By Adam Francisco

09/15/26

15mins

Josephus on Jesus

Josephus does not tell us that Christianity is true, and Christians do not need Josephus to tell them that Christ is risen. But Christianity makes claims about things that happened in public history under identifiable rulers, priests, and governors. For that reason, testimony from outside the church matters.

Political Polarization and Cultural Christianity

John W. Hoyum

09/18/26

Political Polarization and Cultural Christianity

Today, the longing for cultural Christianity on both the left and the right hearkens back to an older version of Christendom that was a mixed blessing for the church in the western world. The cultural mediation of Christian views on created order has certainly benefitted the civilization we’ve inherited. But the gospel itself isn’t something that can be reduced to cultural mediation either. Instead, the gospel as a message stands apart from all human accomplishments and achievements, no matter how beneficial they might be.

Geography: How the “Where” Impacts the “Why” of the Biblical Story

Mark Duerr

09/16/26

Geography: How the “Where” Impacts the “Why” of the Biblical Story

The student of Scripture should always have a map open next to their Bible as they read. If possible, they should also travel to Israel, not to make a pilgrimage, but to see the context of the land in which these stories took place. These are not fairy tales made up about fictional fantasy lands; these are stories about real people in real places interacting with a real God.

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Jeffrey Pulse

01/31/21

Old Testament: Isaiah 40:21-31 (Epiphany 5: Series B)

Even though it may appear otherwise, the LORD has power over all things, Heaven and Earth, and He has and will use that power to save His people.

Chad Bird

01/27/21

The Old Testament and Alcohol: A Short Q&A

The Old Testament mentions wine about 140 times and beer ("strong drink") about 20 times. What can we learn from these passages? Chad Bird provides us with a short Q&A about the Hebrew background of alcohol, as well as a look forward to the Party of parties in the resurrection feast.

Jeffrey Pulse

01/24/21

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (Epiphany 4: Series B)

Christ is not only the fulfillment of the prophetic line, but He is also the NEW Moses.

Chad Bird

01/23/21

The One Hebrew Word You Don't Want to Forget

In the Old Testament, to zakar ("remember") is not merely to rifle through the files in your head until you find that fact you’ve been searching for. To zakar is to employ your hands and feet and lips to engage in whatever action that remembrance requires.

John W. Hoyum

01/19/21

What Happens When the Gospel Isn’t Threatened

Has the modern world taken too strong a dose of the gospel as its inheritance from the Reformation?

Jeffrey Pulse

01/17/21

Old Testament: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10 (Epiphany 3: Series B)

Jonah rejected his first call and job description and headed in the opposite direction . Now, after spending three days in the belly of the big fish, Jonah is called again.

Ken Sundet Jones

01/12/21

Conspiracy Theories, Law, and Salvation

Paul knew, and so do we: the law doesn’t change hearts or heal the world. More demands won’t do the trick.

Robert Kolb

01/10/21

He Doesn’t Make Things Like We’re Used To

God makes all things new. He refashions us from those turned in upon ourselves, turned to idols of our own choice and making, to experience the freedom He gives by pronouncing us His righteous children.

John Bombaro

01/10/21

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (Epiphany 2: Series B)

What does being free from sin, which is obviously a good thing, have to do with being free from the Law, which sounds dangerous?

Jeffrey Pulse

01/10/21

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20) (Epiphany 2: Series B)

Samuel plays a very important role in preserving the line of Judah by anointing and instructing the first kings of the united monarchy—especially King David.

John Bombaro

01/04/21

God's Unmasked Face

The church does well to remind the world that God is unmasked, indeed, that God has unmasked himself in the person of Jesus.

John Bombaro

01/03/21

The Rituals of Preaching

Rituals resist domestication and confront us with a world and worldview brought forth from the Bible and through twenty centuries of Christianity for the purpose of arresting our contemporary worldview through its self-sameness.

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