Focused on Christ

Welcome to Focused on Christ, where we are passionate about exalting Christ and equipping the church. In this episode, host Mike Crump sits down with Pastor Nathan Smith to dive deep into Romans 14 and tackle a reality every believer faces: handling disagreements on secondary, non-essential issues within the church.

How do we balance our freedom in Christ with our personal convictions without causing a brother or sister to stumble? Whether it’s navigating historical and cultural flashpoints like alcohol, observing specific traditions, or managing differences in personal preferences, Paul’s letter to the Romans gives us a clear guiding principle: everything we do must be motivated by a desire to honor and worship the Lord.

Join us as we discuss:

• Normalizing disagreements among redeemed, spirit-filled believers.

• The difference between the Judgment Seat of God and the White Throne Judgment.

• How rushing someone into freedom before they are ready can be a dangerous stumbling block.

• Why violating your own conscience—or acting without faith—can lead to sin.

Don't waste your freedom to offend or divide; instead, learn how to steward it to bless and build up the body of Christ.

If you have questions or want to connect with the ministry, visit our website at https://focusedonchrist.com. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with a friend!

In Episode 165 of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump sits down with Pastor Nathan Smith to tackle a topic that impacts every believer: our posture toward governing authorities. Diving into Romans 13, they explore what it means to "be subject to the governing authorities" —even when those structures are deeply flawed, corrupt, or staffed by fallen people. Pastor Nathan breaks down the historical context of the Apostle Paul writing under the hostile Roman Empire and addresses tough questions: Is authority inherently evil? When is a Christian permitted to resist the government? And how should we view paying taxes when funds might be used for things that grieve us? Finally, the discussion shifts to the urgent call in Romans 13 to "wake from sleep" —reminding us that our ultimate call is not to political activism, but to personal holiness, obedience, and casting off the works of darkness. Focused on Christ is a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church. If this episode blessed you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend! For more resources, visit focusedonchrist.com. Key Timestamps0:00 – Introduction & The Political Climate of the Early Church 2:15 – Romans 13:1 & The Sovereignty of God Over Kings 4:00 – Is Authority Evil? (Distinguishing Wielding vs. Structure) 5:50 – Good vs. Evil Policies: Straight Lines and Jagged Lines 7:45 – When Can a Christian Resist Authority? 8:30 – Conscience, Taxes, and Government Spending 12:00 – Waking From Sleep: The Call to Holiness and Christ 15:00 – Eternal Governance vs. Earthly Structures

Can we really live out the Gospel in our daily lives and relationships?In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into Romans 12. After exploring the profound theological mysteries and sovereignty of God in chapters 1 through 11, the Apostle Paul transitions directly into practical sanctification. Pastor Nathan and Mike unpack what it truly means to present ourselves as a "living sacrifice" —a daily process of dying to self, renewing our minds, and refusing to let the world mold our affections. They also discuss:Discovering Spiritual Gifts: Why we should stop waiting to feel "competent" online and instead step into serving through humility and sacrifice. Handling Conflict: How the Gospel transforms how we treat fellow believers and how we respond to a hostile world. The "Burning Coals" Mystery: What Paul actually means when he tells us to bless our enemies and leave vengeance to the Lord. If you've ever struggled to find God's daily will for your life or wanted to know how to live peaceably with others, this deep dive is for you. Next Week: We will explore our relationship with the government as we move into Romans 13! Read ahead and send us your questions. 👉 Connect with Us:Visit focusedonchrist.com to share your stories or ask questions. Focused on Christ is a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church.

Welcome back to Focused on Christ, where we exalt Christ and equip the church. In this episode, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith open up the mailbag to tackle some of your most challenging and "stumping" theological questions. From the ethics of Abraham’s sacrifice to the mysterious origins of sin in heaven, we dive deep into the scriptures to find clarity on tough topics. Pastor Nathan explores why God would command something He hates, how to walk alongside Muslim background believers, and what the Apostles' Creed really means when it says Jesus "descended into hell". Finally, we discuss the "theological black hole" of how perfect beings like Satan and the fallen angels could rebel in the presence of a holy God. In this episode, we discuss:The Sacrifice of Isaac: Why did God ask Abraham to do something He fundamentally hates? Ministry to Muslim Background Believers: Navigating the fears, cultural identity, and the importance of patient discipleship. The Apostles' Creed: Did Jesus actually go to hell, or is there a deeper meaning to His descent into death? The Origin of Sin: How could rebellion happen in a "perfect" heaven? A Glimpse of Infinity: What questions would we ask God if we stood before Him today? Join us next week as we begin the final chapters of Romans, moving into the practical applications of the Gospel in our daily lives. Have a question for the show? Visit us at FocusedOnChrist.com to submit your questions for our next mailbag segment.

Episode 162: Grafted into Israel | Romans 11 Exploration

In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into the profound mysteries of Romans 11. They explore the complex relationship between Israel and the Gentiles, discussing the concept of "judicial hardening" and how God’s plan of redemption spans across history.

• Judicial Hardening: Understanding why Israel, despite receiving great revelation, faced a "spirit of stupor" while God turned His focus toward the Gentiles.

  
  

• The Remnant: A look at the "believing group" throughout history—from Elijah to the disciples—whom God preserved by His grace.

  
  

• The Olive Tree Analogy: How Gentiles, as "wild olive shoots," have been grafted into the nourishing root of Israel, and why this should lead to humility rather than arrogance.

  
  

• All Israel Will Be Saved: Parsing out the "fullness of the Gentiles" and what it means to be a "true Israelite" through faith in Christ.

  
  

• The Doxology of Worship: Closing with a reflection on Romans 11:33, reminding us that God’s ways are higher than ours and His wisdom is unsearchable.

  
  

Join us as we navigate these deep theological waters, moving from complex doctrine to heartfelt worship.

Ep. 161 – Confess and Believe (Romans 10)In this episode, Mike and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into Romans 10, exploring what it truly means to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart — and why those aren't two separate steps but one unified act of saving faith. They unpack Paul's deep affection for his Jewish brothers, the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, and why a high view of election should fuel mission rather than kill it.Topics covered:Romans 10:1–14 walk-throughPaul's heart for the lost and what it says about sovereigntyWhat "confess with your mouth" really means in a context of persecution

Why confession, belief, and repentance are inseparable"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" — and the sovereignty debateWhy the church must go, preach, and sendFocused on Christ is a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, or visit us at focusedonchrist.com.

Jacob I Loved, Esau I Hated: Understanding the Mystery of Romans 9In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith tackle one of the most debated and challenging chapters in all of Scripture: Romans 9. This passage often sparks fierce debate because it touches on the very character of God, His sovereignty, and the nature of human responsibility.The team explores the "fear and trembling" associated with these verses, providing a necessary theological foundation before diving into the text. They discuss:The Character of God: Why we must begin with the presupposition that God is perfectly good, just, and loving—even when His providence feels like a mystery.Paul’s Heart for Israel: Understanding the deep "unceasing anguish" Paul felt for his kinsmen who had been given every spiritual advantage yet rejected the Messiah.The "Hate" Idiom: Breaking down the linguistic context of "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" to understand it as a Hebraic idiom of divine preference and purpose rather than vociferous hatred.The Potter and the Clay: How God’s sovereignty in "forming vessels" intersects with human agency and the reality that while salvation is an act of divine grace, rejection of God remains a human responsibility.Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart: A discussion on whether God "coerces" evil or simply withdraws His restraining grace, allowing a heart to harden itself in its own natural rebellion.Join us as we navigate the complexities of God’s election and mercy, ultimately landing in the beautiful doxology of trust in His perfect will.

From Groaning to Glory: Finding Hope in Romans 8

In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive deep into the second half of Romans 8—often called one of the most precious chapters in all of Scripture.

Picking up from their discussion on our identity of "no condemnation," the team explores the dual reality of Christian life: the internal struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, and the external weight of suffering in a fallen world. They discuss how our willingness to endure with Christ actually proves our identity in Him and why the future glory awaiting us makes today's trials pale in comparison.

In this episode, we cover:

The Purpose of Suffering: Understanding why Christians "suffer with Him" and how endurance serves as the ultimate test of fidelity.

The Groaning of Creation: Why the world feels "broken" and how technology is often an attempt to circumvent the effects of the Fall.

The Spirit’s Intercession: The comfort of knowing the Holy Spirit is actively praying for us even when we don't know the words.

The Golden Chain of Redemption: A look at the "inter-trinitarian shield" where the Father plans, the Son effects, and the Spirit finishes our salvation.

Unstoppable Love: Why nothing in all of creation—not even death—can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus.Join us as we explore why, in all these things, we are more than conquerors.

No More Condemnation (Romans 8:1–17)In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into the opening of Romans 8, a chapter often hailed as one of the most beautiful and life-giving in all of Scripture. After exploring the intense internal struggle with sin described in Romans 7, the duo discusses the glorious pivot Paul makes toward the believer's true identity and the riches found in Christ.Together, they unpack what it means to live without a verdict of guilt or shame. They explore the radical shift from being a slave to the flesh to becoming a child of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in freedom. From the "omnipotent voice of God" that declares us valuable to the incredible promise of being joint heirs with Christ, this conversation is an invitation to stop living by old masters and start "tattooing" the truth of the Gospel onto your soul.Key highlights include:The Baseline of Grace: Understanding why there is "now no condemnation" for those in Christ.Flesh vs. Spirit: How to set your mind on the things of the Spirit and the discipline of daily intentionality.The Spirit of Adoption: What it means to cry out "Abba, Father" and lean into our divine access to God.Our Eternal Inheritance: A look at the benefits of being united with the "firstborn Son".

Ep 157 - The War Within: Navigating Romans 7

In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into the complex and deeply relatable landscape of Romans 7. They explore the "now, but not yet" reality of the Christian walk, where spiritual freedom meets the ongoing internal struggle against sin.

The discussion breaks down Paul’s powerful imagery of being released from a "marriage" to sin and death to be united with Jesus Christ under a new covenant. Together, they tackle the "war within"—the frustrating experience of wanting to do good but finding sinful desires still lingering in the flesh.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The Marital Imagery: How death to the law frees us to be wed to Christ.

The Purpose of the Law: Why the law was given to point out sin rather than to save us.

The Internal Conflict: A practical look at the warfare between our new identity in Christ and our indwelling sin.

Ultimate Hope: Why Paul’s cry of "Wretched man that I am!" ends in a celebration of security in Jesus.

Whether you are feeling weary from the fight or seeking a deeper understanding of God’s grace, join us as we find hope in the truth that Christ alone is our deliverer.

Next Step: Ready to go deeper? Read through Romans 8 this week to prepare for our next episode as we bask in the security of God's goodness.