Maranatha Teachings

When a coalition of neighboring nations sent their hordes against the kingdom of Judah, good King Jehoshaphat called a fast and gathered his people to pray. The battle plan that came out of that prayer meeting is one of the most unique in all Scripture. Join us as we examine how Jehoshaphat became a king whose "heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord."

In this concluding session of our series, The Bible in Its Context, we dive into the encouragement of apocalyptic Scripture. To the question whether the Church will go through the tribulation, the Revelation of Jesus Christ answers with a resounding "Yes!" coupled with exhortation to "Hold fast!" and "Be faithful unto death." Our Lord conquered death. He will make fin...

Tribulation and the wrath of God are not the same thing. Join us as we examine the trumpets and bowls in the book of Revelation and the wrath of God from which Jesus saves us.

In this episode, we take a closer look at the seven seals affixed to the scroll that only the Lamb can open. Join us as we learn of the beautiful structure crafted into the Apocalypse and hear the just causes for God's vengeance as well as His encouragement to saints living and dead.

The seals, trumpets, and bowls form the major framework of the book of Revelation. As wild as their content may may appear on first reading, each of them have deep biblical roots and cultural foundations which help us understand John's apocalyptic narrative. Join us for this exciting review of these iconic symbols in their context.

In this exciting episode, we examine the purpose and message behind apocalyptic imagery. If the Bible was a bookstore, Revelation would be found in the fantasy section. Seeing it as such is not seeing it as unreal or untrue but seeing it as it was intended to function for its original hearers and, subsequently, for us. Buckle up for a mind-stretching ride into the heart of our Savior and the end o...

Revelation, though apocalyptic, still holds to whole-book context. In that this "book" of the Bible is a letter to the churches, it should not surprise us to find interpretive clues to the imagery at its end within the beginning messages to the seven churches. Join us as we incline our hearts to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches and the tremendous promises our Lord gives to...

From the beginning - in its address, greeting, and initial vision - seven features prominently in the book of Revelation. Why seven? What is its significance in the context of the one who wrote the vision and those who received it? Join us as we step back through millennia to see numbers as the ancient near east did and the various ways they were used to communicate.

In this episode, we examine the symbolic visionary nature of apocalyptic literature and how Revelation served to encourage and strengthen the saints facing persecution that was only going to intensify. When read in its context, Revelation can serve us in the same way, empowering us to remain faithful in the face of opposition and staying true to the Lord who loves us and freed us from our sins.

Revelation, an apocalyptic prophecy written as a letter, presents particular challenges to the modern reader. Unfortunately, the proliferation of end-times speculative writing have only heightened our challenges in understanding this text as the original recipients would have heard it. Join us as we humbly begin our journey into the most unique text of the New Testament canon and endeavor to hear...

In this episode we examine the final three basic forms of oracles found in the Prophets: the promise, the enactment prophecy, and the messenger speech. Along the way, we not only gain a better read of the Prophets in Scripture but also learn how to relate with and prosses prophetic words.

In this episode, we continue our investigation into the prophetic books of the Old Testament. Join us as we discuss the role the prophets played, the reasons for covenant blessings and curses, and the primary forms the prophetic oracles take.

In this episode, we continue to examine the covenant foundation to the message of the prophets and their ultimate messianic fulfillment. The canonical and chronological order of the prophets is discussed along with the impact of second temple literature and their expression of the expectations in the Jewish mind regarding the appearance of the Prophet.

In this episode, we begin our journey into the prophets and the prophetic books of the Bible. This introductory session centers around the truths of Deuteronomy 18 and God's purposes in the prophetic office. It is a powerful and practical episode on hearing from God, walking by the Spirit, and understanding Scripture.

In this episode, we discuss how to identify the transcultural principles contained in the New Testament letters and how to apply them in our day. Understanding New Testament cultural backgrounds and being attentive to the context of the particular Scriptures in view, we can avoid the slippery slope of relativistic interpretations and stand of the solid ground of God's word.

When one thinks of new religious movements centered around a revolutionary and charismatic leader, one would expect its founding documents to be manifestos, doctrinal tomes, and rules of order. But a third of the New Testament is made up of personal correspondence, letters written at a particular point in time to a particular group of people dealing with particular situations. Join us as we discus...

After taking Job on a tour of the natural realm, YHWH challenges Job with two fantastical creatures. This final vision moves Job from simple repentance to a deeper understanding of and relationship with God. Join us as we take a wide-eyed look at the agents of chaos and the only God who can save us from them.

As we near the end of our discussion of the book of Job, we take a step back to examine the cosmology of the Ancient Near East and how it is used and addressed in the Hebrew Bible. Understanding the impact of the theophanic storm from which the Lord speaks and the chaos monsters Job has mentioned would have on the original readers, we are better prepared to hear what the Lord is saying when he ans...

In this episode, we examine Job's final protest and solemn oath, Elihu's function in the narrative, and what it means for the Lord to answer Job "out of the whirlwind."

In this informative and powerful sharing, we walk through a summary of the book of Job; its structure, tensions, dialogues, and difficulties. Practical and encouraging, the message of Job challenges us in our attempted definitions of God and his ways and how we should respond to suffering.

In this challenging and encouraging episode, we join Job on the ash heap of his suffering to better understand his anguished cry as he curses the day of his birth. But is it only his existence that Job curses? What do the ashes teach us and what is it that Job in his pain wishes for? The answers may surprise you.

Why did Job lose everything? Was it because he lived in fear of losing it all? Was his calamity caused by the evil archenemy we call Satan or is God simply uncaring and unsparing? What is the book of Job really about? Join us as we begin to read this masterful piece of wisdom literature in its context to understand what lessons God would have us to learn from the story of Job.

The book of Job can prove to be beautifully frustrating. We are told Job is righteous and then we watch him lose everything. His wife urges him to give up on God. Sympathetic friends pile on painful advice. Job howls to the heavens and Heaven answers. What's it all about? Join us as we begin our journey into this wild piece of wisdom literature.

In this episode, we dive head first into the most read wisdom literature of them all, the book of Proverbs. Join us as we examine the purpose of proverbs, the unique features of wisdom genre, and the rich poetic means the inspired writers used to bring God's guidance to our lives.

God promises to give wisdom to all who ask it of Him in faith. What does it mean to pray for wisdom "with no doubting"? In this powerful and practical session, we discuss what wisdom is, why we need it, and how it is that we can live in its stabilizing blessing because of the goodness of God.