So We Speak

The Gospels are more than just historical accounts; they are invitations to come to know Jesus Christ. In a new book, The Gospels: A Historical and Cultural Journey, Dr. Jerry Pattengale presents the life of Jesus through art, beauty, and the simple message of the Gospel. 

Sodom and Gomorrah are universally known for their wickedness and fiery destruction. Though they are destroyed in Genesis, they take on a symbolic life in the Bible as emblems of human wickedness. Where do they appear in the Bible? Do we know where these cities are today? Recent archaeology has revealed the astonishing fate of Sodom, just as it happened in the Bible. 

Jesus gathered his disciples for a final meal. As they shared the Passover supper, Jesus explained the new covenant he was making with them, one of his broken body and shed blood. In doing so, Jesus was going back to the first pages of the Bible and fulfilling a promise made long ago with Abraham. As we share this meal, we are heirs to the promises, experiencing all God accomplished through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

To listen to this message live, go to Crossings.church! 

What happened between Good Friday and Easter Sunday? The Apostle's Creed says Jesus descended into Hell before he rose again. But what does that mean? How could this neglected doctrine help us better understand all that Jesus did for us during Holy Week? 

For more, check out Matthew Emerson's book, He Descended to the Dead! 

Jericho is one of the oldest cities on earth, and it plays a key role in the Bible. Set along a major road leading into the Promised Land, Jericho has always been a border town on the edge of the desert. Joshua and the army of Israel conquered it by God's power in the Old Testament; Jesus and his disciples healed the blind and converted a tax collector in the New Testament. The story of Jericho is one of redemption, God calling the least likely people into his kingdom. 

In the little town of Le Chambon, a pastor, a spy, a philosopher, and a refugee live under the Nazi threat. Shuttling Jews to safety, these heroes deal with loss, tragedy, triumph, and the experience of not knowing what’s next. In Mark Buchanan's new novel, What Is Left of the Night, enter the story of these heroes and grapple with the big ideas of the war, of God's love, and of the nature of violence. 

In this episode, Mark joins Cole for an interview about the book, writing, and God's goodness, even in the most difficult circumstances. 

Babel is the first major city in the Bible. On the plains on Shinar, people build a monument to themselves. They rebel against God and his commands. This city becomes Babylon, the paradigm for the way cities amplify human sinfulness. Babylon runs all the way through the Bible and shows us God's plan to redeem the world, even the cities. 

The Bible is full of cities, many of which still exist today. From beginning to end, cities play a big role in God's plan for the redemption of the world. In this series, we'll look at some of the most important cities in the Bible and trace their storylines to see God's redemptive work through history. 

More than three years after Jerusalem had been destroyed, the last group of rebels holed up in the fortress of Masada. More than a thousand feet above the plain, Masada was nearly impenetrable. Led by their leader, Eleazar ben Yair, this group of brave Jews would be remembered forever as freedom fighters, a symbol of the people of Israel. 

In 70 AD, the Romans had encircled Jerusalem. Inside, warring factions were striving for power and weakening the defense. In just a few months, the city and the temple would be destroyed. What caused this destruction, and could it have been prevented?