Ryan Habbena walks us through the seed promise, from the curse on the serpent following the Fall in Genesis to the ultimate victory in Revelation.

(02:00) Exploring the Seed Promise and War
(13:26) The Seed War and Promise
(27:49) Advancing the Seed Promise
(36:22) Comparing Genealogies in Gospels
(43:41) Understanding the Seed Promise Fulfillment
(56:40) The Seed Promise Unveiled

Scriptures Referenced

• Genesis 3:15
• John Chapter 8
• Galatians Chapter 3
• 2 Samuel 7
• Matthew Chapter 1
• Luke Chapter 3
• Revelation 12

Will Dobbie is pastor of Emmanuel Church of Knoxville, Tennessee, and author of “From Everlasting to Everlasting: Every Believer's Biography,” and “A Time to Mourn: Grieving the Loss of Those Whose Eternities Were Uncertain.” He returns to talk about mourning the deaths of loved ones who are either unsaved, or whose salvation is unclear.

Scriptures Referenced

• Leviticus
• Mark 7
• 1 Corinthians 10
• Colossians 3
• Romans 14
• Isaiah 64
• Acts 17
• Joshua 5
• Romans 9
• Exodus 33

Additional Resources

• A Time to Mourn: Grieving the Loss of Those Whose Eternities Were Uncertain — Amazon

Outline of the Discussion

• The Gospel is at the center of our Christian lives. Without understanding the relationship between the Gospel and the Law of God, we lose the sweetness of the Gospel.
• This discussion is based on the book A Treatise on the Law and the Gospel, by John Colquhoun (pronounced Ko-hoon.) Colquhoon was a 19th century Scottish pastor influenced by a group that was concerned about legalism in the church.
• We look at three aspects of law. First is the moral Law, or Natural Law. Next is the Law as given to Adam. Third is the Law as is in the hand of Christ.
• We don't do what the Law requires to merit eternal life, but rather in gratitude for His Grace.
• The Law of Moses is handled separately from the previously mentioned aspects of Law. It had elements of both the Law given to Adam and Grace.
• Chapter 5 of Colquhoon's book gets into what the Gospel really is.
• The Gospel is presented in both a broad sense, and a narrow sense. In the broader sense, everything that Christ and the Apostles taught was “the Gospel.” It's really a mix of the Law and the Gospel. In the narrower sense, the Gospel is the explanation of the good news.
• In the strictest sense, every command of God is a Law.
• The Law is subservient to the Gospel.
• The Law is not the Gospel, and the Gospel is not the Law. Ignorance of the difference promotes a self-righteous character.
• An understanding of the Gospel is not, by nature, antinomian
• “We weren't saved by Christ, to be sanctified by Moses.” “The way in is the way along.”
• Motivation is the master of Reason.

Scriptures Referenced

• James 2:10
• Romans 2
• Exodus 19-20; 24:8
• Deuteronomy 16
• 2 Corinthians 3
• John 1:17
• Luke 2:10-11
• Titus 2
• Colossians 2:6
• Romans 6

Additional Resources

• A Treatise on the Law and the Gospel – Free Book

Scriptures Referenced

• Philippians 4:8
• Ephesians 5
• Colossians 3
• Ephesians 2
• Matthew 12:34
• 1 Corinthians 10:31
• Titus 1:12
• Acts 17:28
• 1 Corinthians 8-10

For this episode, we get into the Witch Trials. Gene gives some history on how they began, talks about how King James brought them to Scotland and England, and how they ended up in the American Colonies, with Salem being the best-known.

Outline of the Discussion

• King James I was the single most responsible person for bringing Witch Hunts into Scotland and England. They had been going on in Europe for around a century, having begun just prior to the Reformation.
• Witch trials began with Heinrich Kramer, a German Dominican monk and inquisitor in the late 15th century.
• Kramer wrote “Malleus Maleficarum” (The Hammer of Witches) in 1486.
• Kramer was a lot like Alfred Kinsey; a sexual deviant and pervert.
• In August of 1589, at the age of 23, King James of Scotland married Princess Anne of Denmark, who was 14. The wedding was held by proxy.
• In September of 1589, Anne set sail for Scotland from Denmark. They had to turn back because of storms. She blamed witches, whom she accused of wanting to prevent the powerful union that would benefit Protestantism.
• At the time, witch trials had been common in Northern Germany and Denmark.
• In October of 1589, James set sail for Denmark. They were hit by storms too, but he made it.
• While in Denmark, James becomes fascinated with witches and witch trials.
• Upon his return to Scotland, he strengthened the Scottish Witchcraft Act of 1563; imposing the death penalty upon convicted witches. He would later do the same in England after becoming King of England.
• A series of witch trials resulted from the storms inhibiting James and Anne from uniting. In Denmark, the Kronborg witch trials resulted in six women being accused and convicted, and two being executed. In Scotland, the North Burwick witch trials ran for over two years, and implicated over 300 people; both noble and commoner alike.
• Agnes Sampson was accused of being the ringleader of the witches in Scotland. John Fian, a schoolmaster, was implicated as well. Both were executed by burning.
• In 1597, James publishes a book “Daemonologie.”
• Witch hunting was mostly carried over by the Reformers from Medieval Catholicism, and not addressed in a meaningful way.
• Witch hunting in England reached its peak during the English Civil War. Each side accused supporters of the other side of witchcraft. It was much more political than religious, pitting Parliament against the Crown rather than Puritan against Anglican.
• Matthew Hopkins was the most famous person regarding witch trials to come out of the English Civil War. He gave himself the title “Witch-finder General,” and claimed to have Parliamentary authority (he did not.) He would get a town's approval for a witch hunt, then get people to accuse each other.
• Hopkins wrote a book called “The Discovery of Witches.”
• In the Colonies, Salem was among the last of places to undergo witch trials.
• By the late 17th Century, the excesses of witch trials became apparent. Much of it due to the smaller populations in New England.

Scriptures Referenced

• Exodus 22:18

Additional Resources

• Malleus Maleficarum – Heinrich Kramer
• Dæmonologie – King James (VI of Scotland, I of England) (1597)
• The Discovery of Witches – Matthew Hopkins (1647)
• Witchcraft at Salem – Chadwick Hansen

Related Episodes

• Gene Clyatt: The Early English Reformation
• Gene Clyatt: The English Reformation under Elizabeth I
• Gene Clyatt: The English Reformation under James I

Jonathan Worthington is adjunct professor of theology at Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, incoming Chaplain for the North Hennepin Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, and Director of Research at Training Leaders International. He joins us to talk about training pastors and ministry leaders around the world.

Outline of the Discussion

• Jonathan grew up in Virginia. He went to seminary at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, and then moved to Scotland to study for his PhD. Following that, he stayed on full-time with his church in Scotland, before taking a position as a New Testament professor at Belfast Bible College in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After changes in UK immigration policy, his family was forced to return the the US. It took some time before ending up where he is now, but for the last seven years he's been at Training Leaders International (TLI) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• His position allows him to incorporate three passions that are difficult to combine: academics, serving the local church, and working in cross-cultural settings.
• Jonathan describes Marcus from India, who was the village “doctor,” only because he had slightly more knowledge of medicine than the average villager. When several villagers became Christians along with Marcus, they all just assumed he'd be their pastor.
• TLI started out as a ministry of Bethlehem Baptist Church. While they are still very friendly, they have since split off and are independent.
• TLI teaches local leaders in short, intense training sessions. There are nine week-long training sessions spread over three years. After each teaching session, attendees are tasked with finding people to teach what they just learned over the next four months leading up to the next training session.
• Jonathan taught Maria in the Philippines. Maria was excited, and knew exactly who she wanted to teach. The problem was that the people she wanted to teach were not literate.
• Jonathan had been reading about orality, or oral-based learning. (Aural is a similar term pertaining to hearing.) There's a spectrum that ranges from Primary-Oral to Primary-Literate, with many points in between.
• He came up with a strategy with Maria to be able to go back and teach those who could not read.
• Being more Oral can have advantages. Our brains retain different types and amounts of information depending on the type of thinking we do (oral vs. literate.)
• Throughout history, most people have learned by hearing. From the priestly teaching in the time of Christ to the churches of the Middle Ages, people heard the scriptures preached. Maria would go on to teach in her home village in similar manner.
• Most of the places TLI does work in are open countries, where ministry work is allowed. For some closed countries, they can fly people to a nearby open country for training, then send them home.
• They typically feel safe in the places where they go. However, they often need to be discrete for the sake of the people they are serving. White faces showing up can put a target on the locals.
• In discussing open vs. closed, we talked about Dubai. The United Arab Emirates is closed, but Dubai is very open. It's a popular tourist destination. There is a seminary there, and churches. Proselytizing is not allowed though. It used to be a place where people from closed countries could be brought in for training.
• Jonathan has taught in: India, Mongolia, the Philippines, Romania, Turkey, Tanzania, Uganda, Brazil, Panama, and Chile. They also have a “Diaspora Program” that teaches immigrants in the US who then go to their communities to lead their own people groups.

Additional Resources

• Email Jonathan

Jonathan's Scholarly Articles on Global Theological Education:

• Orality’s Breadth and Depth
• Mature Together: The Task of Teaching in Missions
• Navigating Empathy
• Deep Motivation in Theological Education
• Engaging Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes by Jackson Wu
• Spiritual Formation by Training Leaders in Their Indigenous Cultures: The Importance of Cultural Humility and Virtue Theory
• A Vision and Philosophy for Developing a Curriculum of Non-Formal Cross-Cultural Theological Education

Jonathan's Articles for Popular Venues:

• When Decaying Bodies Meet a Creator God
• Deep Learning that Transforms
• Would Paul Be Considered a Bad Missionary Today?
• Hope Beyond Heaven and Justice Now
• Put on Trifocals: God is More Than Sovereign
• The Bible’s Story on a Kid’s Napkin
• Have We Missed the Honor-Shame Focus in Scripture?
• Our Mission Remains Essential

Outline of the Discussion

For this episode, the outline has been created using the AI tool Podium.page.

• (0:00:01) – Regeneration (9 Minutes)

  Alan Nelson, pastor of Providence Baptist Church and author of multiple books, shares his insights on regeneration and how it affects our understanding of salvation and the Christian life. Alan's book, “A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters” is discussed, and how to get a copy.

• (0:08:43) – Regeneration's Importance (9 Minutes)

  Alan shares his journey exploring regeneration and its impact on other Christian doctrines. He discusses the debate between Pelagianism and Augustinianism, and how Wesley's prevenient grace and Charles Finney's views have shaped the church. Alan shares his own experience, including the decision to write his book and how he taught the doctrine of regeneration during COVID-19.

• (0:17:58) – Grace, Synergism, and Monergism (5 Minutes)

  We explore the differences between Pelagianism and Augustinianism, and examine the concept of semi-Pelagianism. We point out how dangerous this understanding of grace can be, and how it denies the sufficiency of God's grace. We also get into the Mormon teaching of ‘after all we can do' and how it relates to synergism. Lastly, we discuss the concept of monergism and how it works in contrast to synergism.

• (0:22:38) – Doctrine of Monergism and Regeneration Discussion (10 Minutes)

  We get into the implications of the idea of prevenient grace and point out that it raises more questions than it answers. Allen explains how the concept of prevenient grace does not satisfy the problem of why some individuals respond to the gospel and some don't. He emphasizes how regeneration touches every area of our lives, and how it is not a process of perfection, but rather a redirection of desire and love toward Christ. The noblest desires of those who reject monergism are commendable but ultimately don't defend God's justice and fairness.

• (0:32:10) – Open Theism and Necessity of Regeneration (12 Minutes)

  We point out that Open Theism can be a logical [but errant] way to approach the problems with synergistic view of soteriology. We confront the concept of fairness as a challenge to monergistic regeneration; our attitude about someone we love who is not saved, and how the answer is to preach the gospel to them. Jesus promises that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved; which is a refutation of a major misunderstanding of monergism, and very assuring promise. Allen shares his experience of taking the gospel to the streets of his small town, and we explain how this is a logical consequence of the very doctrine we are discussing.

• (0:44:19) – The Significance of Regeneration (13 Minutes)

  We explore the necessity of being born again and how Jesus was speaking to all of humanity when he said it. We also discuss the use of Southern vernacular (“y'all”) and the differences between singular and plural of “you” in the modern English language. Finally, we look at the concept of longevity in regards to regeneration and how there is no such thing as unregeneration.

• (0:57:13) – Doctrinal Differences and the Holy Spirit (5 Minutes)

  We explore the intricate connection between regeneration and the local church. We discuss why the Father and the Son do not need help in salvation, and why the Holy Spirit doesn't either. We explain why understanding regeneration correctly matters, and how it affects the local church, which is meant for believers only. We also examine how to know if a person is a Christian, and the use of the plural for “you” when Jesus said “you must be born again.”

• (1:01:57) – Regeneration, Assurance, and Evangelism (16 Minutes)

  We discuss the logical arguments used by the Puritans to understand regeneration. We also look at an approach to memorizing scripture; how reading a book of the Bible every day for a month can help in the process. Finally, we examine the necessity of being born again and the connection between regeneration and the local church. We emphasize the role of the church in providing assurance of salvation and the need to flee from all known sin.

Scriptures Referenced

• 1 Peter 1:3
• John 3
• John 6:63
• Jonah 2:9
• Ephesians 2
• Isaiah 43:13
• 1 John 3:14

Additional Resources

• A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters – Allen Nelson
• A Change of Heart, Ch. 1 — Heart Matters
• The Rural Church Podcast 2.0

Related Episodes

• Bob DeWaay: Open Theism and the Doctrine of Election
• Phil Johnson: The Doctrines of Grace
• Dr. James White: Sola Gratia & Sovereign Grace
• Phil Johnson: Sola Fide
• Bob DeWaay: The Doctrine of the Church
• Dan Phillips: The World-Tilting Gospel
• Kofi Adu-Boahen: Union with Christ
• Nate Pickowicz: Solus Christus
• Allen Nelson: How Salvation Works
• Allen Nelson: Effectual Calling
• Chris Hohnholz: The Sinfulness of Sin and Our Desperate Need for the Gospel

Outline of the Discussion

• The Law, the Prophets, and the New Covenant writings have much to say about the sabbath.
• Addressing “Christendom” in the broadest sense (Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and even Cultic,) there is a broad range of views regarding the sabbath.
• Seventh Day Adventism, which Ryan describes as “a more tolerable cult,” has in it's very name the adherence to sabbath-keeping, and that the sabbath is the seventh day of the week (Saturday.) It is an Antichrist doctrine that strays, according to them.
• Within mainline Protestant denominations, we find the “Puritan sabbath,” which is the understanding that the sabbath has been changed from the seventh day to the first day.
• Within Messianic Judaism, we have a traditional sabbath, in keeping with traditional Judaism.
• It's helpful to look at the whole counsel of God in regard to the sabbath. The discussion of the sabbath begins with the seventh day of creation, in which God ceased. This began the seven day cycle.
• There is no command to keep the sabbath prior to Moses. Compare this to circumcision, which begins with Abraham.
• It is in the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) that we first see a command to keep the sabbath. (Exodus 20:8-11)
  • It is in the commandment that the issue becomes more complicated.
  • The other nine commandments are transcendent. We would say they are all still binding under the New Covenant.
  • The place to start with a New Testament understanding is with the commands of Christ. What does He have to say about the specific Mosaic command regarding the sabbath?
  • In Exodus 35, we see the penalty for sabbath-breaking is death.
• There is also a sabbath for the land. The land shall be cultivated for six years, and allowed to rest on the seventh year.
• There is both continuity and discontinuity between the Mosaic Law and the New Covenant. An example of continuity is that the only way anyone is saved, in any era, is by Grace through Faith. No one has ever been saved by observation of the Law.
• The rabbinical elements of Judaism had their rise during the Second Temple (Intertestamental) period. A major controversy among the rabbinical schools was in regards to how to observe the sabbath. What is bound, and what is loosed?
• The sabbath customs are very strange to the non-Jew. For example: the willingness to load the dishwasher on Saturday, but unwillingness to press the “start” button to allow the dishwasher to run (loading it seems to be the work, not running it, but they see things differently because of what the rabbis teach.) Similarly, the elevators have a “sabbath” mode, whereby the door opens and closes at every floor; there is no need to press any buttons.
• Some of the tension between Jesus and the rabbis was their perception that He was breaking the sabbath.
• Jesus deliberately violated rabbinical traditions without violating the Law.
• As an aside, in Martin Luther's hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God,” we find the line “Lord Sabaoth His Name.” This does not mean “Lord of the Sabbath,” but rather “Lord of Hosts.”
• Jeremiah prophesies a New Covenant (31:31-34.) This covenant is not like the covenant made with their fathers.
• The issue of the sabbath is directly related to Covenant. It matters which covenant we are under.
• The sabbath is something valuable to be looked towards as a believer, but is not in regards to an old covenant law.
• Romans 14 speaks to differences between the old and new covenants; things like what to eat, what festivals to observe, and days to regard. If we, as new covenant believers, were called to observe the sabbath as was done under the old covenant, this is where Paul would have clarified as such.
• We shouldn't see sabbath as a day to worship, but rather as something that points us to the perfect, finished work of Jesus Christ. We who believe enter into His sabbath rest.
• Paul likewise rebukes the Colossians over their practice of judging each other in regards to several old covenant practices (2:16-17)
• The consistent thread is that it is okay (or good) to continue to observe old covenant practices such as sabbath keeping. What is not okay (or good) is commanding others to do the same.
• The author of Hebrews links belief to sabbath rest (3:16-4:13.)
• Other views of sabbath (views that hold Christians to sabbath observance, lead to a slippery-slope. If we are to observe the sabbath as in the old covenant, must we make lists of forbidden activities? What must the punishment be for failure to observe the sabbath?

Scriptures Referenced

• Genesis 2:1-3
• Exodus 20:8-11
• Exodus 35:1-3
• Exodus 23:10-11
• Matthew 16:19
• John 5:1-17; ch. 9
• Jeremiah 31:31-34
• Hebrews 8
• Acts 2, 15
• Romans 2
• Romans 14: 1-6
• Colossians 2:16-17
• Hebrews 3:16-4:13

Dan Phillips is pastor of Copperfield Bible Church in Houston, Texas. He has a Master of Divinity from Talbot Theological Seminary. He also writes for the collaborative blog Pyromaniacs, and his own blog, Biblical Christianity. He's the author of two books, The World-Tilting Gospel, and God's Wisdom in Proverbs.”

I've had in mind to ask Dan for an interview for Echo Zoe Radio for quite some time. His book The World-Tilting Gospel is a wonderful read, about the most dear subject to any Christian's heart: the Gospel. For this episode, Dan and I discussed the book, and through it, the Gospel.

An Outline of the Discussion

• The Gospel is not just about an experience, it's really about truth. That truth is grounded in a worldview, and really begins with Genesis 1:1, and not John 3:16.
• “Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is, no longer have the categories to understand it, no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories in their non-moral universe — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think theyâ€re guilty.” – David Wells, Founder's Conference, Tulsa, OK, June 2007
• Our dire situation begins in the Garden of Eden, as Adam and Eve committed the first sin by disobeying God and partaking of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as they were commanded not to.This act changed their very nature, and their worldview. That corrupted worldview and nature persists to this very day, and every one of us (their descendants) are born into this corrupted nature and worldview.
• God had in mind all along to remedy the situation. Dan illustrates the true nature of our predicament through the analogy of a man in an operating room in a hospital, with teams of doctors working hard to save him. If we saw such a thing, we'd know that his situation is dire. With that mindset, we look to the cross, where the Son of God had to die in order to save us from our sin. We look to the serious nature of the remedy to truly understand the seriousness of the situation.
• The nature of apostasy shows that a person never truly understood the serious nature of his own sin, or of the remedy that was required to save him from it.
• Penal substitutionary atonement is first introduced in Genesis 3 (not Romans 3), when God made a blood sacrifice to cover the guilt of sinners (Adam and Eve).
• The Old Testament sacrificial system provided a daily, visual reminder of the nature of sin. As the Israelites saw the bloody sacrifices taking place at the Temple, they were to associate the blood shed with their own sins; that blood was necessary to cover the guilt of their sins.
• Isaiah 52:13-53:12, written 700 years before Christ, gave a detailed description of the suffering of one man for the sins of the elect.
• Justification and regeneration are two “towering truths” that come out of the Gospel. Justification deals with our horrible record (our guilt), and regeneration deals with our horrible nature (our .
• Faith has three elements to it: hearing truth, understanding that it is true, and entrusting ourselves to it.
• Salvation doesn't begin by making the “right decision,” it begins with God raising dead sinners to life.
• Dan addresses three people with a faulty approach to the Gospel: Gutless Gracers, Crisis Upgraders, and Muzzy Mystics.
  • Gutless Gracers are people who subscribe to a view called “Free Grace.” It's not that they are gutless, but their view of grace is gutless. In effect, their view of grace does little to nothing.
  • Crisis Upgraders have a view that they can “upgrade” their Christian life through some sudden experience. Keswick is a non-charismatic view that you can upgrade your standing as a Christian by “laying it all on the altar.” The Charismatic view is that we are “upgraded” through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
  • Muzzy Mystics are those who “let go and let God”. They believe that they cannot do anything themselves, that their own mind is an enemy to their spirituality.
• “The flesh” is the remaining effect of sin that we deal with in this life. It presents us with the remaining and ongoing struggle that we deal with.
• The Holy Spirit baptizes into the body of Christ. Dan explains the works of the Spirit, and juxtaposes that to some false teachings and understandings of the works of the Spirit.

Scriptures Referenced

• Jeremiah 17:9
• Genesis 1-3
• Genesis 3:15
• Isaiah 52:13-53:12
• Romans 10:17
• Genesis 15:6
• Titus 2:11-14
• Psalm 1
• John 15
• Romans 7:14
• Acts 17:6-7

Additional Resources

• The World-Tilting Gospel: Embracing a Biblical Worldview and Hanging on Tight (Amazon affiliate link)
• Pyromaniacs, the group blog started by Phil Johnson, now shared between Dan Phillips and Frank Turk
• Biblical Christianity – Dan's personal blog

Related episodes

• Phil Johnson: The Doctrines of Grace
• Dr. James White: Sola Gratia & Sovereign Grace
• Ryan Habbena: Sanctification
• Phil Johnson: Sola Fide
• Robert Bachtell: The Case for a Biblical Worldview
• Mike Abendroth: Sola Scriptura
• Dr. Kevin Bauder: Evangelicalism
• Tony Miano: Biblical Evangelism
• Sye Ten Bruggencate: Presuppositional Apologetics
• Jordan Hall: A Modern Day Downgrade
• Nick Coldagelli: The Love of God

Outline of the Discussion

• Michael visited in 2018 while in town for evangelism during the Super Bowl.
• Michael explains the background of his trial, which began the morning of April 9th (Easter). His mother-in-law called to say that his daughter Bailey was found unconscious and was in the hospital. She ended up in a coma, she was hooked up to an EEG, and her brain was showing no activity in her cortex.
• After twelve days, it was apparent that she was not going to recover. Michael's family, after much prayer, opted to remove the ventilator.
• They were comforted during the worst of the experience with hymns (see Additional Resources below.)
• She died on April 21st. They held a memorial for her on April 28th.
• Prayer and support was so helpful while she was in the hospital, but after the memorial service, it dropped off, which was difficult for the Coughlins.
• The amount of prayer during a difficult trial can be astonishing. Michael guesses that over 10,000 people prayed for his daughter and their family. Having been through a child with brain cancer, Andy had a similar experience in regard to prayer.
• They had a nurse that had been at a prayer meeting the night before at his church and had prayed for Bailey. Providentially, he was assigned to the floor that Bailey was staying on and found Michael's family to pray with them more and encourage them.
• Michael pointed out that sometimes when people are going through terrible trials, people excuse egregiously unbiblical behavior because of the trial they are going through. He never wants to allow bad circumstances to cause him to blaspheme, or to doubt God's goodness. It's important to have good theology before the trials begin.
• Michael wrote blog posts about what his family was going through after reaching out to Justin Peters to ask for prayer, and Justin tweeting about it. He needed to point people to something rather than answer the same questions over and over again.
• Michael has had a couple people he knows go through similar experiences just in the last few weeks. He's already able to help others through their trials.
• People who already had something against Michael (such as preaching the Gospel) came out to add to his pain. He took it as persecution (albeit mild) and rejoiced.
• A lot of people offer help. Some are helpful. Some are trying, but unhelpful. Some are downright malicious.
• If we don't live our faith during good times, we're not going to suddenly start when things get bad.
• There's still time to repent!

Scriptures Referenced

• Romans 8:17
• 1 Peter 5:9
• Matthew 5:10-11

Additional Resources

• Michael blogged about what happened.
• It is Well – Chris Rice
• Wonderful Merciful Savior – Selah
• I can Only Imagine – Mercy Me
• Praise You in This Storm – Casting Crowns

Related Episodes

• Bob DeWaay: The Problem of Evil
• Dan Phillips: The World-Tilting Gospel
• Allen Nelson: God’s Holiness

Additional Resources

• Women pastors are a Fundamental Problem for Southern Baptists – Gabe Hughes
• Mr. Smith Goes to the Convention – Magan Basham