Today we return to Abraham and Sarah who find themselves in a familiar situation when King Abimelech mistakenly takes Sarah to be his own wife. Though this story shares many similarities with the story of Pharaoh just 8 chapters before (watch or listen to that episode here), today Pastors Clint and Michael explore what makes this story unique. We discover how the story has been carefully told to highlight God's faithfulness to Abraham while revealing that Abraham continues to suffer from doubt and fear.

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going along on this journey together through Genesis together.

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Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.

Lot and his daughters are saved from the destruction of Sodom only to find themselves hiding with many different fears. Today Pastors Clint and Michael finish this part of Lot's saga and explore the strange, difficult genesis story of the Moabites and Ammonites. While these stories can be challenging, if we are willing to read closely and put them in conversation with the other stories that have come before, we discover that, like a puzzle, they all fit together.

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going along on this journey together through Genesis together.

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Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.

Today, Pastors Clint and Michael finish the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his family are rescued from the cities' immanent destruction but are beset by a strange hesitation to leave. Join the Pastors as they explore this strange ending to a very strange story and explore what it has to teach us about the tension between God's judgement and faithfulness.

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going along on this journey together through Genesis together.

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Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.

A dark story only gets darker when Lot tries to protect his two guests from a violent mob by offering his own daughters in return. What can modern readers learn from the many layers of this story's portrayal of broken human relationships, sin, and vulgarity? Join the Pastors for a difficult conversation of faith seeking understanding.

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going along on this journey together through Genesis together.

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Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.

The Pastor Talk weekly podcast will be taking a couple weeks off for the Thanksgiving break but we will be back on December 2nd for a 4 week Advent series we are calling “Too Much Christmas?” This series will be a light-hearted look at Christmas through the lenses of Scripture, culture, tradition, and nostalgia. We hope you will join us as Pastor Michael (a self-described Christmas fanatic) and Pastor Clint (often called Grinch by his family) square off to consider the merits and pitfalls of this beloved holiday season and the Holy day that occasioned it.

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in exploring the deeper meaning of Christmas with us during this Advent season.

Pastor Talk Quick Links:

Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.

Following the announcement of God's promise to both Abraham and Sarah, the story turns to Sodom. Surprisingly, Abraham finds himself in a kind of negotiation with God over the fate of the city. The critical question is, what number of righteous people would it take to live in the city for God to spare it from destruction due to its rampant sinfulness? Join the Pastors for a fascinating discussion about what insights modern readers can take away from the unique story.

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going along on this journey together through Genesis together.

Pastor Talk Quick Links:

Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.

Abraham fell on his face and laughed at God's promise but in today's story Sarah gets her turn to hear God's promise and she laughs too. Isaac means "laughter" and his life becomes a living testimony to God's faithfulness even when that promise seemed "too wonderful."

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going along on this journey together through Genesis together.

Pastor Talk Quick Links:

Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.

God promises 100 year old Abraham and 90 year old Sarah that they will have a child and Abraham falls on his face laughing. Join the Pastors as they explore what we can learn about human doubt in the face of God's best promises and how this story both provides an unassuming glimpse into the human struggle to trust God as well as God's gracious perseverance.

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going along on this journey together through Genesis together.

Pastor Talk Quick Links:

Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.

After Abram and Sarai take matters in their own hands, God restates his promise that he will make Abram the father of many nations. In fact, to symbolize that promise to the couple, he changes their names, and then gives them the covenantal symbol of circumcision. Join the Pastors as the explore the significance of this sign and how it becomes the foundation of a much more specific promise when seen throughout the rest of the scriptures.

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in going along on this journey together through Genesis together.

Pastor Talk Quick Links:

Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.

In this series conclusion, Pastors Clint and Michael explore the many questions left behind by the missional conversation, especially how these conversations become practical in the life and practice within a church. Be sure to stay tuned to the end for when the Pastors make predictions as to what challenges and strategies that future generations of the Church might engage in their efforts to be faithful to the Gospel. Though this series raises far more questions than it answers, we sincerely hope that it sparks a generative conversation about the nature of the church and our own identities as followers of Jesus Christ.

Be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in rediscovering a missional Christian identity with us.

Pastor Talk Quick Links:

Pastor Talk is a ministry of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA.