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De-Greecing the Church
By David PawsonFrom modern day politics, sports, and culture to the mindset of the church towards "heaven", the resurrection, and the Kingdom of God, the Greeks have had a significant effect on the way that we perceive the world.
The Bible was written by Hebrews, but we tend to view it through Greek glasses and come away with wrong understanding as a result. In this teaching, English author and teacher David Pawson speaks on the influence that Greek philosophy and culture has on the church beginning early after Jesus' ascension all the way up through modern day. His simple and easy to...
Deception and the Preeminence of Jesus
By Josh HawkinsThe same question Jesus asked His disciples 2,000 years ago is the same one He is posing to us today. "Who do you say that I am?" Answering this question correctly is essential for the believer, especially because of the hour that we live in.
In this teaching, Josh highlights the identity of Jesus and His equality with God as the primary issue of deception at the end of the age. Currently we are witnessing four general negative trends today that must be viewed as nothing short of a full-blown crisis in light of the coming delusion spoken about in the Scriptures.
Our only...
Episode 1 - Christianity and True Friendship
In this premiere episode of my weekly video series, Opening Up the Gospels, I talk about the first of four reasons why I'm doing a series on the life of Jesus as seen in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John instead of other hot topics like grace, prayer, or hell. I discuss what it means to actually have a relationship with Jesus and how it must be based on real, substantial knowledge of His life and words. As Christians, we ought to treasure the details of His life simply because we confess that we love Him.
Biblical Foundations of "Messiah" and "Christ"
In today's culture, "Christ" is often a synonym for "Jesus" or perhaps His last name. "Messiah" is a synonym for "Savior" and often just means "the one who died on the cross for us". While there is some measure of truth to those things, "Christ" and "Messiah" have largely been misunderstood. You may be surprised when you find out what the Bible is really saying when the scriptures use those words!
This video is a supplement to Episode 21 of Opening Up the Gospels. Watch the original episode...
Episode 35 - John the Baptist and the Maccabean Revolt
By Josh HawkinsIn 166BC, the Jews revolted against their Greek oppressors in a time historians call the Maccabean Revolt. After the Jews violently fought and regained control of Jerusalem, leaders would be set in place over the next century that would cause Israel to stray from the Lord, setting the stage for a Roman takeover in 63BC. Learn more in this episode about what happened and why it's significant to the life and message of John the Baptist and the broader story of the Gospels.
Episode 52 - The Woman at the Well
By Josh HawkinsJesus heads north to Galilee after John the Baptist was imprisoned, but first passes through Samaria. Unlike His reception in Jerusalem, Jesus was joyfully received by the Samaritan people. This episode discusses the significance of Jesus' exchange with the woman near Jacob's well.
Episode 102 - The Parable of Dishonest Manager
By Josh HawkinsWhile still in Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Jesus gives a story to the tax collectors and sinners who had surrounded Him to hear His words. Through the story of the Dishonest Manager, Jesus teaches them to be prudent and wise with their wealth, unlike the Pharisees who loved money. This episode develops the parable and the words following it found in Luke 16.
The heavenly armies at Jesus' birth
By Josh HawkinsThe Christmas story evokes so many beautiful emotions in us this time of year. For those who have eyes to see, Jesus' humble birth fills us with joy and stuns us with amazement. What churned in the heart of the LORD of glory to be born in such lowliness?
Amazement was also a common reaction of many in the four Gospel accounts. Whether it was because of Jesus' gracious words and wisdom (Luke 4:22) or His miraculous deeds (Matthew 8:27; Luke 9:43; Luke 24:41), the crowds, single individuals, and His inner core of disciples were constantly astonished by Him.
The events...
The 30 silent years of Jesus
By Josh HawkinsIt’s Passion Week and I haven’t written here in a while, so I figured I’d give you a little bit of what the Lord has been speaking to me. Since the beginning of this year I’ve been intensely focused in studying the gospels and the life of Jesus. Through my study, I’ve realized that the gospels cannot simply be another item on my Christian checklist. If Christianity is biblically defined as conformity of my life to Jesus' life, than the story of His life can never be exhausted of its relevance for growing in intimacy with Him and becoming like Him. The story of His life is important to...
Episode 37 - The Message of John the Baptist, part 2
By Josh HawkinsThe significance of John's message to the nation of Israel is only heightened when we see that he is baptizing. Yet it is important to remember the audience of his proclamation was not Gentiles, but the Jews, the physical descendants of Abraham. This episode examines the importance of baptism and how offensive it would have been for John to call the Jews to be baptized.
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Episode 12 - Zechariah and the angel Gabriel
In Luke 1, Zechariah is ministering in the Temple, standing and offering incense to the LORD. The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah and says "your prayer has been heard". Because Zechariah's wife Elizabeth was barren, Gabriel's statement contains a double-meaning for both the aged couple and for Israel. This episode examines Luke 1:11-25 and Gabriel's announcement of the birth of John the Baptist.
Episode 80 - Feeding the Four Thousand
By Josh HawkinsAfter spending time in Tyre and Sidon, Jesus continues His ministry among Gentiles by heading southward to the Decapolis. There, He heals a deaf man and feeds four thousand. Jesus had rejected Galilee because despite all of His miracles and signs performed there, they did not bear the fruits of repentance. This episode continues walking through the events of Jesus' Late Galilean ministry.
Episode 7 - Introduction to Matthew's Gospel
Who wrote Matthew and when was it written? What are some of the key themes of Matthew's Gospel? In this episode of Opening Up the Gospels, I give a very brief overview of some of the important points we should understand as we seek to construct a chronological narrative of Jesus' life from the Gospels. The most important point to know about Matthew's Gospel is that it is arranged thematically and topically, not chronologically.
Episode 34 - Introduction to John the Baptist, Part 2
By Josh HawkinsJohn the Baptist as a very unique individual. After 400 years of prophetic silence in Israel, the Gospels clearly present John as prophet in several main ways: the formula used to introduce him, the way he dressed, and the message he proclaimed. This episode helps link John into the continuing story of the Old Testament.
Episode 55 - Healing at the Pool of Bethesda
By Josh HawkinsWhile in Jerusalem for feast of the Jews, Jesus heals a paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. When confronted by the Jewish authorities, Jesus asserts His divinity by saying that He and His Father are working on the Sabbath. Once again, Jesus asserts His authority over the leadership and their system. This episode examines the events found in John 5.
Episode 37 - The Message of John the Baptist, part 2
By Josh HawkinsThe significance of John's message to the nation of Israel is only heightened when we see that he is baptizing. Yet it is important to remember the audience of his proclamation was not Gentiles, but the Jews, the physical descendants of Abraham. This episode examines the importance of baptism and how offensive it would have been for John to call the Jews to be baptized.
Episode 60 - The Calling of the Twelve
By Josh HawkinsAfter continuing all night in prayer, Jesus chooses twelve of His disciples that would go on to be the foundation of the church, the carriers of the Gospel, and the definitive eyewitnesses of all that Jesus said and did when He was among us. This episode looks at the lists of the Twelve from the Gospels and the book of Acts, where we can see that the authors carefully preserved the names of these men.
Here is a link to Richard Bauckham's book, "Jesus and the Eyewitnesses": http...
Episode 76 - Jesus Walks on the Water
By Josh HawkinsIn this well-known scene from the Gospels, Jesus walks on the water and once again demonstrates His power and authority as the one true God. This episode looks at the four miraculous events that Jesus performs, causing the disciples to marvel and once again shattering their perception of Him.
For a resource on Jesus as the "I AM", see this book: Putting Jesus in His Place by Robert Bowman.
Episode 11 - Zechariah and Elizabeth
Luke begins his Gospel by giving us details of an aged couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth, from the hill country of Judea. Herod the Great ruled over Judea at the time, and Zechariah's priestly course was on duty in the Temple in Jerusalem. Who was Herod? What is the Temple and why is Zechariah there? And what is the significance of these events to the story of Jesus and the Gospels? This episode seeks to answer these questions.
For more information on Herod the Great:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great...
The humility of God in the Incarnation
By Josh HawkinsPerhaps the humility of God in the incarnation is one of the most considered aspects of Advent and Christmas. How could One surrounded by perfection and beauty descend to the lowest place and be born in a filthy animal feeding trough? How could one so highly exalted stoop so low to be the Servant of all?
To rightly understand His humility in becoming a human, we must be informed biblically on where He dwelt and how He was worshipped before He took on flesh. Only with this backdrop are we rightly prepared to experience the potency of His emotions and desires that flooded His...