One Good Story Podcast: Recent Episodes
One Good Story Podcast
Everyone loves a good story, and the Bible is full of them. Two friends dive into these familiar tales, looking past the commonly accepted "moral of the story" approach, in an attempt to tie them into the overarching narrative of God's love for us. Hosted by Tim Voltz and Justin Larocque. New episodes are released every Monday.
John's vision of the throne room in Revelation 4, as explained by Kenny Ronk before his sermon.
In preparation for his sermon on the first chapter of Revelation, Tim talks to Justin about what Jesus is (and isn't!) saying to the seven churches of Asia Minor.
Two Disciples of Jesus, confused and broken-hearted, take the long walk home from Jerusalem after Passover. Somewhere along the way, they are joined by a stranger who seems oddly familiar. The conversation and meal that follows is the perfect summary to Luke's gospel.
Mary Magdalene walks alone in a garden consumed by grief and confusion. She meets a stranger who changes her world forever.
On the day of his death, Jesus has one final confrontation with the powers that be. What does Pontius Pilate want from this so-called king of the Jews? And, perhaps more importantly, what does Jesus have to say to this Roman prefect?
While sitting in prison, John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus with a question: Is his cousin really the one they've been waiting for? Is this doubt due to John's circumstances or something else? And what can be learned from Jesus' answer?
A detestable man seeks out Jesus, but it is Jesus who finds him. What quality does Jesus see in Zaccheaus that makes him worthy of an audience? What can Zaccheaus offer Jesus in return for this honor?
Jesus meets the kind of guy who can take him places on the road to claiming his messianic kingdom. What follows is an exchange that leaves both men dissatisfied. What went wrong?
Jesus is tempted in the wilderness. But what is the devil's aim? And what exactly is at stake?
Tim and Justin return with an all new series focused on the person of Jesus as he is described in the four Gospels.
Tim and Justin sit down to discuss Tim's sermon on Galatians 5:1-15 (not yet preached at the time of recording). Although this is actually the 10th installment of a 12 part series that was planned months ago, it felt like the timing of this one was particularly providential. Given all of the noise surrounding their hometown of Springfield, Ohio currently, Tim and Justin seek to find the answer to what Paul says really matters at the end of the day.
Tim and Justin wrap-up the "Stories we Tell Ourselves" series, discussing their favorite episodes, things they learned from their guests, and some of the common threads that wound their way through the entire series.
Tim and Justin sit down with Tim Gombis, a bible professor with over two decades of experience at the undergraduate and seminary level. He is also the author of several books, including The Story of God Commentary on the book of Mark. Dr. Gombis received his PhD in New Testament Studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
You can find his published work here.
Tim and Justin chat with Alan Star about translations, cultural differences, and hearing bible studies in a brand new light. Alan has worked extensively in Africa for Wycliffe Bible Translations.
You can learn more about Wycliffe and the work they do, by clicking here.
Tim and Justin talk to Stephen Herreid about Cain and Abel and have a spirited discussion about the role of shame, both in the bible and our culture. Stephen is a singer/songwriter who hails from Wisconsin.
You can hear more from Stephen here, at his substack.
Bri Dupree joins the podcast to talk about The Embrace Collective and her favorite bible story, Saul on the Road to Damascus. Bri is an associate pastor at The Experience Christian Center in Orlando, Florida and the founder and director of the Embrace Collective.
You can learn more about Bri's work at https://www.theembracecollective.net/home
Cooper Smith joins Tim and Justin to talk about the story of Job. What does this seemingly out-of-place book have to teach us about God and suffering. Cooper is a pastor at Heartland Evangelical Free Church in Annandale, Minnesota with a PhD in Old Testament Studies from Wheaton College.
Tim and Justin talk with Pastor Daniel Hisey about the story of Abraham (almost) sacrificing his son Isaac in Genesis 22. Daniel has a Master of Divinity degree from Liberty University and is an associate pastor at The River Church in Bar Harbor, Maine.
Tim and Justin are joined by writer John MacLeod, the author of the Saga of the Sword Brigade series. He shares a little of his own story, the inspiration for his novels, and how the bible has influenced life.
You can find his work here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.M.-MacLeod/author/B07VPW71QJ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Jon Washburn, an old friend of Tim's with a master's degree in Christian Apologetics from BIOLA Univeristy, joins the guys to discuss one of his favorite bible stories: Jesus and the raising of Lazarus in John 11.
Tim and Justin discuss the tendency of the modern church to divide rather than unify, which reminds Tim of a Bible Story that has shaped the way he understands his faith.
Tim and Justin talk about what they've been up to during their break and preview the upcoming season from One Good Story. The first official episode will drop Monday, April 1st!
As the Gospel writers center their stories around the person of Jesus, they draw special attention to the different roles he played during his life on earth. He isn't simply the main character of this One Good Story; he is also the fulfillment of the prophets, the last necessary priest, and the one true king. All good stories lead to this one.
He kept the peace during Roman occupation, successfully navigating a tumultuous political landscape. He was also a great builder, of significant landmarks and cities. On the other hand, he was the architect of one of history's most infamous genocides. What does the Bible say about Herod the Great?
Despite being one of the most successful kings of the northern kingdom of Israel, he's more known for his adversarial relationship with Elijah. But Ahab stands on his own merits, as sinister as they were. What did that mean for Israel during his reign?
The wisest man who ever lived, and yet he couldn't get out of his own father's shadow. But with all the glory of his riches, his temple, and his empire, could Solomon lead Israel to something greater than David?
Emerging from the shadows of King Saul's calamity, a new king rises to unite Israel. He would become the standard for all of the rulers who followed him. What was it about this young son of Jesse? And who would this David become?
He was the first king of Israel. Standing head and shoulders above his countrymen, Saul was God's anointed, the first to wear the crown. But how far can that anointing carry him? What kind of king would Saul be? And what would it mean for Israel?
He was a king who commanded the greatest army in the world and its greatest economic force. His empire is remembered among the most impressive kingdoms in world history. But what happens when Pharoah is opposed by a prophet speaking for an enslaved people? What does this story tell us about God and empires?
When Jesus burst onto the scene in first-century Judea, he made bold claims about the Law of Moses, the Temple, and the religious leaders who kept them. What did this mean for the high priest of the time? And what part would this man play in preparing the ultimate sacrifice?
When the children of Israel returned from exile in Babylon and Persia, they had to rebuild their homes, rebuild Jerusalem, and rebuild their Temple. While men with hammers could restore buildings, who could repair the hearts of the people and reinstate the Law of God. Only a priest with fire in his bones and a zealous heart.
A man named Micah hires a Levite to be his priest in Israel during the era of the Judges. In those days there was no king in Israel...but what does that mean for a priest?
He served as right-hand man to both Moses and Joshua. As High Priest, he oversaw both the conquest of Canaan and the distribution of the Promised Land to the 12 tribes of Israel. Eleazar, son of Aaron, carried the idea of what a priest could be forward in the narrative. But many are unfamiliar with him. Just how important is he?
He was the first high priest of Israel. Alongside his brother, he led a nation out of slavery. And at God's command, he instituted the most robust collection of religious practices and procedures in ancient history. He also nearly led the nation into utter calamity. What are we to make of Aaron, God's chosen priest?
He was a priest of the Most High God, but he was not an Israelite. His story is contained in a few short verses, but his name stirs echoes from its origin early in Genesis all the way to Jesus. Who exactly was the priest Melchizedek?
The forerunner. He made the way ready for Jesus, fulfilling prophecy while unflinchingly speaking his own. He was the culmination of all the prophets who came before him. What else is there to the story of John the Baptizer?
He stood in the throne room of God, witnessing the fullness of His glory. Isaiah, the prophet of Hope, is one of the most prolific writers in all of Scripture. What do his many prophecies tell us about his story?
The most famous of all the prophets. The drought-inducing, fire-summoning, heavenly-chariot rider stood alone against a wicked king. But is he the greatest prophet in Israel's history?
The last judge. The first king-maker. A lifelong priest. Samuel was the only prophet to lead Israel other than Moses, guiding the nation through multiple transitions, including the appointments of their first king, and their greatest one.
**This was initially supposed to be episode 2 in this series followed by "Nathan." However, due to a technical issue we had to release them out of order.
His name only appears in two stories in the whole of Scripture, but he advises Israel's greatest King. He relays one of God's most sacred covenants, and he confronts David to his face. This is Nathan's story.
The Exodus. The Ten Commandments. The Books of the Law. He bore the titles of prince, outlaw, shepherd, deliverer, lawgiver, leader, and prophet. He saw the glory of God and lived to tell about it. Who in Israel was greater than Moses?
Each of the gospels records Jesus' arrival on this earth in different ways. How did Matthew, Mark, and Luke connect him to a people longing for the return of Glory of the LORD, their King, and the reconciliation of Israel to her God? And did the people receive what they were looking for?
100 years after the children of Israel return from exile, the prophet Malachi calls out the people of Judah for their lackluster commitment to their covenant relationship with Jehovah. Laboring under the weight of their own disappointments, tension is growing between this nation and its God. Is there any hope for restoration?
When the King of Babylon carries Jehoichin off to captivity in Babylon, it appears that the reign of David's sons has come to an end in Israel. What will happen to God's children without a king? And will a son of David ever sit on the throne in Jerusalem again?
After they return from exile, the children of Israel reconstruct God's temple. But the building is a shadow of its former glory, and the presence of God seems conspicuously absent. When will this sacred place really feel like home again?
For our 50th episode, we return to Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son with a fresh set of eyes. Faith Bosland is the Coordinator of Content and Faith-Based Resources for Think Tank, Inc., an excellent storyteller in her own right, and a good friend of the podcast.
The Apostle John, while sitting in exile, receives a vision in which he is transported to the very throne room of God. The sight is so strange his description is both awe-inspiring and baffling. What does he learn while standing in this sacred space?
God leads Ezekiel in a trance to a valley where a morbid vision ensues. Bones become skeletons, skeletons become corpses, and corpses await the breath of God in military formation. What is the prophet to make of this strange scene?
God raises up an unlikely hero to deliver the people of Gilead. But while God understands Jephthah, does Jephthah understand God? What does God value more: your word or your children?
When Jesus ventures outside of Israel, a foreign woman comes to him, begging for his help in freeing her daughter from an evil spirit. The interplay between the two that follows is shocking and bizarre. Why does Jesus insult this poor woman? And what does her strange response mean?
Two Israelites are tasked with spying on Jericho and barely make it out of the city. The escape only occurs thanks to a lie and a prostitute. The first hero in the conquest of Canaan sure is a strange one.
Two Israelites are tasked with spying on Jericho and barely make it out of the city. The escape only occurs thanks to a lie and a prostitute. The first hero in the conquest of Canaan sure is a strange one.
As more and more non-Jewish people begin to believe in Jesus, arguments arise about what one really needs to do to follow him. Can you love Jesus if you never knew Moses? And who gets to decide these things anyway? What's up with this strange and seemingly contradictory solution?
As more and more non-Jewish people begin to believe in Jesus, arguments arise about what one really needs to do to follow him. Can you love Jesus if you never knew Moses? And who gets to decide these things anyway? What's up with this strange and seemingly contradictory solution?
A gifted seer is summoned by the Moabite king to curse a foreign nation called the Israelites. The story that follows involves an armed angel, a confused prophet, a violently heated argument with a donkey, and a really strange narrative about what it really means to be used by God.
A gifted seer is summoned by the Moabite king to curse a foreign nation called the Israelites. The story that follows involves an armed angel, a confused prophet, a violently heated argument with a donkey, and a really strange narrative about what it really means to be used by God.
It's one of the most iconic stories in human history. The image of the woman beneath a tree, holding a piece of fruit and conversing with a snake is almost universally recognizable. But if all God's creation is good, where did the snake come from? And why does it talk? And why doesn't the woman find any of this...weird?
Accounts of miracles in Scripture occur commonly and do not appear weird to the familiar reader. But some supernatural interventions are stranger than others. As Jesus' disciples began to carry his message to people outside of Jerusalem, a man named Philip proclaims this good news in the desert, before mysteriously vanishing without a trace. What happened to him?
A horrific scene unfolds outside of Bethel. After a man of God curses a mob of boys who insult him, two bears emerge from the woods and maul dozens of the gang. What is happening here? Is God really being vindictive towards a group of ornery children?
In Acts 5, the young, growing church in Jerusalem is rocked by the strange and sudden deaths of two of its members. Why, in a story otherwise filled with miracles and spiritual transformation, are two people now falling lifeless to the ground? And what does it mean for this new community of Jesus-followers?
Most people remember Jonah for the Big Fish that stops the prophet in his tracks and forces him back towards the call of God for his life. So it's a bit weird that the story actually ends with the title character bitterly complaining about a shriveled plant in the desert. What is really happening here?
Tim and Justin check-in from a longer-than-expected hiatus. Find out what and when is next with the podcast.
A farmer sets out to plant his crops for the season, but the seed falls on various types of soil, leading to different results.
A widow relentlessly pesters an unscrupulous judge in her town until he provides her with the help she desires.
A wealthy man departs his home for a long journey, unsure of when he will return. Before taking his leave, he entrusts three of his servants with a significant amount of his riches.
In a departure from his typical tales, Jesus leads his listeners into the afterlife for a story about poverty, riches, and the assumptions we make about the people who possess them.
What does the Kingdom of Heaven look like? How does something so small and insignificant transform into something so big and meaningful?
A man finds himself hopelessly indebted to his master, and yet suddenly fully forgiven of what he owes. Will he find it within himself to show the same mercy?
When religious men grumble about the company Jesus keeps, he launches into a story about a father and his two sons: one rebellious, one dutiful; one forgiven, one full of resentment. As the father throws a lavish party, which son finds himself still a long way off?
A King hosts a royal banquet in honor of his son's wedding. With the table set, and the invitations sent throughout the kingdom, who will join the King at his feast?
A priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan walk down a road. In one of his most famous parables, Jesus and an expert of the law debate a pivotal question: Who is my neighbor?
The owner of an estate hires workers at different points throughout the day to tend to his vineyard. When he settles accounts at the end of the day, a question about the value of their labor arises amongst the hired hands.
A procession of pagan astrologers enters Jerusalem turning the city upside down. They have followed a star in order to pay tribute to a child king. But the one who sits on the throne in Jerusalem has other plans in mind.
A young couple walks into the temple, miracle in their arms, to fulfill their ritual duties. They didn't know their presence that day was the answer to a decades old prayer, and the realization of an ancient promise.
As John pulls back the veil he reveals two kingdoms to his readers: one marked by violence and exploitation and doomed for destruction; and one where victory is achieved through suffering, and love wins out forever as God dwells among his people. Which will you choose?
From an island, while living in exile, an aged disciple pens a letter to seven churches in Asia minor. He shares a vision he has received to help them answer a pressing question: If Jesus is indeed the victorious king, what is going on in the world?
As opposition rises to the message, the Good News about Jesus spreads from the mouths of His disciples and an unlikely ally. But can the young church survive as it grows beyond its Jewish roots?
The Glory of God Returns! The people of God are born anew as the presence of Jesus fills his followers in the aftermath of his death and resurrection. Will God's people finally be the blessing to the nations He called them to be?
In his first act as King, Jesus rises from the grave. In his victory over death, Jesus brings comfort to the grieving, hope for the unbelieving, and grace for the broken. Redemption abounds as he makes all things new.
On a dark Friday, the king is crowned on a hill outside of Jerusalem. All the power of death, the picture of sacrifice, and the hope of a broken world converge at the Cross, as Jesus gives his life for his people.
On a dark Friday, the king is crowned on a hill outside of Jerusalem. All the power of death, the picture of sacrifice, and the hope of a broken world converge at the Cross, as Jesus gives his life for his people.
As Jesus bursts onto the scene, the gospel authors seek to make sense of the young man from Nazareth. Mark sees a prophet, stirring up echoes of Elijah, whose power and authority both inspires and terrifies his followers. Matthew finds a new hope for Israel, something greater than even Moses and David.
God keeps His promise, and the children of Israel return to the land. But with the new temple and the throne both sitting empty, the kingdom is a shadow of its former self. Will anyone emerge to save the people of God from this sad state of affairs?
The presence of God exits the Temple and Jerusalem as Babylon destroys the city and carries its people into exile. But where does it go? Is God still with his people, even in a foreign land?
Despite reigning in the shadow of the Temple and under the instruction of the priests and prophets, the Southern Kings of Judah struggle to live up to the just rule of their ancestor, David. As the kingdom falters under poor leadership, the threat of Babylon looms...
The Northern Kings of Israel choose political security over godly obedience, and the whole kingdom suffers. With no spiritual direction, God raises up prophets to challenge the kings and turn back the hearts of His people.
The legacy of David (good and bad) hover over the remainder of the Old Testament, but especially the reign of Solomon.
The winds of change bring about a King-Maker and a Giant Slayer. Samuel and David usher in an era of Kings and the Prophets who counsel them.
"Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Despite being a great nation in a promised land, leaderless, listless Israel flounders without guidance. This is not the fulfillment of Abraham's dream.
Who could ever fill the shoes of Moses? And what is the key to victory for Joshua and the twelve tribes? How do we understand the conquest of Canaan?
A Chosen People. A Holy People. A Difficult People. A Defiant People - The turbulent beginning of God's relationship with Israel.
A dramatic shift in the narrative occurs. The main character becomes a nation, God becomes a Deliverer, and a reluctant man emerges to lead the Children of Israel.
The story chronicles generations of family dysfunction as Abraham's descendants seemingly do everything possible to disrupt God's plan to save the world. But somehow everything they intend for evil, God works for good.
The story shifts from global to a single man and a promised family in a promised place. What makes Abraham and Isaac so special?
Humanity spirals in the aftermath of the Curse in a series of calamitous stories. Tales of chaos and tragedy in Genesis 4-11 address an unsettling topic: Evil and the Justice of God.
It's one of the most famous stories in all of literature, but what exactly do Adam and Eve set in motion in the Garden? And what's the deal with shame?
Genesis 1 describes an infinite God, while Genesis 2 portrays an intimate One. What does that mean for us who are made in His image and likeness?
Everyone knows Genesis 1:1, but what does the first chapter of the Bible teach us about the God who created the world and us? And how does this story inform the rest of scripture?
Everyone loves a good story, and the Bible is full of them. Two friends dive into these familiar tales, looking past the commonly accepted "moral of the story" approach, in an attempt to tie them into the overarching narrative of God's love for us. Hosted by Tim Voltz and Justin Larocque.