Learning To Discern Truth v. Lies

The prophet Jeremiah finds no shortage of reasons to criticize and call out the people of Jerusalem. Their spiritual condition has deteriorated so dramatically that they have turned away from the Living God. Among their many problems is that they have tuned out God's voice by listening to false prophets and lying priests. Those who were tasked with speaking as representatives of God instead taught their own ideas, impressions, and dreams. While prophet and priest alike should have corrected the errors of the royalty and people, they instead encouraged them. 

In our day, there are many who claim to speak for God. With so many so-called "apostolic" movements and teachers, as well as a resurgence of Pentecostal theology, Christians need to be more discerning than ever. In this episode, Joel and Jake examine this and other key themes from Jeremiah, including a roadmap to understanding how the book is organized.

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 gets the final word:

The final chapters of Isaiah are absolutely MUST READ chapters in the Bible. In chapters 58-59, Isaiah vividly describes the spiritual condition of Israel: "they grope for light" and walk in darkness even during the day! Their sins have made them blind to their dependence on God. Yet the following chapters set the stage for God's dramatic redemptive conclusion not only to Israel's history, but to all history. These last chapters are like the fertile ground from which the ministry and message of Jesus grow forth. Students of Scripture should give them their full attention and study!

In this episode, Ryan and Jake work through some of the thematic elements and big ideas to look for, as well as provide a brief introduction to the book of Jeremiah.

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 Turning Point of Isaiah:

This week, we discover the turning point of Isaiah. The truth is that God's people fell so far away from Him. They chose rebellion, their idols, and their own selfish desires. Despite countless warnings and opportunities to repent, it took a "needed pain" for them to realize their dependence on the Lord their God.

Fortunately, the Lord graciously offers forgiveness, and exile was not intended as the final resting place for Israel. Instead, we read the promises in Isaiah this week that point towards hope, restoration, and redemption of not only Israel, but all of creation!

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]!

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]!

Poets and Prophets

Another milestone was hit in this week's episode! We turned the corner from the poetic cannon of the Bible into the prophetic canon. 

Some key takeaways from this week:

Song of Solomon is a book full of interesting poetic language. In short, it might not be recommended to use Hebrew poetry as a way to interact with your spouse in the 21st century. But here are to clear themes from the book: don't awaken love before it is too soon. Why? The second theme of the book: it is worth it when you wait until the right time. Love and intimacy aren't dirty or demonic within the context of marriage. God designed it to be good!

Isaiah has some clear themes already emerging. Pay attention to the back and forth contrast of judgement prophecies, evil, chaos, and darkness - compared to messianic hope. The truth is that a savior is coming and has already come into a world that desperately needed 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]!