The Gospel in its Grand Cosmic and Redemptive Significance

Galatians and Ephesians are both remarkable expositions on the beauty and importance of the Gospel of Jesus. While they ultimately have different focuses in mind, each contributes meaningfully to our understanding of what the Gospel means for you and me. In Galatians, the Gospel is the news that all men are justified by faith, and not by works of the law. Paul clearly outlines how the promise of right standing with God through faith was God's gospel announcement to Abraham - long before the giving of the law. Now because of Christ, the law is fulfilled and the promise remains. 

Ephesians paints the Gospel as the dramatic unfolding of God's cosmic redemption plan. It is not a shift in the plan, or a dramatic change in course on God's part; it was the eternal agreement of God within Himself to reconcile all things to Himself through Christ. As a result, we ourselves have been reconciled in Him - from death to life, darkness to light, and strangers to sons.

Both letters expound the full glory of Christ's work and ultimately turn to the question of how we should then live. Phenomenal Gospel Theology leads to joyful and grace-filled living. 

Resources

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Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

God writes His best stories in our weakness

As we make our way into Corinthians, we get into some messy territory. Paul's letters to this cosmopolitan church show that they were a church in disarray. Rivalries, wild living, and hedonism were all threatening their unity and their witness to the culture around them. Even though Corinth had been a place where many people came to faith, getting the culture out of them was another issue.

Paul's letters to this church challenge them to embrace the way of Jesus, even if it will make them look foolish to the world. His main point is that going God's way often looks like foolishness to people who don't know God, but the way of the cross is wisdom according to God. As we read these books, they challenge us to examine where we are hanging onto the world's values and to embrace a better way through Jesus, who is the power and wisdom of God. Join Joel and Jake as they survey and discuss these incredible books.

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

Justified by Faith Alone. Period.

Bible Lab is back in the new year and continuing our journey through the Bible as we handle the incredible content found in the book of Romans. This letter from Paul to the Roman Christians is the cornerstone of our understanding of the great doctrine of justification by faith alone. That is, it is only through faith in Jesus Christ that man can be justified in God's sight.

Paul's letter was written at a contentious time. The Jewish population (including Christians) was kicked out of Rome by the emperor Claudius because their debates about Jesus were seen as a threat to public order. Tensions between Jew and Gentile within the church were likewise elevated and Paul writes with the goal of helping them understand how God's redemptive plan brought Jew and Gentile alike into a new family of faith in which they all together became descendants of Abraham and heirs of his promises.

In this episode, Ryan and Jake tackle questions like: "what does it mean that we are freed from works of the law as a means of righteousness?" and "who are the people of God under the New Covenant?" 

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

Remember // Count // Reminder // Trust

God can save anybody.

The latter half of Luke is full of amazing stories of individuals whose stories were ever changed by their interactions with Jesus. From Zacchaeus the tax collected to the heckler turned convert on the adjacent cross, Luke's message is that there's no one God can't or won't save through Jesus. 

This week, we wrap up Luke and make our way into John, where we read a full focus on Jesus' identity as divine Son of God. Jesus' claims to divinity are all over the Gospel of John, most dramatically in his 8 "I AM statements" in which He associates Himself with the holy name of the Lord. In this episode, Ryan and Jake take on key themes from Luke and John to help guide your study. 

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

Mark's Messianic Secret and Luke's Good News to the Poor

This week's reading took us through the end of Mark and lion's share of Luke. While both share some of the same material, they present complimentary pictures of Jesus' ministry. In Mark, Jesus reveals the secret of His identity first as Messiah, then as suffering servant. Luke presents detailed individual stories of unexpected characters whose lives were dramatically changed by encountering Jesus, proving that Jesus is a savior to all people; Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, righteous and sinner.

Together, the Gospels work to show us that there are countless aspects of Jesus' identity to explore, and grace to experience as we grow in the knowledge of Him.

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

The Kingdom of Jesus and Establishment Religion

Matthew's Gospel is unique because of the way it presents Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. His telling of the life and ministry of Jesus is full of references to the many predictions of the Old Testament that foretold the coming of Israel's Messiah. 

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

Turning the Page to the New Testament

Zechariah and Malachi are rich with anticipation of the coming New Testament age. In fact, there are remarkable links between Matthew, the so-called "Jewish Gospel" and the Old Testament prophets. In this week's episode, Jake walks us through some of the vital New Testament connections in Zechariah and Malachi with some extended discussion on instructive principles of worship, Jesus' discourse on the Law in Matthew 7-9, and so much more!

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!

The Day of the Lord and the Minor Prophets

The latter minor prophets that we cover in this week's episode are wide-ranging in focus, but their themes are remarkably consistent. As they look forward to the coming Messiah, the prophets predict a coming "day of the Lord" in which God will judge the injustice of the nations and bring His righteous shepherd-king to reign. Far from describing the end of the universe, these books are anticipating the beautiful redemption that will emerge from a time of unbelievable tumult in the world. 

As we read these prophetic voices, we're reminded of God's sovereign plan and ability to bring His people through even the worst of times in our world. He never abandons His faithful remnant!

Resources

- - - - 

Each week during Season 2 of the podcast, we will break down the previous week's readings, including big events, key themes, rabbit-hole curiosities, and devotional thoughts.

If you want to follow along with our reading plan from cover to cover, you can find it right here. We'll be following the 3x5 reading plan, which covers 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sundays. 

Additionally, if you're looking for resources to compliment your study, check out The 3x5 Workbook by David Kalas. This is a great tool to challenge you by providing weekly review quizzes and answers to help your learnings stick. 

If you have questions you want covered on the show from your readings, email them ahead of time to [email protected]!