wrote that God had said,</p> <p>“All of you praise me<br>    with your words,<br> but you never really<br>    think about me.</p> <p>It is useless for you<br>    to worship me,<br> when you teach rules<br>    made up by humans.”</p> <p>You disobey God's commands in order to obey what humans have taught. You are good at rejecting God's commands so that you can follow your own teachings! Didn't Moses command you to respect your father and mother? Didn't he tell you to put to death all who curse their parents? But you let people get by without helping their parents when they should. You let them say that what they own has been offered to God.You won't let those people help their parents.<strong> </strong>And you ignore God's commands in order to follow your own teaching. You do a lot of other things just as bad.</p> <p>Jesus called the crowd together again and said, “Pay attention and try to understand what I mean.<strong> </strong>The food that you put into your mouth doesn't make you unclean and unfit to worship God. The bad words that come out of your mouth are what make you unclean.”</p> <p>After Jesus and his disciples had left the crowd and gone into the house, they asked him what these sayings meant. He answered, “Don't you know what I am talking about by now? You surely know that the food you put into your mouth cannot make you unclean. It doesn't go into your heart, but into your stomach, and then out of your body.” By saying this, Jesus meant that all foods were fit to eat.</p> <p>Then Jesus said:</p> <p>What comes from your heart is what makes you unclean. Out of your heart come evil thoughts, vulgar deeds, stealing, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, greed, meanness, deceit, indecency, envy, insults, pride, and foolishness.<strong> </strong>All of these come from your heart, and they are what make you unfit to worship God.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Today's Questions:</strong></p> <ul> <li>What unclean things do you remember from Jesus list? Was there anything that you think might be in your heart that you want to get out?</li> <li>If there was a list of good things in your heart, what might be in that list?</li> <li>Does doing good things get us eternal life with God? If not, what does?</li> </ul>

<p>For all other episodes and more, check out our website at <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/thewordonthestreetpodcast.com">thewordonthestreetpodcast.com </a></p> <p>Follow Anna on her <strong>Facebook Page</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast">here</a></p> <p>Join The Word On The Street Podcast conversation on our <strong>Facebook group</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543910553118656">here</a></p> <p>Follow<strong> The Word On The Street Podcast </strong>on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast/">here</a></p> <p>Click <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-word-on-the-street/id1500950080">here to leave a review </a>on Apple Podcasts</p> <p><br></p> <p>Here are the bible verses quoted in today's episode:</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: 1 Kings 16:33</strong></p> <p>Ahab did more to make the Lord God of Israel angry than any king of Israel before him.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: 1 Kings 17:1</strong></p> <p>One day Elijah went to King Ahab and said, “I'm a servant of the living Lord, the God of Israel. And I swear in his name that it won't rain until I say so. There won't even be any dew on the ground.”</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: 1 Kings 18:1</strong></p> <p> For three years no rain fell in Samaria, and there was almost nothing to eat anywhere. The Lord said to Elijah, “Go and meet with King Ahab. I will soon make it rain.” So Elijah went to see Ahab. </p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Mark 4:35-41</strong></p> <p>That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let's cross to the east side.” So they left the crowd, and his disciples started across the lake with him in the boat. Some other boats followed along. Suddenly a storm struck the lake. Waves started splashing into the boat, and it was about to sink.</p> <p>Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don't you care that we're about to drown?”</p> <p>Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm.</p> <p>Jesus asked his disciples, “Why were you afraid? Don't you have any faith?”</p> <p>Now they were more afraid than ever and said to each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Mark 6:45-52</strong></p> <p>At once, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and start back across to Bethsaida. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. Then he told them goodbye and went up on the side of a mountain to pray.</p> <p>Later in the evening he was still there by himself, and the boat was somewhere in the middle of the lake.<strong> </strong>He could see that the disciples were struggling hard, because they were rowing against the wind. Not long before morning, Jesus came toward them. He was walking on the water and was about to pass the boat.</p> <p>When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost, and they started screaming. All of them saw him and were terrified. But at this same time he said, “Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid.”<strong> </strong>He then got into the boat with them, and the wind died down. The disciples were completely confused. Their minds were closed, and they could not understand the true meaning of the loaves of bread.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Today's Questions:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Why do you think God chooses to make it a drought sometimes - make it so that it doesn’t rain for ages?</li> <li>How do you feel knowing that God can control the weather? Is it a comfort to you or is it scary? Explain your answer.</li> <li>Do you have faith that Jesus can do these amazing things even though you haven’t seen it like the disciples did?</li> </ul>

<p>For all other episodes and more, check out our website at <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/thewordonthestreetpodcast.com">thewordonthestreetpodcast.com </a></p> <p>Follow Anna on her <strong>Facebook Page</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast">here</a></p> <p>Join The Word On The Street Podcast conversation on our <strong>Facebook group</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543910553118656">here</a></p> <p>Follow<strong> The Word On The Street Podcast </strong>on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast/">here</a></p> <p>Click <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-word-on-the-street/id1500950080">here to leave a review </a>on Apple Podcasts</p> <p><br></p> <p>Here are the bible verses quoted in today's episode:</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Mark 6:30-44</strong></p> <p>After the apostles returned to Jesus, they told him everything they had done and taught.<strong> </strong>But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let's go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest.” They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. But many people saw them leave and figured out where they were going. So people from every town ran on ahead and got there first.</p> <p>When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd. He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things.</p> <p>That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it's already late.<strong> </strong>Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the farms and villages near here and buy something to eat.”</p> <p>Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”</p> <p>But they asked him, “Don't you know it would take almost a year's wages to buy all of these people something to eat?”</p> <p>Then Jesus said, “How much bread do you have? Go and see!”</p> <p>They found out and answered, “We have five small loaves of bread and two fish.”<strong> </strong>Jesus told his disciples to tell the people to sit down on the green grass. They sat down in groups of 100 and groups of 50.</p> <p>Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples to give to the people. He also divided the two fish, so everyone could have some.</p> <p>After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftover bread and fish.</p> <p>There were 5,000 men who ate the food.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Mark 8:1-9</strong></p> <p>One day another large crowd gathered around Jesus. They had not brought along anything to eat. So Jesus called his disciples together and said,<strong> </strong>“I feel sorry for these people. They have been with me for three days, and they don't have anything to eat.<strong> </strong>Some of them live a long way from here. If I send them away hungry, they might faint on their way home.”</p> <p>The disciples said, “This place is like a desert. Where can we find enough food to feed such a crowd?”</p> <p>Jesus asked them how much food they had. They replied, “Seven small loaves of bread.”</p> <p>After Jesus told the crowd to sit down, he took the seven loaves and gave thanks. He then broke the loaves and handed them to his disciples, who passed them out to the crowd.<strong> </strong>They also had a few little fish, and after Jesus had blessed these, he told the disciples to pass them around.</p> <p>The crowd of about 4,000 people ate all they wanted, and the leftovers filled seven large baskets.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: John 1:1-3</strong></p> <p>In the beginning was the one<br>    who is called the Word.<br> The Word was with God<br>    and was truly God.</p> <p>From the very beginning<br>    the Word was with God.</p> <p>And with this Word,<br>    God created all things.<br> Nothing was made<br>    without the Word.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Today's Questions:</strong></p> <ul> <li>How do you think Jesus making the bread and fish actually happened?</li> <li>Why do you think Jesus made more fish and bread than he needed to?</li> <li>Why did the disciples, the second time there was a hungry crowd, not ask Jesus to feed them again, knowing that he could?</li> </ul>

<p>For all other episodes and more, check out our website at <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/thewordonthestreetpodcast.com">thewordonthestreetpodcast.com </a></p> <p><br></p> <p>For more episodes on Jesus’ Parables, go <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/category/Parables">here</a></p> <p>Click here for the episode on <a href="https://www.thewordonthestreetpodcast.com/podcast/parableofthesoils">The Parable of the Soils</a></p> <p><br></p> <p>Follow Anna on her <strong>Facebook Page</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast">here</a></p> <p>Join The Word On The Street Podcast conversation on our <strong>Facebook group</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/543910553118656">here</a></p> <p>Follow<strong> The Word On The Street Podcast </strong>on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewordonthestreetpodcast/">here</a></p> <p>Click <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-word-on-the-street/id1500950080">here to leave a review </a>on Apple Podcasts</p> <p><br></p> <p>Here are the bible verses quoted in today's episode:</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Mark 4:21-23</strong></p> <p>Jesus also said, “You don't light a lamp and put it under a clay pot or under a bed. Don't you put a lamp on a lampstand? There is nothing hidden that will not be made public. There is no secret that will not be well known. If you have ears, pay attention!</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Mark 4:26-29</strong></p> <p>Again Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like what happens when a farmer scatters seed in a field. The farmer sleeps at night and is up and around during the day. Yet the seeds keep sprouting and growing, and he doesn't understand how. It is the ground that makes the seeds sprout and grow into plants that produce grain. Then when harvest season comes and the grain is ripe, the farmer cuts it with a sickle.”</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Mark 4:30-32</strong></p> <p>Finally, Jesus said, “What is God's kingdom like? What story can I use to explain it?<strong> </strong>It is like what happens when a mustard seed is planted in the ground. It is the smallest seed in all the world.<strong> </strong>But once it is planted, it grows larger than any garden plant. It even puts out branches that are big enough for birds to nest in its shade.”</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Bible Passage: Mark 4:33-34</strong></p> <p>Jesus used many other stories when he spoke to the people, and he taught them as much as they could understand.<strong> </strong>He did not tell them anything without using stories. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them. </p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Today's Questions:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Can you create a new parable like the one about the mustard seed, but using seeds or trees you are more familiar with?</li> <li>What do you think of Jesus’ Parables? Do you have a favourite one?</li> </ul>