In this episode of Conscious Christian Conversations, Kylene Turhune and Tanya Paynter delve into the stories of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well, as recorded in the book of John. They explore the unique focus on Jesus' divinity in these accounts and discuss the cultural, religious, and political context of the time. The hosts emphasize the significance of Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus, highlighting his open-mindedness and sincere desire to learn, despite the challenges and risks he faced as a prominent Jewish leader.

Key points discussed:
- 00:00 Introduction to the stories of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well in the book of John
- 05:15 The cultural, religious, and political context of Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus
- 12:30 Interpretation of John 3:16 and the symbolism of light versus darkness
- 18:45 The challenge of embracing Christianity and the ongoing struggle with sinful habits
- 24:10 Nicodemus' open-hearted questioning and Jesus' promise to meet him where he is
- 31:50 Various interpretations of being "born of water and spirit" in John, chapter three
- 40:20 Jesus challenging Nicodemus' beliefs and referencing the Son of Man and the bronze snake
- 48:55 The hosts' personal struggles with shifting belief systems and understanding the nuances of Jesus' teachings

Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode:
- Blue Letter Bible Harmony of the Gospels: https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/harmony/index.cfm
- Documentary: "Is Genesis History?"

If you want to follow along with us, we're using the Blue Letter Bible Harmony of the Gospels: https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/harmony/index.cfm.

In this episode of Conscious Christian Conversations, hosts Kylene Turhune and Tanya Paynter delve into the early ministry of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospels. They explore various events and interactions, including Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11), the cleansing of the temple (John 2:13-22), and his encounters with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42). The hosts discuss the significance of these events and the unique portrayal of Jesus in the Gospel of John.

- 00:00 - Discussion on the use of alcohol at Jewish weddings and the significance of Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana
- 07:30 - Jesus begins his ministry, fulfills prophecies, and calls his disciples
- 15:45 - Jesus cleanses the temple, expressing righteous anger against sin and hypocrisy
- 22:00 - Introduction to the conversations with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman
- 25:30 - The importance of seeking truth and having an open heart
- 32:00 - Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah and faces rejection in his hometown
- 40:15 - The unique portrayal of Jesus in the Gospel of John, emphasizing his divinity through recorded conversations and interactions

If you want to follow along with us, we're using the Blue Letter Bible Harmony of the Gospels: https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/harmony/index.cfm.

In this episode of Conscious Christian Conversations, hosts Kylene Turhune and Tanya Paynter delve into the baptism of Jesus and the temptation in the wilderness as recorded in the four gospels. They compare and contrast the accounts, discussing John the Baptist's role, Jesus's divine and human nature, and the significance of his responses to Satan's temptations.

The biblical verses covered include Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-13, Luke 3:1-22, and John 1:19-34.

- 00:00 Introduction and overview of the episode
- 05:15 Discussion of John the Baptist's appearance in the gospels
- 11:30 Comparison of the baptism of Jesus across the four gospels
- 18:45 Exploration of Jesus's divine and human nature in relation to his baptism
- 25:00 Analysis of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and his responses to Satan
- 32:10 Comparison of the temptation accounts in Matthew and Luke
- 38:30 Reflection on Satan's authority over the kingdoms of the world

If you want to follow along with us, we're using the Blue Letter Bible Harmony of the Gospels: https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/harmony/index.cfm.

Key Topics:

1. John the Baptist

2. Baptism of Jesus

3. Four Gospels

4. Jesus' divinity

5. Jesus' humanity

6. John's ministry

7. Pharisees

8. Matthew's Jewish audience

9. Jesus fasting

10. Jesus' temptation

In today's episode, we look closely at the pre-birth stories of Jesus and John the Baptist - the parallels and important differences in these two pivotal people and reasons why they were included in Luke but none of the other gospels.

If you want to follow along with us, we're using the Blue Letter Bible Harmony of the Gospels: https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/harmony/index.cfm 

APOLOGY NOTE:  Our audio editor (Tanya) dropped the ball in today's episode and failed to cut out the boring girl gossip (about dresses and life complaints and such) that happens before we record an episode.  So, if you listened to this episode the day it was released, we apologize for forcing you to listen to our non-topical conversations for the first 12 minutes!  That issue has been remedied.  Please enjoy the ACTUAL episode now.

----------------------------------------------------------

In today's episode, we dive into the beginning of the Harmony of the Gospels Study.

In the Pre-Christ Narratives, we look at the opening verses of the books of Luke and John and how these short passages sum up the entirety of the books of Luke and John and how they impact the message of each writer.

If you want to follow along with us, we're using the Blue Letter Bible Harmony of the Gospels: https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/harmony/index.cfm 

This season, Kylene and Tanya have decided to explore the Harmony of the Gospels.

This view of gospel interpretation looks the recorded stories and sermons of Jesus and explores the similarities and differences between the four gospels.

Why aren't they all the same?

Why do some stories appear in some gospels but not in others?

Why do they not all record the same events in the same way?

And perhaps most importantly, do the answers to any of these questions invalidate the gospels in any way?

In today's episode, we wrap up defining what the Harmony of the Gospels is, the history and context in which the gospels were written, and who the writers of the gospels really were.

The resources we used in this episode come from the following:

Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/harmony/index.cfm

National Geographic Archaeology of the Bible - The Greatest Discoveries from Genesis to the Roman Era by Jean-Pierre Isbouts (2016)

Who's Who in the Bible - The Old Testament and The Apocrypha by Joan Comay (1980)

Who's Who in the Bible - The New Testament by Ronald Brownrigg (1980)

This season, Kylene and Tanya have decided to explore the Harmony of the Gospels. 

This view of gospel interpretation looks the recorded stories and sermons of Jesus and explores the similarities and differences between the four gospels. 

Why aren't they all the same? 

Why do some stories appear in some gospels but not in others? 

Why do they not all record the same events in the same way? 

And perhaps most importantly, do the answers to any of these questions invalidate the gospels in any way? 

Join us for the next two weeks as we define what the Harmony of the Gospels is, the history and context in which the gospels were written, and who the writers of the gospels really were. 

The resources we used in this episode include:

Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/harmony/index.cfm 

National Geographic Archaeology of the Bible - The Greatest Discoveries from Genesis to the Roman Era by Jean-Pierre Isbouts (2016)

Who's Who in the Bible - The Old Testament and The Apocrypha by Joan Comay (1980)

Who's Who in the Bible - The New Testament by Ronald Brownrigg (1980)

We hope you enjoy your summer! We're off to play with our kiddos, work, and continue to grow in our relationship with God. See you in September!

Some Christians are strictly against any alcohol.  Some think it's perfectly fine.  Jesus appeared to have drank wine - so what exactly does the Bible say about it?

In today's episode, Kylene and Tanya explore what the Bible has to say about partaking in the ritual of alcoholic pursuits and whether it seems to be strictly forbidden, accepted but discouraged, or a gift given to us to use in moderation.

What are your thoughts on alcohol use in a Christian household?  

Many Christians and many churches believe that we are born sinful creatures and that our being human automatically makes us sinful.

But if that were true, would Jesus have been able to claim He was sinless?  

In today's episode, Kylene and Tanya debate the topic of original sin and the idea that as humans, we aren't born having sin but we are born into a world of sin which we then become a part of.  

This is an important topic to explore because, as Kylene points out, there is a lot of "Woe is me, I'm a worm, I have no value because I was born a sinner" in the Christian culture.  If we redefine how we are exposed to sin, it changes how we can view our intrinsic value and understand how God can love us, despite our sins.

Do you believe we're born sinful?  Or do you believe it's something that's "bred" into us as we're exposed to it after birth?  

If you found this episode thought provoking, we'd love to hear from you.  And if you know someone else who may enjoy it, we'd love to have you share it with them!