Word Processing

If you've spent any time around Oakridge, or listening to our sermons online, you probably will have noticed that the majority of our pulpit time is devoted to preaching through whole books of the Bible. Maybe you've never really given it much thought, or perhaps you've assumed it's just a stylistic or pragmatic choice. The reality, though, is that there is much more to it than that. So this week Josiah and Andrew discuss this methodology for preaching, and give a look behind the curtain as to why we do what we do, and where the deep conviction for this very intentional decision comes from.

On this first episode of our new Cover-to-Cover series we, fittingly and expectedly, address the first book of the Bible: Genesis. This is a fifty-chapter saga in which we find the drama of creation and degradation, promises and betrayals, human failures and divine provision. It's a huge task to cover it all in less than an hour, but we do our best.

To help us get off on the right foot we welcome Dr. James Allman. Dr. Allman is the freshly retired (and now adjunct) professor of Old Testament Studies and Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, is a visiting lecturer in a number of different countries and institutions, and has served as translator for parts of the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). As you'll hear, Dr. Allman is both scholarly and pastoral, wise and humble. A great combination to help us tackle Genesis.

Today's podcast is the second half of a two-part conversation on the kingdom of God, which originally aired on The Open Bible Podcast. Listen in as Pastor Josiah joins Pastor Jay Hinds for this encouraging and intriguing discussion.

Have you ever tried to complete a jigsaw puzzle without knowing what the final product is supposed to look like? If so, you know it adds a layer of difficulty to an already challenging task because when you don’t know what the whole looks like, it makes it much harder to identify the individual pieces of that whole. Without seeing the big picture, it’s tough to accurately recognize the pixels.

Reading the Bible can be like that. A lack of clarity of the big picture, the major themes, and the overarching trajectory can make the smaller pieces—the testaments, the genres, sections, books, and chapters—more difficult to rightly situate, understand, and apply.

And this leaves us with all sorts of questions: What do we make of Leviticus? Why is Esther important? What’s a Habakkuk? How does the New Testament sit atop the Old? Where is this all headed? How does it fit together? What is God saying to us through it all? In the months ahead we’re going to seek to answer questions like these in what we’re calling Word Processing’s Cover-to-Cover series.

Soliciting help from scholars around the world, we’re going to move through all sixty-six books of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, one by one, in an effort to grow not only in our understanding of the books individually (which is important) but also in our understanding of how they fit together as a cohesive and inspired whole.

Join us each week as we put together this beautiful, God-breathed puzzle. Join us as we move through the Scripture, God’s word to us today. Join us as we make our way through the Bible, cover-to-cover.

Earlier this year, Pastor Josiah had the opportunity to join Pastor Jay Hinds on The Open Bible Podcast for a discussion on the kingdom of God. Having a proper understanding of the kingdom is essential, as it informs so much of what we know and understand about our faith, and how we live it out in a practical way. So what exactly is the kingdom? Is it now or later, or some combo of the two? Listen in with Jay and Josiah as they discuss these issues and many more over the next two weeks on this incredibly informative podcast.

Once again on the podcast this week, we are discussing a topic often talked about in the church, but rarely understood with clarity: the trinity! What does it mean for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to all be fully God, yet distinct from each other? What sort of issues can we run into if we don't take time to understand trinitarian theology? How do we come to these conclusions from the Bible? And ultimately, why does it all matter? Join with Josiah as he asks our special guest, Dr. J. Scott Horrell, to help us wade through the murky waters of this confusing, yet essential Christian doctrine.

Paul encourages Christians "to be in subjection to the governing authorities" (Rom 13:1a). Peter backs him up when he commands believers to "submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution" (1 Pet 2:13a). Followers of Jesus are to willingly accept the dictates of human government knowing, first, that their station was given by God (Dan 2:21; John 19:11; Rom 13:1b) and, second, that personal and corporate subjection—perhaps especially in the face of mistreatment—is a powerful witness to a fallen world (1 Pet 2:11–12, 15–16).

But how far does this command extend? When does submission to human authorities become disobedience to our Highest Authority? Is there a time for civil disobedience (e.g. Ex 1:15–17; Dan 3:16–18; Acts 4:19–20) and, if so, when? Where does the Christian conscience come into play? These are just a handful of the timely questions Andrew and Josiah tackle today on the podcast. 

To hear the sermon on Romans 12–15, click here. For further discussion on that sermon, click here.

Joy, happiness, contentment. We know that the Bible calls for them, but what do we do when life hands us difficult circumstances and they are the last thing on our mind? Furthermore, what's the difference between them? Join Josiah and Andrew as they address these questions and more, exploring what the Bible has to say about being content and experiencing true joy.

There is a vicious snake hiding in the grass of every church, ready to sink its deadly fangs in and spread its venom. That snake is legalism. Disguised as righteousness, piety, or even concern, legalism has only the power to destroy. Today on the podcast, Josiah and Andrew discuss this unity-breaking monster: how to notice it in our own lives, and keep on the lookout for the ways it is affecting our church. More importantly, they discuss the best defense against such a terrible foe: grace!

As Christians, we talk often about eternal life, heaven, and Christ's return. But what will it actually look like when Jesus comes again? What can we expect, and does the book of Revelation actually describe? While there are no shortages of theories, beliefs, and artistic re-imaginings, today Josiah sits down with an expert in eschatology, the theological study of things to come, to discuss what the Bible teaches. Join us for an enlightening and straight-forward conversation with Dr. Paul Benware as he takes this often misunderstood topic and makes it clear: the future is far brighter than we can even imagine!