Wawasee Bible Podcast

Phil Bubar preaches from James 1:2-8.

Bob Blahnik preaches from Acts 8:25-40.

God’s Word was written to specific people, in specific places, at specific times. And is was written FOR us. For our good, for our joy, for our life. This week Pastor Josh looks at Isaiah 43 where God writes to his people, Israel. He promises to be with them in their coming trials, but also to eventually rescue them as well because of his great love for them. In the same way Jesus rescues us to be...

Most believe that Paul was eventually released from his imprisonment in Rome after 2 years (Acts 28:30-31). It’s likely that Paul made a 4th journey after his time in Rome, and Clement seems to indicate that he may have even made it to Spain. During this time, he writes letters to Timothy and Titus. This week we look at his second letter to Timothy, whom he left to pastor the church in Ephesus. 2...

Most believe that Paul was eventually released from his imprisonment in Rome after 2 years (Acts 28:30-31). It’s likely that Paul made a 4th journey after his time in Rome, and Clement seems to indicate that he may have even made it to Spain. During this time, he writes letters to Timothy and Titus. This week we look at his letter to Titus, whom he left in Crete to care for the church there and br...

Most believe that Paul was eventually released from his imprisonment in Rome after 2 years (Acts 28:30-31). It’s likely, then, that Paul made a 4th journey after his time in Rome, and Clement seems to indicate that he may have even made it to Spain. During this time, he writes letters to Timothy and Titus. This week, we look at Paul’s letter to Timothy. It’s likely that Paul dropped Timothy off in...

As far as we know the Apostle Paul never visited the church in Colossae. By the time of Paul the city was no longer a strategic hub. However, God still had big plans for Colossae. During his time as a prisoner in Rome Paul learns of the church there from the guy who likely planted it—Epaphras—and writes a letter to them. In it he encourages them to look for fullness not in the false teachings, phi...

The book of Acts ends somewhat abruptly. What happened at Paul's trial? What came next for the early church? What about Peter and the others? In his wisdom, God chose not to tell us any more than he did but left the story without a clear ending. And because it hasn't ended, God's story keeps going today as the Spirit moves in and through the Church to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Acts, we...

Acts 28 begins with Paul and the others having reached the beaches of Malta after a treacherous journey across that Mediterranean. For over two weeks they found themselves in rough weather and lost as sea. By God’s grace they made it through, and he brought them toward Malta—the same island they would have likely gone to anyway as it was part of the main trade route from Myra to Rome. Throughout t...

After two years in Caesarea, Paul finally begins his journey to Rome—not as a free man, but as a prisoner. Under the supervision of Julius, a centurion, Paul begins the journey across the Mediterranean Sea to Rome. Along with Paul are other prisoners, as well as his friends Aristarchus and Luke. They board a commercial ship to Myra. In Myra they change to another, larger ship and begin their way f...

Our lives are full of problems. Some are external and the result of the hardship of life, or maybe due to someone else, and sometimes problems even come about because of living out our faith. Other times the storm we’re going through gets inside of us and our problems become internal, or they’re due to our sin. The good news is that while life is full of problems, God’s promises are greater. Paul...

In Acts 22 through 24, Paul's plans are upended by the circumstances he faced. Curiously in 23:11, Jesus made it clear to Paul that Paul's desire to make it to Rome would be fulfilled—in fact, it was God's will as well! But the way Paul had planned to go to Rome was not the same way God had in mind. God accomplished his plan to get Paul to Rome in a way Paul would have never expected, and in the t...

In Acts 22:24-23:11, Paul confronts the Sanhedrin, triggering a conflict with accusations and disputes. Despite facing intense opposition and turmoil, he skillfully navigates the situation, using his knowledge and rhetorical abilities to provoke a conflict and divide his opponents while conquering the Sanhedrin's accusations against him. In all of the chaos, Paul finds peace and encouragement in a...

On his way to Jerusalem at the close of his third church planning (missionary) journey, the Apostle Paul is warned multiple times about what awaited him once he got there. The warnings were dire, and those accompanying Paul pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Paul's heart and mind were set, though, convinced that that's what God had for him. After making it to Jerusalem with a large financ...

After John tells us about Mary finding the empty tomb and Peter and John's foot race to it in chapter 20, he records three encounters Jesus had with people who had some doubt and confusion after his resurrection: Mary Magdalene, the Disciples, and Thomas. Sometimes we might assume doubt is the opposite of faith, but it's not—disobedience is. The key is what you do with your doubt. The good news is...

Jesus is not only fully God, but became fully human. Because of this truth he understands us better than anyone else. Everyone has experienced dissatisfaction in life. It's because this life is not all there is, and it's because our lives are broken with sin. Jesus gets our dissatisfaction. He understands our wanting and longing for something more. In fact, he's the one who put those longings and...

Jesus is not only fully God, but became fully human. Because of this truth he understands us better than anyone else. One of the human experiences Jesus knows well is grief. Grief is intense emotional suffering caused by a loss. It's the painful emotion of sorrow caused not only by a loss but even an impending loss of anyone or anything that has deep meaning to you. We often associate it with deat...

Jesus is not only fully God, but became fully human. Because of this truth he understands us better than anyone else. This week Pastor Dave opens up John 8:1-11 to see how Jesus understands guilt. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that Jesus—who knew no sin—became sin for our sake so that we could be forgiven and made righteous. There's a difference between true guilt and unnecessary self-condemnation....

Jesus is not only fully God, but became fully human. Because of this truth he understands us better than anyone else. In his humanity Jesus experienced and understands fear and anxiety, and he models a way through it to trust and rest in God's love, grace, and control. Often anxiety boils down to just that, not having control. Thankfully God deeply loves us, is near, and is always in full control....

Jesus is not only fully God, but became fully human. Because of this truth he understands us better than anyone else. In his humanity Jesus experienced long days, weariness, even sleepless nights when he dreaded what was coming the next day. Jesus understands exhaustion, and he also understands and offers the way through it. Jesus calls us to simply come to him, to take on his yoke and learn from...

Jesus is not only fully God, but became fully human. Because of this truth he understands us better than anyone else. Not only did he create us, he lived as a one of us. And he gets us. In Luke 15 Jesus tells 3 parables that all go together. They show clearly that all of us are known by Jesus, greatly valued by Jesus, and joyfully welcomed by Jesus when we turn to him. Even though we might feel an...

In Acts 20 Paul is wrapping up his 3rd church planting (missionary) journey, leaving the city of Ephesus for the last time. Six years later he writes a letter to the church in Ephesus (as well as the surrounding region). His letter can be neatly divided into two halves. The first half is Paul reminding them of who they are in Christ, and their new identity. The second half is all about how they sh...

Toward the end of his third church-planting (missionary) journey, Paul spends a few months in Corinth (Acts 20:2-3), likely the winter months (1 Corinthians 16:6). While he's there, he writes to the believers he longs to visit—those in Rome. Paul would not make to Rome on his own terms, but as a prisoner (Acts 28:16). It's possible that he was unsure if he'd ever make it, and that's why he writes...

In Acts 20 Paul is wrapping up his 3rd church planting (missionary) journey. We see him visit Corinth, Macedonia, Troas, Ephesus and other places for the very last time. He'll leave this region—and the people he dearly loves there—for the last time, never to return, and he knows it. So what does he do? Like Paul, each of us will leave some things in our wake. Some good, some bad. But what will we...

The city of Ephesus was the third largest in the Roman Empire. It was a major commercial port on the Aegean Sea and home to many artisans, beautiful architecture, as well as the capital and religious center of Asia Minor. At the center of life in Ephesus was the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It brought in much wealth, tourism, and renown for Ephesus. After three...