On The Trail

On the third Sunday of Advent (Dec 14), we anticipate celebrating the incarnation with Joy. This year, we're looking at Advent through the lens of the Abrahamic Covenant of Promise. We remember this covenant with an acorn, because it's a big seed. The lid of the acorn represents three key blessings promised to Abraham — a seed (offspring), land, and relationship with God.

The point of the acorn represents the point of the ...

Could you use more peace in your life? 

For Advent, we’re looking at the Abrahamic Covenant of Promise. Last week we introduced this covenant and looked at the Hope of the Promise. This week on the Advent calendar is about Peace, and we’re dwelling specifically on the promise of land. 

Through this conversation, we see a sort of formula emerge: meditation on God’s provision plus meditation on what is eternal brings peace. We can reme...

Happy Thanksgiving, USA! In the Warner household, we love the build up of the season of festivities this time of year. It's in the name: "Thanksgiving" is a great launch to a holiday season that celebrates appreciation and community. This then leads nicely into the first Sunday of Advent (on November 30 this year). So grab your candles and wreath, because this week begins our Advent series!

In the first week of Advent...

“The atonement is the hinge on which all of spiritual warfare hangs.” In this episode, we're unpacking this statement as we delve into the concept of atonement and its critical role in spiritual warfare. To help understand the triumph of what Jesus Christ accomplished through His death & resurrection, we're walking through the acrostic C.R.O.S.S. (Covenant, Ransom, Ownership, Substitution, Subjugation).

We lean into th...

The devil often tempts us to believe God doesn't care about our suffering. Is God loving? Is He trustworthy?

In this episode, we're looking at the significance of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. How does Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension relate to spiritual warfare and the authority believers have in Christ? 

Through Jesus' incarnation, we see God give a profound answer to the question of suffering,...

In this episode, we're continuing our biblical foundations of spiritual warfare series with a look at the kingdom of darkness from both the Old and New Testament perspectives. What are the origins of this dark kingdom? We specifically cover the "John Milton" understanding and the "Michael Heiser" understanding of these origins.

What does Christ's authority look like over it all? We also discuss the sign...

Time for a new series! What's going on in the courtroom of Heaven, and why does it matter to Christians?

In this episode, we delve into the topic of spiritual warfare, exploring its biblical foundations, starting with the concept of the divine council. We discuss the significance of the throne room of God, the legal framework surrounding spiritual warfare, and the importance of justice, accountability, and relationships in Heav...

How should Christians engage with Halloween?

The answer may be more nuanced than you expect. In this episode, we're discussing the complexities of Halloween from a Christian perspective, focusing on spiritual warfare, the occult, and how families can engage with the holiday wisely.

We touch on historical context, awareness of heightened fear and occult practices, and the need to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh as you dec...

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" James 1:22 ESV.

We've reached the close of our 3-2-1 Bible Study Method series, and the topic of the episode is APPLICATION. The goal isn't to master the Bible but for the Bible to master us. Once we've done the work of observation and interpretation, it's time to apply what we've learned.

In this episode, we're looking at ...

In this episode, we peer through three lenses of biblical interpretation. Each lens represents a phillosophy of sorts for how to approach interpretation, now that we've made our observations (see prior episodes). Lens #1 is INTENT. Understanding the author's intended message is key to accurate interpretation. Lens #2 is INERRANCY. Understanding that the Bible is true is key to accurate interpretation. Lens #3 is INQUIRY. ...

Welcome, Bible Study Detective!

In this episode, we're wrapping up the S.T.O.R.I.E.S. Checklist with a deeper look at "Edits" and "Shifts." You'll learn what editorial comments are and how they open doors to understanding the biblical text. You will also discover how recognizing subtle (and not so subtle) shifts in the author's writing helps us move toward our goal of uncovering the author's i...

This week we're continuing to unpack the Bible Study observation checklist S.T.O.R.I.E.S. with a deeper look at the clues of Order, Repetition, and Introductions.

"Order" is about the arrangement within a passage and within its larger text.

"Repetition" is about recognizing the strategic recurrence of words, concepts, locations, and more that serve to highlight both what is important in the text and also ca...

This week is all about the Bible study checklist we remember with the acrostic S.T.O.R.I.E.S. When you approach the text of Scripture, what key things should you be looking for in how the text is put together? We hope this observational checklist helps you be a better Bible study detective! Here is an overview of the clues you'll be looking for: Speeches, Terms, Order, Repetition, Introductions & Conclusions, Edits, and Sh...

In this episode, we continue our discussion of the 3-2-1 Bible Study Method, focusing on the principles of selection and arrangement in biblical texts. We explore how understanding these concepts can help us practice interpretation with an aim to find the author's intended message. Our conversation also touches on the importance of recognizing biases and worldviews, using the books of Samuel-Kings and Chronicles to illustrate ...

In this episode, we introduce the 3-2-1 Bible Study Method: 3 steps, 2 strategies, and 1 checklist for effective Bible study. This week we are giving special attention to the three steps: Observation, Interpretation, and Application.

We emphasize the importance of understanding the author's intended message by looking for clues in our observations, paying attention to how each step builds off of the next, and staying in convers...

If there is one bias we definitely want to know, it's God's. We believe God is the author of reality. As such, we we want to see the world, ourselves, and our situations as He sees everything. What better place to start tuning our worldview lenses than a study of His Word?

In this episode, we discuss the WHY of Bible study, the role of the Holy Spirit, and how this all fits into heart-focused disciplesh...

How do you remember what God has done for you? 

The podcast is on a break right now while we run our A Deeper Walk summer study BUT we could not resist popping up with a bonus episode for you for our birthday: Season Three. Episode Thirty. Three years of being on the trail together. 

This episode looks at memorials in the Bible, exploring various biblical practices of remembrance. From the Ebenezer stone to Communion, the Old and New...

Whether you're guarding literal ground or the soil of your heart, your freedom in Christ is key.

In this episode, we're closing our 4-part series on practical spiritual warfare.

So you've removed the enemy's claim on a part of your life, ousted him from your land, and begun nurturing new habits to reclaim that area of your life and walk in repentance. What are some strategies for guarding the ground you've ju...

Why have some called "repentance" the happiest word in the English language?

In this episode, we're continuing a 4-part series on practical spiritual warfare following a NEW acrostic: S.O.N.G. (Stephanie encourages you to "Whistle while you warfare.") At Deeper Walk, we teach a "no drama," legal approach to spiritual warfare.

So, after you've removed the permission the enemy is claiming to a pl...