The evangelical church world has made an entire theology around the idea of being BORN AGAIN. It has become the litmus test for salvation in today's church culture. I know you claim to be a Christian, but are you a born-again Christian? It all comes from Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3. You must be born again! What is Jesus actually communicating, and what is Nicodemus actually hearing? Born of the water - and of the Spirit! What is Jesus really getting at? Today, we dive into this ancient conversation and discover some things! While it is perfectly okay to imagine being born again as getting saved, there is a whole bunch more under the hood that we've been missing! Let's understand this conversation in its full depth of meaning - instead of taking it straight outta context!

How did people in the Old Testament "get saved?" Is Abraham in heaven? How about Noah - Job - Solomon? They knew nothing about Jesus, and we are told in the New Testament that Jesus is the only way to forgiveness of sin, salvation, and eternal life! So, we go right to Leviticus. It was the sacrifice - the shedding of an innocent animal's blood - the atonement - temporary forgiveness. That's what saved them! Not so fast. When we lift the lid, we find out that none of these sacrifices commanded by God were for personal forgiveness of sin, restoring moral righteousness, or obtaining eternal life with God! What were they for then? That's what we're exploring today, as we discover how often we take Leviticus straight outta context!

When most people pick up the Bible and read it, they usually have questions. After all, the Bible can be a pretty intimidating book! Where do I start? How do I make sense of it? Many times, we end up landing on a verse or two, take it at face value, and make some sort of attempt to apply it to our lives or our current situation. But does that verse really mean what we think it means? Is that "life verse" we attach to our refrigerator saying what God really intends to say? Why have so many twisted Scriptures, and come up with so many crazy ideas? It's all about context. Today, we talk about how to read the Bible accurately, productively, and more importantly - in its own context!

We've spent quite a bit of time talking about TABOOS in the world of church, and Christianity in general. We've dug into yoga, meditation, foul language, smoking, and what kind of music should or shouldn't be off limits for people of faith. But did you know there are TABOOS in other cultures - other nations - around the world? Some have nothing to do with religion at all! Some are not even issues of morality or good manners! They're just weird! We've done some poking around, and some of the TABOOS we found are shocking - some are chilling - and some are downright hilarious!

Several years ago, a phenomenon swept through the church world, and it has been gathering momentum and exploding in popularity ever since! It's a personality type assessment, they say, an insightful tool designed to promote self-reflection and help you gain a deeper understanding of your inner self. It's the Enneagram, and we're talking about it! Where did it come from? Why are so many people of faith obsessed with it? Does it have its roots in the occult? Should we steer clear? Even more important, what's your Enneagram number? How does it help you make sense of you? Join us as we explore the murky waters of the mind, soul, and psyche!

The world is abuzz with this new play toy. It's a financial platform - a new currency - a revolutionary system for creating wealth and exchanging funds without any government oversight, regulation, or control. It seems intangible - mysterious - but it is very real. Bitcoin is the granddaddy, with all sorts of smaller currencies called altcoins making their own splash. Some say this is the way we will all do business in the future. Some have used it to support all kinds of nonprofits and relief organizations in countries where currencies have failed or transactions are prohibited. Others say there is a sinister feel to it. This could possibly be a harbinger of the One World Order or the One World Currency! Will crypto take over the world? Will sinister forces co-opt this new format and regulate buying and selling for everyone? Is this the mark of the beast? That's what we're talking about today!

Today, we continue our series on TABOOS. There's no doubt about it. The genie is out of the bottle - the toothpaste is out of the tube. AI is here, and it's not going anywhere. We interact with AI every single day, whether it's GPS technology or Alexa. Many of us have found AI to be extremely helpful and time-saving! This machine is our research buddy, our vacation planner, and in many ways our problem solver. But - is it okay to use our AI to write sermons, worship songs, and Bible study content? Do we trust it to be theologically sound and somehow in tune with the Holy Spirit? Where do we draw the line when it comes to matters of the Spirit? And we know that in our world today, many are turning to AI for personal issues. Advice, counseling, even therapy! There are emerging companies that offer customizable AI companions for a subscription fee! Is this ethical and moral? Have we gone too far? Jump in! Let's tackle the big issues!

Today, we revisit a series we did some time ago - TABOO! Are there things in this world that Christians should not engage in? How holy - different - set apart should we be from secular life? Is it okay for Christians to smoke - drink - swear? Where do we draw the lines? There are things the Bible tells us are clearly off limits, clearly sinful. But what about things the Bible is silent about? We don't want to be legalistic, but we do want to live lives of integrity and witness to our faith. Today, we ask the question. Should Christians watch movies? Our first reaction would be, sure - within reason! Again - where do we draw the line? No horror, excess violence, inappropriate language, nudity, and sex scenes? It's just a little mindless entertainment! But is it okay for us to watch other people sin for our own entertainment? These are the questions we are tackling today, and it's going to be lively!

Today, we conclude our series on how the Bible we know and read today came together - why these 66 books are included, which ones were left out, and why. We have the idea that the canon of Scripture - especially the New Testament - was decided upon by a group of old bishops with bad motives and a sinister agenda, huddled around a smoldering fire with their robes drawn tight. Actually, these sacred writings were collected and compiled in a much more organic way. The Gospels were written by faithful eyewitnesses, copied and distributed among fledgling churches. The Letters were written by the apostles themselves, then collected for posterity by their friends, their traveling companions. As the Christian movement exploded, demand for these collections grew, and they became an integral part of worship and liturgy in the churches. There were councils involved later on, and some writings were disqualified for good reasons we will talk about. The end result - 27 books we know as the New Testament!

Between the Old Testament and the New Testament writings in our Bibles, there were 400 years. They call it the Silent Period. It was anything but silent! Jewish writers, rabbis, and scholars were feverishly writing. They produced volumes of works interpreting, commenting, and expanding on the wisdom contained in the Hebrew Bible. Some were historical fiction, some proverbs and oracles, and others were interpretive commentaries, filling in the blanks to help their readers make sense of difficult theological concepts in their newfound Greco-Roman context. They were not Scripture, but they were useful, highly prized, and widely read. Jesus read them. So did Paul, Jude, Peter, and the other apostles. We know this because ideas, concepts, and even direct quotations show up in many of the New Testament writings! They're under the surface, but once you spot them, it's undeniable! What are these ancient books, and why should we read them? Jump in - let's go!