The Weekly Word

Matt and Steve explore the themes of brotherly love in 1-3 John and the warning against false teachers in Jude. They then dive into the profound symbolism and prophetic visions in Revelation, unpacking the heart of the book and its message for the Church today. A deep exploration of love, truth, and future hope, this episode wraps up their series with a focus on living faithfully in the light of God’s eternal promises.

In this episode, Matt and Steve explore key themes in Hebrews, including Jesus as the tempted yet perfect High Priest (Hebrews 1:3) and the power of God's Word (Hebrews 4). They dive into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11) and discuss the purpose behind heavenly discipline in Hebrews 12, drawing connections to Leviticus. The episode also examines 1 Peter 1:18-21, focusing on Christ’s redemptive work, and addresses the powerful truth in 1 Peter 3 about baptism and salvation. A thought-provoking episode for growing in faith!

Matt and Steve dive into powerful letters that challenge and inspire. They discuss how Philemon subverts slavery by urging us to see one another as brothers in Christ. In Philippians 2, they reflect on humility and the mindset of Christ. James brings the call to active faith: faith without works is dead. The Pastoral Epistles offer wisdom on leadership qualifications, avoiding quarrels (2 Timothy 2), and the dangers of loving money (1 Timothy 6). Plus, a look at God’s grace in Titus 2:11-14. Don’t miss this episode!

This episode follows Paul’s tumultuous journey in Acts 21-28, from imprisonment and appeals to Caesar to shipwreck and eventual arrival in Rome. Matt and Steve discuss key themes in Ephesians—breaking down the dividing wall, salvation by grace (Ephesians 2), and the beautiful picture of marriage (Ephesians 5). They also explore the supremacy of Jesus in Colossians 1 and what it means to live a renewed life in Christ (Colossians 3:5-14). A rich episode packed with insights for every believer!

In this episode, Matt and Steve delve into powerful passages that shape our understanding of faith and purpose. They explore righteousness apart from the law, as seen in Romans, and reflect on the call to live as a living sacrifice in Romans 12. Shifting to 2 Corinthians, they unpack the contrast between our earthly tent and heavenly dwelling, the role of believers as ambassadors of reconciliation, and Paul’s thorn in the flesh. A deep dive into Scripture with practical lessons for everyday life!

**Podcast Episode Description:** Join Matt and Steve as they unpack key themes from 1 Corinthians and Romans 1-8. Explore the Apostle Paul's insights on church unity, spiritual gifts, and the transformative power of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians. Then dive into Romans to discuss humanity's struggle with sin, justification by faith, and living a Spirit-filled life.

This week the guys discuss: What's the relationship between faith and prayer? Furthermore, whatever happened to being bold and expectant in prayer? Also, let's expand our picture of Jesus beyond the picture of a shepherd cuddling a lamb. He's got some challenging and startling things to say! And how should they impact us?

Why did Jesus have a beef with the Pharisees? And they with him? Also we discuss our favorite moments from Jesus’ amazing sermon on the mount… and more!

Drum. Roll. Please. 🥁🥁🥁 We're in the New Testament people! 🎉🎊🍾 We start out with the birth story of Jesus and we also discuss our favorite gospels, what "synoptic" means, and the amount of meaning packed into verses like "In the beginning was the Word..." Let's dig in!

We're in the thick of Jeremiah and the major prophets. God is heartbroken over Israel's unfaithfulness and idolatry, and we reflect on how that mirrors our own idolatrous tendencies. God wants us to know and love Him deeply, and as we do that we discover that our hearts will change and be transformed.

This week Steve, the prodigal son, has returned! And we celebrate by getting into the latter half of Isaiah and talking about the bigness of God, crystal clear prophecies about the death and resurrection of Messiah Jesus, and how deeply God cares about the genuineness of our life and worship.

B O N U S E P I S O D E!! "Who should Christians vote for?" is a LOADED question! In this bonus episode we bring you Part 2 of 2024's Pour Over Theology. Pastor Matt develops the idea of the Two Kingdoms model of cultural engagement and then uses that as a frame of reference to answer 2024's big questions: should Christians vote? And if so, what should guide a Christian as they cast a vote for a candidate or ballot proposal?

Matt and Lyndsay chat about the prophets, especially Isaiah. There IS good news in those pages, but it just takes time to find it. So we find the promise of hope amidst the wrath. We also talk a bit more about ‘ol King Hezekiah.

We’re back in the Psalms, but this time Steve is out and Lyndsay is IN. Together she and Matt talk about the longest psalm in the psalter, Psalm 119. We also talk about some great new psalms to sing on your next family road trip—a group of psalms known as psalms of ascent!

This week Matt and Steve dip back into the Proverbs once again and discuss how wisdom in one situation is foolishness in another. It takes wisdom to know the difference! They also discuss the most important thing single people should look for in a mate (Proverbs 31). Also longing for God in hard times (Psalm 42) and the sovereignty of God over all the nations (Psalm 2).

This week we get into some of Hosea and Isaiah and encounter the powerful imagery of the Old Testament prophets. We hear about God's amazing love for his people, which is paired with his pain at their sin and continued rebellion. We also get to know Hezekiah, one of the greatest kings of Judah, who reigned during the ministries of Isaiah and Hosea.

In this week's ep we're first introduced to King Joash who shows us how life change that's only skin deep doesn't lead to lasting life transformation. Then we unpack an amazing little book called Jonah and how it shows how God's grace is for absolutely everyone (whether we like it or not!).

Introducing ELIJAH! An absolutely awesome prophet of the LORD. We talk about his contest with the prophets of Baal. We also talk about King Ahab's hard-heartedness and the importance of obeying God's Word even if it makes you feel bad. We also discuss the dangers of insulting a bald-headed prophet and the gruesome end to Queen Jezebel.

BONUS EPISODE! Every summer Pastor Matt runs a series of talks called Pour Over Theology where we filter the real stuff of life through the delicious & delightful “coffee grounds” of Christian theology. This summer we’re walking through how to engage in political and cultural matters as Christians. In this first bonus episode, Pastor Matt takes a broad look at all prevailing models of political engagement and concludes by introducing the two realms model. Enjoy and stay tuned for future bonus episodes!!

In this episode, we dive into the poetic expressions of love in the Song of Solomon, the profound reflections on life's meaning in Ecclesiastes, and the dramatic narratives of Solomon's reign. Join us as we uncover the enduring lessons from these texts and their relevance to our lives today.

In this episode, we delve into Proverbs chapters 5 through 24, uncovering timeless wisdom for modern living. These chapters offer practical advice on relationships, integrity, and the pursuit of wisdom, addressing everything from the dangers of adultery to the virtues of discipline. We explore the vivid imagery and powerful lessons that guide us toward a life of virtue and understanding. Join us as we uncover how these ancient teachings can inspire and transform our daily lives. Whether you're a long-time Bible student or a curious newcomer, this episode provides valuable insights for navigating life's complexities with grace.

King David dies and hands the kingdom over to Solomon and he's established as king over all Israel. We look at Solomon's prayer for wisdom and how wisdom is developed when we practice it. We also see the temple of God built in Jerusalem and dedicated and how news of Solomon's wisdom and wealth has spread far and wide.

Matt and Steve look back at the Psalms again. We start low with Psalm 88 and how the heaviness of that psalm is a blessing for those who are working through the experience of God's perceived absence. Then we look at one of the greats: Psalm 103! Then we cap it off with Psalm 73 and what to do when life doesn't feel fair.

We're in the Psalms! We talk about the features of Hebrew poetry, how to get the most out of them, and how they walk through the whole range of human emotion. We also hone in on a few Psalms that are both some of David's greatest hits and also prophecies of Jesus Messiah!

David makes his way back to the throne after Absalom's coup, and it's a steep climb back! Despite all the hardship, the psalms he writes during this period show his unshakeable faith in God. We also talk about a famous so-called "contradiction" in Scripture. Did God lead David to take a census or was it Satan? That AND Solomon is proclaimed king (despite the kingly ambitions of his brother).

The saga of David continues! But first, why does the Bible repeat the stories from I&II Samuel and I&II Kings in the books of I&II Chronicles? We address that. After that we learn God promises David's throne will endure forever (ultimately through Jesus!). Even so, David is far from perfect. This week we play witness to David's greatest failure as a man and as a leader: his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. This sin ripples out and creates more trouble for David, including his own son Absalom stealing the throne out from underneath him. All this and more on the Weekly Word!

David flees Saul and he's now on the lamb. Despite God's anointing, David isn't sitting on a throne but he's running from cave to cave to escape Saul. During this season of David's life we see a man tested and tried with various circumstances, but who nevertheless remains faithful to God and who turns to him in his troubles.

Book of 1 Samuel Overview

The downward diagonal spiral of the book of Judges just gets worse and worse. With every judge raised up, the spiritual decline after the fact just gets worse and worse until the book's writer tells us how it is: in those days, Israel had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. It raises our hopes for a good and faithful king who will lead Israel into a golden age of obedience and covenant faithfulness.

Book of Judges Summary and Overview

Once Moses finishes his speech, it's time to move on out. Moses transfers leadership to Joshua, and the people cross the Jordan into Canaan. God is with them and they mow down the opposition with few exceptions. Just as God promised he would, he is giving them the Promised Land!

The wilderness generation of Israel has died in the desert and now their children are preparing to enter Canaan. Moses won't be going with them, but before they head in he gives them one last grand speech: the book of Deuteronomy. Bible Project videos on the book:Book of Deuteronomy SummaryBook of Deuteronomy Animated Outline

The Exodus generation of Israel has been forbidden to enter the promised land because of their rebellion. If you were hoping that would whip them into shape, you'll be sorely disappointed. Rebellion follows rebellion follows grumbling follows more rebellion. And amidst all this rebellion, you'd think God really would just wipe them out and start over! However, the book of Numbers concludes with an amazing testimony to God's mercy and grace in spite of it all.

It’s time to move on from Mt. Sinai! But first, we need a headcount. After we discover that Israel has indeed been fruitful and multiplied (to the tune of 600,000+ men), Israel sets out. However, the Israelites do something we’ve come to expect: grumble. And things only seem to go from bad to worse as they finally get to the border of the land they’ve been promised. Read on and listen in to find out what happens on this week’s episode of the Weely Word.The book of Numbers: a SummaryBook of Numbers Outline

The tabernacle is erected and God ordains His priests to be the mediators between Himself and the people. Everything seems to be going so well, but then Aaron’s sons, the priests, offer “unauthorized fire” before the Lord and lose their lives. How can such an unclean, sinful people have a relationship with a holy God? That is the question the rest of the book of Leviticus seeks to answer.

Now that the people of Israel have been redeemed from slavery, God invites them into a new way of life with Him – to “return to Eden” as it were, and live in obedience to a covenant under Him. However, the gift of God’s holy presence is not to be taken lightly! This week we cover the meaning and purpose of the tabernacle and get our heads wrapped around what all those sacrifices were about.

God rescues the people of Israel from slavery, and almost immediately they perfectly obey him. Oh wait–*checks notes* They grumble and complain. And after all that deliverance and provision, they make a golden calf as their god! And yet, even amidst all this rebellion, God in His mercy and love still seeks to dwell among His people and makes a way for it to happen.

God appears to Job out of the whirlwind and silences his complaints with a wondrous display of His power and sovereignty. Thereafter, Job’s fortunes are restored and then some. Next, we catch back up with the children of Israel. They’ve been enslaved, but God raises up a deliverer: Moses of the tribe of Levi.Book of Job Summary and OutlineBook of Job’s Wisdom about How God Runs the WorldChart 10 -- Christ in the Life of Moses.pdf Review 05 -- Bringing Down the House.pdf