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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 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.
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 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 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.
Episode 49 - The Cleansing of the Temple
By Josh HawkinsThe very first, overtly public act of Jesus' ministry was the cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus drove out money changers and those selling animals, indicting the Jewish authorities and asserting His authority over the temple. Learn why this event is so important to the story of the Gospels in this episode.
IHOP-KC Prayer Room Funny - Lasers
January 6, 2010, 6am set, Justin Rizzo leading, I'm playing keys. We're praying for California's college campuses, and we get into a cool groove with the horns. Earlier in the cycle, Justin gets on the talkback mic and asks me to try to come up with a sound he first described like "lasers", but then said "well, not lasers, but you know what I mean". I found a sound that worked, but I also found a laser sound.
There was a particularly light mood in the prayer room that morning.
The funny moment is where the laser sound blares at 0:41. The remainder of the video is the rest of...
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.
The Priesthood of Humanity
By Josh HawkinsGenesis 2 says that God set Adam in the Garden in Eden to "tend and keep" it. Contrary to our modern assumption, God created Adam with much more than farming in mind. Adam's primary created purpose was that of a priest - ministering to God in a sanctuary.
Rightly understanding Adam as the model for all of humanity's created purpose as priests brings clarity to the reason for the increase of night and day prayer across the globe today.
From the assimilation of God into our worldview to the purpose of our worship, Josh develops and traces this biblical foundation established...
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Episode 129 - The Last Supper, part 5
By Josh HawkinsAfter washing His disciples' feet, Jesus reclines at the table and says that one of the Twelve is going to betray Him. As the Passover meal progresses and the disciples are doubting, Jesus explicitly John that Judas is the betrayer. The details of this part of the Last Supper bring so much clarity to this often misunderstood and wrongly portrayed scene from the last days of Jesus' life.
Living wholeheartedly on the road to full maturity
By Josh HawkinsIn the last two articles (read them here and here), I’ve written about how every choice, word, action, and moment of our lives should not end in self-exaltation but rather rebound to the glory of Christ. In today’s potently narcissistic culture, modern Christianity has presented a version of Jesus that exists for our pleasure and comfort instead of us existing for His fame and renown among the nations. The...
Episode 27 - The Visit of the Magi (part 1)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, "wise men" from the East came to visit Jesus and present gifts before Him. Who were the "wise men"? Where were they from, why did they come looking for the king of the Jews, and were there only three of them? The answers from Scripture may surprise you. This episode begins to look at the story of the Magi from Matthew 2.
Harps, clouds, and Heaven
By Josh HawkinsA friend recently showed me a very intriguing cover story on the April 14th edition of Time Magazine. Entitled Rethinking Heaven, the article describes how modern evangelicals are seeking to recover the hope of "heaven". Though the article lacked a correct biblical perspective and had no mention of Jesus and His glory, I did appreciate the article's emphasis on a need to reevaluate the widely-held understanding of a "never ending worship service in the clouds" that many believers (and unbelievers) have in their mind when picturing "heaven".
At the deepest core of our...
Growing in the Knowledge of Jesus
By Josh HawkinsHow does our love and faith in Jesus grow stronger? In this short teaching given to a group of college ministry interns, Josh walks through some practical steps of growing in love for Jesus by growing in the knowledge of Him. By looking at what He said, what He did, and what He promised to do, we can grow in substantial relationship with Him.
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 117 - The "Triumphal" Entry, part 2
By Josh HawkinsOn Sunday of Passion Week, crowds gather to laud Jesus as He enters into Jerusalem on a donkey. Upon seeing the city, Jesus bursts into tears and pronounces a scathing judgment upon it. This episode develops the remaining details of the "triumphal" entry on what is commonly referred to as "Palm Sunday".
The Biblical Nature of Truth
By John HarriganIn these notes for Session 1 of the Biblical Theology Seminar, John Harrigan outlines the three-fold nature of truth - truth of heart, truth of mind, and truth of lifestyle.
The judgment of the Day of the LORD is first an evaluation of the heart based on the standard of the cross of Christ. In this light, we must guard against hypocrisy and a lifestyle like the Pharisees.
John's notes give numerous scriptures to support his points.
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...
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...