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A King on a colt, a city trembling, and a crowd torn between conquest and peace—this Palm Sunday moment still confronts our assumptions about power, freedom, and worship. We walk through Matthew 21 to ask a simple but seismic question: are we seeing Jesus as he really is?

We start with the untied donkey and the weight of Passover, where deliverance always leads to purpose. Freedom in the kingdom is not a vague feeling; it is a calling. From the disciples’ quiet obedience to Old Testament patterns of consecration, we trace how Jesus sets us free for service and claims our gifts for holy work. Then we linger with the cloaks and palm branches. Psalm 118 rises from the crowd, not as nostalgia but as a bold coronation. Yet the Messiah rejects the warhorse and rides in peace. That tension—true power arriving gentle and lowly—reshapes how we praise, how we lead, and how we love our enemies.

Along the way, we bring the text to life with stories that prove the gospel’s reach. Jacob DeShazer returns to postwar Japan with forgiveness that shocks skeptics. John Bunyan’s chains cannot contain a ministry that becomes Pilgrim’s Progress. And in one of the episode’s most moving turns, former enemies Jacob DeShazer and Mitsuo Fuchida pray as brothers after meeting the risen Christ. When a city asks, Who is this?, Scripture and history answer in chorus: Messiah, Son of God, and King who still shakes hearts awake.

If you’re hungry for a faith that is courageous, compassionate, and grounded in Scripture, this conversation is for you. Listen, share it with a friend who needs hope, and if it speaks to you, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find it. What part stirred you most today?

Join Dr. Novella Springette for regular Bible Study on how to grow in Christian Discipleship

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What if the path to greater impact looks like a long, confusing loop that keeps testing your resolve? We journey through 2 Kings 2 and the story of Elijah and Elisha to uncover how God elevates everyday faithfulness into extraordinary influence. Along the way, we revisit David’s hidden formation, the courage to silence unhelpful voices, and the bold request for a double portion that only focus and perseverance can secure.

We start with the power of preparation. David’s quiet obedience in the fields—worship, courage, and trust—set the stage for future calling. Then we follow Elijah and Elisha from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to the Jordan, uncovering why these places matter: they are living memorials of God’s past victories. The route seems circular, but it trains memory and grit. As the schools of the prophets question Elisha’s choices and Elijah suggests he stay behind, Elisha models how to tune out the noise, keep step with God’s leading, and value presence over convenience.

From there, obedience takes center stage. We reflect on Luke 5’s counterintuitive catch, on David at Ziklag finding strength in God before acting, and on modern examples like Hudson Taylor and William Carey who faced doubt from the “experts” yet moved forward with conviction. The thread is clear: miracles often meet those who act on God’s word with what’s already in their hands—whether a rod, an ark, a mantle, or a worn-out net. At the Jordan, Elisha’s final test is focus; he keeps his eyes on Elijah through the whirlwind and flame, then picks up the mantle to continue the work. Scripture notes he would go on to perform roughly twice the miracles, a sign that God delights to multiply faithfulness.

If you’re longing for clarity in a noisy world, this conversation offers a roadmap: remember God’s works, take the next faithful step, and keep your eyes fixed to the finish. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Where do you need to pick up the mantle this week?

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Catch On Fire Podcasts aims to lead us all into a closer walk with God as we strive to become more like Jesus.

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Storms don’t stop Jesus; they reveal why he came. We follow him across the Sea of Galilee into the tombs of the Gerasenes, where a tormented man recognizes what critics miss and bows before the Son of the Most High God. From there, everything turns: Legion yields, pigs plunge, and a man once feared sits clothed and clear-minded. Rather than boarding the boat, he’s commissioned to go home and tell his people what mercy did—proof that deliverance is not an exit sign but a mission order.

We anchor the journey in the Great Commission and explore how authority and compassion move together. Along the way, we pause with the widow of Nain as Jesus interrupts a funeral, and we stand with a desperate father while a mute spirit is forced to obey a single command. Then we step into church history: Hudson Taylor risking provision to learn trust, a crew at sea softened by quiet service until the hostile first mate sings, and Elfreda in Hong Kong set free from heroin, emerging as a fearless servant to the forgotten. Each story echoes the same theme—Jesus brings new life and then sends that life into the world.

If your storm feels endless or your chains feel final, take courage. Power belongs to Jesus, prayer is heard, and your most credible pulpit might be your own street. We talk practical next steps for becoming a faithful witness where trust is thin and attention is costly: clear testimony, simple prayer, steady presence, and worship that values people over profit. Ready to trade fear for purpose and turn your rescue into a roadmap for others? Hit play, share this episode with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find these stories of deliverance and mission.

Regularly join Dr. Novella Springette as she does in-depth Bible teaching with the intent of fostering Christian discipleship.

Support the show

Catch On Fire Podcasts aims to lead us all into a closer walk with God as we strive to become more like Jesus.