Visit my Logos Partner Page for an extended free trial (get an extra month free):https://www.diveindigdeep.com/blog/recommendations/logos-partner-offerScript:Imagine having everything you need for Bible study, including your personal library, searchable and accessible with a keystroke. This is Logos – a powerful and comprehensive Bible study platform designed for those who want to deeply explore and engage with God’s Word.Seamless AccessLogos offers seamless access to all the resources you need for in-depth study. While I often visit various websites to aid me in my Bible study, Logos provides everything I need in one place. This saves me time, eliminating the need to jump between different helps like Bible translations, dictionaries, commentaries, and original language tools.As you expand both your physical and digital library, Logos becomes even more valuable. It’s a worthwhile investment, as they offer free eBooks and significant discounts on publishers, authors, topics, individual titles, and even entire libraries throughout the year. Plus, any books or libraries you purchase are yours to keep forever, even if you decide to pause or cancel your subscription.Indispensable FeaturesAs a layperson without formal seminary training, Logos has become indispensable to me. It has greatly improved my sermon preparation and Sunday School lessons. It has also enriched my personal Bible study, making me more confident as I preach, teach, and study Scripture.One of my favorite features is the Factbook, which functions like an encyclopedia, that draws from a combination of Logos provided data and resources in your Library. This makes it incredibly easy to search for nearly any biblical or theological term.Engage with God’s WordLogos will change how you engage with God’s Word, and is the gold standard resource for those who want to dive in and dig deep into Scripture.Shownotes:https://www.diveindigdeep.com/blog/recommendations/logosLinks:https://www.diveindigdeep.com/https://newsletter.diveindigdeep.com/https://www.instagram.com/diveindigdeephttps://www.youtube.com/@soundwordsfm https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundwords

How do you trust in Jesus?Script:This was a question asked by a young student in AWANA, and I was caught off guard. I gave my typical ABCs of the gospel — admit you are a sinner, believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for your sins, and confess Him as the resurrected King over your life. I said that trusting in Jesus is something that happens in our hearts, and it’s God who makes it happen. But I wasn’t totally satisfied with my answer — and looking back, I don’t think she was either.I gave it some thought, and here’s what I think I should have said.I could have opened with: Well, who do you trust? Maybe your parents — your mom and dad. What does that look like? When I trust them, it means I believe they’ll do what they say. I believe they love me. I believe they’ll take care of me. I believe that we’re family.So, to trust in Jesus means you believe what He says — one of those things being that we’re sinners. You believe He is who He says He is: the Son of God who died on the cross for your sins. And you believe what He did, and what He tells you to do — to confess Him as the resurrected King over your life.To trust is to actively put your faith — your belief — in who someone says they are, what they say they’ll do, and what that means for you.I trust that God will use whatever sliver of gospel hope I had in my answer and use it for His glory, as He always does. Even inadequate answers can receive amazing grace. I won’t be caught off guard next time — and I’m glad to have learned a better answer to this question myself.Shownotes:AWANA Messagehttps://www.diveindigdeep.com/blog/messages/spirit-and-truthKids Q&A Playlisthttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_vN-vM53O-8cmwa4fcIaJk6GhnnjrgxXPreaching and Teaching:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL761H3XZh_ND_RS09G8_SxPmcrw82GSVIAll Messageshttps://www.diveindigdeep.com/messagesLinks:https://www.diveindigdeep.com/https://newsletter.diveindigdeep.com/https://www.instagram.com/diveindigdeephttps://www.youtube.com/@soundwordsfm https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundwords

Larry Sanger is the co-founder of Wikipedia, and he recently published his testimony online. TGC’s Trevin Wax shared his highlights, and I wanted to share my reflections and resolutions after reading it.Script:First, I am resolved to answer questions. I teach high school Sunday School, and Sanger specifically pointed out that his questions as a youth were met with contempt. I don’t want to be a teacher who discourages questions. Instead, I want to encourage them.Second, I am resolved to witness well. Sanger said that some of his favorite people were Christians, and some of them were extremely intelligent. He found this strange, and I want to be that type of believer! I often forget that how we live really does have an impact on people’s perception of faith.Third, I am resolved to preach and teach God’s Word. Sanger was surprised that the Bible could withstand interrogation — and that it was interesting to him! I want to preach and teach in such a way that God’s Word can speak for itself and remain engaging.

Video and transcript:

https://www.diveindigdeep.com/blog/how-does-a-skeptical-philosopher-become-a-christianShownotes:https://larrysanger.org/2025/02/how-a-skeptical-philosopher-becomes-a-christian/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/wikipedias-founder-converts-christianity/Links:https://www.diveindigdeep.com/https://newsletter.diveindigdeep.com/https://www.instagram.com/diveindigdeephttps://www.youtube.com/@soundwordsfm https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundwords

Don’t Preach a CommentaryScript:This was the title of a Gospel-Centered Discipleship article by Michael C. Lyons — and I absolutely agree with him. He states three symptoms of Bible commentary preaching, and I want to interact with each of them.The first symptom is appealing to Hebrew and Greek. While I always look at the original languages, it’s true that this often seems to be more helpful for the person in the pulpit than for the people in the pew. I want to preach in such a way that underscores the truth without undermining our English Bibles.The second symptom is quoting all the authors. If you’ve followed me, you can be sure that I’ve read a lot of material to study for my sermons. But I want to keep things fresh — and I’m encouraged to say what I have seen in Scripture with my own words.The third symptom is preaching nuts and bolts. I do practice big idea preaching, and this is a reminder that the congregation can easily get lost in the details. As I write my sermons, I need to guide my hearers to what’s most important.Shownoteshttps://gcdiscipleship.com/article-feed/dont-preach-a-commentaryLinkshttps://www.diveindigdeep.com/https://newsletter.diveindigdeep.com/https://www.instagram.com/diveindigdeephttps://www.youtube.com/@soundwordsfm https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundwords

"But the countercultural truth is that preachers are more like opera singers than like athletes." -- David MathisScript:"Preachers are more like opera singers than athletes." This is a quote by David Mathis from his Desiring God article No One’s Born to Preach: The Myth and Truth of Pulpit ‘Gifting’. He explains that while athletes peak in their teens and twenties, musicians and singers often peak much later in life. He encourages preachers to continue developing, cultivating, and practicing their gifting. I can relate to this, and I want to share my experience as both a worship leader and a preacher. I’ve been a worship leader longer than I’ve been a preacher, and I believe I’ve gotten better over time. Yes, it takes practice, but I’ve also had the opportunity to lead in a variety of settings: Sunday mornings, larger events like retreats, and smaller settings like prayer meetings. As a preacher, I’m getting my reps in on Sunday mornings, but also in different areas, such as speaking to children and teaching in Sunday School. To my fellow preachers, I recommend giving this article a read. I pray that God continues to grow me as I steward my gifts of worship leading and preaching for His glory.Shownoteshttps://www.desiringgod.org/articles/no-ones-born-to-preachLinkshttps://www.diveindigdeep.com/https://newsletter.diveindigdeep.com/https://www.instagram.com/diveindigdeephttps://www.youtube.com/@soundwordsfm https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundwords

"I love theology, but theology isn’t meant to live in your head; it’s meant to get into your bones." -- Ian Harber

"We should instead imagine culture as a language we all speak. It’s communication. We constantly receive culture and are formed by it. Every book, song, dinner, and habit can become a channel of blessing to the world. Each offers an opportunity to witness to the hope of Jesus." -- Dennis Greeson and Benjamin T. Quinn

YouTube

https://youtu.be/20n5LJ_KF-k

I’m close enough to see the Pasadena fires from my work at the hospital. I’m humbled to have my home. I’m grateful for the safety of my family. I’m praying for the first responders and firefighters. I’m mourning with those who have lost more than I know.

As someone who values books, it is not lost to me that they are just words on paper. The books themselves are of little value — but the stories, the ideas, and the messages are what moves us. That’s the power that’s worth preserving.

God used the imagery of fire to describe how his word would burn up the deceiving lies and empty promises of the false prophets. I pray that this would be a wake up call for all of LA. My heart is heavy, but my eyes are opened. Jesus Christ burns bright.

As soon as I finished recording this video, I got a text to be ready for potential evacuation. We’re okay — but the churches in my network as well as personal friends and family have evacuated and lost homes. Your prayers are much appreciated.

https://youtu.be/9US39fYDe60

Links

https://www.diveindigdeep.com/

https://newsletter.diveindigdeep.com/

https://www.instagram.com/diveindigdeep

https://www.youtube.com/@soundwordsfm

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundwords

"Friend, if you need to be glued to your manuscript while preaching the gospel (which I assume you do in one way or another every week!), you might be in the wrong profession." -- Sean DeMars

Watch on YouTube

"Sometimes, when I hear professing Christians who have just been diagnosed with a disease or suffered a terrible loss or experienced a calamity say, 'Where is God? Why would a good God let this happen?' I ask myself, 'What Bible do they read?'" -- John Piper

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/pbuLR1Rx_wU