The Read Think Pray Podcast

In Matthew 27:32 Jesus is at his breaking point, and the soldiers grab a man, Simon of Cyrene, to carry Jesus's cross for a while. In doing so, Simon teaches us that cross-bearing can come quickly and without notice. In this way, the cross can come suddenly. Are we ready? Can we prepare for when the moment comes? And how grateful are we that Christ didn't hesitate or fail when the cross ca...

St. Cyril of Alexandria focuses on Mary Magdalene who did not "esteem Christ less highly because of his death upon the Cross," even calling him Lord when she thought he was dead. Let's pray for that kind of faith and loyalty! -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠readthinkpray.com⁠

The Church Father John Chrysostom gives us a good reminder during Lent, a sobering and flesh-crucying season on the church calendar, that Christ was the victor at Calvary! And in him, we share in that victory. But that's not all it was, it was also "the downfall of the devil." -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠readthinkpray.com⁠

Many of the Church Fathers refer to the cross as the "tree." They see in it more than just a wooden instrument of capital punishment but the continuation of a theme in Scripture, a pattern where trees play a significant role and point to more than just themselves. So, while one tree in the Garden of Eden brought death, St. Ephrem the Syrian sees a direct connection to the cross on Golgot...

Athanasius sees Jesus's arms spread out on the cross not as a forced posture by the executioners only but as an invitation to all. This is recognizable in the Gospel story of Jesus while he walked around and did ministry, but Athanasius sees it continuing even during the crucifixion. It's a beautiful reminder that Jesus never stopped inviting everyone. Even you and I. -- Visit the podcast...

Today, we begin a few days of reading what the Church Fathers had to say about the cross, starting with Cyprian of Carthage (210 - 258 AD), who calls the cross a trophy. What a beautiful way to think of the cross! -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠readthinkpray.com⁠

In Matthew 10:38 Jesus tells his disciples to pick up their cross and follow after him. If we do that, we'll find out...the cross divides. So, here are some questions to reflect on today during Lent: Is it dividing us anywhere? Are we resisting the division? Is there anywhere we need to pick our cross back up? And are we cross-bearing together? -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠readthinkpr...

In our 4th episode during Lent, we read from The Westminster Confession of Faith, where we confess that Christ paid our debt in full. We are debt-free! And unlike our debt here in the kingdom of man, we don't go back into debt. Not from present or future sins. We cannot commit a sin greater than Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross! -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠readthinkpray.com⁠

In Day 3 of Lent we read from the Canons of Dort, which remind us that we could not have satisfied the wrath of God. Had we been there to offer to switch places with Jesus and die for our own sins, it would not have worked. Only Jesus, the spotless lamb, could have made such a sacrifice. -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠readthinkpray.com⁠

One of the things we see in The Belgic Confession is that Jesus Christ at the cross was both the priest and the offering! -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠readthinkpray.com⁠

Day 1 of Lent is Ash Wednesday, a day to be reminded of our mortality and to be marked by the cross. Join us each day during Lent as we journey towards celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter! -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠readthinkpray.com⁠

What do our prayers sound like? Do we send God out on errands or always ask him to move stuff around? Who sounds like the servant and the master in our prayers? In Mary's response to Gabriel, we are given an incredible model for prayer. Join us as we think and pray through Luke 1:33-38. -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠readthinkpray.com⁠

Mary gets the name of Jesus the same way we do; through a messenger from on high. It's a reminder that Christ comes to us first. Can you remember when he came to you? And the prevenient grace that preceded you coming to him? These are some of the questions we consider while reading and thinking about Luke 1:26-33. -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠readthinkpray.com

Our life today in the 21st century is radically different than someone's life in the 16th century, even when it comes to the Bible. We live in Bible times! Are we taking full advantage of our access to the Scriptures though? Are we missing out on its availability? What is our excuse for engaging with God's word so infrequently? These are some questions we ask while thinking through Eric Me...

From March 5 to April 19 (Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday), except for Sundays, we are going to have daily episodes during the 2025 Lent season. Join us each day to meditate on the cross.

How do you start your prayers? What do they sound like? Elizabeth gives us an example of prayer, to give praise. Consider starting your prayer by saying, "Thank you Lord for..." -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠⁠readthinkpray.com

We are always presenting. So the question isn't, "When am I presenting?" Instead, it's, "What am I presenting?" Do you know the gap between what you think you're presenting and what others see you as presenting? And how do we present our faith? These are some of the questions we ask while thinking through Sylvia Ann Hewlett's book Executive Presence: The Missing...

How long does God remember our prayers? Even if we've stopped praying? Will he stop answering if we stop praying? The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth show us just how long the memory of God is. In this episode, we cover Luke 1:8-23. -- Visit the podcast website: ⁠readthinkpray.com

Author Kelly M. Kapic encourages us that everyone can be a theologian, that everyone is a theologian! Because "Whenever we speak about God we are engaged in theology." Purchase A Little Book for New Theologians by Kelly M. Kapic from Amazon or directly from the publisher . -- Visit the podcast website: readthinkpray.com

The narrative of Luke's Gospel account kicks off with Zechariah and Elizabeth; who got bad news and still remained faithful to the Lord. Could we do the same? In this episode, we cover Luke 1:5-7. Visit the podcast website: https://www.readthinkpray.com

In this episode (the first!) we begin to read and think through the Gospel according to Luke, 1:1-4.

A short introduction to the Read Think Pray Podcast and to myself, John Barringer.