ReDiscovering God

We conclude this two part series on how Jesus is supreme over all prophets and teachers. In this episode we discover that Jesus is greater than Jacob, Abraham, he is the visible image of the invisible God, He claimed congruence with God, is greater than the church, the temple, and the Sabbath. And yet while being the greatest and master of all He is also our servant and lived his life in service t...

In this episode we explore the statements of Jesus that show his supremacy over all other prophets and teachers. He is greater than Jonah, Solomon, Moses and Elijah, David, John the Baptist, all creation and has all-encompassing authority. Only Jesus revealed God's unfailing love and faithfulness. The pdf document for this episode is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca. #Ian Hartley #Warren K...

In this the second of this two part series on who put the tree in the garden we consider various explanations given for this tree being in the garden. We have concluded that the evil was in the presence of the serpent in a random tree of the thousands of trees possible. The consequences of evil enticement in the garden is also considered. We also consider the connection between the tree of the kno...

This is part one of this two part series looking at how the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil came to be in the Garden. Was God trying to trick Adam and Eve or Test them? What is Free Choice and do we actually have the freedom to choose? What are the natural consequences of such choices? The PDF for this episode is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca. #Ian Hartley #Warren Kay #Sascha Steenbe...

In this episode we look at the question Was the Cross God's idea? We unpack a few verses like Isaiah 53:10 that people assume are evidence that the cross was necessary in God's mind to be able to save us. However when understood in its context we discover that is not the case. Jesus is clear he was put on the cross by the Jewish leaders with the help of the Romans. The pdf document for thi...

Does God Ever Tempt Anyone? This is the question that we discover Jesus' answer to in this episode. We discover a new way to understand the Lord's Prayer that really helps in understanding this issue. Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. We can rest assured that God is to the one who tempts us but it is the devil. The pdf document is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca #Ian H...

As we continue our series of frequently asked questions we discuss the question of didn't God require Abraham to sacrifice his son? We take a care full look at the times Jesus talked about children and discover the reality that children are very important to him and he will defend them to the end. It is therefore impossible that it was God that gave Abraham that request. Go to www.rediscoverin...

In this episode we look at the question about how did Jesus' teachings relate to the ever-burning destiny portrayed in Revelation 14:10-12? Jesus tells a series of parables that give numerous endings to the wicked that inhabit the earth. It is enlightening to discover that He was not telling these stories to warn us of what happens at the end of the world. He is using the various ending that t...

The question we address in this episode is Why do we suffer if God is in control? We discover that if God was in control and always got His own way He would be abusive. He is a God of love and that is His way of functioning - as a result he does not get his own way and therefore is not in control. There is a supernatural being that is in control that results in so much pain and suffering. Jesus is...

In this episode we address the question Did Jesus ever portray God as an abusive deity? Most of Christianity portray God as an abusive deity that says obey me and I will bless you and disobey me, rebel against me and I will have to destroy you. If a man was to propose to a woman and say marry me and you will have every thing your heart desires but refuse to marry me and I will have to shoot you. W...

We continue this series of answering these questions with the words of Jesus. So we have renamed this series The Red Letter Answers. This week we look at the question of what does Jesus say about God punishing sinners? The Old Testament is very clear that God would punish them if they did not follow what He had admonished them to do. The results were a whole list of terrible things that would happ...

In this episode we challenge what is commonly taught in Christian churches that God will destroy the wicked at the end of time. We will simply look at what Jesus says about the attitude of God toward the wicked and discover what He clearly taught and also look at His practice when a couple of His disciples wanted to consume a Samaritan village with fire. The PDF document is available at www.redisc...

Jesus arrived two millennia ago and completely negated this view of God. Jesus came to show that God is represented by the Tree of Life not the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Jesus understanding of God is radically different than that revealed by the Old Testament Writers. No wonder the disciples asked Him to show them the Father. Fortunate for us, He shares with us the God that He knew a...

We take a look at the two trees in the Garden of Eden and discover how they symbolically represent two views of God. One view is held by the Old Testament writers and the other by Jesus who has seen God and knows God's heart. Many Old Testament writers and characters portray God as the source of both Good and Evil.

The Resurrection of Easter does change everything. This is the most monumental event of history. It transforms the meaning of the cross from defeat to deliverance, we now know that we matter to God, it brings the presence of God into our daily lives and it guarantees our future. We are forever indebted to God for the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus. Friday is here but thank God Sunday is Comi...

We conclude this close look at that passages that talk about Jesus death and discover that what we have been led to believe is just not supported by scripture. Jesus did not need to die to change God's mind about us and enable him to forgive us. He died because we killed Him in His endeavour to get us to change our mind about God. The Pdf document is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca #Ian H...

So who actually killed Jesus. Many would say that He was killed to satisfy God's demand for justice. That God need the death of His Son to enable Him to forgive mankind. As a result we have been taught that in essence God killed Jesus. However, what is the Biblical evidence? We will continue in this series and look at the Epistles and see what they say as to why Jesus died. We take a close loo...

In this episode of Rediscovering God we take a close look at Isaiah 53 which many use to support the idea that God needed the death of His son to enable Him to forgive sinners. However a close look at this chapter reveals a much different outcome and attributes the killing of Jesus to the people that placed Him on the cross. The PDF for this episode is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca. #redisc...

In this episode of Rediscovering God we look carefully at the experience of Jesus and the statements of the other New Testament writers to determine if any of them implicate God in the death of Jesus on the cross. Their testimony is consistent that Jesus was killed at the hands of the leading teachers, scribes and religious leaders who enlisted the help of the Romans. The notion that He died becau...

In this episode we conclude the series on the genocide of God. We are fortunate to have the witness of Jesus about God to enable us to take a closer look at these troubling stories that depict God in a way that is far from the way Jesus portrayed Him. The PDF document is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca

We continue to endeavour to understand these troubling stories in the Old Testament. The genocide of Israel against the nations of Canaan are described as something that God commands then to do. However, as we have come to understand the God that Jesus knew we realize that such a terrible event should never be ascribed to God and must be attributed to the enemy and their that comes to steal, kill...

We continue in this episode to look at the other major event that gets attributed to God. The destruction of the world at the end of the age. Is this actually caused by God? Does God in the end find it necessary to use force to concur the evil that has plagued this planet for so many years. The PDF for his episode is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca #Ian Hartley #Warren Kay #Sascha Steenbergen...

Seldom talked about is the story of the Flood . It is like the elephant in the room when we consider the character of God and how the Old Testament describes God as not only destroying the people but the animals and the plant life on earth. We talk a close look at this story and prove several reasons this could be understood another way. The PDF for his episode is available at www.redisoveringgod....

We have confirmed that God is Always Good and now we continue to consider the last 4 situations where it seems the opposite is the case . The ever burning fire, The Sexual Abuse of David's Wives, Fire from the Sky, and Did God Send Venomous Snakes to kill the Israelites? In the end God is faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. The pdf document is available at www.rediscoveringgod.ca #Ian Hart...

Is God Always Good or is There More? This question is motivated by so many situations in the Bible where God comes away looking very rigid and even vindictive. In this episode we lay a firm foundation on the life of Jesus that reveals that God is certainly good from Matthew's perspective. Then we begin to look at three of seven situations where scripture portray the opposite perspective. When...