Bible in Context

There’s a secret recipe to just about every prayer you’ll find in a prayer book or prayed formally in a church. Today’s technique brings focus to your own prayer life and when praying in public.

Raw honesty. Anchoring to a promise of God. And faith and hope. It’s a technique for prayer you’ll find in the Bible we explore today, using a prayer by Thomas Merton, a Christian monk and mystic, as our guide.

The Psalms have been an anchor for prayer life for millennium. Monks even pray them seven times a day. Learn how to tap the Psalms for your own conversation with God.

The Prayer, "Instrument of Your Peace" has been attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. This week we break down each line of this prayer and look at their scriptural support, while examining the impact on our lives.

Prayer Insights

Praying is like learning to talk. It comes naturally, especially the more we do it, but is also a skill to learn. How did Jesus pray? Those first Christians? And others for centuries? What do they have to teach us? The first of eight weeks, today dives into Biblical and theological ideas guiding prayer.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day. What better person to learn from than Patrick himself. Today looks at Patrick’s Confessio – an autobiographical statement of faith on his life, hope, and work.

Today wraps up life lessons from an early pastor to a fledging church. It’s week 3 of Ignatius to the Smyrnaean church. Hear his take on Christianity in practice, the importance of knowing what to believe and who follow, and reconciliation.

Week 2 looking at Ignatius of Antioch and his letter to the Smyrnaeans. Written c. 107 AD, it's a seedbed of early Christian thinking.

The creeds didn't materialize out of thin air. Today looks at Ignatius of Antioch and his letter to the Smyrnaeans. Written c. 107 AD, it's a seedbed of early Christian thinking.

Gnostics first appeared in the secondary century, challenging the early church's Christian beliefs. Although not as prominent today, Gnosticism has slowly crept back into many religious belief systems, even Christian churches. Today we explore some of the basic beliefs of Gnosticism and how it manifests itself in our current culture.

Part 2 of the Epistle to Diognetus where an early Christian tries to explain the winsomeness of following Jesus to a 2nd century Roman pagan.

The Epistles to Diognetus is a 2nd century letter written by a disciple of Jesus to his pagan friend in which he tries to explain the Christian faith in a way his friend will resonate with and understand. It is an amazing window into what the early Christians emphasized and an amazing guide towards understanding and explaining Christianity today.

Part 2 of what the New Testament has to say about hell.

The Apostles’ Creed says Jesus descended into hell. Today is part 1 of a 2-part talk on what this means, why it’s important, and what the Bible says about hell.

Athanasian Creed

What it is, where it came from, and why the concept of the Trinity is vital.

We have all heard the Christmas story, no room in the Inn, the baby in a manger, etc. Today we dig a little deeper into the characters of the birth of Jesus that hopefully will help you to prepare for this year in a whole new way.

Three creeds have stood the test of time as foundational for faith and life. Today collects questions and explores concepts of "catholic" and "world" v "age."

Our study of Christianity in Context continues as we venture into the Apostle's Creed.

Today finishes God’s different life through the lens of the 10 Commandments. We hit 9 & 10, along with final reflections on the motivation behind them all.

Murder and Adultery are today's topic as we explore the 5th and 6th commandments using Martin Luther's teaching in his Large Catechism. Easy to identify right? But are there ways in which we violate these commandments that are more subtle?

Martin Luther talks about honoring our father and mother as the most important commandment. Why? Was he just having a bad day with his kids? Today explores what else might be going on.

Today takes on the 3rd Commandment using Martin Luther’s teaching in his Large Catechism. A look at Sabbath, why Christians aren’t bound to follow it, the timeless wisdom still found within it, and how he makes the leap from a day of rest to rooting in the Word of God.

Today dives into Luther’s teaching on the 2nd Commandment in his Large Catechism. Guidance and wisdom on treating God as holy.

Today moves into a different Christian manual, Luther’s Large Catechism. We look at the 1st Commandment. If you get this one right, you get the rest.

*Note: Due to a recording error, a portion of the middle of this bible study episode is missing.

Today wraps up the Didache. It’s teaching on fasting and prophets springboards into navigating our former life and new life in Christ, and discerning prophecy today.

Today dives deeper into The Didache, exploring questions early questions wrestled with like how to give and how to baptize.

The Didache is an ancient document meant to help people learn how to live a different kind of life in Christ. It practically functioned as a manual for how to do church and is filled with insights on the Christian life, then and now. Today dives into specific questions it raises, where it can help guide life with God today, and where it doesn’t.

For 2000 years, people in Christ have been seeking to embrace the different life God has birthed in them. There’s a lot to learn from those who have gone before us. Today dives into The Didache, the oldest known church instruction manual written to teach people coming from the pagan Roman world about the different way of life in Jesus and what it looks like.

Today is 2 Samuel 7:1-16. It’s our seventh and final Old Testament anchor passage. Here God promises David a kingdom and dynasty that will never end. From here flows messianic hope.

Week 6 of studying the Old Testament using 7 key passages.

The fifth OT passage is Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Here we get a snapshot of the soul and substance of God’s covenant. Situated at the tail end of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, this passage captures the heart and soul of God’s call on his people.

It’s week four. God rescues his people from Egypt and forms a people for himself from the descendants of Abraham, and others who want to follow their God, Yahweh. God makes a covenant with them at Sinai that defines the future roll and purpose of Israel and God’s rescue operation for this world. Exodus 19:3-6 is the anchor passage. Knowing it will help you understand the trajectory of the Bible.

After disinheriting the nations, God chooses a man named Abram (later to be called Abraham) through whom he is going to go about blessing all people of the world. It’s the third key passage of the Old Testament. Today hits Genesis 12:1-3.

Today hits key passage #2: Genesis 3:14-15. Humanity falls. The conflict is set. Mortal conflict between humanity and the forces of evil begins. But evil won’t triumph in the end. God will finish what he started and work through humanity to bring about what he started in creation.

The OT is long and confusing. Many people lose heart after trying to read it. It's also foundational. Its storyline and theogy can be summarized in seven key passages. Today we tackle the first: Genesis 1:26-28. Anchored in the story of creation, it's the purpose of humanity.

We come to the end of Revelation with Jesus’s final words, “Yes, I am coming soon.” It’s been nearly 2000 years since he said these words. Today digs into how to live with a “soon” mindset when Jesus is long in coming, what it meant for the seven churches of Revelation, and what it means for us today. 

Revelation 21-22 show what eternal life will be like. It’s not just heaven. It’s a new heaven and new earth. Eden restored. Today traces the theme of the entire Bible, leading from Eden to the fall to God’s rescue operation to restore that which was broken. It’s what Revelation 21-22 is all about.

Revelation is about hope. Chapters 21-22 point to a new heaven and new earth. Today dives into a resurrected eternity and how many mistakenly trade it for dying and going to heaven.

1000 years, two deaths, two resurrections, Satan unleashed, and a great white throne. Today dives back into Revelation 20, along with four different ways Christians have sought to interpret these events.

Revelation 20. Satan is chained, a 1000 year reign, and a great white throne of judgment. What’s it all about? When does it take place. Part 1 of a look at a chapter that sets the tone for all kinds of end-time scenarios.

Revelation 19. Jesus returns and with it comes the fairy-tale ending God’s people are yearning for. The dragon is slain. The conquering hero triumphs. The long-awaited wedding comes to pass. It’s about the hope and perspective God wants for all people.

Zach Schmidt steps in to guest teach the class. He focuses on doing a review of what the class has covered so far.

Part 2 of Christians and culture. In light of the worldviews we face, today explores how to recognize their patterns, and live and witness in the midst of them.

Revelation 17-18 talks about a prostitute, beast, and Babylon. It’s really about Christians in their culture. Culture and society are gifts, but with them come temptations and seductions. The seven churches of Revelation were no exception. Today traces ways of thinking that undergird various cultures that have the power to seduce or confuse. Part 1 of cultural worldviews.

Today is Revelation 17. Its message? Don’t sleep with the prostitute. It’s certainly good advice in any day and age, but John prepares the church for the seduction of a pagan culture with a call to come out of any way they might be adulterating themselves with it.

Part 2 of Revelation 16. Armageddon, worldviews, and how to interpret the Bible.

Just about everyone has heard of Armageddon, even if they’ve never read the Bible. Revelation 16 introduces it. Part 1 of a look at what Armageddon is and why the Bible talks about it.

Revelation 15-16 is frightening. God’s wrath is poured out, but heaven keeps reminding us: “Good and just are your judgments.” How do we reconcile this and come to terms with a good and gracious God who punishes?

Suffering and persecution are real. Revelation doesn’t soft-pedal it. But it does give a vision of hope. The lamb and his army are prepared and the fury of God’s wrath is building. Revelation 14 brings a hope of vindication to those suffering at the hand of the dragon and the beasts.

Dave gives an amplified reading that unpacks the symbols of Revelation 13 to make sense of its message. This passage of warning and hope shows every generation that there’s a reason behind the persecutions and temptations we face and that faithfulness to Jesus matters in not just what we think, but in what we do and say.