The Portable Pastor Podcast
Applying ancient Biblical truth to today's challenges and discovering that God is pro-you in the process!
Episodes
Achan and Ai
Joshua 6-7
What can we learn from this?
- God hates sin.
- God will deliver justice.
- God deals with us individually and collectively.
- God is just, merciful, and gracious.
God's plan to save you. Research for yourself.
- Romans 3:23
- Romans 6:23
- Romans 5:8
- Romans 10:9
- Romans 10:13
- Romans 8:1
The Tower of Babel
Genesis 11:1-9
Points:
- The Instruction: God's directive.
- The Insubordination: Man's disobedience.
- The Rectification: God's directive forced.
Application:
- Listen to God's instruction.
- Fight temptations to rebel against Him.
- Don't make God force His plan.
Rahab’s Situation
Joshua 2; Rom. 12:2
Points:
- People can hear about God's salvation in the darkest places.
- Somebody can turn to God even if they are the only one to do so.
- Rahab is a picture of the church today.
- Rahab became a bride.
- Rahab became a convert.
- Rahab became active.
- Rahab became counter-cultural.
- Rahab became future-focused.
Abraham and Isaac
Genesis 22:1-19
Points:
- Abraham wasn't perfect, but he was all in.
- Abraham had questions, but he trusted God.
- Abraham was a man, but he pictured God.
How do we respond to this? Like Abraham, all disciples of Jesus must grow to the point where they are willing to say,
- I will walk away, God!
- I will trust you, God!
- I will reflect you, God!
Jesus Heals Large Groups of People
Matt. 14:34-36; 15:29-31
Concerning these healings by Jesus:
- Well people brought sick people to Jesus.
- Sick people interacted with Jesus before being healed.
- Jesus was willing to heal people.
Why does God heal some and not others?
- Maybe the situation lacks promotion, transportation, and presentation from a well person.
- Maybe there is a lack of faith, effort, and humility in the sick pe...
Jesus Feeds the Masses
Matt. 14:13-22; 15:32-39
Interpreting the stories through revelation and education:
- Event one reveals the divinity of Jesus with some teaching time for the disciples.
- Event two reveals the divinity of Jesus with some review/practice time for the disciples.
What do we glean from this story?
- Jesus is still on display:
- He is on display in creation.
- He is on display through His church.
- He is on ...
Missional Setbacks
Matthew 14:1-13
Concerning the mission:
- There will be lies told.
- There will be casualties.
- There will be times of retreat.
What does that mean to us, church?
- We, too, are special.
- We might have to live with people lying about us.
- We might experience some casualties.
- We will retreat and mourn if that happens.
Jesus Faces Rejection at Home
Matthew 13:53-58
Points of the story:
- His parables were retaught. (53-54)
- His people reacted. (54-56)
- His explanation was required. (57)
- His work was repressed. (58)
What does this story teach us?
- If Jesus' hometown rejected Him, we can surely expect the same.
- If Jesus did not force kingdom citizenship on those who knew Him well, we shouldn't either.
Question #1 - How do you ...
Kingdom Parables Wrap-up
Matthew 13:51-52
Points of the wrap-up:
- Jesus wanted His disciples to understand the parables. (51)
- Jesus expected His disciples to become educated in the scriptures. (52)
- Mature disciples treasure and share their faith growth. (52)
Main Point: Maturing disciples will value and tell others about kingdom living.
What do we do now? A kingdom citizen must be willing to:
- Sow gospel seeds. (the Sow...
The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
Matthew 13:44-46
Points of the parable:
- The Kingdom of Heaven is coveted.
- The Kingdom of Heaven is concealed.
- The Kingdom of Heaven is costly.
The Main Point of this pair of parables:
- It would be foolish to refuse the opportunity to own something so valuable.
The Mourning, the Miracle, and the Meeting
1 Cor. 15:1-8, ESV
The gospel story has been retold today. The question is, "Do you believe that story?" Millions have, and I have to tell you, the trajectory of their lives was changed forever. I know it sounds crazy. But it's true. On My granddaddy's grave, it's true. Do you believe it?
You might ask, "So what? Why do I have to believ...
The Eating, the Examinations, and the Exit
Luke 22:14-20, 66-71; 23:44-53
The Eating
- Jesus was looking forward to this Passover meal. (15)
- Jesus would not eat it again until the millennial kingdom. (16)
- Jesus would not drink again until they would be reunited. (18)
- Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. (19-20)
The Examination
- The Pharisees were fishing for an excuse to kill Jesus. (66-67a)
- Jesus gave a leading answer. (67b...
The Leaven
Matthew 13:33
The Communicated Part
- The cook already had flour.
- The cook added yeast to the flour.
- The yeast leavened all of the flour.
The Learned Conclusion
- The flour mixture would increase in size.
What do we do with that knowledge?
- We pray God will work here.
- We join in that work by sharing the gospel.
The Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31-32
The Growth of the Kingdom of Heaven
- The Kingdom’s startup was small.
- The Kingdom’s promotion will be huge.
- The Kingdom’s growth will be exponential.
- The Kingdom's growth will be incomparable.
- The Kingdom’s benefit would be universal.
The Weeds
Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43, ESV
Ten explanations:
1. Jesus is the Sower. (37)
2. The field is the entire world. (38)
3. The seeds are the disciples of Jesus. (38)
4. The weeds are people who seek to thwart His work. (38)
5. The weeds are sown by the devil. (39)
6. The devil is the enemy of Jesus. (39)
7. The harvest happens at the end of days. (39)
8. ...
The Four Kinds of Soil
Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
Matthew 13:1-9 – The Parable
1. A reasonable context: teaching parables (1-3a)
2. A relatable character: a gardener (Jesus) (3b)
3. A regular occurrence: sowing seeds (sharing the gospel message) (4a)
4. A recognizable outcome: plant life (responses to the gospel message) (4b-9)
Matthew 13:18-23 – The Explanation
1. Four Kinds of Soil (Hea...
The Purpose of Parables
Matthew 13:10-17, 34-35
Why did Jesus choose to teach in parables?
In a general sense,
- The use of parables in teaching was common in those days.
- The desired truth was easier to remember when using a parable.
- The listener could easily relate to the characters in a parable.
- The parable was effective in altering behavior or thought.
In a spiritual sense, Jesus used parables because:
- The truth need...
The Family of Jesus
Matthew 22:46-50
Points:
- Jesus drove His point home using His earthly family. (46)
- Jesus did not demean His earthly family. (48)
- Jesus delineated between His earthly and eternal families. (49)
- Jesus defined His eternal family. (50)
Application:
- Jesus knows the spiritual condition of those who showed up at His house today.
- Jesus is acutely aware of who loves Him more than anything else and who does not.
- ...
That will only make it worse!
Matthew 12:43-45
The analogy:
- A demon will look for a human host. (43)
- A removed demon will return to a previous host if that host is empty. (44)
- If a demon has previously stayed there, he will bring others with him. (45 a-b)
The Point:
- Just as a person who is freed from a demon is worse off in the end if the Holy Spirit does not inhabit him, likewise, a man’s sins are compounded if he had...
The Proof of Your Nature
Matthew 12:33-36
Jesus told the Pharisees:
- Make up your mind. (33)
- Snakes only speak “snakanese”. (34)
- Spiritual nature determines personal actions. (35)
- Watch what you say. (36)
- God will consider your words when determining your fate. (37)
You should:
- Reject blasphemy.
- Recognize why you say and do what you say and do.
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