Don’t Knock It Podcast: Recent Episodes
Chris Ramirez
The Don’t Knock It Podcast encourages its listeners to embrace the common phrase “don’t knock it til you’ve tried it”, when presented with biblical truth. In other words, don’t refuse to try, consider, or accept biblical Christianity without first “tasting” and “seeing” that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). The Don’t Knock It Podcast will address common misconceptions about Jesus and Christianity, in hopes to prepare the hearts of those who hear the calling, or the knock, of Jesus Himself (Rev. 3:20).
(BONUS #3) Make no mistake, the reality and presence of pain and suffering in our everyday lives makes it difficult to accept the existence of God.So, because pain and suffering is part of the human experience, what relationship should we have with it? Whenever it comes, do we do everything in our power to avoid it, or is there an alternative?How should we approach that suffering? This episode is a sermon I preached answering that very question, addressing that very topic. I pray it blesses you!
(BONUS #2) Kanye West, Ryan Garcia, Justin Bieber, DMX, Kobe Bryant, and so many more have publicly proclaimed their dependence on God and/or Jesus Christ. But as we observe their lives that are on public display on a global scale, and we witness their mistakes and downward spirals, we are led to ask one question: ARE THEY REALLY CHRISTIAN? We are confronted with this question, not because we want to criticize their relationship with Jesus or question their salvation, but because we’re genuinely concerned about them being in the spotlight without being involved in a local church. Tune in to this episode as me and my great brother in Christ, Joshua Camper, talk about the threats of being a person with a large following, outside of a genuine Christian community.
(BONUS #1) Can you answer the following question in one sentence: What is the Kingdom of God?I cannot emphasize enough how essential the answer to this question is because when Jesus begins His earthly ministry, He proclaims, "The Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent and believe the Gospel."This episode consists of a sermon I titled "The Anticipated Arrival" and in it, I sought to answer the question from above by preaching an overview of the entire Old Testament narrative leading up to the Gospels.I pray it blesses you and your understanding of the Old Testament, and causes you to delight in the long-awaited Messiah and His RETURN!
The grand finale! We continue (AND CONCLUDE) our study through 1 Corinthians with chapter 16! This episode is SPECIAL and if you’ve ever wondered what the Bible has to say about manhood, give this one a listen! I invited two of my best friends, both previous guests on the show, Adam and Jonathan, to talk about what it means to be a God-honoring MAN.Tune in to Episode 51 to see how we are embracing our God-given call to serve, lead, and be humble before those whom God has placed before us and around us!
We continue our study through 1 Corinthians with the grand Resurrection chapter: chapter 15! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited one of my best friends, Jonathan Maccarone, to help me unpack the glorious truths of the Resurrection. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is only really talked about around Easter time, but did you know that it should dominate our every thought and act of service done in the name of our Lord? Everything we do as believers should be grounded in the hope of our future Resurrection, because if it wasn't for Jesus' Resurrection, we are the most to be pitied; our entire faith-driven lives turn out to be of no value.Tune in to Episode 50 to find out how to incorporate the marvelous truths of Jesus' past Resurrection, and the hope of OUR future Resurrection into our every day lives until we see Jesus face to face!
In this episode, we close out our conversation about spiritual gifts with covering chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited Renz Ignacio (a previous guest who covered chapter 12), to help me conclude Paul’s conversation on the use of spiritual gifts. In this episode, we discuss the significance of Paul mentioning the gift of prophecy to be more desirable than the gift of tongues. Renz provides some helpful insight on how the gift of prophecy is closely tied to the preaching of God’s Word. Which leads us to the conversation about women in ministry; namely, Paul’s statement about women being silent in the church.Tune in to Episode 49 to see how the gift of prophecy plays a key role in our churches today, and women’s role in the church!
This was my second time serving at the Calvary Chapel Collective Youth Retreat (2024), held at Camp Ceder Crest here in California. The theme of the retreat was the Strait and Narrow Way, and it was derived from the Lord’s words in Matthew 7:13-14, which read: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."I was graciously granted the privilege of having the last keynote session of the retreat, which is bittersweet because the youth are more likely to remember that session, but also more likely to fall asleep through it because it's the last session of the weekend.Nevertheless, I was blessed to give this message, and I hope it blesses you as you embrace the call to enter through the strait and narrow gate that leads to LIFE: that is, eternal life with Jesus that starts TODAY!Grace & Peace!
Next stop: the beloved "love" chapter! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul's 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited one of my best friends back on the show, Adam Terrazas, to discuss the greatest spiritual gift we will ever receive from the Lord: the gift of love. In this episode, we discuss how Paul introduces love as a more excellent way, right in the middle of talking about the spiritual gifts. There are many tangents we go on throughout the episode, but I promise you, they are all helpful in building you up to embrace God's love for you!Tune in to Episode 48 to see how we are to be confident and convicted by the love of God and our love for others!
Moving right along with chapter 12! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited a new friend and brother in the Lord, Renz Ignacio, to help me exposit Paul’s dense introduction to his conversation on the spiritual gifts! In this episode, we discuss the essence of the spiritual gifts from the context in which Paul is writing, and even address the hotly debated topic of Cessationism and Continuationism: do these gifts continue today, or have they ceased? Tune in to Episode 47 to hear our understanding of the nature, or essence, of these gifts and how some of them still continue today, and others do not and why that position is backed by Scripture!
Chapter 11! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited a returning guest, Joshua Camper, to help me tackle one of the most, if not THE MOST controversial passage in the New Testament! In this episode, we discuss the cultural relevance of Paul commanding the use of head coverings while women pray and prophesy. Is this command simply one for the 1st century? Or have we been quenching God’s blessings for us by not dressing for worship in the way He has commanded?We also cover the blatant abuse of the Lord's Supper and how some people were arriving for the holy meal drunk and engorged, leaving nothing for other believers.Tune in to Episode 46 to see where Joshua and I land regarding the issue of head coverings, and how we should probably consider it a little more seriously in our churches!
We continue our study through 1 Corinthians with chapter 10! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited Brandon, AKA The Rep, to help me conclude Paul’s conversation on Christian liberties. In this episode, we discuss the significance of Paul mentioning Israel at the beginning of chapter 10, and how REMEMBERING who the LORD is and what He has done will always be enough to resist temptation and sin… and not only that, GOD will ALWAYS give us a way out of temptation!Tune in to Episode 45 to see how we are to navigate through our Christian liberties as we embody verse 23 every day: All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
Chapter 9! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my brother in the Lord, JT Smith, to help us unpack chapter 9. In this episode, we discuss how the Apostle Paul brings himself and his apostolic rights/Christian liberties into the spotlight...showing us that church leaders have every right to ask for money from their people. We discuss how although Paul deserves every penny, he surrenders that right to receive money in order to prevent any hindrance from people hearing & responding to the gospel.Tune in to Episode 44 to see how the Apostle Paul motivates us to run for the prize by humbling ourselves so that we may win souls for Christ!
Chapter 8! Officially halfway through Season 5! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited a returning guest, Jonathan Maccarone, to help us walk through chapter 8. In this episode, we discuss how believers are to approach non-salvation issues as new creations in Christ. We discuss how those decisions can either be demonstrated as freedoms for the mature believer, or stumbling blocks to the “weaker brother” as Paul says. Tune in to Episode 43 to see how the Apostle Paul encourages us to not be careless with how we make decisions, and how we need to keep the building up of other believers a top priority!
Moving right along with chapter 7! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my dear friends, Livya and Dario, to help me attack the very lengthy chapter 7. In this episode, we discuss the duties married believers have to each other, as well as the often misinterpreted verse where Paul says “singleness” is a gift. We talk about how husbands and wives are to serve each other with their bodies, and how the attitude behind that demonstrates the humble service of Christ.Tune in to Episode 42 to see how the Apostle Paul corrects the Corinthians’ false belief that “it is good for a man not to touch a woman,” and how each person should remain in the position in which they were called, in order to FULLY serve the LORD!
Chapter 6! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my soon-to-be-married brother in the Lord, Tommy Pinneri, to help us walk through chapter 6. In this episode, we discuss how believers who take other believers to court harms the body of Christ. This is harmful because they are making God's wisdom look foolish and incompetent; an obvious point of contention Paul deems worthy of addressing! We also take a look at the list of sins in verses 9-11, and how sins against one's own body hinders proper worship with it!Tune in to Episode 41 to see how the Apostle Paul reminds us that we are privileged to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit... and should demonstrate that privilege through our actions!
Chapter 5! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my brother in the Lord and senior pastor, Dave Johnston to help us walk through chapter 5. In this episode, we discuss what it looks like to confront other believers who are in their unrepentant sin, and what it means for the rest of the body of Christ. To the outside world, church discipline seems harsh and no different than secular cancel culture; yet when we consider what removing the evil person can accomplish, we would not hesitate to confront him/her ever again.
Tune in to Episode 40 to see how the Apostle Paul demanded the Church in Corinth to stop being arrogant and letting sin continue unaddressed within the body of Christ…and how that discipline opens the door for true celebration!
Chapter 4! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my friend Matt Kennedy to unpack chapter 4 with me. In this episode, we discuss the incredible privilege of being carriers of the gospel, and how that privilege alone should keep us from dividing over worthless things. After putting ministers of the Gospel in their proper place in chapter 3, Paul asks several rhetorical questions in chapter 4 to get the Church to realize their errors in having internal conflict with each other, and how that conflict sends the wrong message about the essence of the Gospel.Tune in to Episode 39 to witness Paul’s fatherly/pastoral heart in correcting his wayward children’s behavior; which emphasizes the essential reminder that the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power (1 Cor. 4:20).
Chapter 3! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my friend Jonathan Maccarone to unpack chapter 3 with me. In this episode, we discuss what it means for believers to be co-laborers for God’s Kingdom, rather than rivals or competitors. To a church that was dividing over pastoral preferences, this was pivotal for Paul to address in order for unity to be demonstrated.
Tune in to Episode 38 to be encouraged to labor according to the grace God has given each of us, as we meditate on the glorious truth that we are His field being cultivated, and His building being strengthened!
Chapter 2! This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my brother Vincent Serrano back on the show to walk through chapter 2. In this episode, we discuss how the Holy Spirit and His indwelling in believers, reveals the deep things of God. This ministry of the Holy Spirit is the true power and wisdom behind the message preached!
Tune in to Episode 37 to be encouraged to preach the saving message of the cross of Christ, not trusting in your own abilities and eloquent words, but in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Welcome to the first episode of Season 5!
This season I am walking through the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians), and I invited my brother in the Lord, Jasen Juarez, to walk through chapter 1 with me. In this episode, we discuss how many believers will create divisions within the Church-body by pledging allegiance to one specific church leader/pastor/teacher and preferring him/her over another in a self-righteous way. We then discuss how the message of the cross (Christ-Crucified) is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the very wisdom and power of God.
Tune in to Episode 36 to be encouraged to preach the saving message of the cross of Christ, to any and all who think it is mere weakness and folly!
What gives the Church its heartbeat? Why are churches so different in their style, delivery, and service? Why do churches seem to be so hypocritical and no different than a lot of non-religious communities? What are the ESSENTIAL parts of Christianity, and the effects it should have on the world? How does a 1st century church FAIL tremendously at BEING the Church? What is Church 101? All of this and more in Season 5 of the Don’t Knock It Podcast as we walk through 1 Corinthians!
SEASON 4 COMES TO A CLOSE. To formally conclude Season 4, the Hard Sayings of Jesus, I asked my brother in Christ, Joshua Camper, to answer a set of rapid-fire questions and by God’s grace, HE HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK. Here are the questions we cover in the episode:
How would you explain the Trinity in one sentence? Is kissing wrong for believers who are dating? How can you discern between the Lord’s discipline, and the enemy’s attacks? How can I remain patient with unbelievers who slander God? Should Christians watch The Chosen? How can I hear God’s voice? Where in the Bible does it say “smoking weed” is wrong? What verse? What does the Bible teach about becoming a man or a “masculine” man? If I was baptized at a young age (which I don’t remember), should I get baptized again? How can a young adult maintain a strong passion for the Word over a lifetime?
For the tenth and LAST episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus,” I am joined by one of the coolest and creative brothers around, Aaron Kajumba, to help us unpack our tenth hard saying of Jesus: Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.
In this episode, we tackle the common issue of Christian "imperfection," as we pursue a PERFECT Creator; One commands His followers to be perfect as He is. Tune in to Episode 34 to gain insight on how we should strive to be perfect (while being energized by grace), and how our own imperfections draws us closer to the only One who is truly PERFECT.
Questions covered:
Who is Aaron Kajumba?
Depending on the translation you use, verse 48 begins with a “therefore.” With this in mind, what does Jesus mean when He commands believers to be “perfect” like the Father?
How should Christians respond when confronted with comments like, “nobody is perfect!”?
Is this even achievable? If it is, how? How is this an encouragement to believers?
If anyone is listening to this, and is not a believer, what words of would you leave those listeners with?
For the ninth episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus,” I am joined by my brother in Christ, Matthew Merricks, to help us unpack our ninth hard saying of Jesus: You must hate your family to follow Me. In this episode, we share how God used us to minister to one another within the game of baseball and mentorship. We praise God for allowing us to meet, and reminisce on the lessons we both learned from each other, and taught each other. So with both of us being family men now, does Jesus really command us to hate those we claim to love the most in order to be His disciples? Tune in to Episode 33 to gain insight on how we reconcile this command with the character of God!Questions covered:Is hatred of our families really a prerequisite to loving Jesus? How do we reconcile this idea of a good, loving God, and this command to “hate”? What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? When we make Jesus a priority as His disciples, in what ways do our families benefit from that?
For the eighth episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus,” I am joined by my brother in Christ, Adam Terrazas, to help us unpack our eighth hard saying of Jesus: sell all of your possessions. In this episode, we reminisce on the sovereign hand of God in how we met, and how that interaction came at such an opportune time in Adam’s life. Tune in to Episode 32 to gain insight on how the same words that drove a rich, young ruler AWAY from Jesus, drew my friend Adam TOWARDS Jesus. Questions covered:Why does Jesus tell the rich, young ruler to sell all of his possessions?How does this passage relate to your recent life experiences?How does this command from Jesus relate to our constant need of surrendering to Him?
For the seventh episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus,” I am once again joined by my brother in Christ, Joshua Camper, to help us unpack our seventh hard saying of Jesus: fear Him who destroys body & soul in hell. In this episode, we tackle two of the most difficult doctrines in the Christian faith: the fear of the Lord and hell. I knew that once I asked Joshua to address this particular hard saying, he would knock it out of the park and indeed he did by the grace of God! Tune in to Episode 31 to understand what Jesus meant when He spoke of the fear of God by mentioning His ability to destroy body AND soul in hell. Questions covered:What does the Bible mean when it tells us to fear the Lord?What are some common rejections that you’ve heard to the biblical concept of hell?Is hell really the “absence” of God as many describe?How do we reconcile this idea of a good, loving God, and a place where people go to suffer for eternity?How does the fear of God extinguish all our fears of men?
For the sixth episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus", I am joined by a wonderful friend and fellow brother in the family of God, Andres Estrella, to help us unpack our sixth hard saying of Jesus: let the dead bury their own dead. The grief that someone experiences through the process of arranging funeral services is inexplicably enormous. With that being said, why would the loving Son of God have the audacity to say something so bold to someone who was in the grieving process? How could He have come off so rude? Tune in to Episode 30 to understand what Jesus meant and how it should empower us to live out our unrivaled allegiance to Him through keeping the Kingdom of God as our highest priority. Questions covered: What is your faith background (tell us a little bit about your testimony)? What does Jesus mean when He says “let the dead bury their dead?” Why does that matter considering what He tells him to do instead? How can we be “fit” for the kingdom of God?
Now that we're halfway through Season 4, I thought it would be the perfect time to introduce two new features that I'll be incorporating into the podcast: video and Spotify subscriptions! As you can tell from this episode (if you listen to podcasts on Spotify), there is now video available! In addition to the new video format, there is now a way you can contribute to the podcast's growth by subscribing to get exclusive access to particular episodes with the "lock" symbol. Tune in to this episode to find out how you can support us! Grace and peace family!
For the fifth episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus", I am joined by a faithful brother, Vincent Serrano to help us unpack our fifth hard saying of Jesus: he is guilty of an eternal sin. If you grew up Christian or around Christians, you have heard (hopefully) of the surpassing love of Jesus and His eternal forgiveness of sins. It is one of the foundational truths of the Christian faith. But did you know, Jesus Himself says that there is one UNFORGIVABLE sin? How could this be? Tune in to Episode 29 to understand what Jesus meant and how it should empower us to pursue holiness in both our speech and actions! Questions covered: How long have you been a believer? Tell us a little bit about your ministry? Who is the person of the Holy Spirit? What did Jesus mean when He taught us about the unforgivable sin? What does the context of this passage reveal about “blaspheming against the Holy Spirit?” Are we as believers at risk of committing this sin? Should we walk around afraid and paranoid, or are we in the clear?What about deliverance ministries?--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dontknockit/support
For the fourth episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus", I am joined by my good friend Tommy Pinneri to help us unpack our fourth hard saying of Jesus: pluck out your eye, and cut off your hand. So many things keep us from being/doing exactly what God has called us to be/do. Oftentimes that’s the case because we refuse to do away with our sins and what causes us to sin. Yet with Jesus’ hyperbolic statement in Matthew 5:29-30, He emphasizes the threat of remaining in your sin and refusing to acknowledge how easily we can be entangled in the enemy’s schemes.Questions covered:Who is Tommy Pinneri?How long have you been a follower of Jesus?Referring to the text at hand, what does Jesus mean by this? Is He really telling His listeners to do away with the pieces of our bodies that we sin with? How can we as believers be prayerful and vigilant to recognize what will/does cause us to sin?--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dontknockit/support
For the third episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus", some of my dearest friends (Dario, Livya, and Sarah) join the podcast to help us unpack our third hard saying of Jesus: I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. But doesn’t this seem like a contraction? Isn’t Jesus the “Prince of Peace?” Didn’t He say “blessed are the peacemakers?” Why would Jesus promote division within a family? All of these questions and more are answered here, so tune in to see how my friends and I have come to understand this passage. Questions Covered: If I were to ask you the question, “what did Jesus come to do?” What would you say? What did Jesus mean by this? If these are marching orders to the apostles, how can they possibly apply to me? What were the Jews expecting the Messiah would do?--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dontknockit/support
For the second episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus", my brother in Christ and pastor, Dave Johnston, joins the podcast to help us unpack our second hard saying of Jesus: eat My flesh & drink my blood. Was Jesus really commanding us to eat His body and drink His blood? If not, why did some of His disciples walk away after He said it? (John 6:66). This saying is difficult to accept because it seems quite literal, so tune in to see how my brother Dave helps us embrace it and not run from it. Questions Covered: who is Dave Johnston? From a plain reading of the text, what did Jesus mean by this? What can we conclude, especially as we consider the whole context of John 6, what can we conclude Jesus meant? Have there ever been, or are there any faith systems right now, who do take this literally? So because this is a command from the Lord Jesus Himself, what would it look like for us as believers, to put this into practice today? How important is the Lord’s Supper in the lives of believers?--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dontknockit/support
For the first episode of Season 4 titled "The Hard Sayings of Jesus", my brother in Christ, Joshua Camper, joins the podcast to help us unpack our first hard saying: depart from Me, I never knew you.Many of us have heard these words preached to evoke fear in us to obey…but was its only purpose to frighten believers? To scare us into obeying a God we never come to truly know? This is one of the most well-known, hard sayings of Jesus and I'm thankful for my friend Joshua and the wisdom & insight he brought to this conversation.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dontknockit/support
SEASON 4 coming at the end of January! In this episode I sit down with my wife Karalyn to introduce the theme and topics of season 4 of the Don’t Knock It Podcast. Listed below are the “hard sayings of Jesus” that I will tackle together with some special guests:Ep. 25 - “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” Matthew 7:22-23Ep. 26 - “Eat My flesh and drink My blood.” John 6:53-56Ep. 27 - “I came to bring a sword.” Matthew 10:34-36Ep. 28 - “Pluck out your eye, cut off your hand.” Matthew 5:29-30Ep. 29 - “He is guilty of an eternal sin.” Mark 3:28-29Ep. 30 - “Let the dead bury their own dead.” Luke 9:59-62Ep. 31 - “Fear Him who destroys body and soul in hell.” Matthew 10:28Ep. 32 - “Sell all your possessions.” Matthew 19:21-23Ep. 33 - “You must hate your families to follow me.” Luke 14:26Ep. 34 - “Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dontknockit/support
Final Philippians sermon! I have had the privilege of preaching through my first book of the Bible (Philippians), verse by verse, and it happened on such a special day: my wife’s due date. This also serves as the last episode of 2022, and the last episode of season 3 of the Don’t Knock It Podcast. Enjoy!--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dontknockit/support
This one is for all the men who were taught to fight before they were taught to cry. This one is for all the men who look down on those who break down in public. This one is for every man who cloaked his broken, tired heart with alcohol, women, sports, or their work. For all men. For any man. I see you. I hear you. I’m praying for you. Opening Clip: Chris Rock Tamborine Netflix Stand-Up Special. TSleeveless “teach a boy to cry” poem at “Voices in Power” in Philly. https://youtu.be/ky75xY8zIkw
How do I deal with my anxiety? What role does prayer play in my every day life? What if the government is commanding my supreme allegiance? How can I have peace in the midst of my circumstances? All of these questions and more are answered in this sermon on Philippians 4:1-9 I titled "Citizens of Heaven." This particular passage comforted and strengthened me GREATLY in the weeks leading up to my wife having our precious daughter. To God be the glory.Here is the basic outline of the sermon: In Philippians 4:1-9, we see four trademarks of a set-apart, political body of believers who live under the dominion and rule of the sovereign King.1. Joyful Unity (v. 1-5)2. Protected Hearts & Minds (v. 6-7)3. Excellent Thoughts (v. 8)4. Cross-Centered Practices (v. 9)
Shortly after I was saved during my freshman year of college, spoken word poetry was one of the few forms of creative expression where I felt completely comfortable talking about my faith journey. I recently revisited it to prepare for a Chapel message, and I hope it encourages you the way it encouraged me through the writing process. Grace and peace fam!
Be anxious for nothing.. Really God? Nothing? Not even raising a daughter in a wicked and godless environment? Not even providing for two in one of the most expensive states in the country? What about my wife’s delivery? What about my daughter’s health? What if we miscarry again???
Nope… nothing.. In this episode, I briefly walk through how intrusive thoughts affected my life in the midst of enormous blessings, and the very passages of Scripture that strengthened me in my times of worry, concern, and weakness.
Where do we get this idea of “waiting until marriage?” Do we even see it taught in the Bible? What is God’s intention for our intimacy? What is the ultimate point of marriage? If I do wait to have sex until I’m married, what does that accomplish? We will explore the answers to all of those questions and so much more in this episode! Thank you for tuning in! Grace and peace family.
Sermon Episode - I have to say that this was my favorite passage to preach thus far. I titled it “The Goal of the Christian Life: Steadfast Maturity” and in it, I walk through four practices that highlight how to walk in steadfast, uncompromising maturity, in order to resemble a citizen of heaven. Enjoy; Soli Deo Gloria!
In the wake of a tragedy, the phrase has become the fuse that sets off a wave of twitter rage and a call for real change. The phrase has become the pinnacle of political recovery as governors, mayors, and presidents scramble to give a statement post-devastation. How would you attempt to express condolences adequate enough to comfort millions of people? What would you say? Is it a waste of time to devote time to thinking and praying through a situation? Do my “thoughts”—my paused mindfulness of what has occurred—change anything? Do my “prayers”—my humble cries to an omnipotent God—change His mind? Tune in to find out!
Grace and peace everyone! Karalyn and I just celebrated 1 year of covenant marriage on Friday, May 20th, 2022. Hallelujah! Tune in to this special 1st Anniversary Edition of the Don’t Knock It Podcast as I reflect and celebrate all that God has done in our marriage, while simultaneously addressing the misconception that marriage (as God defines it in the Bible) is outdated and oppressive.
Grace and peace everyone! In this episode I answer the question: “how can we be sure what we have now, is what they had then” by briefly talking about a field of biblical studies called “textual criticism.” The historical reliability of the New Testament has been questioned for centuries, and I think it’s pretty miraculous how God’s Word could survive the most careful scrutiny by both atheistic skeptics and doubtful believers alike! Textual Criticism seeks to recover the original wording of a historical document by carefully analyzing its copies, when that original document is non-existent. Enjoy!
A little late but here’s an Easter Special! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most historically attested event in all of history, so it’s only necessary to put together an episode describing some of the most prominent pieces of evidence! The five evidences are: - A death by crucifixion. - Ladies visit the empty tomb. - Independent appearances after death. - Violence endured by the disciples. - Enemies of Christ converted.
Enjoy!
Pastor Mike Winger’s video mentioned: https://youtu.be/Q936WgiD7j8
Welcome back fam! Here’s my most recent sermon on Philippians 3:1-11 titled “Our Present Pursuit of Knowing Christ.” This passage begins with a reminder to rejoice in the Lord, followed by a sharp warning to beware of the enemies of the cross of Christ. Paul then describes how everyone else pales in comparison to him and his accomplishments, considers those accomplishments gutter garbage, and then reflects on the surpassing riches of knowing Jesus. What a precious passage! Enjoy!
Welcome back family! In this episode, I address the misconception: “Only God can judge me.”
I’ve only heard a few people say this in my lifetime, but the attitude behind it is more common: “you have no right to judge what I’m doing.”
Do Christians have the license to judge other believers’ sin? Is this attitude biblical? What if they don’t believe in God? Can we judge people then? Is God the only Judge? Tune in to find out!
Scripture References: Ephesians 5:25 (husbands love your wives) Matthew 7:1-5 (Jesus’ teaching on judgment) Romans 2:1 (condemning ourselves) John 7:24 (righteous judgment) Luke 7:36-50 (Jesus rebuking Simon the Pharisee) Romans 2 (The law is written on our hearts) Matthew 18:20 (God’s authority through people) James 2:10 (break one, guilty of all) Galatians 6:1 (THE GOAL OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE AND JUDGMENT) John 3:16-18 (Why Jesus came down to earth)
Grace and peace fam! In this episode, I address the misconception: “The God of the OT is wrathful, and the God of the NT is compassionate and loving.” Does the Bible make this distinction, or are we misreading the text? Are we missing out on truly knowing a perfectly compassionate God who both yearns for His people AND punishes their sin? Tune in to find out that the same God who exiled His people from the promised land for 70 years, is the same God who miraculously gave His only begotten Son to save sinners.
Good morning fam! In this episode, I address the misconception: “The Bible was written by men, so I can’t trust it.” Why do so many reject the authenticity of the Bible, simply because it was written by human hands? The Bible, although written by many human hands, all had one divine Author; the Holy Spirit who was moving in them (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Tune in to find out that to reject the Word of God, is to reject the Logos, the eternal Word Himself (Jesus Christ; cf. John 1:1-14).
Grab your Bible. Open and turn to Titus 3. Starting at verse 3, read to verse 7. This is the most important message you will ever read. Grace and Peace.
Grace and peace fam! Shall we get political? In this episode we seek to provide insight on the dangers of political idolatry & self-righteousness, and how to exhibit the humility of Christ through all the confusion. Enjoy!
Philippians 2 — Grace and peace fam! I had the wonderful privilege of continuing our verse by verse study through Philippians this past Thursday. With three days notice and a tender heart, I prayed for the strength to preach through Christ’s humiliation without breaking down into tears…God answered that prayer.
Grace and peace fam! As the Christmas season comes to a close and we usher in the New Year, there is still incredible reason to rejoice in the coming of the King. In this second episode of a podcast segment I titled “A Glimmer of Scripture”, I talk about two specific individuals who had an encounter with the divine Child, and both rejoiced in vastly different ways. I hope these passages shine brightly before you and stir up your hearts as they did mine. Enjoy!
Grace and peace fam! I wanted to include my first sermon as a podcast episode for two reasons: 1) it was such a monumental, ministry milestone for my wife and I, and 2) it shows how gracious God has been to me since my conversion in 2014. It was a true joy teaching verse by verse through Philippians 1. Enjoy!
What is purity? Is it simply reduced down to mean what I have or haven't done in the bedroom? Join me as I seek to answer this pivotal question by going back to the third book of the Bible, my favorite book of the Old Testament: The Book of Leviticus.
At last, the long-awaited part 2 of the “I Married a Virgin” two-part series. On this episode, I am joined by my wonderful wife to discuss bridal showers, sin within marriage, and the heart of biblical obedience. Enjoy!
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus makes a groundbreaking claim by saying "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) This means that in order to be a follower of Jesus, you must experience a daily death that causes the death of your flesh, and brings forth a “resurrected” life. Before my wife and I got married, we started this exercise of sharing our DDTS (daily die to self) moments. Moments where we had to crucify our fleshly, selfish desires in order to live more like our Savior. So we decided to begin a weekly (hopefully) segment titled DDTS, by sharing how we have become more like Jesus by dying to ourselves daily. Enjoy!
Yes, you read that correctly. It feels only right to open the second season of the Don't Knock It podcast, Husband Thoughts, with describing our "first time" (don't worry, unlike J. Cole, I spare most of the details). To my beautiful wife Karalyn, I love you and thank you for letting me tell our story. To my God, to You be all the glory. I love you.
After witnessing several plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and many other miraculous acts of God, Moses prays something truly remarkable in Exodus 33. This is the first episode of a new podcast segment I titled “A Glimmer of Scripture” in hopes that it shines brightly before you and stirs up your heart as it did mine.
In the third episode of the Don’t Knock It Podcast, I aim to be fully transparent with my kryptonite: pornography and masturbation. In an effort to glorify the God who saved me out of the destructive thoughts & behaviors that have plagued my mind since I was 8 years old, I describe how even just a glimmer of hope in Jesus can revive and restore a childhood heart and mind.
In this episode I share some of the most common objections I have heard since becoming a believer, and attempt to answer and provide (from scripture) a reliable response to those objections. I also expound on the misconception of the Bible being just a set of rules by using the imagery of a mirror as the Law.
In the first episode of the Don’t Knock It podcast, I describe how I acquired the “don’t knock it ‘til you try it” mentality regarding the fundamental Christian ways of thinking and living in contrast to my B.C. ways. I also share the most significant reasons why I dove into learning about Jesus within his Middle Eastern context.