We're glad to be back in The Big Book––Cover to Cover.

Michael teaches an overview of the book of Matthew and offers context for discussing the four gospel accounts this month.

"The gospel in regards to Christianity is, in fact, the best news."

For show notes & links to resources mentioned in the episode: https://michaelincontext.com/cover-to-cover-matthew/

We're closing out this year with a brand new episode of Ask Dr. E!

You asked and Dr. E answered:

-Does prayer change God's mind or His plans for us?

-Why does God seem so different in the Old and New Testaments?

And more...

If you have a question you'd like answered, you can call and leave your question in a voicemail at 615-281-9694 or email us at [email protected].

Show Notes/Timestamps: https://michaelincontext.com/ask-dr-e-episode-11/

A special Christmas episode featuring some great Christmas music as well as a conversation with Michael W. Smith as he shares his heart behind writing music for Christmas and for worship in general.

In this episode Michael Easley and Michael W. Smith talk about:

-Writing worship and leading music

-Michael W. Smith's advice to young worship writers and leaders

-A theology of worship

Show notes: https://michaelincontext.com/mws-merry-christmas/

We would be remiss if we moved through this series and never turned the tables to ask Michael to answer these 10 Questions. In this episode, our co-host Hanna does just that.

In his answers, Michael shares:

The call to ministry and the dream that almost became Michael's career instead

Michael's favorite passages of Scripture and how they've impacted him

The advice Michael would offer to his younger self

https://michaelincontext.com/10-questions-michael-easley/

It seems believers are often searching for practical ways to apply Scripture to their personal circumstances, asking questions like "I know Scripture says to trust God and to follow Him, but how do I do that practically in midst of my pain? My struggles? My trials?"

Gil Wesley joins us again to share his practical experience of walking through unthinkable trials with God and coming out the other side––twice.

Show Notes: https://michaelincontext.com/invitation-suffering/

Gil Wesley joins Michael to answer our 10 Questions.

"I had mistakingly believed that having a relationship with God was about belonging to the right team, thinking the right things about God and being able to articulate the right ideas, and then keeping a moral code.

What I had to learn is that those are fine, but they can get in the way of the relationship."

Show Notes: https://michaelincontext.com/lessons-pain/

This is part 3 of our 3-week series studying the person and work of the Holy Spirit:

Holy Spirit 101: Examining the identity, function, and personality of the Holy Spirit according to Scripture.

Holy Spirit 102: How is the Holy Spirit described in Scripture?

Holy Spirit 103: What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

For Show Notes: http://michaelincontext.com/holy-spirit-103

Last week we examined what the person and work of the Holy Spirit does, according to Scripture.

This week: How is the person and work of the Holy Spirit described in the Word?

"The Holy Spirit leads, guides, teaches, and instructs.

But that instruction had better have the Word of God behind it and not just your or my experience." 

For Show Notes: https://michaelincontext.com/holy-spirit-102/

For many Christians, the person and work of the Holy Spirit remains mysterious at best and confusing at worst.

That’s why it’s critical that our theology of the person and work of the Holy Spirit be clearly defined in Scripture.

This episode begins a three-part study on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

Show Notes: https://michaelincontext.com/holy-spirit-101/

In this episode we take a look at a Psalm I have gone back to over and over throughout my walk with Christ: Psalm 90.

This Psalm offers us:

clarity that we are finite and need infinite help

the encouraging reminder that God is eternal

an example that shows us we can appeal to His lovingkindness to sustain us––and even to grant us otherworldly joy in all circumstances.

Our experience cannot––and should not, ever––define our faith.