Simply Disciples Podcast

6.11 IVF by Deer Creek Church

6.10 Bio Ethics by Deer Creek Church

6.9 Pornography by Deer Creek Church

6.8 Gender Identity by Deer Creek Church

6.7 Just War by Deer Creek Church

Link to the article discussed in this episode: https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/essays/why-pastors-should-question-ai-for-the-sake-of-their-souls

6.5 Christianity and Divorce by Deer Creek Church

6.4 Should Christians Engage in Politics? by Deer Creek Church

6.3 Sanctity of Life by Deer Creek Church

Link to articles referred to in this episode: https://corechristianity.com/resources/articles/does-god-hate-homosexuality- https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/essays/homosexuality-revisited-responding-to-common-affirming-arguments

6.1 How Should Christians Live and Act? by Deer Creek Church

5.12 Do Not Covet by Deer Creek Church

5.11 Do Not Lie by Deer Creek Church

5.9 Do Not Commit Adultery by Deer Creek Church

5.8 Do Not Murder by Deer Creek Church

5.7 Honor Your Father and Mother by Deer Creek Church

5.6 Remember the Sabbath by Deer Creek Church

5.5 Do Not Use God's Name in Vain by Deer Creek Church

5.4 No Idols by Deer Creek Church

5.3 No Other Gods Before Me by Deer Creek Church

5.2 How To understand The Ten Commandments by Deer Creek Church

5.1The Ten Commandments by Deer Creek Church

4.12 Gender and Sacraments Q&A by Deer Creek Church

4.11 What is the Lord's Supper? by Deer Creek Church

1. Was the podcast discussion regarding invalid vs irregular baptisms helpful? 2. Many people assume that the only correct way to baptize is through immersion. Did the biblical discussion on the use of pouring and sprinkling help? (Acts 2:17-18, 33, 1 Cor 10:2, Heb 9;10, Lev 14:6,16, 51)? 3. After listening to this podcast, what would you say are the important aspects of baptism? 4. What else was helpful in this podcast?

1. To the question, “What is baptism?“, discuss the biblical summary from Westminster Shorter Catechism 94 - “Baptism is a sacrament where the washing with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit signifies and seals our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.” a. How is it a ceremonial or spiritual washing? b. What is meant by “signifies and seals”? (Rom 4:11, Rom 6:1-4) c. What is meant by “covenant or grace”? 2. To the question, “Who should be baptized?“, discuss the biblical summary from Westminster Shorter Catechism 95 - “Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, until they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.” a. The podcast discussed the three steps of understanding the biblical basis for infant baptism: Step 1 is Col 2:11 (baptism replaces circumcision as covenant sign) --> Step 2 is Gen 17:11-13 , Act 2:37-39, Acts 16:14-15 (covenant sign for whole household) --> Step 3 is understanding baptism as a sign of God’s faithfulness to his promises, not as a sign of our faith. 3. What else was helpful in this podcast?

1. Prior to this podcast, how would you have explained the importance of sacraments? 2. How did the podcast define a sacrament (feel free to google Westminster Shorter Catechism 92)? 3. What does the Westminster Shorter Catechism mean when it says “Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers”? 4. Read and discuss 1 Cor 11:17-34 regarding the seriousness of the Lord’s Supper. 5. In light of this podcast, has anything changed about your perspective on Sacraments? 6. What else was helpful in this podcast?

4.7 How Should We Worship Together? by Deer Creek Church

1. Prior to this podcast, how would you have defined the mission of the church? Has your view changed? If so, how? 2. Was it helpful to think of the church in terms of the church gathered as an institution and the church scattered as individuals? 3. Read and discuss the implications of Matthew 28:16ff and Acts 2:42-44 regarding the mission of the church. 4. Bringing it all together, what is the podcast arguing for regarding the mission of the church as it relates to social issues and the church gathered and scattered? 5. What else was helpful in this podcast?

1. True or false - this podcast changed your life. (well, hopefully it was helpful) 2. If you asked most Christians, “what do you think is important in a church”?, what kind of answers do you think you would get? 3. The podcast argued that we believe our presbyterian church structure is important for church health. After listening to the podcast, how would you define Presbyterianism? And why is it important for church health? 4. If someone asks you how Presbyterian is different from other denominations, what would you say (hint: elder led, connected, accountable)? 5. What else was helpful in this podcast?

1. Prior to this podcast, how would you have answered the question, “who should lead the church?” 2. The podcast discussed our world’s attraction to celebrity pastors. What comes to mind when you think of a celebrity pastor? What’s the danger in following celebrity pastors? 3. Read Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Tim 3:1-13 and discuss the importance of the qualifications for those who lead the church. 4. How did the podcast strike you with the conversation of men’s and women’s role in the church and home? 5. We explained that an important piece of Presbyterianism is parity. Why is this crucial for the health of the church?

1. Prior to this podcast, how would you have answered the question “Is there even such a thing as a true church?” Do you know people who struggle with this question? 2. Westminster Confession of Faith 25.4,5 says that the church has sometimes been more or less pure (on a spectrum) and that some have so degenerated, as to become no churches at all but synagogues of Satan (Rev 2:9). And further, a church is more or less pure according to the doctrine of the gospel taught and embraced, sacraments administered, and public worship performed more or less purely (including church discipline). Is this a helpful answer? 3. Read and discuss Acts 2:42-47 regarding the importance of what churches are called to do. 4. The podcast also discussed church discipline. Read and discuss Mt 18:15-20 and 1 Cor 5 and discuss the importance of healthy church discipline and why it’s so important for the church. 5. In light of this podcast, if you had to give someone advice regarding finding a good church, what advice would you give?

1. The Podcast mentioned four questions (puzzle pieces) that help us to understand the church according to the Scriptures: (1) Who are the members of the church? (2) Who are the officers of the church? (3) What is the purpose of the church? (4) What are the defining marks of the church? The previous podcast discussed the first two questions. This podcast discussed questions 3 and 4. Prior to this podcast, how would you have answered question 3? 2. What was new or helpful to you regarding the staff’s answers to question 3? Read and discuss Matthew 28:16ff and Acts 2:42-47 regarding the purpose of the church. 3. What are the marks of a church that make it a biblical church? Why are each of these marks crucial for a healthy church? 4. What else was helpful to you in this podcast?

1. Prior to this podcast, how would you have answered the question, “What is the Church?” Did you resonate with some of the answers in the beginning of the podcast? 2. According to the Podcast, the Bible describes the church as the Temple of God (1 Pet 2:5), the Bride of Christ (Rev 19:6-9), the Body of Christ (Eph 4:15,16, and the Family of God (Eph 2:18,19). How are each of these descriptions important for how we understand the church? 3. The Podcast mentioned four questions (puzzle pieces) that help us to understand the church according to the Scriptures: (1) Who are the members of the church? (2) Who are the officers of the church? (3) What is the purpose of the church? (4) What are the defining marks of the church?This podcast discussed the first two questions. What was helpful to you? 4. What else was helpful to you in this podcast?

1. In previous podcasts we’ve discussed the Golden Chain of Salvation. Can you name the doctrines in order? (Hint: P… F… R… J… A… S… G…). Why is the order vitally important for our Christian lives? 2. What is Glorification? How is it different from Justification and Sanctification? 3. What does the Bible say about Glorification? (read and discuss Rom 8:29-21; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 John 3:2) 4. What else was helpful to you in this podcast?

1. What is the doctrine of Sanctification? (WSC #35) 2. Why does the order of Justification and Sanctification matter? What changes if we think Sanctification comes before Justification? (read and discuss Eph 2:8-10) 3. As you look back on your life, how have you seen the Lord at work in your sanctification? What/Who has God used to further your sanctification? 4. What else was helpful to you in this podcast?

1. What do you think of J.I. Packer’s statement that “Adoption is the highest privilege of the gospel. The traitor is forgiven, brought in for supper, and given the family name. To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater”? 2. What is the doctrine of Adoption and why is it so important for our daily lives? (WSC #34) 3. How would you respond to someone who believes that all of humanity are the children of God? (read and discuss Eph 2:1-12) 4. What does the Bible say about the privilege of adoption? (read and discuss John 1:12-13; Rom 8:14-17; 1 John 3:1) 5. What else was helpful to you in this podcast?

1. Why is the need for repentance a difficult concept in our culture? 2. Jesus was not shy about speaking of the need for repentance. Read Matthew 4:12-17, Mark 1:15 & Luke 13:1-5. Why are we often shy about calling people to repentance? 3. WSC #87 gives a great summary of the Bible’s teaching on repentance - “repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience.” What are the important aspects of the doctrine of repentance? 4. Why is repentance towards God (and others) often, maybe even always, difficult in our own lives? But why is it important? 5. In this podcast we made the point that when God saves a person (justification), other parts of the “golden chain of salvation” (Rom 8:28-30) follow, including a heart of repentance and the desire to do good works. Read James 2:14-26 and discuss the implications for Christians.

1. What are common answers to “what is faith” (whether from this podcast or statements that you’ve heard)? 2. How does the Bible define faith? Read and discuss Hebrews 11:1, 6; Eph 2:8-9. 3. Westminster Shorter Catechism #86 gives a great summary of the Bible’s teaching on Faith - “Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.” Heidelberg Catechism #21 also provides a great summary - “True faith is a sure knowledge where I accept as true all that God has revealed to us in his Word. At the same time it is a firm confidence that not only to others, but also to me, God has granted forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation, out of mere grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits. This faith the Holy Spirit works in my heart by the gospel.” What are the important aspects in these summaries of the Bible’s teaching on faith? 4. How does the Bible’s definition of faith differ from the common cultural understanding of faith? 5. The podcast discussed the importance of the three parts of faith: knowledge (how God has revealed himself in Scripture), belief (not just knowing facts, but believing them), and trust (resting and dependence on truth). In your own life, how do you see this play out in your own faith in God (whether positively or negatively)?

1. What are common answers to the questions “How can a sinful human be right with a holy and righteous God?” and “If you were to die tonight and meet God, why should he give you eternal life in heaven?” 2. The podcast discussed various views of salvation including Pelagianism, a cosmic scale of justice, Roman Catholic, and Arminian. What’s a common thread in all of these views? 3. We believe the Bible answers the question of how a sinful human can be right with a holy God with the doctrine of Justification. Read and discuss Rom 3:21-26, Rom 4:4-8, 5:9, 8:31-33, Gal 2:15, 1 Cor 1:30, 2 Cor 5:21. 4. Westminster Shorter Catechism #33 gives a great summary of the Bible’s teaching on Justification - “Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardons all of our sin, and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.” What are the important aspects of this doctrine? 5. Why is this doctrine so important!?

1. The podcast defined predestination as “the biblical teaching that God sovereignly chooses, before the foundation of the world, who he will save through his Son Jesus and because of that who will receive eternal life”. This raises questions about free will. Do we have free will if God chooses who will be saved? 2. How did this podcast explain our free will? 3. Do you have trouble embracing predestination? If so, why? 4. Sometimes we talk about predestination as a “secondary issue.” Read Ephesians 1.3-11 again. Do you believe Paul would have considered predestination a “secondary issue?” 5. Rather than treating predestination with skepticism, Paul treats it as something to be praised. Read Ephesians 1.11-14. Why do you think Paul is so filled with praise when talking about predestination?

1. Why is this a controversial doctrine? 2. This podcast discussed the two views of the nature of humans - basically good (Pelagianism) or sinful and fallen. What are some of the differences between these two views? 3. Discuss how does the Bible speaks of predestination in Rom 8:28-30, Eph 1:3-11, John 15:13-19? Was it helpful to also consider predestination in the OT passages of Gen 18:18-19 and Deuteronomy 7:6-8? 4. Why is grace such an important part of the conversation when it comes to predestination? 5. Why should the doctrine of predestination be comforting to God’s people?

1. Prior to this podcast, how were you taught about the manifestation of Spiritual gifts such as prophecy, healing, apostleship, tongues (aka the Sign Gifts)? 2. Discuss the differences between the Continuationist view and Cessationist view with respect to the manifestation of spiritual gifts in the church today. Was it helpful to think through the differences? 3. When it comes to the manifestation of the spiritual gifts such as prophecy, healing, apostleship, and tongues (aka sign gifts), many Christians point to the book of Acts for proof that those gifts should still exist today. But what was the purpose of these gifts in the time of Acts? Further, why was the time of Acts a special time in the history of God’s people? (hint: what prophecies in the OT and what promise of Jesus was being fulfilled?) 4. What else was helpful in this podcast?

1. What or who has shaped your views on spiritual gifts leading up to this podcast? 2. What is the danger in looking to personal experiences to shape our understanding of the purpose for spiritual gifts? 3. Read 1 Cor 12.4-7, Rom 12:6, 1 Pet 4:10, Eph 4:11-13 and discuss what spiritual gifts are and what is the purpose of spiritual gifts? (this podcast proposed a definition of spiritual gifts - “a spiritual gift is an ability… graciously given… by God…for service to build up the church.” ) 4. What else stood out to you in this podcast?

1. Did you resonate with any of the misunderstandings of the work of the Holy Spirit that this podcast mentioned (i.e. always spectacular, works apart from Scripture, always spontaneous)? 2. The podcast highlighted the work of the Holy Spirit in the OT in creation, inspiration of Prophets, and equipping/enabling God’s servants. Read and discuss Gen 1:1-2; Isaiah 61:1; Judges 13:25; Isaiah 11:2) 3. The podcast highlighted the work of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament in teaching us truth, giving us spiritual life, and uniting us to Christ. Read and discuss John 14:15-ff and John 16:4-15. What was shared in the podcast regarding these verses that was helpful to you? 4. Why is a proper understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit crucial for our daily lives?

1. Were you taught about the Holy Spirit in your past in ways that differ from the teaching in this podcast? 2. Why do you think there is confusion about the Holy Spirit today? 3. The Nicene Creed is a summary of the Scriptures. What is the Nicene Creed seeking to make clear about the Holy Spirit? 4. Read and discuss what the Scriptures teach about the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-26 and John 16:7-15. 5. (Optional if you have time) Read and discuss what we learn about the Holy Spirit in Eph 4:30; Rom 15:30; Rom 8:27; 1 Cor 2:11 and 12:7-11; Matthew 28:19; 1 Cor 12:4-6; 2 Cor 13:14. 6. Why is clarity about the Holy Spirit important for our daily lives?

1. What does the Bible teach about the resurrection of Christ? Is it mythical or just a spiritual metaphor? (read and discuss 1 Cor 15:1-19) 2. How does 1 Cor 15 (and other portions of Scripture) answer the objections that the people who saw Jesus were just hallucinating, or that it was made up by the disciples? 3. Is it enough for a Christian to claim that the resurrection is true because Jesus lives within our heart? What is at stake if Jesus did not rise bodily from the grave after his crucifixion? 4. The Scriptures boldly declare that Jesus rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and is alive at the right hand of the Father. What are the implications? (read and discuss Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25; 1 Thes 4:13-18; Rev 1:7; John 14:1-3; Luke 21:34-36; Mt 24:42-44; etc.)

How would you respond to the following questions: 1. “Isn’t God unfair to punish Jesus, as a substitute, in our place?” (Rom 6:23; Heb 4:15; John 3:16; John 10:18) 2. “Isn’t God’s reaction to sin disproportionate to the crime? Does sin really deserve eternal hell and punishment? (Rom 1:18ff) 3. “How can an eternal penalty be paid for by one act of suffering for a few hours by one man, Jesus?” (How does the fact that God is eternal and infinite play into this question?) 4. “If Jesus died for my sins, why do I still feel guilty?” (discuss objective guilt vs subjective guilt) 5. In light of all this glorious truth, how should we respond?

1. Prior to this podcast, if someone asked you why Jesus died on the cross, what would your answer have been? Did your answer change at all as a result of this podcast? 2. How does the Old Testament give us insight on the purpose of the cross? (Isaiah 6:1-8; Ps 7:11-12; other passages?) 3. How do God’s commandments reveal our guilt before a holy and just God? (Ex 20:1-17; Mt 22:37-40; Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28; Mk 7:14-23) 4. If left to ourselves, apart from God’s grace, what is our human condition before a holy and just God? (Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23; Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46; Rev 20:11-15) 5. Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and discuss how this prophecy points to a Savior who was a Substitute. 6. Back to Question 1 and the purpose of the cross - how would you define or explain “Penal Substitutionary Atonement” to a non-Christian? (2 Cor 5:21)

1. Where would you go in Scripture to make the case that Jesus was truly man? (John 1, Rom 1, Phil 2:5-8; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 3, etc.) 2. What is the incarnation of Christ and why is it crucial for our salvation? Why did the Son of God need to become man? (Heb 2:14-18) 3. We often hear Jesus died for in our place, but why was it crucial that Jesus also lived a perfect life in our place? 4. What in this podcast was most helpful for you to learn or be reminded of?