Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

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Ponder with me the discipline of focusing solely on yourself. This is a tough discipline to learn when people around you aren't doing the right thing, but it is vital. Paul lends his friend Timothy some Spirit-filled advice along these lines in his work as a preacher...but the principle is broader. It applies in all relationships. Join me and let's think through it. To God be the glory! 

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Ponder with me about biblical interpretation. It's work! Sometimes it is extremely hard, laborious work. It is possible to understand Scripture correctly though. However, the believers that trust Scripture is understandable the most are oftentimes the least patient with people as they come along in their beliefs. Is there a balance we can work towards? Ponder it with me, and to God be the glory!

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Ponder with me what it means to hit the gym of godliness. Literally, Paul says it like that in I Timothy. Our last episode on I Timothy (on March 24th) was about the spiritual war over our thoughts. We are to take every thought captive to obey Christ. But let's be real—this is not possible without rigorous discipline. Let's ponder what it means to hit the gym together! To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me about a man we either hate to love, or we love to hate! This Bible character elicits strong feelings on both sides, because he lived so carnally! However, he ended up on our "team" ... or perhaps I should say we are on his team - the team of faith! God is so good and there is redemption for anyone that will turn to Christ. But wait — who is this man? Join me to find out! To God be the gl...

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Ponder with me about why the miracles in the gospel of John are uniquely designed as evidence for Jesus as the Christ the Son of God. John says they are - John 20:30-31. However, why are they? Many people performed miracles in the Scripture but that did not prove they were the Messiah...so what is so special about these miracles in John's gospel? This is the subject of a new class I'm teaching, and I h...

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Ponder with me some more about the glory of God! We have been tracing this theme throughout the year of 2026, at the beginning of each month. We start with the glory of God descending on the Temple, but that is now God's church. So, what does the glory of God look like when it rests on His church now? You might be surprised...and yet Peter tells us not to be! Please join me and see the evidence of God'...

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Ponder with me about how we let lies slip into our thinking and ultimately how lies end up dethroning Christ. Paul says in I Timothy 4 that people were going to leave the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons. Demonic forces are a part of the religious lies we are surrounded with. Join me in this study and let's take that seriously. To God be the glory!

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Ponder this question with me - is there ever a time when someone should be re-baptized? I realize this term "re-baptism" is somewhat controversial, because if the first baptism was not legit, then some think we should not call it a baptism at all. Regardless of what we call it though - is there ever a time when someone learns something different and then is baptized "again", with a fuller und...

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Ponder with me about how to stay spiritually motivated. If you have been around the church very long, things can feel like they are "same ole, same ole". Worship is the same, life is the same - it can even feel like the movie Groundhog Day. This is a spiritual killer. What is our godliness motivation? Join in and let's think through it. To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me about how to be spiritually confident. I'm sure you have met people who are oozing with confidence about the Lord and their walk with Him. It makes you want that for yourself! Where does that boldness come from though? We already know the answer - it is both simple and yet extremely profound. Ponder it with me and may we grow in it together. To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me the simplicity of how the church was structured in the New Testament. I Timothy 3 contains the qualifications of elders and deacons. In this lesson, we will not go line by line in studying the qualifications. Instead, I want to challenge whether we have exalted the role of preachers over elders - and what are the ramifications? Also, we'll end by thinking about the tremendous value of deacons...

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Ponder with me about how God wants us to be near His glory! We will think about this in terms of God's glory filling the Tabernacle when it was first erected. This is such a heart-touching truth. God wants to be near us, and we need this desperately to provide perspective in our lives. However, because of sin, there are limits and barriers. How are these limits dealt with? Ponder it with me - to God be the ...

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Ponder with the stark contrast between the no-kings protests here in the U.S. vs. Israel's demand for a king in I Samuel 8. The greatest irony is that we all have a king, then and now - King Jesus. Let's think through I Samuel 8 and the lunacy of trusting sin and worldliness. Trusting ourselves never leads to the places we think it will. To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me what it means when Paul said, "Yet she will be saved through childbearing..." (I Timothy 2:15a). This has historically been hard for believers to unpack. We get into it pretty heavily in the last part of the episode. The first part is a continuation from the last episode about gender roles where we'll see Christ empower women very similarly to Paul. Please join me in this deeper stu...

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Ponder with me about Paul's seemingly controversial subject about women teaching or exercising authority over a man from I Timothy 2:12. How are people getting around this statement from Paul when it seems so clear? But more importantly, what is the reason of Paul for giving this instruction? Also, this paragraph was meant to be much more empowering to women than most people realize. Let's dig in. To G...

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Ponder with me a new sermon series coming to Plainfield, Indiana! The Plainfield church of Christ is having Bryan Schiele come to teach a series called "Unveiled" - it's about removing the veils of distraction, pride, and noise, so we can reflect the glory of Jesus. He and I talk about our past teaching endeavors and this upcoming series. To God be the glory!

Plainfield church of Christ - 950 East ...

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Ponder with me about some of the ICE protesting and how it might relate to the singular path of salvation - Jesus. I know it sounds weird! It's less about ICE and more about how Christians ought to see the government, interact and pray for the government. Strangely, Paul connects these two ideas in I Timothy 2. Let's dive in! To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me about the providence of God from the book of Esther again. God works through the horrors of life just as much as the things we think are positive. We need that perspective to help reframe our hardships. Also, we'll think about the back-story of Haman and Mordecai and why this extermination threat should have never happened in the first place. Be careful! You might find yourself in this episod...