Wednesday in the Word

When ministry feels discouraging, confusing, or simply exhausting, how do you keep going? In this episode, Krisan walks through 2 Corinthians 4 and traces Paul’s repeated conviction: “We do not lose heart.” By unpacking Paul’s imagery of light in darkness, treasure in jars of clay, and an “eternal weight of glory,” she shows how his battered, unimpressive life as an apostle actually highlights the power and beauty of the gospel he proclaims.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• How 2 Corinthians 4 fits into Paul’s larger defense of his ministry in this letter
• Why Paul refuses to “tamper with God’s word,” even when many people reject his message
• What Paul means when he says the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers
• The significance of “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”
• Why Paul describes himself as a fragile “jar of clay” carrying a priceless treasure
• How his afflictions mirror the sufferings of Jesus
• Why Paul can call his very real hardships “light and momentary” in contrast to the eternal glory to come
• How Paul’s sufferings serve both the Corinthians’ spiritual good and his own confident hope of resurrection

After listening, you’ll come away with a clearer understanding of why Paul did not give up, even when his ministry looked weak and unsuccessful by human standards. You’ll be encouraged to see your own weaknesses and trials in light of God’s purposes, to remember that the results of faithful service belong to Him, and to keep speaking and living for Christ without losing heart, anchored in the promise of eternal life and glory with Him.

Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Paul takes the dramatic story of Moses’ shining face and uses it to explain what God is doing in every believer today. In this episode, Krisan walks through 2 Corinthians 3:7–18, tracing Paul’s comparison between the old covenant under Moses and the new covenant in Christ. We see how the law came with real glory, yet could only condemn, while the gospel comes with an even greater glory that brings forgiveness, transformation, and boldness before God.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• How Exodus 34 and Moses’ veiled, radiant face set the background for Paul’s argument in 2 Corinthians 3
• Why Paul calls the law a “ministry of death” and “condemnation,” even though it came from God and carried glory
• What Paul means when he says the new covenant “far exceeds” the old in glory and is permanent rather than passing
• The significance of the veil—first on Moses’ face, then over Israel’s heart and how it pictures both separation and spiritual blindness
• How the Holy Spirit “removes the veil” so that believers have direct, free access to God’s glory
• What it looks like, in practical terms, to be “transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another”
• How Paul holds together two truths: we are weak “jars of clay,” yet entrusted with a glorious message that is worth proclaiming with courage
• The tension between speaking the gospel clearly without watering it down and caring wisely about how our words land on others

After listening, you’ll come away with a clearer sense of what it means to live as someone whose face is “unveiled” before God. You’ll be encouraged to honor the courage of Paul’s ministry, to take your own opportunities to speak about Christ seriously, and to cling to the glory of the gospel even when it is misunderstood, resisted, or costly to share.

Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

When trying harder still leaves you discouraged, what does God offer instead? In this episode, Krisan turns to 2 Corinthians 3:1–6 to explore Paul’s defense of his ministry and his astonishing claim to be a “minister of a new covenant.” Along the way, she shows how this new covenant does not simply give us better instructions or more spiritual effort—it gives us new hearts, written on by the Spirit of the living God.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why “try harder Christianity” leaves so many believers frustrated, and how Paul addresses that struggle in 2 Corinthians 3
• Paul’s question about “letters of recommendation” and how the Corinthian believers themselves function as his living letter
• What it means for the Corinthians to be a “letter from Christ,” written not with ink but by the Spirit on human hearts
• The contrast between tablets of stone and hearts of flesh, and how that echoes key Old Testament promises in Deuteronomy 30, Ezekiel 36, and Jeremiah 31
• What Paul means by the “new covenant,” and how it fulfills God’s long-standing promise to forgive sin and transform the heart
• The true meaning of “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” and why it’s not about breaking the “letter” but keeping the “spirit” of the rules
• A careful look at Victorious Christian Life / Keswick teaching and why it misreads this passage and misunderstands the role of the Holy Spirit
• How Paul can say he is “not sufficient” in himself, yet boldly claim that God has made him sufficient as an apostle—and why that matters for how we read his letters today

After listening, you’ll come away with a clearer grasp of what is truly new about the new covenant: not a fresh technique for spiritual success, but God’s promise to forgive, to give His Spirit, and to change His people from the inside out. You’ll be invited to lay down the burden of self-improvement as your primary hope, and instead rest in the God who not only points you toward life, but is actively making you into the kind of person who loves Him and walks in His ways.

Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Paul’s ministry in Corinth was marked by conflict, misunderstanding, and deep personal pain—and yet, through it all, he remained convinced that God was leading him in triumph. 

In this episode, Krisan walks through 2 Corinthians 2:5–17, unpacking the story behind a painful offense in the church, the Corinthians’ response, and Paul’s call to both discipline and forgiveness. From there, she turns to Paul’s striking image of the triumphal procession and the “aroma of Christ,” showing how his fragile, often troubled ministry still becomes the vehicle for God’s victory in the world.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• What we can piece together about the unnamed offender in Corinth and how his actions wounded both Paul and the church
• How the Corinthians initially responded with church discipline—and why Paul now urges them to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm their love
• Why Paul insists that the real damage was not to him personally, but to the unity and spiritual health of the congregation
• The anxious journey from Ephesus to Troas to Macedonia as Paul waits for Titus and news of how the Corinthians received his “severe letter”
• How Paul can say that God “always leads us in triumphal procession” even when his ministry looks weak, messy, and unimpressive
• What it means for Paul’s ministry to be the “aroma of Christ,” bringing life to some and exposing death to others
• Why Paul refuses to “peddle” God’s word, and what that teaches us about faithfulness in teaching, parenting, and sharing the gospel
• The hard but freeing reality that we can speak truth and love others—but we cannot control their response

After listening, you’ll come away with a clearer sense of Paul’s heart: tender, anxious, and yet deeply confident that God is at work through his flawed ministry. You’ll be encouraged to take seriously both church discipline and restoration, to hold fast to the gospel without packaging or manipulating it, and to entrust the people you love—children, friends, prodigals—to the God who alone can make the message of Christ a fragrance of life.

Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church was anything but simple, and in this passage we begin to see just how much history and heartache stand behind 2 Corinthians. 

In this episode, we walk through 2 Corinthians 1:12–2:4, tracing Paul’s “painful visit,” his “severe letter,” and his change of travel plans and showing how all of it fits with his claim to be a faithful apostle whose message and motives are anchored in God’s unshakable “Yes” in Christ.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• The timeline of Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians, including the “lost” letters, the painful visit, and the severe letter
• Why some in Corinth questioned Paul’s integrity and accused him of being changeable, insincere, or unreliable
• How Paul defends his conduct by appealing to a clear conscience, simple sincerity, and God’s grace rather than human cleverness
• What Paul means when he says that God’s promises are all “Yes” in Jesus Christ—and how that supports his ministry
• How the gift of the Holy Spirit functions as God’s seal and guarantee that believers truly belong to Him
• Why Paul chose not to visit them again when he said he would, and how that decision was meant to spare them, not abandon them
• The difference between “lording it over” someone’s faith and working with them for their joy in Christ

After listening, you’ll come away with a clearer grasp of the backstory behind 2 Corinthians and a deeper confidence in God’s steady faithfulness, even when relationships with Christian leaders are strained or confusing. You’ll see how Paul ties everything—his plans, his tears, his letters—back to God’s trustworthy promises in Christ, and you’ll be encouraged to rest your hope not in human reliability, but in the God who has sealed you with His Spirit and is committed to your lasting joy.

2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Paul opens 2 Corinthians with a personal, almost vulnerable defense of his ministry and a rich picture of how God meets His people in suffering. 

In this episode, Krisan Marotta walks through 2 Corinthians 1:1–11, unpacking Paul’s troubled relationship with the Corinthian church, his claim to be a true apostle, and his confession that he despaired even of life itself. Along the way, we see how God’s comfort is not the removal of hardship, but the courage to endure it—and how that encouragement is meant to flow from one believer to another.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why understanding the history between Paul and the Corinthians is essential for reading 2 Corinthians
• How Paul’s use of “we” in this passage often refers specifically to himself and his ministry
• What it means for Paul to be an “apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” amid rejection and suspicion
• How 2 Corinthians 1:3–7 portrays God as the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort” in real affliction, not easy circumstances
• The way Paul’s sufferings and encouragement are for the Corinthians’ sake—and what that reveals about true Christian ministry
• How trials make the truths of the gospel move from ideas in our heads to convictions that shape our choices
• What Paul teaches about prayer: not as spiritual “credits” or force, but as an expression of shared trust in God and shared gratitude when He answers

After listening, you’ll come away with a clearer grasp of how 2 Corinthians 1:1–11 frames the whole letter: a rejected ambassador appealing to those he loves, inviting them to see his hardships—and their own—through the lens of God’s mercy. You’ll be encouraged to think more carefully about how God uses suffering to mature faith, how your own encouragement can strengthen others, and how prayer binds believers together before the Father who raises the dead.

2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Corinth was one of the most influential and morally corrupt cities in the Roman Empire. Yet it became home to a growing church. In this episode, we study Acts 18 to explain how and why Paul founded a church in Corinth, what made Corinth strategic, and how God used unexpected partnerships to advance the gospel.

Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts

Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the church

Wednesday in the Word Season 26 kicks off July 9 with a series on 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts.

In this episode, Krisan and David John Marotta present a biblical perspective on money. Drawing from Scripture and their extensive experience in financial management, they blend theological insights with practical advice.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• The biblical principle of stewardship, showing how everything we have comes from God and belongs to Him.
• How to use financial resources to fulfill the responsibilities and calling God gives us.
• The importance of work to meet those responsibilities, with practical encouragement for starting your career.
• Common pitfalls like overspending or over-giving, and how to avoid them through balanced planning.
• Practical strategies for spending, earning, and saving/investing, including budgeting tips and the power of compound interest.
• The virtues of justice, mercy, and faithfulness in handling money contrasted with the sins of pride, greed, and fear.

In this episode of the Wednesday in the Word, we summarize the themes of the Gospel of John as we learned in this series. We focus on John 20:30-31 as a lens to understand John’s purpose and the transformative power of belief.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• The significance of Jesus’ miraculous signs and their role in proving his identity as the Messiah.
• The critical role of the apostles as eyewitnesses who pass down Jesus’ teachings through written testimony.
• The theme of belief versus unbelief and why it’s central to John’s message.Jesus as the Christ—prophet, priest, and king—and what that means for salvation.
• The promise of eternal life and how faith in Jesus offers forgiveness, freedom from sin, and victory over death.

By listening, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of John’s purpose in writing his Gospel and how its themes of signs, testimony, and belief apply to your life today. Krisan Marotta breaks down complex ideas into an accessible overview, showing you how to connect the dots between Jesus’ actions and the hope of salvation. Whether you’re new to the Bible or a seasoned reader, this episode offers practical insights into why faith matters and how John’s words continue to resonate 2,000 years later.

Series: Gospel of John: Believe and Find Life