Kitchen Table Theology

How does God view nations that oppose His people? What are the consequences of pride?  Even when pronouncing judgment on nations opposing His people, God's love for Israel remains constant. This short prophetic book, Obadiah, reminds us that God's loyalty to His people endures through all circumstances. In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston explore the often-overlooked...

When God sees injustice, oppression, and suffering inflicted on the vulnerable, His anger is aroused. This anger is not separate from His love, but an expression of it. Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston unpack the powerful prophecies of Amos, a humble farmer called to confront corruption in both Israel and surrounding nations. Written around 760-750 BC, Amos's words cut through religious...

What if the bugs eating away at your life were a wake-up call from God? In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston dive into the often-overlooked book of Joel, exploring how a devastating locust plague becomes a powerful metaphor for spiritual complacency and divine judgment. Written around 835-850 BC, Joel's message to ancient Judah resonates with startling relevance today. How...

What does puppy love have to do with the book of Hosea? In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston delve into Hosea, a radical real-life metaphor to illustrate God's inseparability to His people. Written around 715 BC, Hosea's message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel remains profoundly relevant today.  How does this book challenge our understanding of God's love, judgm...

The book of Revelation may be one of the most fascinating and remarkable pieces of literature ever written. It’s had a massive impact on human history and culture. In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston conclude their New Testament overview series with an in-depth look at the final book of the Bible. What insights will you gain about this often misunderstood book? [00:00 - 04:50]...

How well do you know your Bible? In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston take a break from their Bible overview series to test their knowledge with a quiz covering 12 Bible books that we’ve just covered. How well will you do?  [00:00:00 - 00:04:14] Introduction How many times did Paul say he had been shipwrecked? (2 Corinthians 11:25-27) Who was Israel's first king? (1 Samuel)...

Underneath the vivid stories and exciting prophecies in the Book of Daniel, we see profound lessons on remaining faithful to God in a hostile culture and trusting in His sovereignty during uncertain times. In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston continue our Bible overview series by discussing the Old Testament book of Daniel. They explore Daniel's life, the historical context...

When was the last time you read the book of Jude? Jude is an often overlooked book in the New Testament, but there is so much we can learn about contending for the faith and addressing false teachings. In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston continue their Bible overview series by discussing the New Testament book of Jude. They discuss Jude’s themes of exposing false teachers and i...

What can the prophetic messages of Ezekiel teach us about navigating our moments of crisis and renewal? In this episode, host Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston continue their Bible overview series by discussing the Old Testament book of Ezekiel. They explore Ezekiel's role as a prophet during Israel's Babylonian exile, emphasizing themes of God's sovereignty, divine judgment, h...

Have you ever wondered how early church leaders balanced authority and hospitality while spreading the gospel?  In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston delve into the book of Third John as part of their New Testament overview series. They discuss the letter's background, authorship, themes, and key characters, emphasizing the importance of authority in the church and hospitali...

Have you ever wondered how God made his presence known in the Old Testament? In this bonus episode, Pastor Jeff Cranston delves into the concepts of theophanies and Christophanies, exploring their significance in biblical theology. He explains that a theophany is an appearance of God to human beings, primarily in the Old Testament, while a Christophany is a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. Past...

How does the Book of Lamentations challenge your understanding of God's judgment and grace? In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston discuss the book of Lamentations, an Old Testament text attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. They explore the emotional intensity and sorrow of the book, which reflects on the destruction of Jerusalem and God's judgment of Israel. The conversa...

Have you ever wondered how the smallest books in the Bible can hold the most profound lessons for our faith? In this episode, host Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston delve into the brief yet significant New Testament book, 2 John. They discuss the book's authorship, themes, and the theological importance of love and truth. Pastor Cranston emphasizes the need for believers to adhere to the...

What can the life and messages of Jeremiah teach us about faithfulness and perseverance in the face of opposition?  In this episode, hosts Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston discuss the prophet Jeremiah, focusing on his life, prophecies, and significance in the Old Testament. They highlight Jeremiah's reluctance to accept his calling, his prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem by t...

How would you describe your relationship with God: consistent and fruitful, or sporadic and parched?  In this episode, host Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston explore the background, authorship, and theological significance of the book of 1 John. They discuss how John, the son of Zebedee and an eyewitness to Jesus' ministry, wrote this letter to provide assurance to believers and counter...

Have you ever wondered how ancient prophecies could still hold relevance in today's world?  In this episode, hosts Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston explore the book of Isaiah. They discuss the authorship, historical context, and central themes of the book. The conversation highlights Isaiah's prophetic messages, the significance of his name, and the overarching theme of salvation t...

Have you ever wondered what significant lessons you might be missing out on by neglecting certain parts of the Bible?  In this episode, hosts Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston dive into the New Testament, focusing on the book of 2 Peter. They discuss common everyday things that people tend to neglect, segueing into the often-overlooked book of 2 Peter. They highlight its importance, authorshi...

The real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. In this special 200th episode of Kitchen Table Theology, hosts Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston celebrate the milestone by reflecting on their journey, featuring past co-host Jen Denton. The episode includes a giveaway announcement, discussions about the podcast's origins, its most impactful moments, and the lessons lear...

Have you ever wondered how ancient expressions of love can still resonate in today's relationships? In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston discuss the intricacies of the Bible's Song of Solomon. They explore its poetic nature, its portrayal of love, and its implications for understanding marriage. The episode also highlights a special giveaway of a Filament Bible, emphas...

What do you do when life's storms threaten to uproot your stability? In this episode, hosts Tiffany Coker and Jeff Cranston explore themes of resilience and faith through the lens of biblical teachings and real-life anecdotes. Tiffany introduces the episode with a story from Max Lucado's book, "Six Hours One Friday," illustrating the concept of deep anchoring in the face of adv...

Have you ever felt like there must be more to life than your achievements and possessions?  Hosts Tiffany Coker and Jeff Cranston dive into the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, exploring its key theological themes and the quest for meaning in life. Jeff Cranston relates a story about Tom Brady to illustrate the search for meaning beyond material success. They discuss the concept of time, work,...

Have you ever considered what it would be like to grow up with Jesus as your brother? In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston discuss the New Testament book of James. Tiffany begins by expressing her fondness for James due to its practical advice for Christian living. They explore the identity and background of James, highlighting his relationship as Jesus's half-brother and h...

Have you ever wondered how ancient wisdom can apply to modern challenges?  In this episode, Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston explore the themes and teachings in Proverbs, attributing much of its content to Solomon, known for his unparalleled wisdom. Pastor Jeff details Solomon's background, contributions, and the structure of Proverbs, highlighting its practical advice on living a wise...

Are church services designed more for believers or for those still searching? In this episode, Pastor Jeff Cranston addresses two listener questions on the role of church services and the relevance of Old Testament laws for Christians today. He debates whether church services should cater to believers or non-believers, suggesting that while they should primarily build up Christians, they also need...

Have you ever wondered who wrote the Book of Hebrews and why its mysterious authorship might actually deepen our understanding of its message? In this episode, hosts Tiffany Coker and Pastor Jeff Cranston delve into the Book of Hebrews, discussing its authorship, audience, and unique aspects. Pastor Jeff highlights the anonymity of the author, theorizing Paul and Luke's potential collaboratio...