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As we take another step into the New Testament we come today to the gospel according to Mark. At first glance it may seem not that different than the account by which it was preceded—same song, different verse. However, that conclusion would be a huge mistake.

One author introduces the second gospel  this way: "Mark betrays great interest in what the historical Jesus actually said and did, what he suffered, and how he was vindicated by God. It is fair for us to assume that Mark had faithful traditions to rely on and that he preserved them with care. Yet Mark is much more than a historian; he is also a great storyteller. Taking up reliable traditions, Mark has creatively shaped them into a gripping short story, a mini-historical novel, a closet drama, a sermon, a crafted proclamation. Mark's Gospel tells God's good news (1:14–15). It does so with vividly portrayed characters, a fascinating plot, artfully employed literary devices (such as deliberate ambiguity, irony, foreshadowing, and paradox), and a powerful life-changing message" (Geddert, Mark, 16).

The same author that wrote the above comments joins us today to help us understand Mark as a whole. Dr. Tim Geddert currently serves as professor in and director of the New Testament program and interim academic dean at Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, California. 

After a little over two years and one hundred episodes, we just want to celebrate! Celebrate what God has done, is doing, and will do. This week, Josiah and Andrew discuss the past, present, and future with the goal of encouraging their church family at Oakridge, and in turn, all others who listen to this podcast. In the midst of so much recent uncertainty, one thing remains clear: God has not been slowed!

Our journey together through the Bible from cover-to-cover takes an important turn in this instalment as our study pivots from the Old to the New, from Malachi and the prophets to Matthew and the gospels. One pair of authors describe the importance and uniqueness of this first book of the latter testament:

"The gospel of Matthew has commonly been considered one of the most important books of the New Testament, and properly a gospel to be placed first in the New Testament. Although the order of the books in the Bible came through human choice rather than divine inspiration, this gospel serves as a sturdy bridge connecting the Old and New Testaments. It fittingly sets the stage for the books that follow. Matthew deals primarily with the life of Jesus Christ as fulfilling Old Testament prophecies relating to the coming King. He also helps explain why the prophecies relating to the kingdom of Christ on earth have had their fulfilment delayed until his second coming. Anyone desiring to master the New Testament may, accordingly, well begin with the gospel of Matthew, which introduces readers to the New Testament truth that follows" (Walvoord and Dyer, Matthew, 11).

To help us kick of our expedition into the New Testament we welcome to the podcast, Dr. James Fazio. Dr. Fazio has served in education for 25 years, working in both public and private sectors. He currently serves as Academic Dean and Professor of Bible and Theology at Southern California Seminary, in San Diego where he teaches hermeneutics, theology, and apologetics.

In Matthew 18, in response to a question about greatness in the Kingdom, Jesus instructs his disciples to have humility like a child. This humility is an understanding of our dependence on Christ, and just how lost we would be without him. Thankfully, Jesus doesn't leave it there, but gives examples we can look for and aim at to grow in this humbleness. Join with Josiah and Andrew as they discuss this chapter and its implications for the life of a believer.

We've reached the summit of the first of two biblical mountains and find ourselves standing on the peak of the Old Testament, a peak called Malachi. This ancient prophet speaking to an ancient people about ancient problems concerning ancient laws and regulations can initially seem hugely irrelevant to modern followers of Jesus Christ. But, as our series has repeatedly demonstrated, first impressions can be deceiving.

"From the Book of Malachi readers learn that God's standards for charity and justice far exceed those exemplified by his people after their rescue from a strange land. And through penetrating use of rhetorical questions, the Lord exposes the rationalizations of his people, particularly the stinginess of his priests.

"Sadly, not much has changed. His followers still need the reminder to stop squeezing, wrenching, grasping, and clutching. And the reminder even comes with a promise that if we devote ourselves to the Lord—to doing justice and mercy in his name—we have the hope that the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its wings" (Glahn, Chai With Malachi, ix–x).

Mike Ackerman is a professor of New Testament and Church Planting at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, where he has served for ten years. During his time in ministry, Mike has taught through much of the biblical canon including the section we are talking about today, the prophetic book of Malachi. In fact, his teaching on this text, along with several other sections of Scripture, can be found on Right Now Media and YouTube.

There's a reason that Paul so often uses the analogy of running a race when talking about our spiritual journeys, and that's at least in part because it's an illustration that is easy for everyone to understand and relate to. We all know what it is to face hurdles and to struggle on the course in front of us. We know what it is to have goals and a finish line that we are aiming for. Today, Stephen Hawkins joins the podcast to discuss his recent sermon on this very topic.

It would be difficult to introduce the book of Zechariah with a better combination of urgency and anticipation than this: "The book of Zechariah brims with enigma and paradox. The longest of the Minor Prophets, the New Testament writers quote from it more than almost any other Old Testament book. Unfortunately, readers today rarely examine its contents. It is a tragedy that a biblical book that influenced the Gospel writers so greatly, not to mention other portions of the New Testament, as much as any other Old Testament volume remains a closed book to so many in the Church today. As we will see ... Zechariah provides readers present and future unparalleled insights into the ways of God, with particular emphasis upon the work of the Messiah and the nature of the future Kingdom" (Klein, Zechariah, The New American Commentary, 8).

To help us rightly situate and understand this hugely-significant and often-ignored prophetic work we welcome to the podcast Dr. Kyle Dunham. Dr. Dunham is the chair of the Old Testament department and professor at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary in Allen Park, Michigan, where he has served since 2016.

With the seemingly endless barrage of bad news, it can be helpful to take a moment to pause, and read about what the Bible says about the good news that is coming. That is to say, how the story ultimately ends. What we see in the final three chapters of Revelation (and the final three chapters of the Bible) is a picture of perfection: many things we have to look forward to, and some actions to take while we wait. Join with Josiah and Andrew as they discuss things to come, and how it can be a deep encouragement for us today.

It's easy to become preoccupied with temporal needs, stressors, and desires and end up giving God the leftovers of our time, energy, and resources. This is an obvious temptation for God's people today and, apparently, it was when Jesus walked the earth in the first century as he tried teaching his followers to "seek first [God's] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matt 6:33).

Says one author: "It seems that every generation of believers, from ancient times to modern, must learn this lesson anew. It is a truth that was ignored, if in fact it was grasped at all, by the people of God to whom the prophet Haggai ministered in the sixth century B.C. Although they verbally might have articulated a belief to the contrary, their actions clearly disclosed their inverted priorities. In reality they sought first the kingdom of self and its comforts; they would get around to the work of God after those priorities had first been settled" (Taylor and Clendenen, Haggai, Malachi, The New American Commentary, 24). Perhaps we can all learn from their mistakes.

Rhome van Dyck is the founder and leader of SacraScript, an international team of seminary-trained individuals with various specialties whose goal is to create Bible study curriculum that reaches across denominational lines and geographical boundaries. Rhome is a pastor-teacher, has traveled extensively training both pastors and lay people in the understanding and beauty of the sacred Scripture and the proclamation of the gospel.

Psalm 29 is a call to worship God the way he deserves to be worship, because of who he is, what he can do, and what he will one day do. It's a call to worship with reverence, awe, and trust. Yet what can we possibly offer the God of all glory and strength? Why do we lose site of just how majestic he is? And what does it look like to actually worship him the way we ought to? Join with Andrew and Josiah as they discuss this powerful psalm filled with evocative imagery, and seek to help us apply it to our lives.