Episode 35

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Published on:

27th Jul 2023

Leftovers, Approval, and Life after Death

No stories. Just straight talk, repeatedly emphasizing a couple of key points. It's rare that Jesus spoke for long in this style. So when he did, it's worth paying extra attention.

In the last almost 30 verses in the Gospel of John, chapter 5, Jesus emphasizes these crucial truths:

  • He has come from God, the Father.
  • Everything he does is in unity with God.
  • There will be a resurrection of the dead with only one of two possible destinations – a resurrection of life or resurrection of judgment.

He also points out that those who didn't believe what he said about himself didn't believe because they were seeking others' approval and recognition instead of God's. Ouch.

After this discourse, Jesus goes to a different area where a crowd of 5,000 people show up -- having failed to bring a meal with them. What's up with that poor preparation?

Rather than chiding them for their lack of foresight, Jesus performs an amazing miracle. But this is about a lot more than meeting an immediate physical need -- although that's important. In this we can also see:

1. God can feed a lot of people with our small offering. But to do this we have to be willing to let go of what we have and be left empty handed -- temporarily.

2. We have to watch God break apart what we think is going to fill us.

3. We need to value the fragments left over. Goes doesn't want anything wasted -- and this goes for far more than food!

Grow your faith roots deeper in today's episode!

Empower yourself and your family to succeed at Life's Key 3 aims: Learn yourself, Love God, and Live connected. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Remember, my friend, you have an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable.

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About the Podcast

Godly Impact
Grow good intentions into godly impact
You want to be the best possible person, parent, or spouse. Yet sometimes it can be confusing how to do this. The "Godly Impact" podcast helps you grow your good intentions into godly impact. Your good intentions are like seeds that need soil, water, and sunshine. You will cultivate rich soil by learning how God designed people through Biblical principles and modern research. You will discover good insights on how to apply this knowledge to your specific situations.
You have an immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable impact. The "Godly Impact" podcast will help you make it count for good. You will appreciate the combination of depth and winsomeness, authority and vulnerability of your host, Stephanie Smith. A wife, mom, mother-in-law, and Nana, Stephanie is a speaker and writer who loves helping others flourish.
Learn more at her website, https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

About your host

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Stephanie Smith

Stephanie knows from experience good intentions aren't enough to be spiritually strong, emotionally healthy, and relationally smart--or to raise kids who are. She shares powerful Scriptural principles and science-backed insights into human behavior to equip people to grow good intentions into godly impact.

Stephanie's authenticity creates immediate connection with audiences both virtual and on the stage, while gracious authority provides clarity and confidence for listeners. Her leadership experience includes being a certified Primal Question coach, Christian school founding board member and teacher, homeschool cooperative founder, and Teen Theater Director.

Stephanie is a wife, mother of five grown sons, mother-in-law of four, and Nana to a growing tribe of awesome grandkids. She is committed to Psalm 17:17-18, proclaiming God's power to generations through wisdom forged in real life.