A menagerie is a collection of animals. Today's episode is quite the menagerie!

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore the significance of five eclectic animals in the Bible - the owl, the chicken (even though the actual word "chicken" never occurs in the Bible), the camel, the behemoth, and the leviathan. What a strange menagerie!

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

You won't find the Dragon and the two Beasts at your local zoo, but we need to know about them.

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will dive into the apocalyptic writing of the Book of Revelation to examine who the Dragon and Beasts are and what they seek to accomplish. Spoiler alert! They're coming after us. But don't worry, Jesus has already defeated them!

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

How often do you look in the mirror and see yourself as a sheep? Not often, I imagine. But that's how Jesus sees you.

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will examine three different categories of sheep in the Bible—economic, religious, and symbolic. In the symbolic category, we learn why our God compares us to sheep and how the Good Shepherd cares for us, his sheep. 

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

In our last episode, we met a talking donkey. In this episode, we meet a talking snake.

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore what the Bible has to say about snakes, will explain the difference between snakes, serpents, and vipers, and will introduce us to real snakes, symbolic snakes, and the worst snake of all.

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

About "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny": Have you ever had questions you wanted to ask a pastor but felt silly or embarrassed to ask them? Questions about taboo topics like sex, politics, porn, IVF, and mental illness? Well, there's a podcast for that! Hear how Pastor Mike Novotny from Time of Grace answers some real questions from people just like you, giving thoughtful, biblical answers that point people back to Jesus.

Find even more questions at timeofgrace.org/tabooquestions.

You can also order Pastor Mike's book "Taboo: Topics Christians Should Be Talking About but Don't" at taboobook.org.

What do donkeys, horses, mules, and zebras have in common? Have you ever heard of the Bible's lost donkeys and a talking donkey?

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore what the Bible has to say about donkeys and the amazing truth about God's providence and plans revealed through two special donkeys.

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

About "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny": Have you ever had questions you wanted to ask a pastor but felt silly or embarrassed to ask them? Questions about taboo topics like sex, politics, porn, IVF, and mental illness? Well, there's a podcast for that! Hear how Pastor Mike Novotny from Time of Grace answers some real questions from people just like you, giving thoughtful, biblical answers that point people back to Jesus.

Find even more questions at timeofgrace.org/tabooquestions.

You can also order Pastor Mike's book "Taboo: Topics Christians Should Be Talking About but Don't" at taboobook.org.

The Bible has many fish stories: from the first plague in Egypt to the huge fish that swallowed Jonah and all the fish stories involving Jesus and his disciples. And not a one of these fish stories is a "whopper."

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore what the Bible has to say about fish, fishermen, and fishing in addition to explaining the well-known fish symbol for Christianity.

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

About "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny": Have you ever had questions you wanted to ask a pastor but felt silly or embarrassed to ask them? Questions about taboo topics like sex, politics, porn, IVF, and mental illness? Well, there's a podcast for that! Hear how Pastor Mike Novotny from Time of Grace answers some real questions from people just like you, giving thoughtful, biblical answers that point people back to Jesus.

Find even more questions at timeofgrace.org/tabooquestions.

You can also order Pastor Mike's book "Taboo: Topics Christians Should Be Talking About but Don't" at taboobook.org.

What's the difference between an eagle and a vulture? What are the characteristics of eagles? What are the multiple analogies the Bible uses for eagles? Which analogy is the most comforting?

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore what the Bible has to say about eagles and what we can be assured of when we see an eagle soaring in the sky.

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

About "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny": Have you ever had questions you wanted to ask a pastor but felt silly or embarrassed to ask them? Questions about taboo topics like sex, politics, porn, IVF, and mental illness? Well, there's a podcast for that! Hear how Pastor Mike Novotny from Time of Grace answers some real questions from people just like you, giving thoughtful, biblical answers that point people back to Jesus.

Find even more questions at timeofgrace.org/tabooquestions.

You can also order Pastor Mike's book "Taboo: Topics Christians Should Be Talking About but Don't" at taboobook.org.

In our world today, the most prominent symbol for Christianity is the cross. It hasn't always been.

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore the importance of doves, what they symbolized, and which dove is the most famous one of all.

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

About "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny": Have you ever had questions you wanted to ask a pastor but felt silly or embarrassed to ask them? Questions about taboo topics like sex, politics, porn, IVF, and mental illness? Well, there's a podcast for that! Hear how Pastor Mike Novotny from Time of Grace answers some real questions from people just like you, giving thoughtful, biblical answers that point people back to Jesus.

Find even more questions at timeofgrace.org/tabooquestions.

You can also order Pastor Mike's book "Taboo: Topics Christians Should Be Talking About but Don't" at taboobook.org.

Flesh and blood lions, lions in the temple and palace, lion metaphors, and the Lion of Judah - all are found in the Bible.

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore the characteristics (especially the roar of a lion), the activities, and the symbolism of lions in the Bible. 

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

About "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny": Have you ever had questions you wanted to ask a pastor but felt silly or embarrassed to ask them? Questions about taboo topics like sex, politics, porn, IVF, and mental illness? Well, there's a podcast for that! Hear how Pastor Mike Novotny from Time of Grace answers some real questions from people just like you, giving thoughtful, biblical answers that point people back to Jesus.

Find even more questions at timeofgrace.org/tabooquestions.

You can also order Pastor Mike's book "Taboo: Topics Christians Should Be Talking About but Don't" at taboobook.org.

We’re starting a new series called “At the Zoo.” In this series, we’ll be exploring the characteristics, the activities, and the symbolism of the top ten animals in the Bible.

In this first episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explain why he considers the lamb to be the #1 animal in his top ten list. There is an Old Testament reason and a New Testament one. And they both have something in common. 

If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you!

About "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny": Have you ever had questions you wanted to ask a pastor but felt silly or embarrassed to ask them? Questions about taboo topics like sex, politics, porn, IVF, and mental illness? Well, there's a podcast for that! Hear how Pastor Mike Novotny from Time of Grace answers some real questions from people just like you, giving thoughtful, biblical answers that point people back to Jesus.

Find even more questions at timeofgrace.org/tabooquestions.

You can also order Pastor Mike's book "Taboo: Topics Christians Should Be Talking About but Don't" at taboobook.org.