So We Speak

Near the Western Wall, archaeologists found a small clay tablet from the King of Assyria demanding that the Kingdom of Judah pay tribute. It's the first time an Assyrian inscription has been found in Jerusalem, and it falls perfectly in place during the story of Hezekiah, who defied Assyria and stopped paying tribute in the late 8th century. Cole and Terry discuss this new discovery and other evid...

Three weeks ago, the Trump administration announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a peace plan in Gaza. Now, it looks as though it might fall apart. Cole and Terry discuss the peace plan, summarize the major moves over the last year, and look to the future. 

Job is the longest sustained meditation on suffering in the Bible. Job, the righteous man, suffers horrendously, is accused of wrongdoing, but is vindicated in the end. It's not difficult to see a picture of Christ in this book. But the parallels go ever deeper. In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss ways to see Jesus in the book of Job. 

Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention God by name, but God is moving behind the scenes. Through the story and the characters, we see glimpses of God's plan to save the world and defeat the enemy through his son, Jesus.

With a couple of weeks to process, Erika Kirk's message at the memorial service for her husband still resonates. This will be the note that echoes into the future, and it's one Christians should pay attention to. Our superpower is not conquering, but forgiving. God will continue to work through what happened to Charlie Kirk, and our witness to the world will be through our love, grace, and forgive...

Nehemiah is one of the great leaders in the Bible, but there's more to him than that. The book of Nehemiah lets us into his heart and his inner thoughts. It shows a leader surrendered to God and obedient to his mission. In these moments, we see Nehemiah as a preview of Christ. At the end of the book, the people are settled in the land, waiting for the Messiah to come. 

Ezra and Nehemiah were some of the final leaders in the Old Testament. They brought people back to Jerusalem, but also brought them back to God through the renewal of the covenant. As a scribe and teacher, Ezra models the ministry of Jesus in the New Testament. As he led the people, the backdrop for the first century began to take shape. 

The assassination of Charlie Kirk shocked the country, and conservative Christians have mourned his death with services and prayer vigils. Even as we mourn, we can be wise in the way we process and respond. As Christians, we shouldn't be surprised when we see evil, but we should also look for God to build his kingdom.  Read Cole's two-part essay: " Mourning in America: The Assassination of Charlie...

The age of the kings provides us with a glimpse of God's plan for Israel. David and Solomon show us the majesty to expect in the Messiah, but they also display the repetitive, sinful nature of humanity, even the great kings of Israel. In the midst of it all, the prophets continue to bring the Word of God to bear on the people, pointing ahead to what God will do to save his people from their sins. 

The book of Chronicles reflects on the history of Israel with a look ahead to the end of the exile and the rebuilding of the Temple. The authors focus on worship and service in the Temple, previewing the time of Jesus. In addition, we see a glimpse of Jesus's eternal reign in the reign of Solomon. As the history of Israel seems to come to an end, God has other plans to fulfill his promises and con...

Are 1-2 Chronicles just a repeat of 1-2 Kings? The differences between the two accounts of Israel's history also show us something about Jesus Christ. Terry and Cole discuss the role 1 Chronicles plays in helping us to see Jesus as the true and greater temple and as the one his people worship. 

Even in the downfall of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, we can see a preview of the coming of Christ. Following in the tradition of the prophets and fulfilling the glory of the temple, Jesus embodies the best of the history of Israel. In the end, God keeps his promise to David that one of his sons will reign on the throne through an improbable twist. A king of Judah dines at the king's table in...

As the David story comes into focus, so do the parallels with Jesus. David provides the template for Israel's coming king and messiah. As one of the greatest figures in the Bible, David is a model for Jesus, but even he cannot measure up to all that Jesus will be. 

Education is already undergoing a radical change. Can it survive AI? Cole and Terry discuss the implications of widespread AI use among HS and college students and suggest that maybe the future holds a return to the past.  Read Cole's essay from the Weekly Speak, " Education in the Age of AI ."

Samuel is a pivotal figure in the Bible, spanning the period of the judges to the era of the kings. His birth, life, and legacy all teach us important lessons about Jesus. In addition, the star of 1-2 Samuel is David, the greatest king of Israel, and one of the clearest types of Christ. In this episode, Cole and Terry discuss the themes of this book and some of the surprising glimpses of Christ. 

Though it is one of the shortest books in the Old Testament, Ruth is packed with the faithfulness of God. In it, we find some fundamental building blocks for understanding the life and death of Jesus. God's commitment to his promises shines in this story of sorrow turned into joy. 

Judges is one of the darkest periods in Israel's history. As the last line says, "everyone did what was right in their own eyes." But that didn't stop God from working. All the while, God was keeping his promise to send a Messiah and save his people. 

It's been 7 years since we started So We Speak, and all the way God has been faithful. We reflect on our mission, share our favorite memories, and discuss the future of the ministry in this special birthday episode. 

In the last two weeks, Israel and Iran escalated their attacks, leading to the decimation of Iranian military and scientific leadership, and the destruction of their nuclear facilities. On June 22, the United States launched Operation Midnight Hammer and struck Iran's heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility. Just this week, the two countries have declared a cease fire. What will happen next? Col...

In his new book, Why Religion Went Obsolete, sociologist Christian Smith argues that religion is not just declining; it is increasingly seen as unnecessary. People can be good without God. Religion does not play a positive role in the world. So, what is the future for the church? In this interview, Cole talks with Christian Smith about the data, the rise of the spiritual but not religious, and wha...

The book of Joshua serves as a hinge point in the Old Testament. It is the end of the long journey out of Egypt and the beginning of life in the land. Even the name points to Jesus, which is the Greek way to say Joshua. The whole book points to the ministry of Jesus - and may even contain an appearance of Jesus in the opening chapters. 

Deuteronomy is a cornerstone of the Old Testament. It is the theology and history of Israel, and was widely revered and studied in the time of Jesus. In fact, Jesus quotes from this book as much as any other during his life. Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of passages that point to Jesus in Deuteronomy as well. From the example of Moses to the curse placed on everyone hanged on a tree, this book s...

The overturning of Roe v. Wade marks one of the biggest moments of our lifetimes. For 50 years, abortion was protected by the Supreme Court, but in the Dobbs decision in 2022, the court overturned Roe, allowing states to protect life by restricting abortion. What can Christians do now? How should we continue to treasure and preserve life? How can we live biblically in the world after Roe v. Wade? ...

Despite the name, Numbers is one of the most intriguing books in the Old Testament. The Israelites get right up to the edge of the Promised Land before they tragically doubt God's promises and return to the desert for 40 years. In the desert, God teaches them to walk with him and trust him. Along the way, we get some important glimpses of Jesus that resurface across the New Testament. 

Leviticus gets a bad rap. The sacrifices and priestly rules don't always make for lively reading. But don't take that as a sign that it's not important. When you see Jesus through the lens of Leviticus, his life, death, and resurrection take on new meaning and significance.