Focused on Christ

The story of Jonah is well known to many people, but the truths found in the story of this rebellious prophet are profound. Was Jonah prejudiced toward the people of Ninevah? Did he allow his hatred of a nation to keep him from obedience? What does God's command to Jonah tell us about God's heart for the nations? Nathan and Mike also discuss this historical fish story that has great implic...

The prophet Elijah saw the power of God in very real, tangible ways yet also suffered from great fear and anxiety. Why would anyone choose to be in that situation? Was the role of a prophet sought after? What can we learn about God from the life of Elijah? #elijah #prophet #prophecies #jesus #bible #struggle #anxiety #depression

While King Solomon began as a wise, powerful man of God by the end of his life the path was set for the fall of the kingdom. What led to this change in Solomon's actions and what other elements were involved in creating the divided kingdom? #solomon #Israel #dividedkingdom #wisdom #God #Bible #Jesus

In 1 Kings 8 we read about Solomon's dedication of the first temple. In this section of scripture, we read about the presence of God filling the temple and the passionate prayer of Solomon on behalf of the people. Nathan and Mike also discuss a verse that some have claimed to be a contradiction in the Bible. #Israel #temple #solomon #arkofthecovenant #Bible #Jesus #God

The book of Proverbs holds godly wisdom for the practical realities of life. How does this book connect to the rest of scripture and how should we read it today? Are the proverbs given throughout its pages divine promises or more understood as guidelines for life? Pastors Nathan and Mike talk through the importance of this book of the Bible and how we should read it. #proverbs #wisdom #Jesus #Bibl...

Song of Solomon is a very detailed love poem in the Bible that many adults ignore and kids read through and snicker. What does this beautiful story of courtship and marriage have to do with Christ? Is this book of the Bible just a manual for intimacy or is it someting more? In this episode Pastors Nathan and Mike talk candidly about this often misunderstood book of the Bible. #songofsolomon #sex #...

There are a lot of misconceptions about angels today. Are they cute, chubby creatures or something more profound and intimidating? Where did those other images come from and why do they drive Nathan crazy? Also, who is Satan and why does he target King David in 1 Chronicles 21? Today Mike and Nathan answer these questions as they look at the census of David and the involvement of #angels in the li...

The story of David and Absalom is a tragic story of rebellion and consequence that began with the rebellion and consequences between David and Yahweh. How did the one influence the other and how should we consider God's discipline in our own life - even though we are forgiven in Christ?

Begin in Genesis and into the life of Jesus, God has made covenants with His people. What is the purpose of these covenants and how does the Davidic Covenant compare to the others? Are the conditional agreements or something more? Pastor Nathan and Mike walk through all the covenants so that we can better see the glorious fulfillment of each covenant in the person and work of Jesus Christ. #covena...

Church worship is a controversial subject because we each express worship in different ways and with varying preferences. With all that diversity or opinion have we ever considered if there are biblical boundaries to worship? What about King David's expression of worship in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles? His worship lead his wife to look with contempt at him while he declared that he would make hi...

Are followers of Jesus always supposed to be happy? Are we allowed to bring our complaints before God? Is God ok with our broken accusations? In this important episode, Nathan and Mike look at the subject of lament found in the book of Psalms. Lament is a process of mourning life and troubling circumstances that is one of the means we have for drawing close to God in a very raw and profound way. G...

King David was a powerful ruler of Israel who was called a "man after God's own heart" - this despite his moments of sin and rebellion. What made David different from Saul, and what can we learn from both of these men and their rule? Nathan and Mike compare the lives of King David and King Saul to better discern the key differences and why those differences matter to us today. #Israe...

King Saul was a tragic figure in the history of Israel. He went from being anointed by Samuel to hiding in the luggage almost immediately, and that was only the beginning. In this episode of Focused on Christ, Nathan and Mike walk through the life of Saul so that we better understand what went wrong. #Israel #Bible #KingSaul #fear #rebellion #focusedonChrist #Jesus #Christianity

The book of Ruth is much more than a biblical Hallmark movie. Inside this small book of the Bible is a profound story of God's loving provision and care. This is especially true in regard to the image of the kinsman redeemer imagery. What is a kinsman redeemer? What does Ruth and Boaz's relationship have to do with us today? Pastor Nathan and Mike discuss this and more on this episode of F...

Something subtle yet destructive happens after the death of Joshua leading into the book of Judges. Nathan and Mike discuss the warning found in this section of scripture while also looking at the role of the judges. Were these men and women stellar, godly people or something else? How does our understanding of the judges help us in our walk with Christ today? #focusedonchrist #Jesus #judges #Isra...

One of the most difficult parts of the Bible includes the story of Joshua and the conquest of Canaan. What seems to be a God-ordained genocide of the people of this land often leads to questions about God's goodness, love, and grace. In this important episode, Pastor Nathan helps by providing a helpful biblical perspective on this historical account of Israel.  #focusedonchrist #conquest #can...

Deuteronomy 6 features an important passage for the people of Israel, often called the "Shema." What is the significance of this section of God's Word and why did God place such a high priority on sharing this with generations to come? Nathan and Mike also discuss how we understand the trinity in light of the words of the Shema.  #Israel #focusedonChrist #shema #deuteronmony #trinity

The story of Balaam in Numbers 22-24 is not only marked by a talking animal, but also the importance of blessings and cursings for the nations of this day. In this episode, Nathan and Mike walk through Balaam's story to discuss the use of blessings and curses and also the ability for God to use sinful men for His glorious purposes.  #Bible #focusedonChrist #balaam #donkey #numbers #oldtestame...

After being miraculously delivered from Egypt, given the law at Mt. Sinai, and being provided for in their journey to Canaan - the people of Israel come to Kadesh where they allowed their fear to lead to rebellion. This is a tragic moment in the life of Israel, but it does provide us both a warning and encouragement as we see Moses step in as intercessor. Did he really change God's mind in this en...

The book of Leviticus describes feasts that God commanded the people of Israel to take part in throughout the year. Most of these feasts included sacrifices and other actions that seem off to us today but hold great importance to understanding God.    #leviticus #focusedonchrist #israel #feast #passover #feastoftrumpets

In the book of Exodus, we begin to see a picture of a new place of worship for the people of Israel. God seems to desire great detail and planning when it comes to this structure and the actions inside of it. Why was this so important to the people of Israel and how does it help us understand Christ more?   #focusedonchrist #tabernacles #holyofholies #sacrfice #hebrews

Many of us are familiar with the 10 Commandments given to Moses on Mt. Sinai yet may not quite understand how those laws and others in the Old Testament apply to New Testament believers today.   #oldtestament #Bible #biblestudy #jesus #jesuschrist #exodus

When sin entered the world through the rebellion of Adam and Eve the world was forever changed. In response to their disobedience, God curses the man, woman, and serpent. What has been the effect of those curses and how do they help us understand the world we live in today? Join Nathan and Mike as they discuss the impact of the curse on marriage, work, and our relationship with God. Most important...

Most people are familiar with the story of Adam and Eve, yet there are many questions that arise out of the telling of this event in Genesis 3. Why did God place that tree in the garden? Who was the serpent and what kind of fruit did they eat? Nathan and Mike discuss these questions while also discussing the profound love of God seen within this tragic event. 

In Genesis 1 we are introduced to God making man in his image and likeness, but what does this mean and does it have implications for our lives today? Nathan and Mike discuss this foundational truth and how it not only leads us to worship but also guides us in our interactions with one another.