The Hypernikomen+ Talks

Stay Awake: Embracing Advent's Call to Vigilance and Hope

As the church calendar resets with the season of Advent, Christians are called to a time of preparation and self-examination in anticipation of Christ's coming. This episode explores the significance of Advent as a season of expectation and penitence, mirroring Lent's reflection before Easter.
The discussion delves into the teachings of Jesus in Mark's Gospel, emphasizing vigilance and readiness for His return. Rather than focusing on predicting the end times, believers are encouraged to remain alert and active in their faith, serving as watchmen who share the hope and salvation found in Christ.
Drawing from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthians, the episode highlights the spiritual gifts bestowed upon believers, sustaining them through challenging times. As Advent unfolds, Christians are reminded of the grace and assurance that they will stand guiltless on the day of the Lord, a message of hope to be shared with others.

The Upper Room

This episode of the Hypernikomen Talks examines what happened in an upper room in Jerusalem in the days following the crucifixion of Jesus. 

Welcome to the Hypernikomen Talks!

Welcome to the Hypernikomen Talks - a podcast to encourage a vigorous faith. 
Hypernikomen is Greek for Conqueror or Victor. Paul used Hypernikomen at the conclusion of his first century letter to the followers of Christ in Rome to give them hope in the midst of their suffering.  Paul wrote,
"Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... 
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 37-39, CSB)  
I encourage you to read all of Romans chapter eight to get the fuller story.
I am your host, and it is my prayer that these Hypernikomen Talks will encourage you to be a victorious follower of Jesus, especially in the midst of your struggles. 

Children of Light

Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come [Mark 13.33]; And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake [Mark 13.37]. For you are all children of light [1 Thessalonians 5.5]. You are not lacking in any gift . . . Jesus Christ . . . will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord [1 Corinthians 1.7, 8]. Therefore encourage one another [1 Thessalonians 5.11]

Prepare the Way of the Lord - Mark 1

Prepare the way of the Lord. John the Baptist calls for repentance as he echoes the words of Isaiah 40, which also promise comfort.
Mark 1:1-8 (ESV) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, Bread from Heaven - Part One

In this lesson we review the background to Jesus' claim that He is the Bread of Life that came down from heaven.  This is the first lesson in a two-part series. The key passages are: Deuteronomy 18:15f, Exodus 16 & 17, John 6, Psalm 95:7-8, Hebrews 3:8, 1 Corinthians 10:4.  
To learn more about the Eucharist, as it is observed now, please see my book The Meaning and Symbols of Holy Eucharist on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4HlI8SG
 

Jesus, Bread from Heaven - Part Two

This is the second in a two-part lesson studying Jesus as the Bread of Heaven in John 6.
To learn more about the Eucharist, as it is observed now, please see my book The Meaning and Symbols of Holy Eucharist on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4HlI8SG
 

Band of Brothers - Hebrews 13.1

The story of the brothers Crispin and Crispinian, during the Diocletian persecution, is remembered and commemorated on October 25th as Saint Crispin's Day.  Saint Crispin's Day was made famous by Shakespeare with Henry the Fifth's speech on the battlefield against the French, where he proclaimed, we "shall be remembered . . . we band of brothers." In this Hypernikomen Talk, we examine the idea of belonging to a "Band of Brothers" as we consider Hebrews 13:1 where it is written "Let brotherly love continue."

The Person of Peace - Luke 10.6

Jesus sends out the disciples to find the Person of Peace [Luke 10.6].  Who is the Person of Peace?  In this Hypernikomen Talk we attempt to identify the person of peace and ask if we have such a person in our lives.
 
Luke 10:1-12 (ESV)
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.