Four Oaks Midtown Podcast

As Peter is in the courtyard of the high priest, he is questioned regarding his identity as a disciple. Just as Jesus foretold, Peter denies him three times.  

Proverbs 8-9 portrays wisdom as a woman to underscore the beauty and attractiveness of walking righteously. The feminine personification of wisdom draws out  the subtle way wisdom persuades through words rather than direct masculine force. Wisdom serves as a queen alongside a king providing counsel, insight, and knowledge so that he might rule wisely. God created mankind to rule over creation as k...

As Jesus is betrayed by Judas, arrested in the garden, and questioned before the Sanhedrin, he reminds us these events have purpose and must be fulfilled as Scripture says. 

Jesus withdraws to pray before his betrayal and invites the disciples to watch and pray with him.

God rarely sends thunderbolts to discipline us for our sin. Often he lets us experience the consequences of rejecting his wisdom. God’s sovereignty doesn’t mean he prevents us from ruining our own lives. There’s nothing worse than seeing an old man at the end of life regretting his foolish decisions. The choices we make in our youth often set our lives on a course that becomes increasingly more di...

Jesus reveals his coming betrayal to the disciples and while partaking in the Passover with them, he institutes the Lord’s supper. He warns Peter of his denial and the scattering of the disciples.

There’s a reason why most sons grow up wanting to be like their dads either for good or ill. God intends for fathers and mothers to serve as examples of wisdom to the malleable minds of children. When the core unit of the family loses wisdom rooted in the fear of the Lord all of society begins to disintegrate. Proverbs frames wisdom not as an esoteric knowledge passed on by a spiritual guru to his...

If God could grant you anything in the world what would you ask for? If you’re sick you may ask for healing. If you’re poor you might ask for wealth. Or if you’re lonely you’ll ask for a romantic relationship. These are not bad things to ask for, but it should give us pause that Solomon, the primary author of Proverbs, when pressed with this exact question asks for wisdom, and “It pleased the Lord...

As Jesus prepares for the cross and the redemption of God’s people, the chief priests and elders prepare to kill Jesus, and a woman prepares him for burial by anointing him with oil. 

Jesus describes the final judgement and the separation that will occur that will reveal who belongs in the kingdom.

Jesus continues to unveil what the kingdom is like through the parable of the talents. 

Through parables, Jesus reminds the disciples that their task as followers is to anticipate and prepare themselves to be ready for the return of the Lord. 

Jesus describes to his disciples what they should expect with his second coming and warns them to not be led astray by rumors and false prophets prior to his return.

Jesus answers the disciples questions about his coming and the end of the age by evoking imagery of the end times and exhorting them to endure in the faith. 

Jesus addresses the crowds and Pharisees warning them of the necessity to be both respectful and discerning of leaders, and calling out the hypocrisy of the leaders of the day.

Jesus questions the Pharisees regarding who the Christ is and leaves them silent as he makes them consider David’s own words about the Messiah.

Jesus is tested regarding which commandment is the greatest, and responds that we are to love both God and neighbor.

Jesus responds to the question of the Sadducees regarding the resurrection by correcting the view on how to approach the scriptures. 

Jesus responds to the Pharisees and Herodians trying to trap him in a question about taxes by astounding them with his wisdom, cutting at their pride, and pointing them to the heart of the matter.

Jesus teaches us what the kingdom of heaven is like through the parable of the wedding feast. Those who respond to the invitation are met with a hopeful picture of what it means to enter the kingdom of God, as the story points forward to the great wedding feast to come. 

As Jesus’ authority is challenged by the Sanhedrin, their hardness of heart is revealed through Jesus’ questions and parables.

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, we are prompted to think back to the Garden of Eden and forward to the cross, as imagery of God dwelling with us, the command to be fruitful, and the promised Messiah are on display in Jesus returning to the temple and cursing a fig tree. 

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, he fulfills Old Testament prophesies, opening the eyes of the blind and revealing himself as the humble King. 

Jesus teaches that we are to model our authority & responsibility in the kingdom after his example, which focuses on serving others. 

Jesus describes what life in the kingdom is like through the parable of the laborers in the vineyard and reminds us that God is the gracious King.