Focused on Christ

In this episode of Focused on Christ, Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive deep into Jesus’ story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31). Is this account a parable or an actual historical event? What does it reveal about heaven, hell, eternity, and the sufficiency of God’s Word?

We unpack:

• Why most scholars view this as a parable.

• The meaning of Abraham’s side and the Jewish understanding of life after death.

• The selfishness of the rich man’s cries from Hades.

• The eternal chasm between life and death.

• Why miracles—even resurrection—cannot replace the authority of Scripture.

• How this story points us to repentance, faith in Christ, and eternal perspective.

This conversation reminds us that God’s Word is enough and challenges us to consider what truly matters: not temporary comfort, but eternal life in Christ.

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📖 Key Scripture: Luke 16:19–31 | Psalm 73 | Matthew 8:34–36

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Jesus and the Prodigal Son | Focused on Christ Podcast (Luke 15 Explained)

In this episode of Focused on Christ, Pastor Nathan Smith and host Mike Crump dive into Luke 15, unpacking three of Jesus’ most well-known parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. These parables reveal the heart of God: His relentless pursuit of the lost, the scandal of His grace, and the joy in heaven when sinners repent.

We explore questions like:
✅ Why did Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners?
✅ What does the parable of the prodigal son teach us about grace and forgiveness?
✅ How do the father’s actions foreshadow the work of Christ on the cross?
✅ Why did the Pharisees—and the older brother—struggle with God’s grace?

This conversation will challenge the self-righteous, encourage the broken, and remind us all of the beauty of the gospel.

📖 Scripture: Luke 15 – The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, The Prodigal Son
🎧 Episode 136 – Jesus and the Prodigal

✦ If you’re looking for:

• Luke 15 Bible study

• Parable of the Prodigal Son explained

• What does it mean that Jesus ate with sinners?

• Parables of Jesus explained

…this episode is for you!

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🔗 Connect with us: focusedonchrist.com

#ProdigalSon #Luke15 #ParablesOfJesus #FocusedOnChrist #BibleStudy

Ep. 135 | Condemnation and Love – Can Jesus Rebuke and Still Love?

Welcome to Focused on Christ, where we are passionate about exalting Christ and equipping the church. In this episode, Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into Matthew 11 and unpack two seemingly opposite messages from Jesus: one of condemnation and one of comfort.

Can love and rebuke truly come from the same person without contradiction? Together we explore:

• Why Jesus rebuked cities that rejected Him despite seeing His mighty works.

• How God’s correction is actually an expression of His love.

• The invitation of Christ: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

• The tension between divine judgment and divine mercy—and why both are necessary for the gospel.

If you’ve ever struggled with how rebuke and love fit together in the Christian life, this conversation will encourage and challenge you.

📖 Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:16–30
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#FocusedOnChrist #CondemnationAndLove #Matthew11 #GospelTruth #BiblePodcast

Did Jesus really lie to his brothers?

In this episode of Focused on Christ Mike and Nathan examine John 7, where Jesus navigates family pressure, public scrutiny, and religious opposition during a major Jewish festival. Discover how Jesus responded when His own brothers didn't believe in Him and challenged Him to prove Himself publicly. Learn why Jesus chose to follow God's perfect timing rather than human expectations, and how this applies to your life today.

They discuss why religious leaders, despite their knowledge of Scripture, failed to recognize divine wisdom standing right before them. Understand the difference between knowing about God versus truly knowing Him personally. This episode addresses why people often reject spiritual truth even when confronted with compelling evidence, and how God's Word has unique power to transform lives beyond even miraculous signs.

If you're struggling with waiting on God's timing, facing misunderstanding from family about your faith, or seeking to deepen your relationship with God beyond religious knowledge, this episode offers biblical guidance and practical wisdom. Perfect for anyone navigating confusion in their spiritual journey or seeking to understand how God works in His perfect timing rather than on our schedule.

How do you define greatness? Is greatness based upon your influence, wealth, family, or even spiritual status? In this episode, Mike and Nathan look at Jesus' definition of greatness in order to better understand what we should be striving towards. They also take time to assess pastoral ministry in light of Jesus' definition of true greatness and play a clip of  @PaulDavidTripp  posted by  @CrosswayBooks  that helps us to see the dangers of worldly greatness in ministry. Find more about Focused on Christ at focusedonchrist.com.

Welcome back to Focused on Christ, where our passion is to exalt Christ and equip the church. In this episode, host Mike Crump is joined by Pastor Nathan Smith to tackle a topic everyone loves…taxes!

We dive into Jesus’ teachings on both the temple tax (Matthew 17:24–27) and the Roman tax (Matthew 22:17–22). Together, we explore:

• What was the two-drachma temple tax and its purpose?

• How did Jesus respond to the tax collectors, and what does His response teach us about giving today?

• Why did Jesus choose to pay the temple tax—even providing the payment in a miraculous way?

• What does “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” mean for Christians living under earthly governments?

• How should believers today think about giving and paying taxes, even when governments use funds for evil purposes?

  
  

This thoughtful conversation will help you see how Jesus’ wisdom applies to both our worship and our civic responsibilities.

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🌐 Learn more and access resources at focusedonchrist.com.

Ep. 131: Peter’s Confession – Who Do You Say That I Am?In this episode of Focused on Christ, Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into one of the most pivotal moments in the Gospels—Peter’s confession in Matthew 16:13–23.

From Jesus’ probing question, “Who do you say that I am?”, to Peter’s bold declaration that He is the Christ, we unpack the depth of this confession, the divine revelation behind it, and what it teaches us about faith, evangelism, and the church.

We also explore the tension between Peter’s great moment of insight and his later rebuke of Jesus, revealing how even devoted followers can misunderstand God’s plan—especially when it involves suffering and sacrifice.

Topics in this episode include:

• The significance of public opinion about Jesus
• What it means to confess Christ as the Son of the living God
• How God reveals truth to His people
• Modern-day hindrances to trusting Christ in suffering

📖 Scripture Reference: Matthew 16:13–23

🔗 Resources & Connect:Visit focusedonchrist.com for more episodes, articles, and resources.

📅 Next Episode: Jesus’ view on taxes—don’t miss it!

#BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #PetersConfession #Matthew16 #Faith #Church #FocusedOnChrist

WE'RE BACK AND OUR CAMERA DIDN'T WORK (sorry about that)!Pastors Nathan and Mike are back from summer break with a conversation on news stories from this summer. What is the legacy of Dr. John MacArthur? Who will fill his shoes? What advice would you give to men who desire to be like him and other prominant pastors?Also, we play a viral clip from this summer that includes Senator Cruz and Tucker Carlson discussing the promise of blessing for those who support Israel. How are we to understand this promise today? How do we define Israel or what it means to bless?If you have a question or comment let us know below or visit focusedonchrist.com!

Ep. 129 | What Defiles a Person? | Focused on Christ Podcast🎙️ Hosted by Mike Crump | Featuring Pastor Nathan Smith

In this episode of Focused on Christ, we explore one of Jesus’ most powerful confrontations with the Pharisees in Mark 7. While Jesus is healing the sick and performing miracles, the Pharisees focus on one issue—ritual handwashing. But Jesus points to a far deeper truth: defilement comes not from what’s outside, but from within the heart.

🔍 We’ll discuss:

• The context of Jesus’ ministry leading up to this moment
• The Pharisees' obsession with tradition over truthWhat "Corban" reveals about hypocrisyJesus’ declaration that all foods are clean
• A sobering list of what truly defiles us—and what that means for the church today

📢 Plus, an important summer update:We’ll be taking a short break in June and July for family milestones and ministry refreshment. We'll be back with new episodes starting August 5th—a perfect time to catch up on any episodes you’ve missed!

🔗 Listen now, subscribe, and share with someone who needs the truth of the Gospel today.

👉 Visit focusedonchrist.com

🎧 Available on your favorite podcast app & YouTube

#FocusedOnChrist #Mark7 #BiblePodcast #Jesus #ChristianPodcast #Church #GospelTruth #Defilement #Corban #HeritageBaptist

Ep. 128: Jesus Sends Sheep Among Wolves | Focused on Christ Podcast

In this episode of Focused on Christ, Pastor Nathan Smith joins host Mike Crump to walk through Matthew 10, where Jesus sends out His twelve disciples with power and purpose—but also a clear warning. What does it mean to be "sheep among wolves"? Why would Jesus send His followers into hostile environments? And how should believers respond to fear, persecution, and uncertainty?

We explore:

• The significance of Jesus' commissioning of the 12 disciples

• The instructions He gives—and why they matter

• What it means to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves

• How Jesus prepares His followers for suffering and bold proclamation

• What these teachings mean for us in the church today

📖 Scripture Focus: Matthew 10:1–33
📆 Summer Update: We’ll be taking a summer break during June and July, with new episodes returning August 5th! It's a great time to catch up on any past episodes you’ve missed.

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast app, watch on YouTube, or visit focusedonchrist.com for more content.

🙏 A ministry of Heritage Baptist Church

#FocusedOnChrist #Matthew10 #ChristianPodcast #JesusSends #SheepAmongWolves #Discipleship #FaithOverFear #BibleTeaching #GospelMission #HeritageBaptist