24 Minute Bible - A Simple Journey to Understand the Bible

The Books of 1 and 2 Corinthians-- 29 chapters-- are ‘instructional manuals’ on how to function as a CHURCH!! Written around 55AD, we learn so much about HOW the church should behave from the ‘mis-behavior’ of the Corinthians. The Gospel Church is NEW to the Greek/Roman world… and has really only been in existence for 20 years. It would be expected that the 'early Christians-- especially new believers from such a corrupt and promiscuous city like Corinth-- would have lots of issue. They did!! . Paul addresses many of those issues... divisions, sexual behavior, pagan practices, lawsuits and the like... in his glorious letters to this new church.

Study Notes - If the link doesn't work in your podcast player, you can find the Study Notes in the blog at the bottom of the home page at Whittington.org

The Book of ROMANS -- Episode #102

PAUL, for all practical purposes, should be thought of as Pastor to an EMPIRE. God calls some uniquely gifted people to be his messengers. Perhaps none was more UNIQUE than Paul. Paul, the Jewish Radical; Paul the Pharisee; Paul the unlikely Convert to Christianity; Paul the Roman Citizen, Paul the credentialed scholar. All of those attributes and many more caused the Lord to call Paul His CHOSEN INSTRUMENT (Acts 9:15).  Paul would write 12 books (about one-fourth) of the New Testament. Paul would travel over 10,000 miles on four missionary journeys throughout the Empire.  Paul would face prison and beatings and rejections and shipwrecks and betrayals-- but he never retreated from the call as God's Chosen Instrument.  Have fun as you listen and comprehend the truths of the book of ROMANS.

Study Notes - If the link doesn't work in your podcast player, you can find the Study Notes in the blog at the bottom of the home page at Whittington.org

The Book of ACTS (Episode #101)

The Gospels are the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE of the Bible. They divide the Bible Story into TWO distinct DIVISIONS.. The whole of the Old Testament was ’looking FORWARD’ (or uphill, if you will) to the coming Messiah and the Cross of Christ. AFTER the Gospels, everything is looking BACKWARDS at the GOSPELS and the Cross. Another way of saying it— the Old Testament is PREDICTING the coming of the Messiah. The New Testament— beginning with the book of ACTS— is EXPLAINING the Cross. ACTS begins a NEW AGE for the world-- the CHURCH AGE. From Pentecost on, the news about Grace and Forgiveness is being shared across the world with all who will listen. Western (Judeo-Christian) Civilization, and it message of compassion, empowerment and love-- is born.

Study Notes - If the link doesn't work in your podcast player, you can find the Study Notes in the blog at the bottom of the home page at Whittington.org

The Book of JOHN -- Episode #100

The Apostle John-- author of the Gospel of JOHN-- was the closest human being on Earth to the Savior Jesus. He was called 'BELOVED DISCIPLE' or the 'Disciple Whom Jesus Loved' throughout the Gospel  John’s Gospel can be thought of as an 'insiders tell all’ book…  not in a bad way but in an INTIMATE and EYEWITNESS sort of Way.  John was THERE on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses and Elijah!  John was THERE when Jesus raised Jairus' daughter back to life.  John was THERE in the Garden of Gethsemene hearing the sobs and passions as the Son of God prepared for the Cross.   His position as a member of the INNER CIRCLE of Disciples gave him a unique and different perspective of Jesus' life and ministry.   As the last Gospel written-- John's Gospel reveals a depth of information and understanding about the Plan of Redemption.  'For God so love the world that He sent his on Begotten son.... Jesus'.

Study Notes - If the link doesn't work in your podcast player, you can find the Study Notes in the blog at the bottom of the home page at Whittington.org

The Book of LUKE  -- Episode #99

When you think about the book of Luke, let this verse help define the premise of Luke's God-called reason for writing:

Luke 1:3 'With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,'  The Book of LUKE is the careful, orderly and methodical work of an HISTORIAN. The documentation and details given by Luke fill in many gaps and authenticate the life and details of Jesus. Hope you enjoy this study into Luke's Gospel.

Study Notes - If the link doesn't work in your podcast player, you can find the Study Notes in the blog at the bottom of the home page at Whittington.org

The Book of MARK   (Episode #98)

Each of the Gospel writers presents a unique vision of the life of Jesus.  Not DIFFERENT-- just unique as seen through their eyes.  Matthew (the Jewish Tax Collector) presents Jesus as the KING OF THE JEWS.  Mark's Gospel account is different.  Mark is a young man.  A man of action.  He shows a 'Jesus' that is always 'on the go'. Mark emphasizes the ACTION SIDE of Jesus-- his miracles, his travels, vanquishing demons and healing the sick.  It is WORKS over WORDS with Mark's gospel account of the life death, burial and resurrection of God's Son.

Study Notes - If the link doesn't work in your podcast player, you can find the Study Notes in the blog at the bottom of the home page at Whittington.org

The Book of MATTHEW  (Episode #97)

The Book of Matthew ties together the Old Testament and the New Testament as Matthew reveals Jesus as KING OF THE JEWS. From the calling of Abraham by God to the birth of the Son of God in Bethlehem— there was a plan!! A 2000 year plan, played out in the ’flesh and lineage’ of Abraham. From Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Judah to David to ultimately Jesus. Therefore, it is appropriate that the first chapter of the New Testament (Matthew 1) is the ROADMAP of the biological plan of Salvation. Matthew, the tax collector who assessed taxes based on family records and genealogies, lays out the JEWISH and HEBREW lineage of Jesus— beginning with the Father of the Hebrew race— ABRAHAM.

Study Notes - If the link doesn't work in your podcast player, you can find the Study Notes in the blog at the bottom of the home page at Whittington.org

From Malachi to Matthew (The Time Between the Testaments) -- Episode #96

The 400 years of history from Malachi to Matthew set the stage for the COMING of the Messiah.  Perhaps no other timeframe in human history has had more impact-- culturally and spiritually-- on our current western society than this time.  Think about names-- names you recognize-- that lived at this time: Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Buddha, the Maccabees, Julius Caesar... just to name a few.  It seems that this 400 years-- in Biblical thought-- was necessary to lay a FOUNDATION for the New Testament and PREPARE a dark and broken world for the coming of a MESSIAH! Indeed, that was the plan!

Study Notes - If the link doesn't work in your podcast player, you can find them in the blog at the bottom of the home page of Whittington.org

The Book of Malachi  -- Episode #95

The Book of MALACHI-- the last book of the Old Testament-- speaks about an important subject that resonates in today's church as well as the days of Malachi.  The Issue of Worship. Malachi warns the Jews that God the Father was not happy.  Their worship was not real... not genuine... in fact, it was worthless in His sight.   God had gloriously & miraculously brought the Jews back from Persia and restored them to Judea. You would think they would see the Lord’s Hand in this MIRACLE and desire to WORSHIP Him and Give Thanks. You would think… Instead they were half-hearted and lackadaisical. (Probably not unlike much of the CHURCH today). Four Hundred years before the Coming of Messiah, Malachi confronts the Jews for the flawed SACRIFICES... their flawed GIVING... and their flawed RELATIONSHIPS. The book of MALACHI ends with a promise:  there is One coming who will bridge the gap from the Old to the New Testament. A Coming Messiah!

Study Notes - If the link doesn't work in your podcast player, you can find the Study Notes in the Blog at the bottom of the Home Page of Whittington.org.

The Books of Haggai and Zechariah (Episode # 94)