Exploring Christianity

Using our minds intentionally is an often overlooked aspect of the Christian life. It doesn't rank high on the scale of importance for many Christians. In this episode, we consider the many reasons thinking should take a prominent role in the life of faith. There are also dangers to watch out for: pride from within, and the outside influence of the world. These dangers should cause us to embrace careful biblically shaped thought instead of driving us away from thinking intentionally about God, the gospel, and how to live the Christian life. 

What are the tools you need to properly understand each passage of Scripture you read? In this episode we look at the science of interpration, followed by a few practical examples. Learn how to look for what the author intended, the plain meaning of the passage, and the grammatical structure of sentences and paragraphs. Once you understand these, you will be well on your way to rightly dividing the Word of Truth. 

Whether we are aware or not, certain influences and ideas create our framework for studying the Bible. They can negatively affect our understanding of God's Word, causing us to add to it, manipulate it, or detract from it. In this episode we won't get rid of influences or frameworks, but we look for the best framework for faithfully studying the Bible.

When Christians think about salvation, their attention is quickly turned to God's grace. As we continue in Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, Paul expands our understanding of God's grace in salvation to include His power. In this episode, we consider what it means for us to think of our salvation as something God's power brings about.

As explorers in the faith, there are tools to use as guides and checkpoints to lookout for. In this episode, we take some time to first look at the tools for exploration and then consider important checkpoints that keep us on the right path.

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Paul turns from his overview of the gospel to commend and encourage the Ephesian believers in their faith and love. In this episode, we look at what faith and love mean for Christians and how humility is connected to both. 

What does it take to explore Christianity and stay the course all at once? To explore, we must have a goal, a proper attitude, and the necessary tools at our disposal. In this episode, we consider both what exploring Christianity is and is not.

The story of redemption spans the breadth of time. It is the focal point of history and the future. In this episode, we take a few steps back to observe the grand narrative of salvation and trace the story of our salvation from start to finish. 

Eternal security can be a controversial subject, but not to Paul. In this episode, we look at the rock-solid evidence of eternal security given by Paul, and we connect it to his writings on the armour of God.

If you have experienced salvation, you probably haven't thought much about this question. Paul, however, deems it important enough to remind the believers in Ephesus how they were saved. In this episode, we consider three universal, objective realities about how our salvation came about.

Have you ever wondered why you were saved? Or perhaps your question is why God saves us? In this episode, we come to the end of the great first paragraph in Ephesians, and we observe how Paul threads together great gospel truths to make an unbreakable cord. We also look at four practical ways to glorify God. 

For the blog: thechristianexplorer.org

We come to another short passage of Ephesians that is full of great and necessary truth. Have you ever considered God sending Christ at the right time as a blessing? Or have you thought about how your union with Christ unifies you with every believer everywhere? This episode explores the answers to both questions.

Note: I have not forgotten Ephesians 1:10. It will be uploaded soon.

Do you really believe your salvation is unconditional? If not, Ephesians 1:11 is a verse to dispel all doubts and thoroughly convince you otherwise. Paul holds no punches (so to speak) when describing just how unconditional our salvation truly is. It is a concept for us to consider, and in considering it, apply the full and deep blessings of the gospel to our hearts.

Have you struggled with the topic of Christ's divinity? My guess is most likely not. And that is because the debate was settled 1700 years ago. If you have struggled with it, it is most likely because a heretical understanding of Christ transported from the early church to today. In this episode, we dive into the events surrounding the great controversy over the person of Jesus Christ that occurred in AD 325.

Did you know the gospel is a mystery revealed? Perhaps a better question to ask is, why does Paul think the mystery of the gospel is important for Christians to understand? Listen in as we explore the grandeur of God's plan of redemption. 

We continue with Paul's letter to the Ephesians, and we consider two insights into our salvation. They are for us to ponder, and they serve as a framework for understanding the whole of our salvation. These two insights cover every base, from God's plan for our salvation to the application of it. 

In Ephesians 1:7 Paul turns his attention to an aspect of the gospel that reaches us most deeply, namely our redemption and forgiveness. Both redemption and forgiveness shape the practical application of the gospel, and in this episode, we observe how they affect us.

The early church was marked by persecution and doctrinal controversy, both of which shaped the church in the most remarkable and lasting ways. In this episode, we go back in time to the early church to observe the culture around it, the persecution it faced, and the controversy that shaped it. From this, we gather enough context for the great controversy of the 4th Century. 

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