Pastor Talk

Today, Luke begins Jesus's story in a surprising place, not with the story of Mary and Joseph but with the story of Zechariah. Join the Pastors for a conversation about the priesthood, what it means, how it connects Jesus with the Old Testament prophets, and much more! Thank you for joining us, we sincerely help that this study encourages you in your understanding of the Bible. Please be sure to s...

In this episode of the Pastor Talk podcast, Michael Gewecke and Clint Loveall discuss the Book of James and its emphasis on being doers of the word, not just hearers. They reflect on the importance of humility, meekness, and practical Christian living and encourage Christians to take responsibility for their actions and strive to live out their faith in real and tangible ways. Feel free to share t...

When beginning the story of Jesus, Luke begins with a story that sounds a great deal like the stories of Genesis. We are invited into the struggle of a righteous couple who cannot conceive. Elizabeth and Zachariah will become recipients of God's powerful restoration and their son will become one of the most important figures in the Gospel of Luke besides Jesus, himself. Thank you for joining us, w...

Kicking off the Lenten supper series in 2023, Pastor Clint and Michael begin a conversation about the health of the Church by identifying some of the growing challenges for the mainline church over the course of the last 50 years. This episode is audio only, so there aren't any links to YouTube of Facebook for this episode. Pastor Talk Quick Links: Learn more about the Pastor Talk series and view...

Today we begin studying the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. These first few verses, reveal how important witnesses are to Luke in his telling of the story and how integrally connected this story is with the book of Acts. Thank you for joining us, we sincerely help that this study encourages you in your understanding of the Bible. Please be sure to share this with anyone who you think might be...

Today we introduce the Gospel of Luke, its author, and its themes. The Pastors describe Luke as a historian who seeks to record the story of Jesus and the church, with a particular focus on the marginalized and the down-and-out. They also note Luke's emphasis on geography and his use of sophisticated language. In the end, Luke's Gospel is accessible and well-crafted, making it a good starting poin...

In this episode of the Pastor Talk podcast, Michael Gewecke and Clint Loveall introduce their new series for the Lenten season. Clint shares his reflection on Numbers 13, focusing on the story of the Israelites on the verge of entering the Promised Land, but who become discouraged when faced with challenges. The Pastors highlight the importance of remembering in this Lenten season that God is with...

Today the Pastors summarize their time in the book of Exodus, touching on themes such as God's relationship with the Israelites, the struggles and doubts of the people, and the importance of community. They also draw connections between Exodus and the New Testament, and emphasize the humility and gratitude that should come with faith. Be sure to return on Monday for the beginning of the next study...

In Exodus 40, the Tabernacle is finally set up according to God's specific instructions, signifying the end of the book. The people of Israel started as a group with a place but no identity, and now they have a temporary place with the hope that this is not their final condition. The book of Exodus provides a metaphor of journeying by stages, reminding us that journeys are hard and that freedom is...

In this Bible study, the Pastors discuss the next few chapters of Exodus, which are mostly a repetition of the instructions given to Moses on how to make the tabernacle and its various components. They discuss the importance placed on the construction of the tabernacle and the sacred items, which is seen as a response of faithfulness to God. They also note that the language "as the Lord commanded"...

The people of Israel showed their generosity and willingness to work by bringing offerings for the work of the Lord. This demonstrated their dedication to God and their willingness to give the best of what they had and stands as a constant encouragement to be people of faith whose lives are marked by generosity. Thank you for joining us, we sincerely help that this study encourages you in your und...

Paul is a an amazingly nuanced figure in the New Testament, known for his missionary work, theological contributions, but also his practical leadership in the church. He is able to hold different perspectives in tension, such as his theological beliefs and pastoral counsel, which encourages Christians to pursue the same kinds of Christian values in our own lives of faith and discipleship. Feel fre...

Today we begin a new section of Exodus that details how the people begin to construct the tabernacle as God had commanded them. To start, Moses reminds the Israelites to work for six days and to observe a holy Sabbath on the seventh day, with a warning of harsh punishment for anyone who breaks the rule. This is reiterated throughout the book of Exodus, emphasizing the importance of the Sabbath in...

In Exodus 34:29-35, Moses is physically changed by his time with God, radiating a visible light that intimidates the Israelites. This passage speaks to Moses' relationship with God and with the people, as well as the idea that we can reflect God's presence in our lives. Thank you for joining us, we sincerely help that this study encourages you in your understanding of the Bible. Please be sure to...

In Exodus 34:10-27, God renews the covenant with the Israelites, promising to perform marvels and warning them to avoid intermixing with the inhabitants of the land, as they will lead them astray. He also reveals that the purpose of the covenant is for the people of Israel to be a witness to the power of God, so that others may see His work. Thank you for joining us, we sincerely help that this st...

In Exodus 33:12-23, Moses requests to see God's glory, and God agrees, proclaiming His name before Moses and protecting him from harm by putting him in a cleft of a rock and covering him with His hand until He has passed by. This passage demonstrates God's grace and protection for Moses and the people of Israel, and His closeness to them despite their struggles. Thank you for joining us, we sincer...

Paul's theology created a bridge between Judaism and Christianity. He saw how the life and death of Jesus Christ transformed the world as he knew it by grace. He saw Jesus as the Messiah, not a military conqueror, and his writings have been studied and reinterpreted by generations of Christians, discovering greater depth and wisdom in his words. Feel free to share this with anyone who you think mi...

In Exodus 33:7-11, Moses would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp to speak with God, and the people would watch and bow down in reverence. As a sign of God's presence, a pillar of cloud would descend and Moses would speak to God face to face as one speaks to a friend. This is a high praise for Moses' relationship with God, and serves as a reminder that Joshua is also present in the story,...

Continuing to reel from their disobedience, God calls the Israelites to continue their journey to the promised land, but warns them that if He goes with them, He will consume them due to their disobedience. The people mourn and take off their ornaments, a reminder of God's victory and promise, as a sign of repentance. Thank you for joining us, we sincerely help that this study encourages you in yo...

There is no way around it, today is a strange and difficult story. In Exodus 32:25-35, Moses confronts the people of Israel who have gone off the deep end in their idolatry, and calls for justice to be meted out in the form of a quasi-military action where people must attack their own kin. Moses commends the people for choosing to do the right, but hard thing in ordaining themselves for service at...

Moses descends the mountain and is overwhelmed with anger at the sight of the Golden Calf, symbolically shattering the tablets of the covenant. He burns the calf, grinds it into powder, scatters it on the water, and makes the Israelites drink it, making them ingest the wrong they have done. Moses then turns his anger on Aaron, asking him why he brought such a great sin against the people, to only...

Meet Paul, the Apostle, who was a devout Pharisee from Tarsus who was uniquely qualified to spread the Gospel and transform Christianity. His missionary efforts, academic arguments, and powerful intellect enabled the survival of Christianity in the first century. Feel free to share this with anyone who you think might be interested in growing deeper in their faith and Christian discipleship. Pasto...

In Exodus 32:7-14, God is angered by the Israelites' idolatry and rebellion and is ready to turn his wrath against them, even if it means starting over with Moses. He uses the phrase "stiff-necked" to describe their disobedience, which is a reference to a bull or ox that will not be yoked. Though this moment reminds us of Moses's place in between the people and God, it also reminds us of our own r...

In Exodus 32:1-6, the people of Israel become restless in the absence of Moses and ask Aaron to make gods for them. Aaron takes their gold and creates a calf, a sacred object of the pagan gods in the land of Canaan, symbolizing fertility and strength. This clear and unambiguous destruction of God's covenant marks a clear transition in the story and sets the stage for one of the most challenging st...

In Exodus 31, God instructs Moses to appoint two craftsmen, Bezalel and William, to oversee the construction of religious items for the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of holiness and obedience to the Sabbath, and restating the importance of the Sabbath as a sign of God's sanctification and a perpetual covenant between God and the people of Israel. Thank you for joining us, we sincerely hel...