Mission Upside Down

Jesus once asked, “Who do people say that I am?” Indeed, that is an all-important question. Today we’re considering the person of Jesus–that he is truly God and truly human. We’ll learn why this is essential if Jesus is to be our Savior.

In this conversation, Randal chats with a believer who struggled with a problem with alcohol. She shares how she was delivered from what she calls “a stronghold of sin” in her life in those years. We’re reminded that, indeed, God’s grace is greater than any sin.

When Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden, they and human civilization would suffer horrible results. In this episode, we look at the worst of these results. In grace, God also made a promise to Adam and Eve to someday send Jesus.

Though created in perfection, Adam and Eve ended up rebelling against God. In their guilt and shame they tried to hide from God. Something similar happens today, when we sin against God. Thankfully, God takes the initiative and by His grace to us in Jesus, He calls out to us to save us.

Human beings are created in the image of God. From that central biblical theme, we learn about God’s image in a deeper sense and in a more general sense. We also consider how this teaching motivates us to care for the environment and to be productive in our daily work.

What does the Bible teach about our beings, ourselves as human beings? Today we consider the biblical teaching of how God created the first humans in his own image. This teaching radically changes how we should view ourselves and other people.

In Acts 17:6, two followers of Jesus were accused of “turning the world upside down” (ESV). The gospel does that–in our lives and in our world. We hope that our podcast, in a small way, is contributing to this upside-down mission.

Romans 8:28 says that God is always working for the good of those who are following Jesus. That means He’s working also through our times of suffering. Today we learn some of the good results that come from bad things in our lives.

One of the challenges about the biblical teaching of providence is this: If God is fully in control of everything, why do bad things happen to us? Is God really in control? Or, if he is, perhaps He’s not always good. Let’s explore this teaching in more detail.

Why have certain events occurred in your life? The Bible says that ultimately God is in control of all the events in our lives and in world history. In this episode we learn about this biblical truth and about what difference it should make in our lives.

Some scientific theories and some interpretations of Genesis chapter one disagree with one another. However, if scientists and biblical interpreters are careful and humble, they can find some areas of agreement.

A while back, we considered some of God’s attributes, His personal characteristics. Now we turn to God’s main works. Among the greatest of God’s works, is His creating of all things at the very beginning of time.

We’re continuing the conversation from last time. Among other things, we talk about how it’s normal for believers to sometimes become depressed. We also discuss how God works many good things from the sad things in our lives.

Today we’re talking to someone who’s doing their best, by God’s grace, to follow Jesus. Though her story has its sad moments, ultimately, it helps us better understand why the gospel is indeed GOOD news.

What’s the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross? We consider three aspects of the cross. All of these aspects contribute to a full biblical perspective on why Jesus died for sinners.

All of God’s attributes work together in perfect harmony. In this episode we consider God’s great love for us in Jesus and how He saves us by His grace. The Bible teaches that God’s love and grace work alongside His justice and righteousness.

When it comes to God’s attributes, theologians often distinguish between His communicable attributes and His communicable attributes. We take a look at two of God’s communicable attributes, namely, His holiness and righteousness.

In theological language, the personal characteristics of God are known as His attributes. In this episode we consider several of these attributes, including God’s power, knowledge, wisdom, and sovereignty.

The Bible reveals God is only one God. So Christianity is considered a monotheistic religion. Yet, from the very first chapter in the Bible, we learn that there is some kind of plurality within God.

While God’s essential nature cannot be known by us, we can know God to the extent that He has revealed Himself to us. God has particularly revealed Himself in His Word, the Bible. We also consider some good things that result when we truly know Him.

We continue the conversation with Dr. Thomas Reilly. His book, “Saving the Nation: Chinese Protestant Elites and the Quest to Build a New China” was recently published by Oxford University Press. Among other things, we discuss the YMCA in its earlier years

Our guest on the program is Dr. Thomas Reilly, professor of Asian Studies at Pepperdine University, a Christian university in Malibu, California. Reilly has spent significant time in China, particularly in Shanghai, and is familiar with both the government-approved churches as well as the so-called ‘underground churches.’

Our days on this earth pass by so quickly. How can we find meaning in life, when our lives are so short? Psalm 90 gives us some answers.

You would think that Herod’s son and grandson, also regional kings, would respond to Jesus in a better way than Herod. But they didn’t. We learn about Herod’s descendants from the gospels and the Book of Acts.