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It is no surprise to anyone that “salvation” is a central topic for Christians, but what is it, what does it mean, and why do we need it? Ron and John address those questions in this episode. The post Doctrine of Salvation appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

At long last! What are we as human beings? What is our purpose? John and Ron address these questions, and the question of what God intended comes front and center. The post Doctrine of Human Beings appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

John and Ron turn their attention to creation and providence. How does God interact with the world God created? But … lurking in the background is the ever-present “problem of evil.” Now they have to tackle that problem head on. The post Creation, Providence, and the Problem of Evil appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

In this fourth episode of their introduction to basic Christian Theology, John and Ron tackle the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Who is the Spirit? What role does the Spirit play? They also take the opportunity to step back and treat the doctrine of the Trinity. The post Doctrine of the Holy Spirit appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

John and Ron continue their introduction to basic Christian theology, and in this episode they reach the doctrine of Jesus Christ at the heart of the Christian message. The post Doctrine of Jesus Christ appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

In this second episode of their introduction to basic Christian theology, Ron and John tackle the doctrine of God: Who is God? What is God like? They navigate the difficult terrain of talking about God in a way that represents responsibly what we can know but avoids bold claims about the things we cannot. The post Doctrine of God appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

Where do we start a discussion of basic Christian theology? How about with the question of how we know what we know? As Christians, we make certain claims about what is true. It seems worthwhile, then, to take time up front to examine the basis for those claims. Where does the testimony to which we give so much weight come from? What can we say at the beginning of this discussion about the primary...

In this episode, John and Ron conclude their series on the letter of 1 John, and this time it’s no holds barred as they go after misreadings of the letter! The post First John, pt. 4: Conclusion appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

In this episode, John and Ron reach the heart of the letter: God is love. But does it mean what we think? Or is the author of 1 John saying something about love we don’t expect? The post First John, pt. 3: God is Love appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

In this second episode of the series on First John, Ron and John delve into the division that lay behind the letter’s sharp admonitions to its readers. The post First John, pt. 2: Division appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

Ron and John introduce a new series on the letter of First John. The letter opens with an emphatic statement about the concrete reality of the gospel, and it moves quickly to the difficult topic of love in the context of bitter division. The post First John, pt. 1: What We Have Seen and Heard appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

The final episode in the Book of Joshua series reviews the results of Israel’s campaigns to take the land of Canaan and God’s instructions for its distribution to the tribes. The text appears to report that Israel both did and did not subdue the whole of Canaan. Ron and John discuss how we should read this in order to understand the final section of the book. The post Joshua, part 5: S...

In this fourth episode of their series in Joshua, Ron and John tackle the exciting but difficult episodes that describe the conquests of Jericho and Ai. Before those battles, however, important rituals set up what follows in order to keep the focus on the real message of the Book of Joshua: God’s covenant faithfulness. The post Joshua, part 4: Jericho and Ai appeared first on Orthodocs.faith...

In the discussion this time, Ron and John follow the people of Israel as they cross the Jordan River into the promised land. In Joshua 3-4, God arranges their passage in a spectacular way. This episode takes a close look at how that happens and how the story is told—and retold. The post Joshua, part 3: Crossing the Jordan River appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

In the second installment of their series on Joshua, John and Ron take a close look at chapter 2. Joshua—once a spy for Moses—now dispatches his own spies to scope out Jericho. Their encounter with a woman named Rahab proves intriguing. Image “ Scarlet Cord ” by  Jon Marlow  is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 . The post Joshua, part 2: Spies Visit Rahab appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

Ron and John begin a new series in the Book of Joshua by looking at how Joshua’s story fits into the biblical narrative and how Israel begins its final preparations to enter the promised land. “Be strong and courageous” is the word in chapter 1 as Israel moves toward the fulfillment of an ancient divine promise. The post Joshua, part 1: Be Strong and Courageous appeared first on...

Ron and John conclude their treatment of the Sermon on the Mount, but there are still some surprises to come in the statements Jesus makes during his epilogue. The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 6: Conclusion appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

In this episode, John and Ron reach the end of the primary instruction in the Sermon on the Mount with the Golden Rule as the grand finale. Along the way, though, they have to confront the challenging address about worrying. The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 5: Unwavering Kingdom Focus appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

John returns from a recent trip to the Holy Land, and in this episode he and Ron explore the background and significance of Jesus’ teaching on prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is a central part of this teaching, and a special treat related to it waits for you at the end of the episode. The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 4: The Lord’s Prayer appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

With one example after another, the surprises continue as Jesus challenges his audience in the Sermon on the Mount. Ron and John continue their treatment of Matthew 5-7 and the question of what righteousness looks like in the kingdom of God. Jesus gives his answer to this question in increasing detail as the Sermon on the Mount unfolds. The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 3: The Kingdom&#...

Ron and John continue to work through the Sermon on the Mount. In this episode, they deal with the claim Jesus makes early in the Sermon that he fulfills the Law. The question of “What is righteousness?” also comes up as Jesus continues to surprise those listening to him teach. The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 2: Fulfilling the Law appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

What does life in the kingdom of God look like? Jesus takes on that question in the Sermon on the Mount, and in this first episode of a new series Ron and John begin a close look at his answer. He starts with some surprises and raises some unexpected expectations. The post Sermon on the Mount, Part 1: Introduction appeared first on Orthodocs.faith .

In this final episode of the Day of the Lord series, John and Ron examine the letters of Paul and the New Testament books associated with the apostle John. They conclude (as they must, of course!) with the baffling book of Revelation. This episode released on Christmas Eve, 2021. What does Christmas have to do with the end of the world? Come find out. The post The Day of the Lord, Part 3 appe...

New Testament Christians insisted that all our hopes are fulfilled in the work God accomplished in Jesus Christ. A cursory examination of the world around us suggests that all our hopes are clearly not yet fulfilled. What gives? Concentrating on the story that Luke tells in the books of Luke and Acts, Ron and John continue their discussion of the “Day of the Lord” to which the Bible lo...

Ron and John kick off a new season and a new series with the topic “The Day of the Lord”. The Bible looks forward to a future time when God would make all things right. In this first of three episodes, they look at the Old Testament foundations for a Christian perspective on the future. How did Israel’s prophets describe how God finally resolves all things? The post The Day of th...