Resources sorted by total number of all-time views.
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.
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...
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.
The Patriarchs and the Covenants
By Josh HawkinsAfter the dreadful moment in Eden's garden when man rebelled against the LORD's command, a plan was set in motion to restore what was lost through a seed of Eve. The story of the seed continues through the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through covenants that God makes with each of them. This session looks at the Abrahamic covenant and the promise of blessing that would come through Abraham's line.
This is Session 4 of the class Faith...
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.
Resources sorted by total number of views today.
The Passover Feast
By Josh HawkinsIn Exodus 12, God commands the people of Israel to hold a yearly feast remembering their slavery in Egypt and God's miraculous deliverance of the entire nation after the death of all of the firstborn of Egypt. This short teaching on the significance and simplicity of the "mechanism" of the Passover meal was given to a group of students at Texas A&M University in April 2019.
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.
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 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...
Persecution, prayer, and the Apostle Paul
By Josh HawkinsThe blogosphere and social media world have recently been filled with news of atrocities taking place all over the Middle East (some of which are just rumors spread by social media). One of the affected cities is Mosul, Iraq where a Muslim group, ISIS, has taken control. Christians have been driven from their homes and forced to renounce Christ at the penalty of death. Syrian Christians have recently also been heavily oppressed by Muslims.
If we were Christians living in the Roman...
Righteousness Exalts a Nation
By Art KatzOriginally spoken in Kansas City in 2005, in this sermon Art brings light to the only way that God will bring blessing to a nation in this present evil age - by the people turning in repentance and walking in righteousness. In light of the world's current financial crisis, Art speaks a timely message.
Staying connected with God
By Josh HawkinsCall it "devotions", "secret place", or "quiet time", our hearts always seem to struggle to maintain time alone with God. If our weak heart and the devil's distraction is not enough, our modern society and culture is also geared to pull us away from solitude. As I wrote about last month, there's enough trinkets, toys, new models, new movies, and new things coming out to numb us to our boredom. Sometimes we find it almost impossible to find that "alone" time with the Lord because there's always one more person to network with, one more email to send, one more phone call to make, or one...
Episode 50 - Jesus and Nicodemus
By Josh HawkinsAt some point after Jesus cleanses the Temple, He meets with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. In this well-known scene in John 3, Jesus corrects Nicodemus' confidence and hope. Jesus was indeed the Messiah but would not establish His kingdom by an insurrection, and adherence to the Law of Moses qualify anyone to be a part of it. With a historical and biblical background, Jesus' words with Nicodemus take on a meaning that is quite different from the understanding of many today.
Episode 41 - The Baptism of Jesus
By Josh HawkinsThe baptism of Jesus is a very familiar scene to many, but there is so much confusion about it. Why was Jesus baptized and how does it tie into the greater story of the Gospels and the Old Testament? This episode looks at those moments in Bethany beyond the Jordan and connects Jesus' baptism to His identity as God's "son", the promised descendant of David who would rule as king from Jerusalem.
Some thoughts on the grace of God
By Josh HawkinsI have recently been pondering the word Christians throw around all the time - "grace". By definition, grace is the unmerited favor of God. He gives us something we are undeserving of. I am so thankful for His grace!
But as we read in 2 Peter and Jude, one of the great pressures in the end times will come from false teachers within the Church.
For certain men have crept in unnoticed...ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny...our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)
I believe one of the most common areas of false teaching...