Pondering the Bible

Send us Fan MailRomans 8:31–39: Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue Season 18 of Pondering the Bible by finishing Romans 8:31–39 (RSV). They explain Paul’s “therefore” conclusion to the prior discussion of sin’s effects, suffering, and God bringing good out of hardship, clarifying that “If God is for us” doesn’t mean Christians always win. They connect verse 32 to Christ’s crucifixion as proof God will follow through on salvation. Using courtroom imagery, they discuss judgment, emphasizing Jesus as judge, prosecutor, and intercessor, citing Hebrews 9:27 and 7:25, and encourage believers not to fear judgment. They note Christians may suffer—even death—especially under Nero, warn against asceticism, and conclude that nothing in creation can separate believers from God’s love. They announce a two-week break for Rocky’s throat surgery and resume with Romans 9:1–13. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:40 Romans 8 Reading 02:06 God Is For Us 05:04 God Gave His Son 06:52 The Courtroom Trial 12:08 Suffering and Faith 17:47 More Than Conquerors 20:55 Wrap Up and Next TimeNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: [email protected] Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock 

Send us Fan MailRomans 8:18–30: Suffering, Creation’s Groaning, the Spirit’s Help, and Predestination Ken Corkins and pastor Rock Ellison record season 18, episode 18 of Pondering the Bible after Vacation Bible School and continue their study of Romans, reading and discussing Romans 8:18–30 (RSV). They explain Paul’s teaching that present suffering is not comparable to future glory, using childbirth as an illustration, and connect human struggle with sin to the promise of renewed bodies. They discuss how the fall affected all creation, which now “groans” for renewal, citing Revelation’s new heaven and new earth and supporting the idea with 2 Peter 3:13 and Jeremiah 12. They clarify hope as patience in what is unseen, and explain the Spirit’s intercession in prayer, rejecting claims that speaking in tongues is required for salvation. They interpret Romans 8:28 as God bringing good from suffering for those called to His purpose, then address foreknowledge and predestination, contrasting Calvinism and Arminianism and arguing the terms imply God’s prior knowledge rather than coercion. They plan to finish Romans 8:31–39 next week. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:34 Romans 8 Reading 02:57 Suffering and Glory 06:05 Creation Awaits Renewal 09:36 Groaning for Redemption 12:15 Saved by Hope 15:05 Spirit Helps Our Prayers 19:45 All Things for Good 23:04 Predestination Debate 29:08 Wrap Up and Next WeekNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: [email protected] Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock 

Send us Fan MailRomans 8:1–17: No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and Adoption as God’s Children Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 8:1–17 (RSV) on “Pondering the Bible,” focusing on Paul’s shift from despair in Romans 7 to assurance that there is “no condemnation” for those in Christ, especially in the end-time judgment. They explain that believers are judged by what Jesus has done, not by the law weakened by the flesh, and emphasize the role of the indwelling Holy Spirit as evidence of belonging to Christ. They interpret “living by the Spirit” as being troubled by sin and pursuing sanctification, and they discuss verses 9–11 as pointing to the Trinity. Using an ancient slavery-and-redemption analogy, they describe Jesus as redeemer and conclude with believers’ adoption as God’s children and heirs with Christ; they recommend the NLT for clarity and note a week off for Vacation Bible School before finishing Romans 8. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:21 Romans 8 Reading 03:22 No Condemnation Explained 06:04 Judged by Different Rules 08:45 Flesh vs Spirit Mindset 09:18 Do You Have the Spirit 13:02 Trinity in You 16:04 Debtors and Redeemer 20:05 Adoption and Heirs 23:03 Wrap Up and Next WeekNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: [email protected] Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock 

Send us Fan MailKen Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue “Pondering the Bible” (Season 18, Episode 16) by finishing Romans 7:7–25 from the Revised Standard Version. They discuss Paul’s teaching that the law is holy and reveals sin—especially the internal sin of coveting—while sin exploits commandments as a “base of operations,” making forbidden things more tempting. Using Prohibition and a basketball-rules illustration, they explain that God’s rules are meant to prevent self-inflicted harm, not punish, and that ignorance doesn’t remove consequences. Paul’s anguish highlights the ongoing war between a believer’s mind that delights in God’s law and a flesh still captive to sin; sanctification is the lifelong process of aligning mind and behavior. They close with Paul’s cry for deliverance from the “body of death,” gratitude for Jesus, and anticipation of Romans 8’s “no condemnation.” 00:00 Welcome Back and Setup 01:09 Reading Romans Seven 04:03 Law Reveals Sin 08:22 Rules and Consequences 14:15 Carnal Nature and Original Sin 16:39 The Inner War Explained 22:25 Anguish and Two Laws 25:31 Body of Death and No Condemnation 30:30 Takeaways and Next EpisodeNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: [email protected] Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock 

Send us Fan MailRomans 7:1–6 — Dead to the Law, Alive in the Spirit Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison host “Pondering the Bible” (Season 18, Episode 15), continuing their study of Romans by covering chapter 7:1–6 (RSV). They discuss Paul addressing the Jew–Gentile conflict in the Roman church: Jews emphasize strict adherence to the law while Gentiles claim the Spirit makes the law unnecessary. Using Paul’s marriage-and-death analogy, they explain that the law binds only while “alive,” and believers “die to the law” through Christ’s crucifixion so they can belong to the risen Christ and bear fruit for God. They note the law exposes sin and can even arouse sinful desire, while the Holy Spirit leads positively into good behavior without discarding Scripture. They also explore how the same action can be sin in one situation but not another, then announce a break next week and a return in two weeks to finish Romans 7. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:35 Romans Seven Reading 01:49 Jews and Gentiles Clash 03:16 Law Ends at Death 06:10 Marriage Law Example 08:23 Intent Versus Rules 10:24 Died With Christ 14:06 Law Sparks Temptation 15:34 New Life in Spirit 18:13 Situational Sin Example 20:14 Next Episode and ClosingNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: [email protected] Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock 

Send us Fan MailRomans 6:15–23: Slaves to Sin or Slaves to Righteousness Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 6:15–23, continuing Paul’s argument about law versus grace and revisiting the rejection of antinomianism. They explain Paul’s slavery metaphor: people are born slaves to sin through original sin and cannot choose freedom on their own, but hearing and accepting Jesus’ teachings introduces the only real alternative—becoming slaves to righteousness/Christ. Rocky contrasts obedience of the heart and mind with the body’s actions, clarifies that “members” refers to the body, and emphasizes sanctification as a step-by-step lifelong process rather than instant perfection, warning against shame and discouragement. They highlight the two outcomes Paul presents: sin earns wages leading to spiritual death, while God offers the free gift of eternal life in Christ, noting that refusing to choose is still a choice. 00:00 Welcome and Catch Up 00:54 Recap and Passage Setup 02:34 Reading Romans 6 04:09 Grace Not License 04:58 Slaves to Sin or Christ 06:14 Teachings of Jesus Choice 09:13 Sanctification Takes Time 15:26 Sin Ends in Death 16:59 Gift of Eternal Life 21:17 Final Reflections and OutroNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: [email protected] Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock 

Send us Fan MailRomans 6: Dead to Sin, Alive to God Co-hosts Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Alison discuss Romans 6:1–14 (RSV), focusing on Paul’s rejection of antinomianism (“Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means”) and the teaching that believers have died to sin. They explain “baptized into Christ’s death” as the first-century conversion process where confession, repentance, baptism (likely immersion), and church acceptance occurred together, signifying regeneration (“born again”) and a new life. Dying with Christ means release from sin’s debt and slavery, while resurrection life begins at conversion, not only after physical death, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. They address whether Christians can live sin-free, noting Paul’s coming struggle in Romans 7, and introduce the Methodist doctrine of entire sanctification as moments of being “perfected in love” toward God and neighbor. They announce a one-week break due to Rocky’s trip and Ken’s move. 00:00 Welcome and Catch Up 00:31 Romans 6 Reading 02:22 Grace vs Sin Debate 04:06 Baptized Into Death 05:18 First Century Baptism 09:54 Regeneration Born Again 12:47 Freed From Sin 16:02 Resurrection Starts Now 18:04 Sin No Dominion 20:23 Entire Sanctification 24:58 Wrap Up and Next TimeNEW!: Rate us at Podchaser  Find us at www.pondergmc.org. Feedback is welcome: [email protected] Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team.Cover Art: Joe WagnerRecorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock