Pondering the Bible

Send us Fan Mail This week is Laity Sunday in the Methodist church. Therefore, the laity will guide the worship service.  Rocky and Ken give their thoughts on a wide-range of biblical topics. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.pondergmc.org .  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com   Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed b...

Send us Fan Mail This week we cover the third Epistle (letter) from the Apostle John. The sermon for this episode is called "Orthodoxy" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on Oct.9, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponderumc.org . Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com Music performed by the Ponder UMC worship...

Send us Fan Mail We begin season 4 with the epistle of 2nd John. Written to an unnamed church to fight the heresy of docetism. The sermon for this episode is called "TL;DR" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on Oct. 2, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponderumc.org .  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  ...

Send us Fan Mail This week we finish the Book of Ezra. We also give our final thoughts and observations on the Book of Ezra. Next week we will start season 4 with a walk through some of the "minor epistles". The sermon for this episode is called "Dangerous Compromise" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on Sep. 25, 2022. NEW...

Send us Fan Mail We return to the book of Ezra. Ezra discovers that the returned exiles have been taking wives from external peoples. We discuss how Ezra deals with this situation. The sermon for this episode is called " Mixed Marriages " and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons. This sermon was delivered on Oct.17, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.p...

Send us Fan Mail Katie Bristow joins us again as Rocky is busy preparing reports for end of year.  Katie takes us back to Genesis to cover "The Tower of Bable" from Gen 11. The sermon for this episode is called "The Tower of Bable" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons. This sermon was delivered on Sep. 11, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at w...

Send us Fan Mail This week the book of Ezra takes a more detailed look at Ezra as he readies the people to travel to Jerusalem. The sermon for this episode is called "The Right Stuff" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on Sep. 4, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponderumc.org .  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@g...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we finally meet Ezra. He's a highly trained and respected man in Artaxerxes employ. Ezra sets out for Jerusalem to "fix" the failing Jewish people. The sermon for this episode is called "Study, Obey, Teach" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on Aug. 28, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Fin...

Send us Fan Mail This week we finish up chapter 6 as the exiles finish up the Temple, and celebrate Passover. The sermon for this episode is called "Not the Building" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on Aug. 21, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponderumc.org .  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com   Music...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Rocky is back, and we continue through the Book of Ezra. Chapter 6 details the search for the letter from Cyrus, and the reply from Darius. The sermon for this episode is called "Faith Over Fear" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on Aug, 14 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponderumc.org ....

Send us Fan Mail Rocky is traveling with family this week. As usual, Rocky has a Lay Speaker scheduled to deliver a message on Sunday while he's away. Oddly enough, our Lay Speaker this week is none other than our own co-host; Ken Corkins! Ken will be delivering a message about Prophets and Prophecy. The sermon for this episode is called "Prophets and Prophecy" and can be found at:...

Send us Fan Mail We continue our walk through the book of Ezra. Haggai and Zechariah prophesy to the Judahite leaders, while officials from Babylon question the rebuilding of the temple. The sermon for this episode was not recorded and is not available. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponderumc.org .  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com   Music performed by the Ponder UMC wo...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we continue in the book of Ezra. The Northern neighbors cause production problems for the Judahites as they try to rebuild the Temple of the Lord.  The sermon for this episode is called "No Good Deed" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on July 24, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponderumc...

Send us Fan Mail This week we're back in Ezra to continue the story of the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. The sermon for this episode is called "Hard Start" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermon s. This sermon was delivered on July 17, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponderumc.org .  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com   Mu...

Send us Fan Mail UPDATE: The original upload of this episode was cut-off at 27 minutes. I have re-uploaded the episode. It should now display as 29:04. If it does not, wait for your player to rescan the episodes. This week, while Rocky is away, Tori Dickens talks us through Amos Chapter 7. The sermon for this episode is called "Hang In There" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/mi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the returned Judeans decide to rebuild the Alter, so they can celebrate the feast of Shelters. Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. The sermon for this episode is called "Old and New" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on Jul.3, 2022. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponderumc.org .  Fe...

Send us Fan Mail This week we we talk about the list of people that returned to Jerusalem after the Exile. Who came back, and why? NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser Find us at www.ponderumc.org .  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com   Music performed by the Ponder UMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock   NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.ponder...

Send us Fan Mail We launch into season 3 by introducing the Old Testament book of Ezra. In this Episode, we cover all of chapter 1, verses 1-11. Rocky and Ken discuss the historical context of the book. From the Babylonian exile, to the return of the Judahites to Jerusalem as ordered by Cyrus the Great. The sermon for this episode is called "Coming Home" and can be found at: https://pond...

Send us Fan Mail This week Rocky was tied up in Conference meetings all week, and was unable to prepare a sermon. Fear not, Lay Speaker Kris Corkins is covering the pulpit for us. We invited her to the podcast to discuss her message: "Miracle or Magic?" The sermon for this episode is called "Miracle or Magic?" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This...

Send us Fan Mail This week is Pentecost, considered to be the birth of the Christian Church. Rocky and Ken discuss the story in Acts chapter 2. The sermon for this episode is called "That Crazy Spirit" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on June. 5, 2022. Find us at www.ponderumc.org .  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  ...

Send us Fan Mail This is the end of our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. Ken and Rocky recall some of the notable things in this gospel.  This week is Confirmation Sunday at Ponder UMC. The sermon is not related to this episode. The sermon this week is called "Growing Up" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on May.29, 2022. Find...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the Pharisees travel from Jerusalem to investigate Jesus. They accuse his disciples of not following the traditions of the Mishna. Jesus accuses the Pharisees of not following God's laws.    The sermon for this episode is called "Rules" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/sermons . This sermon was delivered on May 22, 2022. Find us...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Rocky and Ken discuss the story of Jesus walking on water. Historically, we have tended to call out Peter for his "lack of faith" in this story, but Peter was the only disciple to get out of the boat in this famous "leap of faith". The sermon for this episode is called "Fragile Faith" and can be found at: https://ponderumc.org/ministries/se...

Send us Fan Mail We continue our walk through the Gospel of Matthew.  This is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. We learn that this story is not part of the flashback from last week. Ken and Rocky discuss how this may have been a learning experience for the Apostles, as they will soon be on their own, charged with feeding the new church. We also delve into textural criticism. The sermon for this...

Send us Fan Mail After bouncing around a bit for the Easter holidays, Rocky and Ken jump back to Matthew chapter 14. This is the story of how Herod Antipas beheads John the Baptist. We try to sort out the numerous people named Herod, and talk about some of the mystery surrounding the head of John the Baptist. The sermon for this episode is called "A Simple Fix" and can be found at: https...