Orthodocs.faith

In this episode John and Ron dive into the core of the problem of evil.  They consider the "argument from evil"—an argument that because of evil God cannot exist as Christians describe God—and they offer the free will defense as an answer.

In this episode Ron and John sort out what good and evil are.  They conclude by examining an episode where Jesus' disciples demand to know: why did this particular bad thing happen?

Ron and John begin a four-episode series on what is traditionally called "the problem of evil." In this episode, we lay the groundwork for a conversation that deals with the problem of accounting for evil things that happen in the world around us given what we say we believe about God.

In this second of two interim summer episodes, Ron and John take a look at Mark 2, where Jesus heals a man who was paralyzed. What Jesus says and does next when the man is lowered through the roof in order to reach him is unexpected, intriguing, and even scandalous.

In this interim episode at the end of summer, 2021, John and Ron ask: why is it so important that Jesus turns water into wine early in the Gospel of John?

How does the story end? Ron and John conclude their survey of Jonah as we find Jonah and God in conversation for the first time. Through their dialogue we see Jonah's motivations, God's heart, and the big lesson of the story.

Jonah survived his encounter with the sea in chapter 2. What happens next? Ron and John follow Jonah to his next destination and explore the startling events that now happen on land.

In the second chapter of Jonah, the fact that the prophet spends three days and three nights in the belly of a fish is not the only surprising development. Ron and John take a deep dive into what Jonah has to say as he ponders his predicament. 

Ron and John begin a new series through the book of Jonah. In this episode, we introduce the book with a look at its background and setting, what kind of story it is, and how the drama gets underway in chapter 1. 

On May 2, Ron and John joined Dr. Doug Fox, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Irving, Texas, for a live discussion in their worship service. Our focus was the Bible as a single story and the importance of reading the Old and New Testaments together. We hope you enjoy this "live episode" as much as we did!

This episode concludes our series through the Book of Philippians with chapter 4. Paul exhorts the Philippians to rejoice as he does, experiencing God' peace in all circumstances.

Our series in Philippians continues in chapter 3, where we learn that next to knowing Christ, everything else is valueless in comparison. Ron and John explore this crucial point that Paul makes and how he makes it, along with a further look at how he appeals to the Roman Philippians as citizens of heaven.

Ron and John continue in Philippians with chapter 2, including a discussion of how this chapter instructs Christians in both beliefs and behavior. The person and example of Jesus Christ are at the very center of what the apostle Paul has to say to both the Philippian church and to modern Christians today.

In this first of four episodes surveying the Book of Philippians, Ron and John explore the unique background of Philippi as it relates to understanding Paul’s letter and dive into the first chapter.

Ron and John conclude their survey of the Bible with a review of the final books of the New Testament and a brief look at the process by which the Christian Bible was recognized as scripture by Christians.

We continue our survey through the Bible to follow the core story into the New Testament. As the long-awaited Messiah comes and the good news spreads, the work that God began in and through Israel advances. Ron and John discuss the four gospels and the Book of Acts as the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus take center stage.

Ron and John conclude the Old Testament portion of their survey through the Bible. We talk about King David, some history of the Israelite kingdoms that followed him, the prophets that spoke to those kingdoms and their neighbors, and the poetry that reflected on life with God.

The story continues as God works through Moses and his successors in Israel to fulfill a promise to redeem humankind. Ron and John survey the books of Exodus through the reign of Saul in 1 Samuel.

Ron and John begin a five-episode survey of the biblical story's basic outline. We start with an introduction to the Bible itself and a look back to the beginning—the Book of Genesis.

Ron and John conclude the series Prepare the Way with a look at two faithful followers of God who worshiped continuously as they waited for their Savior. When they saw him, they knew that God had fulfilled his promise to comfort and to restore humankind. We can learn much from their worship, waiting, and witness. For information about our companion eBook for this series, Prepare the Way, visit the...

In this episode, Ron and John take a close look at the classic nativity story in Luke 2. The fulfillment of God’s promise in Isaiah 40 bursts into the world as heaven sings! For information about our companion eBook for this series, Prepare the Way, visit the store at orthodocs.faith/shop .

In the second episode of our series “Prepare the Way,” Ron and John show how Isaiah 40 is a key setting for how the gospels introduce Jesus. We look specifically at Matthew 3:1-12 and listen to the “voice of one calling” humankind to “prepare the way.” That voice is John the Baptist’s, and its connection to Isaiah sheds important light on the person and mission of Jesus.

Ron and John introduce Isaiah 40, a magnificent chapter with dual themes of comfort and hope on one hand and the majesty of God on the other. This key passage is a foundation upon which all four New Testament gospel writers introduce the life and ministry of Jesus. Many Christians will recognize it, and all Christians should know why it is so significant.

In a light-hearted episode, John and Ron look back at season 1 of their podcast -- and forward to season 2.

We have examined where hope was fixed in the biblical story and how that informs us as we think about where our hope belongs today. In this final episode of Ultimate Hope Has a Name, Ron and John describe how early Christians focused all the hopes of ancient Israel on the individual Jesus. How did they know that Jesus was the answer to their ancient hope? Where exactly should we place our hope for...