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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...
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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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 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 113 - Jesus and Zacchaeus in Jericho
By Josh HawkinsOn His way to Jerusalem for the final Passover feast of His 2-year ministry, Jesus stops through Jericho and stays with Zacchaeus, a tax collector and custom house official in the city. On the way out, He also heals Bartimaeus, a blind beggar. Both of these men exemplify what Jesus has been searching for in Israel for the past two years. This episode looks at the stories of these men from Luke 19 and Mark 10.
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 136 - The Private Inquisition of Caiaphas
By Josh HawkinsAfter His capture in Gethsemane, Jesus is escorted to the house of Annas, who subsequently sends Him to the house of the high priest, Caiaphas. In an attempt to gain information that could be used against Him before the larger group of Jewish authorities, Caiaphas interrogates Jesus privately. This episode looks at the details of John 18 and Jesus' words to the high priest.
The politicizing of the church
By Josh HawkinsThe church and the state have become increasingly entangled since Constantine's rise to power in Europe in the early 4th century. Theologians call this time the Constantinian shift where Christianity was adopted as the state religion of the Roman Empire. As Christianity was legalized, persecution virtually stopped. The church began to acquire power, wealth, and land in Europe like never before. Theology was altered and the "spiritual interpretation" hermeneutic began to take root, dramatically affecting the church'...
Enduring Witness Documentary
From Abraham to the Hebrew prophets, hope in the faithful fulfillment of God’s promises shapes the unfolding story of the Bible. The consistency of Israel’s God and of His purposes endure throughout the biblical narrative and culminate in a great restoration for His covenant people. The good news proclaimed by John the Baptist, Jesus, and later His apostles has endured as God’s witness of that coming redemption and has offered to all nations the invitation to share in the future blessing and life.
How does the good news of this restoration encompass all the peoples of the earth?...
The Hope of Glory
By Josh Hawkins“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
(Colossians 1:27–28 ESV)
"Christ in you, the hope of glory" is a phrase that is becoming increasingly misunderstood, especially in some Charismatic circles in the body of Christ today. It's important to have clarity on what this phrase means from the Bible,...
Episode 9 - Introduction to Luke's Gospel
Luke's Gospel is unique in so many ways - from the way he narrates Jesus' birth to the way he exclusively covers Jesus' ministry in Judea and Perea 6-8 months before the cross. In this episode, I cover Luke's author, the date it was written, and some of the major themes and literary style of the book. The most important point we should understand for the purpose of this series is that Luke is chronologically arranged and includes a large portion of Jesus' ministry not mentioned by the other Gospels.
Episode 88 - The Sending of the Seventy
By Josh HawkinsAs He heads south to Judea, Jesus sends out an additional seventy(-two) of His disciples ahead of Him to prepare the people for His arrival. With only six months remaining in His public ministry, it was a critical time for the people of Israel to decide if they were for Jesus or against Him. This episode develops the themes of division and judgment during this time period.