Dwell On These Things

1 Samuel 16 begins with grief. Samuel is mourning over Saul, the king God has rejected because of his persistent disobedience. Saul remains on Israel’s throne, but God has already announced that his kingdom won’t continue. Israel’s first king looked impressive, began with promise, and experienced significant victories, but his heart repeatedly turned away from God’s word. ....

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website. . If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange . The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh . T...

In 1 Samuel 11, Saul’s reign begins with a rescue. Nahash the Ammonite surrounds Jabesh-gilead and offers its people a cruel choice. They can surrender only if he gouges out every man’s right eye and brings disgrace upon all Israel. The elders ask for seven days to seek help, and messengers carry the news through Israel. When the report reaches Gibeah, the people weep out loud. Their t...

1 Samuel 8–10 records Israel’s transition from the leadership of judges to the establishment of a monarchy. The people asked Samuel to appoint a king, God warned them about the consequences, and Saul was eventually chosen and publicly presented. These chapters expose Israel’s misplaced desire for security while also showing God’s sovereign hand at work. Israel wanted a king...

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website. . If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange . The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh . T...

The opening chapters of 1 Samuel present two very different responses to God. Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as priests but treated God’s commands with contempt. Samuel was still a boy, but he learned to listen when God spoke. One group possessed religious authority without knowing God, while Samuel came to know God through His revealed word. . Please visit https://www.biblest...

The book of 1 Samuel begins during an important transition in Israel’s history. The period of the judges is coming to an end, and Israel will soon begin asking for a king. Before the book introduces us to Samuel, Saul, or David, however, it introduces us to a woman named Hannah. Her story begins with sorrow, moves through prayer and faith, and concludes with one of the great songs of praise...

Every believer lives with a tension between what is and what will be. We know Christ has saved us, yet we still live in a world marked by sin, grief, sickness, conflict, disappointment, and death. We experience God’s presence, but we don’t yet see Him face to face. We enjoy His blessings, but we also feel the limitations of life in a fallen world. Revelation 21 and 22 take us to the en...

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website. . If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange . The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh . T...

Most people like the idea that their lives have purpose. We want to believe that our abilities, experiences, opportunities, and relationships can contribute to something larger than ourselves. Scripture affirms that desire, but it also redirects it. Our gifts weren’t given primarily so we could build our own reputation. They were given so we could serve others and bring glory to God. . Pleas...

One of the clearest signs that we understand the heart of God is the way we treat people. It’s possible to know a great deal about theology, attend church faithfully, memorize Scripture, and still struggle to love others well. We can become skilled at discussing truth while remaining impatient, harsh, unforgiving, or self-centered. I recently read an account of a man who was telling an emplo...

Many people think of obedience as the opposite of joy. Obedience can sound restrictive, demanding, or burdensome. Joy, by contrast, sounds freeing and satisfying. Our culture often teaches us that happiness comes from following our desires, resisting limitations, and choosing our own path. Jesus presents a different vision. In John 15, He teaches that obedience doesn’t rob us of joy. Obedien...

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website. . If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange . The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh . T...

Most people are attempting to find joy, but I don’t think they really understand what they’re looking for.  Real joy is a sincere contentment in Christ regardless of our circumstances.  Happiness isn’t the same as joy.  Happiness is dependent on what’s going on around us.  I’m not opposed to being happy, but if I had to pick between happiness and j...

One of the greatest misconceptions about Christianity is that it's primarily about learning a set of beliefs or following a list of rules. Biblical truth and obedience to God’s Word absolutely matter, but there’s more to the Christian life than some people realize. The Christian life isn't just about acquiring information and doing the right things. At its core, it’s about enteri...

There are few questions more important than this: Why am I here? Every generation wrestles with that question. Some spend their lives pursuing success, believing they'll find purpose through achievement. Others chase wealth, relationships, influence, or experiences, hoping one more accomplishment will finally satisfy the longing inside their hearts. Yet even after reaching their goals, many discov...

The book of Revelation is the grand finale of Scripture. It makes known to us God's sovereign plan for history and assures believers that Jesus Christ is and will be victorious. The book was written by the apostle John while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. It’s a book that was given to help strengthen persecuted believers while at the same time remind every generation that no matter h...

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website. . If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange . The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh . T...

Luke 15 contains three parables that reveal God's heart for lost people. Jesus tells of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and finally a lost son. The third story is often called the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but it could just as accurately be called the Parable of the Loving Father. And even though the younger son in this passage usually receives the bulk of our attention, Jesus intentionally highligh...

The Bible begins in a garden. It ends in a city. Between those two settings, the story of humanity unfolds. Sin enters the world, relationships fracture, creation groans, death spreads, and people spend their lives longing for something better. Every single one of us knows instinctively that things aren't the way they're supposed to be. Revelation 21 gives us a glimpse of the day when God will mak...

If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Revelation 20 brings us to one of the most significant prophetic passages in all of Scripture. After Christ's glorious return in Revelation 19, John is shown what follows: Satan's imprisonment, Christ's thousand-year reign on earth, Satan's final rebellion, and the Great White Throne Judgment. These verses answer some of the biggest questions pe...

Today, I’m excited to welcome a very special guest to the podcast, Paulo Silas Pereira, known to soccer fans around the world simply as Silas. Silas rose from very humble beginnings in Brazil, overcoming childhood sickness and poverty to eventually represent Brazil in two World Cups, in 1986 and 1990. Over the course of his remarkable career, he played professionally across four continents,...

In our culture, we tend to call marriage suppers “wedding receptions.” In recent weeks, I have been to several, and they’ve all been beautiful. The food was great. The music was festive. The conversations were cheerful, but our greatest joy was in who was there.  Just imagine, according to Revelation 19, there is going to be a day when we will experience a festive, joyful me...

Revelation 18 presents one of the most dramatic scenes in all of Scripture. Babylon, the great world system that has exalted itself against God, is suddenly destroyed. Its wealth collapses. Its influence disappears. We’re told that its power evaporates in a single hour. The kings of the earth mourn. The merchants weep. The nations stand shocked at the speed of its downfall. But while the wor...

One of the most touching moments in the earthly ministry of Jesus involves a desperate mother who refused to stop praying for her child. She wasn’t famous, powerful, or even part of the nation of Israel, but she loved her daughter deeply, and she believed Jesus could help. In many ways, this passage reminds us of the kind of strength God has often placed within mothers. Long before others re...