The Burning Coal Podcast: Recent Episodes
Joshua Keith
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:8)
Thanksgiving is upon us! While this is always a joyous time of year with family and food, it is good for us to take a moment and reflect. Are we truly thankful to God in our attitude and mindset? How important is that really? We discuss on today's episode.
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. (James 3:8–9)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” [John 8:12]
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [John 8:31-32]
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. [Psalm 95:2-3]
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. [Romans 12:10]
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. [James 1:23-24]
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; [1 Timothy 4:7]
From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. [Ephesians 4:16]
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. [Hebrews 10:36]
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [2 Corinthians 9:7]
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment [Philippians 1:9 ESV]
But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant. - Mark 10:43
Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, - Acts 4:36.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. - Hebrews 11:6
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” - Romans 10:15
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9
In this lesson, we close out Peter’s first epistle. Peter encourages his audience to stand firm in the faith. Satan will try and attack them. If they cling to God and resist the Roaring Lion, they are assured victory because it is the Lord that has dominion forever and ever.
I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" - Psalm 42:9
But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. - 1 Corinthians 9:27
In this lesson, we finally get to our theme verse for the book of 1st Peter. Peter talks about the trials that will come. We know that we can welcome such trials because we have a faithful creator. Even on the day of judgment before the Lord, we will have no fear. We also see that God uses our suffering in a powerful way to further His plan.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. - James 1:2-3
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. - Proverbs 1:7
In today’s lesson, Peter expands on the concept of being holy as God is holy. He describes how God uses suffering to help us live more faithfully and grow in obedience. Then he explains how the world will respond to our new way of living. Finally, he shows how we can cover each other in love and provide a place of respite from the world that maligns us.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:10
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:10
In this podcast, I am once again joined by Tim Boaz to talk about evidences! Today we are discussing the cosmological argument, which can be summed up as follows:
Premise 1: Everything that begins has a cause
Premise 2: The universe began to exist
Conclusion: Therefore, the universe has a cause
We discuss why having a straightforward argument helps in building a case for God. We also talk about flaws in deductive reasoning. Then we jump into the cosmological discussion and talk about why we believe each premise is true and supports our ultimate conclusion. Finally we discuss some common objections we’ve heard to the argument and how we respond to them.
Previous Episodes:
Introduction: https://theburningcoal.com/chatting-about-evidences-an-introduction/
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. - Galatians 5:13
After talking about our suffering for the last two weeks, we now turn to the suffering of Jesus. We see that being asked to suffer on God's account may not be as burdensome if we realize that not only did Jesus suffer, but that he suffered on our behalf. His example is one that brings us great hope. We also take time to break down one of the most important passages in the Bible concerning salvation. Through careful study of this passage, we are able to remove many of today's misconceptions about it's practice and importance.
Time for something completely new! In this episode, Tim Boaz, a good friend of mine and a brother in the faith, joins me in a joint podcast. In this new effort, we will be coming together once a month to converse about evidence for God and Christianity. In this talk, we introduce the topic of Christian Evidences and why it is so important to us in our spiritual walk. We talk about the New Testament perspective of evaluating evidence and how the biblical authors pointed to evidence so often. Finally, we discuss how it can be helpful in our work of both edification and evangelism.
If you have questions about the evidence for God that you would like us to discuss, please submit them at https://theburningcoal.com/contact/, and we will address them in future episodes.
This week Peter continues talking about being in subjection for God's sake. He starts by talking about wives submitting to their husbands. He then makes sure that the husbands understand their responsibilities as well. Finally, we discuss our suffering and how it glorifies God and allows us an opportunity to defend God's name.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." - Matthew 5:6
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." [Matthew 5:6 ESV]
How do we respond when the government or anyone else mistreats us? Do we fight back? Would the world around us say that we use our freedom for service? Peter explains that in these scenarios, we have an obligation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. In doing so, not only do we become like him, but we can also help save the lost of the world.
The beginning of 1st Peter 2 talks about how God has chosen us and elevated us more than we could have ever hoped or imagined. However, to be a part of His kingdom means that we align ourselves fully. Our actions and attitudes need to follow in His footsteps. Unfortunately that also means that those who rejected Him will also reject us.
"Be Holy as I am Holy" is a command given by God. But what does that look like in real life? Peter tells us that our purification frees us to show great love and compassion to those around us.
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:20
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. - 1 Corinthians 9:25
This week we continue our examination of 1st Peter. We review verses thirteen through nineteen of the first chapter. The primary focus of this section is about living according to our inheritance. What does God expect from us when we become his heirs?
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. - Psalm 62:7-8
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect - 1 Peter 3:15
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. [Jeremiah 29:11 ESV]
"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. [Luke 16:10 ESV]
1 Peter 1:16 quotes Leviticus where God says "Be holy for I am Holy." We look at Leviticus 19 to better understand what God expects from us in our holiness. God wants to be involved in every single aspect of our lives, not just the "religious ones"
But I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. [Philemon 1:14 ESV]
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. [Revelation 3:5 ESV]
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. [Ephesians 4:32 ESV]
Life is full of difficulties. We are wanderers in a foreign land. We face persecution from those around us. We also have Satan trying to find ways to weaken our faith. Through all of that, God expects us to have "joy inexpressible". In our lesson today, we talk about our great inheritance and why it can give us such hope during trying times.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. [Revelation 1:3 ESV]
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. [James 5:7 ESV]
We are going to start a study of the book of 1st Peter. To get us going, we take a look at the 5 W's - Who, What, When, Where and Why. This will help prepare our minds and provide context as we dive into the individual passages in the book.
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" [Acts 2:37 ESV]
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [Romans 1:16 ESV]
God had provided us many ways and opportunities to glorify Him. Unfortunately, people will sometimes take that opportunity to glorify God and instead glorify themselves. That is what Jesus teaches against in Matthew 6. In this lesson, we discuss how our actions should always bring honor to the Lord.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! [Matthew 23:37 ESV]
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37-39
Abraham is called the "Father of Faith". In this lesson, we look at the faith Abraham had and what made it so powerful. Finally we look at how we too can be counted as "Children of Abraham".
David writes a powerful message in the 8th Psalm. He looks around at God's creation, and is in awe. Not just in the power and might of God, but also in how much God shows His love towards us. Every time we look at the world around us, we should be reminded of just how wonderful a God we serve.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. [Psalm 1:2 ESV]
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. [Mark 1:35 ESV]
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul crystalizes exactly what the gospel message is. We discuss what that message is, but also what we learn from it. Paul expects that those who would hear the gospel message would be fundamentally changed by it. Even Christians who already know it can be spurred on to greater strength and faithfulness.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 18:2
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. - Psalm 51:14
John 3:16 is a powerful and popular passage. In today's lesson we study the context so that we can better understand God's love for us and how we can escape judgment.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:31-32
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. - Matthew 13:44
In 1 Samuel 17, there is a very familiar account of David and Goliath. While we may be very familiar with it, we should never let that blunt the power of faith shown. We have a lot to learn from David, and in this lesson we discuss how we should be more like him.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:31-32
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. - Ephesians 4:25
In Psalm 2, we are told about those who would try and overthrow God's rule. In today's lesson, we examine their folly, and how they should act instead. Most importantly, we ask, are we doing the same?
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. - 1 Peter 1:13
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul talks about Moses wearing a veil after being in God's presence. In this lesson we talk about that veil and why the Israelites needed it. Paul wants to know, when we go before the Lord, do we keep a veil on, or do we remove it like Moses did?
The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
In Titus 2, Paul explains that grace trains us in how we ought to live. In this lesson, we break down how grace teaches us, what we should do with it and the mindset it gives us.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Two men built houses, but when storms came, only one stayed up. What makes the difference? What storm do we need to be able to withstand? Most importantly, how do we do so?
1 John 2:4-5a Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
James teaches about wisdom in the third chapter of his book. He warns that there are two kinds - worldly wisdom and the wisdom that comes from above. Which wisdom do we have?
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
In Psalm 139, David talks in-depth about God's knowledge of us. Knowing this is something that should bring us great comfort, but also great humility. We need to ask God to search us for where we fall short, while also being willing to obey whatever he shows us.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Of all the people in the land of Canaan, Rahab was saved from judgment and accepted by God and the Israelites. We discuss what this teaches us about God and how we can have faith like her.
In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches about the Sower. It is a simple and straightforward message, but it challenges all of us to evaluate ourselves. What will I do with the word of God? Am I providing fruit? If not, what do I need to change that? We examine these questions while discussing Jesus' teaching on the matter.
Moses was a great man of faith. While there are many areas we can learn from Moses, is this lesson we will focus on two: His belief in God's judgment and in God's deliverance.
In Psalm 19, David talks about the value of meditating on both General and Specific Revelation. By focusing on God's creation and His law, we are able to grow closer to Him.
"You of little faith" is a phrase Jesus says often to his disciples. In this lesson we review some of those examples. In doing so we can ask ourselves when Jesus might say such things about us.
Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount focused primarily on the heart. It is not enough to look the part of a disciple. Instead God expects us to live it in our core. Nowhere is that more evident than when he commands us to cast off anxiety. In this lesson we look at Jesus commands concerning money and anxiety and what they teach us about our faith.
Of all the disciples, Peter is on display the most throughout the gospels. This allows us see many of his mistakes, but also gives us great insight into his incredible faith. In this lesson we talk about Peter walking on water and what we can learn from it.
Who can come before the Lord? What does God look for in those who seek Him? David goes through and prepares a list. Much like the Lord tells Samuel, the focus is on our heart and the small things we do every day.
In Luke 14, Jesus makes it clear that he alone defines who can be His disciple. It comes at a high cost. Some people will rashly claim to be a follower of Christ. Yet they may not realize what it takes and fall short of reaching their goals. In the lesson we examine Jesus' teaching on counting the cost and how it applies to us.
Joseph was the savior of his family. However, God took him down a winding road to get there. He was sold into slavery and then thrown into jail before becoming second to Pharaoh himself. Through it all, Joseph believed that God would deliver him. Today, we discuss his life and the lessons we can learn from it.
Psalm 95 is a song dedicated to praise and thanksgiving. It acknowledges the incredible God we serve. But it also provides warning to those who desert the Lord when things get tough. Those who refuse to listen will not enter God's rest.
In Romans 1:17, Paul proclaims that the righteous shall live by faith. In this lesson, we discuss the original context of the quotation. Then we discuss Paul's use of faith in the book of Romans to help us have a deeper appreciation of living by faith.
In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul gives three simple commands about our mindset: rejoice, pray and give thanks. As Christians, these should be our attitudes at all times. In this lesson, we look at the examples of others to help us maintain the proper mindset.
In Matthew 18, the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus helps them understand that greatness in His kingdom is different than greatness in the kingdom of men. If they want to be truly great, it is about what they do for others, not what others do for them.
Ruth is a woman of great faith and loyalty. When examining her life, we have a better understanding of the type of commitment that God expects from us in our relationship. We also see in her how God rewards and accepts those who faithfully serve Him.
In Psalm 23, David writes about how God provides for him. He focuses on two primary metaphors, that of the shepherd and that of the host. In both examples, we see that God supplies everything we need, if only we choose to submit to Him.
In Paul's letters, he would oftentimes speak of his prayers for the brethern. In his writings to the Colossians, we can learn valuable lessons. We learn how to pray for one another and what to prioritize in our prayers and in our lives.
Near the end of his ministry, Jesus teaches about the day of judgment. People are divided into two categories: Sheep and Goats. The parable makes clear that we want to be found among the sheep. In this lesson, we talk about the practical takeaways from this teaching.
Jonathan was a man after God's own heart. In this lesson, we discuss how we can gain strength from his example, the power of like-minded faith, and faithfulness even in unfair circumstances.
Have you ever struggled with why the wicked escape judgment? You are not alone. In the 73rd Psalm, Asaph confronts this very issue. We examine his response and how he was able to build His faith in God.
Today we look at 1 Corinthians 1:20-29. We explore the difference between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of man. Ultimately, we need humility to make sure we listen to God's ideas over our own.
Jesus was a master teacher. In today's lesson, we see Jesus confronting a man trying to justify himself through a technicality. Jesus as the master teach puts the responsibility of love where it rightly belongs
This week we dive deeper into God's grace. Using Ephesians 2 and Romans 6 we look at what God's grace is, why we should appreciate it, and how we obtain it.
(Re-released because it looks like the wrong audio file went out) This was originally meant to be published on January 21st.)
This series revolves around studying men and women of great faith in the Bible to learn from their example. With Daniel, we examine a man with strong character who leans on God in times of trial. We also see the power of God to save His people.
The Psalms are called the heart of the Bible. Every second week of the month, we will choose a Psalm and study it. The Psalms help us to better understand and navigate our emotions. But its also important to understand that the blessings of the Psalms are conditional. We discuss those conditions by reviewing the first Psalm, setting the stage for the rest that follow.
How can we serve God? Sometimes we look a the examples of Paul and Peter and think that there is no way we could do what they did. But God calls all people to use their gifts in service to him. We look at four Christians in the New Testament and how they served God in their own way.
When we come into contact with God's glory, there is a temptation to hide from him. We see that Jesus wants us to do the exact opposite. He wants us not just to repent, but to go to work.
In this episode, we dive into the concept of sin. Our culture tends to excuse sin of all sorts, and wonder why God would be so judgmental as to enact the laws he has established. In this lesson, we look at the people of Israel committing a grave sin in the eyes of God. On the surface, and to the world, it would seem harmless enough. And yet it deeply hurt and offended God. By looking at it from His perspective, we will try to gain perspective on our own sin as well.
In today's discussion, we look at Revelation 4 as an extension of our topic last week. Here we see another throne scene, but in this one, we have more details. We will discuss the glory of God in this passage and how we can learn to praise Him. It also helps provide perspective in times of trial. Finally, it helps us better understand why our sin separates us from God.
In this inaugural podcast, we examine Isaiah 6 to discuss God's Glory, His Grace and our response to it.