The Teaching Series (with Brad Gray and Brad Nelson)

Most of us are exhausted from trying to rule our own lives—carrying the weight of decisions, outcomes, and expectations we were never meant to bear. Deep down, we long for someone trustworthy to lead us, but we often resist surrender because we assume that giving up control means losing freedom. In this final episode of our mini-series, we explore the biblical image that brings all of the other im...

In a world that rarely slows down, many of us carry a constant undercurrent of anxiety, restlessness, and fatigue. Deep down, we long for more—for peace, stability, and a place of refuge where our souls can breathe and find rest. When David was fleeing from Saul, he found such a place in one of Israel’s most breathtaking and iconic locations—Masada! As we trace the biblical connections to David an...

Human beings are natural builders, but the problem is many of us build our lives on unstable foundations—worldly success, self-reliance, or fleeting ambitions—that ultimately collapse under pressure. The solution is to build on Jesus, the master builder, who is the sure foundation and cornerstone of God's spiritual house. By trusting in him, aligning with his teachings, and allowing him to sha...

Many people struggle to feel truly welcomed, accepted, and secure—especially in a world that often feels isolating and adversarial. But Scripture reveals a God who is not distant or indifferent; He is a gracious host, inviting us into His presence with the radical hospitality of a Bedouin patriarch. In Psalm 23, Isaiah 42, and the life of Jesus, we see a God who prepares a table, offers provision,...

Many people go through life unaware that they’re caught in the middle of a cosmic war, where the forces of good and evil are in constant conflict. The struggles we face—discouragement, temptation, and spiritual opposition—aren’t random but part of this battle. The good news is that we’re not defenseless; God is a warrior who fights for His people, and through Jesus, the ultimate victory has alread...

Many of us struggle to trust that God is actively leading our lives, especially when things feel uncertain or difficult. But the Scriptures constantly liken God to a Good Shepherd who skillfully guides, protects, and provides for His people. In this episode, we explore the depth of this image, from the rugged realities of shepherding in the ancient world to Jesus's bold declaration, “I am the...

A lot of us grow up with distorted ideas about who God is, and part of following Jesus is unlearning those false images and discovering the truth. In this episode, we’re diving into the beautiful picture of God as a Faithful Farmer—someone who plants, nurtures, and invests deeply in what He’s growing. This image shows us just how patient and committed God is, working tirelessly to see His creation...

How you think about God determines how you interact with God. Therefore, it’s essential to have an accurate understanding of who He is and what He’s like. In this new series – Biblical Images of God – we unpack the vivid and concrete metaphors used of God in order to deepen our relationship with Him. Beginning with “living water,” we uncover the significance of this image by examining Jeremiah’s d...

Do you struggle to understand why God is asking you to do something, and hesitate to follow through? In this final episode of “3 Gifts of Christmas,” we explore the mysterious significance of the Magi's gift of myrrh, tracing its historical and symbolic meanings—from its use in ancient perfumes and burial rituals to its connection to Jesus’s sacrificial death.

The Magi’s gift of frankincense may seem unusual at first, but it is rich with meaning, deeply rooted in their culture and the Hebrew Scriptures. Harvested through a meticulous and labor-intensive process, frankincense was a symbol of worship, reverence, and devotion. By offering this gift, the Magi not only honored Jesus as king but also displayed incredible courage, risking their lives by defyin...

Each Christmas, talk inevitably turns to gifts and gift-giving. But often, we give from a place of comfort and convenience. The Christmas story, however, teaches us a deeper lesson about giving our best. In “3 Gifts of Christmas,” we explore the significance of the Magi’s gifts in Matthew 2:11, and as we’ll see with the gift of gold, the most precious gifts we give are the ones that cost us the mo...

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is one of the New Testament’s most beloved books, yet its brilliant structure and deeper meanings are often overlooked. Throughout the letter, Paul draws on everyday imagery from the “Roman Street” in Ephesus – the slave market, victory parades, bathhouses, theatres, night watchmen, and pubs – to illustrate how a believer’s conduct should stand in stark contrast to t...

During the height of the Roman Empire, the world experienced an unprecedented era of stability that allowed people to travel freely. Most did so by land and sea, and few logged more miles than the apostle Paul. During his missionary journeys, the Apostle Paul traveled thousands of miles by land and sea! Along the way, he experienced fear repeatedly: beatings, robberies, imprisonments, shipwrecks....

In the Roman world, the macellum wasn’t just a marketplace—it was a crossroads of daily life, culture, and faith. Part grocery store, part food court, part temple, it was a place where the lines between everyday meals and pagan sacrifices often blurred. For Gentile converts from pagan backgrounds, the sight of fellow Christians eating meat once offered to idols stirred deep discomfort. And it was...

Brothels and pubs were fixtures in every city of ancient Roman society. Then, as now, people engaged in illicit sex and alcohol use to numb the pain of life. Brothels were staffed primarily by male and female slaves, some of whom were "exposed at birth" as unwanted children and then claimed by brothels to be raised as sex workers. Pubs were popular because most of the poor had no cooking...

Roman bathhouses were a central feature of daily life across the Roman Empire. Ironically, their primary purpose wasn’t hygiene, but for serving as social hubs where people from all walks of life could relax, socialize, conduct business, and engage in various activities like eating, drinking, exercising, playing games, attending lectures, or having sensual interactions. Due to their popularity, th...

Romans loved the blood and gore of gladiators and beast hunts. These explosive spectacles were designed to recall great moments from Rome’s past and were deliberately sponsored by politicians who also distributed cash-handouts, donations for public banquets, and other gifts to secure the public’s favor. Knowing they were about to die, gladiators nevertheless sought to die well. The Apostle Paul se...

The Romans were obsessed with games and sports, to the extent that athletes were treated like celebrities, and passionate fans sometimes rioted. Herod the Great was even voted President of the Olympic Games for life! Among the most popular games were footraces and chariot races, which captivated the public's imagination. The Apostle Paul frequently drew on this imagery, using the idea of runni...

Every self-respecting city in the Roman Empire had a theatre. Yes, people loved entertainment, but the theatre was bigger than that. It was a culture-shaping venue where edgy ideas and societal taboos were normalized in order to dictate the direction of culture. The Apostle Paul understood this and made frequent use of theatre imagery to shape people into the image of Jesus. In this episode, you’l...

During Holy Week, people all over the world remember Jesus’s words on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Did God really abandon Jesus on the cross? Or was Jesus quoting these specific words at this specific moment for a specific reason? In this final episode of “Out of Context,” we unpack Jesus’s use of a rabbinic technique called “remez” to make a bold claim about his supreme...

“Do not judge or you too will be judged.” These well-known words are quoted by Christians and non-Christians alike, often as a shield to prevent others from speaking into their lives in ways that feel critical. “If you’re a hypocrite, you don’t get to point out my flaws! And since we’re all hypocrites, no one gets to point out anybody’s flaws!” But is that what Jesus really intended with these wor...

At Christian gatherings, you’ll often hear a leader say, “Jesus is present because he promised that ‘whenever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.’” Now, there’s nothing wrong with reminding people of Jesus’s presence.

Communion … out of context … REALLY? That’s not what usually comes to mind when we think about Scripture’s instructions on the Lord’s Supper. In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul commands believers to “examine themselves” before taking communion so they don’t “eat in an unworthy manner.” Pulled from their context, these words are generally used in worship services to invite personal reflection. B...

Jeremiah 29:11 is a crowd favorite! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Who wouldn’t want these plans? Prosperity, comfort (no harm), a hopeful future – sign us up! And then the bottom falls out, and our faith gets upended because we held God to a promise He never made. Jeremiah 29:11 is not about...

Understanding the original context of a passage unleashes the power of Scripture to transform our lives. “Out of Context” is a new series designed to help us train our minds to ask better questions when we read the Bible by exploring famous passages that are frequently taken out of context. By the end of this episode, you’ll understand why Philippians 4:13 isn’t about God empowering us to do whate...