The Analytical Preacher - Bible Discussions For The Modern World

The Bible says that God is gracious to us and that He shows us mercy.  But what do those terms mean biblically?  Grace and mercy are not the same thing but they are closely related.  And God's steadfast, biblical love is deeply intertwined with these actions as well.  In this podcast, we allow scripture to define what is meant by grace and mercy and seek out a life application for ourselves in those meanings.

What did Jesus mean when He challenged us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect?  How does a Christian go about living up to that standard? To understand this statement and answer those questions we need to look at the meaning of the word 'perfect' as it is used in this scripture.  But more importantly we need to examine the context in which the statement is made.  Once we have digested the meaning and context, this teaching of Jesus, though still incredibly challenging, provides us with a very specific life application we can all understand and strive for.

What is the main point of the Beatitudes?  What did Jesus mean when He said "blessed are the meek"?  Why did Jesus begin His famous Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes?  And how are we to understand the words Christ spoke 2000 years ago in terms of today's culture?  In this sermon, we cover the what, why and life application aspects of the beautiful words with which Jesus framed His most comprehensive lesson.

Is Christianity just a crutch for those who are weak?  Is it just another coping mechanism for those who are not emotionally strong enough to face the chaos of the world we live in?  As we discuss in this podcast, the answer is 'NO'.  In fact, Jesus warned His followers about those who would respond to the Gospel in such a way, essentially calling them shallow and saying they would not persist in their faith for the long haul.  Join me as I discuss that verse and other scriptures relevant to this topic.

At some point in life, we will all deal with grief.  And we know there is no quick fix, no easy solution to that issue.  But what path does the Bible provide for us when we encounter grief?  How do Christians biblically deal with loss, setbacks and grief?  In this podcast, we remind ourselves that God is still with us in those times and we look to biblical examples that point us to prayer and faith as a way to build up the hope through the scriptures that we need to climb out of the pit of grief.

The Bible provides us with a comprehensive worldview that allows us to frame even modern topics such as Artificial Intelligence.  So, how should we view AI through a biblical lens?  Should Bible-based Christians support or stand opposed to such technological advancements?  How does scripture direct us concerning any threats that AI might pose to humanity?  Many will be surprised that looking at technological change such as that introduced by AI through a biblical lens calls for far more support than opposition.  As always, it is the human misuse of such tools that is the major concern not the development of the tools themselves.

The Bible speaks of us being convicted by the Holy Spirit, sealed by the Spirit for the day of redemption and of our being sanctified by the Spirit until then.  But it also warns us not to quench, grieve or blaspheme the Holy Spirit.  In this podcast, we explore, using scripture itself, what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote for us not to quench the Holy Spirit.

Humans speak different languages on earth so will it be that way in heaven?  The Bible teaches us in Genesis chapter 11 that the different languages we speak are the consequence of a specific rebellion of humans against God.  As Jesus died to redeem us from the curses and debt of our sin, we understand that our speaking different languages will be reversed in the final days.  In this podcast, we discuss how that reversal was foreshadowed at Pentecost and what the Bible teaches about a final, pure language God will teach His followers one day.

Was the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris a mockery of a Christian tradition?  In terms of how believers should respond, does it matter?  Christ does not see His followers as ones who should be easily offended.  He did not come to build a cult based on grievances.  What is the appropriate biblical response, then, to insults and mockery?  How does God want His people to represent Him and defend His name?

As with all things related to Donald Trump, the opinions in the land seem to be split between those who insist that God would not intervene on behalf of someone such as the former President (because of what they see as his bad character) and those who insist equally as boldly that it is obvious divine intervention was involved in saving his life.  The truth is not as simple as either side is trying to make it.  In this podcast, we take a rational, biblical look at the issue.