Christian Questions Bible Podcast

If we are not careful, it can be easy to misrepresent God. So often we hear people proclaim that God is a God of anger and wrath, a God who demands that we fear Him. While God does absolutely and ultimately demand that all will eventually honor and reverence Him, we need to be able to grasp what He requires of humanity now. The Bible, if carefully understood, supplies these answers. By examining what “fear of the Lord” looks like first in the Old Testament and then in the New, we can receive a clear picture of what He demands. What does this picture show us? It reveals His power, His authority and His overwhelming benevolence. The Old Testament lays the foundation for understanding the fear of the Lord. The Hebrew words for fear carry both negative and positive meanings ranging from terror to deep reverence. Israel’s experience was often physical and immediate, while Christians today apply these principles spiritually. This distinction helps us to appreciate why “fear” in Scripture can sometimes sound intimidating yet ultimately points toward a relationship grounded in respect and devotion. Reverence for God brings blessing. Passages from Psalms and Proverbs show that fearing the Lord leads to confidence, instruction, protection and even joy. For example, Proverbs describes the fear of the Lord as “a fountain of life,” offering refuge and strength. This kind of fear is not about shrinking back, but about recognizing God’s greatness and drawing closer to Him because of it. Reverence for God brings guidance. A deeply personal example of this is Rick’s experience of how reverence for God sustained him through the trauma of his daughter’s assault. He describes relying on prayer and scriptural principles when he didn’t know what to do, illustrating how reverence can anchor believers during life’s most overwhelming moments. The New Testament verifies that reverence remains essential for Christians. While the Greek word phobéō can mean fright, it also carries the meaning of awe and respect. The apostles encourage believers to perfect holiness in the fear of God, to honor all people and to avoid any ungodly spirit of cowardice. The picture is clear: ‘Fearing the Lord’ means placing Him in His rightful position—above all things—and allowing that reverence to shape our confidence, choices and character.  Key Takeaways The ‘fear of the Lord’ in Scripture primarily means reverence, awe and deep respect, not terror. Old Testament examples show that reverence brings instruction, protection, confidence and blessing. True ‘fear’ of God draws us toward Him, not away from Him. The New Testament continues this theme, urging Christians to perfect holiness in reverence. God has not given Christians a spirit of fearfulness or cowardice. Reverence becomes especially powerful during personal trials, grounding us in God’s presence and guidance.

Temptation is everywhere. In fact, it may be lurking in places that we are not even aware of. Let’s put this in perspective: Who do you claim to be? If you answered that you claim to be a Christian, then the next question is, who do you serve and in whose footsteps are you therefore to walk? Our answers should be that we serve God and are walking in the footsteps of Jesus our Lord! Now here’s the test: Let’s think about our associations, our work or school environments, our friends, the shows we watch, the influencers we follow, the music we listen to and the posts we make and read. Where are all these things drawing our minds to? What percentage of all these things are in exact alignment with God our Father and Jesus our Lord? Think! Be honest! You see, temptation IS everywhere! How to identify temptation? It doesn’t always arrive with flashing lights or obvious danger. More often, it begins quietly—like a seed dropped into the “soil” of our hearts. What matters most is what we do with those seeds. Left unattended, they can take root and pull us off course. But when recognized early, they can be uprooted before they grow into something that harms our spiritual life. The New Testament describes temptation as a proving ground—a pressure that reveals what is already inside us. That pressure can either weaken us or build us, depending on the desires we allow to take root. Even Jesus faced temptation, showing us that the battle itself is not sin. The danger comes when desire is fed, entertained, or justified. Whether it’s the “lust of the flesh,” the “lust of the eyes,” or the “pride of life,” temptation always begins with something that looks appealing and promises more than it can deliver. Because temptation is subtle, how to identify temptation becomes our first line of defense. We’re called to examine our thoughts, emotions and habits with honesty. Are they drawing us closer to God or quietly nudging us away? Scripture encourages us to “submit to God,” “resist the devil,” and “draw near” to the One who provides strength and clarity. When we recognize the early signs, remove ourselves from compromising environments and reassess our emotional state, we create space for God to reshape our responses and strengthen our character. Temptation is universal—but so is God’s faithfulness. With humility, vigilance, and a willingness to grow, we can face temptation with confidence and shut it down before it takes root. Key Takeaways • Temptation begins as a seed—often subtle and easily overlooked. • Desire is the catalyst. Temptation gains power only when it connects with something inside us. • Awareness, honesty and early action are essential to stopping temptation before it grows. • Scripture provides a clear process: submit to God, resist the devil, draw near and reshape our responses. • God always provides strength, clarity and a way of escape for those who seek Him.

We all sin. We all make mistakes and sometimes they are just plain embarrassing. As Christians, we know that forgiveness for our sins can be readily available as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice. The question is, what do I have to do to access that availability? Is it automatic? Am I forgiven just because I have claimed the name of Jesus? The answer to that question is an emphatic NO! While being a disciple of Christ grants us access to forgiveness from God, it does not automatically apply that forgiveness to our ongoing sins. So, what do we have to do? Do we actually have to confess our sins in detail to God? What does confessing our sins actually mean? Are there rituals that we should be following? Should we confess them to others? Is there a right way and a wrong way to do this? Confession is not a ritual or a formula. Scripture presents it as something far more meaningful: a relational step that brings us back into alignment with God. The Apostle John uses the Greek word homologeō—to “say the same thing”—meaning confession is agreeing with God’s assessment of our actions rather than defending, minimizing or hiding them. It is the moment we stop managing our image and start embracing honesty before the One who already knows every detail. King David’s experience in Psalm 32 gives us a vivid picture of this process. Before he confessed, he described his inner life as wasting away under the weight of guilt. But once he acknowledged his sin without excuses, he found relief, clarity and restored fellowship with God—even though the severe consequences of his actions remained. Confession didn’t erase the earthly fallout, but it reopened the door to God’s mercy and peace. The New Testament builds on this foundation by reminding us that we confess not to inform God, but to align ourselves with Him. Hebrews shows that Jesus, our sympathetic High Priest, opens the way to the throne of grace so we can approach God with confidence. Confession becomes the pathway out of darkness and into light, where cleansing and transformation can actually happen. It is how we keep our hearts soft, our conscience clear, and our relationship with God vibrant and honest. Key Takeaways • Confession is relational, not ritualistic—it restores alignment with God. • The biblical meaning of confession is to agree with God’s truth about our actions. • God already knows our sins; confession helps us see ourselves clearly. • David’s example shows that confession brings relief, honesty and renewed fellowship, even when consequences remain. • Confession is part of walking in the light, keeping us spiritually awake and accountable. • Through Jesus, we can approach God with confidence, knowing forgiveness and cleansing are available. • True confession leads to transformation—allowing God’s grace to work in us and through us.

There are two fundamental lessons we can learn about God from having a general knowledge of the true message of the Bible. First, we know that God is love, as He created humanity for the sake of having an eternal human family. Second, God is just. His love for humanity is not weak and unreliable; it is based on a solid foundation of justice. When Adam sinned, this justice aspect of His character was plain to see as Adam would no longer have eternal life. He would now be destined to live out his life outside of the Garden of Eden, in a different environment than he had originally been given. Adam, Eve and the generations they would produce would now make their living off of a cursed earth. What would this mean for them? Did their disobedience doom to whole world to a cursed life of hopelessness? Did God curse the world? Two targeted curses When we look closely at the Genesis account, we discover that God’s actions in Eden were far more purposeful and hopeful than many assume. Rather than cursing humanity, God issued two targeted curses: one on the serpent and one on the ground. The serpent’s curse carried both humiliation and prophecy, pointing forward to the eventual destruction of Satan by the promised seed. The curse on the ground introduced toil, resistance and frustration into human labor—not as an act of divine spite, but as a teacher. Life outside the Garden would now reveal the true cost of sin and humanity’s deep need for redemption. Throughout Scripture, this theme continues. Cain’s judgment, Lamech’s longing for relief and Noah’s partial mitigation of the ground’s difficulty all show that God’s curse on the soil shaped human experience but never represented a curse on humanity itself. Even after the Flood, God reaffirmed stability and seasons, signaling mercy within the struggle. The ground remained cursed, but the world was not abandoned. Romans 8 The Apostle Paul picks up this thread in Romans 8, explaining that creation was “subjected to futility”—not cursed—and that this condition is temporary. Paul uses the imagery of childbirth to show that the world’s present suffering is leading toward something new. The groaning of creation is in anticipation.  God’s plan has always been restoration. This is where Jesus enters the picture with breathtaking clarity. By taking Adam’s death penalty and stepping into the Law’s covenant curse—symbolized by being “hung on a tree”—Jesus opened the way for both Jews and Gentiles to become part of Abraham’s promised seed. His sacrifice ensures that the curse on the ground, the futility of creation and the burden of sin will all be resolved in God’s appointed time. The story that begins with a curse ends with healing and restoration, and the promise of a world made new. Key Takeaways • God cursed the serpent and the ground in Genesis 3. He did not curse humanity. • The curse on the ground served a purpose, shaping human experience and pointing to the need for redemption. • Creation’s “futility” in Romans 8 is temporary and filled with hope. • Jesus fulfilled the Law’s curse symbol by being publicly displayed on the cross. • Through Christ, both Jews and Gentiles become Abraham’s seed and heirs of the promise. • God’s plan moves from curse to consequence to redemption and finally, to restoration.

In Part I of this 2-part series, we introduced several reasons why many Christians believe women should be able to serve as pastors. Our scriptural considerations began with understanding what the “equality in Christ” in our theme text means. We found that it is pointing to an immovable foundation for people of differing ethnicities, different social standings and both genders to stand firmly upon. While Christ does not change our heritage, social standing or gender privileges, he equally welcomes all of us. We also briefly examined the roles of a few prominent Old Testament women. Here we discovered that even though they were wise and chosen prophets of God, that did not open the door for them to be in any way related to the priesthood of Israel. In Part II of our series, we continue examining the question of whether women should serve as pastors or elders by looking closely at New Testament women in ministry by including examples often raised in support of egalitarian views. We explore the lives of Priscilla, Phoebe and Junia—women of remarkable faith and influence—and consider how their contributions fit within the structure God designed for the early church. These women served powerfully and sacrificially, yet Scripture never presents them as holding the governing or teaching offices reserved for elders. Gift vs. office A major theme of this episode is the difference between gifts and offices. God gives spiritual gifts broadly to both men and women, enabling all believers to teach, encourage, counsel and serve. But the New Testament consistently assigns the formal teaching and governing roles of the church to qualified men. This distinction becomes especially important when we look at Pentecost. Peter quotes a prophecy from Joel to show that God’s spirit was being poured out on both sons and daughters, but his purpose was to highlight the arrival of miraculous gifts—not to redefine church leadership. Pentecost was a preview of God’s power, not a restructuring of the elder role. The Competency Argument We also address the modern argument of competency. Many women today are highly educated, capable leaders in every sphere of society. Scripture never denies their ability. Instead, it provokes us to consider how God arranges His body according to His design, not human preference. The pattern of male eldership is rooted not in culture, but in creation, headship and the consistent teaching of both Paul and Peter. This episode encourages all Christians—men and women—to embrace their God given roles with humility, gratitude and purpose, recognizing that leadership in the body of Christ begins and ends with faithful service. Key Takeaways • New Testament women served powerfully, but none are shown holding the office of elder. • Gifts and offices are different: gifts show ability; offices show responsibility. • Pentecost demonstrated God’s power, not a change in church leadership structure. • Competency is not the issue—God’s design and order are. • Headship is rooted in creation, not culture. • Every Christian can lead by example, regardless of role.

The world has changed dramatically over the last 2,000 years. If you are accessing this podcast information, then the world you live in has gone from a very localized environment where the fastest news traveled was by horseback or boat, to a society of instant access for all news and information. Your world has transformed from a patriarchal society where men represented the vast majority of power and influence in life, to a society that continues to make all roles equally available for both men and women. So, has Christianity kept up with the times? Have we made all roles, specifically the role of pastor and teacher in the church equally available to both men and women? If your church has, should they have? If they have not, then why not? Should women be pastors? There is a clear scriptural answer to this! Egalitarian and complementarian views In Part I of this important two-part series, we take a careful, respectful look at one of the most debated questions in modern Christianity: Should women serve as pastors or elders in the church? Rather than beginning with our own conclusion that women should not serve in this way, we start by laying out the pro-woman pastor egalitarian viewpoint, exactly as its supporters understand it. We walk through the strongest egalitarian arguments, including equality in Christ, women in biblical leadership, the distribution of spiritual gifts and the practical reality that women already serve in many ministry roles today. Once this perspective is clearly understood, the episode turns to Scripture to examine the foundation beneath the complementarian view we hold. What does “equality in Christ” actually mean? Does it erase distinctions God built into creation, or does it elevate men and women equally while preserving different roles? The conversation explores the Old Testament pattern of spiritual leadership, the significance of the priesthood, and the creation order established before sin entered the world. It also looks honestly at how sin distorted God’s design, leading to centuries of misuse, imbalance and cultural extremes Scripture never endorsed. Throughout the discussion, the goal is not to diminish women’s value or gifting, but to understand how God arranged roles for the protection, order and flourishing of the church. This episode invites our listeners to consider the question not through the lens of culture or tradition, but through the lens of God’s revealed design. Key Takeaways • Equality in Christ elevates men and women without erasing God-given distinctions. • Women in Scripture held significant leadership roles, yet not the highest spiritual offices. • Spiritual gifts are given broadly, but spiritual offices are assigned purposefully. • The creation order—not culture—forms the foundation for church structure. • Sin distorted headship into domination, but Scripture restores balance and dignity. • Clearly understanding both viewpoints clearly helps us approach this topic with grace and truth.

In our last episode, we laid out a scriptural foundation for how human free will works by considering two Old Testament accounts. First, we looked at Joshua and how he was called upon by God to lead Israel after the death of Moses. His choosing to closely follow God’s direction in this task made him a great leader. This showed us the profound value of always using God’s word and His will to guide us. Second, we looked at the account of Adam and Eve and their sin. Their poor choices showed us how easy it is for us to apply our free will in self-destructive ways by listening to other voices that oppose godliness. Now we get practical and examine free will in relation to our Christianity, as well as free will in relation to the rest of the world. As Christians, our free will is meant to be shaped and elevated by the teachings of Jesus. Scripture calls us to “continue in his word,” reminding us that discipleship requires direction, discipline and a conscience trained by truth. Understanding how God guides our free will helps us see that He does not override our choices; instead, He surrounds our path with the “guardrails” of providence—Scripture, conscience, correction and the influence of His spirit. These guardrails don’t force us to stay on the road, but they can lovingly prevent us from drifting into danger. Ephesians 4 Ephesians 4 gives us a practical picture of how God guides our free will by showing what a renewed mind and transformed character look like in action. This chapter becomes a roadmap for what a transformed free will looks like in daily life. As we “put off” the old self and “put on” the new, our choices begin to reflect Christlike qualities: truthful communication, forbearance, godly morality, upbuilding words, diligent actions, purified emotions and a tender, forgiving heart. This transformation is gradual, intentional and deeply connected to our willingness to align our intellect and character with God’s word. This is good for Christians, but what about the free will of the world at large? While humanity’s choices now often lead to suffering and injustice, the Bible assures us that God has fixed a future “day of judgment”—a thousand-year period of restoration, clarity and righteous instruction. In that kingdom, every person will finally have the opportunity to choose God with full understanding. Free will, once confused and wounded, will be healed and guided toward life. Key Takeaways • Free will becomes powerful and safe only when it is aligned with Jesus’ teachings. • Ephesians 4 shows how a transformed free will produces Christlike behavior. • Christian growth requires “putting off” the old self and “putting on” the new. • The world’s uneven free will experiences will be addressed in the future kingdom. • The “day of judgment” is a restorative, thousand-year period of learning righteousness. • Ultimately, God’s plan leads every human being toward clarity, accountability and the opportunity to choose life.

The Bible plainly teaches us that God in His unfathomable wisdom and power has a clear plan for the destiny of ALL humanity. We also know according to 1 Peter 1:20 that His plan for the sacrifice of Jesus was clearly in place even before the earth was created. Now, if God’s plan was clear to Him even before humanity existed, how does that fit into our understanding that each and every one of us has free will? Wouldn’t His foreknowledge by its very existence make us all puppets in His hands? If He knows how it will all turn out, then aren’t we just playing a predetermined role? Actually, nothing could be further from the truth! As we dig into these questions, we will see that God’s plans and purposes are firmly built around the free will of all of His intelligent creation. Understanding this is life changing! Joshua As we explored this question in Part I, we began with Joshua—one of Scripture’s clearest examples of how human free will operates within God’s will. Joshua was given a divine assignment and the assurance that God would be with him, yet he still had to actively choose obedience, courage and faith. God laid out the road, but Joshua had to walk it. His free will didn’t create God’s plan, but it determined how faithfully he would travel upon it. This powerful picture shows us that God’s foreknowledge does not eliminate our choices; instead, it provides the framework in which our choices gain meaning. Adam & Eve We also examined the first human exercise of free will in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were created perfect, placed in an environment designed for success and given clear boundaries. Their free will was real, and so were the consequences of their decisions. When Eve listened to another voice and Adam followed her lead, they stepped outside of God’s protective boundaries. God didn’t force the outcome, but free will must be tested, proven and ultimately aligned with God’s character. Throughout the episode, we saw that God’s will is perfect committed time-tested and harmonious. Human free will, by contrast, is developing. It must learn strength, courage, character and intellectual alignment with God’s truth. Rather than making us puppets, God invites us into a lifelong process of choosing His way—again and again—until our will becomes anchored in His. Understanding this relationship between God’s sovereignty and our freedom is deeply practical. It shapes how we face decisions, how we interpret trials, and how we grow into Christlike maturity. Key Takeaways • God’s foreknowledge frames human free will. It does not cancel it. • Joshua shows that God provides the road, but we choose how faithfully we walk it. • Strength and courage are active choices, not automatic feelings. • Adam and Eve’s test reveals that free will must be proven and aligned with God’s character. • God’s will is perfect and unchanging. Our will is being shaped to match His. • Every decision becomes an opportunity to choose trust, obedience and spiritual growth.

Are Christians who claim to heal and who claim to speak in tongues operating within the scriptural guidelines of Christianity today, or have they taken a giant step over the line of appropriate Christian behavior? In our last episode, we observed how the Old Testament established healing as an occasional gift and was not necessarily granted based on faith. We also observed that Jesus healed the masses and generally did not require faith and following to give that gift. We also saw that Old Testament speaking in tongues was absolutely speaking in foreign languages. It was a sign of God’s disapproval when foreign languages were introduced. The Apostle Paul verified that speaking in tongues – in foreign languages – was STILL a sign, but now it was a sign of approval to UNBELIEVERS. In this episode, we examine healing and speaking in tongues in the New Testament to understand how these gifts functioned in the early church. The New Testament pattern As we turn to the New Testament, Jesus sets the pattern. He healed out of compassion, not as a reward for personal faith. In fact, out of the hundreds he healed, only four individuals are specifically commended for their faith. Healing was never meant to be a spiritual performance or a measure of someone’s worthiness. It was a sign that the Messiah had arrived and the call to the kingdom was open. After Pentecost, the pattern remained narrow Only two non-apostles—Philip and Ananias—are specifically recorded as performing healings. Both did so under circumstances that were tied to the spread of the gospel. The Apostle Paul later explained that healing was one of the lesser gifts and would eventually fade as the church matured and the written word took center stage. Scripture, not miracles, would become the enduring tool for building faith. The same is true for speaking in tongues. The New Testament records only three instances of this occurring. In every case, tongues were real human languages used to communicate the gospel to foreigners. Tongues were never intended to be a private prayer language or a display of spiritual superiority. Paul repeatedly corrected the misuse of this gift, reminding believers that prophecy and teaching were far more valuable because they edified the entire church. Once the gospel was firmly established and the Scriptures completed, the purpose of tongues was fulfilled, and the gift ceased—just as Paul said it would. Key Takeaways Healing in the New Testament was a sign of the Messiah and the arrival of the kingdom. Jesus healed out of compassion, not as a response to personal faith. After Pentecost, only two non-apostles are recorded as performing healings, both for specific gospel purposes. Speaking in tongues was always the miraculous ability to speak real foreign languages. Tongues served as a sign to unbelievers and a tool for spreading the gospel. Paul identified healing and tongues as lesser gifts that would eventually cease. The completed Scriptures replaced the need for miraculous signs.

Christianity today is diverse. When you think about it, there should only be one version of the Gospel, and it should be entirely based upon the Bible as a whole, specifically the words and actions of Jesus as well as the words and actions of his apostles and disciples in the New Testament. In many cases, the Gospel has unfortunately been reduced to a wide variety of denominations and beliefs that often contradict one another. One area of this divergence has to do with the gift of healing and speaking in tongues in the Bible. Many Christians today believe these two spiritual gifts continue today, and many Christians believe they ceased a long time ago. Who’s right, and how do we know? In this first part of a two‑episode series, we take a thoughtful journey through Scripture to understand whether Christians today can genuinely heal or speak in tongues. We begin our conversation by stepping back into the Old Testament to uncover the foundation God laid long before Jesus’ ministry began. What emerges is a clear pattern: biblical healing and the use of foreign languages were never random miracles. They were purposeful signs—each revealing something about God’s sovereignty, His plan and His chosen messengers. Old Testament: Healings By exploring several Old Testament healings, from Abimelech’s household to the Shunammite woman, Naaman, and King Hezekiah, we find that account highlights that healing was rare, deeply intentional, and always tied to God’s authority or the advancement of His plan. These moments set the stage for the dramatic shift that occurs when Jesus arrives, bringing healing on a scale never before seen. His compassion, power and fulfillment of prophecy reveal healing as a sign pointing unmistakably to the Messiah. Old Testament: Speaking in Tongues The conversation then turns to the surprising Old Testament roots of speaking in tongues. Through the Tower of Babel, Deuteronomy and Isaiah, we see how foreign languages originally signaled God’s disfavor and judgment. But at Pentecost, everything changes. The same sign that once scattered now gathers. The same confusion that once divided now draws people toward the gospel. Speaking in tongues becomes a powerful, unmistakable sign for unbelievers that God’s favor has arrived through Jesus and the outpouring of the holy spirit. This episode lays the essential groundwork for Part II, where the New Testament gifts will be examined in greater detail.  Key Takeaways Old Testament healings were rare and always served a larger divine purpose. Jesus’ healing ministry fulfilled prophecy and revealed God’s sovereignty in a new way. In the Old Testament, foreign tongues were a sign of God’s disapproval and judgment. At Pentecost, tongues became a sign of God’s favor, enabling the gospel to reach all nations. Understanding the Old Testament foundation is essential for interpreting New Testament gifts today.

The crucifixion of Jesus was an event that absolutely overwhelmed his apostles and disciples. Even though Jesus had forewarned them of what was coming, they were still taken by complete surprise. In his great wisdom, Jesus arranged his post-resurrection appearances in such a way as to them to show them not only who he was, but what was to come. It is fascinating to see how he revealed more and more about their future with each appearance. When we get to his third appearance to a group of his apostles, Jesus came to them as they were fishing. What he did and what he taught related to fishing gave them a pointed and powerful lesson regarding their future! In this episode, we slow down and walk through John 21 step‑by‑step, noticing how Jesus masterfully uses a familiar setting—the Sea of Galilee—to reshape the apostles’ understanding of their calling. These men were back on their home turf, doing the work they knew best, yet they were also in a season of uncertainty. Jesus had risen, but he was no longer walking with them daily. They were waiting, wondering and trying to make sense of what came next. Into that moment of confusion and routine, Jesus stepped with purpose. What unfolds is far more than a miraculous catch of fish. It is a deliberate echo of an earlier moment—another empty night, another unexpected instruction, another overwhelming catch. By placing these two fishing events side‑by‑side, we can see how Jesus revealed how far the apostles had come and how much further they were about to go. The first miracle had been a call to follow. This one was a call to lead. Through this encounter, Jesus showed them that their future work would require obedience even when the instructions seemed unusual, trust even when the results were unseen, and courage even when the task felt too large to carry. He reminded them that success in their new mission would never come from their own expertise, but from listening to his voice—even when they didn’t immediately recognize it. This appearance at the Sea of Galilee becomes a living illustration about discipleship, leadership and the kind of faith required to become true “fishers of men.” It is a story of preparation and commissioning, and it still speaks powerfully to anyone seeking direction in seasons of waiting or uncertainty. Key Takeaways Jesus meets his followers where they are, often in the ordinary rhythms of life, to reveal extraordinary truth. The two fishing miracles act as bookends – one calling the apostles to follow, the other preparing them to lead. Obedience precedes understanding – the apostles cast the net before they knew it was Jesus speaking. The “right side” symbolizes divine authority, reminding us that true success comes from God’s direction, not human expertise. Seasons of waiting are not wasted – Jesus uses them to prepare us for the next stage of our calling. Leadership in Christ’s service requires humility, dependence on his guidance and willingness to act even when the outcome is unclear.

There are many Bible accounts that have gathered a lot of attention over centuries because of their dramatic content. Cain and Abel, Noah and the Ark and David and Goliath are all powerful and dramatic Old Testament accounts filled with action. Two New Testament are Jesus in the manger and Jesus on the cross. All of these named stories show us a hero and their experiences. Then we have “Doubting Thomas.” Here was an apostle who did not betray Jesus and who was ultimately faithful to his calling, and yet we know him as the doubter. Is this a fair and unbiased way to be remembering one of Jesus’ closest followers? Was Thomas that far off from faithfulness so as to be labeled as a doubter? Not a lot of information Thomas’ specific actions or words appear only three times in Scripture. The first two instances in John 11 and John 14 reveal a disciple who has courage, loyalty and a deep desire to stay close to Jesus. It is the third instance that causes so many to see him as a doubter. Thomas was absent during Jesus’ first resurrection appearance to the other ten apostles. The disciples joyfully reported, “We have seen the Lord,” but Thomas—traumatized, grieving and left out of that experience—could not process their claim. His statement, “I will not believe,” is a Greek conditional phrase meaning, “I am not able to believe unless…”—a cry of emotional impossibility, not rebellion. A personal demonstration Eight days later, Jesus appeared again and immediately addressed Thomas with compassion, not rebuke. He invited Thomas to examine his wounds, offering the same evidence the others received. Jesus gently dismantled Thomas’ doubt step by step, showing that honest struggle is always met with personalized grace. Thomas responded with one of the strongest declarations of faith in the New Testament: “My Lord and my God.” Thomas’ story teaches five belief lessons about how Jesus builds faith, not by shaming doubt but by meeting it with truth and patience. Ultimately, Thomas became a model of how doubt, when brought to Jesus, can lead to deeper conviction and a more resilient faith. Key Takeaways Thomas’ doubt was rooted in trauma, not rebellion. Jesus treats honest doubt differently from hard‑hearted resistance. Thomas asked only for the same evidence the other disciples received. Jesus responds with compassion, personalization and invitation. Thomas’ final confession is one of the strongest expressions of faith in Scripture. We believe he should be called ‘Discerning Thomas’ or ‘Faithful Thomas”!

God is watching over me. God’s got this. The Lord will take care of it. These are all expressions of faith in God’s overruling care for us. While this kind of faith is something we should all strive for, the question remains as to what makes these statements true. Just because I say, “God will take care of it,” does that mean it is absolutely going to happen? Are there things that I personally need to have in place for God’s providence to be reality, or does saying this with conviction qualify as having enough faith? Is there a difference between our believing in God’s attentive care and His actual giving of His attentive care? The quiet way God leads us The episode explores these questions by reminding us that God’s providence (His holy and wise supervision of all things) is not something we activate with confident phrases. His care unfolds within His character, His timing and His purposes—not our expectations. Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness becomes a vivid example. God fed them, sustained them and disciplined them, but none of it happened on their preferred schedule. Much of His care was quiet, even unnoticed, until they looked back and realized how thoroughly He had carried them. Providence, in other words, often feels ordinary while it is happening and only becomes obvious in hindsight. When God’s providence arrives as hardship Jesus’ preparation follows the same pattern. Before his ministry began, he faced hunger, misapplied Scripture and the lure of an easier path. None of these experiences looked like “providence” in the moment, yet each one shaped him for the work ahead. The episode emphasizes that God’s providence sometimes arrives as difficulty rather than relief—not because God is distant, but because He is forming something deeper in us than comfort. Jesus refused shortcuts, refused to manipulate God’s promises and refused to step outside his Father’s will. Only after the testing did the angels come to minister to him. That order matters. Christians do not command providence; we receive it. We don’t decree outcomes or speak miracles into existence. Instead, we place ourselves where God’s guidance can reach us—by obeying what we already know, by waiting when the way is unclear and by trusting that God’s care is active even when it feels hidden. Key Takeaways God’s providence follows His timing and purposes, not our declarations. Israel’s wilderness years show that God’s care is often quiet and recognized later. Jesus’ temptations reveal that hardship can be part of God’s preparing grace. We receive providence through obedience and patience, not by forcing outcomes. True providence shapes us to follow God’s will, even when the path is difficult.

Let’s get practical. For most of us, the largest portion of our waking hours is spent working in one way or another to support ourselves and our household. Whether we are in a trade or at a desk, whether we are engaged in a service or retail or farming, building, manufacturing or raising children or going to school or freelancing, most of us are tied to the responsibility of investing time into our physical care. Now, if we are truly dedicated Christians, we know our primary responsibility is to God through Christ. How do we make these seemingly contradictory investments of our time work in perfect harmony? How do we fully live our Christianity while involved in spiritually mundane activities? What does my Christianity look and sound like when I am simply taking care of business? One way to best frame the answer to these questions is to lay out what it looks like for a Christian to be an ideal employer or employee. By using the word “IDEAL” as an acronym, we can appreciate the guidelines we should strive for. I.D.E.A.L. Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, Attitude, Leadership—These attributes are a framework for living out faith at work. Integrity is described as wholeness and consistency. Integrity is not an idea; it is a decision. Diligence builds on integrity by turning conviction into sustained action. It is “urgent devotion,” not passive effort. Christian workplace diligence comes from seeking God’s will first! Excellence is not just an ideal; it is an attainable reality and can be achieved even when the conditions of our work environment are lacking. Jesus is our example of excellence, and he should be ever present in our minds while we work. Attitude is not just an emotional state; it is a driving force. The prophet Daniel is a powerful example of a godly attitude while he positively served the kingdom he was a captive of for his entire life. Leadership is not just for those in front; it can be a privilege for all! When we work with Integrity, Diligence, Excellence and Attitude, we ARE leading by example! Faith at work is revealed not primarily through words but through character—how we show up, how we treat others, how we handle pressure, and how we honor God in the mundane.  Key Takeaways: Integrity is being the same person in every setting. Diligence is action, not emotion Excellence comes from always truly applying our best efforts Attitude is a powerful force that can change an environment Leadership is a result of all these things in action Faith at work begins internally, with Scripture, discipline and purpose.