Adventures in Theology

What if I told you that Jesus is not only the "reason for the season" but also the joy of the season? This episode features a sermon I preached during Advent in 2017. As we look at Luke 2:8-20 I want to challenge us to enjoy Christmas more and more each and every year. Listen in to see what I mean!  Check out AdventuresinTheology.com for more resources like the blog . Follow me on Instagram:...

Today we spend some time getting to know Christian music artist, Jon Guerra. Jon's style is less Sunday worship and more like Monday morning prayer. We talk more in-depth about his song "Kingdom of God," what inspired it and what it means. We also have lots of candid moments, too! Follow Jon on Instagram:  @iamjonguerra https://www.jonguerramusic.com/ "Kingdom of God": https://www.youtube.com...

Professor Todd Chipman's book, Scripture Storyline , is a helpful resource that provides a framework for reading the Bible from cover to cover, while also showing an abundance of connections that draw the Old and New Testament together. Today we discuss his book and hear more from Todd as we divulge into some other topics as well.  Get Todd's book, Scripture Storyline on Amazon here:  ht...

Some important thoughts that are meant to encourage us during this election season. Connect with me on Instagram, @BraydenBrookshier

We conclude the sermon on the mount by looking at Matthew 7:13-29, where Jesus challenges the crowd who has been listening in to respond to the message. We cannot simply admire the teaching, we are called to take action and to build the foundation of our life on our it. Check out AdventuresinTheology.com for more resources like the blog . Follow me on Instagram: @braydenbrookshier . I would be del...

Everyone agrees that the "Golden Rule" is worth living by. However, the famous quote from Jesus does not come out of thin air. There is a context to it. Matthew 7:1-12 presents us with the exposition around it. How does this help us better understand this great way to live? Listen in as we talk about the source and power of being able to live out the "Golden Rule."  Check out AdventuresinTheo...

We take a single-week break from our series on the Sermon on the Mount to address an important topic. All of us are aware of how polarizing almost any topic is right now. Whether a conversation of faith, or politics, or almost anything else. Here, in this episode, I am not interested in bringing up any particular issue, instead I want to challenge us to be people who think critically and engage re...

Why do you worry? Matthew 6:25-34 presents us with advice on the worry-free life. Is this possible, though? Listen in as we hear Jesus's invitation into the life of trust versus worry. Check out AdventuresinTheology.com for more resources like the blog . Follow me on Instagram: @braydenbrookshier . I would be delighted to connect with you. Let me know how Adventures in Theology is impacting you, o...

What does it mean that the eye is the lamp of the body? Matthew 6:19-24 presents a triad contrast of two's: two treasures, two eyes, and two masters. The journey of wholeness involves making sure we find ourselves on the right side of the contrasts.  Check out AdventuresinTheology.com for more resources like the blog . Follow me on Instagram: @braydenbrookshier . I would be delighted to conne...

Why do you sometimes pray lengthy prayers? There is certainly nothing wrong with praying for great lengths of time. However, WHY we do and what we believe about God as we approach Him in prayer makes all the difference. Matthew 6:7-15 is an insightful passage which begins by contrasting how the pagan "gods" of the Graeco-Roman world listen, versus how our Father listens to our prayers. The differe...

Have you ever done the right thing for the wrong reasons? In Matthew 6:1-6 Jesus challenges our motivation why we do something and, more specifically, who we do it for. After all, our audience will always reward us, so who is our audience and what does that reveal about the authenticity of our righteousness?  Like the podcast? Subscribe and give a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, S...

Turn the other cheek? Pray for our enemies? Everything that is said in Matthew 5:38-48 sounds too idealistic and not practical to actually live out. Or is that the case? What if Jesus was inviting us into a greater level of "wholeness" as we reverse retaliation and repay our enemies with love? Join us as we adventure into one of the most difficult passages in the Bible in terms of putting into act...

What does it mean to have a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees? Is this even feasible? What if it was? What is Jesus getting at, here? As we look at Matthew 5:20-37 , we see how Jesus begins to unpack what this "greater righteousness" is. The true righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. Today we address what Jesus says about anger and lust, with...

Have you ever heard idiomatic terms or phrases that needed explaining? The terms "salt" and "light" are terms that need a deeper exploration. As we look at Matthew 5:13-20 , we see how Jesus calls His followers "salt" and "light," terms that connect them to the greater story of the Bible. His point? Well, you'll have to listen in to find out! I reference quite a few passages today, (in this order)...

Being pure in heart does not equate to being perfect in heart. As we look at Matthew 5:8 we see how, when we cross-reference it with Psalm 51, is not about never doing anything wrong again, but about a heart condition that rhythmically returns to God in repentance, knowing that God is the only one who can purify and renew our heart so that we can stand pure before Him. In this episode, we conclude...

Mercy: it is so much more than how many of us narrowly think of it! Looking at Matthew 5:7 we explore the broad and dynamic meaning of mercy and how we can even learn something incredibly memorable and powerful about mercy from an illustration about a cup and the ocean. Tune in and try the challenge at the end of the episode! Like the podcast? Subscribe and give a five-star rating on Apple podcast...

Jesus congratulates those who hunger for righteousness. But what does righteousness even mean? Looking at Matthew 5:6 we lean into looking a little closer as to what it means to be a people that are desperate for righteousness.  Like the podcast? Subscribe and give a five-star rating on Apple podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen from! And please share this podcast with others who...

What do all world powers throughout history? Well, they certainly did not rise to rule the world by means of meek methods. Yet, in Matthew 5:5 Jesus congratulates the gentle-spirited because they will inherit the earth. How can this be? And what does this mean? Join us as we explore the counter-intuitive way to take over the world according to Jesus! Like the podcast? Subscribe and give a five-sta...

In the second macarism (Matthew 5:4), Jesus congratulates those who are grieving as the ones who have it figured out. Why? A few questions provoke this... What kind of mourning are we talking about? How does mourning lend itself to experiencing God's comfort? And in what way does God deal with the very things that cause us grief? Listen in as we go in-depth on the second macarism in Jesus's parado...

Does the world really know the best way to live? The Sermon on the Mount presents a counter-intuitive way of being that produces true flourishing. We begin this series by looking at Matthew 5:1-3 and how the paradox of happiness is presented as a posture of the heart, specifically, recognizing that we are spiritual beggars before God. Listen in as we explore how Jesus connects spiritual poverty to...

The word "Trinity" is a single word compacting a robust truth about the nature of God being one Deity in three persons. Unfortunately, many Christians have a hard time explaining (let alone understanding) one of the core doctrines of the faith. Enter Abdu. Abdu Murray finds the subject of the Trinity his favorite. As a former Muslim, this was one he used to get Christian's stuck on, now, he (right...

There is a common phrase you have probably heard in or around church: "God doesn’t want you to be happy; He wants you to be holy." But is that true? I don't think so. Listen in to today's episode as I explain how there is an intrinsic relationship, and even inseparable relationship, between holiness and happiness. My friends, you don't have to choose one or the other. God wants you to be both holy...

When we are venting about genuine hardship, the last thing we need to be told is to "look on the bright side!" Lamentations is an important and often overlooked book of the Bible. Now, our circumstances certainly are not parallel to that of Lamentations, but the message of Lamentations is still beneficial for us today. How we read this book gives us insight and understanding of how to focus on hop...

Have you ever struggled to trust and understand what God is doing in the world? If so, then you need the short, three-chapter book of Habakkuk! Join the adventure as we explore the prophet Habakkuk and walk away ready to see why this message is just as vintage and timeless for us, today. Like the podcast? Subscribe and give a five-star rating on Apple podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you lis...

"Faith" is central to the Christian. Unfortunately, for many, faith is reduced to something you think. Professor Matthew Bates comes on to share his view in seeing "faith" as allegiance to King Jesus.  Get Professor Bate's book here: https://amzn.to/3bbbJ8r Like the podcast? Subscribe and give a five-star rating on Apple podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen from! And please...