Jesus Changes People

Paul skips his regular thankfulness for those he’s writing to and launches right into reprimanding the Galatians. He does so because the Galatians are in danger of rejecting the gospel for a phony, knock-off message. Paul loves them too much to let that happen. And he’ll even speak hard words to keep them from fully deserting God and the gospel message. Mike and Ken discuss Paul’s rebuke and how i...

Paul shifts from giving his credentials to blessing the Galatians. Every word of his blessing is loaded with meaning. And Paul is sharing it to remind the Galatians they’ve been set free because of what Jesus did and not what they do by living under rules and regulations. Ken and Mike go word by word through Paul’s blessing and help us see what it meant for the Galatians, and what it means for us....

Paul opens his letter in a brief, formal, terse, to the point sort of way. He’s concerned for the Galatian churches and he wants to get right to the point. His first matter of business is to give his credentials as to why he’s qualified to write this letter, and that he has support from others to do so. Mike and Ken learned during their season on the book of Colossians not to take too many of Paul...

Ken and Mike wade into another one of Paul’s letters for season 8. The book of Galatians is all about how to be and live free. Before looking at the early verses of the letter, the guys spend some time laying groundwork to help us better understand what we’ll be reading. They discuss the author Paul; the backstory involving Paul and the Galatians; why Paul writes this letter; and what major themes...

Mike and Ken discuss the sixth and final characteristic about Jesus found in Micah 5:2-5a. Jesus is peace differs from God, man, king, and shepherd, but is like life. The guys define this characteristic, look at where it’s found in the Bible, and how knowing that Jesus is peace makes a difference in our lives. A listener asks the guys if there will be a season 8, and they share how contract negoti...

Ken and Mike discuss the fifth characteristic about Jesus found in Micah 5:2-5a. Jesus is life is a different type of characteristic from the previous of God, man, king, and shepherd. The guys define this characteristic, look at where it’s found in the Bible, and how knowing that Jesus is life makes a difference in our lives. A listener asks the guys for ideas to grow in their relationship with Je...

A new year causes many of us to pause and reflect on the previous year. And then turn our attention to what might lie ahead in the next. In this rewind episode, Mike and Ken discuss why it’s important to reflect on past events, the trouble with New Year’s resolutions, and offer some practices to help get the year started off on the right foot. Also, there is a new listener question for this episod...

What better Christmas tradition than to gather around the Christmas tree or fireplace with a cup of hot coco and listen to Ken and Mike answer Christmas questions from listeners? Who knows, it might become a new yearly tradition? Or not. All the same, the guys have created a third best of with questions not featured in volume 1 or 2. Every question is a Christmas question and 1 of the 5 is brand n...

Mike and Ken discuss the fourth characteristic about Jesus found in Micah 5:2-5a. It’s not baaa-d because it’s that Jesus is shepherd. Their conversation includes defining this characteristic, looking at where it’s found in the Bible, and how knowing that Jesus is shepherd makes a difference in our lives. A listener wants to know what form of travel the guys would have used in making their way to...

In this episode, Ken and Mike tackle the third characteristic about Jesus found in Micah 5:2-5a. The fact that Jesus is king. Their conversation includes defining this characteristic, looking at where it’s found in the Bible, and how knowing that Jesus is king makes a difference in our lives. A listener asks the guys to settle the debate of whether Christmas decorating should happen before or afte...

Mike and Ken venture into season 7, which is a special Christmas season. They will be pulling characteristics of who Jesus is from Micah 5:2-5a. In this episode, they lay some groundwork for the season and then discuss Jesus as God and man. The conversation includes defining these characteristics, looking at where they’re found in the Bible, and how knowing these elements about Jesus makes a diffe...

Ken and Mike review some of the key elements from season 6’s trip through the book of Esther. They break their discussion down into the three types of people found allegorically in this book. These types are non-Christians, fleshly Christians, and spiritual Christians. Also, it’s Jesus Changes People’s 100th episode! As you can imagine, the bunny trails abound. And a listener asks the guys to give...

The day when both edicts of Haman, Esther, and Mordecai go into effect has arrived. What will happen to the Jews and those opposed to them? Will King Xerxes remain in power when this day ends? Join Ken and Mike as they discuss these events and the allegorical picture they paint for us of how we live life in the Spirit. They point out that life in the Spirit is not passive, watches for true outcome...

With Haman out of the picture, what should be done with his estate and the decree to destroy, kill, and annihilate the Jews? Xerxes has some decisions to make. How’s he going to clean up the mess left by Haman? Join Mike and Ken as they discuss the allegorical pictures found in the kingdom's cleanup. Their conversation focuses on how a life switches from flesh as a ruling force to the Holy Sp...

Esther finally unmasks Haman. She tells the King about Haman’s plot to destroy, kill and annihilate her and her people. Xerxes is so unhappy he gets up and leaves his wine at the table. Now that says something for a guy that threw a 187 day party! Join Ken and Mike as they discuss the events of Haman’s unmasking and demise. And how these events help us see the way we’re to deal with the flesh in o...

King Xerxes can’t sleep, so he has the book of the chronicles read to him. He discovers that Mordecai saved his life. How did he forget in the first place? Mordecai wasn’t honored for this heroism. So what to do? Ask Haman how to honor his archenemy! How’s this going to turn out? Join Mike and Ken as they discuss how the realization of our life being saved affects us; the king missing Haman’s true...

In this chapter, lives are on the line. Esther risks her life to approach the king, and Haman concocts a plan to kill Mordecai. What will happen to these two main characters? Join Ken and Mike, as they discuss how human free will is respected by God and won’t be forcibly overridden; and also what might be behind the two delays Esther makes in her great reveal about Haman to the king. A listener wa...

Mordecai catches wind of Haman’s plot. In response, he tares his clothes, and changes into sackcloth and ashes, and then weeps loudly and bitterly. He and Esther pass messages back and forth, using Hathak as their messenger. The chapter ends with everyone fasting for Esther, who plans to risk her life going before the King. Join Mike and Ken as they discuss Godly grief; when we feel we’ve don’t so...

Haman enters the scene and immediately goes toe to toe with Mordecai. He hates him so much that he doesn’t just want to hurt Mordecai, but kill him and all his people. When does he want to do this? He’s not sure, so he roles dice to figure it out. Join Ken and Mike as they dig into Haman’s history and the war between the flesh and Spirit. They also discuss what really makes Christians free to make...

With no queen, King Xerxes is sad and lonely staring out his window. He’s remembering his days with Vashti, but those are long gone and can never happen again because of his decree. Well, what better way to make the blues go away than to hold a beauty pageant to find a new queen? Join Mike and Ken as they discuss how being dead spiritually is like a vacuum that sucks the life out of anything; how...

Chapter 1 of Esther begins with a bang. It lets us know that King Xerxes third year of ruling over the provinces stretching from India to Cush includes a 187 day party. That sounds exhausting! The festivities didn’t end so well when King Xerxes requests Queen Vashti to appear and parade her beauty. She refuses, which leads to a decree that Xerxes will never see her again along with other consequen...

If Season 5’s trip through the book of Ruth was the Hallmark channel. What will Season 6 be with the book of Esther, which includes plotting, revenge, murder, and a beauty pageant? Mike and Ken discuss some differences between the stories of Ruth and Esther. They also dig into the Jewish Exile, the characters in the story of Esther, and some themes we will find in this book. Also, a listener wants...

Ken and Mike review some of the key elements from season 5’s trip through the book of Ruth. They discuss the effects of unbelief; belief that leads to striving; and how an identity of being fully redeemed affects how we live our lives. Also, a listener wants to know if Mike and his family made it to Oregon safely. And Christian Industrial Metal, what prompts the guys to wax intellectual about it?...

In the rousing conclusion to be book of Ruth, Boaz attempts to redeem Ruth. It looks like the other redeemer has the upper hand and then Boaz says Ruth is a part of the deal, and that’s just too much, and the other redeemer backs out. This means Boaz is the one who can redeem Elimelek’s land and marry Ruth. The storybook ending proceeds with a wedding and a child, but there’s more than just fairyt...

A day comes when Naomi feels the need to find a home for Ruth, so she will be provided for. She lays out a plan that Ruth follows to the letter. But isn’t it weird that Boaz is sleeping at the threshing floor? And why does Ruth uncover his feet and lay down by them? Join Ken and Mike as they discuss these mysteries found in the third chapter of Ruth. And someone did it, they asked about hyssop. Th...