Way Word

After the newly made man is put into the Garden, he undergoes some formational moments that are meant to mature him for the world and life entrusted to him. I invite you to join me in today's episode to not only explore those formational moments, but also the implications they might hold for how we approach life.

After the LORD God forms the man into a living being, you would think the man should get to work tilling the ground, right? Not so fast. First, the LORD God plants a garden. But what is this garden? Where might this garden have been located? And why might the LORD God have planted this garden? Please join in today's episode of the Way Word Podcast as we explore the Garden of Eden.

In Genesis 2:5-7, the text focuses in on area whose ground is uncultivated. Employing a bit of wordplay, the text seems to state both the problem of and the solution to the ground's fruitlessness. But after the LORD God forms the solution, this living solution seems to possess a nature that holds promise and potential for the entire Story going forward. I invite you to join me in this episode that...

Is the creation story in Genesis 2 a retelling of Day Six, or is it a separate account entirely? In today's episode, v.4 presents us with three lenses that help establish our footing as we set off to explore Genesis 2.

In Mark 5:25, we meet a woman who had been suffering from menstrual bleeding for twelve years. All her efforts to seek healing had exhausted her. Then one day she heard Jesus was nearby. The stories she had heard about Jesus inspired her to do something that would make all the difference: she reached out to Jesus. I invite you to listen in to this sermon I preached on April 14, 2024. May you be in...

After six days of work, with the heavens and the earth finished, God rested. But what does that mean? Did God need a nap? Might there be more to this idea of rest? And if so, what does it mean for the overall creation story? What might it mean for we who read and wish to respond to the Genesis creation story? I invite you to join me on this exciting episode of the Way Word Podcast.

The sixth day of creation opens with living creatures, but the text soon moves to focus on a group of functionaries that appear to be the centerpiece of God's creation. What sets these functionaries uniquely apart among God's creatures? I invite you to join me on today's episode to explore that very question.

One of the questions that continuously stayed with me as I prepared this discussion on the Fifth Day of creation was "What is the point of birds and sea creatures?" While I doubt the answers I ended with are comprehensive, they did certainly confer upon me a fresh sense of wonder. I invite you to enjoy the wonder with me on today's episode.

The fourth day is also the beginning of a new structure in the creation story. What the previous three days have formed now need to be filled. Filled with what? I invite you to join me on today's episode to explore how what was created on Day One is now given some help.

On the third day, the text mentions several creative events that take place. Are these separate, isolated events? Or is the text describing a newly cohesive function that is emerging? Join me on today's episode of the Way Word Podcast and find out!

On the second day, God created a dome called sky to separate the waters above from the waters below. But is this "solid ceiling-with-a-faucet" language an accurate description of the sky? I invite you to join me on today's episode to explore whether there is another possibility.

On the first day of creation, God said "Let there be light". But is that what a 'day' is? I invite you to join me in today's episode and explore the first function God created and how our lives might be lived in step with it.

Before moving on to the specific functions in creation, there is a detail and pattern that must be addressed in Genesis 1:3. A detail and pattern that ultimately give shape to all existence and function.

In this second episode of our Bible Story Series, we explore how Genesis 1:1-2 initially introduces Israel to the origin story of the world she was living in and establishes a worldview of God-created functionality.

In this first episode of our new Bible Story series, we begin by asking "Just whose story is this?" To help navigate that question and what it might mean, we explore, wrestle with, and quantify the wide-scale, multi-dimensional journey this Story has taken to end up in our hands all nicely bound. My hope is that the end results will expand within your mindset a richer sense of wonder and worship.

In today's short episode, I announce the new series we will be embarking on for the foreseeable future. I hope you will join me in this unfolding adventure on The Way Word Podcast; where the Word paves the Way.

While application does mean doing things, often that means first unlearning some things in order to learn other things. In today's episode, we will look at five things within this text that Jesus used to challenge the law expert. Things Jesus still uses to challenge us in learning and living the way of mercy.

As we pick up where we left off in our previous interpretation episode, we finally look at the third story character Jesus was using to effectively communicate his vision of mercy. By the end of his story, Jesus reframes the question he was asked with a question of his own that we, as Jesus's followers, are still being asked today.

At the end of our previous episode, we were left with several questions:  Why did the law expert insert himself into Jesus’s kingdom conversation with his disciples?  Why did the law expert suddenly need to vindicate himself, especially after Jesus affirmed his correct answer to his first question?  What is going on with the characters in this story Jesus shared? &nbs...

We are beginning the New Year by digging into Jesus's parable of the Good Samaritan. When asked a question by someone struggling with something in his heart, Jesus spoke to him through the clarifying form of story. A story that still speaks to us. To make room for the activity and material within this text, this will be the first in a series that seeks to observe, interpret, and apply Jesus's clas...

After the presents have been opened, the food has been enjoyed, the parties are over, and the lights are turned off, what are we to do with Advent? In today's episode, we meet two people whose lives exemplify how we must go forward.

In this fifth episode of our Advent series, we finally arrive at Jesus's arrival! But what exactly does Jesus's arrival mean for this world? Please join me in this discussion about how the birth of Jesus signals a big change for how the world functions. And Merry Christmas!

After Mary receives the angel's message, she gets herself to the hill country. Why? Because God's hope requires participation. In this fourth episode of our Advent series we examine how one family participated in God's hope, and we explore how we may also participate in the hope God is bringing to the world.

In this third episode of our Advent series, we finally focus in and clarify the specific shape and substance of the hope God was ushering into the world. We begin with God's angel appearing to a young woman and revealing to her the special role she would play in the unfolding of God's salvation.

In this second episode of our Advent series, we examine one particular character whose life was heavy with hopelessness, until one day when hope showed up. Perhaps his story amidst this Advent season can help you and your hardened heart to hope again.