Wednesday in the Word

Jesus begins his public ministry in the most unexpected place: Galilee, a region despised by the religious establishment and far from the centers of power. This choice was no accident. By starting in Galilee, Jesus fulfills ancient prophecy and reveals something essential about God's kingdom. It comes first to the marginalized, not the elite. It shines light in the darkest places, not where l...

Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for a single act of worship. This isn't about switching sides or abandoning God. It's about something far more subtle and dangerous: taking a shortcut to a God-given destiny. Jesus' response reveals what true worship means and why looking to anyone or anything besides God to meet our needs is idolatry, no matter how reason...

In Matthew 4:5-7, Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and urges him to jump, promising that God's angels will rescue him. Jesus refuses, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16: "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test."  This episode unpacks what it really means to test God and why Jesus saw this temptation as a subtle but deadly trap. We'll discover that the greatest act...

After Jesus' baptism, where God publicly confirmed him as the Messiah, we might expect a triumphant march to Jerusalem. Instead, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to face starvation and Satan's first temptation.  In this episode, we examine why Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, what makes this choice sinful, and how Jesus' response reveals the true source of lif...

Jesus' baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry, but it raises an important question: why would the sinless Messiah submit to a baptism of repentance?  This episode explores the profound significance of Jesus' first public act and reveals what the title "Son of God" really meant to the people of his time. Far from being a mere formality, Jesus' baptism demonstrat...

John the Baptist arrives on the scene with a bold, urgent message: the Messiah is coming, and it's time to choose. His call to repentance isn't just about feeling sorry for sin. It's about turning around completely, preparing to meet the King, and proving your commitment through a transformed life.  In this episode, we unpack John's confrontation with religious leaders, explore...

Matthew 2:23 presents one of the most puzzling statements in the New Testament: Jesus would be "called a Nazarene" to fulfill what the prophets said. The problem? No Old Testament verse says this. For two thousand years, scholars have debated what Matthew means.  This episode unravels the mystery by showing how Matthew summarizes multiple prophetic themes rather than quoting a single ver...

In this episode, we unpack one of the most challenging fulfillment quotes in the Gospel of Matthew and discover that "fulfilled" often means something richer and more profound than simple prediction. By exploring the history of Rachel, the geography of Ramah, and the promises in Jeremiah 31, we'll see how Matthew connects Israel's past tragedies to their ultimate hope in the Me...

Matthew 2:15 contains one of the most puzzling quotes in the entire Gospel. Matthew says Jesus' return from Egypt "fulfilled" Hosea 11:1, which reads, "Out of Egypt I called my son."  But here's the problem: Hosea wasn't predicting anything about Jesus. He was looking backward, remembering the Exodus when God rescued Israel from slavery. So why does Matthew claim...

Most of us picture the Christmas story with shepherds and wise men gathered together around baby Jesus in a manger. But Matthew's Gospel tells a different story. In this episode, we walk through Matthew chapter 2 and discover that the Magi arrived much later than we think, that Jesus was likely a toddler when they found him, and that the family's journey from Bethlehem to Egypt to Nazare...

This episode examines Matthew's account of Jesus' birth and tackles a question that puzzles many Bible readers: What did Matthew mean when he said Jesus "fulfilled" Isaiah's prophecy about a virgin bearing a son? We explore how Matthew uses Old Testament quotations, why Joseph's role was crucial to Jesus' identity as Messiah, and what "God with us" real...

Matthew opens his gospel not with a miracle or a parable, but with a long list of names—and in this episode, Krisan shows why that “boring” genealogy is actually a powerful proclamation about who Jesus is. By tracing Jesus as “son of Abraham, son of David,” Matthew is announcing that all of God’s ancient promises—to bless the nations and to establish an everlasting king—find their fulfillment in t...

Matthew’s Gospel has shaped Western culture and Christian faith more than many realize—but Matthew didn’t write a slogan book; he wrote a carefully crafted story to show us who Jesus is, what He did, and why it matters. In this introductory episode, Krisan sets the stage for the whole series on Matthew by exploring the author, the structure of the gospel, and how we should approach studying it as...

As citizens of God's kingdom, we ought to reflect our holy king. This is what citizenship in the kingdom of God looks like. Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use on any passage for the rest of your life. Sign up for Bible Study Boot Camp

The King redeems His people from Egypt. At Mt Sinai, He explains what it means to be His people. At end of Exodus, He is dwelling with them. Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use on any passage for the rest of your life. Sign up for Bible Study Boot Camp

Proper understanding of the Pentateuch can help us understand the Christian life and all of God's creation. We are part of the biblical narrative - God's plan to redeem a people for Himself. Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use on any passage for the rest of yo...

Understanding Ezekiel's vision of the future in light of its fulfillment in Christ  How are we to interpret the numerous prophetic predictions of the glorious future restoration of Israel?  Series: Old Testament Insights Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use on any p...

In the year Ezekiel should have started his priestly duties, he was in exile in Babylon. Instead the Lord gave him a vision. What exactly did Ezekiel see? Series: Old Testament Insights Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use on any passage for the rest of your life. Sign u...

3 reasons why we don't study the prophets: they're weird, confusing and they all sound alike. Here's why it is important to study the prophets. Series: Old Testament Insights Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them how. Bible Study Boot Camp fixes that: one short email a day for a week, plus a worksheet you can use on any passage for the rest of your life. Si...

Why do you need God if you’ve got it made? What if you are in good health, you have a great marriage or romantic relationship, and you excel in your career? What if you have lots of friends, your children are healthy, cute and compliant? What if you have enough money to be comfortable and life is generally going well? Why should you bother with Jesus? Most people fail at Bible study because no one...

What does Scripture teach about the baptism of the Holy Spirit? While this topic is controversial, I think Scripture teaches that the baptism of the Holy Spirit has both an individual application (as applied to the apostles) and a universal application (as applied to all believers). Passages: Luke 3:15-18; John 14:25-26; John 15:26-27; John 16:12-15; Acts 1:1-8; John 20:19-23; Acts 2:1-18; John 7:...

As Paul deals with the issue of the “weaker” brother, he makes an important point about unity and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in all believers. Unity is not something that can be imposed from the outside or the top down. Unity is a work of the Holy Spirit bringing individuals together through their shared faith. Passages: Romans 15:1-13 Series: Who is the Holy Spirit? Most people fail at...

This series has been building to this podcast. In this podcast we put it altogether.  As a new believer, I thought the Holy Spirit was like the “force” in Star Wars: something I had to access to find success. Paul has a different view in this passage. The Holy Spirit is the active love of God intervening to make us people who will persevere in faith. Passages: Romans 5:1-5 Series: Who is the Holy...

Paul describes believers as sealed with the Holy Spirit. A seal fulfills a past promise and pledges a future inheritance. A King’s seal had a three-fold purpose: 1) to guarantee authenticity, 2) to name the rightful owner, and 3) to protect from being tampered with or harmed. Passage: Ephesians 1:13-23 Series: Who is the Holy Spirit? Most people fail at Bible study because no one ever taught them...

Both the Old and New Testaments speak about the need for God to spiritually renew us and change our hearts. Both associate this spiritual renewal with the Spirit of God. But there is only one really clear Old Testament passage on this topic. Passages: Deuteronomy 29:2-4; Isaiah 63:15-19; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:16-28; Romans 2:28-29; 2Corinthians 3:1-6.  Series: Who is t...