The Cross and the Crown

What does Jesus' parable of the net tell us about the justice of God? What does it teach us about Hell? How should a right view and understanding of Hell help us deepen our understanding of God's holiness? 

In this passage, Cory illuminates the necessity of pursuing a Christ-centered and Christ-driven call to unity found in Philippians 2:1-4. Unity is something we possess and must protect, yet lack and must pursue. Since we possess unity in Christ, we must pursue unity with one another. 

In the parables of the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price, we see the value of the Kingdom of Heaven. Is the kingdom truly worth abandoning everything for? What makes the kingdom so valuable?

What does it mean to live our lives worthy of the gospel of Christ? 

What impact did the resurrection of Jesus have upon Mary Magdalene, the disciples at large, and Thomas specifically? In the grand pivot of all Scripture, the resurrection of Jesus Christ offers to us an otherworldly hope. 

Jesus challenges us once again in his parable of the wheat and the tares. He confronts the hearer with nature of His judgement and the certainty of His kingdom's conquest. 

Paul says in Philippians 1:21 that "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." What does that mean for us? How does this shift our worldview? What are the consequences if we aim for anything less? 

In response to questions of what people should do in response to a deadly plague, Martin Luther wrote a pamphlet that details his opinions regarding the people's response to an outbreak of the Bubonic plague in Wittenberg, Germany in 1527. This is his verbatim response, a fun historical artifact worth considering, for both positive and negative reasons. Let history judge. 

Jesus delivered the parable of the sower to the crowds and gave its interpretation to the disciples. In it,  he laid out 4 types of soil in which the seed of the gospel falls. One bears fruit. What are the implications for us today?

Why did Jesus speak in parables? The answer may surprise you, confront you, and bless you. 

  Christ-honoring motives begin with a cross-shaped love. How does the gospel drive out pride, not only from what we say and do, but from why we say what we say and do what we do?     

Sold for a gallon of whiskey at 6 months old, chained to a tree and beaten within an inch of death, the scars of Mr. William Jackson tell a thousand stories of unthinkable abuse and negligence. May his story change your life as it has mine. 

Paul's sufferings advanced the gospel by emboldening others to trust the risen Christ- who is with us always and who has a purpose in every pain- to speak the word of God without fear.

What does it mean to worship? By seeing what worship isn't, we gain a clearer picture of what it is. In this episode, we will tour Matthew 15 and John 4 to press in to how Christ Himself understood worship. 

There is no higher purpose for mankind than to praise the God who created the heavens and earth and to bring Him glory. In Paul's prayer for the Philippians, he passionately prays as we ought to pray, with a precision and intensity that plunges is beyond our comfort zones as we trust the tender care of our loving Father. 

Who was Jan Hus? What role did he play in being a forerunner of the Reformation? How should his life inspire to live our own? 

What historical events led to the need for reformation? How did corruption in the papacy expose the need for reform? Who would be so bold to challenge the authority of Rome... or Avignon? By what standard would Wycliffe make his stand?

What does Paul mean when he says that we are partakers of God's grace? What clues does he give us as to what he means by the defense and confirmation of the gospel?

Is there such a thing as assurance of salvation? Can we ever really know that we are saved? What role does the church play in our Christian walk? 

As we look at Philippians 1:6, we see a picture of Paul's confidence that God will finish His work amongst the Philippians. Where, why, and in whom does Paul's confidence rest? How can Paul be so certain? What does this mean for believers? 

Paul thanks God for the Philippian believers for their partnership in the gospel. 

In this second part of our tour through Christian giving, we look closer and at the attitude behind our giving. 

What was it like before creation? How do we know the Bible is true? Kolby, Cory, and Landon tackle intense questions... like a boss.  

In Philippians 1:1-2, Paul (in line with Peter, James, Jude, and John) calls himself a slave of Christ. How do we reconcile this with Christ's calling his disciples friends? What does this designation call us to and free us from? 

Christian giving flows directly from the character of God. As God have His Son, we are prompted to give all of who we are to the Kingdom's call.