Podcasts about epistles

What kind of person do you want to be? Or better, what kind of person does God want you to be? In 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4 the Apostle Paul speaks about four kinds of people: the natural person, the spiritual, the carnal, and the newborn. Charlie describes each from a spiritual perspective, then defines God's ideal, the spiritual person. But what does it mean to be spiritual? It has everything to do with the permanent indwelling Holy Spirit who Christians have today. While there is much written and spoken about making disciples, which is an emphasis in the Gospels, we cannot ignore the Epistles which tell us how to keep the commitments of discipleship. It seems there has been some neglect of the Epistles' view of spirituality. Hear this message and ask youself again, what kind of person does God want me to be and how do I become that person? #GraceLifeMinistries#Spirituality#CarnalChristian#ChristianLife#SimplybyGrace

In this episode of the Bible in a year we move from the book of Acts to look at some of the Epistles that were written during this time. Once again this is where the chronological version takes on a different approach and these epistles are included within the timeline of the overall book of Acts. We read through the book of James, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and also begin into 1 Corinthians.

Welcome to The Church period! Jeff Cavins joins Fr. Mike to discuss the final time period of the Bible Timeline. They discuss the historical context of the early Church, why Rome and the early martyrs are so significant, and how the Holy Spirit takes on a major role. They also explain the differences between Acts, the epistles, and the book of Revelation. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Today, we begin the age of the church, transitioning from the Gospel of Luke to the beginning of the book of Acts. Fr. Mike draws our attention to the Ascension of Jesus and encourages us to respond to Christ's call to participate in his mission. He invites us to be part of his story and not be ashamed of the Gospel. Today's readings are Acts 1, Romans 1, and Proverbs 26:24-26. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

This oft-overlooked little epistle of the New Testament is very likely the first extant work of Christian literature—characterized by the apostle Paul's intense pastoral love for his congregation in Thessalonica and comforting hope in the return on the clouds of the Lord Jesus. In this episode Dad and I dig into both these themes, the abundance of family language (some of it startling, to say the least!), explore non-creepy ways to affirm the Parousia, and note early themes of Paul that will stay the course as well as undergo development on the way to his late Epistles. We're in our SEVENTH year! Show your support by becoming a Patron! Notes: 1. Sarah's book Forty Facets of the Ascension is available now! 2. Gaventa, First and Second Thessalonians 3. Malherbe, Paul and the Thessalonians: The Philosophic Tradition of Pastoral Care 4. Related episodes: Apostleship Envy, Triple Predestination, Galatians 1, Galatians 2, Philemon, Romans

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

Laura and Pastor Justin discuss Sunday's message from the Bible 2025 series!

This is Peter writing to church leaders about the kind of heart and attitude they should have in order to serve a local church. The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires.

Teaching by Jordan Gaut based on James 1:22-25. Week 6 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

This greatest of Christian orators is commemorated not only today, but as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs (with St Basil the Great and St Gregory the Theologian) on January 30.   He was born in Antioch to pious parents around 345. His mother was widowed at the age of twenty, and devoted herself to rearing her son in piety. He received his literary and oratorical training from the greatest pagan teachers of the day. Though an illustrious and profitable career as a secular orator was open to him, he chose instead to dedicate himself to God. He lived as a monk from 374 to 381, eventually dwelling as a hermit in a cave near Antioch. Here his extreme ascetic practices ruined his health, so that he was forced to return to Antioch, where he was ordained to the priesthood. In Antioch his astonishing gifts of preaching first showed themselves, earning him the epithet Chrysostomos, "Golden-mouth", by which he became universally known. His gifts became so far-famed that he was chosen to succeed St Nectarius as Patriarch of Constantinople. He was taken to Constantinople secretly (some say he was actually kidnapped) to avoid the opposition of the Antiochian people to losing their beloved preacher. He was made Patriarch of Constantinople in 398.   Archbishop John shone in his sermons as always, often censuring the corrupt morals and luxurious living of the nobility. For this he incurred the anger of the Empress Eudoxia, who had him exiled to Pontus in 403. The people protested by rioting, and the following night an earthquake shook the city, so frightening the Empress that she had Chrysostom called back. The reconciliation was short-lived. Saint John did not at all moderate the intensity of his sermons, and when the Empress had a silver statue of herself erected outside the Great Church in 403, accompanied by much revelry, the Patriarch spoke out against her, earning her unforgiving anger. In 404 he was exiled to Cucusus, near Armenia. When Pope Innocent of Rome interceded on his behalf, the imperial family only exiled him further, to a town called Pityus near the Caucasus. The journey was so difficult and his guards so cruel that the frail Archbishop gave up his soul to God before reaching his final place of exile, in 407. His last words were "Glory be to God for all things."   Saint John Chrysostom is the author of more written works than any other Church Father: his works include 1,447 recorded sermons, 240 epistles, and complete commentaries on Genesis, the Gospels of Matthew and John, the Acts of the Apostles, and all the Epistles of St Paul.   His repose was on September 14, but since that is the date of the Exaltation of the Cross, his commemoration has been transferred to this day.

 Senior Pastor, Clint PressleyWednesday November 12, 2025

Pre-Trib Rapture? The Ancient Hebrew Thessalonian Epistles (Episode 1) by Shawn Ozbun

In this episode, we ask the question, Is It God's Will for His Children to Suffer? We look at the 4 types of suffering that Christians can experience and compare them what the Apostle Peter details in this passage. The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires.

Teaching by Kent Bateman based on Ezekiel 1:27-28. Week 5 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

My Grace is Sufficient MESSAGE SUMMARY: All of us face difficulties in our lives, but how we respond to our difficulties determines the blessedness of the life that we enjoy. Paul, in Corinthians 12:7b-10, tells us that he is stricken with a “thorn in the flesh. A messenger from Satan to harass me”. Paul pleaded with God to remove this “thorn” and life difficulty from his life. However, God's response to Paul, and to us is: “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.". God's Grace is enough; it is all we need for our lives' difficulties. However, this teaching from 2 Corinthians 12 is “counter worldly”, and it flies in the face of everything that we have ever been taught outside of the Gospel. This teaching from Paul is like exercising with weights – when we begin to face our muscle “burn” in our exercise, we can either stop our exercise and gain nothing; or we can push through the difficulty of the “burn” to benefit from our exercise. As the workout slogan summarizes Paul in 2 Corinthians 12: ”No pain; no gain!”. In other words, when we encounter our life's difficulty, we push through the pain and rely on the God's Grace to make us even stronger in our faith and to realize God's power, which is manifest in us and through us. We can not live a spiritual life only in our own strength. Paul, throughout his Epistles, illustrated the Kingdom of God through God's focus on human weakness to use His power to create strength. For example in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Paul describes God's manifestation of His power through earthly weakness: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”. From Paul's teaching and from the way he lived his life, we learn that we should accept and own our limitations; however, we should and can push through these limitations and constraints because the Grace and power of God empower us to greater heights than what our capabilities, without God, permit us. We need to repent and change our way of thinking and to become, like Paul, completely yielded to the Lord. Paul turned every one of his Life's difficulties into a manifestation of God's power and glory. Paul was a servant of God 100% of the time! When you are weak, God is strong in you because, as God told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 2 Corinthians 10:2-12; 2 Corinthians 11:4 -13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; 1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11; Philippians 4:13. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Do You Struggle with Your “Prayer Life”? Find a Quiet Place for Your Personal Relationship with God and Pray to the Universe's Creator”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Before we can understand what God has said, sometimes we need to understand how God has said. Different genres of Biblical literature require different understandings. How should we read the epistles of the New Testament? How do we determine what is abiding instruction for the church in all time, and what was specific to their 1st Century context? What are the best practices for reading and understanding these letters?

My Grace is Sufficient MESSAGE SUMMARY: All of us face difficulties in our lives, but how we respond to our difficulties determines the blessedness of the life that we enjoy. Paul, in Corinthians 12:7b-10, tells us that he is stricken with a “thorn in the flesh. A messenger from Satan to harass me”. Paul pleaded with God to remove this “thorn” and life difficulty from his life. However, God's response to Paul, and to us is: “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.". God's Grace is enough; it is all we need for our lives' difficulties. However, this teaching from 2 Corinthians 12 is “counter worldly”, and it flies in the face of everything that we have ever been taught outside of the Gospel. This teaching from Paul is like exercising with weights – when we begin to face our muscle “burn” in our exercise, we can either stop our exercise and gain nothing; or we can push through the difficulty of the “burn” to benefit from our exercise. As the workout slogan summarizes Paul in 2 Corinthians 12: ”No pain; no gain!”. In other words, when we encounter our life's difficulty, we push through the pain and rely on the God's Grace to make us even stronger in our faith and to realize God's power, which is manifest in us and through us. We can not live a spiritual life only in our own strength. Paul, throughout his Epistles, illustrated the Kingdom of God through God's focus on human weakness to use His power to create strength. For example in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Paul describes God's manifestation of His power through earthly weakness: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”. From Paul's teaching and from the way he lived his life, we learn that we should accept and own our limitations; however, we should and can push through these limitations and constraints because the Grace and power of God empower us to greater heights than what our capabilities, without God, permit us. We need to repent and change our way of thinking and to become, like Paul, completely yielded to the Lord. Paul turned every one of his Life's difficulties into a manifestation of God's power and glory. Paul was a servant of God 100% of the time! When you are weak, God is strong in you because, as God told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 2 Corinthians 10:2-12; 2 Corinthians 11:4 -13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; 1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11; Philippians 4:13. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Do You Struggle with Your “Prayer Life”? Find a Quiet Place for Your Personal Relationship with God and Pray to the Universe's Creator”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

 Senior Pastor, Clint PressleyWednesday November 5, 2025

Throughout the centuries and into the present day, the Gospel of John has indelibly shaped Christian theology and thinkers in significant ways, but major new questions are being raised about the genesis of that gospel, its relationship to other Christian writings and influences, and especially the masked identity of its author. In The Gospel of John: A New History (Oxford University Press, 2025), Hugo Méndez presents a provocative new thesis that the Fourth Gospel was produced under false authorial pretenses, in a period after the distribution of the preceding Synoptic Gospels, to propound not just a high Logos-Christology amenable to trends in prevailing Jewish and Greco-Roman philosophy from the first century CE, but also its author's stark new vision of salvation in which believers could participate in Christ's exaltation and deification in the present. To plot out his new history and as a reintroduction to the New Testament's Johannine literature, Dr. Méndez joined the New Books Network recently to discuss John's relationship to the historical Jesus and other early Christian writings, the “invented” identity of the Fourth Gospel's “beloved disciple,” the gospel's later attribution to John of Zebedee in the church fathers, and the “afterlives” of the “beloved disciple” as a letter and treatise writer in canonical and extracanonical Christian texts. For a 30% discount on Dr. Mendez's The Gospel of John: A New History from Oxford University Press, use code AUFLY30. Hugo Méndez (Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2013) is Associate Professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches New Testament and Early Christianity. His research interests include the Gospel and Epistles of John and the reception of biblical texts, figures, and images in late antiquity. He has published multiple books, including The Cult of Stephen in Jerusalem (Oxford UP, 2022) and the most recent edition of a popular introductory textbook about The New Testament (8th ed.; Oxford UP, 2023), co-authored with Bart D. Ehrman. His research has also been featured in the Journal of Biblical Literature, the Journal of Early Christian Studies, and New Testament Studies, among other prominent venues, and in his spare time, he enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors with his family. For more on Hugo's work and research interests, visit his website at https://www.hugomendez.com/. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books/Bloomsbury, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, or to offer feedback related to this episode, please visit his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout the centuries and into the present day, the Gospel of John has indelibly shaped Christian theology and thinkers in significant ways, but major new questions are being raised about the genesis of that gospel, its relationship to other Christian writings and influences, and especially the masked identity of its author. In The Gospel of John: A New History (Oxford University Press, 2025), Hugo Méndez presents a provocative new thesis that the Fourth Gospel was produced under false authorial pretenses, in a period after the distribution of the preceding Synoptic Gospels, to propound not just a high Logos-Christology amenable to trends in prevailing Jewish and Greco-Roman philosophy from the first century CE, but also its author's stark new vision of salvation in which believers could participate in Christ's exaltation and deification in the present. To plot out his new history and as a reintroduction to the New Testament's Johannine literature, Dr. Méndez joined the New Books Network recently to discuss John's relationship to the historical Jesus and other early Christian writings, the “invented” identity of the Fourth Gospel's “beloved disciple,” the gospel's later attribution to John of Zebedee in the church fathers, and the “afterlives” of the “beloved disciple” as a letter and treatise writer in canonical and extracanonical Christian texts. For a 30% discount on Dr. Mendez's The Gospel of John: A New History from Oxford University Press, use code AUFLY30. Hugo Méndez (Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2013) is Associate Professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches New Testament and Early Christianity. His research interests include the Gospel and Epistles of John and the reception of biblical texts, figures, and images in late antiquity. He has published multiple books, including The Cult of Stephen in Jerusalem (Oxford UP, 2022) and the most recent edition of a popular introductory textbook about The New Testament (8th ed.; Oxford UP, 2023), co-authored with Bart D. Ehrman. His research has also been featured in the Journal of Biblical Literature, the Journal of Early Christian Studies, and New Testament Studies, among other prominent venues, and in his spare time, he enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors with his family. For more on Hugo's work and research interests, visit his website at https://www.hugomendez.com/. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books/Bloomsbury, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, or to offer feedback related to this episode, please visit his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

Throughout the centuries and into the present day, the Gospel of John has indelibly shaped Christian theology and thinkers in significant ways, but major new questions are being raised about the genesis of that gospel, its relationship to other Christian writings and influences, and especially the masked identity of its author. In The Gospel of John: A New History (Oxford University Press, 2025), Hugo Méndez presents a provocative new thesis that the Fourth Gospel was produced under false authorial pretenses, in a period after the distribution of the preceding Synoptic Gospels, to propound not just a high Logos-Christology amenable to trends in prevailing Jewish and Greco-Roman philosophy from the first century CE, but also its author's stark new vision of salvation in which believers could participate in Christ's exaltation and deification in the present. To plot out his new history and as a reintroduction to the New Testament's Johannine literature, Dr. Méndez joined the New Books Network recently to discuss John's relationship to the historical Jesus and other early Christian writings, the “invented” identity of the Fourth Gospel's “beloved disciple,” the gospel's later attribution to John of Zebedee in the church fathers, and the “afterlives” of the “beloved disciple” as a letter and treatise writer in canonical and extracanonical Christian texts. For a 30% discount on Dr. Mendez's The Gospel of John: A New History from Oxford University Press, use code AUFLY30. Hugo Méndez (Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2013) is Associate Professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches New Testament and Early Christianity. His research interests include the Gospel and Epistles of John and the reception of biblical texts, figures, and images in late antiquity. He has published multiple books, including The Cult of Stephen in Jerusalem (Oxford UP, 2022) and the most recent edition of a popular introductory textbook about The New Testament (8th ed.; Oxford UP, 2023), co-authored with Bart D. Ehrman. His research has also been featured in the Journal of Biblical Literature, the Journal of Early Christian Studies, and New Testament Studies, among other prominent venues, and in his spare time, he enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors with his family. For more on Hugo's work and research interests, visit his website at https://www.hugomendez.com/. Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books/Bloomsbury, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, or to offer feedback related to this episode, please visit his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires. In this episode we explore how the Apostle Peter told these new believers that they no longer belonged to their old way of life and its ways - despite the ridicule they all received from their former friends. Instead, they now belonged to a community of care, love and belonging. There is a very practical implication for us today as to how we are to live as believers and as a local church.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Men sometimes speak as if humility and meekness would rob us of what is noble and bold and manlike. O that all would believe that this is the nobility of the kingdom of heaven, that this is the royal spirit that the king of heaven displayed, that this is godlike, to humble oneself, to become servant of all!”~Andrew Murray (1828-1917), writer and pastor “It is blasphemy if you pray before God while you are full of anger.”~Ephrem the Syrian (c.306-373), Aramean Christian theologian and writer         My dear Wormwood,Be sure that the patient remains completely fixated on politics. Arguments, political gossip, and obsessing on the faults of people they have never met serves as an excellent distraction from advancing in personal virtue, character, and the things the patient can control. Make sure to keep the patient in a constant state of angst, frustration, and general disdain towards the rest of the human race in order to avoid any kind of charity or inner peace from further developing. Ensure the patient continues to believe that the problem is “out there” in the “broken system” rather than recognizing there is a problem with himself.Keep up the good work,Uncle Screwtape~from C.S. Lewis's devilish book, The Screwtape Letters (1941) “They all therefore were glorified and magnified, not through themselves or their own works or the righteous doing which they wrought, but through His will. And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning; to whom be the glory forever and ever.”~Clement of Rome in 1 Clement 32:3-4, a letter written to Corinth in c. A.D. 96 “God allowed his Son to suffer as if a condemned sinner, so that we might be delivered from the penalty of our sins. This is God's righteousness, that we are not justified by works (for then they would have to be perfect, which is impossible), but by grace, in which case all our sin is removed.”~John Chrysostom (c. 347-407), Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians Question 33: What is justification? Answer: Justification is the act of God's free grace by which He pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in His sight. He does so only because He counts the righteousness of Christ as ours. Justification is received by faith alone.~Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)SERMON PASSAGEselected passages (ESV)Acts 2 41 So those who received [Peter's] word were baptized, and there were added that day [to the church] about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.Ephesians 2 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.Ephesians 4 & 5 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

From the book of Acts, through the Epistles, to our modern day, followers of Jesus have wrestled with how to live a life worthy of the identity "Christian," and what our call is for The Church today. How do we carry the presence of God in this world? What does it mean to follow Jesus, to live out that calling as The Church today if we truly are living stones, and God dwells in our midst? In other words, Now What?

Teaching by Kent Bateman based on Hebrews 1:1-3. Week 4 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/17-Revelation_chapters_1-11.pdf Verse by verse teaching through Revelation - https://www.generationword.com/audio_series/revelation_audio.htm Eschatology or end times teaching overview - https://www.generationword.com/audio_series/Eschatology_overview_book_by_book_Genesis_to_Revelation.html

 Discipleship Pastor, Ric BlaziWednesday October 29, 2025

Crystal Rivers | Kingdom Mysteries | Oct 29, 2025 Pursue real discipleship: lay down your old life and move through the foundations (repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection, eternal judgment) until you mature from needing offices and gifts to living in union with Christ's life and character. Make prayer—especially praying in tongues—a lifestyle: use it morning and night to let your spirit lead, subdue the body, and pray God's flawless will; linger there so your present is “pulled” into the future God has framed, and revisit God every few minutes through the day (short re-engagements) to keep your inner atmosphere governed. Expect fruit—holiness, love, power, wisdom, and healthy relationships—as the evidence, not hype. Honor diverse ministers for the specific graces they carry, but don't canonize anyone: “take the fish, spit the bones,” keep a soft heart, and test everything by the whole counsel of Scripture, not one verse out of context; revelation is progressive, but God's moral demands are not—pride, lust, deceit, and worldliness remain sin. Refuse churchy politics and passive spectatorship; return to the apostolic pattern where every believer contributes (psalms, hymns, teachings, prophecy), and treat gifts and spectacular experiences as scaffolding that becomes secondary as Christlike meekness and humility take over. Guard and train your conscience toward holiness; govern your own body and immediate atmosphere before presuming to govern cities or nations. Learn from history: moves of God are meant to restore apostolic conviction and power, not entertain; what you “know” must become what you live and “eat.” Keep journaling what you receive in prayer, confirm it in Scripture across Genesis-to-Revelation, revise your understanding when corrected, and stay hungry and teachable so your life steadily manifests the commanded blessing—consistent obedience, sustained presence, and practical love—until faith, hope, and love define everything you do. Choose real discipleship over spectatorship: lay down your former life, repent from dead works, and place active faith toward God; then keep advancing through the foundations—baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection, and eternal judgment—until you mature from relying on offices and gifts to living from union with Christ's life and character. Make prayer a rhythm, not an event: pray much in the Spirit (tongues) so your spirit takes the lead, your body is subdued, and God's flawless will is prayed through you; linger there long enough for your present to be drawn into the future God has framed, and re-engage Him briefly and often through the day to govern your inner atmosphere before presuming to govern cities or nations. Expect fruit as proof—holiness, love, wisdom, power, and healthy relationships—not hype. Learn from many “streams,” but canonize none: honor specific graces (healing, worship, sight, teaching), take the fish and spit the bones, and test everything by the whole counsel of Scripture rather than isolated verses; revelation is progressive, but God's moral demands are not—pride, lust, deceit, worldliness, and offense still corrupt. Recover the apostolic pattern where every joint supplies—psalms, hymns, teachings, prophecy—and treat gifts and dramatic experiences as scaffolding that becomes secondary as meekness and humility take over. Guard and train your conscience toward holiness; practice correction gladly when light comes; study to rightly divide the word so your conclusions align from Torah to Prophets to Gospels to Epistles, not by proof-texts. Understand that history's revivals are restorations toward the early church's conviction and purity; knowledge that is not “eaten” as life remains theory. Govern your body and attention: fast distraction, steward rest, and cultivate night-watch and morning prayer so your heart learns constancy. Use tongues with purpose—frame your future, align with the “commanded blessing,” and let the river of life flow through you into practical love; don't chase fame or credit in prayer, but yield so the Spirit prays God's will, strengthens infirmities, and produces steady transformation. Stay free from offense; keep a soft, teachable heart; journal what you receive and confirm it in Scripture; revise your language when corrected; prefer character over reputation. Live as a son or daughter whose life plainly shows a people returning to the faith of the apostles—rooted, discerning, prayerful, communal, and pure—until faith working through love defines everything you do. Zoom every weekday : http://www.caveadullam.org/zoom Zoom every weekday : http://www.caveadullam.org/zoom Crystal Rivers | Kingdom Mysteries | Oct 29, 2025

The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires. In this episode, based on First Peter chapter 3 and verses 13 to 22, we consider how he told these new Christian that they were to live apologetically - that is, to live in a way that they could answer any questions or respond to any arguments against Christianity.

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/16-Jude-the_Epistle.pdf Verse by Verse through Jude in twenty classes with notes - https://www.generationword.com/audio_series/jude.html

WELCOME to our brand-new teaching series: No Longer Strangers. For six weeks, we'll take a deep dive into Ephesians. If you were with us last year, we did a teaching series on 1 Corinthians, with the title, MESSY SAINTS. These two letters—1 Corinthians and Ephesians—belong to the same group of letters St. Paul wrote when the early Church was spreading in the first century. Some Bible scholars call Ephesians the Queen of the Epistles, the masterpiece of Paul's theology. Ephesians declares God's cosmic, eternal plan from the very beginning of history to its ultimate completion. And what is that cosmic plan? The unity of everything under Jesus. The key message of Talk 1 is: God Has a Plan.

In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil welcomes Dr. Kyle Dunham to discuss Michael B. Shepherd's new book, An Introduction to the Making and Meaning of the Bible. They explore how Scripture's composition—especially in the Old Testament—reveals its message through narrative framed by poetry, editorial comments, and programmatic passages. Dunham highlights examples like Jacob's and Moses's blessings, the Balaam oracles, and the way books begin and end to signal theological themes. The conversation also covers textual criticism and translation, including the roles of the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and why Jeremiah's textual history is uniquely complex. Turning to compositional strategy, they trace messianic trajectories in the Old Testament and show how the New Testament mirrors and fulfills these patterns through the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. Along the way, Dunham offers appreciative engagement with Shepherd's insights while noting points of critique—such as privileging the Septuagint in certain cases and the balance of kingdom and covenant themes.Learn More about DBTS at https://dbts.eduLearn More about Rice Lecture Series at https://dbts.edu/rice

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

 Family Discipleship Pastor, Campbell BenfieldWednesday October 22, 2025

The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires. In this episode Dr. Corbett discusses what the Apostle Peter, the only married person of the original 12 disciples, had to say about how Christ and then Christianity has redically reinstituted what marriage was always meant to be.

Teaching by Eric Freemon based on 1 Timothy 6:11-16. Week 3 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

Motes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/15-Second_and_Third_John.pdf

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

 Student Pastor, Nick Gentili Wednesday October 15, 2025

Teaching by Kent Bateman based on Jeremiah 20:7-13. Week 2 of our series, Prophets & Epistles. Part of our Year of the Bible. For more information, visit citychurchknox.com.

Notes - https://www.generationword.com/notes/Epistles/14-First%20John-the_Epistle.pdf

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

Apocalypse Now: An Eye-Opening Study of the Book of EphesiansWhat if the greatest revelation wasn't about the end of the world, but the unveiling of a new one? Apocalypse Now is a deep and eye-opening journey through the book of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul—writing from prison—pulls back the curtain on God's grand design for His people.Set against the backdrop of ancient Ephesus, a city of power, culture, and spiritual darkness, this series explores how Paul's letter reveals Jesus as Lord over every empire, idol, and authority. Known as the “Queen of the Epistles,” Ephesians lifts our eyes to the breathtaking view of Christ and His Church—our identity, our unity, our calling, and our hope.Each episode uncovers the “apocalypse”—the great unveiling of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the Spirit's gifts—and asks how this revelation reshapes the way we live right now. From household relationships to spiritual warfare, from ancient temples to modern challenges, Apocalypse Now helps us see with fresh eyes what it means to belong to God's family and live as people of another Kingdom.If you're ready for a faith that feels alive, courageous, and countercultural—this is your invitation. We don't just need an apocalypse someday. We need one now.For more information or to get connected, visit us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rcnb.org

This message examines Paul's treatment of the New Covenant in his second Corinthian epistle. This is his only explicit interaction with the New Covenant outside of his mention of it in his first letter to the Corinthians. But most significantly, Paul approached this topic, not as an abstract theological concept, but as the appropriate way to address the relational difficulties that had emerged between him and the Corinthian believers.