Preach Impediments: Recent Episodes
Adam Shanks
This show is designed to clarify Preach Impediments—big words used in Bible discussions and sermons that interfere with the message of God reaching the hearts of men and women. Each episode explores the Bible's teaching on a different big word in a devotional style reading, full of Scripture, and typically less than ten minutes.
Jared Saltz and I continue our discussion of intertextuality, finding more clues for connections between the Old and New Testament.
Jared Saltz joins me as we discuss intertexuality, or better methods at finding clues in the Scriptures so we can better understand the message of God.
Adam continues the discussion of relativism and looks at the truths the Colossian brethren were fighting as he considers the way we give ourselves to truths other than God's truth.
Nathan Ward joins us to explain the danger and importance of relativism, the reality of its creeping into the church, and what we can do to combat such a dangerous notion.
Another way we struggle with offending others is by fixing it once it becomes a problem. There are two ways to fix offenses, and we discuss them both on this episode.
Our world love to be offended. Or at least it seems that way. Today, Glenn Blankenship joins me as we discuss why this is and what we should do about it.
Today, we explore the ways that God can "breathe" a message through various men or instruments.
Cloyce Sutton joins me on today's episode to discuss the idea of inspiration, and we dig deep into how it works when some scriptures seem so personal, not as if they come from God. Inspiration is important because it is part of the basis of our faith.
We spend some time looking at Psalm 62 to see if there is more we can learn about hope. It's the foundation of every good things we have as Christians.
Mark Roberts shares with us that media and constant bad news is a drain on our hope, and that if we'd choose instead to look in the Scriptures, we would find ourselves finding hope again. He also explains the PATH method for getting more out of your daily bible readings.
Mark Roberts takes us through the Bible's overwhelming teachings on "hope," and does so in a way that instills hope in us who belong to Christ.
Trying to wrap your brain around over 30,000+ verses in the Bible can be daunting. It's a lot of information. But having a system that will help you organize the Bible can be incredibly helpful. Discover with Colby Junkin the Seventeen Time Periods of the Bible as you seek to dig deeper into God's Word and understand it better than ever.
I spend some time talking about my own experience with denominations, especially marveling at how many there are. Do you know how many Christians denominations are out there? I think you'll be surprised.
Digging deeper into the text of the Bible requires us to ask honest questions of the text. Consider these "Four What's" as you explore God's Word.
Pulling the meaning out of the text of Scripture is exegesis. Putting your own meaning into the text is eisegesis. One is defintely better than the other. Join Marshall Reid as you try to better understand how we can engage in exegesis.
We look at the difference between a pastor and a cowboy, and then examine the work of Jesus as the Chief Shepherd and how it relates to the role of pastors in the church.
In today's episode, I interview Ralph Walker about the word "pastor." As both an evangelist and a pastor, he has a fantastic understanding of the difference between the two roles and what the word pastor should mean for us today.
Being all things to all people means learning how to treat them in an influential way. Gaining influence is easy as following a few steps. Listen for some practical instructions on gaining friends and influencing people.
Being "all things to all people" is a daunting task, and often a misunderstood task. Once we examine the purpose of Paul's words, it becomes clear what we are supposed to do.
In three parts, Edwin Crozier, Terry Francis, and Keith Stonehart join me to talk about ministry on a more practical basis. Hear their stories and passion in the conversation. Part Three.
In three parts, Edwin Crozier, Terry Francis, and Keith Stonehart join me to talk about ministry on a more practical basis. Hear their stories and passion in the conversation. Part Two.
In three parts, Edwin Crozier, Terry Francis, and Keith Stonehart join me to talk about ministry on a more practical basis. Hear their stories and passion in the conversation. Part One.
We look at the four expectations of stewards, and compare this to how we are stewards of God's varied gifts He has given us to manage.
We don't often use the word steward anymore, but it's a word we should understand. It will change our perspective of what God is doing for us, and it will change our understanding of what we should be doing for Him.
A follow up to the conversation with Nolan Baker, we must learn that being born again is not a one time experience but a lifelong change.
The phrase "born again" is often thrown around as a plea for someone to be saved. Jesus uses the phrase when He speaks to Nicodemus. Is this what He meant? Join Nolan Baker and myself as we discuss this oft misused phrase.
We dig a little deeper into the purpose of apologetics. It's a broad topic, and it addresses so many questions we have as Christians, but they are questions worth answering.
Knowing what you believe is not nearly as important as knowing why you believe it. Aaron Beard joins me as we discuss the importance of "apologetics."
Today, I dig deeper into the ideas of postmodernism, looking not only at the downfall of such ideas, but the danger of trusting in man's ability to decide truth.
Our world is all over the place, denying the truth and the God who gave it. But it is a world we must know and teach. Understanding more about postmodernism can help us understand how we can start conversations with the world regarding truth. Join Shane Scott as he helps us better understand "postmodernism."
We take a look at James 1 and his description of how sin is born. This has everything to do with the way we understand free will.
David Banning and I discuss the concept of free will, a fundamental concept that affects just about every other aspect of our Christian faith. David particularly focuses on the role of free will and its relationship to suffering. Listen in.
We probably all struggle with this a little, especially when you consider how many ways we can be guilty of legalism. Study Matthew 23 with me as we look at "phariseeism."
So many people have been offended by being called "legalistic," but do we even know what the term means? Is it wrong to be legalistic? Where are the verses about that? Join Phil Robertson and myself as we discuss this oft used term.
What should we be thinking about when we take the Lord's Supper? Here are seven different thoughts. If that seems like too much to think about during the short time you spend with the bread and cup, maybe we don't spend enough time with the bread and cup.
We talk about taking communion as if it is a thing, but in reality, we should talk about participating in communion, because it is an activity. Understanding communion, and how much is involved, should challenge us to worship better and live stronger lives for God.
Here are a few more minutes discussing the importance of understanding the church as a family. Thinking back over my own experience has revealed how important this is for us as Christians. May we do better at seeing one another as God sees us.
Today, we talk about a familiar word, but maybe in an unfamiliar context. The Church is a family. Your family, if you are a Christian, is the Church. This includes many responsibilities and privileges. Understanding more of what is offered to us by belonging to Christ can make a significant difference in your life.
Seeking autonomy is hard, but it is necessary if we're going to be what God intends us to be as a church.
Various churches are set up in different ways, but the Biblical pattern teaches autonomy. What does this mean, though, and can it be taken too far?
Glory is a beautiful concept, and looking at a God who cannot be seen certainly helps us understand more about how to give Him the glory He is due.
Join Alexander Newman and myself as we discuss how we can better understand the concept of "glory." It is a word that is used so many times, and in so many contexts, of Scripture, but understanding what it means can help you dig deeper in the way you apply God's Word!
Digging a little deeper into reconciliation, we look specifically at what is commanded in 2 Corinthians 5.20.
We have a message of reconciliation that announces the truth of our reconciliation. But do we even know what that means? And how can we deliver a message about a word we don't understand?
We spend a few more minutes with the word "Hallowed," making sure we're "speaking as the oracles of God."
God's name is to be hallowed. But what in the world does that mean? We discuss this and other strange words we use because we see them in the Bible.
A quick look at a modern example of grace will make us uncomfortable, but it will also help us appreciate the great and unnatural truth about grace.
Edwin Crozier paint a beautiful picture of grace using Biblical examples. If we understand the many ways God displays grace towards His people, we will be better able to see grace in our own lives.
Grace is a word we often use in many ways, but it has in many ways lost its meaning for us because of over use and theological debates. Join Edwin Crozier in developing a better understanding of grace.
The Gospel is an amazing message, and the Gospels (aka. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are great tellings of that amazing message. Each book emphasizes the message that Jesus is King, but each do so uniquely. Explore these four gospels in a short lesson on this good news!
Understanding what the gospel is can be helpful for us as we commit to Christ as our King and commit to sharing this message with the world around us who so desperately need to know Jesus. It truly is a simple concept when we boil it down to "good news."
A quick examination of John 8 and Jesus's interaction with the woman at the well allows us to examine our own ability to forgive and how we can do it better.
Forgiveness is a word we are familiar with, but it is a concept that is like none other when you look at it in the Bible. Having a better understanding of this word can not only be life-changing, but it can shape every relationship you have in life. Keith Stonehart and I examine two types of forgiveness in this episode: transaction and relational.
Self-control is difficult by its very nature, but understanding sin and its traps can help us have better self-control. Just like understanding advertising can help you not feel tempted to buy the products being sold, understanding how sin advertises itself can help us have control when we are tempted. A quick examination of Proverbs 7 help us with self-control.
Today Ryan Goodwin and I tackle the topic of self-control, trying to get into the heart of why we need it and why so many struggle with it. A better understanding of this fairly simple concept reveals that there more to it than just controlling yourself for the moment.
This is such a touchy topic, and rightly so, because it is a difficult topic. In today's episode, we dig down into how we can truly handle this concept in a Biblical way and how it can be motivating to us as we try to serve God.
I receive questions often about the process of disfellowshipping, and often it is because there is some emotional connection to the topic. Terry Francis and I work together to eliminate some of the errors that are practiced in regards to this commandment, and to make sure we truly understand the purpose behind disfellowshipping so we can do it for the right reason.
While Steve did an excellent job getting to in the vastness of the topic of "theology," I wanted to really narrow down into just having a conversation about God Himself, along with some helpful tips on how to draw closer to Him personally.
We hear the word "theology" thrown out, often in more academic settings or in more advanced Bible studies. The word is so big, with such much attached to it, it's hard to know whether we are talking about the same thing or not. Today, Steve Wolfgang, preacher in Chicago, help us understand the depth of this word.
We talk about marriage as a covenant, but until we understand our covenant with God, we cannot truly understand our covenant with our spouse.
The word "covenant" is a common word, but until you see it through the lenses of our covenant with God, you will never truly understand how important.
We continue our discussion of propitiation, focusing on a powerful story of "in-between."
Propitiation is not only a word we use only in religious settings, but it is one of the most important words in all of Scripture. Join Jeremy Dehut has he takes this complex word and makes it life-changing.
Join me as I continue to discuss ecumenicalism, especially the dangers and how to accomplish the same goals Biblically.
Join Matthew Allen and myself as we discuss the word ecumenicalism. It's a big word with big consequences if we don't understand how to do it correctly.
We dig a little deeper into the concept of righteousness and our need for it if we are going to be blessed by God.
We hear a lot about righteousness in the Bible, but do we always understand it. Join Jonathan Caldwell and myself as we discuss this common but commonly misunderstood word.
A little different look into confession examines the importance of confessing with our mouths three facts about Jesus, as found in Romans 10.9-13.
Confession is a fancy word we use only in the context of admitting to some crime or sin. But the Bible says so much more and uses this word in so many other ways. Listen to Tommy Peeler's thoughtful explanation on why confession matters to the daily lives of christians who are professing the name of Jesus.
Most modern churches have an altar call or opportunity they offer so someone might respond to the call of the Gospel. Is this Biblical? How should we do this? In this episode, BJ Sipe gives us some insight on what really matters when we ask people to "come forward."
Why another podcast? Aren't there enough? Don't make a mistake by thinking this is just one more. You need this one.