Matthew Leaves Everything to Follow Jesus

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts122/v4/c2/f7/72/c2f77225-e195-b41c-998d-2dd91b17e4e2/mza_16341401565288670328.png/600x600bb.jpg

History for Christian Teens

Crystal Niehoff

30 episodes

9 months ago

History for Christian Teens is for middle and high school-age students- but Moms and Dads are invited to listen in, too! Each week, we will cover a historical person, place, or event, examining it through the lens of the Bible to draw relevant life and character lessons to then apply to our own lives as Christ-followers.

Your host, Crystal Niehoff, is an Army chaplain’s wife, mother of five, and grandmother to five. In 2000, Crystal and her family began their homeschooling journey, which Crystal now continues with her oldest granddaughter, Lexi. Previously a child welfare worker and former owner of Army Wife Network and host of Army Wife Talk Radio; additionally, she holds certifications as a birth and bereavement doula and chaplain. Crystal is an avid researcher, history buff, amateur photographer, and self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur.

Co-Host, Kevin Niehoff, is Crystal’s husband. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, but also lived in Marietta, Georgia and Fort Worth, Texas, extensively prior to entering military service. Kevin has a BA in History with a Minor in Political Science from Kennesaw College, now known as Kennesaw State University. He then went on to earn his Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. Kevin has over 30 years of ministry experience in churches as well as various institutions.

Education for Kids

Kids & Family,

Religion & Spirituality,

Christianity,

Stories for Kids

RSS

All content for History for Christian Teens is the property of Crystal Niehoff and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Education for Kids

Kids & Family,

Religion & Spirituality,

Christianity,

Stories for Kids

Matthew Leaves Everything to Follow Jesus

History for Christian Teens

12 minutes 32 seconds

3 years ago

Matthew Leaves Everything to Follow Jesus

Considered among the worst of sinners, hated by his fellow Jews, let’s find out how this greedy, unscrupulous tax collector left that life behind to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

His Greek name, Matthew, means “gift of God.” His father’s name was Alphaeus, as we read in Mark 2:14, where he is also called by his Hebrew name, Levi. It was not unusual for first-century Jews to have both a Semitic and Greco-Roman name; it is likely this apostle’s full name was Levi Matthew. The name, Levi, indicated his priestly lineage in the line of Levi, who was one of the sons of Jacob, the father of the 12 tribes of Israel

Matthew’s occupation was that of a publican or tax collector in Capernaum, collecting tariffs on goods that passed on the road between Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea. Publicans or tax collectors are historically despised in every culture. During this time, they were especially hated by the Jews and the Pharisees considered tax collectors the worst of sinners. However, when Matthew had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, he left behind the source of his riches, his position of power, security, comfort for traveling, hardship, and eventual martyrdom; Matthew left his old life for a new life with Jesus.

Listen in to today’s episode as we explore the life of Matthew and learn how we can effectively share the Gospel message with those around us.

On the next episode:

Be sure to join us next time on the History for Christian Teens podcast when we discover the lasting impact of second chances for the nephew of a New Testament missionary.

Resources referenced or recommended for further study:

* Bible Gateway
* The Ultimate Bible Character Guide, by Gina Detwiler
* 10 Minutes to Knowing the Men & Women of the Bible, Jim George
* NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes
* What is a Publican in the Bible?

Scripture references:

* Matthew 9:9-13
* Matthew 10:3
* Mark 2:14-17
* Luke 5:17-32
* 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17
* Matthew 5:13-16

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram. We are now on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, and more! You can also find us on your favorite podcast listening app. Please be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.

If you have questions, comments, or are in need of prayer, you can reach us by email at HistoryForChristianTeens@gmail.com.