So We Speak

If you read through the gospels, you quickly encounter a very strange feature of Jesus's ministry. He keeps instructing people not to talk about who he is and what he's doing. Why is that? How does it square with the Great Commission? This facet of Jesus's ministry has come to be known as the "Messianic Secret." In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss the different ways of understanding the secret and give their opinions on how to interpret these texts in the Gospel of Mark. 

The Thessalonians were wondering what would happen to those who died before the second coming. Paul's response answered that question but raised several others. What happens when we die? Do we go straight to heaven or sleep until the second coming? Is there a rapture or is Paul talking about the second coming? Cole and Terry work through these questions and others about the end times in this latest episode. 

If you've ever been in a small group or a Bible study, election has undoubtedly come up. How can God elect some for salvation and still be just? How can he find fault with us? These are precisely the questions Paul takes up in Romans 9. In this difficult text, Cole and Terry talk about how to read this passage, Calvinism, Wesleyanism, and God's mercy in election. 

The Rich Man and Lazarus is a popular text in Luke for preaching and teaching. Like so many of Jesus's parables, it immediately sticks in your mind, but it also has much more to it than meets the eye. First of all, is it a parable or a true story? Is Jesus's description of the afterlife what we should expect or just for the story? Finally, what's the takeaway from this parable and how should we apply it? Cole and Terry continue the difficult texts series by discussing these questions and others in Luke 16. 

No one likes to talk about death, but until Christ returns we'll all taste death. Lance Ward has done more than 300 funerals in his roles as a pastor and chaplain. In this episode, Cole and Lance talk about walking through seasons of sorrow, caring for the dying, and a few dos and don'ts of funerals. 

As an opening example, Jude mentions angels who left their proper position and rebelled against God. In the end, he reminds the reader that God will punish this group of angels for their false teaching. But what is he talking about? When did this happen? Connection Genesis 6, Psalm 8, and Jude 6, Cole and Terry discuss rebellious angels and the supernatural realm.

In this episode, Cole and Terry reflect on what they learned by doing book overviews for every book in the Bible, discuss Bible reading plans, and make recommendations for reading the Bible every day. 

The book of Hebrews ties the storylines of the Bible together. Jesus is the true and better Moses, Melchizedek, and High Priest. But why does the author make this grand argument? Dive into the background, original audience, and the timeless message of the "word of exhortation" to the Hebrews. 

What is the Song of Songs? Is it an allegory of Christ and the church? Is it a description of Christians and their sex lives? Is it good marriage advice? In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss Song of Songs as wisdom literature and the implications that has for our vision of love, sex, and intimacy. 

Ezekiel can lay claim to being the strangest of the major prophets. His life became his message and he prophesied through the worst period of Israel's history. But his message wasn't all lament and woe. Captured by the glory of God, Ezekiel foretells the restoration and redemption of Israel, a time when they will have new hearts and new Spirits to live with God forever.