Orthodocs.faith

This is the second episode in the Faith and Reason series, and John and Ron consider an ancient figure named Irenaeus. Irenaeus argued that Christian faith is far more reasonable than alternatives being offered by the Gnostics. Did you ever wonder when Christians started calling the New Testament “scripture”? What was [...]

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In celebration of Easter weekend, Orthodocs.faith takes a pause in the current series to return to a previous episode on resurrection. In this second episode from a series on First Corinthians 15, Ron and John discuss resurrection and why the hope of the Christian faith rests so heavily on it. [...]

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In this new series, Ron and John argue that Christian faith is reasonable. Christians have reasons for what they believe, and those reasons are defensible. Perhaps most surprising, they insist there is no virtue in a “blind leap of faith”!

The post Faith and Reason: Where We Start appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this episode, John and Ron conclude their series on Ruth. The story is ultimately a story of redemption, a story where God provides hope where there was none before.

The post The Story of Ruth, part 4: Redeemed appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In episode 3 of their series on Ruth, John and Ron discuss the famous—some would say infamous!—threshing floor scene. As always, though, the focus is on the original context. Naomi and Ruth still have pressing needs. How will God provide? Image: Stan Zurek, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The post The Story of Ruth, part 3: Securing the Future appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

Ron and John continue into chapter 2 of the Book of Ruth as the picture begins to change dramatically for the two main characters, Naomi and Ruth. God’s providential guidance emerges along with hope in God’s redemptive work.

The post The Story of Ruth, part 2: Survival appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

Season five opens with a new series on the book of Ruth. Ruth is a masterful example of Hebrew narrative and a favorite story of many. In this episode, John and Ron discuss the background of the book and work their way through chapter 1 and the setup to the story.

The post The Story of Ruth, part 1 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

John and Ron conclude their survey of the Gospel of John in this episode. They look closely at the remarkable opening chapter of the book.

The post Gospel of John, pt 5: Conclusion appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this episode, John and Ron work their way through John 9, where Jesus heals a man born blind. This fascinating mini-drama yields crucial clues to the context in which the Gospel was likely written.

The post Gospel of John, pt 4: Out of Division appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

John and Ron revisit an episode from a previous season where they address John 2, the story of Jesus turning water into wine. Why is that story so important? Why does the Gospel of John place it first among the miracles Jesus performs?

The post Gospel of John, pt 3: Water into Wine appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this second episode on the Gospel of John, Ron and John survey the “march to the cross,” and they examine John’s unique emphases in the story of the crucifixion.

The post Gospel of John, pt 2: The Passion appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

John and Ron introduce a new series on the Gospel of John. In this first episode they examine how John tells the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. They compare it to the way Mark tells the same story, and they uncover several of the features that make the Gospel of John [...]

The post Gospel of John, pt 1: Feeding the 5,000, John’s Way appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

This week John and Ron are re-releasing an earlier episode. From season 2, it is the first episode of their four-part series on The Problem of Evil: why is there evil in a world created by a good God? Here, they lay the groundwork for a conversation that deals with the problem [...]

The post The Problem of Evil, Part 1 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

John and Ron conclude their series on throne room scenes throughout scripture. In this episode, they address the baffling book of Revelation, chapters 4-5. The author of Revelation sees himself in direct line with the prophets of the Old Testament, and the throne room scene of Revelation bears remarkable similarities to experiences [...]

The post Before the Throne, Part 3 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this second episode of the series, John and Ron explore how the ancient Hebrews understood the heavenly court. They also examine encounters with the presence of God by Moses, Ezekiel,  and Daniel. 

The post Before the Throne, Part 2 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

John and Ron introduce their new series, Before the Throne. It starts with the awe-inspiring and terror-inducing pyrotechnics of Isaiah 6! Join them as they look into the prophet Isaiah’s encounter with the presence of God.

The post Before the Throne, Part 1 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

John and Ron conclude their series on the pivotal character of Samuel. In this episode, Saul falls and David rises, but Samuel’s story ends with a strange scene: a medium conjures his spirit for Saul at Endor.

The post The Strange Ending to Samuel’s Story appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

The nation of Israel demanded a king, and it fell to Israel’s prophet-judge and acting priest Samuel to fulfill their demand. In this episode John and Ron address the quandary Samuel faced and the way this pivotal character led the nation through a fundamental leadership change.

The post Samuel the Kingmaker appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

John and Ron move deeper into the story of Samuel. Now it becomes the story of two families, Samuel and his parents on one side, Eli and his sons on the other. In one of the most moving scenes of the entire cycle, the boy prophet Samuel hears directly from God and [...]

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