Orthodocs.faith

This episode is the second of two in which Ron and John each choose a favorite from the archives to share. This time it’s John’s choice. We hope you enjoy this as we prepare to begin our newest series in the next episode. Here’s what John has to say about [...]

The post John’s Choice: How Christian Hope Goes Beyond Words appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

This episode is the first of two in which Ron and John each choose a favorite from the archives to share. Ron goes first, and next time it’s John’s choice. We hope you enjoy this as we take time to prepare our next series and get ready to lean into [...]

The post Ron’s Choice: Doctrine of God appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

After feeding more than 5,000 people, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him in a boat while he stayed behind. But when they ran into trouble, Jesus walked out to them on the water. Mark tells us that Jesus went to “pass by” them, but that probably means much more than [...]

The post Straining at the Oars: Mark 6 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

Ron and John conclude their short series on the temptation of Jesus. They examine closely the exchange between the devil and Jesus because it is packed with allusions, parallels, and direct references to the history of the ancient nation of Israel.

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There are fascinating connections between the Old Testament and the New in the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. In this episode, Ron and John look closely at this scene in the gospels. They look for what’s going on with each of the offers that the devil makes, [...]

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This is the final episode in the series that covers the first three chapters of Genesis. Guided by a close reading in the original context, John and Ron look back and ask: What is essential from this story?

The post Genesis 1-3: Conclusion appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

The story of the fall in Genesis 3 may be one of the most widely recognized sections of scripture. John and Ron push past millennia of interpretation, reinterpretation—and outright misinterpretation!—to consider just what original readers of Genesis might have perceived in the story.

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In this third episode on Genesis, John and Ron move into the creation story told in chapter 2. If chapter 1, is the “God’s-eye view,” chapter 2 might be called the “view from the ground.”

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In this second episode of their series on Genesis 1-3, John and Ron begin looking directly at the text . . . in the beginning. They start with Genesis 1 and the first of the creation stories in these three chapters.

The post Genesis 1-3: In the Beginning appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

John and Ron open their fourth season of Orthodocs.faith with a new series on the first three chapters of Genesis. The stories told there are crucial to the way Christians describe God’s work in the world—just not always the way we expect! John and Ron open with an orientation to these foundational [...]

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John and Ron conclude their third season of Orthodocs.faith with a Christmas episode on joy. This is a key theme in the Bible for Christians, and it is one that can be easily misunderstood in today’s culture. What is joy in scripture? How does it work? And why do we associate it [...]

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John and Ron conclude their Introduction to Christian Theology series by asking, What can we reasonably say about God’s final purposes for creation given what we read in scripture? Wild theories abound. What real biblical expectations do we have, and what do they mean for us today as we live toward what [...]

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Ron and John now consider the doctrine of the church as they near the end of their series on a basic introduction to Christian theology. What is the church? What role does it play? The conversation takes a noticeably practical turn as John and Ron ask how someone can know the Holy [...]

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It is no surprise to anyone that “salvation” is a central topic for Christians, but what is it, what does it mean, and why do we need it? Ron and John address those questions in this episode.

The post Doctrine of Salvation appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

At long last! What are we as human beings? What is our purpose? John and Ron address these questions, and the question of what God intended comes front and center.

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John and Ron turn their attention to creation and providence. How does God interact with the world God created? But … lurking in the background is the ever-present “problem of evil.” Now they have to tackle that problem head on.

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In this fourth episode of their introduction to basic Christian Theology, John and Ron tackle the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Who is the Spirit? What role does the Spirit play? They also take the opportunity to step back and treat the doctrine of the Trinity.

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John and Ron continue their introduction to basic Christian theology, and in this episode they reach the doctrine of Jesus Christ at the heart of the Christian message.

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