Grasp the Bible

Welcome to episode 208 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we conclude our series on Christian citizenship.  Today, we tackle the topic of gospel peacemaking. 

Key takeaways:  

• While we never compromise truth for unity, we also recognize that many of our divisions stem not from essential doctrinal differences but from cultural preferences, political allegiances, or personal animosities that have become inflated beyond their pr...

Welcome to episode 207 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue in our series on Christian citizenship.  Today, we tackle the topic of cultural engagement. 

Key takeaways:  

• As followers of Christ, we're called to a distinctive way of life that sometimes aligns with and sometimes challenges the prevailing culture.   
• Three principles for cultural engagement: 
• Christians should be distinctively Christian. 
• Christians m...

Welcome to episode 206 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we begin a three-week series on our Christian citizenship.  Today, we explore what it means to have dual citizenship. 

Key takeaways:  

• We hold, in a sense, dual citizenship—belonging to God's eternal kingdom while residing in temporal human kingdoms.  
• Scripture points us toward a balanced approach that acknowledges both the legitimacy of government and its limita...

Welcome to episode 205 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we conclude our three-week series on our identity in Christ.  Today, we explore the concepts of adoption and inheritance. 

Key takeaways: 

• God doesn't just pardon us from our sins; He welcomes us into His family, with all the rights, privileges, and inheritance that come with being His children. 
• Our adoption required an enormous price—God "sent his Son" ...

Welcome to episode 204 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our three-week series on our identity in Christ.  Today, we explore the realities of our being a new creation, based on 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

Key takeaways: 

• When you come to faith in Christ, you don't just become a slightly improved version of your old self—you become a fundamentally different kind of being. 
• We died with Christ, were buried with Christ...

Welcome to episode 203 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we begin a three-week series on our identity in Christ.  Today, we explore what it means to go from broken to beloved. 

Key takeaways: 

• To understand who we are, we must first understand how God sees us. 
• Before we cleaned up our act, before we got our lives together, while we were still defined by our brokenness—that's when Christ died for us. 
• Many of us exhaust o...

Welcome to episode 202 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we walk through Psalm 5.  Today, we will explore how King David sought God’s face in a two-faced world, focusing on: 

• Prayer for God's Justice (vv. 1–3) 
• Affirmation of God's Hatred of Evil (vv. 4–6) 
• Hope in Fellowship With God (v. 7) 
• Prayer for God's Righteousness (v. 8) 
• Affirmation of Evil (v. 9) 
• Hope in God's Righteousness (vv. 10–12) 

Key ta...

Welcome to episode 201 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we walk through Psalm 101.  Today, we will explore King David’s leadership manifesto, focusing on: 

• David’s Witness with God (v. 1) 
• A Deeper Look at David’s Personal Integrity (vv. 2-7) 
• David’s Warfare for God (v. 8) 

Key takeaways: 

• Truly transformative leadership begins not with grand visions but with uncompromising personal commitments - commitments that ext...

Welcome to episode 199 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Psalms, covering chapter 42. Today, we will cover:

- The causes of spiritual depression and feeling far from God.

- How a godly person can win over depression.

- The depth of our need for the Lord.

Key takeaways:

· The depth of my need brings me to my knees and to the one I need.

· How a godly person can win over depression:

o He takes himself...

Welcome to episode 198 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we walk through Psalm 73.  Today, we will explore the psalmist’s struggle with envying wicked people, focusing on: 

• The principle—The Just God Is Good to the Godly (v. 1) 
• The perception—Injustice Makes Godliness Seem Futile (vv. 2–14) 
• The perspective—The Just God Judges Wicked People (vv. 15–26) 
• The practice—Faith in the Just God Gives Stability in the Face of Injustic...

Welcome to episode 197 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Psalms, covering chapter 21, a Royal Psalm. Today, we will cover:

- The victory of king David.

- The characteristics of the true king!

- The victory of king Jesus!

- What his victory has done for me!

Key takeaways

● The Lord who crowns with all strength and glory is worthy of all Glory.

● Because of His covenant, He has established us. And we ...

Welcome to episode 196 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Psalms, covering chapter 49, a Psalm of Wisdom. Today, we will cover:

- The wisdom shared in this psalm is universal, proverbial, and problematic.

- The wisdom shared demonstrates that humanity has a problem, they have been ransomed by God for a price they can’t pay.

- The wisdom shared shows the negative, meaning it is folly to be confide...

Welcome to episode 195 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we walk through Psalm 66.  Today, we will explore the psalmist’s journey from trials to triumph, focusing on: 

• God’s Preeminence (vv. 1-2) 
• God’s Power (vv. 3-7) 
• God’s Protection (vv. 8-9) 
• God’s Purging (vv. 10-12) 
• The Psalmist’s Ritual Sacrifices (vv. 13-15) 
• The Psalmist’s Personal Sacrifices (vv. 16-20) 

Key takeaways: 

• All peoples of the earth, whether willin...

Welcome to episode 194 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Psalms, covering chapter 32, a Psalm of Thanksgiving. Today, we will cover:

- The connection between sin and shame.

- The lies we tell ourselves, others, and God.

- The forgiveness of God.

Key takeaways:

We thank God for His Forgiveness!

· His Forgiveness Breaks the Shackles of Sin and Shame on my Spirit

· His Forgiveness is Accessible

· His Fo...

Welcome to episode 193 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we walk through Psalm 74.  Today, we will explore the psalmist’s reaction to God’s seeming disengagement: 

• The invocation (v. 1) 
• The complaint (vv. 2-11) 
• A confession of trust (vv. 12-17) 
• A final urgent plea (vv. 18-23) 

Key takeaways: 

• The question put to God in prayer is “Why are you so angry with us? Is it total anger that is going to last forever?” 
• Not only...

Welcome to episode 192 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we walk through Psalm 44.  Today, we will explore the psalmist’s reaction to a national tragedy: 

• God’s Deeds in Time Past (vv. 1-8) 
• The Present Distress (vv. 9-16) 
• A Faithful and Loyal People (vv. 17-22) 
• A Plea for Help (vv. 23-26) 

Key takeaways: 

• There is no mistaking Psalm 44 as a national lament. It surely is the response of a greatly troubled soul to an o...

Welcome to episode 191of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Psalms, covering chapter 30, a Psalm of Thanksgiving. Today, we will cover:

- A congregational psalm for the dedication of the temple.

- The difference between adoration and confession.

- How easy it is to go from confidence in the Lord to self-confidence.

- That we are all in desperate need of God’s grace.

Key takeaways:

· God’s anger lasts a...

Welcome to episode 190 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Psalms, covering chapter 7, a psalm of praise. Today, we will cover:

- How our God is deserving of our praise because he is a righteous judge.

Key takeaways:

· Jesus is the truly innocent one.

· Jesus is the judge of the peoples.

· Jesus crushed the crown of satan.

Quotable:

· “If you are in Jesus we can make the same claim as David.”

· “In a w...