Hello, I’m Hilary. Welcome to the inside of my brain; where thoughts get mulled over like Christmas wine, studied out and discussed at length with God, (and anyone else who will listen), finally ending up here. Enjoy. Next Podcast out September 15th
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Mustardseedthinking Podcasts
Session 72: John’s Eulogy Verses & Quotes: Matthew 11:6-19, Matthew 13:20-21, Matthew 24: 9-10, Luke 1:76, Luke 7:29-30 MustardSeedThinking.com Session 72 we examine Jesus’ reply to John the Baptist in prison, showing how prophecy and signs confirm Jesus as the Messiah, and contrasting the greatness of John with the new-covenant meaning of greatnes…
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Session 71: Signs and Faith Verses & Quotes: Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-17, Matthew 11:2-6 , John 5:36 Isaiah 29:18, Isaiah 35: 5-6, Isaiah 61:1 MustardSeedThinking.com Session 71 continues a chronological study of the Gospels, focusing on Jesus' increasing signs: the faith-filled healing of a Roman officer's servant at a distance and the raising of…
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Session 70: Building Carefully Verses & Quotes: Matthew 6: 20-21&24, Matthew 6:16, Luke 6:37-38, Luke 6:43, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 7:24-29 MustardSeedThinking.com We are finishing our review of the Sermon on the Mount, and are considering the vision and mission of Jesus' foundational words as he offers a roadmap for a rich life on the narrow road. F…
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Session 69: Sermon Patterns Verses & Quotes: Matthew 7:23, Ephesians 4:21-27, Matthew 5:48 We are on a search of full circles and understanding the Father's will, through Jesus' vision statement of both eternal and transient elements: highlighting how Jesus explained complex processes, encouraging followers to embrace love as the ultimate power, an…
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Session 68: The false and the true Verses & Quotes: Matthew 7:15-27, Luke 6:43-49 MustardSeedThinking.com We are reflecting on the tension between actions and intentions within a faith community, and I'm examining my own reactions and the reactions of others to challenging figures. This session also discusses the significance of obedience and the p…
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Session 67: The law of love Verses & Quotes: Matthew 7:12, Matthew 22:37-40, Galatians 5:14, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 7:21-23 MustardSeedThinking.com We are in Matthew 7, where Jesus encapsulates the essence of the law and the prophets as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This episode unravels the intricate layers of self-awarene…
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Session 66: Pigs and Pearls Verses & Quotes: Matthew 7:5, Matthew 13:46, Peter 2:22, Phillipians 2:2-3, Proverbs 9:8, Proverbs 23:9, Matthew 7:15-20, Luke 6:43-45, Matthew 7:7-12, James 1:5-6 MustardSeedThinking.com We are dissecting the parable of casting pearls before swine, exploring its implications for discernment and wisdom with a careful exa…
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Session 65: Money and Judgement Verses & Quotes: Luke 6:37-42, Matthew 7:1-5, Romans 2:1-4, Romans 14:1-4, 1 Corinthians 4:5 MustardSeedThinking.com Continuing our series on the life and teachings of Jesus, we are considering what it means to seek God first while navigating the temptation to control financial security. As we ponder these questions,…
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Session 64: Two Masters Verses & Quotes: Matthew 6:25-34, Luke 12:16-21& 32 MustardSeedThinking.com This episode challenges us to cultivate an attitude of trust and generosity, reminding us of God's abundant provision and wisdom; discovering how true richness comes from a deep connection with God, and enabling a perspective shift in how we view wea…
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Session 63: Real Treasure Verses & Quotes: Matthew 6:19-21, Ephesians 1:18, Ephesians 6:7-8, Matthew 6:22-23, Matthew 5:29, Luke 12:15-22 MustardSeedThinking.com We are examining biblical symbols and narratives, and how our intentions and actions can store eternal rewards or temporarily ones. This session encourages a reflection on our true priorit…
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Session 62: Becoming Verses & Quotes: Matthew 6: 1-6 &16-17, Matthew 23:5-7 & 12, Matthew 5: 7 - 15, Ecclesiastes 5:2 MustardSeedThinking.com Today we are discussing the biblical perspective of perfection, highlighting that it is not about achieving an unattainable goal, but about becoming complete in love, just like our heavenly Father. Additional…
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Session 61: Love is its own force Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 6:27-36, Exodus 21:24, Matthew 22:36-39, Lev 19:16-19, Prov 20:22, Prov 25:21-22, 1 Peter 3: 8-9, Romans 12:17-19, MustardSeedThinking.com We are reflecting on the challenging yet liberating call to love our enemies instead traditional ideas of vengeance - it's a love that def…
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Session 60: Real Promise Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:33-37, Deuteronomy 23:21-23, Numbers 30:1-15, Deuteronomy 5:11, Leviticus 19:12, Matthew 23:16-22, Matthew 12:32, James 5:12 MustardSeedThinking.com I'm drawing on passages from Matthew and Deuteronomy, and going into the cultural and religious significance of vows during Jesus' time; aiming to ex…
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Session 59: The Divorce Culture Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:31-32, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Mark 10:2-9, Genesis 2:24, 1 Corinthians 7:12-17 ‘Palestine in the time of Jesus; Social Structures and Social Conflicts, 2nd Edition’, K.C Hanson and Dougles. E. Oakman, 1998, Fortress Press MustardSeedThinking.com Jesus is radically teaching attitudes and attrib…
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Session 58: The Look Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:27-30, Ephesians 4:21-27, Genesis 3:6, 2 Sam 11:2, Leviticus 20:10, James 1:14-15, Job 31:1, Psalm 139:37 MustardSeedThinking.com We are in Jesus' introduction to his disciples, and how they are to live through this generation of change, moving from outward actions to inner ones. We are exploring his …
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Session 57: Shifting their Thinking Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:21-26, Exodus 20: 1-17, James 3:6, 2 Peter 2:4, Mark 11:25 MustardSeedThinking.com We are with Jesus as he challenges the Jewish disciples of the time; deepening their thinking about external laws and action, and shifting them towards seeing the consequences of inner thoughts and words,…
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Session 56: Keeping the Law Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:17-20, Acts 15:10, Galatians 5:1-2, Acts 3:1, Acts 2:46, Matthew 24:36 ,2 Peter 3:8-9, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19 MustardSeedThinking.com We are in Matthew chapter five reflecting on what Jesus meant by saying he came not to abolish but to fulfill the law, jour…
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Session 55: The Matthew 24 Detour Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:18-19, Matthew 24, Luke 21:20, Colossians 1:6, Daniel 11:31, Isaiah 13:13 MustardSeedThinking.com We are focusing on Jesus' prophecies concerning the destruction of the temple and the end of the age, as discussed in Matthew 24; exploring the literal and symbolic meanings behind Jesus' wor…
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Session 54: Abolishing and Disappearing Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:17-20, Romans 3: 27-31, Galatians 3:10, Hebrews 8:13, Matthew 24:34, 2 Peter 3:10 MustardSeedThinking.com In this session we explore the emphasises timeline of the fulfillment of the law, and the tricky statement about Heaven and Earth passing away; aiming to better understand the i…
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Session 53: Salty Disciples Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:10-16, Luke 6:22-26, Acts 5:33-42, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 2 Chronicles 36:15-16, Mark 9:49-50 , John 8:12, Isaiah 60:1-3 MustardSeedThinking.com We continue to examine the Beatitudes; how the disciples are encouraged to adopt core attitudes that lead to certain attributes and blessings, but also suff…
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Session 52: Be-Attitudes and Be-Attributes Verses & Quotes: Matthew 5:5-9, Luke 6:20-26, Galatians 5:22-23, MustardSeedThinking.com This session we are comparing the accounts of Matthew and Luke, focusing on how these teachings build a disciple picture of humility, yearning for God, and the fruits of the Spirit; trying to understand the transformat…
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Session 51: Teaching for Life Verses & Quotes: Luke 6:12-26, Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 11:29-30, Deuteronomy 27:11-14, Isaiah 57:15 MustardSeedThinking.com Time to begin Jesus' pivotal Sermon on the Mount; starting with a deep exploration of the Beatitudes, unveiling the spiritual teachings and interpretations that form the backbone of Christ's messa…
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Session 50: Demon Testimonies? Verses & Quotes: Mark 3:7-12 , Matthew 12:15-21, Isaiah 42:1-4 MustardSeedThinking.com We are in Matthew 12 today, exploring the times Jesus healed the afflicted and silenced demons, and pondering why he would suppress voices that recognized him as the Son of God. Woven with prophecy fulfillment from Isaiah, we unrave…
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Session 49: The Kingdom & Sabbath Verses & Quotes: Matthew 12:1-8, Luke 6:1-5, Mark 3:1-6, 1 Samuel 15:22 MustardSeedThinking.com We are looking into Jesus' provocative actions on the Sabbath. Through biblical passages and historical context, we explore how Jesus redefined the Sabbath., aiming to discover the profound meaning of it as a gift to hum…
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Session 48: Hearing, Seeing & Believing Verses & Quotes: John 5: 31-47, Isaiah 6:10, Jeremiah 5:21, John 8:31-42 MustardSeedThinking.com We are dissecting Jesus' bold statements regarding His divine relationship and touching on themes of judgment, resurrection, and faith. The Jews of that time, are struggling to recognize the Messiah due to their r…
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Session 47: The Life & Death Verses & Quotes: John 5:24-30, John 11:25-26, Ephesians 2:4, Colossians 3:1-3, Matthew 27:50-53, Isaiah 26:19, Matthew 25:31-33, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 MustardSeedThinking.com We are looking at the concepts of physical and spiritual life, death, resurrection, and second comings. By examining the present and future tens…
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Session 46: Shifting Systems Verses & Quotes:John 5:14 - 24, Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 35:1-4, Nehemiah 13:15-16, John 5:30 MustardSeedThinking.com We are back in John, and his account of the controversy surrounding Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath at the pool of Bethesda. The event stirs the anger of the Jews, leading to deeper discussions on what …
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Session 45: The Pool of Bethesda Verses & Quotes: John 5:1-13, 19 & 36 (https://standardsacredtext.com/2022/07/09/is-the-angel-at-the-pool-of-bethesda-scriptural/) MustardSeedThinking.com We hit a controversial verse about an angel stirring waters for healing, and reflect on the possible implications; pondering its significance concerning Jesus's m…
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Session 44: The New Marriage Verses & Quotes: Matthew 9:14-17, Luke 5:33-39, Luke 18:9-14, John 3: 27-29, Isaiah 62:1-5 MustardSeedThinking.com We are exploring the implications of Jesus breaking from established traditions, particularly through His metaphors of the bridegroom and bride, and the parable of new wine in old wineskins. This session hi…
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Session 43: Forgiveness or Healing? Verses & Quotes: Mark 2:1-17 & Matthew 9:1-13 MustardSeedThinking.com Jesus is using signs and wonders to foster belief, but now he also forgives someone, stirring the Pharisees and scribes to question his authority. To top it off, he is eating with tax collectors and contrasting his actions with the self-righteo…
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Session 42: The Healing Debate begins Verses & Quotes: Matthew 8:16-17, Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Peter 2:24-25, Luke 4:42-44, Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45 MustardSeedThinking.com Today we are challenging common perceptions of healing, urging listeners to consider the broader context of spiritual and physical restoration. As Jesus moves through Galilee, touc…
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Session 41: The Father of Lies Verses & Quotes: Mark 1:21-34, Luke 4:31-40, Matthew 8:14-17, Job 1:7 MustardSeedThinking.com Through the records of Jesus' encounters with unclean spirits, we are pondering the spiritual dynamics between good and evil, contrasting the words about Christ with the similar words about the adversary, the Satan. For the O…
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Session 40: The Disciple’s Journey Verses & Quotes: Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11 MustardSeedThinking.com Jesus' is in the early days of his ministry in Capernaum; calling and re-calling his first disciples. We marvel again at how Jesus uses the personal and familiar, such as fishing, to teach deeper spiritual truths, highlighting the …
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Session 39: Nazareth & Isaiah Verses & Quotes: Luke 4:16-30, Isaiah 61:1-2, Isaiah 53:3-4 MustardSeedThinking.com We are that moment Jesus returns to his hometown, Nazareth; discovering the significance of Isaiah's prophecy, and examining the dynamics in the synagogue, where initial amazement turns to anger as Jesus speaks uncomfortable truths abou…
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Session 38: Timing & Batons Verses & Quotes: Matthew 4:12-17, Mark 1:14-15, Isaiah 9:1-7 MustardSeedThinking.com With a focus on Matthew 4 and the prophecy from Isaiah, we discover how Jesus' travels align with his mission's timing and purpose; taking up the kingdom message after John had been silenced. This session remembers those moments of repen…
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Session 37: Are Signs good or bad? Verses & Quotes: John 4:39-42, Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14, Luke 4:14-15, John 4:43-54 MustardSeedThinking.com We are climbing into the nuances of biblical translation and interpretation; examining the complex relationship between signs, wonders, and faith; noting Jesus' interactions with the people and how it differs…
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Session 36: Spiritual Food and Water Verses & Quotes: John 4:10-14, John 4:21-39 MustardSeedThinking.com We are exploring the significance of 'living water' as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and considering Jesus' teaching on worship, highlighting a transformative moment where worship becomes accessible to all, transcending history and traditional pr…
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Session 35: Jesus Honours the Woman at the Well Verses & Quotes: John 4:1-26 MustardSeedThinking.com We are with Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in John Chapter four, getting into the cultural tensions between Jews and Samaritans, and Jesus's revolutionary approach to these cultural barriers. By honoring the Samaritan woman and sharin…
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Session 34: Jesus & John: The Overlap Verses & Quotes: John 3:22-32, Isaiah 54:5, Isaiah 62:5b, Hosea 2:19-20 , Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14, Luke 3:19-20 MustardSeedThinking.com In this session, we look into the intertwined ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist during their time in Judea; reinforcing John's mission and preparing to shift the ministr…
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Session 33: The Master Teacher Verses & Quotes: John 3:12-21, Numbers 21:7-9, John 5:24 MustardSeedThinking.com We are exploring the layers of spiritual truths that Jesus imparts to Nicodemus in John Chapter 3, linking his teachings to the ancient stories of Israel, and revealing deeper meanings through his metaphorical language. For the OLD TESTAM…
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Session 32: The First Conversation Verses & Quotes: John 3:1-12, John 7:50-51, John 19:39-41, Ezekiel 36:25-27 https://overviewbible.com/pharisees/ MustardSeedThinking.com In this enlightening session, we are in the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. This pivotal exchange marks Jesus' first real teaching, offering insights into the significa…
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SESSION 31: Temple Turning One Verses & Quotes: John 2:13-24, Matthew 21:9-15, Psalm 69:9, Matthew 12:38-40 MustardSeedThinking.com Jesus is clearing the temple, and compared to other gospels, John's depiction is a little different. I'm challenging conventional interpretations, and attempting to reconnect this incident to the broader narrative of J…
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Session 30: On the Quiet Verses & Quotes: John 2:1-12 & John 7:2-10 MustardSeedThinking.com We are with Jesus as he navigates the delicate balance of public revelation and divine timing, and considering hidden conversations between Jesus and his Father, highlighting their partnership in ministry. For the OLD TESTAMENT CHRON BLOG, and other teaching…
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Session 29: Jesus the Teacher Verses & Quotes: John 1:35-50, Genesis 28:12-13, Daniel 7:13-14, Acts 7:55-56 ARTICLE: Is Jesus a Rabbi? https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/is-jesus-a-rabbi MustardSeedThinking.com Today, we are exploring the timeline of Jesus' early ministry in the Gospel of John; in the first disciples encounter with Jesus, and their rea…
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Session 28: Jesus and Moses Verses & Quotes: Luke 4:1-13, Exodus 34:27-30, Deuteronomy 8:1-3, Psalm 91:11-12, Deuteronomy 6:12-16 MustardSeedThinking.com It's time for the encounter between Jesus and the Satan in the wilderness. We explore the implications of this spiritual confrontation; looking at the layers, discussing the symbolic significance …
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Session 27: Wilderness Tests Verses & Quotes: Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13, Mark 15:31-32 MustardSeedThinking.com We are in the profound journey of Jesus as he embarked on a path marked by baptism and testing; examining the temptations faced by Jesus in the wilderness and the spiritual lessons embedded in these tests and how they relat…
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Session 26: John, Jesus and Baptism Verses & Quotes: Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-23, John 1:32-34, John 12:28-30, Matthew 17:2-6 MustardSeedThinking.com This session dives deep into John the Baptist's role and his quest to identify the Messiah, unraveling his reaction upon realizing Jesus’s true identity. We are considering divine commu…
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Session 25: Who is John the Baptist? Verses & Quotes: Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:2-8, John 1:19-28 Who Wrote the Gospel of Mark? Accessed 2.2.24 https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/who-wrote-the-gospel-of-mark MustardSeedThinking.com Through comparing the overlapping Gospel accounts, we are seeking clarity amidst confusion regarding the identities of Jo…
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Session 24: First recorded words of Jesus & John Verses & Quotes: Luke 2:40-52 & 3:1-18, John7:15, John 5:19-20, John 14:10 MustardSeedThinking.com We are with the young Jesus at the temple, exploring his early expressions of wisdom and understanding, and we follow the interesting narrative of John the Baptist as he emerges in the wilderness with a…
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Session 23: Hidden Prophecies: Hidden Messiah Verses & Quotes: Matthew 2:13-23, Hosea 10:15 - 11:5, Exodus 4:22, Exodus 12:30, Genesis 35:19, Jeremiah 31:15-17 MustardSeedThinking.com In this session, we look at Joseph's divine guidance to flee to Egypt, and unravel the connections to the prophecies in Hosea and Jeremiah; how these moments illumina…
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