Most of the Bible is in story form, and my goal is to keep the power of the story while applying the truths of scripture. If you want to hear stories of great men and women from the Bible, with an application that is relevant to your life, then this is the podcast for you. New episodes will be added…
In this episode, we follow Paul, Silas, and Timothy as they spread the gospel from Philippi to Thessalonica and beyond. From freeing a demon-possessed girl to igniting a cultural revolution in Thessalonica, witness how their teachings on Jesus as the Messiah disrupt societies and "turn the world upside down." Then follow Paul as he heads to Athens and finds a city full of idol after idol, and is invited to address the great Athenian thinkers of his day with this new philosophy founded by a man they had never heard of before... Jesus. Join us as we go from Phillipi to Thessalonica, Berea, and then Athens. Turn to Acts 17 to follow along.
In this episode, we recount the story of Paul and Silas in Philippi, focusing on their imprisonment and the miraculous events that unfolded. Despite being beaten and thrown into the depths of a grim Roman prison, Paul and Silas turn to prayer and hymns, demonstrating unwavering faith. Their responses lead to an earthquake that opens their prison doors and the conversion of the jailer and his entire household. This story highlights the power of joy and faith in adversity, and how God's work can transform lives and build communities of faith. Turn to Acts 16 to follow along.
Join us as we delve into the inspiring and challenging journey of Paul and Silas in Philippi. From their encounter with Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman, to a transformative moment with a demon-possessed slave girl, this story highlights the power of the gospel to change lives. Witness Paul and Silas' unwavering faith despite severe persecution and explore the early expansion of Christianity into Europe. Learn important lessons on the dangers of demonic influences and the enduring power of Christ's name. Turn to Acts 16 to follow along.
In this episode, we explore the poignant story of Paul and Barnabas, two early church leaders whose sharp disagreement caused them to part ways. The disagreement over John Mark leads to their separation, but we do see that these three men always leave room for reconciliation. So, now, a new partner in ministry joins forces with Paul, and his name is Silas. Together Paul and Silas begin the second missionary journey to visit the churches they had just planted. Along the way, they encounter a young man named Timothy, who joins them in the work, and finally, the author of the book of Acts, Luke, joins them as well. In this episode, we will hear about the great sacrifices some made to spread the gospel. We also see how God leads his people through a combination of the Holy Spirit and circumstances to affect His will. And finally, we see the gospel expanding westward into Europe for the first time. God is doing incredible work through Paul and Silas. Turn to Acts 15 and 16 to follow along.
Join us as we delve into Acts 15, where the early church faces its first major doctrinal dispute: How is one saved? Understand how the church leaders, including Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James, debated the necessity of Jewish law for salvation and ultimately confirmed that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Learn about the cultural and religious tensions and how the early church addressed and resolved critical theological issues, setting a precedent for doctrinal clarity and church unity. Turn to Acts 15 to follow along.
The Book of Acts so far has followed the birth of the church and focused on Peter and the activities of the disciples in establishing the church in Jerusalem. But starting in Acts 13 we see a new focus, a focus on Paul, previously called Saul, and his work of spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. This week, we are telling the story of Paul and Barnabas and the exciting adventures they experienced during their first missionary journey. Turn to Acts 13 and follow along as we begin this first great missionary adventure.
In today's episode, we see Peter pulling another miracle escape. But it's not because he is an early Harry Houdini. No. It is because Peter serves a miracle-producing God. We hear the story of his escape, but then we also hear of the tragic death of Herod Agrippa the First. Who instead of giving glory to God, decided to take it all for himself and paid the ultimate price. Listen to this weeks episode to hear of the last great adventure of Peter recorded in the Book of Acts, and the reintroduciton of Saul of Tarsus after disappearing from the story for over 12 years. But now, the story will center on him and his missionary work. Turn to Acts 11 and 12 to follow along.
This week we hear about the conversion of a man named Cornelius and a whole bunch of animals on a bedsheet. Now how are those two things connected, and what does that have to do with the gospel? Turn to Acts Chapter Ten to follow along.
We now come to the first recorded resurrection in the Book of Acts. And it happens to one of the worst-named women in the Bible. Yes, you guessed it: Dorcas. But before Dorcas is raised, we meet another poorly named disciple named Aeneas. Listen to this week's story to hear more about these two and hopefully come away with a greater appreciation for the power of the gospel. Turn to Acts Chapter Nine to follow along.
We are sharing the story of Saul of Tarsus, who was once a persecutor of Jesus' followers but has now been radically transformed by faith. The gospel has changed him from a persecutor into a believer. If you have ever wondered about the power of the gospel to change someone's life, please take the time to listen to today's story and be encouraged. The gospel is real, and lives can be changed—even those who seem most hardened to it. If you'd like to follow along, please turn to Acts 9.
This week, we tell the story of Paul's conversion. He went from persecuting those who followed Jesus to becoming a disciple of Jesus himself. Turn to Acts chapter nine to follow along.
We are currently studying the Book of Acts and have reached chapter 8. Last week, we discussed the story of Simon the Magician and his response to the gospel. This week, we encounter another man who was exposed to Jesus and the gospel, but his reaction was very different from Simon's. This prompts us to consider: How will we respond when we encounter Jesus? If you'd like to follow along, please turn to Acts chapter 8.
In today's story, we meet a man named Phillip. We also hear of believers being severely persecuted for their faith led by a man named Saul. But they stand firm and continue proclaiming Christ no matter the cost. Phillip is one of them who, because of the persecution, has to leave Jerusalem, and he eventually arrives in an area called Samaria. There, he encounters a dark spiritual force led by Simon the sorcerer. What will happen? Who will win this spiritual battle, the forces of darkness or the forces of Jesus? Turn to Acts chapter 8 to follow along.
In this episode, we will tell the story of Stephen. The Bible describes him as a man full of faith who was a powerful preacher and debater. He was so skilled at defending the faith that everyone who debated with him would lose. Stephen played a significant role in turning Jerusalem upside down and bringing in many converts. However, the Sanhedrin was determined to stop this and was willing to go to great lengths, including killing him, to do so. Would they succeed? Tune in to this week's episode to find out. You can follow along by turning to the book of Acts, chapters 6-8.
We took a break for over a month and couldn't post any content because we went on a vacation to Rome, Italy, and then on a ten-day cruise. It was pretty hectic before we left, and I barely had any time to post content for our podcast. But now we're back, and we're hoping to start posting content weekly. This week, we're continuing our series in the Book of Acts. We're picking up the story right after the events surrounding the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. When news of their deaths and the reasons behind them spread, a great sense of fear fell upon many people. At the same time, great signs and wonders were happening among the people, and many in Jerusalem were turning to follow "The Name." This made some people very jealous, which led to the arrest of all 12 disciples. Turn to Acts 5 as we continue the story.
It has been a while since I last posted. I have been speaking non-stop at camps for the past three weeks, but finally, I could carve out some time to record a podcast while speaking at Trout Creek in Oregon. This week's episode is a sad one. Ananias and Saphira are found lying to God and paying the ultimate price with their lives. But we also meet a new character in the story of Acts, a character introduced for the first time, but one that will play a significant role in the story of the growth of the church moving forward. His name is Barnabas. Hear his story and that of Ananias and Saphira in this week's podcast.
Jesus. Some people use it as a swear word, others use it only at Christmas or Easter, while others use it when talking about the man they worship and serve. In today's story, we will look at the power of the name of Jesus. In today's story, we meet a man who was healed simply because of the name of Jesus. And we will also learn the importance of talking and sharing His name. There is immense power for a Christian to simply talk about Jesus and to boldly proclaim Him as Lord. So, who was the man who was healed, how did it happen, and what kind of power can be found in Jesus' name? Listen to find out, and turn to Acts chapters 3 and 4 to follow along.
Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem after He left. To wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. And so, as we turn to Acts chapter two, that is exactly what we find: the disciples waiting and praying, and praying. And then they are still waiting when they find themselves in the middle of the Feast of Pentecost. And then it happens. One of the most glorious events during one of the most glorious Jewish festivals of the season. What was that event? Listen to this week's podcast to find out.
We are going to tell the story of the birth of the church. From its early days in Jerusalem to its final expansion through the work of the Apostle Paul, we see it all unfold in the book of Acts. The whole book is the story of the early church, and we will follow the adventure of the gospel spreading forth as we tell the story found in the book of Acts. First, we begin with an ending of sorts: the end of Jesus' time here on earth and His ascension to be with His Father. But before He left, He left the apostles with a mission: to spread the gospel's good news and make disciples. Listen to part one of the exciting story in the Book of Acts.
At last, we have arrived at the end of Matthew's story. However, this is just the beginning of a greater and more marvelous story. Matthew concludes his account of Jesus' life with the starting call of the ongoing, unending tale of God's glorious love for us who acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus calls all His followers to go out and make more disciples, but what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? How can one know if they are truly a disciple? To find the answers, let's turn to Matthew 28 and follow along.
The Bible sometimes has peculiar little-known stories that many people skip over on the way to the really important stuff. One such story is found in Matthew 27. It's a story I like to call the time Jesus met some Zombies. But they weren't Zombies, no these were people coming out of graves, but they weren't half dead, half alive monsters. No, they were resurrected saints proclaiming the victory of Jesus over death. Who were they? And what story am I talking about? Turn to Matthew 27 to find out.
We now come to Friday of Jesus' last week on earth. It is one of the saddest stories in the Bible and one full of hope because of what Jesus accomplished. This is a story of two Marys and their devotion to Jesus. This is a story of betrayal, abandonment, and denial. But it is also a story of hope, loyalty, and spiritual power. It is the end of one story and the beginning of a more glorious one. Read on and learn more about Jesus's death and burial and how all the disciples abandoned Him except for two women named Mary. Turn to Matthew 26 - 28 to follow along.
Jesus had just spent the evening celebrating the Passover meal with the disciples. Jesus introduced the New Covenant and gave His disciples a new perspective on the Passover meal. A new perspective that they were to do from now on "in remembrance of Him." But now, as they began to ascend the Mount of Olives, I believe the burden of what He was about to bear on the cross became real to Him. Maybe it's too real. And this is where Jesus finds a quiet place to beg His Father to take this cup of wrath from Him. Will the Father do it? Listen to this week's episode to find out. Turn to Matthew 26 to follow along.
The disciples are eating the Last Supper in the upper room. They are enjoying their time together as they reflect upon Yahweh's faithfulness in leading the people of Israel out of Egypt. But then Jesus makes an announcement: one of them sitting right there will betray Him. The disciples look at each other in fear and begin shouting: is it I, Lord? But there was one who was silent, plotting and scheming, and was glad to be rid of this imposter Messiah. Who it was and what happened next, listen to todays episode to find out.
We are coming down to the end of Jesus' earthly ministry. We are in the middle of passion week. It's Wednesday. But I wonder if the knowledge of what He is about to go through on Friday begins to weigh on His shoulders and begins to color everything that He sees and tastes. Remember, Jesus is 100% God, but He was also 100% man and lived and felt the things any human would feel during His time on earth. And I cannot imagine the feelings He must have felt knowing what He was about to go through. But I think one caring soul did sense the deep sorrow that Jesus was feeling, and she did something about it. She celebrated who Jesus was. How? Listen to this week's story and turn to Matthew 26 to follow along.
It is the Tuesday of Holy Week, the week Jesus went to the cross to die and then 3 days later defeated sin and death by resurrecting from the grave. But before that Friday, Jesus still had a lot to do. His Father had much for Him to accomplish on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. One of those jobs was to confront the Pharisees and Sadducees, to warn them of the peril they were in and to offer redemption. Confront their hypocrisy and call them to repentance. Listen on to find out what happens on Tuesday. You can also turn to Matthew 23 to follow along.
It is now Tuesday of Holy Week and Jesus is heading back into Jerusalem. He is about to encounter a group of men who will hound His every move, looking for any opportunity to discredit His ministry and arrest Him. These men were part of a powerful religious organization called The Sanhedrin who are afraid of Jesus and His attack on their power and prestige. They were beginning to fear Jesus, and they were looking for ways to try to take Him down. Listen on to hear how Jesus fights these attacks and along the way teaches us how to be better disciples.
It is now Monday of passion week, the week Jesus will die for the sins of the whole world. But that is on Friday, and there is still Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to come. Today is full of service, ministry, healing, and teaching. But before all that starts, Jesus and His disciples need to eat some breakfast. A nice juicy fig will do. So, as they walk towards Jerusalem, Jesus spots a fig tree. What happens next will be an opportunity for us all to learn more about faith and what it means to be a true disciple of Christ. Turn to Matthew 21 to follow along.
This is a beautiful day and the beginning of the final week in the earthly life of Jesus. It is a Sunday, and what will happen today will fulfill an ancient prophecy Daniel and other Old Testament prophets foretold. Today will be a day that will introduce Jesus as King to His people. Sadly, they will ultimately reject Him, but today they are shouting Hosanna, today they are praising His name, calling Him King. Today is a good day.
As you read the gospels, it is interesting how difficult it was for the disciples to learn spiritual truths from Jesus. He would make a point that seems clear to us, the reader, but it goes right over the disciple's heads. Well, in today's story, we will hear one of those moments, and be reminded again of the wonderful Savior we serve and how He came to serve and to give Himself as a ransom for many. Turn to Matthew 20 to follow along.
In this week's episode, we listen to Jesus teaching through story, or as we often call them, parables. In this parable, Jesus is trying to get his thick-headed disciples to understand what it means to live with generosity based on the grace of God. He wants His disciples, then and now, to see that the rules for living in the Kingdom of God are not like the worlds and are fundamentally different. So, Jesus tells the story of the Vineyard Workers. What is that story, that parable? Well, listen on to find out.
Can you imagine dealing with the fact that every day you would meet people who would seek to trip you up, or try to embarrass you? Essentially, you would be tested every day of your life., Well, that was the life that Jesus led every single day, as He was constantly being tested by a group of men desperate to make Jesus look bad in the eyes of His followers. These men were the Pharisees. And on this day, they had the perfect controversial question to try to humiliate Jesus with, or to use a modern concept, to cancel Him. And that was the issue of divorce, specifically the question of on what grounds could a man legitimately divorce his wife? This was a dangerous question for Jesus to answer because He could offend so many people. What is Jesus to do? Turn to Matthew 19 to follow along.
The power of a story. Stories move us, do unique things to our brains when we listen and can engage us for a longer time than any lecture. We know this from modern studies of the brain, but the ancients knew the power of story. And the greatest man who ever lived also knew the impact of story. Jesus would tell parables to teach great spiritual truths. He would tell stories to move the hearts of his listeners. Today we are going to hear one of those stories, one of the parables Jesus told to teach His disciples. Today, we will hear a story that will teach us the importance of forgiveness and how forgiving others is a sign that you are a true follower of Jesus. The power of story and the power of forgiveness come together in this parable from Matthew 18.
Children were not worth a lot to society in Jesus' day. They could not generate any money; instead, they cost you a ton of money as a parent. Plus, many of them never made it out of childhood. So, the average kid costs you a lot of money and heartache. Consequently, many were neglected and fought for survival at the margins of society. But then came Jesus. Jesus loved children, elevated their status, and saw in them the perfect example of what it meant to be one of His followers. Jesus also warned anyone who would hurt one of these little ones: mess with a child and you will literally have Hell to pay. Listen to hear the rest of the story and turn to Matthew 18 to follow along.
At the end of Matthew 17, we stumble across a delightful but odd story. It's a story of taxes, Jesus' declaration of His deity, and fishing. It's a story showing that Jesus cares about the mundane things in life and that He provides for His own in miraculous and marvelous ways. Turn to Matthew 17 and listen on to find out more.
It is now roughly 6 weeks after the events from last week and Jesus and the disciples are still hanging around Cesearea Philippi and the Gates of Hell. I believe Jesus was witnessing in the town: witnessing the glory of the Father and the kindness of God upon the nation of Israel. But I also think Jesus was there to send a theological, supernaturally devastating message to all the hostile spiritual forces surrounding Him. This message was simple: The Messiah is here, the Kingdom has arrived, and you rebellious, evil supernatural forces, your time has come. To follow along turn to Matthew 17.
Jesus and His disciples are about to declare holy war on Satan and His doomed minions. But Jesus doesn't do it through any act of violence, but simply through His words. Well, more specifically, through the words of Peter. What were those words that would storm the gates of Hades? Turn to Matthew 16 and make sure to listen to today's podcast to find out.
Jesus is about to enter the period where He begins His long march to the cross and crucifixion. But before that, He has a lot of teaching and warning and encouragement for the disciples. He does not want them to lack knowledge and the spiritual fortitude to take on the evil forces amassing all around them. And one group in particular He wants to warn them about. Listen to this week's story as we hear our Savior warning His disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees. Turn to Matthew 16 to follow along.
Now, that is quite a provocative title. Can you imagine! There is a story in the Bible where Jesus compares a woman to a dog. But He also heals her daughter, feeds 4,000 people, and, by the end of the story, provides blessings upon blessings to people who do not deserve it. Why would Jesus compare a woman to a dog? And how does this lead to blessings? Turn to Matthew 15 and listen on.
This week's story focuses on the importance of handwashing. While it may not seem like the most captivating topic, it carries significant religious questions and practical applications for living a life of faith. To read more, turn to Matthew 15.
O you of little faith, why do you doubt? That is the message I want all of us to learn after listening to this week's story: we should never doubt that God will provide for our needs. Listen to this week's story and be encouraged in your faith. Be encouraged that if Peter can walk on water, we can trust that Jesus will provide for us. To follow along, turn to Matthew 14
Jesus has learned that John the Baptist was beheaded and martyred for his faith. Jesus escapes the crush of the crowd in order to be alone, but soon the crowd follows and they find Him. And in His compassion, Jesus leaves His grieving to minister among them and to heal their sick and to cure the blind. Jesus performs miracle after miracle, but then the evening begins to draw near, and the people do not have enough food to eat. How are Jesus and the disciples going to feed all these people? Listen on to find out. To follow along in the Bible turn to Matthew 14.
When Jesus heard that His friend John the Baptist had died, Matthew writes that Jesus went to a remote place to be alone. John the Baptist was killed for standing up for the truth. He was killed because he wasn't afraid to confront those in power with their sin. But he paid a high price for doing what was right. From a human perspective, it was a terribly sad moment, and I believe Jesus felt the deep grief and injustice of that moment. I wonder if the way John died bothered Jesus because the way he was murdered was bizarre and horrific. Turn to the book of Matthew, chapter 14, to follow along.
Jesus is beginning to teach in parables as an act of condemnation upon the people of Israel for not accepting Him as King and believing He is the Messiah. But what about His own family? Wouldn't it be hard to take if your own family didn't believe you were the Messiah, and some of your brothers tried to kill you at one point? This week we hear the story of Jesus' brothers and how they refused to believe that their older brother Jesus was, in fact, God in flesh. This week we learn more about Jesus and His immediate family and how Jesus turned their cold hearts from unbelief to belief.
This week we tell the story of Jesus beginning to speak and preach in parables. What would cause the son of God to begin speaking in stories and illustrations with deeper spiritual meanings? Why would Jesus speak in obscure ways? Wouldn't Jesus want to be as clear as possible, so He can tell as many people as He could about the Kingdom? Well, there was a reason found in the prophecies of Isaiah. Listen to this week's podcast to find out more. To follow along turn to Matthew 13.
Are you a follower of Jesus who likes the show and the rituals? You like the fact that going to church pleases your grandma and that you are a better person because you obey the basic principles found in the Bible. But you don't really believe what the Bible says, and you are not really sure if Jesus was God or just a good man. But you like your church and eating out afterward for Sunday dinner. But whether you genuinely want to follow Jesus is still up in the air. Well, if that is you, I want to say: this week's story contains a warning for you. Listen to learn more about Jesus and the danger of a Swept Out Soul. To follow along, turn to Matthew chapter 12.
We continue working our way through the book of Matthew and his telling of the story of the life of Jesus. In today's episode, we hear about a sin that is so bad and horrible that Jesus says it's unforgivable. If you commit this sin, it can never be forgiven. But I thought God died for all sins, and there is no condemnation in Christ. So how can there be an unforgivable sin? And if there is an unforgivable sin, have I committed it? Great questions, and in this episode, Jesus answers each one. Turn to Matthew 12 to follow along.
Jesus takes on the Pharisses through a series of Sabbath controversies. On one Sabbath He eats some grain, which to a Pharisee is fine. It was the plucking of the grain that got Him in trouble because that was work. Later on, Jesus performs a miracle and heals a man on the Sabbath, which to the Pharisees who were scrutinizing His every move, it was too much. Why is doing good getting Jesus in so much trouble? Because the Pharisees are forgetting that people are more important than sheep and that God wants mercy more than sacrifice. Listen to this week's story to find out about how Jesus took on the religious establishment and showed the true heart of the Father for people. Turn to Matthew 12 to follow along.
Have you sometimes doubted whether Jesus is real? Have you ever wondered if another religion has it right, and we followers of Jesus are wrong? What if we are wrong? What if Jesus is not the way to Heaven? If you have ever doubted, I want to say that others have doubted before you. One of them was John the Baptist. Listen to John's question, but also listen to Jesus' resounding answer. We do not have it wrong. Jesus is the Messiah, and we can be confident in that fact no matter our circumstances. Turn to Matthew 11 to follow along.
With this episode, we come to chapter ten in the book of Matthew, and here we meet the twelve disciples by name. We learn how Jesus commissioned them and sent them as "sheep among wolves." And so, in their final pep rally, before Jesus sends his workers out into the harvest, Jesus tells them some exciting news and reminds them of a sober reality. His words are important for all of us to hear as we work to harvest in the field God has called us. To follow along, turn to chapter ten in the book of Matthew.
So what do you accomplish in an average day? How much do you get done? Well with this week's story, we catch a glimpse into an average day for Jesus, and you might be surprised at how much Jesus did in an average day. According to Matthew 9, Jesus taught, Jesus healed, Jesus raised people from the dead, and yet Jesus' day wasn't yet finished. I hope with this week's story you come away with a better appreciation for what Jesus did during His time on earth, and that He lived with compassion for the "distressed and dejected" people around Him. If you would like to follow along please turn to Matthew 9.