So We Speak

Haggai is one of those rare prophets who saw his words come true in his own lifetime. He prophesied after the exile in a situation a lot like ours. In this episode, we discuss Haggai's prophesies and his relevance for today.

2 Peter is the apostle Peter's last letter and his last reminder to the churches in Asia. Although they were likely facing physical persecution, Peter reminds them of something even more important. His final letter reminds us of the threat of false teaching, the importance of holiness, and the astonishing gifts we have been given in Christ.

The book of Proverbs is a compendium of wisdom begun by Solomon and finished by the men of Judah during Hezekiah's reign. How should Christians read this book? Proverbs paints a picture of the world in the kingdom of God and our role in it. 

Article: "The Gospel in Work Clothes: How to Read the Book of Proverbs"

The book of Jonah can easily be relegated as a children's story - or a parable with a moral at the end - but when we revisit the text, Jonah is full of application. Why was Jonah determined not to go to Nineveh? Why does the story end with a question? In this episode we talk through the message of the story and the meaning for today.

Philemon is one of the shortest letters in the New Testament and one of the most important. It's often studied as a letter about slavery, but there is so much more in what Paul has to say to Philemon and Onesimus. What is reconciliation? How can we be peacemakers in the world? Paul presents a vision for reconciliation and peace rooted in the cross.

2 Corinthians may be the most personal of Paul's letters. In it he's defending his apostleship, answering questions, and pleading with the church to continue in the gospel. In this episode, we discuss the background and outline of the letter along with the application for today. 

What's it like to do missions in China? What are house churches like? How is the church growing and thriving? In this episode, two missionaries with Cru working in China talk about their stories, the people they get to serve, the culture they love, and the work of the church. 

If you'd like to support the ministry this couple is doing in China, click here. If you'd like to support their East Asian native partners, click here.

1 Corinthians is different than Paul's other letters. After spending a year and a half in Corinth, Paul went on to Antioch and Ephesus and other teachers moved in. Between the confusion over the rival factions and the abundance of spiritual gifts, the Corinthians had a lot of questions. In 1 Corinthians, Paul answers their questions and gives us a model for applying godly wisdom to everyday situations.

On this episode, Ryan Smith joins the podcast to discuss worship, both in terms of what the Bible says about worship broadly and what it means to lead worship. Ryan is the associate pastor at Eagle Heights Baptist Church in Stillwater, OK. 

Acts may be the most exciting book in the Bible. The church is pressed and persecuted by the Spirit makes it grow from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. In this episode, we outline the book of Acts, talk about the background and literary features, and discuss some of the applications for today.