Bible Threads With Dr. Bruce Becker

How do you handle disappointment and heartache in your life? How do you handle ridicule from others? There is much to learn from those who have experienced such challenges. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will examine the life and faith of a woman named Hannah, who set an incredible example of a woman of faith and prayer. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would y...

Have you ever heard of Shiphrah, Puah, and Jochebed? They're not the most well-known women in the Bible, but their contribution to the kingdom of God was an act of courage and faith. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will examine the lives of three Israelite women who feared the Lord God more than they feared the pharaohs of Egypt. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week,...

From hiding in a winepress to defeating a 135,000-strong army, Gideon underwent a dramatic change when the angel of the Lord came for a visit. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore the life of an Israelite man who considered himself to be the "least of these" but whom the Lord God used to rescue his people despite overwhelming odds. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of...

It's amazing how the Lord God uses people who are considered in society as "the least of these" to accomplish great and glorious things in the kingdom of God. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore the life of a Canaanite prostitute who safeguarded two Israelite spies in the city of Jericho. In return for her actions, she and her family were spared when the walls of Jericho came tumbling d...

Greatness is found through intelligence, influence, pedigree, and power, correct? Maybe from a human perspective, but not from God's perspective. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will kick off a new series in which we'll explore God's speciality of using "the least of these" to demonstrate greatness in the kingdom of God. We'll also look at who are considered "chosen ones" and how they choose to...

A menagerie is a collection of animals. Today's episode is quite the menagerie! In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore the significance of five eclectic animals in the Bible - the owl, the chicken (even though the actual word "chicken" never occurs in the Bible), the camel, the behemoth, and the leviathan. What a strange menagerie! If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of yo...

You won't find the Dragon and the two Beasts at your local zoo, but we need to know about them. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will dive into the apocalyptic writing of the Book of Revelation to examine who the Dragon and Beasts are and what they seek to accomplish. Spoiler alert! They're coming after us. But don't worry, Jesus has already defeated them! If you enjoy this podcast and make it a...

How often do you look in the mirror and see yourself as a sheep? Not often, I imagine. But that's how Jesus sees you. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will examine three different categories of sheep in the Bible—economic, religious, and symbolic. In the symbolic category, we learn why our God compares us to sheep and how the Good Shepherd cares for us, his sheep.  If you enjoy this podcast and m...

In our last episode, we met a talking donkey. In this episode, we meet a talking snake. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore what the Bible has to say about snakes, will explain the difference between snakes, serpents, and vipers, and will introduce us to real snakes, symbolic snakes, and the worst snake of all. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you...

What do donkeys, horses, mules, and zebras have in common? Have you ever heard of the Bible's lost donkeys and a talking donkey? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore what the Bible has to say about donkeys and the amazing truth about God's providence and plans revealed through two special donkeys. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helpi...

The Bible has many fish stories: from the first plague in Egypt to the huge fish that swallowed Jonah and all the fish stories involving Jesus and his disciples. And not a one of these fish stories is a "whopper." In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore what the Bible has to say about fish, fishermen, and fishing in addition to explaining the well-known fish symbol for Christianity. If you...

What's the difference between an eagle and a vulture? What are the characteristics of eagles? What are the multiple analogies the Bible uses for eagles? Which analogy is the most comforting? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore what the Bible has to say about eagles and what we can be assured of when we see an eagle soaring in the sky. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part...

In our world today, the most prominent symbol for Christianity is the cross. It hasn't always been. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore the importance of doves, what they symbolized, and which dove is the most famous one of all. If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Thank you! About "Taboo Questions With Pasto...

Flesh and blood lions, lions in the temple and palace, lion metaphors, and the Lion of Judah - all are found in the Bible. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explore the characteristics (especially the roar of a lion), the activities, and the symbolism of lions in the Bible.  If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of your week, would you consider helping us with your support? Tha...

We’re starting a new series called “At the Zoo.” In this series, we’ll be exploring the characteristics, the activities, and the symbolism of the top ten animals in the Bible. In this first episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will explain why he considers the lamb to be the #1 animal in his top ten list. There is an Old Testament reason and a New Testament one. And they both have something in common.  If yo...

A red dragon wants to devour a newborn male. War breaks out in the spiritual realm. Satan is defeated but continues to wage war against the members of Christ's church. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker will unpack Revelation, chapter 12 that describes Satan's grand plan to take out Jesus and his work, to defeat Christ's church, and to assault the members of Christ's church. NO FEAR! With his death...

Lying isn't all that serious, is it?  In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to a war zone involving Ananias, Sapphira, the apostle Peter, and Satan. This is the third war zone in this series where we see Satan influencing human hearts. Satan tempted Ananias and Sapphira to lie about something that was initially good and right. Sadly, we hear about the consequences of their lie and how God may...

The devil is like a skilled boxer. He has a one-two punch. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to Jerusalem during what we know as Holy Week. During that week, "Satan entered Judas" on two different occasions to influence Judas to betray Jesus. Dr. Becker will explain what that refers to and how it is different from the many examples in the New Testament of demon possession. If Satan can en...

The devil never plays fair. He likes to serve up his temptations when we are the weakest. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to a desert war zone where the devil tempted Jesus who was fasting for a period of 40 days and 40 nights. Although the devil tempted Jesus throughout the 40 days, both gospel authors, Matthew and Luke, focus on three specific temptations. With each temptation, Jesus...

Satan is a prosecuting attorney. He likes to bring charges against God's people. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to a war zone where, in a vision, the prophet Zechariah witnesses a courtroom scene. Joshua the High Priest, dressed in filthy clothes, is accused by Satan of being unworthy to stand in the presence of a holy God. The angel of the Lord comes to Joshua's defense, declares him...

Can Satan put thoughts into our minds? Yes. He can and he does. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to a war zone where the man, whom the Bible calls "a man after God's own heart," experienced a deadly downfall. King David was seduced by Satan into taking a forbidden census. As a result, David and the people of Israel experienced the consequences of David's foolish actions. Yet, as the stor...

Satan comes into the presence of the Lord God? Really? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to a war zone where the greatest man living at that time found himself in Satan's crosshairs. Satan wanted to inflict misery on Job to make Job curse God. There are two big takeaways in this episode, one about Satan and one about the Lord God.   If you enjoy this podcast and make it a regular part of...

Who are the "sons of God" and the "Nephilim" in Genesis chapter 6? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker explores this challenging question. The world was full of evil during the days of Noah, 120 years prior to when the Lord God destroyed the world through a worldwide flood. And who was behind this evil? The devil and other rebel angels. Fortunately, the devil has been defeated by Jesus, and we are e...

How much do like snakes? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker explores the snakes in the Bible as a prelude for the war zone in the Garden of Eden that involved a snake, the devil, and our first parents, Adam and Eve. The devil used the snake to deceive Eve into doubting God's Truth and God's Love. The result of being snake bit by the devil was deadly for Adam and Eve and for us too. But, although th...

At various times and places in the Bible, the devil shows up to wage war against God's people. God's people can find themselves in a War Zone doing battle with the devil. Thankfully, we wear the full armor of God. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker explores the origin of the devil which was good, but what followed was bad. The devil is an example of a good supernatural entity gone bad. Although the...