Love and Context

In this episode of the Love and Context Podcast, Spencer and Ben delve into the significance of the Noahic Covenant, exploring its connections to the Adamic Covenant and the overarching themes of divine mercy, human responsibility, and universal morality. They discuss the implications of God's promises, the importance of the rainbow as a sign of the covenant, and the moral laws that stem from this...

In this episode of the Love and Context podcast, Ben and Spencer discuss the concept of covenants in the Bible, focusing on the Adamic Covenant. The conversation explores the nature of covenants as formal agreements between God and humanity, emphasizing their relational aspect and their responsibilities. They outline the major covenants to be discussed in upcoming episodes and delve into the speci...

In this conversation, Spencer and Ben delve into the themes of 3rd John, focusing on the importance of love, community, and discernment in the Christian faith. They discuss the significance of supporting good teachers while being cautious of those who compromise the truth of Jesus. The conversation highlights the need for church leaders to maintain their integrity and goodness despite negative inf...

In this conversation, Ben and Spencer discuss the context and themes of the book of 2 John.

In this episode, Ben and Spencer discuss the book of Philemon, which is a letter written by Paul to Philemon, a wealthy man who owned slaves. The letter is about a slave named Onesimus who ran away from Philemon and found Paul while he was in prison. Through their encounter, Onesimus became a follower of Jesus and Paul writes a letter to Philemon on his behalf, urging him to treat Onesimus as a br...

In this episode, Spencer and Ben discuss the book of Jude. Jude, written by one of the brothers of Jesus, is a very Jewish book that addresses false teaching and immorality. Jude emphasizes the importance of contending for the faith by living differently and putting God on display. Jude references various Jewish literature and Old Testament stories to make his points. The overall message of Jude i...

Today's conversation discusses the book of Obadiah, which is a prophecy against the country of Edom. It explores the historical context and the conflict between Jacob and Esau, which continues through their descendants. The conversation emphasizes the importance of not being complacent in the face of injustice and the need to take action to help others. It also highlights the role of God as the ul...

In this conversation, Ben and Spencer discuss various topics related to the book of James. They highlight three main takeaways: 1) Life is not easy, but it presents an opportunity for God to do great things. 2) James emphasizes the importance of treating people well and not showing partiality, including in political contexts. 3) Words have power and can either build up or tear down relationships....

In this conversation, Ben and Spencer discuss the themes of building a foundation on God, being forward-thinking, and using wealth responsibly. They emphasize the importance of real relationships and vulnerability within the church, as well as the need for gentle correction and restoration. The conversation also touches on the significance of confessing sins and praying for one another. Overall, t...

Summer has been really hard for us with all of our travel, because of that we are not going to post any more episodes for July and will begin posting weekly again the first week of August. Thank you for all of you that listen!

In this episode, Spencer and Ben discuss the importance of not judging others and making plans without considering God's will. They also addresses the issue of wealth and how it should be used to bless others. James warns the rich about the consequences of their actions and emphasizes the need for generosity and humility. The episode highlights the importance of recognizing that everything we have...

In this episode, Ben and Spencer discuss the destructive power of the tongue and the importance of using our words wisely. They emphasize the need for humility and grace in our speech, especially for those in leadership positions. They also highlight the dangers of gossip and envy, and the importance of being content and sincere in our interactions with others. The episode concludes with a reminde...

In this episode, Ben and Brian continue their discussion on the Book of James. They focus on the themes of listening, speaking, and anger, emphasizing the importance of being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. They also discuss the idea of being doers of the word, not just hearers, and how our theology should lead to action. They then delve into the topic of showing favoriti...

In this episode, Brian Qualls joins Ben to discuss the Book of James. They explore the background of the book and its author, James, the half-brother of Jesus. They emphasize that James is writing specifically to Jewish Christians and that his teachings should not be seen as conflicting with Paul's teachings. They also highlight the importance of understanding the Jewish context and traditions tha...

In this conversation, Ben and Spencer discuss the concept of hypocrisy and its implications in the context of Christianity. They explore the origins of the word 'hypocrite' and its association with actors in ancient Greece. They highlight the tendency to label others as hypocrites based on minor differences in beliefs or practices, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the motivation of the he...

In this conversation, Ben and Spencer discuss creating safe places within the church. They acknowledge that while the desire to create a safe environment is good, true safety means being void of risk, and the gospel increases risk in life. They explore biblical examples of how following Jesus is not easy or safe, and how the church should be a transformative place where people can experience heali...

Summary The conversation revolves around the topic of healing, both physical and emotional. The hosts discuss the importance of recognizing and validating different types of pain, and the need for the church to create a safe and transformative space for healing. They explore biblical examples of healing, from the Old Testament to the ministry of Jesus, emphasizing that healing is not limited to a...

Summary In this episode, Ben and Spencer are joined today by Spencer's wife Lindsay as they discuss the spiritual gift of tongues. They emphasize the importance of love for God and others as a foundation for operating in spiritual gifts. They also highlight the need to hear the voice of God and bear the fruit of the Spirit before engaging in the gifts. The hosts explain that tongues can manifest i...

We take one more week as a break from our miniseries as we get caught up from sickness in our families and guest families. This week we talk about the dark side of social media and how the church is being invaded by troll-like behavior. Spencer and Ben discuss how we avoid engaging this behavior as Christians and live for Christ in our day-to-day lives. Suggested Resources The Bible Bema Podcast w...

This week we put together an episode to discuss some of our favorite resources due to sickness throughout our families and town. We will continue our mini-series on spiritual gifts next week. Suggested Resources Bema Podcast with Marty Solomon YouVersion Bible App Blue Letter Bible App Dwell (Bible reading) App Bible Project with Tim Mackie Alephbeta.org and Rabbi David Fohrman Francis Chan

This week we talk about the gift of prophecy, what it is as well as what it is not. We discuss how we, as the church, can engage it regardless of our perspective on the spiritual gifts. Suggested Resources: Bible 1 Corinthians Books Culture of Honor - Danny Silk Practicing the Power - Sam Storms Experiencing God - Henry Blackaby The forgotten God - Francis chan Raging with Compassion Prophetic Ima...

This week we dive into the fruit of the Spirit. What does it mean to walk by the Spirit and why is this crucial when we walk in the Spiritual gifts discussed in the Epistles? Suggested Resources Bible Galatians 1 Corinthians Ephesians James Books D. Thomas Lancaster's "Holy Epistle to the Galatians" Dallas Willard's "The Divine Conspiracy" Bema Discipleship 3-4 Episodes of Galatians in Session 4 w...

This week we are joined by Les Cronk as we discuss what it means to "hear" the voice of God and the importance of an intentional relationship with God when pursuing Spiritual Gifts. Suggested Resources Books Hearing God - Dallas Willard Translating God - Shawn Bolz Practicing the Way - John Mark Comer Experiencing God - Henry Blackaby Bible www.alephbeta.org www.bibleproject.com www.bemadisciplesh...

This week we begin our new miniseries talking about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are joined by Brian Qualls, a pastor from the Salvation Army, as we discuss how the foundation of all spiritual gifts is built on the bedrock of loving God and loving people. Suggested Resources The Bible Book Unpunishable - Danny Silk Loving People: How to love and be Loved - John Townsend Crazy Love - Francis Ch...

This week we tackle the verses often used to argue for women not being permitted to serve in pastoral roles. Perhaps those verses don't mean what we think they mean. Suggested Resources: Bible 1 Corinthians 1 Timothy Titus Books Kenneth Bailey Paul through Mediterranean Eyes and Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes BT Roberts Ordaining Women Beth Allison Barr The Making of Biblical Womanhood Scott Mc...