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Ron and John introduce a new series on the letter of First John. The letter opens with an emphatic statement about the concrete reality of the gospel, and it moves quickly to the difficult topic of love in the context of bitter division.

The post First John, pt. 1: What We Have Seen and Heard appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this fourth episode of their series in Joshua, Ron and John tackle the exciting but difficult episodes that describe the conquests of Jericho and Ai. Before those battles, however, important rituals set up what follows in order to keep the focus on the real message of the Book of Joshua: God’s covenant faithfulness.

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In the discussion this time, Ron and John follow the people of Israel as they cross the Jordan River into the promised land. In Joshua 3-4, God arranges their passage in a spectacular way. This episode takes a close look at how that happens and how the story is told—and retold.

The post Joshua, part 3: Crossing the Jordan River appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In the second installment of their series on Joshua, John and Ron take a close look at chapter 2. Joshua—once a spy for Moses—now dispatches his own spies to scope out Jericho. Their encounter with a woman named Rahab proves intriguing.

Image “Scarlet Cord” by Jon Marlow is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

The post Joshua, part 2: Spies Visit Rahab appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

Ron and John begin a new series in the Book of Joshua by looking at how Joshua’s story fits into the biblical narrative and how Israel begins its final preparations to enter the promised land. “Be strong and courageous” is the word in chapter 1 as Israel moves toward the fulfillment of an ancient divine promise.

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Ron and John conclude their treatment of the Sermon on the Mount, but there are still some surprises to come in the statements Jesus makes during his epilogue.

The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 6: Conclusion appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this episode, John and Ron reach the end of the primary instruction in the Sermon on the Mount with the Golden Rule as the grand finale. Along the way, though, they have to confront the challenging address about worrying.

The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 5: Unwavering Kingdom Focus appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

John returns from a recent trip to the Holy Land, and in this episode he and Ron explore the background and significance of Jesus’ teaching on prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is a central part of this teaching, and a special treat related to it waits for you at the end of the episode.

The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 4: The Lord’s Prayer appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

With one example after another, the surprises continue as Jesus challenges his audience in the Sermon on the Mount. Ron and John continue their treatment of Matthew 5-7 and the question of what righteousness looks like in the kingdom of God. Jesus gives his answer to this question in increasing detail as [...]

The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 3: The Kingdom’s High Standards appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

Ron and John continue to work through the Sermon on the Mount. In this episode, they deal with the claim Jesus makes early in the Sermon that he fulfills the Law. The question of “What is righteousness?” also comes up as Jesus continues to surprise those listening to him teach.

The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 2: Fulfilling the Law appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

What does life in the kingdom of God look like? Jesus takes on that question in the Sermon on the Mount, and in this first episode of a new series Ron and John begin a close look at his answer. He starts with some surprises and raises some unexpected expectations.

The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 1: Introduction appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this final episode of the Day of the Lord series, John and Ron examine the letters of Paul and the New Testament books associated with the apostle John. They conclude (as they must, of course!) with the baffling book of Revelation. This episode released on Christmas Eve, 2021. What does [...]

The post The Day of the Lord, Part 3 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

New Testament Christians insisted that all our hopes are fulfilled in the work God accomplished in Jesus Christ. A cursory examination of the world around us suggests that all our hopes are clearly not yet fulfilled. What gives? Concentrating on the story that Luke tells in the books of Luke [...]

The post The Day of the Lord, Part 2 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

Ron and John kick off a new season and a new series with the topic “The Day of the Lord”. The Bible looks forward to a future time when God would make all things right. In this first of three episodes, they look at the Old Testament foundations for a [...]

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Season 2 is over! Season 3 is here. As they prepare for a new Advent series in the Year of our Lord 2021, Ron and John pause to reflect on where they’ve been and where they’re headed. Also, come see what Christmas has to do with the end of the world!

The post Season 3 Begins: Catching Up appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this episode John and Ron conclude their series on the problem of evil. They ask what we can say when we’re confronted with evil—as well as what we should not say! They also dive back into scripture. How does this account of the problem of evil square with what scripture says, [...]

The post The Problem of Evil, Part 4 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this episode Ron and John dive into the core of the problem of evil. We consider the “argument from evil”—an argument that says because evil exists, God cannot exist as Christians describe God: all-knowing, all-powerful, and good. As an answer, we discuss what is known as the “free will defense.”

The post The Problem of Evil, Part 3: Free Will Defense appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.

In this episode Ron and John sort out what good and evil are. We conclude by examining an episode where Jesus’ disciples demand to know: why did this particular bad thing happen?

The post The Problem of Evil, Part 2 appeared first on Orthodocs.faith.