In this final, official midweek discussion of 'Season 1' of the Moments with Jesus Podcast, Eugene and Christian discuss Pentecost! They talk about how amazing prayer truly is, now that the Son has ascended and sits at the Father's right hand. They cover the significance of the 'tongues of flame' that rested on the gathered disciples. And they talk about what it's like to live with the same kind of wild inner life that Jesus had! Through the discussion, they weigh the pros and cons of liturgy, how to shake yourself out of spiritual monotony, and what it looks like to walk in a moment-by-moment attentiveness to the Spirit's guidance. Make sure you listen through to the end to find out what's next for the Moments with Jesus Project!

Encounter Jesus Through His Spirit! from Acts 2:1-4 Imagine you’ve only just left that hilltop – only just finished seeing Jesus disappear into the clouds – and now you’re back in the room you’d left from, earlier. This is the very same room where He’d washed all your feet, from which He’d gone to the Garden of Gethsemane; this is the room where you’ve been meeting since He rose from the dead. Your heart and mind are overwhelmed – astounded! – by His ascending up to Heaven; you fall into a chair and simply stare across the room. Your eyes slowly move across the table-top in front of you until – look at that! – you notice His cloak, lying right there. His best one. His favorite. You pick it up and sit back in your chair again. You hold the cloak to your face. It smells like Him…

In this Midweek Discussion, Eugene and Christian talk through Jesus' ascension found in Acts 1:4-11. They cover the difference between this passage and Matthew 28:16-20, and whether "the Great Commission" is really as important as it is often taught. They also discuss the 40 days Jesus spent with the disciples following His resurrection, and the bitter-sweet feelings the disciples must have had as they said 'goodbye' to their Friend. We read in Matthew 28:16 that, despite seeing the resurrected Jesus in the flesh, some disciples still doubted. What does this mean for us? How ought we to handle our doubts? Finally, they discuss the significance of Jesus' ascension in His human form and what that means for our lives every day.

Encounter Jesus at His Ascension from Acts 1:4-11 Imagine the loveliest day for having a picnic. It’s the sort of day where light, fluffy clouds cruise the blue skies; where the sun is just so perfectly warm, not too hot. You are sitting on the brow of a hill, looking back toward the city, and you’re resting on a soft comfortable blanket. You’re surrounded by all your best and closest friends. Across the picnic blanket, you still can’t quite believe that Jesus is with you, that He’s been amongst you for these forty days now. Far happier than the bird’s song, the joy of your own little life, is this glorious wonder that Jesus is alive!

In this episode, Eugene and Christian talk about the encounter with Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. On their journey, they cover a lot of ground: Jesus' mischievous nature, the importance of welcoming Him into our conversations, and the significance of breaking bread together. They also address some super-tough questions including: how does genocide in the Old Testament jive with Jesus as He is revealed in the New Testament?

Encounter Jesus on the Road to Emmaus! from Luke 24:13-33a Imagine walking along a straight, narrow, dusty road in the country, having a chat with one of your best friends. You have been deep in thought all afternoon – all day, in fact – and you’re deep in thought about the same things your friend is speaking of. “I just don’t understand,” he is saying to you. “I’ve always trusted Mary’s judgment before. And now it seems as if John is believing it too…"

Eugene and Christian share some more big news: Pastor Bill Johnson from Bethel Church, Redding will be a co-author on The Moments with Jesus Encounter Bible, and we can hardly contain our excitement! Pre Order the Moments Encounter Bible at www.destinyimage.co/momentswithjesus See the artwork and watch the video: https://youtu.be/fgX7ekMulA4 

In this "early week discussion," Eugene and Christian reflect back on Holy Week. They discuss their personal Lenten and Easter traditions and how parents can invite their children into the Easter narrative. Then, they cover their favorite moments from the podcasts released over Holy Week. Finally, they discuss what it really means for Christians to live in the present reality of Jesus' resurrection every day.

Encounter Jesus at His Resurrection! from Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-7, Luke 24:1-11, John 20:1-18 Imagine the greatest feeling of surprise you could ever imagine. That feeling down in your stomach as you gasp with amazement. The way your mouth pops open – WHOA! – in absolute shock. How your body JUMPS because you’re almost scared, right then. How you feel your heart start racing with disbelief…

Encounter Jesus on the cross. from Luke 23:26-43 Imagine if you were a criminal. A terrible criminal. Imagine if, all the way back to your earliest memories of your youngest youth, you’d only ever done the wrong thing. In fact, ever since you can remember, the only thing you’d ever wanted to do was the exact wrong thing…

Encounter Jesus at his arrest and trial. from Matthew 26:36-27:31, Mark 14:32-15:20, Luke 22:39-23:25, John 18:1-19:17 Imagine the greatest feeling of fear you could ever feel. Your stomach starts to twist; your throat feels like it wants to choke you; your skin is suddenly cool and crawling like a spider is walking it. Your heart has dropped all the way down to your feet. You have never been scared in your life like you’re scared right now…

Encounter Jesus as He washes your feet. from John 13:1-17 Imagine walking up a flight of narrow stairs, lit by candlelight, at the top of which is a door that leads to a warm, comfortable room. You know that in that room are all your friends – and a meal – and Jesus: you walk up the stairs with excitement to see everyone inside. The gentle light of the candle glimmers and dances along the staircase. You are almost there… Last couple steps…

Encounter Jesus at the Triumphal Entry from Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, John 12:12-19 Imagine the sort of day when you think you already know everything that’s bound to happen: all the people you’ll see, the things you’ll do, the way it’ll end. You roll out of bed and think you already understand everything there is to know; that nothing can surprise you in the way this day might go. So, on that sort of day, you’ve been doing the things you planned to do all morning; then, in the early afternoon, you’re on the way to do some other things. Nothing in this day is too exciting, too boring, too attention-grabbing: it is a very normal sort of day for you. Until… …suddenly… it’s not.

In this week's discussion, Eugene and Christian talk about the account of Lazarus' resurrection found in John 11:1-44, and the context surrounding this incredible passage. They cover the implications that Jesus' power over death has for each of us. They discuss what it means to live in the reality of the fact that Jesus HIMSELF is life, and that His Spirit lives within us!

Encounter Jesus as He Raises Lazarus from the dead! John 11:1-44 Imagine that you are crying. Really crying. Your shoulders shake as you sob uncontrollably. You have been crying most of the day, already, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop you crying for the rest of it. You can feel how sadness wells up from your belly into your heart and mind, like a wave building and cresting and crashing… * GIVE: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate​ Your support will help us to bring you more content just like this! » Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/

This week, Eugene and Christian cover the strange and beautiful account of the Transfiguration. In this amazing story, we see Jesus' true divinity that is always on the other side of his humanity. The overwhelming power revealed in this moment, when set in contrast to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, shows all that Jesus laid down to fulfill the mission of redemption. They also discuss the disciples reaction, the significance of Moses and Elijah's appearance, and how we can participate in that same glory! Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36, 2 Peter 1:16-18, 2 Corinthians 3:18 * GIVE: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate​ Your support will help us to bring you more content just like this! » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/

Encounter Jesus at His Transfiguration! from Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36, 2 Peter 1:16-18 Imagine you’re taking a hike, high above the waters of the Galilee, following a narrow trail through bends and turns and twists and rises. You are climbing amidst the tall rugged rocks upon a mountainside, following after Jesus as He climbs higher and higher. He had turned to you and two of the others earlier today and invited you “up” with Him – “up” to where you didn’t get the chance to ask. And, ever since, you have been silently following after Him: struggling and straining as He climbs higher and higher up this narrow trail. Where in the world are we going? you wonder to yourself. The late-day sun feels hot upon your face. You occasionally turn around and look back down the trail toward the Sea of Galilee, wishing you were swimming in its blue waters… * GIVE: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate​ Your support will help us to bring you more content just like this! » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxd2dw-4CfMDJ4xl0CoJk2A » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/

This week, Eugene and Christian talk about the familiar passage where Jesus walks on water (Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21). Eugene makes the powerful assertion that, within this account, we see a striking microcosm of the Incarnation. They discuss why Peter stakes it all on Jesus' call to walk on the water, unearth the nature of faith itself, and conclude with a call to join Him on the waves!

Eugene and Christian reveal some very exciting news for the Moments with Jesus Project! Pre-order your copy here: www.destinyimage.co/momentswithjesus Also, a shout out to Kevin and Kristen Howdeshell and Sally Lloyd-Jones! » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Encounter Jesus as He walks on water! from Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21 Imagine you’re sitting in a boat with all your best friends around you. You’re in the middle of an enormous lake, surrounded by rolling hills. It is nighttime. The red-and-golden sunset faded away from the western sky an hour or two ago. All evening, the wind has been blowing gently from the northwest; your boat’s sail has been full and puffing-out nicely. You and your friends have been talking, telling stories, laughing at a joke from the day before; but now you’re all tired, getting quieter and quieter… » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

This week, Eugene and Christian discuss the feeding of the 5,000. As you will hear, this miracle has so many implications for life, ministry, and parenting. During the course of the conversation, they cover lots of things, including the hidden connection between this miracle and God's provision for Israel in the wilderness, the supernatural power that comes from the faith of children, and the link between this miracle and the Eucharist. Enjoy! Scripture Reference: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-14 » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Encounter Jesus as He feeds thousands! from Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-14 Imagine the rumbly feeling of your stomach when you’ve been waiting to eat a meal, far past the point when you were already really hungry. In fact, you were already totally famished about four hours ago – OH SO HUNGRY! – but you’re in a big group and didn’t want to be impolite by breaking out your food. Plus, you noticed, it didn’t seem like anyone else’s mom or dad – (it didn’t seem like any of the moms or dads themselves) – had remembered to bring a single bite to eat… » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

How should we think about life's trials? Where is Jesus in the midst of life's storms? And does He care that we sometimes feel like we're drowning? In this midweek discussion, Eugene and Christian discuss when Jesus calms the storm, the significance of Jesus sleeping in the stern, and what it all means for us.

Encounter Jesus as He Calms a Storm! from Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25 Imagine the peaceful sounds of a boat sailing quiet waters. The almost-silence of the hull cutting through the silent seas. The gentle whisper of the wind coming up behind, filling the sail. The rippling sound of the sail as it tightens and tugs. The calming creak of the ropes pulling against the mast. The distant call of a bird winging its way through the darkness. Now, imagine the feeling you’d feel as you rested your back against the rim of the boat, listening to these sounds, watching the gray clouds against the night sky. How wonderfully restful and relaxed you’d be feeling. How you might turn to a friend and strike up a nice, nighttime conversation. How you’d stretch your legs in front of you, feeling sleepy, feeling content, feeling the warm west wind as it played across your face… » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Luke 5:17-26 – Why did Jesus pronounce forgiveness of sins before He offered healing? And why does He commend the CORPORATE faith of the paralytic's friends – isn't faith an individual thing? And is it wrong to try to understand God through systematic theology? In this episode, Eugene and Christian cover a lot of ground. As they unpack the story of the paralytic, they delve into some deep and beautiful territory! » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate 

Encounter Jesus as He heals a paralyzed man, and forgives him of his sins! from Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26 Imagine sitting on the dusty, rough wooden floor of a simple little house – a house absolutely packed from wall to wall with people. There are people sitting on the floor just like you are. There are people sitting on chairs and stools they have dragged here from their homes. There are people standing and blocking the view; there are people sitting up on the windowsills; there are even others who lean through those windows, trying to hear…

Christian and Eugene discuss the leper from Matthew 8:1-4, how shame impacts us, and how Jesus' healing touch is the only thing that brings true freedom. As we see in Jesus' interaction with the leper, He is overjoyed to offer healing anytime we are humble enough to ask! Then, they discuss the implications this story has for how Christians approach the world: how should we bring Jesus' healing touch to the individual lives of those within our direct sphere of influence? How should we address isolation and marginalization at a cultural level?

Encounter Jesus when He cleanses a leper! from Matthew 8:1-4 Imagine not having a single friend in the whole world. Imagine if, every time you ever went anywhere, any time you ever saw anyone, they tried their very best to avoid you. You see, many years ago, your life changed forever. One morning, you woke up to your day, got out of bed, started getting dressed, and, looking down, you noticed you couldn’t quite feel the feeling of your hands. And, with that, you noticed some strange-looking marks and markings on your skin – that wasn’t there a week ago! – and yet you didn’t give it another thought till that afternoon. That was because, while you were walking down through the marketplace that afternoon, someone suddenly shouted: “Leper! Leper! Get away, leper!” You looked all around to see which person had leprosy – who was the one whose life would be ruined – and then you realized…

In this week's episode, we discuss Matthew 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount. Eugene said it well when he called this text "The Constitution for the Kingdom of God." It is, in fact, the will of God for how every follower of Jesus ought to look. Thus, if we don't do serious (and continuous) business with these words, we are in danger of "doing Christianity" wrong. This is a weighty, but profound episode. » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Encounter Jesus as He preaches the Sermon on the Mount! from Matthew 5, 6 & 7 Imagine sitting amidst the wildflowers of a hillside meadow. Down the sloping grass below you shines the waters of the Sea of Galilee, reflecting all the beauty of the sky overhead. Big, fluffy, bright-white clouds are floating lazily across that beautiful big blue sky; just the lightest wind is ruffling the surface of the water. In the further distance, the heights of the opposite shoreline show the shadows of those same big clouds: you watch the light and dark pass​ ​over them.

It is a perfectly beautiful day, sitting where you’re sitting… » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

When we meet Jesus, we can either choose to be offended, or galvanized into action! We see that truth demonstrated clearly in Luke 5:1-11, where Peter is called to follow Jesus. In this Midweek Discussion, Christian and Eugene talk about Peter's call, and the incredible adventure of discipleship – a journey into what Eugene calls, "The Other Country." How do we as believers set off on this adventure, and how do we as parents help our children encounter the person of Jesus without losing them in the mire of "religion"? We cover all of this, and more, in this exciting Midweek Discussion. » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Encounter Jesus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee! from Luke 5:1-11 Imagine you’re sitting on the edge of a boat, with the morning sun on your face, breathing in cool fresh air as you stretch your arms high over your head, yawning. You’ve only just beached your boat, dragging its bow up the sandy-gravelly shore; now you’re sitting and resting from your long night’s work. Yes, you’ve been out there on the deep blue waters of the Sea of Galilee all night, fishing… » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Christian and Eugene discuss John Chapter 2, what it must have been like to hang out with Jesus at a wedding, how the Gospel of John juxtaposes this miracle with with Jesus' holy wrath in the temple, and what it all means for everyday Christians. » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Encounter Jesus when He performs His first miracle! from John 2:1-11 Imagine being a guest at a beautiful wedding party. You spent the whole afternoon buying a present, getting ready, getting dressed: you are looking your absolute best as you watch the ceremony. The bride and groom are people you know and love very much; they are as happy as any two people could ever be; your whole town is here to celebrate with them. And now that beautiful bride and handsome groom kiss – they are married now! – and now everyone is ready to head to the party and let loose… » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Eugene and Christian discuss the Scriptures of Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22). How does John the Baptists' message apply to believers today? How do you escape the mundane, hum-drum of religion? And what is Jesus really like?

Encounter Jesus at His Baptism! from Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22 Imagine standing in the waters of a gently flowing river, up to your knees, feeling the coolness of the current passing you by. On both sides of the river, golden-brown hills rise and then fall; the edge of the riverbank is shaded by branches and leaves swirling in the wind. It is very nearly sunset time, now. You have been standing at the edge of the waters almost all day long; finally, just a moment ago, you kicked off your sandals and waded into the river. The red and orange colors of dusk are beginning to rise; the waters look almost green now; you close your eyes and enjoy the peaceful sound of their flowing… » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Eugene and Christian discuss the heart behind this podcast journey, and highlights from the first episode.

Encounter Jesus on the Night of His Birth! from Luke 2:8-20 Encounter Jesus on the night of his birth. Imagine lying on your back in the freshest, greenest grass. Overhead, the night sky spreads from edge to edge of your view: millions of twinkling, sparkling stars dot the darkness of a moonless night. You take a deep breath in, smelling all the smells of the grass and the wildflowers and the earth and the herd of sheep asleep nearby. You are very nearly asleep now yourself, hearing only the conversation of your friends, the fire crackling, the gust of a breeze blowing by… » Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts » Website: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/ » Donate: https://www.momentswithjesusproject.com/donate

Welcome to the Moments with Jesus Podcast! Through dynamic, first-handed storytelling, host and author, Eugene Luning drops you into the action of biblical narratives from the four Gospels, helping you to encounter the Living Word Himself!