17:17 Podcast

After Judas was nixed, we know another apostle was added...but who was it: Matthias or Paul?  In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through arguments for Matthias and for Paul as the 12th apostle cited in Revelation as judging over the 12 tribes of Israel in the New Jerusalem. We look at various Scriptures and arguments for each man and come to a couple different conclusions. We...

Nimrod is a little mentioned man in the Bible, yet when digging through history, we find that he may have had a huge impact on many biblical events. Was he a good or evil man? Why does it matter? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through the history of Nimrod in the Bible, how he likely wasn't a good "mighty hunter," and a deep dive into outside sources that ma...

There is rejoicing in heaven when a sinner is saved, but are they aware of other earthly events? Do passed loved ones look over us while we are on Earth? Do they hear us when we talk at their gravesite? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question regarding how involved people who are in heaven are in things happening on Earth. We look through examples of tal...

We are told to love our enemies, but also pursue justice for those who do wrong. How do we balance those two things that seem so opposed to one another? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question from 2 Thessalonians about the biblical mandate to love our enemies, how God is the true bringer of justice, and how to seek earthly justice while still praying fo...

Do Christians have a responsibility to vote? How should we react if our candidate gets elected? What if the other party wins? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through how Christians should act around election time, including a discussion on how we ought to view voting and how we can avoid viewing our President as our savior. We hope that this episode is helpful for you in na...

It's almost election time...who are you going to vote for? Better question: Who SHOULD you vote for? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through the two different primary presidental candidates and their corresponding platforms to give a biblical take on who a Christian should be voting for on November 4th. We know that politics and religion can get very controversial, but...

Many relationships today are being compromised by pornography usage. Is this considered adultery? Is it a good reason to get divorced? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a very sensitive listener question about what do to with pornography use in a marriage and if divorce is the solution. We acknowledge that this topic will resonate with a number of listeners and we hop...

Really? Every animal in the world on one big boat? How did they fit and how did he chase them all down? How did he get across the ocean? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through another common question that arises from the narrative of Genesis to discuss how Noah could have fit all the animals onto the ark. We look at arguments from skeptics and address them with Scripture a...

We all know the story of Cain killing Abel, but where did Cain find his wife after that? How many people were on the Earth at this point and how did they get there? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through another common question that arises from the narrative of Genesis to discuss how the sons of Adam got their wives. We look through how God ordained marriage between siblin...

The oldest man in the Bible was 969 years old, but now the average lifespan is just past 70 years old. What changed?  In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a common question that arises from the narrative of Genesis to discuss why people lived so long around the time of the Flood and why things changed. There are many theories as to how this happened, so we dive into each...

It's easy to admit we need God when our life is in shambles, but what about when things are going really well? We know we "need" God, but how do we do that when it doesn't feel like we do? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question on this week's podcast around the topic of what it means to need God when things are going well in our...

Do we have a right to be offended? Should we be outraged when God is mocked? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through how Christians should respond to sin being paraded around publicly (such as the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics). We look at how Jesus responded to personal attacks and how God deals with mockery to get a biblical framework for how we ought to respond...

What the heck is this place and why does it matter? Is it just another name for hell? Did Jesus descend to hell after He died? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question to look at where people went after death before Jesus died on the cross. We look at Sheol and Hades and compare the two, as well as debunking myths about what Jesus did after dying on the c...

In a little different vein than normal, we take a look at the life of a retired pastor, mathematician, and Air Force veteran to see how God has worked in his life and lessons he has learned along the way. Our hope is that this testimony is a blessing to you! The 17:17 podcast is a ministry of Roseville Baptist Church (MN) that seeks to tackle cultural issues and societal questions from a biblical...

Every church in America has encouraged its members to join a small group. Many churches even help in the process, but are small groups even necessary? How should they be done to be beneficial and sustainable? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and guest host Jordan Rossler talk through the importance of meeting with other believers by diving into Scripture and allowing the Word to set the framework...

With obesity at an all-time high, is it something that is actually a sin issue? What role does our physical well-being play in godliness? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through obesity and whether or not it is a sin issue. We talk through this nuanced topic and provide some Scripture that targets some of the root causes of being overweight and help decipher what is and wha...

With the recent Trump assassination attempt, we saw video of women in the Secret Service who were willing to take a bullet for the former President. It got people talking about women being in any kind of combat role at all. Should they be? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through the idea of women fighting in combat. We look at the history of this idea in America (its much n...

A phrase that has all sorts of definitions, what the heck is Christian Nationalism? Is it okay to love God and country? Where is the line? Should Christians advocate the fusing of nation and religion? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through the idea of Christian Nationalism. In the season of Independence Day and a big upcoming Presidential election, the idea of Christian Na...

Unlike our normal shows, we went a different direction to give listeners a look behind the curtain of their podcast hosts. This week, Pastor Jackie Hill goes solo to share his personal testimony of how Jesus has worked in his life to bring God glory. We hope that his testimony would be an encouragement to you!

Unlike our normal shows, we went a different direction to give listeners a look behind the curtain of their podcast hosts. This week, Pastor Derek Ambroson goes solo to share his personal testimony of how Jesus has worked in his life to bring God glory. We hope that his testimony would be an encouragement to you!

Paul says it is a "gift" to be single...but does it really feel that way? Does God actually call people to singleness? What do you do if you are single but still have a strong desire to get married? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through the concept of singleness. In American churches today, it can seem like many ministries are geared towards couples and families...

With Father's Day just passing us by, we hope to help you appreciate all the fathers out there! In a culture with rampant fatherlessness (and many statistics that show the tragic impact), its important that we look at the Bible for how us fathers should be living! On today’s podcast, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through what a godly father should look like. We take a look at attributes...

What should life look like if a couple can't have kids? What if they married late or are unable to physically have children? What is their role in the church? Is God punishing them? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through a listener question regarding childlessness (or being childfree, depending on perspective). We look through examples in Scripture of couples who were...

We hear so much about Joseph when Jesus is born, but almost nothing throughout the rest of Scripture? What the heck happened to the guy? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through a listener question regarding Jesus' earthly father. We look through every Scripture that Joseph is mentioned in to paint a picture of his character and legacy, while also trying to discern why...

Does Flat Earth theory have any basis? Is this an example of the Bible and science contradicting? Does the Bible ever explicitly state what shape the Earth is? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through a listener question regarding flat earth theory. We look at the history of beliefs on the shape of the Earth as well as some observational evidence presented out there. We then...