Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: Bonus Episode

Episode Number: 029

Episode Name: Which Translation of the Bible I Prefer 

Episode Length: 13:58

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Episode Summary

In this episode, Pastor Jeff shares which translation of the Bible he prefers to use in his study and the reasons why.

Resources We Mentioned in the Show

·       Jeff recommended the Keyword Study Bible in the show today.

·       Jeff referred to the NASB Study Bible published by Zondervan in the show today. 

·       Jeff also uses the Ryrie Study Bible.

Join the Conversation

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected]

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: God’s Amazing Attributes

Episode Number: 028

Episode Name: God is Love, Part Two

Episode Length: 23:36

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Co Host: Jen Denton

Episode Summary

If God loves all people, then why do we read in the Bible that God hated people? This is a theologically difficult topic, but one that we want to address here on Kitchen Table Theology. There are Scripture verses that tell us that God “hated”; how do we understand this?

Topics We Discussed in this Episode

●     [5:45]     God’s nature is love. He always does what is best for others. He also hates what is contrary to His nature; His hates what is contrary to love.       

●     [7:20]     Sometimes, our understanding of an English word, and the variety of meanings and nuances we may be thinking of for that word, is not necessarily what the biblical writer means by the word.   

●     [9:44]     The word “hate” biblically (in the Old Testament) means not giving special privilege or special protection to a specific group of people. 

●     [12:12]     It is not a contradiction for God to be able to love and hate.    

●     [17:16]     None of us can love with a perfect love, nor can we hate with a perfect hatred. But God can both love and hate perfectly, because He is God. God can hate without sinful intent. 

Recommended Resources

●      Jeff recommends “The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God” by D.A. Carson for more on this topic.

Bible Verses We Mentioned in the Show

●     Hosea 9:15

●     Malachi 1:2-3

●     1 John 4:8

●     Deuteronomy 12:31; 16:22

●     Leviticus 20:1-23

●     Proverbs 6:16-19

●     2 Peter 3:9

●     Psalm 5:5; 5:10

●     Psalm 11:5

●     Romans 5:8

●     Colossians 1:21; 1:13

●     2 Corinthians 5:17

Join the Conversation 

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected]

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: God’s Amazing Attributes

Episode Number: 027

Episode Name: God is Love

Episode Length: 22:50

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Co Host: Jen Denton

Episode Summary

As we end this series on the attributes of God, we wrap up with a discussion on the Love of God. Love has always existed in the Trinity from eternity past; this shows us that love is an inherent attribute of God and many of His other attributes flow out of this love. How simple yet profound: God is love. We see that not only does the Father love the Son, but the Father loves us so much that He sent His Son, in spite of our inherent sin, to die a sacrificial death to bring us salvation. That is true love. 

Topics We Discussed in this Episode

●     [5:30]      Our word love signifies such a variety of different things that is difficult for us to grasp the meaning in the biblical words used to speak of God’s love. It signifies a love that is persistent, unrelenting, even stubborn, that will not at any cost let its object go. 

●     [6:26]      The Old Testament word that most nearly expresses the meaning of agape is “chesed”. It is not translated as love, but rendered rather in a variety of ways that reflect such features of love, like mercy, loving kindness, and goodness. 

●     [11:12]      The sense in which God is the Father of all people differs from the sense in which He is the Father of those who have accepted Him as the true and living God and Jesus Christ as His Son and our Savior. 

●     [12:38]      God the Father loves us, and Jesus Himself taught us that the Father loves us as much as He loves His Son!

●     [15:48]      God shows His love in His benevolence toward all people. His love was manifested on the cross of Calvary. God’s love is manifested in making people His children and bringing us into His family. 

Bible Verses We Mentioned in the Show

●     Matthew 3:17

●     John 3:16 (NASB)

●     John 17:23 (NASB)

●     Matthew 5

●     1 John 3:1

Join the Conversation

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected]

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: Bonus Episode

Episode Number: 026

Episode Name: Your Greatest Adventure

Episode Length: 6:50

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Episode Summary

In this episode, Pastor Jeff shares some personal insight into why he started the Kitchen Table Theology podcast. He also introduces and gives a brief overview of his new book, Your Greatest Adventure.

Resources We Mentioned in the Show

Jeff referred to Your Greatest Adventure: Taking the Next Steps in Your Faith in the bonus episode today.

Join the Conversation

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected]

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: God’s Amazing Attributes

Episode Number: 025

Episode Name: God is Faithful 

Episode Length: 23:26

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Co Host: Jen Denton

Episode Summary

Faithfulness is an attribute of God’s perfect character and the topic of this podcast. God can be relied upon, and He will never prove unfaithful to those who trust what He has said. God’s faithfulness is His trustworthiness to act or perform in accordance with His Word, promises, or sayings. God is faithful to fulfill His promises.

As we celebrate our 25th episode, we want to say thank you! Send Pastor Jeff an email at [email protected], let him know that you listened to this episode, and he will send you a digital copy of his latest book, Your Greatest Adventure. 

Topics We Discussed in this Episode

●     [9:44]    God’s faithfulness means that God will always do what He has said and fulfill what He has promised

●     [11:52]    There are many examples of God’s faithfulness noted in Scripture. Since He is a faithful God, that means He has to be true to His promises.      

●     [19:42]    Because He is faithful, He is faithful to fulfill His promises.

●     [00:00]    God will hear us when we pray, and He will save us when we trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. He keeps His promises and saves us from eternal death. We have eternal life in Christ because God is faithful.  

Resources We Mentioned in the Show

·       Jen referred to an account in Scribner’s magazine in 1871 of Nathaniel P. Langford traveling by “Old Faithful” in the show today.

Bible Verses We Mentioned in the Show

●     Hebrews 10:23

●     1 Corinthians 10:13

●     Psalm 143:1

●     1 John 1:9

●     Psalm 119:75

●     Jeremiah 1:5-9a

●     Joshua 1:9

●     Hebrews 13:5

●     Romans 10:13

Join the Conversation

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected].

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: God’s Amazing Attributes

Episode Number: 024

Episode Name: God is Gracious

Episode Length: 20:43

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Co Host: Jen Denton

Episode Summary

In this episode we will continue to dive into the doctrine of the Person of God and today we learn about the grace of God. So many hymns and songs have been written about grace. Grace saves us and sanctifies us. It is one of God’s most beautiful gifts to us. 

Topics We Discussed in this Episode

●     [3:10]  We can define grace as God’s goodness shown to those who do not deserve it.      

●     [6:40]  Grace is God’s unlimited, all-inclusive, transforming love toward sinful men and women; and the good news of this grace, as revealed in Jesus Christ, is the power of God unto salvation.

●     [10:04]  Grace changes everything. Grace saves and sanctifies.   

●     [11:29]  God’s grace is manifested in justification.

●     [12:15]  The grace of God is manifested in regeneration, that is, He has imparted spiritual life to us. 

●     [13:23]  God’s grace is manifested in the entire living of the Christian life.

●     [15:18]  God’s grace is manifested in the sanctification of believers.

Resources We Mentioned in the Show

●   Jeff referred to the hymn, “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” in the show today.

●   Jeff referred to “The Cost of Discipleship”, written by German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in the show today.

Bible Verses We Mentioned in the Show

●   Romans 1:16  

●   Romans 3:23-24 

●   Ephesians 2:8-9  

●   Acts 14:26

●   Galatians 6:18

●   Titus 2:11-12

Join the Conversation 

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected]

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: God’s Amazing Attributes

Episode Number: 023

Episode Name: God is Good

Episode Length: 21:32

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Co Host: Jen Denton

Episode Summary

We say, “God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good.” But what do we do with that knowledge? How does this effect our daily lives? Where and how do we see His goodness? In this episode, we examine the goodness of God and how we should respond to His goodness.

Topics We Discussed in this Episode

●     [3:50]      His Goodness is a part of His character. It’s one of His communicable attributes, which means that He shares or “communicates” with us. 

●     [5:55]      Dr. Grudem defines God’s goodness as, “The goodness of God means that God is the final standard of good and all God is and does is worthy of approval.  

●     [9:34]      God’s goodness starts with God and what He thinks, not what we think. Everything God approves is good, and good is everything God approves. 

●     [11:15]      How do we respond to God’s goodness? In light of God’s goodness, we should trust Him, praise Him, and imitate Him.

Resources We Mentioned in the Show

●    Jeff referenced Dr. Wayne Grudem’s book, Systematic Theology, in the episode today. 

●    Jeff referred to an article on PreachingToday.com, “Professor Takes Students’ Test For Them” which quoted Denise Banderman. 

Bible Verses We Mentioned in the Show

●     Genesis 1:31

●     Psalm 119:68

●     James 1:17

●     Romans 8:28

●     Psalm 84:11

●     Ephesians 2:10

Join the Conversation

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected]

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston. 

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: God’s Amazing Attributes

Episode Number: 022

Episode Name: God is Just

Episode Length: 26:58

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Co Host: Jen Denton

Episode Summary

Justice is important to us. We have an innate desire for justice, and we inherited that sense of justice from our Creater, because He is just. In this episode, Pastor Jeff shows us that whatever God does is right and just. He and His actions define righteousness and justice. 

Topics We Discussed in this Episode

●     [6:16]    In the Bible, God’s justice and righteousness are almost always used interchangeably.

●     [6:37]     God’s justice or righteousness means that God always acts in accordance with what is just or right and He himself is the only and final standard of what is right or just. 

●     [14:50]    Theologians categorize God’s righteousness, His justice into four broad categories. First, there is God’s Ruling Righteousness – that which God demands or requires from all His creation and creatures, in His ruling over them. The second is His Retributive Righteousness – the aspect of God which punishes all unrighteousness in His creatures, involving penalties or judgement for failure to conform to His ruling righteousness.   

●     [17:06]       The third category is called God’s Remunerative Righteousness – that aspect of His nature by which God rewards His creatures for the righteousness which they have done.

●     [19:44]     The final category is referred to as God’s Redemptive Righteousness – that aspect of God’s nature by which He both punishes the unrighteous and rewards them for a righteousness that is not their own.  

●     [24:04]     In God’s justice, someone had to pay for sin and evil; it should have been you, me, all of us. But this is where the gospel comes in!

Bible Verses We Mentioned in the Show

●     Deuteronomy 32:3-4

●     Genesis 18:25

●    Psalm 19:8

●    Isaiah 45:19

●    Psalm 37:17

●    Romans 12:19

●    Revelations 4:10 

Join the Conversation

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected]

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: God’s Amazing Attributes

Episode Number: 021

Episode Name: God is Holy

Episode Length: 25:18

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Co Host: Jen Denton

Episode Summary

We are continuing our study of the doctrine of the Person of God and focus in this episode on the Holiness of God. 

Topics We Discussed in this Episode

●     [6:57]     The first song in Scripture appears in Exodus 15; the last song can be found in Revelation 15. And both have as their shared focus the holiness of God.     

●     [12:23]     What sets this attribute of God apart from all of the others is that holiness never occupies second place among His characteristics. Scripture places a supreme emphasis on the premium of God’s holiness.        

●     [13:54]     Holiness is God’s central attribute; it is His unique characteristic. To be holy is to be distinct, separate, or unique.       

●     [15:05]       When we say that God is holy, we are not talking about one characteristic out of many about God; we are talking about the character of God Himself.

●     [19:16]     Holiness also means that God is set apart from anything impure.       

●     [20:55]     What difference does God’s holiness make my in my life?   

Resources We Mentioned in the Show

●     Jeff referred to the hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy” written by missionary and pastor, Reginald Heber, in 1862, in the show today.

●     Jen mentioned A.W. Tozer’s book called The Knowledge of the Holy in the show today.

●     Jeff referred to Stephen Cranock, quoted by David Hall, in the show today.

Bible Verses We Mentioned in the Show

●     Exodus 15:11

●     Revelation 15:3-4

●     Isaiah 6:3

●     Revelation 4:8

●     Isaiah 40:25

●     Habakkuk 1:13

Join the Conversation 

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected]

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!

Podcast: Kitchen Table Theology

Podcast Series: God’s Amazing Attributes

Episode Number: 020

Episode Name: God is Omnipresent

Episode Length: 23:24

Episode Download Link: Click here to download episode. 

Host: Jeff Cranston

Co Host: Jen Denton

Episode Summary

Loneliness has become a real issue for many during this time of pandemic. Feeling disconnected from people leads to loneliness. And you don’t have to be alone to be lonely. When we think back to Creation, one of the earliest problems that God saw was when He said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” In this episode we discuss the doctrine of God's omnipresence. Is God there when we need Him? Is He there even when we don’t need Him? Is He in Heaven or is He on earth? Or both? Can we truly turn to Him at any time and know He’s there? 

Topics We Discussed in this Episode

●     [5:45]     Omnipresence, stated simply, means that God’s presence is everywhere. He is all-present or present everywhere. There’s nowhere we can go to hide from Him, because everywhere we go, He is already there.     

●     [8:05]     There is nothing hidden from His sight, because His presence is everywhere.

●     [12:30]     God is not limited by space or special dimensions. He cannot be contained by any space. Is God in Heaven? Is God only in Heaven? 

●     [15:16]     Good theology, which leads to a solid biblical worldview, teaches us that God is present everywhere in His creation, but that He is distinct from His creation.

●     [17:10]     As a believer, because God is omnipresent, you and I are never alone. 

Resources We Mentioned in the Show

●    Pastor Jeff’s latest book, “Your Greatest Adventure: Taking the Next Steps in Your Faith”, is available today.

●    Jeff referenced Yury Gagarin and the story of his space travels, as written in an anecdote in New Age Journal, Vol. 7 (1990), p. 176.

●    Jeff referenced Dr. Wayne Grudem’s book, Systematic Theology, in the episode today. 

●    Jeff referenced this article by author David Sanford in the episode today. 

Bible Verses We Mentioned in the Show

●     Jeremiah 23:24

●     Proverbs 15:3

●     Psalm 139: 7-11 (NLT)

Join the Conversation 

We love your feedback! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review. If you have any questions or comments on today’s episode, email me at [email protected]

Visit my website jeffcranston.com and subscribe to my newsletter. Join me on Sunday mornings at LowCountry Community Church. 

Check in with us on Facebook or Instagram @pastorjeffcranston.

Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it, but applying it. Thanks for listening!