On Life & Scripture
Episodes
41 episodes
Finding purpose in the mundane
Around 945 BC, King Solomon, in his later years, delivered what we now know as the book of Ecclesiastes. His opening words, repeated throughout, are jarring: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecc 1:2). These words reflect a lifetime o...
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42:40
Are errors in the Bible really a problem?
How do we, nearly 2,000 years after the apostles, know we are reading God’s inspired Word? This question once drove me to study how the Bible has been preserved across centuries of copying, translating, and human error. Growing up in a King Jam...
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30:47
A brief history of the KJV and Textus Receptus
I once believed that God had preserved every word of Scripture through a perfect, error-free line of manuscripts, culminating in the King James Bible (KJV). But when I finally studied the history, my assumptions quickly unraveled. My first surp...
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30:09
When my theory of Bible preservation was challenged
For believers, understanding how we got the Bible is essential. Yet, like many Christians, I once assumed the Bible’s path to us was simple and miraculous in a way that shielded it from human error. Twelve years ago, I held a King James-only vi...
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31:48
The bold ministry of Charles Spurgeon
When I began preparing a series of Christian biographies, I didn’t anticipate skipping ahead in time. Yet, I feel compelled to discuss someone who has personally spoken to me more than anyone else in church history: Charles Spurgeon.I st...
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41:13
John Calvin’s role in reforming the medieval church
It can be difficult for us to grasp life in the medieval church, especially considering the lack of distinction between church and state. For instance, in Calvin’s birthplace of France, citizens were legally required to be Catholic. The church ...
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37:06
John Calvin’s worldview changed the world
John Calvin is one of those towering figures in Christian history that many feel they know, but digging deeper reveals much more. Like many, I first associated Calvin with the TULIP acronym representing Calvinist theology. But interestingly, Ca...
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40:04
William Tyndale’s fight for an English Bible
I counted how many Bibles my family owns. The total came to twenty-four. And that’s not even including the digital and audio versions. They’re bound in various materials, some small enough to fit in a pocket, others with wide margins for notes....
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40:19
Martin Luther stood and could do no other
I began this series in Hebrews 12, where the author reminds us that we’re surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1). These witnesses—the heroes of faith from Hebrews 11—motivate us to endure in our own race of faith. Their s...
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38:57
Augustine’s theology of sovereign joy
Augustine’s struggle was not just intellectual or moral. It was a battle of the heart. He knew he should love God, and he even wanted to, but he loved his sin more. Augustine famously said, “I did not persist in enjoyment of my God.” That’s a p...
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37:52
The slow conversion of Augustine of Hippo
Hebrews 11:4 says of Abel, “Through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” Similarly, the legacy of faith left by historical figures like Augustine of Hippo continues to speak to us. Born in AD 354 in what is now Algeria, Augustine lived ...
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35:19
Athanasius against the world
Athanasius. His name alone carries the weight of church history. Known as Athanasius contra mundum ("Athanasius against the world"), this 4th-century bishop from Alexandria stood firm in defending a single theological point that came d...
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39:01
The heart of Paul on trial
Last Sunday, we stood with Jesus before Pilate in John 18, a showdown of truth and power that sets the stage for every moment of courage that follows. This week, we’re transported to another courtroom in Acts 26, where the apostle Paul stands t...
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45:34
A kingdom hidden in plain sight
Let’s talk about Peter. I think we all get why he drew his sword that night. The soldiers are coming for Jesus, and Peter thinks, Not on my watch. You can almost hear him muttering, "I’ll save you, Jesus!"—sword flailing, ear flying. P...
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52:20
The role of prayer in spiritual warfare: Ephesians 6:18
We return to Ephesians 6:18-20, focusing on the pivotal role of prayer in spiritual warfare. While Paul vividly illustrates each piece of the "armor of God," he leaves prayer without an analog—perhaps intentionally. Prayer is not merely an acce...
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44:12
The Helmet of Salvation: Securing Your Mind in Spiritual Warfare
This episode takes an in-depth look at the phrase "take the helmet of salvation" from Ephesians 6:17. Though brief, these words carry profound significance for believers, especially when viewed in the broader context of the spiritual battles fa...
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37:10
The Shield of Faith: Understanding Spiritual Warfare
In this episode, we delve into the rich imagery and profound teachings of Ephesians 6:16, focusing on the "shield of faith." This discussion aims to deepen your understanding of spiritual warfare and how faith acts as a crucial defense against ...
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42:18
Gird your waist with the belt of truth
How can we defend ourselves against the devil’s relentless attacks since he is so clever, subtle, and disguised? The apostle Paul answers, “Take up the whole armor of God.”
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40:31
The conclusion to James is this
As it happens, the cure for a fractured heart is anything but law-keeping. According to James, the only cure is the gospel—that is, humbly receiving the grace of God.
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41:04
The future is uncertain, and wealth can’t save us
We can readily see how James deals with two distinct issues in James 4:13-5:6, but pride and materialism tie them together.
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38:46
Submit to God, you double-minded sinner
We may consider ourselves God-pleasing people, but James says, “I see pride, double-mindedness, and a desperate need for repentance.” Thankfully, God gives greater grace.
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42:06
We are what we say
If anything reveals our double-mindedness and fractured hearts, it is our tongues, speech, and the words we speak. There is a direct connection between the heart and the mouth.
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39:27
Justification from Paul’s faith to James’s works
The greatest danger is knowing about God, accepting Christ and his gospel intellectually, and identifying as a Christian without it transforming our lives.
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39:17