Let us pray. And Criscus, the chief ruler of the Synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized. Acts 18:8. Strengthened my heart when I grow tired of being rejected by men and women who want nothing to do with the freedom you offer them, Jesus. When the shower of nose comes my way, I will no longer take their ignorance as a personal attack against my character, but we'll chalk it up to their ignorant and clouded hearts. When the fear of alienation arises in me, I will rest my mind and think back on the words you spoke to Paul in Acts 18. For in your word to him, you reassured him that you have many people in the city of Corinthians that are yours and who will rally around Paul when his time of need would come. Right now, I receive that word for myself. I gladly welcome the kingdom connections that are appointed to me at just the right time. Thank you, Jesus, that you are always looking out for me as I walk out your purpose for my life. In Jesus' name, Amen. Thank you for praying with me today.

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I'm Sheryl McClellum, host of the Cold Case podcast, Zone 7. Join us every Wednesday to hear cases like the Long Island serial killer. Here, Carrie Lawson, daughter of the notorious serial killer, BTK, weigh in on the accused Long Island serial killers children.

You show genuine interest, and you can't fake it, but these guys can see right through to your soul. You have to be walled off, prepared. If you don't know your stuff, they're going to just call you out, and they're going to be like, Nope, I'm talking to somebody else. I'm not talking to you.

Here, great insight from one of New York City's finest, Detective Joe Jackalone, a cold case expert.

As.

Well as I do, cops weren't even aware of it back then, so.

They're going to have.

Some difficulty.

Putting those.

Cases together.

Unless.

Of course.

He confesses. Listen to his own seven with Cheryl McCleom on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hello, I'm Bishop TV, Jake's. I want to welcome you to my new podcast with pray. Com called Sleep Psalms.

Close your eyes and focus on God. Picture Him as your shepherd that knows you and surrender to him.

Each episode guides you on a serene exploration of Psalms, gently calming every nerve and restless, mind-turning adventure that keeps you up in the middle of the night, transposing you into the safety of his arms. He is going to lay you down in green pastures and restore your soul. Join me and let the Lord be your shepherd tonight. Listen to sleep songs with Bishop TD, Jake's on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Paul and Corinthians. In our last story, we were able to read the letters written by Paul to the Church in Thessalonica. Paul encouraged them to continue in their pursuit of a quiet and peaceful life that honors God. Now we see a new church emerge in one of the darkest cities in the known world, Corinthians. The church in Corinth would be birthed through struggle, so much so that Paul would need to remain a year and a half to train them, inspired by the Book of Acts.

Hello, this is Jack Graham once again with today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. At our last time together, we heard how Paul and Silas planted a church in Thessalonica and discipled new believers in order to lead the church forward. They faced opposition and were forced to flee undercover for a night in Baria, where they found Jewish believers who were more open to reasoning through the scriptures to determine what was truly God's word. We then heard how Paul went to Athens and shared the gospel with Greeks and the public square, using relatable, relevant language to introduce them to the God they'd never met. Today, we'll hear how Paul brought light into the dark city of Corinth. He will meet fellow tentmakers who would become not only partners in the marketplace, but in mission as well. Despite the sin that abounded in this place, the gospel took hold. Jesus came alive in the hearts of those who received him, and Paul remained many months in order to disciple these brand new Christians. Let's listen now to this reading from the Book of Acts.

Paul felt the ocean breeze caress his face as he descended into the city of Corinth. This ancient port city was bustling with culture and trade. It was Julius Caesar who had restored the city to its former glory. Its buildings were large and bright, gazing over the ocean. Its streets were busy with trade and business. Yet the city was not for the weakhearted. Many dangers lurked in the city of Corinth. Its port made it a hub for many dangerous people, and its temple to Affroditi made it a city fueled by carnal pleasures. Paul knew that Corinth's outward beauty was not to be trusted. It was often said that in order to survive Corinth, one must be brave and unwavering. So Paul walked the city streets looking for any sign of familiar faces or buildings. He knew the first step was to find like-minded people and seek their protection. Paul walked past the temple of Affroditi, male and female prostitutes lay on the temple steps, beckoning for Paul to draw near. Paul looked away and fixed his gaze towards the docks. There he saw a man thrown overboard with a weight around his neck. The city would take Paul's soul if he was to be careful.

After a day of searching, Paul met a Jewish couple named Akila and Priscilla. Claudia had commanded that all Jews residing in Rome be banished. So the two of them found themselves living in Corinth with the other exiles. Paul and Akila became good friends since both of them were tentmakers by trade. The two of them mended tents together and preached in the nearby synagogues. Soon Silas and Timothy journeyed to meet Paul. A few weeks had passed and Paul was becoming well acquainted with some of the Corinthians Jews. Daily, he would speak of Jesus and preach the good news of forgiveness. Yet they would deny him daily. Each day, they would mock him and mock Christ. They would blaspheme against Jesus and curse him. However, the Gentiles were receiving Christ with gladness. So Paul wiped the dust off his robe and lifted his hands saying, Your blood be on your own heads. From now on, I will turn my attention to the Gentiles. As Paul continued in ministry, many Corinthians came to know Jesus as their Lord and savior. Prostitutes, sailors, thieves, craftsmen and Roman guards came together at the feet of Jesus to worship. One night Paul was tossing and turning in his bed.

Sweat beat down his neck. Even the ocean breeze could not cool him down. He was riddled with anxious fear. Fear of the Jews, fear of sinning with the prostitutes, fear of being stabbed or beaten. All of these things rushed upon Paul with great force, so he cried out to God and whispered sweet hymns to comfort him in the night. As Paul drifted off to sleep, the Lord came to him in a dream saying, Be of good courage, Paul. Keep speaking and do not be silent. I have gone before you and I am with you. No one will attack you, for there are many in this city who belong to me. Calmed by the presence of God, Paul stayed in Corinthians for a year and a half. He would teach the word of God and build up leaders in the Corinthians Church. However, there was a dark force arising in the Jews of Corinthians. They made a united attack against Paul. As he was mending tents near the marketplace, they ambushed him. Paul was once again met with a fiery of fists and feet to his face and ribs. He was tackled to the floor and bound.

The Jews sacrificed the shalom peace of God for the sake of violence against their brother. So they brought him to the court, hoping to get him sentenced to prison or banished. The Jews brought Paul before Galeo, the pro-counsel of Acaya. They spatted Paul and pointed saying, This man is telling people to worship God apart from our traditions. He ought to be punished. Galileo looked down from his high platform. He leaned back from his desk and laughed. Are you joking? He scoffed. I thought this was a matter of crime, but it is just your petty Jewish law. Get out of my sight and settle this among yourselves. Livid, the Jews brought a man named Sustain before Galileo and beat him nearly to death. Sustain was also a believer, so they wanted to show Galileo the severity of their crimes. But Galio was a Roman and couldn't care less about the affairs of the Jews. So the Corinthians Church emerged from a dark and wicked city. The church would have to be on guard and alert if it was to survive. Paul knew this and stayed a long time to ensure they were taken care of. However, the Corinthians Church would prove to be difficult for Paul.

When he left, they would fall prey to different schemes of false teachers and corrupt practices. It would only be through a stiff rebuke from Paul that they would return to their relationship with Jesus.

As we begin today's reading, we find Paul in the busy port town of Corinth. It was a place where commerce abounded and so did sin, especially immorality, sexual sin. This was where the temple of Affroditi was located, and worshippers of this false God indulged in all manner of sexual immorality. It pervaded and perverse the culture and would be a battle that Christians in Corinth would have to fight and be prepared against these temptations. Paul met two Jews, a husband and wife named Aquila and Priscilla. They were tentmakers like him, and he soon joined them in the marketplace to support his missionary efforts. As he did in every city, Paul devoted time to sharing the good news of Jesus with both Jews and Gentiles. He went to the synagogue every Sabbath and reasoned through the scriptures to show people who Jesus is and why his claims could be believed. This was a common theme in Paul's ministry, and it reminds us that our faith is not blind acceptance, but reasonable based upon genuine, legitimate truth. God has given us minds with which to reason, and he has revealed himself through his word, the Bible, and we can have confidence and trust the Bible and therefore believe and have faith in God and the things that God says in his word.

Soon Paul was joined by Silas and Timothy, and together they continued to share the gospel. But it was tiring work, and day after day, Paul felt the rejection and ridicule that came from religious people until finally he had had enough. He wrote them off in his mind, resolving to speak only to Gentiles who were open to the gospel. It's a relatable experience. Many times people who are religious, even members of our own family and closest circles, can frustrate us because they reject the truth of Jesus Christ. But don't miss what happened to Paul as we read in Acts 18:9. One night, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision. Do not be afraid. Keep on speaking. Do not be silent. This is great encouragement for us today. We must not be silent, even in the face of rejection. We can expect rejection and move forward through it. It can be disheartening and disappointing, but we must not be silent in our mission to take the message of Jesus Christ to the world, beginning with those nearby, closest to us, our neighbors, our family and friends, and to the nations. We heard then that Paul listened to God's words to him and persevere.

He stayed in Corinthians teaching and preaching God's word. The church was growing there, but so was opposition. Finally, the angry religious crowd, in opposition to Paul, took him before the Roman governor. They accused him of teaching about a God that wasn't part of their religious traditions. This Roman ruler wasn't interested, really. This wasn't a legal or criminal matter. He sent them away, no doubt, frustrated that Paul was free to continue teaching about Jesus. It was a victoryhistory, albeit a small one, and one that allowed Paul to remain there, discipling believers and growing the Church. This was such an important task. The darkness in Cornethe was strong, seeping into the society and threatening to poison the burgeoning, growing church. Later, Paul would write two letters to the church in Cornethe, urging the believers to turn back to Jesus and root out false teaching and evil practices that had found their way into the church. His words would serve as a reminder to us today to always be vigilant in truth, rejecting the sin and the culture that surrounds us and holding true to our identity and our commitment to Christ. Let's pray. Dear God, we thank you for today's reading and the reminder that we must never be silent in the face of opposition or rejection, but always speak the truth of your word.

May we boldly share the gospel of Jesus Christ to our neighbors and to the nations. As long as we have breath in our lungs, may we keep speaking the name of Jesus and delivering His truth. Amen. My wife, Deb, and I would like to invite you and your family and friends to join us on two very special journeys with Jesus to the Bible Lands and to the wonders of Alaska. We are going to be taking a trip to Israel, as we've done many, many times before, April first through the 10th, 2024. You'll see all the great places of the Bible, and the Bible will come alive for you as you walk where Jesus walked. Then in Alaska, we will see the wonders of God's creation and the power and the beauty and the Majesty of His presence. On a cruise, a Bible study cruise, July sixth through the 13th. I will be leading Bible study. We'll be seeing and adventuring all across Alaska with the great sights and sounds of that magnificent place. We would love to have you. We will worship together, study God's word together, and cruise together all across Alaska. So whether it is Israel or Alaska or both, we would love to have you.

Just go to jackgraham. Org or Prestonwood. Org for information.

This episode is sponsored by MediShare, an innovative healthcare solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.

Hello, I'm Dr. Tony Evans, and I'm excited to have you join me on this new podcast, Heroes in the Bible.

Come to me, boy.

You and your God will crumble beneath my feet.

He beckened the giant and said.

I come to.

You in the.

Name of the Lord of hosts and creator of the stars.

We all have giants that we face in our life. And when you understand that the greatness of God affects our ability to handle the giants of life, it will encourage, inspire, and challenge all of us to our faith in God and our growth in Jesus Christ.

Look past his height and appearance, Samuel, for man sees the outward appearance. They see the strength of the man's arms, but the Lord looks into the heart.

Listen to Heroes in the Bible with Dr. Tony Evans on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

I'm Cheryl McClellum, host of the Cold Case podcast, Zone 7. Join us every Wednesday to hear cases like the Long Island serial killer.

You show genuine interest and you can't fake it, but these guys can see right through to your soul. You have to be prepared. If you don't know your stuff, they're going to just call.

You out. Listen to Zone 7 with Cheryl McClellum on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hello, I'm Bishop td. Jakes, and I want to welcome you to my new podcast with pray. Com called Sleep Psalms. He is going to lay you down in green pastures and restore your soul. Join me and let the Lord be your shepherd tonight. Listen to sleep songs with Bishop T. D. Jakes on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Pray. Com's meditative prayers podcast is the best way to bring God's perfect peace into your night. Each meditative prayer helps you focus on God, fight anxiety, sleep better, and more.

As you close your eyes, ask God to come and have fellowship with you. Open yourself to the Holy Spirit and ask him to minister to you.

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Immerse yourself in the most extraordinary narrative in history with pray. Com's podcast, story to the Messiah with me, Rabbi Kurt Schneider. Light they split the skies, revealing the agony of the Messiah's face. In that moment, people behold the full weight of God's judgment, release onto his shoulders. Listen to stories of the Messiah on iHeart Radio app, the Apple podcast app, or wherever you get your podcasts.