Basically Biblical

In this video, I respond to the recent public statements made by Bethel Church leadership (Dann Farrelly, Kris Vallotton, and Bill Johnson) during their Sunday morning service regarding Shawn Bolz. I want to say this clearly from the outset: this was a good start. I was genuinely surprised by the tone and content of their statements — and at the same time, cautiously hopeful. Public acknowledgment...

In these chapters, Paul shifts from encouragement to instruction, calling believers to live holy lives that please God—especially in matters of love, integrity, and self-control. He addresses questions about the return of Christ, offering hope to those grieving and assurance that the Lord will return bodily and victoriously. Paul closes with a reminder to stay spiritually alert, encouraging believ...

In this video, I respond to comments from my previous videos—everything from genuine, thoughtful pushback to arguments based on things I never actually said. I also address some common misunderstandings and engage with critics who approach the conversation from very different worldviews. The goal here isn’t to “win,” but to clarify what I believe, correct misrepresentations, and interact honestly...

In these opening chapters of 1 Thessalonians, Paul reflects with gratitude on the genuine faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian church. Despite persecution and suffering, their faith has become an example to other believers. Paul also shares his deep pastoral concern, reminding them that trials are not a sign of God’s absence but a normal part of following Christ. Timothy’s encouraging report...

In Colossians, Paul confronts false teaching by lifting our eyes to the greatness of Christ. Jesus is presented as supreme over all creation, the head of the church, and the one in whom the fullness of God dwells. Because believers have been raised with Christ, they are called to put off the old life and put on the new—marked by holiness, love, wisdom, and gratitude. The letter ends with practical...

Written from prison, Philippians is Paul’s letter of joy in unlikely circumstances. He reminds believers that gospel partnership is worth suffering for, that humility is modeled perfectly in Christ, and that true contentment is found not in comfort but in Christ Himself. From the famous Christ-hymn of chapter 2 to Paul’s testimony of counting all things as loss, this letter calls Christians to liv...

It’s a phrase we hear every January—but for most people, it doesn’t last. Why do spiritual resolutions fade so quickly? Why does motivation disappear by February? And what does the Bible actually say about real, lasting change? In this episode of Basically Biblical, we take a hard look at the popular “New Year, New Me” mindset and compare it with the gospel. Scripture doesn’t promise a better vers...

In the second half of Ephesians, Paul turns from doctrine to daily life. Because believers have been made new in Christ, they are called to walk in unity, put off the old self, and live in holiness and love. Paul addresses relationships within the church, the home, and society, grounding every command in the lordship of Christ. He closes with a powerful call to stand firm in spiritual warfare, rem...

In the opening half of Ephesians, Paul lifts our eyes to the sweeping scope of God’s plan in Christ. He praises God for choosing, redeeming, and sealing believers through Jesus, emphasizing that salvation is entirely by grace through faith. Paul then reveals the mystery once hidden—that Jews and Gentiles are now united as one body in Christ. These chapters ground the Christian life not in effort,...

In these closing chapters of Galatians, Paul moves from doctrine to daily life. He reminds believers that they are no longer slaves but sons and daughters of God, adopted through Christ. True freedom, Paul explains, is not permission to sin but the power to live by the Spirit. He contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit and calls the church to bear one another’s burdens, sow f...

In these opening chapters of Galatians, Paul confronts a crisis at the heart of the church: the distortion of the gospel. He forcefully reminds the Galatians that salvation comes by grace through faith, not by works of the law. Paul defends his apostolic calling, recounts his confrontation with Peter, and points back to Abraham as proof that God has always justified His people by faith. The law, P...

In these final chapters, Paul defends his apostleship by doing something completely unexpected—boasting in his weakness. He recounts his sufferings, hardships, and even a mysterious “thorn in the flesh,” showing that true spiritual authority is marked by dependence on Christ, not outward success or strength. Paul warns the Corinthians against false apostles and calls them to examine their faith. T...

In these chapters, Paul opens his heart about the joy he felt when the Corinthian church responded with genuine repentance. He distinguishes between godly grief, which leads to life and restoration, and worldly grief, which brings only regret. Paul then turns to the theme of generosity, holding up the Macedonian churches as an example of joyful, sacrificial giving. He reminds the Corinthians that...

In these chapters, Paul pulls back the curtain on what it really means to follow Jesus in a broken world. He describes believers as jars of clay—fragile, ordinary vessels carrying the extraordinary treasure of the gospel. Though we face suffering, decay, and spiritual opposition, Paul reminds us that our hope is anchored in eternity. He explains that in Christ we are new creations, reconciled to G...

In these opening chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul writes with deep vulnerability. He reflects on suffering, comfort, integrity in ministry, and the unwavering faithfulness of God. Paul explains that all of God’s promises find their “Yes” in Christ, and he points to the Holy Spirit as the seal of our salvation. He then contrasts the old covenant—marked by fading glory—with the new covenant of the Sp...

These chapters bring Paul’s letter to a powerful climax. He defines love not as sentiment but as self-giving action—the essential mark of Christian maturity. Then Paul anchors the entire faith in the historical, bodily resurrection of Jesus. Without the resurrection, our faith collapses; with it, our hope is unshakable. Paul closes with practical instructions for giving, standing firm in the faith...

In these chapters, Paul warns the church by using Israel’s failures as a reminder that spiritual privilege does not equal spiritual maturity. Temptation is real, but God always provides a way out. Paul then calls believers to do everything for the glory of God—even ordinary acts like eating and drinking. Moving into chapter 12, Paul describes the church as one body with many members, uniquely gift...

In these chapters, Paul gives practical and pastoral wisdom for Christians navigating relationships, marriage, and singleness in a world shaped by confusion and pressure. He reminds believers that their identity in Christ is what matters most—whatever situation they’re in, they are called to live faithfully right where God has placed them. Paul then addresses Christian freedom, urging believers no...

In these chapters, Paul challenges the Corinthians to rethink what true Christian maturity looks like. Leaders are servants, not celebrities—and God will ultimately judge the motives of every heart. Paul then confronts serious sin in the church and rebukes them for tolerating what even the surrounding culture found shocking. He calls believers to pursue holiness, settle disputes within the church,...

Paul opens his letter to the Corinthian church by confronting their deep divisions and reminding them that the gospel—not personalities, preferences, or human wisdom—is the center of Christian identity. He contrasts the “wisdom of the world” with the wisdom of God revealed through the cross. Paul then explains that spiritual maturity comes from building on the foundation of Jesus Christ alone, not...

In these chapters, Paul proclaims the stunning accessibility of salvation—“everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” He wrestles with Israel’s unbelief, celebrates God’s plan to bring the nations into His family, and then urges believers to live transformed lives shaped by mercy. Romans 12 shifts from theology to practice, calling Christians to offer themselves as living sacrifice...

These chapters take us deep into the inner struggle of the believer, the power of the Spirit, and the sovereignty of God in salvation. Paul describes the tension between wanting to obey God and wrestling with the flesh, leading into the triumphant reality of Romans 8—life in the Spirit, adoption as God’s children, and the unshakeable love of Christ. Romans 9 then turns to God’s sovereign purposes...

In these chapters, Paul builds on the foundation of God’s saving grace by showing that justification has always been by faith—even Abraham was counted righteous apart from works. Paul then explains the breathtaking implications of this truth: believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. That means we are no longer slaves to sin but empowered to walk in newness of life. Romans 4–...

Paul opens his letter to the Romans with some of the most foundational truths in all of Scripture. He declares that the gospel is God’s power for salvation—good news we desperately need because both Gentiles and Jews alike stand guilty before a holy God. In these chapters, Paul reveals humanity’s universal problem: sin has corrupted every one of us. But he also begins to unveil the solution: right...

As Acts comes to a close, Paul stands before Festus and King Agrippa, boldly proclaiming the truth of Christ even while in chains. Choosing to appeal to Caesar sets the stage for his dramatic voyage to Rome—complete with storms, shipwreck, and a snake bite that would’ve taken out anyone but a man on God’s mission. When Paul finally reaches Rome, he spends his days preaching the Kingdom of God unhi...