God Has Spoken

This episode is the first of 7 episodes where we explore the 7 churches of Asia as they are addressed in the book of Revelation. The church in Ephesus was a well-established church at this point in Christian history, and had a pretty big wake up call from Jesus. Will we repent and cling to Christ? Or will we ignore his plea to stay faithful to him?

In this episode we are in the 1st letter Paul writes to the Thessalonians. Paul had worked hard to establish the local churches in this area. Working with his own hands at times so he could provide for himself and others as he did the work of the Lord. In this letter Paul addresses 2 types of attitudes: either being hard-working or lazy. What does my work in the Kingdom look like? Am I as hard-working as Paul, willing to do whatever it takes to reach souls? Or am I like some of the lazy Thessalonians and relying on others to provide rather than my own two hands?

In this episode we are in the book of Amos. This generation was accused of being self-indulgent and incredibly carnally minded. When we read about these people we may be tempted to throw stones and laugh at their obvious flaws. However, we have become much like the generation that Amos is preaching to. Have I become so focused on serving myself that I neglect real spiritual growth through self-denial and sacrifice? And what can I do to reverse these selfish habits?

In this episode we are looking at the prophet Jeremiah. In his days he had some difficult messages to deliver to the people. What made it difficult was not the clarity of the message, because God had made himself clear. The difficulty came from the stubborn people Jeremiah was sent to preach to. What does God expect from us when it comes to preaching the gospel? Can we alter the message? Or does he expect from us what he expected from Jeremiah?

In this episode we look at a passage in John’s gospel that is quite confusing at first glance. However, when taking into consideration some other themes and sections of John, it helps the reader understand what John was saying. All of this study makes us ask some questions about our personal Bible study habits. What do I do when a passage stumps me? Am I a diligent student who seeks out an answer and willing to put the work in? Or am I lazy and give up before I find the answer?

In this episode we highlight the risks that the Apostle Paul was willing to take throughout his walk with Christ. From shipwrecks to beatings, Paul was willing to go through a lot for the sake of saving souls. When observing his life it forces us to ask the question: am I willing to take the risks that Paul did? If not, why is that? Why am I so addicted to safety and what do I need to do to push myself out of my comfort zone?

In this episode we are talking about how to appreciate the Bible. God gave it to us as a blessing, but we often do not treat it like the gift that God intended it to be. How can I show my deep gratitude for the Word of God? And how do I share this admiration with my children, grandchildren, or anyone I am close to? In addition to this, we discuss what the word is capable of and what many will do to it in their attempts to silence the potential impact the Bible can have on our lives. 

In this episode we are in 2 Samuel 16. At this point in David’s life he is on the run from his son Absalom, who is in the middle of overthrowing him as king. As David flees, he encounters different people from his past. In the middle of these stories, David is confronted with one side of a story and makes a decision before he hears the other side. Have we ever done that? What can I do to better about listening to all sides of a story before I make a judgment on a matter?

In this episode we are talking about authority. Many people have different ideas when it comes to finding truth and what makes it authoritative. But when we look in the Scriptures, we find Jesus commanding His people to always rely on what God has said, not what others have told them. Is this as much of a problem today as it was when Jesus interacted with the Pharisees? And if it is, how can a group of God’s people ensure that what they are practicing and following is actually God’s will?