The Christian doctrine of the Trinity is for some a mystery, for others incomprehensible, and for yet others a logical impossibility. But if we could fully understand the nature of God, He would not be the glorious transcendent Being presented to us in the Bible. In this episode we examine a difficult but definitive passage,1 Corinthians 15:24-28, clarifying the distinct roles of the three Persons of the Godhead. The Father wills, the Son implements the will of the Father, and the Spirit empowers the Son to do so, culminating in the triune God being "all in all." We also see how the parable of the wheat and the tares explains why a sovereign God patiently allows His enemies to remain until the full number of the elect has been gathered in. 

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity is for some a mystery, for others incomprehensible, and for yet others a logical impossibility. But if we could fully understand the nature of God, He would not be the glorious transcendent Being presented to us in the Bible. In this episode we examine a difficult but definitive passage,1 Corinthians 15:24-28, clarifying the distinct roles of the three Persons of the Godhead. The Father wills, the Son implements the will of the Father, and the Spirit empowers the Son to do so, culminating in the triune God being "all in all." We also see how the parable of the wheat and the tares explains why a sovereign God patiently allows His enemies to remain until the full number of the elect has been gathered in. 

In Acts 17:14–34 Paul debates with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, and preaches on Mars Hill about the true Creator — the God they called "unknown." He exposes the emptiness of idols, calls people to repentance, and proclaims Jesus’ resurrection as the basis for judgment and hope. The passage shows how God’s truth can be proclaimed in an idol worshipping and immoral culture and how the gospel meets people where they are. Helpful lessons here for us in modern godless cultures, where we wll find that God has left clues providing a point of entry for the gospel.

In Acts 17:14–34 Paul debates with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, and preaches on Mars Hill about the true Creator — the God they called "unknown." He exposes the emptiness of idols, calls people to repentance, and proclaims Jesus’ resurrection as the basis for judgment and hope. The passage shows how God’s truth can be proclaimed in an idol worshipping and immoral culture and how the gospel meets people where they are. Helpful lessons here for us in modern godless cultures, where we wll find that God has left clues providing a point of entry for the gospel.

ESTHER 6:1-11 demonstrates the dramatic cosequences of God's sovereign control over the lives of two men, King Ahasuerus and his 'Prime Minister' Haman. We see he hand of God at work in the sleeplessness of the King, the page chosen randomly from the state records to read to the wakeful monarch, the King's request for advice about rewarding the Jew Mordecai for saving his life, the time when an equally sleepless Haman arrived at the palace, Haman's misunderstanding of the King's request ... all leading to Haman's humiliation and Mordecai's honour.  

ESTHER 6:1-11 demonstrates the dramatic cosequences of God's sovereign control over the lives of two men, King Ahasuerus and his 'Prime Minister' Haman. We see he hand of God at work in the sleeplessness of the King, the page chosen randomly from the state records to read to the wakeful monarch, the King's request for advice about rewarding the Jew Mordecai for saving his life, the time when an equally sleepless Haman arrived at the palace, Haman's misunderstanding of the King's request ... all leading to Haman's humiliation and Mordecai's honour.  

In the previous episode we began to examine Paul's lecture to the Athenian philosophers in Acts 17, focusing on basic psychology, basic creationism and basic theism. We now complete that study by considering 'basic evangelism' finding that Paul’s central message was Jesus Christ with special stress on his resurrection and its implications. These include Christ’s deity, our human accountability, the believers’ justification, and the guarantee of eternal security.

In the previous episode we began to examine Paul's lecture to the Athenian philosophers in Acts 17, focusing on basic psychology, basic creationism and basic theism. We now complete that study by considering 'basic evangelism' finding that Paul’s central message was Jesus Christ with special stress on his resurrection and its implications. These include Christ’s deity, our human accountability, the believers’ justification, and the guarantee of eternal security.

Paul and his companions travel to Thessalonica, where he reasons from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths. Some are persuaded but others, provoked to jealousy, erupt in riot, hurling false accusations against the evangelists. Those who received Paul's words, fearing for his safety, send him to Berea, where he receives a nobler reception as many eagerly examine the Scriptures and believe. We learn that to honour God’s Word and save the lost we must endure hostility from others.

Paul and his companions travel to Thessalonica, where he reasons from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths. Some are persuaded but others, provoked to jealousy, erupt in riot, hurling false accusations against the evangelists. Those who received Paul's words, fearing for his safety, send him to Berea, where he receives a nobler reception as many eagerly examine the Scriptures and believe. We learn that to honour God’s Word and save the lost we must endure hostility from others.

Paul’s Mars Hill sermon calls us "back to basics" in proclaiming the gospel. We examine how the Apostle applies basic psychology (seeking shared ground with the hearers), basic creationism (God as Creator), and basic theism (Christ as the sustaining Word, and God’s active presence and involvement in the world by his Spirit). He uses understanding and reasoning to engage idol-worshipping thinkers rather than confronting and attacking them.

Paul’s Mars Hill sermon calls us "back to basics" in proclaiming the gospel. We examine how the Apostle applies basic psychology (seeking shared ground with the hearers), basic creationism (God as Creator), and basic theism (Christ as the sustaining Word, and God’s active presence and involvement in the world by his Spirit). He uses understanding and reasoning to engage idol-worshipping thinkers rather than confronting and attacking them.

We examine Jesus as the Good Shepherd, explaining what qualifies him uniquely to bear that title. He owns His sheep, watches over them, and saves them. It contrasts true shepherding with false leaders, cults, and hirelings who exploit followers. Drawing on passages from John 10:7-20 and Acts, Isaiah, Luke, Romans, Hebrews, and 1 Peter, the message highlights the Father’s love-gift of the flock to his Son, Christ’s personal care for each believer, Christ’s self-sacrifice to bear our sin, and his resurrection to justify his prople and declare his victory over sin.

We examine Jesus as the Good Shepherd, explaining what qualifies him uniquely to bear that title. He owns His sheep, watches over them, and saves them. It contrasts true shepherding with false leaders, cults, and hirelings who exploit followers. Drawing on passages from John 10:7-20 and Acts, Isaiah, Luke, Romans, Hebrews, and 1 Peter, the message highlights the Father’s love-gift of the flock to his Son, Christ’s personal care for each believer, Christ’s self-sacrifice to bear our sin, and his resurrection to justify his prople and declare his victory over sin.

In 1 Cor. 6:9–11 Paul warns the Corinthian church against continuing in the sinful lifestyles they practiced before they believed in Christ, but then highlights the power of God’s transforming grace. Those who once lived in sin have been washed (regenerated), sanctified (set apart), and justified (declared righteous in God's sight) through faith in Jesus Christ and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Only yhe first two of these works of grace are covered in this episode.

In 1 Cor. 6:9–11 Paul warns the Corinthian church against continuing in the sinful lifestyles they practiced before they believed in Christ, but then highlights the power of God’s transforming grace. Those who once lived in sin have been washed (regenerated), sanctified (set apart), and justified (declared righteous in God's sight) through faith in Jesus Christ and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Only yhe first two of these works of grace are covered in this episode.

In 1 Corinthians 2:1–5, Paul intentionally rejects eloquence and human wisdom to preach "Jesus Christ and him crucified." We explore what he meant by his "fear and weakness" when he evangelized Corinth, emphasising his reliance on the Holy Spirit's work and power in creating genuine faith. The message warns us against superficial "conversions" which lack evidence of the Spirit's transforming work which is present in all genuine conversions. A timely republication of a 2022 episode.

In 1 Corinthians 2:1–5, Paul intentionally rejects eloquence and human wisdom to preach "Jesus Christ and him crucified." We explore what he meant by his "fear and weakness" when he evangelized Corinth, emphasising his reliance on the Holy Spirit's work and power in creating genuine faith. The message warns us against superficial "conversions" which lack evidence of the Spirit's transforming work which is present in all genuine conversions. A timely republication of a 2022 episode.

Acts 16:6–12. Paul's experiences during his second missionay journey make exciting reading but were, of course, quite different from our own. Nevertheless, we find in the experiences of the Apostle and his companions, principles of divine guidance that are timelessly true. Their reliance on the Holy Spirit as he both closes doors and opens them, emerges as the primary factor in bringing the Gospel to Europe then, and for us to imitate today.  

Acts 16:6–12. Paul's experiences during his second missionay journey make exciting reading but were, of course, quite different from our own. Nevertheless, we find in the experiences of the Apostle and his companions, principles of divine guidance that are timelessly true. Their reliance on the Holy Spirit as he both closes doors and opens them, emerges as the primary factor in bringing the Gospel to Europe then, and for us to imitate today.