Happy Holidays. Holiday Trees. Snow flake cups. Commercialization. Are these all signs pointing to a concerted effort to remove Christ from Christmas?

Or, might Christmas actually be subversively drawing people to the story of Christmas itself?

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Paul’s invitation to

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

can be seen both as a promise and a potential shame producer, depending on how we understand it.

We take a deep dive into the wonder-filled promise of God as we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

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Jon brings us some more questions from his HS youth group. We spend most of our time looking at what it means for God to be in control of our lives. Really good question. But still a good podcast.

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This episode turns to questions from a youth group Jon works with, including a question from Jon: Pastor Tim said that Jesus was wrong about something. Is that even possible?

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A few weeks ago Terey emailed Tim about a Bible verse that stood out to her. It was a promise made to the people of Israel thousands of years ago. She wondered if she could claim that promise as her own, leading to the question:

How do we hear God speaking to us through the Bible?

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Today we take a look at the controversial book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, and what God might be saying to us through the bizarre images and metaphors.

(Check out www.Recklessgrace.substack.com/ for more on this topic!)

Revelation 13:11-18

11 Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived, 15 and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast could even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 Also, it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be given a brand on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the brand, that is, the name of the beast or the number for its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number for a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six.

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Jesus promised he will come again. But is that a promise? Or a threat?

We dive into what Jesus really says about his return.

(Check out Tim’s Substack piece on the 2nd coming!)

Mark 13:28-30

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

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Tim and Jon take a look back at the insights into Scripture and God gleaned through our journey through Genesis.

Book references: Better Ways to Read the Bible by Zach Lambert

Separation of Church and Hate by Jon Fugelsang

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The story of Joseph is one of the most iconic, gripping stories in all of Scripture. Not only that, it’s filled with insights in the character of God.

Genesis 50:15-21

Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16 So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

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From the opening verses of the Bible through to the end, God places a high and equal value on men and women. In some segments of Christianity, an unBiblical hierarchy has been imposed where men are superior to women.

Today’s story about God’s call of an Egyptian Slave woman, using the same language used to call Abraham, stands as a subversive story of a God who sees men and women as equals, both created in the Image of God.

Genesis 21:9-21

But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. 10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” 11 The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. 13 As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

20 God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

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