Built on the Rock

By Austin W. Duncan

Join Austin W. Duncan as he examines and dives into scripture.

Each Monday at 5:00 AM CST, we will take a verse from scripture, look at it in context, and learn how to accurately and biblically apply... more

5

22 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Built on the Rock:

How many episodes does Built on the Rock have?

The podcast currently has 139 episodes available.

Built on the Rock episodes:

October 11, 2021 2 Corinthians 5:7
You’ve probably heard this verse at some point in your life. I’m sure at some point we have all thought of this verse as Paul challenging us to ‘live by faith, not by sight’ or further, ‘live by faith, not the ways of the world.’ We’ve heard it in sermons, seen it online, etc. And generally, we all understand this to mean that Paul’s words are a command for us to ‘live by faith’ rather than by sight.
So, according to this viewpoint, we are being challenged to rise above and to not live by the ways of the world, but rather we should carry ourselves and make our decisions based upon our faith and trust in God and his Word. This is a great idea, and it’s theologically sound to insist that Christians should always be seeking to live by faith, putting our trust in God (rather than to base our decision-making on what we see and feel at the present moment). However, the problem is that this is not what Paul is saying here, nor is this what he means. And what he means here is so much more encouraging and powerful than the new definition we decided to assign to it.
With that being said, we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t dive into the context and application of this verse in Scripture to look at what we’re truly being told by Paul. In the context of this verse, Paul is not commanding the Corinthians to “live by faith”; instead he is making a statement. He’s telling the Corinthians that they ARE living by faith. So why is this distinction important? Because Paul is directly and undeniably saying that we (all believers) do, in fact, live by faith.
Because we so often see this verse stripped of its context and new meanings assigned to it, let’s look at verses 6-8 for context:
“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
This is where we’re going to dive into this a little deeper, so stay with me just a little longer. I want us to look now at two phrases from verses 6 and 8:
“…while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord…and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
These two phrases could easily be misinterpreted, which is why verse 7 is present. The first word of verse 7, “for”, is what we refer to as a “marker of clarification.” One could have easily thought that Paul was saying that since we are presently “away from the Lord” that we enjoy no fellowship with Him. That is false. This is where verse 7 comes into play. “Paul is saying that we presently live in the realm of faith (or ‘by faith’), and not in the realm of sight” (Combs, 2017).
Here’s what the verse really means. Paul is commenting that we are currently believing in the Lord without physically seeing him (“away from the Lord”) rather than actually seeing him (“at home with the Lord”). But that we can truly look forward to the day that we are able to “walk by sight.” And this is not the only place in Scripture that we see this comparison being made – we also see this in John 20:29 and again in 1 Peter 1:8.
I want to leave you with this: how to reapply this verse, and understand it’s an incredible encouragement to all Christians (far more so than the new meaning that we assigned to it):
Although we are currently “away from the Lord,” we aren’t cut off from fellowship with the Lord. While we are...
...more
8min
October 04, 2021 James 3:13
Verse of the Week:
"If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom." - James 3:13 (ESV)
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we discuss the original language used in this verse to obtain a deeper understanding of what's being told to us by James. We then look at how this knowledge can be applied to our own lives through the wisdom provided by the author. Lastly, we reread the verse with this knowledge with the challenge to apply the truths found in this section of Scripture to our lives throughout the week.
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” - Charles H. SpurgeonLinks:
To learn more and read/listen to other articles:
https://burningbush.blog
Follow Us:
Follow BURNING BUSH MINISTRIES on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and INSTAGRAM:
www.facebook.com/burningbushblog
www.twitter.com/burningbushblog
www.instagram.com/burningbush.blog

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
...more
10min
October 01, 2021 Why Read the Bible?
Show NotesWhy Read the Bible?
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we discuss the importance of reading the Bible along with some common objections, misconceptions, and societal ramifications on developing the habit. Reading the Bible is our duty as Christians, so that we can study Scripture in-depth to the point that we can explain it at its most primitive.
“There is enough dust on some of your Bibles to write 'damnation' with your finger.” - Charles H. SpurgeonHighlights from this Episode
01:13 Intro to the question, "Why read the Bible?"
01:26 Our Desire
03:40 Western Civilization and the Bible
09:58 Perspicuity
12:18 The Message is Primitive
13:53 It's Our Duty
Links:
To learn more and read/listen to other articles:
https://burningbush.blog
Follow Us:
Follow BURNING BUSH MINISTRIES on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and INSTAGRAM:
www.facebook.com/burningbushblog
www.twitter.com/burningbushblog
www.instagram.com/burningbush.blog

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
...more
19min
June 01, 2021 Proverbs 18:21
We see this phrase: “the tongue” used throughout Scripture – both literally and metaphorically. This is especially true for the books of Psalms, Proverbs, and James. For example, https://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%203.5 (James 3:5) says that the tongue is a “small part of the body,” yet in today’s verse, https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Prov%2018.21 (Proverbs 18:21), it says that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Furthermore, this is true whether we refer to spiritual, physical, or emotional “death and life.
The word tongue is often referencing spoken word through a special kind of figure of speech called metonymy. An example of this is a sentence like, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” We know that a pen has no power over a sword. However, we also understand that this phrase means that the written word and sharing of ideas are more powerful than fighting. Similarly, https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Prov%2015.4 (Proverbs 15:4) says that “A deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” It should be evident that the literal tongue cannot crush the human spirit. However, it is instead referring to the words we produce. So now, let us cover these three aspects in which the tongue can cause “death and life.”
Consider this: the words that we produce have eternal implications. This is because the words we say and the speech we use provides evidence for what is in the heart. Jesus discusses this in https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matt%2012.35 (Matthew 12:35) when He says that “The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” He continues in the next verse, saying, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matt%2012.36 (Matthew 12:36 ESV)). By ourselves, we are completely incapable of “taming the tongue” because, as https://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%203.8 (James 3:8) says, “it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” A tongue that is tamed is a mark of the Spirit’s power. In https://biblia.com/bible/we/Matt%2012.37 (Matthew 12:37, we) learn that apart from accepting Jesus’ atonement on the cross, we will be judged by our words: “for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
As we look at https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Prov%2018.21 (Proverbs 18:21) literally, meaning the tongue can cause physical life or death – we don’t need to think very hard. Our words have consequences. Our words create actions, and these can be good or bad. A jury can sentence a man to death or freedom by one word, “guilty” or “innocent.” A weatherman can warn others of incoming deadly weather, like tornadoes. A school counselor may give life-saving hope to a suicidal student. Verbal arguments can cause murders. In this understanding of our words having physical consequences, the tongue has the power of life and death.
James describes (in https://biblia.com/bible/esv/James%203.6 (James 3:6)) the tongue as “a fire.” He says, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” Pretty intense. In https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Prov%2015.4 (Proverbs 15:4), Solomon describes a “gentle” tongue akin to “a tree of life.” “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” The Bible tells us that what we say can and does have a profound effect on those around us.
Our speech has enormous implications, consequences, and effects. This is especially so as a vehicle for sharing the gospel. https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rom%2010.14 (Romans 10:14) says, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”
We’re commanded to control the tongue. It’s not a suggestion. It’s not a guideline. We
...more
6min
December 19, 2020 1 Timothy 1:15
Paul continues this testimony with a phrase that is unique to the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus), "the saying is trustworthy." This exact phrase is also used in 1 Timothy 3:1 and 4:9 and in 2 Timothy 2:11, as well as Titus 3:8. Further, this phrase is being used as an emphasis on a point or quote that Paul wants Timothy or Titus to remember.
The statement that we're to remember from today's verse is, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." As Paul was martyred for his faith, his writings in these letters reflect the image of a man who transitioned from proud, to a new believer, to then a mature believer who then saw himself as someone in complete need of God's grace. Paul, similar to that of David, even saw himself as sinful from his mother's womb (Psalm 51:5).
Today I'm going to leave with a quote from John Calvin, who writes, "The more any one is oppressed by his sins, let him the more courageously betake himself to Christ, relying on this doctrine, that he came to bring salvation not to the righteous, but to 'sinners.'" The salvation that we are graciously given through Jesus' death on the cross is at the same time the most basic element of the gospel, and it is the most profound. So as you go about your day, consider this: have you fully embraced the Lord's desire to save sinners through Jesus Christ? Have you fully embraced this purpose to others?
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
...more
4min
December 16, 2020 Psalm 34:4
David tells us in this verse that he actively sought the Lord, and the Lord answered him. Even though we see that David experienced fear shortly before this prayer, he makes it clear in other verses that he has no reason to be afraid (such as in Psalm 27:3). He knew, through his previous experiences and wisdom that God would still be in control. Look at the following verse:
"The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" - Psalm 27:1David wasn't immune to having anxiety or fear, and neither are we. But David prayed. Graciously, God removed all his fears.
We have no shortage of things to cause us fear or anxiety today. Sickness, our physical safety, job security, the political status of our country, you name it. However, there's a truth that we, as believers, need to start applying.
Faith replaces fear.
Look at what Paul says in Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
We've mentioned this before, and it's time to cover it again. There's a quote that people say all the time, "God won't give us anything we can't handle." And that's simply not true. We're never guaranteed to be taken "out of" harm's way. God won't give us anything the He can't handle. And we see throughout the Bible that God has promised to see us "through" any harm (John 16:33; 17:15; Matthew 6:25-34). The joy that we hold as believers comes from knowing that Christ already obtained the victory, and that nothing we could ever experience can undo that (Romans 8:38-39). So therefore, as believers we need to set aside anxiety and fear (Matthew 6:25-34), and trust God to do His will.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
...more
4min
December 15, 2020 Micah 6:8
This verse is incredibly important to understand in the context of the verses leading up to it. In Micah 6:6b, Israel asks if God would be satisfied with burnt offerings of year-old calves, which are required in the Law of Moses. Their questions show a progression of lesser to greater as in Micah 6:7a, they ask if they should bring "thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil." Looking at this from a literary and grammatical point of view, this is clearly hyperbole, as such an offering could have only been made, clearly, by someone with extreme wealth or by a community rather than an individual. The third and final question is if they should be offering their firstborn sons as a sacrifice for God. Each of these questions is all part of the same questions:
What is enough to cover sin? When would God be pleased with them?
We get the answer in Micah 6:8, which is rooted in the Mosaic Law: "He has told you, O man, what is good." Put simply, Israel should already know the answer to these questions.
The answer to the problem of sin for that nation was not more numerous or more painful sacrifices, it was something far deeper than any religious tradition: they needed a change of heart. You see, without the heart, conformity to the Law was nothing more than hypocrisy - and this isn't the first time that we see this message in the Old Testament (Isaiah 1:14; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21).
Let's break this verse down:
"Act Justly"
Micah's original audience would have understood this as living with a sense of right and wrong. Injustice was a massive problem in Israel at the time of this writing (Micah 2:8-9; 3:1-3; 6:11), and it was particularly the responsibility of the courts to provide equity, fairness, and impartiality while protecting the innocent.
"Love Mercy"
The word "mercy" in this verse is חֶסֶד (chaced) in the original Hebrew. which we also see translated as "loyal love" or "loving-kindness." So what does this mean? It means that along with justice, Israel was to provide mercy. These two principles are foundational to God's character (Psalm 89:14). God expected (and expects) His people to show love to their neighbor and to be loyal in their love, just as God is loyal to us (Micah 2:8-9; 3:10-11; 6:12).
"Walk Humbly"
This last command here is a description of our heart's attitude toward God. We as people tend to have massive egos, even when we don't realize it. We need to recognize that we depend on God rather than ourselves (Micah 2:3). So, instead of taking pride in what we bring to God, we need to recognize, humbly, that there is no amount of offering, or personal sacrifice, that can replace a heart that is committed to justice and love.
These questions, each progressing, is answered with progressing answers. The response of having a godly heart is outward (doing justice), inward (showing love and mercy), and upward (to walk humbly).
As you go about your day today, keep this message in your mind. Religious rites, no matter how extravagant they may be, can never replace or compensate for a lack of love (1 Corinthians 13:3). It's our job to this day to desire justice, mercy, and humility before our Lord.
*This article references passages from the Holman Old Testament Commentary by Trent Butler
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
...more
5min
December 05, 2020 Matthew 7:7
Today’s verse comes from Matthew’s telling of the Sermon on the Mount, which began in https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matt%205.1-2 (Matthew 5:1-2). Instead of providing a model prayer this time, Jesus is describing the attitude through which we should bring our requests to Him.
Many scholars believe that the wording of this verse suggests a rising intensity, as the word “ask” means a single request, “seek” refers to something more persistent, and the word “knock” implies a deep persistence in our prayer. If we read this verse with these definitions in mind, we get something more along the lines of “ask, ask again, and keep asking.” If we look at the original Greek words for each of these actions, they are in a form that implies constant action. So what Jesus is really telling us here is that we should “continue to ask…seek…knock.”
However, there’s a bigger truth here as well beyond us being told to ask, ask again, and keep asking. It’s that God is listening. God is paying attention to His people. What an incredible truth, that the God of all creation cares about His children to the point that He hears us when we pray, and even better: He answers. And now, as usual with what we study here – let’s go a little deeper: this passage also speaks to those with doubts and questions about their faith. For those who lack faith, but pursue the truth, will find it in Christ (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mark%209.24 (Mark 9:24); https://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2014.6 (John 14:6)).
Again, Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock. When you ask, it will be given. When you seek, you will find. When you knock, the proper door opens. Jesus is commanding us here to bring our requests, to look for answers, and to ask to be let into God’s presence. And don’t put limits and conditions on these promises.
Jesus continues in the following verse (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matt%207.8 (Matthew 7:8)) to expand on this concept. These promises are not a way of manipulating God, or some means to merely get our way. When we are seeking the Lord and drawing near to God, our will aligns more with His will, and our requests will do so as well. These verses are an invitation to interact with an incredibly generous and loving Father who listens to the prayers of His people.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
...more
4min
December 02, 2020 Ecclesiastes 3:1
The context in which we are examining today's Verse of the Day is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which says:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESVWithin this verse, we see the juxtaposition of fourteen pairs of contrasting activities. These examples show us how life is comprised of various different seasons, as mentioned in verse 1. So often, we think that we know what would be best for ourselves and the greater society, yet the desires of our hearts and ideas often conflict with God's will for our lives and His greater will for humanity. This verse is timely given our current culture, that we are to live by faith in God's Word, and that we are to fully trust God's judgement in all things.
So what is this verse telling us? There are a few important concepts for us to look it within these 8 verses.
The Timing of Our Actions is Important:
There are times when holding your tongue and listening is absolutely the right decision to make - and other times where you need to speak up, even though it may be difficult. For a large portion of my life, I've been the type to not want to get involved in discussions or to sit quietly and listen to what was being said. However, for the most part, that season has passed. I find myself more and more often not only wanting to speak my mind but needing to. We live in such a broken society, that not sharing, not speaking, not voicing the truth, can be more harmful than just remaining silent, given the circumstance. The point of this is that both the actions themselves and the timing of our actions are important to God.
There Are Seasons In Which Certain Pursuits Are Appointed By God:
God's plan for our life involves different experiences, emotions, activities, etc. We know that weeping may be a part of life - maybe there's a lot of heartache and loss during a season. And maybe that season lasts a long time, but life is not all weeping. Laughter and joy also have a place, too. A key to this is found a few verses later:
"He has made everythng beautiful in its time" - Ecclesiastes 3:11The right activity at the right times, with the goal of bringing about God's purposes, is a beautiful part of God's will. Think about it this way, have you ever viewed a tapestry or something sown onto your shirt from the back? It looks chaotic and random; yet the maker knew the purpose and exact placement of each thread. Maybe the image wasn't discernable at the beginning or a certain times - but that doesn't mean that there wasn't a purpose, exact plan, or design to it.
A Bridge
These verses serve as a bridge between the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes, and the following section. In Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, we are to accept each and every day as a gift from God. Why? Because God has a reason and time for all things (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). We all too often accuse God of either not answering our prayers, or with his timing, but this is what we call ignorance of His timing (Ecclesiastes 3:9-11). Yet we are still called to enjoy life in the present (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13) and to trust in God's sovereignty (Ecclesiastes 3:14-15).
There's a lot of wisdom packed into today's verse. "There is a time for everything...and a season for every activity under the heavens." God is sovereign. Our activity in this world is meaningful as we rely on His wisdom, His timing,...
...more
6min
December 01, 2020 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Today we're looking at the incredibly well known verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "pray without ceasing." In this verse, Paul is encouraging the Thessalonian Christians to pray continually. This is commonly misinterpreted as being in a state of prayer during every wakeful moment, but that's not what Paul is referring to here. Rather, we ought to be in a constantly "prayerful" state, and therefore frequently talking to God in actual, dedicated prayer. The value of maintaining fellowship with God through frequent prayer is immeasurable. Even when we are in the midst of trails, heartache, or hard times, we need to keep this in mind.
Who could we look to as an example of how to pray continually?
Well, the supreme example is Jesus. We have many examples from His life that we can look at to better understand what it means to "pray without ceasing." He taught the disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:5-13. He prayed before the miracle of feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:19-21). He prayed when He blessed the children (Matthew 19:13). He prayed in the morning (Mark 1:35) and in the evening (Mark 6:45-47). He prayed for His disciples and for all the subsequent believers (John 17). He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-42). He prayed from the cross (Luke 23:34).
Further, the apostle Paul prayed continuously. In Acts 16:25, we see Him praying from prison at midnight. He gives a charge to the elders of the church at Ephesus, we see him praying after that (Acts 20:36). He prayed at Malta (Acts 28:8). He prayed for Israel (Romans 10:1). He prayed for the churches on numerous occasions (Romans 1:9, Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:3-12).
So no, we aren't to be in a state of prayer every waking moment, but rather, our lives should reflect us being in a "prayerful" state throughout our life.
Paul is exhorting that all believers who desire to live godly and in Christ are to "pray without ceasing," and this follows his instruction to rejoice always - for it's the heart that rejoices in the Lord that will keep their eyes fixed on Him, and their thoughts better fixated upon our Savior.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
...more
3min

FAQs about Built on the Rock:

How many episodes does Built on the Rock have?

The podcast currently has 139 episodes available.