Word Processing

Aaaaaand we're back! After a few weeks off to celebrate "Christmas in lockdown" and recharge our batteries, Word Processing returns to begin its second season. 

In this second first episode, Andrew tries to get Josiah in trouble with tough questions about "online church." Did he succeed? Probably. But the two also discuss some of the implications of Sunday's sermon, wonder together how God may work during times of hardship, and talk about some things worth celebrating in spite of current circumstances. 

As the year comes to a close, so does the inaugural season of Word Processing. Join Andrew as he bids adieu to 2020 with this mini-sode, gives an update on the future of the podcast, shares some thoughts on both the year behind and the year ahead, and concludes our time with prayer.

See y'all next year!

With all that’s been going on in 2020, many believers have asked questions like: Is this the end? Are the last days upon us? What does the Bible say about what comes next on God’s mysterious calendar and how are we to live now in light of it? These are questions that, among other things, have to do with biblical prophecy. 

If there’s one topic that can attract debate, disagreement, and (at times, unhealthy) fascination, it’s biblical prophecy. And so, when thinking about the subject we want to get help from someone who can safely and skillfully lead us. I think we found one! Dr. Paul Benware is a Bible professor, theologian, preacher, conference speaker, and author who has a passion for teaching and training the people of God. He has a deep concern for the church to learn, know, and live the truths of biblical prophecy. Together we discuss the nature of prophecy, how to identify and read the genre with fidelity, and what difference prophecy is intended to make in the lives of God's people today.

It's been suggested that the three rules of real estate are location, location, and location. In a similar way, it could be said that the three rules of Bible study are context, context, and context. Today Josiah gets taken to school as Dr. Charlie Bing—founder and director of Grace Life Ministries and author of "Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship"—shares how paying attention to the details of the biblical text can answer a lot of questions, clear up potential confusion, and liberate lives in God's grace.

Some of the important topics discussed in this episode (issues like salvation, assurance, discipleship, and lordship) are also touched upon in previous shows. If you'd like to re-visit those conversations, the links are provided below for easy access. 

"0017 Rightly Understanding Salvation with Dr. Fred Chay"

"024 Putting Surety in Your Security with Dr. Christopher Cone"

The Lord Jesus, during his earthly ministry, invited people to "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17). When it came time for him to ascend back to the Father, he left those who had followed him with these instructions: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). This same two-pronged invitation is put to each person today—follow Jesus and make followers of Jesus; be a disciple of Christ and make disciples of Christ. 

Today on the podcast, Josiah visits with pastor, professor, ministry founder, and author, Dr. Daniel Goepfrich. Together they discuss the ever-important issue of Christian discipleship, what it looks like, and how matters of eternity fuel it.

As the human body is a single organism made up of many individual parts, so too is Christ's body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:12–31). Also like the human body which will fail to function properly if a single part goes missing, likewise the church is less than it should be if even one member fails to provide their unique and divinely-endowed contribution. 

Today on the podcast, Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla helps us think through right functioning of the body of Christ, our individual need of the whole, and our unique contributions to it. In particular, Dr. Kuruvilla describes and discusses his gift of singleness (click here for his article on the topic), how he understands it, and how God has used it in his life to bless the church and to serve Christ.

For Dr. Kuruvilla's first appearance on Word Processing, "014 Putting a Bow on Joseph," click here.

On this episode of the podcast, Josiah sits down with David Rennalls, pastor of discipleship at the MET Bible Church in Ottawa, Ontario. Together they discuss a couple of heavy and connected issues in the atonement of Christ and shame. Now, that may sound too abstract and high-minded to be of any practical use for you (not to mention uninteresting!), but Dave makes a strong case for why all Christians should strive to understand the atonement clearly, popular attacks often levelled against it, and how it is actually the good news for those of us wrestling with sin-wrought shame.

It’s been said that “to err is human; to forgive is divine.” While there’s no doubt the Bible presents God as the gold-standard of what it means to forgive, it likewise calls human beings, in all their error, to pursue and extend the same. Today on the podcast, Josiah discusses the always-important, often-difficult, and peace-promising topic of forgiveness with Dr. Jim. Together they chat about the peace with God, the peace of God, and the peace with others that a biblical understanding and practice of forgiveness can bring to the lives of even the most offended and hurt individuals.

This is the second in a series of conversations on the über-important topic of the church (If it's important to Jesus [Ephesians 5:25] it should probably be important to us too, right?!) and, in it, Josiah again chats with his prairie-friend and homiletical-ninja, Pastor Jay Hinds. This time their focus is less what the church is and more what the church is to do.

We made it: The grand finale, the last hurrah, the fishy endgame. Finally we come to the conclusion of our study in the Old Testament prophetic book of Jonah and, to celebrate, Andrew and Josiah engage in a semi-serious discussion about what it means to submit to God, God's word, and God's will above all else—including ourselves—no matter the cost. It's a topic that is as solemn as it is important.

If you missed the final sermon (or any of the series on Jonah), here it is.