The Called Out Cafe Podcast: Recent Episodes
doughooley
With the passing of the Apostles, those left behind were left wondering where to go from there. Where they went was in different directions! Some advocated for following appointed humans, but that is not what Jesus said to do.
Please join me as we check in with the Church of the end of the first century. Did they pay pastors? Who was in charge? Did they practice taking Communion? Were they big on missions? Did they "share all things in common?" Lets talk about all that and more!
The earliest years of the Ekklesia was a unique time. Many Christians lived in isolation without apostles visiting them, and without a New Testament. This went on for several years. Believers relied on what they had been told by others about the gospel and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Yet, they had everything they needed to accomplish God's will in their lives and follow Jesus. There were no traditions or institutions necessary.
Of course things are so different now. Today we need institutions, and traditions to understand God and serve Him... Really?
Please join me in this latest episode of the Called-Out Cafe as we consider these things.
Christianity grew out of Judaism, but it should have never outgrown it! We have lost so much rich background that is important to understanding the entire context of both Jesus' first and second coming to this earth.
The earliest Christians were and continued to be Jews. They simply accepted Jesus as their Messiah which their scriptures and religion told them to expect. Am I saying followers of Jesus should try to be more Jewish? Not at all! However, we could benefit greatly by understanding the Jewish origins of following Jesus!
Of course they had a much greater understanding of what they were doing and why, but many of the practices of the Apostles of Jesus that they continued to participate in after Pentecost, within a couple hundred years were looked at as heresy for a Christian to participate in. Whether or not they were also a Jew.
It is a happy coincidence that this is the week that I talk a little bit about the Passover Seder and how Jesus changed its meaning, which the Christian sacrament of Communion or the Eucharist is now but a shadow of.
Please join me in this latest episode of the Called-Out Cafe!
You may glaze over when someone starts talking about History. Maybe even more so when you think about Church History. Thats OK. Think about what the next episodes in this series will be about as a commentary on how we got from what the Ekklesia was during Jesus' day, to what the Church has become 2000 years later in our day. The two are clearly not the same. This will be a warts and all history that will leave you with little doubt that Jesus' Ekklesia and what we know as the Church today are not the same thing.
This time we will take a look at what Jesus had to say directly to the Ekklesias, in the book of Revelation, regarding the purpose of gathering together, what their focus should be, and how they should function. 60 years after His ascension He certainly did not appear to be concerned with how the "Great Commision" was coming. He didn't bring up how much was being donated in the offering plates and didn't seem to care about church attendance. He didn't mention standing for social justice or taking care of the poor.
Please join me and see what He was concerned with in this episode of the Called-Out Cafe.
In this episode of the Called-Out Cafe, we will look at what all of the other Apostles, besides Paul, had to say about "how to do church." As you will hear, not much. However, they all taught the three foundational principles of anything should be done in the Ekklesia: Faith in Jesus, Hope in what He said, and Love for others in the Ekklesia.
Beyond this, James tells us there should be no favoratism within a body of believers, and he cautions those who want to be teachers. Peter tells us that individual Ekklesia are like living stones that Jesus is using one by one to build His greater Ekklesia. That is a work in progress, and he gives advice on how to live in this world while not being a part of it. John really gives no instruction on how to do church, but again reinforces the principles of Faith, Hope, and Love. And, Jude only adds a warning about apostates who have infiltrated the Ekklesia.
Please join me as we sort through these things!
In this episode we finish up with what the Apostle Paul had to say to the Ekklesias about how to conduct themselves when they get together. We will be looking at the letters from Philippians to Hebrews where Paul addresses topics such as Elders and Deacons, how he was down on religion, and the importance of getting together with other Called-Out Ones, and what that means.
In this episode we look at what Paul had to say to the Ekklesia in Ephesus regarding how they should function when they gathered. Paul covers the topics of "good works," how God is making "the mystery" known to the leaders of the unseen spirit realm through the Ekklesia, and how Jesus is the only "head" of the Ekklesia.
In this episode our survey of the New Testament again finds us in the book of 1 Corinthians. The topics of spiritual gifts within the Ekklesia, the role of the Holy Spirit, and whether or not gatherings of the Ekklesia are appropriate for unbelievers to attend are discussed.
As we continue to see what the New Testament has to say about the gathering together of those who are Called-Out of the world to follow Jesus, in this episode we are looking at Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. At least the first letter that was preserved and made a part of the Bible.
We will see what Paul had to say about how to maintain the integrity of a local community of believers. While that may involve what we think of as “judging others” within the community of believers, we will then see how Paul teaches the followers of Jesus that our role in this world is not to judge those outside of the Ekklesia (the Church).
Then, I tackle a sensitive topic head on: what does the New Testament really have to say about paying pastors and other members of the clergy? Why would I risk alienating every pastor who most Christians look at as having some sort of extra pull with God? Why would I want to take on an industry whose payroll is about three billion dollars annually? Especially in Oregon, where according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, we have over twice as many compensated clergy members per 1000 employed residents than any other state. And, they are the third highest paid clergy members on average in the nation. The truth is, I personally don’t want to take the issue on, so I won’t. I have friends who are pastors and have had pastors who are no longer with us that I have loved dearly that significantly impacted my life. So instead, we will look at what scripture has to say about the topic.
I hope to “see you” on the podcast!
The Apostle Paul is the guy that churches all go to, to get church done right. The church loves using Paul's letters like they are a sort of a formulaic check list for making sure that church leaders color within the lines. But Paul's letters to the different Ekklesias (churches) were most often in response to some problem or issue those churches were having. Although Paul solved their problems by using the foundational principles of Faith, Hope, and Love, which transcend space and time, the problems they were each having were not all necessarily universal and the individual specific solutions he had for them, did not all necessarily transcend the geography of the day, or the centuries since he wrote the letters. The principles are what we should pay attention to. Countries, cultures, and problems like eating meat sacrificed to idols will come and go, but Faith, hope, and love will endure until Jesus returns and beyond.
In this episode, we will take a look at the issues of the importance of (or not) doing good works, the unbiblicalness of the Church replacing Israel, the importance of each individual within the Ekklesia to participate and use their personal gifts and abilities, the importance of watching out for a weaker Called-Out brother or sister, how one day is no more holy than the next day, the importance of unity among the Ekklesia and all the ways it is not possible and the one way it is possible, and everyone's favorite topic: giving money. JUST A FEW MINOR ISSUES!!!
I hope you will join me.
Many today attempt to use what happened in the early New Testament Church, as seen in the book of Acts, as a model for how to do church. In this episode of the Called-Out Cafe we will take a look at why that might not be the best use of the information contained in Acts. What God accomplished at Pentecost and the days following was fantastic and unique. It was what we call a "one off." What took place there has never been successfully reproduced in history.
Moving on from the Gospels into the book of Acts, we will talk a little bit about the difference between parts of the Bible being descriptive about the history of the Ekklesia, rather than prescriptive about what the Ekklesia should do. We will look at a couple specific issues such as the basis, or lack thereof, of meeting on Sundays, and what it means to appoint elders in a group of Called-Out Ones.
Moving on from the book of Matthew in this latest episode of the Called-Out Cafe we talk about more extremely important components of the Biblical Ekklesia: like if it is not all about spreading the gospel, or service and works in the Church, what is it God expects us to be doing? Among other things, we will also talk about how the church's popularity in our communities is not a measure of success, and how loving one another within the Ekklesia is one of the three main principles and purposes of the Ekklesia.
Can we all stop playing church now and move ahead with being the Ekklesia? Please join me in this latest episode.
Many in the Evangelical Church today believe that the primary mission of the Church is to “make disciples,” and spread the gospel to the entire earth. Those things are found in the “mission statements” of countless churches. Yet, you will never find the words “great commission” in the New Testament. Nor will you find Jesus saying anywhere in the original Greek documents used to translate the English New Testament to “make disciples.” Nor will you find any reason to believe he was commissioning anyone beyond His original Apostles, who were the only ones qualified to fulfill their commission, because they alone witnessed the things Jesus said and did. And, likely you have not been told that based on the original language used in scripture, what He commanded the Apostles to do, was not to teach everyone to obey or "observe" the commands that Jesus had given the Apostles, but rather to instruct them to treasure and hold onto all that Jesus had said. You probably have also not heard the case to be made that the Apostles had fulfilled their commission within days after being given it by Jesus, and that the Bible, is the perpetual written fulfillment of their commission.
Please join me in this episode as I attempt to remove the burden of saving the world from your shoulders. That job has already been taken.
Warning: If you love church traditions and have high blood pressure, please consult your physician before listening to this episode of the Called-Out Cafe.
The Apostle Matthew, writer of the gospel by the same name, would have a large problem with what is taking place in most modern churches today. Among other things, in this episode we will talk about why money is given such prominence in todays churches given Jesus’ attitude towards it. We will look at one of the most misused passages of scripture in the gospel: that of the “Sheep and Goats” judgment. It is often used to motivate Christians to do good works, when this future judgement only sets out the criteria that unbelievers will be judged by. The last bomb Matthew will drop in this episode will be how the view of communion in the Church today is so far off from what took place during the Last Supper.
If you are a part of a church, what is it exactly that you think you are a part of? In this episode of the Called-Out Café, we will look at a passage of scripture in which Jesus gives us His idea of what His Ekklesia is built on. Then in our survey of the Gospel of Matthew and what it says about gathering in the name of Jesus we will look at Jesus’s system of holding one another accountable within local bodies of Ekklesia. Then, we will talk about Jesus having our back when we make decisions on His behalf within the Ekklesia. I hope you will join me!
This is the final episode of a three-part special edition min-series of the Called-Out Cafe podcast. This series disputes the specific claims made in the "World Upside Down (Biblical Earth Documentary 2022)" video, which claims the Flat Earth theory is true, and ties it to one's faith in God.
The World Upside Down video is very similar to the many other videos you can find on-line regarding the principles the Flat Earth theory are based on, so I chose to use it to respond to this issue via a Special Edition mini-series on the Called-Out Cafe podcast. If you ever wondered what Flat Earthers use as their evidence, you can find out by listening to this series.
If you are a Flat Earther, please listen to this series and consider what I am saying point by point. In summary, the narrator grossly misuses scripture, he makes completely false statements, he uses logic that counts on you not thinking critically, he cites "evidence" that has not and cannot ever be proven, or that which has been disproven, while he completely disregards all repeatedly proven physical evidence by saying it has all been faked and he writes off observations made by millions of lay people which testify as to the reality of a spherically shaped earth, gravity, a solid moon, a distant sun and stars, and outer space. A written copy of this special edition podcast can be found at doughooley.com Please don't forget to click "like" if this podcast was of benefit to you. It will help others find there way here. Also, please consider subscribing to the podcast!
This is part Two of a special edition min-series of the Called-Out Cafe podcast. This series disputes the specific claims made in the "World Upside Down (Biblical Earth Documentary 2022)" video, which claims the Flat Earth theory is true, and ties it to one's faith in God.
The World Upside Down video is very similar to the many other videos you can find on-line regarding the principles the Flat Earth theory are based on, so I chose to use it to respond to this issue via a Special Edition mini-series on the Called-Out Cafe podcast. If you ever wondered what Flat Earthers use as their evidence, you can find out by listening to this series.
If you are a Flat Earther, please listen to this series and consider what I am saying point by point. In summary, the narrator grossly misuses scripture, he makes completely false statements, he uses logic that counts on you not thinking critically, he cites "evidence" that has not and cannot ever be proven, or that which has been disproven, while he completely disregards all repeatedly proven physical evidence by saying it has all been faked and he writes off observations made by millions of lay people which testify as to the reality of a spherically shaped earth, gravity, a solid moon, a distant sun and stars, and outer space. A written copy of this special edition podcast can be found at doughooley.com
This is part one of a special edition min-series of the Called-Out Cafe podcast. This series disputes the specific claims made in the "World Upside Down (Biblical Earth Documentary 2022)" video, which claims the Flat Earth theory is true, and ties it to one's faith in God.
This time on the Called-Out Café Podcast we continue with the series titled “Leaving the Church to follow Jesus.” We will be looking at what the Gospel of Matthew and related scriptures have to say about the purpose and function of the authentic Called-Out ones of Jesus when they gather. We will talk about things such as how there is no scriptural basis for meeting on Sundays, nothing in the gospels supporting paying a pastor, how not everyone is called to be an evangelist, how it is “anti-biblical” to cling to human traditions in the church, and how we should not be calling attention to any good works we are a part of, among other topics. I’ll bet you have never heard any of that preached on Sunday mornings! Please join me and hear why all these things are resting on rock solid biblical ground.
In the days of the Old Testament, we are told that the people of God so far off track to the point that they had set up idols and places for prostitution in the Temple in Jerusalem. This was under the direct supervision of the religious authorities. The solution for getting back on track came in the form of the rediscovery of the Holy Scriptures which had been found covered in dust. The same is true for us today. Except our scriptures are not covered in dust, they are covered in 2000 years of religious traditions. Please join me for this episode of the Called-Out Cafe where we will discuss the only solution for getting back on track regarding how the Called-Out followers of Jesus are to gather in His name.
In this episode we will discuss the drastic difference between the word "church" and the meaning of the word Jesus used to refer to His called-out followers: the Ekklesia. The Ekklesia, is a state of being, not a place you can go. Please join Doug for this important, eye-opening topic.
In this episode, we begin to explore how the Church is thought of. Has Jesus failed to lead the organization which claims to represent Him on this earth?
Join Doug as he describes an existential crisis that led to the writing of his book, Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus. Don't worry, he's got it worked out and is OK now...
The new series is based on Doug's new book, Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus. Holy Cow, what's that about!? Is it as controversial as it sounds? Yes, but please notice it is not about leaving Jesus, or even challenging our belief in Him. It is about challenging the veracity of the organization we call the Church. Please join Doug in kicking off this extremely important series.
This is the last in the series titled, Choose Your Jesus Wisely. Todays episode is an allegory based on all the previous episodes. It tells A Tale of Two Gods who are very similar, and the people who follow them.
This is the final episode of the season. Lord willing, I will start back up in the fall with a series based on my new book, “Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus.” But for now, there are weddings to host on our property, blueberries to harvest, a family to pay attention to, a book to finish, trips to take, and Truth to seek. Until next time, may God bless you and Maranatha!
In this episode of the Called-Out Café we start to wrap up this series titled, “Choose Your Jesus Wisely” with some thoughts on what the authentic follower of Jesus might do in response to so many counterfeit Jesuses being followed today.
In this episode we look at if false Christian gods, or counterfeit Jesuses do exist in the Church today as I have been saying in this series, who’s problem is that to fix? Do we have any responsibility, or is it up to Jesus to fix His Church?
A third of the world's population today claim to be Christian. Yet, Jesus said many will call Him Lord, to which He will respond, “depart from me, I never knew you.” Since the title of “Christian” can mean so many different things, it is almost meaningless. But, there are many reasons for us to know who is an authentic follower of Jesus and who is not. How can we tell? In this latest episode of the Called-Out Cafe, we will attempt to sort that out.
Lets talk about how God views how serious it is to allow false gods to infiltrate our minds and lives...
This is a continuation of the last episode's look at a popular false Christian God: The God of Service And Works. A God being worshipped at a Church near you this Sunday!
There are many classic Christian false gods we could discuss. Any false god is a bad false god. However, in this and the next episode, we will do a case study on one particular false god, I am calling, “the god of Service And Works,” or “SAW,” for short. I am doing so to illustrate how some false gods have boldly infiltrated mainstream and evangelical churches. Nowhere in scripture is the Ekklesia (the Church) called to serve and save the world, yet many churches have made that their top priority.
Pulling together the information you have heard up to this point in this series, we will look at how to defend against SAW by applying the principles of biblical watchfulness.
Since the “priests” of false Christian gods don’t have the Holy Spirit on their side, they utilize what I call “Christian-Jedi mind tricks” to manipulate their followers. This includes the use of guilt, peer pressure, loyalty, nostalgia, tradition, and fear. These feelings can motivate people to follow the agenda of humans while saying they are acting in the name of Jesus. Being directed or manipulated by humans rather than being led by the Holy Spirit, and yet attributing what we are doing to Jesus, is another way we “take the name of the Lord in vain.” This is the topic of this episode of the Called-Out Café.
The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Called-Out in the region of Galatia was a cohesive focused message and not a series of mini disjointed teachings. Paul’s main message was that of relying on the good news that the grace which comes through authentic belief in Jesus is not only sufficient for one’s salvation, but that to add anything to it, is to nullify it. Paul wrote that when one tries to add anything to what Jesus has already done, it is as if they are worshipping a false god. A god that needs their help to save them.
Today, it is extremely common to hear the gospel of assisting God with one’s salvation being preached in evangelical and mainline churches. The God of the Bible needs no assistance. Only false gods welcome such efforts. Please join me in this episode as we take a look at the book of Galatians.
In this episode we will talk about how the words “belief,” faith,” and “hope” have evolved over the centuries. Many Christian false gods rely upon the modern, unbiblical understanding of these words.
The modern usage of the word “faith,” has taken on somewhat of a mystical meaning that is used in support of many incorrect teachings. It means to continue to believe something despite any proof or good reason to do so. And “to hope” means little more than “to make a wish” or express a desire. Yet as used in the Bible, it means to have a realistic and confident expectation that something will occur.
To biblically “believe” means to have knowledge and understanding of something. Having greater “faith,” or belief, means to have acquired more knowledge and understanding. Authentic faith is solely reliant on basing one’s beliefs on the authentic truth.
Many pastors and Bible teachers view Bible characters as what can be compared to "Christian Jedi Masters." They are examples for us to imitate to bring about a desired outcome which would be either beneficial to ourselves or the body of Christ. However, due to the uniqueness of the story God is telling us in the Bible, most often what happened to the handful of humanity that He communicated His story through in the Bible was not normative and we should not expect the same outcomes as they experienced.
Countless Christians reduce the Bible to a self-help guide, how-to manual, or rule book. If we read it in that way, that is all we will ever see. we will only ever enjoy limited success in what we are attempting to use it for, since we will have tragically missed the point of what the Bible is: God’s story of who He is, starring Jesus. If we want to follow Jesus, we need to get to know and understand the Jesus of the Bible.
Please join me in this episode as we talk about these things.
Within Christianity there are many views on the Bible: what it is, and how to read or study it. If one is an authentic Child of God, they understand that the Bible, in its original form, contains the inspired word of God: God’s message and plan that He has revealed to mankind. The job of the truth seeker is to understand the original meaning of the author of the Bible, which is ultimately God. It is not to judge what the Bible says, read into it, or fit what it says into “orthodox” doctrines of the Church. In this episode, in addition to talking about a few sound principles of studying the Bible, we will look at the most common Bible study methods in use today, and how it unfortunately contributes to creating our own False Christian gods.
There are many reasons people choose to believe lies. Even lies about God. In this episode I talk about "cognitive dissonance" and some of the reasons people choose to believe things, even relating to God, that are not true.
In this episode of the Called-Out Cafe: Billions of people think they are correct in their beliefs regarding God as they follow their own version of the “truth.” There is only one authentic Truth: God’s Truth. It is the authentic Truth that informs us about the one and only, real, authentic Jesus. The authentic Child of God, as opposed to the imitation child of God, or cultural Christian, bases their beliefs in the authentic Jesus, on the authentic truth contained in scripture.
The modern religion of Postmodern Secular Progressivism and the relative truth it promotes, has provided us with the perfect culture to raise our own custom-made gods in. Christians may start with some non-negotiables, like the Nicene Creed, but they quickly divide according to their own version of the truth. That version of the truth is heavily influenced by our self-centered natures. Those natures lead us to quietly try and recreate God into our own image.
It is easy to believe in a God that lines up with who we think He should be according to our reasoning. However, it is much more difficult to believe in the entire God of the Bible. Can I believe in the God of the Bible, or do I need to just tweak Him a bit to be able to believe in Him? How we sometimes custom make God to order is the topic of today's podcast.
False Christian God's come in many forms. In this episode, Doug Talks about a personal minor false god of his past: The god who hates dancing... Just one of countless examples of how cultural practices and religious beliefs are superimposed over who we view God as.
What constitutes a false god? Many things may qualify depending on how you want to define it. But perhaps the most dangerous false god comes into being when we change the character and nature of the God of the Bible to better suit our own reason and liking. And then, we make this new version of god, the object of our worship. In this episode of the Called-Out Café, we will look at how new false gods within the Christian Church are conceived and given birth to. And we will look at a few surprising examples of the false gods of Christianity.
Jesus warned that when He returns in judgement, "many" will call him Lord, to which He will reply that, He "never knew" them. What other Jesus is it then that these "many" false Christians are following and calling "lord" if not the authentic Jesus of the Bible? When the character and nature of the God of the Bible is changed in any way, a new false god is born. A false god who has a false god son, who is named Jesus, but is not the authentic Jesus of the Bible.
In this age of Postmodern Progressivism, where "truth" is relative and under emphasized, one needs to be careful they are calling the right Jesus, "Lord." Please join Doug in this series based on his book, False Christian Gods: Choose Your Jesus Wisely, as he discusses what may be some of the most critical issues of anyone's eternal status.
In this conclusion of the series on the Biblical Worldview of the Spirit Realm, we look at what happens when we die according to the Bible. We all have some kind of foggy hybrid image of what happens based on what our parents and Hollywood have told us. Maybe some of us can recall a passage of scripture or two on the subject or maybe what a pastor said at a funeral. Please join me as we take a closer look at a topic that sooner or later will impact us all.
What is the current state of Jesus? Where is He at? What are His abilities? Is He omnipresent? Or is He secretly hiding on the earth right now? Would He know my name if I were to bump into Him on the street? All of this and more is discussed in this episode.
How is it that the Spirit Realm routinely and rarely interacts with the Physical Realm? In this second part of this two-part topic, using the Bible as a guide we will take a look at how Satan still may influence this world that he is said to be the “god” of. We will talk about how those who belong to Jesus can actively defend against the schemes of the Devil. And, Doug takes theory into the real world as he talks about a few personal experiences he has had with the realm of the unseen.
How is it that the Spirit Realm routinely and rarely interacts with the Physical Realm? In part one of this two-part topic, using the Bible as a guide we will take a look at how Satan still may influence this world that he is said to be the “god” of. We will touch on "spiritual warfare" and talk about how those who belong to Jesus can actively defend against the schemes of the Devil.
According to the often-ignored spirit realm story line in the New Testament, there was a great deal going on behind what could be seen in the physical realm when Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago. It was in the other realm, which is unobservable by humans, that Jesus was acting as the courageous, enemy-dominating Messiah that His people had been waiting for. Unknown to many who follow Jesus, this biblical narrative is “hiding” in plain sight in the New Testament. This is the incredible story behind the “greatest story ever told.”
The Bible speaks of several different kinds or orders of beings who exist in the spirit realm. In this episode we will look at the various titles and functions of those created beings which exist in the very real, but unobservable realm of the spirit.
One may think that with all the rebellions going on in the unseen spirit realm that things are out of God's control. On the contrary, everything is going precisely according to plan. This time on the Called-Out Cafe we will be taking a look at how God has and will hold the beings who inhabit the spirit realm accountable and what their future holds.
There is more to what shapes the world around us than what we can observe with our senses. Like humans, super-natural beings who exist in the Spirit Realm can rebel against God. There have been several forms of rebellion since the time of creation. Many have pursued the worship and allegiance of humans. They seek to deceive humans into not following God, while at the same time they accuse the same humans before God of not following Him. And, they have attempted to destroy the Messiah. This angelic rebellion continues today. Please join Doug as he discusses these things and more in episode 10 of the series titled, the Biblical Worldview of the Spirit Realm, on the Called-Out Café.
This is episode 9 in this current series on the Biblical Worldview of the Spirit Realm. It is the second of two episodes that will cover a strange story found in the book of Genesis chapter six. It is the story of the Sons of God and the Nephilim. If you didn’t listen to the first episode on this topic, which was episode 8 of the series, you may want to do so before listening to this episode.
This is episode 8 in this current series on the Biblical Worldview of the Spirit Realm. It is the first of two episodes that will cover a strange story found in the book of Genesis chapter six. It’s a story that when we typically read, we say, “wow, that’s weird,” and then move on, thinking it really has no great significance in the overall narrative of the Bible. In reality, it is the beginning of a story line that lasts for over 1200 years covered by the Old Testament and echoes into the New Testament. It involves renegade angels who were known as the “Sons of God,” who slept with human women and produced an unnatural race of cannibalistic, nasty, giants known as the “Nephilim.” They were well known throughout much of the Middle East and the Israelites contended with them for hundreds of years. Please join me and figure out what you are going to do with this story.
Why did Jesus recognize Satan as the “chief prince” of this world, and the Apostle Paul say that our battle is “not with flesh and blood?” In this episode we will look at the biblical evidence that there are spiritual beings referred to as “princes,” “powers,” and “authorities,” among other titles, that God placed in authority over every nation except one. Please join Doug and get the details of all this and how it plays an important part in the gospel message.
The title of this episode may sound a little sacrilegious or "new agey," to some. If it does, it might be time for a new prescription of biblical lenses that you use to view the part of creation we can't observe with our physical senses. The spiritual realm of creation. The Bible speaks of an order of created beings in the Spirit Realm who are referred to as the "sons of God." It also directly refers to beings that the Most-High God, Yahweh, sits in council with. These are all key players in the story God is telling us in His word. Please give this episode a listen and consider the evidence.
In this episode Doug discusses two more building blocks for understanding the very real created realm that we can only be told about since it can’t be observed through our senses. First, what is the biblical evidence that says Hell is a real place and what is its purpose? Next, have you ever thought about who might have been listening when God said, “let there be light?” We will talk about when the Spirit Realm, and all its inhabitants, were created.
In Episode 4 of the Called-Out Café Series on what the Bible has to say about the spirit realm, Doug discusses the uniqueness of God and what the Bible has to say about the reality of Heaven.
In coming podcasts, we will be looking at scripture that tells us that God is not alone in the unseen realm. In fact, there are other beings referred to as “gods” in the Old Testament. In this episode it is made clear that the “Most High God,” Yahweh, created them all, that He alone transcends all realms of creation, and is unique. There are none like Him and He alone is to be worshipped.
Then, not everyone believes that Heaven is real. Surprisingly, even millions of Christians don’t. We will look at the biblical evidence that says it is. Heaven is the current home address of Jesus. It makes up what Paul calls, “the things above” that followers of Jesus are to set their minds on. Please join me in this episode as we set our minds on it.
Since the topic of the unseen spirit realm includes so many subtopics and so we don't get lost in the middle of it all, this week I will be discussing what can be thought of as the table of contents of this series. I will also summarize what it is that I will be saying about each subtopic. I will provide the reasons I have arrived at the conclusions stated in this episode in future podcasts that deal with each specific topic. So, don't look for detailed reasons behind why I believe what I believe in this episode.
Here is a list of what I plan to discuss in this series:
The Importance of Understanding our Worldview in Understanding the Spirit Realm
The Two Separate Realms of Creation
The Reality of Heaven
The Reality of Hell
Yahweh Is Constantly Present in the Spirit Realm & How He Interacts in Both Realms
There Are Millions of Spiritual Beings
It is a Jesus Centered Story
God Created Everything and Everyone in Both Realms
Something Called the Divine Council
Spiritual Beings Called "the Sons of God."
Unseen Realm Regional Beings in Authority over Physical Regions
The Various Angelic Rebellions Past and Future That Have and Will Take Place
The Unseen Realms Effect on the Physical Realm
Forms of False Gods
How Yahweh Disciplines False Gods
The Capabilities of Spiritual Beings
Jesus's Part in the Divine Drama. What Was Going On in the Spirit Realm the First Time He Was Here.
How Satan Operates
Jesus's Current State and Status
What Happens When We Die?
The Future Role of the Authentic Believer in Jesus
This is the introduction to the Called Out Café podcast series on what the Bible has to say about the the unseen spiritual realm of creation. Doug discusses why this topic is important, some of what will be covered, and what won't be. There is copious amounts of New Age mystical nonsense available today to misguide people into a false idea of what is going on in the other realm which was created by God: the realm of angels, demons, Heaven, and Hell. Within the Church, this topic has been mostly squashed and ignored to get along in the post-Enlightenment, Postmodern world we live in. This series will take a fresh look at what scripture has to say on the subject. Seeing clearly the story line of the supernatural realm in the Bible and how it is woven in to the story lines we are more familiar with, may cause you to never read your Bible the same way again.
I am excited to announce the next series of the Called Out Café Podcast: The Biblical Worldview of the Spirit Realm. Buckle up!
Final Comments on the Olivet Discourse. I close out the study of Jesus’s epic talk concerning His return with a few last comments.
Episode 23: The Sheep and Goats Judgment. This is perhaps one of the most misused passages of scripture by modern Evangelical pastors. This judgment has to do with a specific group of people at a specific time in the future.
Many have speculated about what the "talents" in this parable represent. In this episode I make a case that they represent three things that will maintain their value after Jesus returns.
So many different interpretations of the Parable of the Ten Virgins. What is going on and who is who in this parable? Lets talk about it!
In this episode we will discuss where the center of the universe is and how that relates to the Parable of the Servants Jesus relayed to His disciples.
In this episode we will look at what Jesus had to say about the timing of Jesus's return.
In this episode of the called out café podcast I will talk about two different future harvests Bible prophecy talks about. A harvest of the wicked and a harvest of the righteous. Knowing about these harvests is important for understanding what Jesus will be talking about soon in the Olivet Discourse.
In this episode, we will look at the parable of the fig tree Jesus used to convey the importance of watching for the signs He had just given His disciples which will indicate His return is imminent. Is it as simple as it sounds, or is there more too it?
In episode 16, although the biblical sign indicating the Second Coming appears to be unmistakable, we will discuss some of the many forms that people have speculated the final sign of the sun, moon, and stars will take.
In this latest episode of the Called Out Café, we will look at the final, unmistakable set of signs preceding the return of Jesus to this earth and the rapture of the Ekklesia.
In Episode 14 in the Watch! series of the Called-Out Café it becomes obvious that the return of Jesus will not take place in secret. By comparing scripture with scripture, we see that many passages pertaining to the end of the age are dealing with the same events. When we overlay those scripture pertaining to the same events, we can begin to fill in some biblical details surrounding Jesus’s return.
In this episode of the Called-Out Café, we have reached the point in Jesus’s Olivet Discourse where He speaks about what to do when the Antichrist is revealed in Jerusalem. He has specific instructions for those living in the region of Judea. What does it mean for the rest of the world?
In this episode of the Called-Out Café, we talk about one of the biggest, most unmistakable signs Jesus gave us during His Olivet Discourse that will precede His Second Coming: the revealing of the Antichrist, and the foul and detestable act he will commit known as the “Abomination of Desolation.” As a part of this discussion, we will look at an alternative of what is usually translated as a parenthetical, almost out of place, statement: “let the reader understand.”
Some prophecies given in the Bible appear to have been "fulfilled" in the past, yet they are tied to the return of Jesus in the future. What is going on? All prophecy related to the End of the Age and Second Coming, have an "ultimate" fulfillment yet in the future. However, some prophecies may have more than one fulfillment. At least one important prophecy represents several "cycles" of fulfillment. This is the case with the sign Jesus will speak of next in the Olivet Discourse. The sometimes cyclical nature of prophecy is the topic of the latest episode of the Called-Out Café. I hope you will join me.
In episode 10 of the Watch! series, of the Called Out Café podcast, we have reached the point in the Olivet Discourse in which Jesus tells His disciples that His return will only take place after “this gospel has been proclaimed to the whole world.” Just exactly what could He have meant by that? There might be more to it than what appears on the surface. Could Jesus's statement have anything to do with "the mystery" that the Apostle Paul wrote about? Lets take a look at it.
In this episode of the Called-Out Café, our study of Jesus's Olivet Discourse continues. Jesus zeroes in on a future time in which many false prophets will arise, many will fall away from the faith, and as a result "the love of most will grow cold." Some would say those things sound really familiar! For those of us who belong to Jesus, this is one of the things He wants us to be prepared for. Don't worry, there is good news: those who remain faithful "will be saved." God is good!
In this special edition of the Called Out Café, I review Joel Richardson's recently published book, Sinai to Zion. If you are interested in the events that take place once Jesus has returned to this earth, you are going to want to read this book!
During His talk on the Mount of Olives with His disciples concerning His return and the end of this age, Jesus warned of persecution associated with that time, directed at those who bear His name, that will be so severe as to result in a pronounced “falling away” from faith in Him. In this episode of the Called-Out Café we will look at that event. Whether we will be alive during that time or not, examining the authenticity and staying power of our own faith is always a good thing. I hope you will join me.
While on the Mount of Olives with His disciples, soon after beginning His talk about His return and the end of the age, Jesus prepared the hearts of His followers by informing them that they can expect to be persecuted on account of being associated with Him. Jesus was speaking of the greatest “fork in the road” that every believer will face in their life, even if they will not be alive during the time of Jesus’s return: whether to follow Him, or fall away from the faith.
In this episode we will look at how Jesus informed His disciples not to be alarmed at such things as earthquakes, war, famine, disease, etc. Because those types of things will always happen, but they do not mean that the end of the age is near. These are things that modern false "prophets" point to all the time as indicators that Jesus will return any day.
Gathering information from credible sources is important if you do not want to be deceived. Jesus is such a source. The information Jesus conveyed regarding His return and the End of the Age started off with a few questions His disciples had as they sought to know what would serve as real signs of His Coming.
In this edition of the Called Out Café podcast, the scene will be set for the Olivet Discourse and the first two verses will be discussed. So many important recognizable "Bible stories," occurred in close proximity to the Olivet Discourse including Jesus's crucifixion only a couple days later. To assist us in understanding what was likely on the disciples minds as they listened to Jesus that Tuesday evening so long ago, it is helpful to understand the setting.
Prophecy is so often misused. It leads to a great deal of confusion among Christians, criticism from non-Christians, and can undermine one's confidence in those they trust to interpret scripture. In this episode, as preparation for studying what Jesus said to His disciples on the Mount of Olives regarding His return, Doug discusses the various real purposes of Bible Prophecy.
In the midst of so many voices in the world today, followers of Jesus should pay close attention to which voices they are listening to.
In preparation for digging in to what Jesus had to say about His return to this earth, in this episode Doug deals with various reasons those in the Church think it is not important to be knowledgeable of Bible Prophecy, and then discusses what constitutes being "Biblically Watchful" for the return of Jesus.
This is the first in a series of Pod Casts looking at what Jesus said about His own Second Coming. You will understand the Second Coming, the rapture, the End of the Age, the world to come, and related Bible prophecies by the end of this series.