Practical Faith Academy Podcast

The Top 11 Themes of Jesus - 7 Miracles (Part 2)

In his season 3 podcast series, Cecil Taylor identifies and explores the Top 11 themes of Jesus, derived from the number of His mentions in the Gospels. Each month, Cecil will count down the themes toward the #1 theme.
 
This episode is the second of two parts on the #7 theme, Miracles. After discussing physical or medical healing in part 1, Cecil takes up the topic of spiritual healing in part 2. Once again, Ammie Bouwman joins Cecil as a guest to converse about spiritual healing, the role of faith in miracles, and how to keep our faith when miracles do not occur, among other topics.
 
The format is that in the first section of both podcasts, Cecil discusses the theme and shares samples of Jesus' sayings from scripture that are related to his miracles. In the second half of both podcasts, Cecil interviews reverend, author and speaker Ammie Bouwman, herself a recipient of a verified miracle.

Scripture read in this podcast is found at: Mark 10: 46-52, Matthew 8: 5-13, Matthew 9: 27-30, Mark 5: 22-42, Matthew 15: 21-28, Matthew 13: 54-58, Luke 17: 11-19.

To receive Cecil’s free one-week video lesson that you can download or stream, please visit https://www.ceciltaylorministries.com/resources-live-the-life-given .

You can learn more about Ammie at https://www.facebook.com/ammiebouwman and at https://ammiebouwmman.com .

You can learn more about Cecil at http://www.CecilTaylorMinistries.com , at
https://www.facebook.com/ceciltaylorministries, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciltaylor , and the Cecil Taylor Ministries YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHP_khu3r77ubl5jvHsf5-w .

By registering as a free subscriber on the Cecil Taylor Ministries home page, you’ll receive a free devotional guide, “30 Minutes Over 30 Days.” You’ll also receive his free monthly newsletter.

Cecil’s books and video studies are:
- “The Next Thing: A Christian Model for Dealing with Crisis in Personal Life” (book, five-week video study, Leader Guide, and Participant’s Guide).
- “Live Like You’re Loved: Living in the Freedom and Immediacy of God’s Love” (book, five-week video study, Leader Guide, and Participant’s Guide).

Cecil's upcoming books and video studies now in progress:
- “Unison Parenting: 9 Ways to Navigate Christian Parenthood with One Voice”.
- “From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone: How Jesus Urges Us to Take Leaps of Faith for His Kingdom”

The Top 11 Themes of Jesus - #8 Spiritual Over Material

Materialism. Reliance on temporary things. Seeking the praise of humans. These are the values that Jesus warned us to guard against. Making God the most important thing - that's what Jesus advocated. I explore the Gospel scripture about these topics in this episode of The Top 11 Themes of Jesus - #8, Focus on the Spiritual, not the Material.

 

I'm joined in the back half of the podcast by author John Rabins, who learned valuable lessons the hard way about emphasizing the spiritual over the material. John lost his home, his possessions, a rental home, and historical buildings on his property during a 2013 forest fire in Colorado. John says the fire was the ultimate decluttering tool! Starting over from scratch, John learned seven lessons about the spiritual vs. the worldly, and he shared those in his book, "Defined by Fire: Seven Life-Changing Lessons from Devastating Tragedy." John speaks in the podcast about the tumult and result of the fire, what it was like to rebuild his life, and what God revealed to him in the midst of his confusion and despair.

 

In the first half of the episode, I'll share classic scripture from the Sermon on the Mount regarding this heart-and-mind battle between the spiritual and the material. Jesus also addresses this topic quite a bit when upbraiding the Pharisees in Jerusalem prior to his arrest and crucifixion; there are a couple of key passages included in the analysis, along with two famous parables.

 

Refocus yourself on the spiritual and on the ways of God by listening to this podcast. You can navigate to all outlets from CecilTaylorMinistries.com/free-content, or search Apple, Spotify, or Podbean for "Cecil Taylor Monthly Podcasts."

 

 

The Top 11 Themes of Jesus - #9, Jesus Will Judge Humans

In this new podcast series, Cecil identifies and explores the Top 11 themes of Jesus, derived from the number of His mentions in the Gospels. Each month, Cecil will count down the themes toward the #1 theme.

 

This episode covers Theme #9, Jesus Will Judge Humans. Jesus described how God had given Him the power of judgment, and He would follow His Father's will in order to execute the task. Those Jesus accepts will enter into heaven, while those He rejects will be tossed into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

In the first section of the podcast, Cecil discusses the theme and shares samples of Jesus' sayings from scripture, including sub-topics of the theme such as judgment methodology, description of rewards and punishments, and admonishments that we should not judge others. In the second half, Cecil is joined by author and speaker Jennifer Chamberlain to discuss what judgment means, how it will take place, and ramifications for eternal life. Jennifer is the author of Christianity Unraveled: Unpacking the Essentials of Salvation, among other books.

 

In this episode, Cecil mentions a link to his resource page to download a free one-week video lesson, "Live the Life that is Given." Here is the link: https://www.ceciltaylorministries.com/resources-live-the-life-given 

The Top 11 Themes of Jesus - #10, Eternal Life

 

In this new podcast series, Cecil identifies and explores the Top 11 themes of Jesus, derived from the number of His mentions in the Gospels. Each month, Cecil will count down the themes toward the #1 theme.

 

This episode covers Theme #10, Believers Will Be Rewarded with Eternal Life. Jesus assured us that those who believe in Him as their savior will be given eternal life. Not only that, but Jesus grants us this eternal life immediately; it's a quality of life that we can live on earth!

 

In the first section of the podcast, Cecil discusses the theme and shares samples of Jesus' sayings from scripture, including sub-topics of the theme such as the sacrifice required to follow him, and the rewards of doing so. In the second section, Cecil is joined by author and chaplain Victoria Chapin for an intriguing discussion of this concept of how eternal life can be achieved here on earth. Victoria is the author of UNdaunted: A Prayer Journal, and her forthcoming book is This Happened...So the Signs, Wonders, and Miracles of God Can Be Seen.

 

You can learn more about Victoria's ministry at https://DoLife2TheFull.com. Her UNdaunted book is found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/UNdaunted-Prayer-Journal-Victoria-Chapin/dp/1954658001.

 

 

 

 

 

The Top 11 Themes of Jesus: (11) Evil Exists in the World

In this new podcast series, Cecil identifies and explores the Top 11 themes of Jesus, derived from the number of His mentions in the Gospels. Each month, Cecil will count down the themes toward the #1 theme.

 

This episode covers Theme #11, Evil Exists in the World. Jesus told us who Satan is and described his influence. Jesus also talked about the evil inherent in people. He identified having good hearts and evil hearts, and what fruit each produces. He warned about people who try to lead others astray with their teaching and prophecies.

 

In the first section of the podcast, Cecil discusses the theme and shares samples of Jesus' sayings from scripture. In the second section, Cecil is joined by Minister Charlotte Jewell Mays, an ordained evangelist who has written a book on fighting Satan to reclaim her lost adult children after they were trapped in addiction, with one winding up imprisoned. Her book, "Live In The Victory: God’s Victorious Battle Plans for Parents of Prodigals," helps families in similar situations.

 

You can learn more about Charlotte's ministry at https://jesussentmeministries.org/. Her book is found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Live-Victory-Workbook-Victorious-Prodigals/dp/1955309418/

 

Speaking of addictions, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the work of Boca Recovery Center in Boca Raton, Florida. Nearly a quarter of American adults in 2020 had a form of mental illness, with mood and anxiety disorders being some of the most common. Depression and addiction commonly co-occur, and each condition can complicate the other.

 

The Boca Recovery Center has created a free comprehensive guide to depression and addiction, including available resources. Please take a look: https://bocarecoverycenter.com/addiction/depression/

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Sermon on the Mount, Part 3

Jesus' teachings collide with the world's view in three peak chapters of New Testament thought, Matthew 5, 6, and 7, collectively called The Sermon on the Mount.

In Part 3, Cecil presents two teachings: The Golden Rule and the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders. Each, in their own way, is a summary. The Golden Rule summarizes the teachings of the Law and the Prophets. The Wise and Foolish Builders summarizes how Jesus wants us to respond to his teachings of the Sermon on the Mount.

With this episode, Cecil not only concludes the Sermon on the Mount, but the entire Himalayas of the New Testament season.

IMAGE: Lhotse, the Himalayan mountain with three peaks next door to Everest, reminds me of the Sermon on the Mount's three chapters. Less than two miles away from Mt. Everest, Lhotse's highest peak is the fourth highest in the world.

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Sermon on the Mount, Part 2

Jesus' teachings collide with the world's view in three peak chapters of New Testament thought, Matthew 5, 6, and 7, collectively called The Sermon on the Mount.

In Part 2, Cecil explores two teachings that actually have a lot in common: The Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6: 9-13) and Jesus' admonitions against worry (Matt. 6: 25-34). Both focus on simplifying our thoughts, fears, and wishes while focusing on right living today.

IMAGE: Lhotse, the Himalayan mountain with three peaks next door to Everest, reminds me of the Sermon on the Mount's three chapters. Less than two miles away from Mt. Everest, Lhotse's highest peak is the fourth highest in the world.

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Sermon on the Mount, Part 1

Jesus' teachings collide with the world's view in three peak chapters of New Testament thought, Matthew 5, 6, and 7, collectively called The Sermon on the Mount.

In a three-part series, Cecil starts by exploring the highlight of Matthew 5: the Beatitudes, the opening of the Sermon on the Mount. As in many sermons of the day, Jesus starts with a sequence of paradoxical statements, saying you are blessed when you are at the bottom and blessed when you seem weak compared to what the world prizes as strength.

Cecil starts with some background on the Sermon on the Mount before covering the Beatitudes.

IMAGE: Lhotse, the Himalayan mountain with three peaks next door to Everest, reminds me of the Sermon on the Mount's three chapters. Less than two miles away from Mt. Everest, Lhotse's highest peak is the fourth highest in the world.