Groundwork: Biblical Foundations for Life: Recent Episodes
ReFrame Ministries
Groundwork is a half-hour conversation that digs deeply into Scripture, the foundation for our lives. Each week, pastors Dave Bast (president of Words of Hope) and Scott Hoezee (director of CEP at Calvin Seminary) cultivate our understanding of God's Word by unpacking the richness of the Bible and applying it with insight to today's world.
For centuries, Christians around the world have concluded the Lord’s Prayer the same way: “For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.” However, these meaningful words are not in the prayer Jesus teaches his disciples in Matthew 6 or Luke 11, so where do we get them? Join us as we conclude our study of the Lord’s Prayer by studying the scriptural sources that give credence to this historically accepted conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer. Together we’ll discuss the importance of these words, what we mean when we say them, and why we end the Lord’s Prayer this way.
In the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Some Bible translations present slight variations like “save us from the time of trial” or simply translate the second half as “deliver us from evil.” Perhaps you’ve wondered, “Why do we need to ask God not to lead us into temptation? Is that something he does?” Join us as we study Scripture passages that assure us that God is indeed good and does not lead us into temptation. We’ll also discuss the nature of sin, what temptation is, and how it plays out in our lives. Together, we’ll clarify the meaning of evil, we’ll remember that Jesus has already won the spiritual battle with evil, and we’ll see how praying this petition helps us remember our own identity and purpose.
In the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Whether your Bible translates that particular word as debts, trespasses, or sins, Jesus addresses our broken relationships and the necessity of giving and receiving forgiveness. As fallen human beings, we know that forgiving someone who has wronged us is not always easy—and sometimes it’s complicated by a lack of repentance, or even serious issues of abuse or mistreatment. Join us as we examine Scripture to glean a biblical definition of forgiveness and better understand the concept of spiritual debt. Together, we’ll discuss what it means that Jesus connected our petition for forgiveness from God with our willingness to forgive each other, and we’ll consider the implications of forgiveness for both our daily and our eternal lives.
In the third petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs us to pray “Give us today our daily bread.” Join Groundwork as we dig into Scripture to understand this petition better, why it’s meaningful, and what it helps us remember. Together, we’ll discuss how asking God for our daily bread nurtures our faith—both in times of want and in times of plenty, and we’ll explore how this petition speaks to our worry, teaches us to trust, and encourages our gratitude.
In the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to ask God to bring his kingdom to earth, just as it exists in heaven right now. Likewise, he models the importance of asking God to do his will on earth, just as his will is being done in heaven. Join us as we study Scriptures that teach us about both God’s kingdom and God’s will, so that we might better understand what we’re asking of God in this petition. Discover how this line of the Lord’s Prayer shapes us and continues to help us align our agenda with God’s agenda. And together we’ll reflect on how we live as kingdom citizens today, and what this prayer does in and for us as we pray it before God.
In the opening line of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us the importance of opening our prayers by acknowledging who we’re talking to. Join us as we study the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer and dig into Scriptures that help us better understand what we mean and what we’re asking when we pray “Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name.” We’ll discuss what this opening line acknowledges about who God is, what it affirms about our own identity, what it communicates about our relationship with God, and what it means for us.
Every year many of us spend the weeks leading up to Christmas preparing. We put up festive decorations, plan menus, buy presents, and orchestrate schedules. Many occasions in life, from big to small, require preparation for what’s to come. And just like we set aside time to prepare for life’s events, God set aside time and sent people ahead to prepare the world for salvation. Join Groundwork as we continue our way through the Christmas story by studying the story of Zechariah’s encounter with the angel Gabriel and witnessing how Zechariah, Elizabeth, and their son John the Baptist prepare the way for Jesus’ birth. Let us allow their message to prepare our hearts again this Advent for Jesus’ second coming.
Studying the Magi may seem like an odd place to start reflecting on the Christmas story. It’s true, the Magi weren’t even present at the birth of Jesus—even though they are commonly included in most nativity displays and church Christmas pageants. But the inclusion of the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew is no mistake. In fact, it’s strategic and intentional. Looking at the story of the Magi reveals a valuable theme in the Gospel of Matthew: that Jesus Christ came to be Savior for all. Contemplating what the presence of the Magi means and examining our hearts in the light of this truth is fitting for Advent and prepares our hearts well to once again celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Have you ever felt so hopeless that the idea of experiencing or attaining anything remotely good seemed impossible and out of reach? It’s during similar moments of hopelessness in the book of Ezekiel that God interrupts his messages of judgment with powerful images of restoration. In Ezekiel, God famously depicts Israel’s sinful condition as a valley of dry bones. But in this vision, the bones amazingly do not stay dead. Slowly, death is reversed and beyond all reason and logic, the dry, dead bones are restored to life. The bones were not lost forever and through this vision, God was promising restoration for Israel. Join us in studying the hope-filled imagery of this and other restorative visions in Ezekiel and be reminded of just how great God’s love is for his people, how seriously he takes his promises, and how deeply we can trust that one day God will restore us fully too.
Judgment and consequences can feel unfair. They can even feel mean, especially when we don’t understand why they’re occurring. The prophet Ezekiel received many messages of judgment for Israel—so many that, at times, when reading the book of Ezekiel it can feel like God’s judgment is relentless. But by studying these judgments, we can learn about the character of God and better understand where God’s judgment comes from, what it means, why it’s necessary, and why it’s also a source of grace.
God delights in dwelling among his people, but in a vision, God shows Ezekiel one of the most painful consequences of Israel’s unholy ways: God’s glory must depart from Israel’s midst. Studying this vision gives us the opportunity to reflect on the relationship between our behavior and God’s reputation. It also reminds us that God does not leave us without hope. Even as God grieved and gave Ezekiel a painful message about consequences, he promised his glory would one day return and dwell among his people again. A promise we now know God kept in Jesus Christ and continues to keep through the presence of the Holy Spirit today.
One defining characteristic of Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry is the visual nature of the messages he received from God. In the book of Ezekiel, God repeatedly gives his prophet both a verbal message and instructions on how to also convey that message visually. God goes to these lengths because he wants his people to see the consequences of sin and rebellion and to help the people understand why exile was necessary. Through Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry, we witness God’s heartbreak and grief. We discover he is not an angry God, but rather a God who deeply loves his people and goes through great effort to get their attention.
It can be hard, even shocking to follow God’s call on our lives. Join Groundwork as we study the story of Ezekiel’s call to ministry as a prophet of God. We’ll see Ezekiel wrestle with his calling and listen as God warns of the difficulty Ezekiel will face speaking truth to an audience of people that don’t want to hear his message. Together, we can learn from Ezekiel’s experience and discuss what it means to be called, to be a prophet, and to speak truth in a hostile context. All while we’ll also examine our own hearts by asking: Are we receptive to God’s truth or rebellious like Israel?
Matthew’s record of the Sermon on the Mount concludes with three crucial warnings. Jesus cautions his followers to enter through the narrow gate, to watch out for false prophets, and to be like a wise man who builds his house on a rock. Through each of these teachings, Jesus offers his followers valuable wisdom for staying focused and rooted in God’s grace. He reminds us that there is only one way into God’s kingdom, he gives us the resources we need to protect our gift of faith, and he again offers us his boundless grace. Join us in studying these teachings and together we’ll come to better understand how to recognize the distractions and lies of our world and gain strength to weather the storms of life.
Matthew’s record of the Sermon on the Mount concludes with three crucial warnings. Jesus cautions his followers to enter through the narrow gate, to watch out for false prophets, and to be like a wise man who builds his house on a rock. Through each of these teachings, Jesus offers his followers valuable wisdom for staying focused and rooted in God’s grace. He reminds us that there is only one way into God’s kingdom, he gives us the resources we need to protect our gift of faith, and he again offers us his boundless grace. Join us in studying these teachings and together we’ll come to better understand how to recognize the distractions and lies of our world and gain strength to weather the storms of life.
As Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, we notice a thread emerge in his teaching: stay focused on God’s kingdom first. The next three teachings in his Sermon on the Mount remain as practical and relevant to our daily lives today as they were for the disciples. Money, worry, and judgment have long been areas of vulnerability in our human nature. Jesus warns us to keep our priorities straight, lest money, worry, or our judgment of others lead us away from God. Join us as we study Jesus’ caution and instruction so that we might keep ourselves ever aligned with God’s kingdom priorities.
As Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, we notice a thread emerge in his teaching: stay focused on God’s kingdom first. The next three teachings in his Sermon on the Mount remain as practical and relevant to our daily lives today as they were for the disciples. Money, worry, and judgment have long been areas of vulnerability in our human nature. Jesus warns us to keep our priorities straight, lest money, worry, or our judgment of others lead us away from God. Join us as we study Jesus’ caution and instruction so that we might keep ourselves ever aligned with God’s kingdom priorities.
Prayer is an important spiritual discipline. God desires to cultivate and develop an intimate relationship with us and prayer is vital to this process. Prayer is simple and yet many of us find it challenging to pray. Both new and lifelong Christians alike may question whether they're doing it right, they may feel like they’re not good at it, or they may experience seasons in which it feels like God is not listening. Thankfully, in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his disciples, and us, how to pray. Turns out, a good prayer has more to do with the right motivations and a right heart than it does with the right words. Join us as we learn to pray like Jesus by studying his teaching about prayer and the prayer we now call The Lord’s Prayer so that we can better nurture this spiritual habit and cultivate a healthy relationship and strong communication with our God.
Prayer is an important spiritual discipline. God desires to cultivate and develop an intimate relationship with us and prayer is vital to this process. Prayer is simple and yet many of us find it challenging to pray. Both new and lifelong Christians alike may question whether they're doing it right, they may feel like they’re not good at it, or they may experience seasons in which it feels like God is not listening. Thankfully, in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his disciples, and us, how to pray. Turns out, a good prayer has more to do with the right motivations and a right heart than it does with the right words. Join us as we learn to pray like Jesus by studying his teaching about prayer and the prayer we now call The Lord’s Prayer so that we can better nurture this spiritual habit and cultivate a healthy relationship and strong communication with our God.
God loves us and wants us to live full, abundant, and blessed lives. With his law, he told us just how to live to make that possible. As Jesus continues in his Sermon on the Mount, he teaches the disciples how to correctly understand the laws from God’s perspective. He makes it clear that the condition of the human heart, what’s on the inside, is just as important as our outward obedience. To illustrate his point, he provides a more detailed explanation of the familiar laws about murder, worship, adultery, divorce, and oaths. Together, let’s study Jesus’ explanation of God’s law to gain a deeper understanding of both the letter and the heart of God’s law, so we might live as God intended in gratitude for the righteousness we’ve received by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ himself.
In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:13-16), Jesus speaks about our identity and character. He declares that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Using these two images, he tells us who we are as his people in the world. He’s telling us our value and our potential as he sees it and again God is giving us a chance to see ourselves from his kingdom perspective. Let’s explore these images so we can better understand what they mean for how we behave and how we should interact with God’s world as his disciples. We’ll discuss the temptations we might face and grapple with what Jesus means when he warns us about losing our saltiness or hiding our light. Together, we’ll grow in our kingdom perspective and understanding of how God values us and how we represent his kingdom in our world today, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Reflecting on and seeking answers to our questions is one way we learn and grow. The same is true for our faith development. We’re grateful when you write to tell us what questions are most pressing for your faith right now. Discussing them together benefits us all. In this episode, we’ll look at questions and comments that you sent regarding our spiritual lives. Together, we’ll examine Scripture for answers and examples to help us better understand our personal faith and the daily practices we can engage in to grow and strengthen it. We’ll discuss how we can live faithfully in the world, even when division and disagreements are daily struggles, and we’ll remember our calling to share the gospel message and think about how we can respond biblically when that message is challenged.
In this Groundwork series, we’ve dug into Scripture to better understand what evangelism is and why every believer is called to share their faith. We’ve studied Jesus Christ’s ascension and Pentecost to grasp the role and power of the Holy Spirit in our witness. Now, with this solid foundation, let’s examine stories from the New Testament and discover best practices for how we share our faith. Together, let’s study how Jesus himself interacts with the people he encounters and what the apostles do as they begin their ministry. From these stories, we can glean simple, practical steps that each of us can follow to confidently share our faith.
When we think about sharing our faith and participating in evangelism, we can find courage in Jesus’ promise to send his Holy Spirit to equip us. Jesus commands us to make disciples, but he does not expect us to do it on our own or by our own power. Study the biblical accounts of Pentecost, when the gift of the Holy Spirit first came upon the disciples. See how the Holy Spirit immediately motivated and empowered the disciples to testify to all they had seen and heard. Together, we’ll discover what Pentecost teaches us about the power of the Holy Spirit and what this power means for us yet today.
For some, the idea of sharing our faith with others can leave us feeling nervous. We might be anxious about what we should say or worried about getting it right. It’s important to recognize that we are not alone in these feelings. Many other believers feel this way too. Thankfully, we can turn to the Bible for wisdom. Join us as we study the Apostle Peter. Peter is an example of how our faith changes us and how we grow even as we share our faith. In his story, we witness how the Holy Spirit not only empowers us to share the good news but reminds us in whose power we are able to tell God’s story. As we seek the confidence to successfully and fruitfully share our faith, let’s study Scripture passages that teach us the what and how of witnessing and evangelism.
Our calling to share our faith is rooted in the biblical story of Jesus’ ascension into heaven. It was on that day that Jesus gave his disciples the command we refer to as the “Great Commission,” to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20). But as we study this important event, we learn that Jesus is not asking us to do anything he has not equipped us to do. He’s calling us to share our witness. To tell the truth about what we’ve seen, what we’ve heard, and what we’ve experienced. And he does not leave us alone to figure out how to do this. As we study the biblical accounts of Ascension Day, we’ll see that he promises the Holy Spirit, who will give us the power to share our faith and through our ordinary, daily testimony, he will multiply his disciples and increase his kingdom.
When we read the story of Jesus meeting the disciples on the shore in John 21, we learn that even after seeing him twice, Jesus’ own disciples still don’t recognize him. We too have moments like that today, when we don’t recognize God or what he’s up to in his world. The disciples’ story helps us recognize that Jesus is there in the ordinary and that he’s willing to fellowship with us right where we’re at. As we observe his interaction with Peter specifically, we realize that Jesus’ command is consistent from the beginning of his ministry—follow me. So just as Peter’s faith in his risen Lord and Savior grew, so too can we cultivate our faith when our focus stays on the resurrected Jesus, our hope, and his simple command for us to follow him.
The faith of the first Christians was grounded in their unshakable belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But even the disciples experienced fear and doubt as they began to hear stories of people who claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus. As we study the first interactions between Jesus and his disciples, and particularly the disciple we’ve come to know as “Doubting Thomas,” we find assurance that Jesus is ready and willing to meet us wherever we are in our faith journey. These biblical accounts provide encouragement for times when believing in Jesus isn’t easy and they remind us that believing is a lifestyle, not a one-time event. Join us as we study John’s account of Jesus’ first post-resurrection appearances to his disciples, and together we’ll witness how believing cultivates faith and provides us hope to nurture our faith today.
On the evening of the very first Easter, two of Jesus’ followers listened as their companion on the road to Emmaus explained various Old Testament scriptures to them. Unknowingly, they were walking this road with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As they listened that evening, their understanding of Scripture grew and so did their faith. In time, they realized that it was Jesus himself teaching them along the way. Much like those first believers, our faith is a journey too and Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit as our guide. Discover how the Holy Spirit helps us cultivate our faith yet today as we develop a greater understanding of God and his ways through Scripture.
Experiencing Jesus is one way we can cultivate our faith. In the gospels, we read about Jesus’ encounters with his female followers, and later his disciples, on that very first Easter day. Their experience of him deepened and grew their faith, and it can do the same for us. As we study their experience of Jesus that day, together we come to see and know again that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. We are reminded that Jesus meets us in the ordinary and that we can experience the presence of our resurrected Lord and Savior in our tears, in our doubts, and in the humbleness of our everyday lives.
Good Friday and Easter mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the climax of the Christian church year. There’s no doubt these are the events at the heart of our Christian Faith. During Holy Week, Christians around the world pause to remember and celebrate the great gift of salvation that we receive through Christ’s sacrifice. The Apostle Paul teaches us that we receive this gift of salvation by faith, but he also makes clear, it’s not just something that happens to us, but that we participate in both Christ’s death and resurrection as well. Join us as we study Paul’s teaching and discuss what it means and how it impacts our lives as faithful followers of Jesus Christ today.
The four gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry vary in their selections of stories and in their details. Each gospel writer has a different audience in mind and a different goal, both of which influence what and how they retell Christ’s life. However, the story of Jesus’ crucifixion is so important to the message of salvation that we find an account of it in each of the four gospels. Examining the story of Jesus’ crucifixion in each of the four gospels reveals a beautiful tapestry of perspectives as each writer retells the event and stories of people at the cross. Together we’ll study each of the four crucifixion accounts in the gospels to witness the fulfillment of Scripture and remember the significance of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. We’ll also see where we can recognize ourselves in the story and consequently, find hope and encouragement in the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.
When something seems too good to be true, we might find ourselves raising an eyebrow, reading the fine print, and asking “what’s the catch?” But when it comes to salvation, there really is no catch and beyond having faith there is nothing else we need to do. When Christ died on the cross, he paid our debts in full. There is absolutely nothing we can add to his work to ensure our salvation. And yet, sometimes we subconsciously begin to believe that our actions matter for our salvation. During Lent, we pause to remember the truth of Christ’s work on the cross. We’ll study scriptures that help us remember why Christ’s sacrifice is completely sufficient to satisfy God’s wrath, and we’ll discuss how we can keep our fears at bay and keep the right perspective about our salvation and our deeds.
The cross is a paradox. By human standards, it shouldn’t make sense, it shouldn’t work, and yet, it does. In fact, it’s the greatest paradox—life from death, pardon from penalty, and justification from judgment. In the Roman empire, the cross brought death in a brutal, humiliating way. But instead of shame and defeat, believers of Jesus Christ find life in the cross. Studying the paradox of the cross in Scripture reminds us of the profound love of God. It reminds us how much God values and regards his relationship with us and that only Christ can accomplish the impossible. Join us as we explore how sometimes the life of faith contradicts the logic of this world and what it looks like to live in light of this paradox.
Shame is a very raw, acute, and distressing feeling. We experience shame when we’re humiliated by our own sinful behavior. Jesus had no sin, yet he too knew shame— the shame of the cross. It’s another aspect of the cross that will help us comprehend the fullness of Jesus’ sacrifice. Together we’ll discuss the relationship between sin and shame in Scripture. We’ll study passages that help us revisit how Jesus experienced shame and unpack why it was necessary for our salvation.
Crucifixion was a particularly gruesome way to die, but when Jesus died on the cross it wasn’t just gruesome, it was cursed. Seeking to understand the cursed nature of the cross leads us to make connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament, between our deep-seated guilt and the extreme cost Jesus paid to set us free. We were rightly cursed by God for our failure to keep his covenant, but Jesus became that curse to pay our debt. Join us as we study Scripture to better understand the meaning and implications of the curse of the cross and consider the implications for our lives of faith today.
Sometimes habits or traditions become so ingrained in our lives that we can go through the motions of them without spending much time reflecting on their meaning. Sometimes, it benefits us to slow down and once again ask, “why?” We’ll begin our Lenten series “The Cross of Jesus” by examining scriptures that help us answer the question, “Why did Jesus have to die on a cross?” Together, we’ll grow in our faith by seeking to understand what went wrong, recalling God’s covenant, and remembering God’s character and love so that we can better understand why Jesus Christ’s awful death was necessary.
As humans, we are uniquely aware of time. We talk about the passing of time, we think about the end of time, and we often wish for more time. Sometimes it feels like time is fleeting and sometimes feels like time drags on. Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes contains one of the book’s most well-known passages. The Teacher opens “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” He then goes on to share a well-known list of life’s seasons. He calls time a burden, but also says God has “set eternity in the human heart.” Join us as we discuss the association between wisdom and recognizing the seasons of life, as we seek to understand what it means to have eternity in our hearts, and as we receive the Teacher’s encouragement and advice for finding hope and meaning in life.
Do you find joy and satisfaction in your work? Or do you consider work a necessary evil? Many of us spend huge portions of our life working, sometimes doing paid work, other times unpaid. You might say that work is a common theme in each of our lives. It’s also a common theme in the book of Ecclesiastes. In his writings, the Teacher repeatedly comes to the conclusion that work, labor, and toil are meaningless. But is it really that simple? If we carefully study the Teacher’s conclusions, we’ll discover some insightful wisdom about work and our identity, about why our motivation for work matters, about work/life balance, and about the secret for finding joy and satisfaction in our work.
Does life ever feel repetitive, monotonous? Like day in, day out your struggles are the same, your joys seem fleeting, and nothing ever changes. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes echoed this very sentiment. Throughout the book, we repeatedly read his refrain, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” He considers wisdom, knowledge, and pleasure and determines that all of these are meaningless pursuits in life, they will not provide any lasting value. Join us as we examine what the Teacher means by declaring everything meaningless and discover what we can learn about our life of faith and where we can find value, meaning, and hope in life in the midst of, and in spite of, the Teacher’s grim pronouncement.
Have you ever felt like your faith was under attack? In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul warns believers to expect spiritual attacks on their faith. He makes it clear that the devil will always be scheming to undermine and distract them. This continues to be true for us today. But thankfully, Paul also makes sure to remind us of how God has equipped us to defend ourselves. Paul calls this the “armor of God.” Rightly understood, this passage gives us strength and confidence in our faith, but it is a passage that has also been misused in Christian history. Join us as we study Paul’s imagery to better understand his purpose and intent, discuss how this passage has been misused, and apply this to how we live our faith today.
Relationships are part of life. Whether personal or professional in nature, we are always interacting with other people. And the way we treat others matters. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that once we believe in Jesus Christ, our faith gives us a new identity in Christ and our behavior should change. This includes how we live in relationship with one another. In Ephesians chapter 5 and the beginning of chapter 6, Paul focused on three particular relationships prevalent in the early church in order to flesh out for the Ephesians Christians what it meant to live God’s way in their relationships. By focusing on the marriage relationship, the parenting relationship, and the master-slave relationship, as it was culturally practiced then, Paul gave guidance for both parties in each relationship, challenging cultural expectations and encouraging all of us to submit to each other. Join us as we study Paul’s teaching so that we can better understand what he meant by submission and how it helps each of us live as God intends us to in our relationships today.
Whether you are a new Christian, a life-long believer, or fall somewhere in between, it’s natural to have questions about how your faith should influence your choices and behavior. Does faith only influence our church attendance or does it impact our jobs, our sex life, and the everyday words we speak? In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul tells the Christians in Ephesus that believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior should change your behavior, in all spheres of your life, because your very identity comes from Christ. Thankfully, Paul also teaches us what our new identity in Christ means for us and provides guidance and instruction for how we should live and behave in light of this reality.
Keeping a strong faith can be hard when life’s circumstances are difficult. It’s easy to second guess what we know to be true when everything around us seems to challenge or oppose that truth. The Ephesian Christians knew firsthand how it felt to question whether or not God’s promises really extended to them and whether or not they were really part of God’s plan. In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers of God’s original plan for inclusion and affirms their identity in Christ and their belonging to God’s family. Join Groundwork as we study Ephesians 3 to receive the Apostle Paul’s assurance that we belong in God’s family, that his promises are, indeed, for us, and to be blessed by his prayer for the Holy Spirit to root us in Christ’s love.
Injustice and sin are rampant in our world. And much of it flows from humanity’s sinful inclination to literally and metaphorically build walls to exclude others. In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul discusses this human tendency. He reminds us that before Christ we were spiritually dead, and without Christ, we continue to be so. But Paul seeks also to energize our faith in the midst of discouraging circumstances. He unpacks the profound truth of God’s grace so we can find hope in God’s gift of life to us through Jesus Christ. But God doesn’t just break the curse of sin and then leave us alone; no, says Paul, God draws near. Join us as we reflect on Paul’s assurance that, in Jesus Christ, God’s grace is abundant and in it, we can find justice, reconciliation, and belonging in God’s family.
When life seems inexplicable and out of control, it’s easy to feel anxious or unsure. Having a plan can bring us assurance in such circumstances. Having a plan ensures we know what direction we’re headed. It often also means we know what comes next and who is going to do what. In Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul reassures the early Christians in Ephesus, and us, that God most definitely has a salvation plan, and that his plan isn’t just a reaction to what’s going on in the moment. God put his salvation plan in place before creation. Join us to study and discuss Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 1 and find assurance that God has not abandoned us, but that he actively cares for his creation and provides his Holy Spirit to us as a seal that helps us trust that God is in control.
As our study of the women in Jesus’ family tree draws to a close and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we’re reminded that even his birth was mired by the appearance of scandal. Join Groundworkfor a Christmas reflection on the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the last woman named in his genealogy. Together, we’ll discover a God and a Savior who draws close, who does not move away from our sin and pain, but instead comes alongside us, and in the process, redefines righteousness and who belongs in God’s family. Find comfort in God’s grace and great love as we study the true wonder of Christmas together.
Life is messy. No matter how hard we try, it’s impossible to be perfect. This can be so hard and uncomfortable at Christmas when we want everything to feel cheerful and bring back warm fuzzy memories, but the reality is, our stories are filled with sin and brokenness: mistakes, missteps, and moments when our best simply was not enough. Join Groundwork for an Advent reflection on the story of Bathsheba, the fourth woman referenced in Jesus’ genealogy. Through the story of “Uriah’s wife,” Bathsheba, we witness the traumatic results of King David’s sin and we are invited to take an honest look at our own experiences of brokenness. Together, through Bathsheba’s story, we’ll remember why Jesus needed to come, seek the truth of God’s abundant forgiveness, and celebrate Jesus’ coming at Christmas.
Life has its difficult seasons and when the trials and challenges drag on with no end in sight, it’s easy to wonder if God cares. Sometimes we even question if continued faithfulness is worth the effort. Join Groundwork for an Advent reflection on the story of Ruth, the third woman named in Jesus’ genealogy. Ruth faced many trials in her life that left her very vulnerable. But in her story, we’ll discover how God uses the simple faithfulness of both her and Boaz to ensure the continuation of the Messiah’s family tree. Together, we’ll remember that God does not forget his people and that he chose to enfold faithful foreigners into his family in order to bring forth his salvation plan for the entire world.
Do you ever question why God would want you in his family? Do you ever feel like you just don’t belong or that you’re too messed up to bother saving? These feelings are difficult any time of the year but can be particularly acute during the Christmas season. Join Groundwork for an Advent reflection on the story of Rahab. Rahab is the second woman named in Jesus’ genealogy. She was a prostitute, she wasn’t an Israelite, and she was seemingly as unworthy of belonging in God’s family as one could get. Yet, Rahab is called by name in Jesus’ family tree. Join us in discovering biblical truths about faith, deliverance, and belonging in Rahab’s story. Together, we’ll find encouragement for our own faith in this unexpected story of God’s grace.
If you feel far from God this Christmas—or if you just need a reminder that nothing can separate you from his love—then join Groundworkfor an Advent reflection on the story of Tamar. Tamar is the first woman named in Jesus’ family tree. She is not an Israelite. Her story exposes sinfulness and sexual sin in Jesus’ genealogy. But it also reminds us that this is why Jesus comes. In his love and grace, Jesus comes to provide a way to belong for outsiders, sinners, and those who are sinned against. This Christmas, find hope to bolster your faith in the story of Tamar.
If someone asked you whether or not you wanted to know and understand the heart of God, you’d likely say “yes!”Join Groundwork as we conclude our study of Jonah, gain deeper insight into the heart of God, and witness the stark contrast between our human tendencies and God’s sovereignty. As God questions and teaches Jonah, he gives us a unique opportunity to see his heart. Together, we’ll marvel at the ways God continually provides in order to deliver us and meet our needs, we’ll hear God’s strong critique of the us vs. them mentality, and we’ll recognize God’s invitation to align our hearts with his. We’ll close by reflecting on how we can respond to God’s relentless love and abundant mercy in our own lives today.
God has work for each of us to do. It doesn’t matter who we are, what we’ve done, or how inadequate we feel, God has a message of relentless love and abundant mercy for us to share with people who need to hear it. As we continue studying the book of Jonah, we’re reminded that our God is a God of second chances—both for us and for others. Whether we like it or not, God is eager to spread his compassion and mercy through us. Together, let's grow deeper in our understanding of how much God cares even about people who don’t know—and maybe even don’t care—about him, and let’s discover the courage to never give up on someone or let our bias hinder our commitment to follow God’s call in the world today.
When we find ourselves in a situation that we cannot fix, it’s natural to feel anxious, desperate, overwhelmed, exhausted, and scared. Sometimes our own bad choices or actions have caused our situation, sometimes not, but the story of Jonah reminds us that no matter what we’ve done or what we’ve experienced, it is never too late to pray. God is ready to hear us, to deliver us, and to offer his abundant mercy. In Jonah, we find encouragement for times of trouble, assurance of God’s constant presence, and a better understanding of the work of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, doing what God wants us to do is no easy task. It may be uncomfortable. It may be countercultural. It may even cause others to judge or turn away from you. Sometimes, when God calls us to act, we simply just don’t want to do it. There are so many reasons we might neglect, ignore, or even run away from God’s call in our lives. God’s prophet Jonah knew this feeling all too well. As we study the story of Jonah running away from God, we discover important truths, not only about obedience but about the very character of God. We recognize his persistent and relentless love for us. And we begin to understand that at the heart of God’s call in each of our lives is a call to love people as he loves them.
As we encounter our life experiences from the perspective of faith it is natural to develop questions about the Bible and what it means to live faithfully in each season of our lives. On this episode of Groundwork, we're discussing questions and topics you sent us this past year. Together, we’ll study Scripture to talk about our relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, and what happens after death.
Faith is a journey, and whether you are new to the Christian faith or whether you have been a believer your whole life, it is normal to have questions along the way. We’re honored when you share those questions with us. In this episode, we’re discussing questions and topics you sent us this past year. Together, we’ll study God’s Word to talk about: the forgiveness of sins and whether or not we need to be able to identify and remember all of our sins, God’s sovereignty and whether or not he is the author of evil, and both our role and the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism.
Have you ever desired to possess what God gave someone else? Maybe a job, a house, an opportunity, or a talent? When we covet, it not only reveals a lack of trust in God’s providence, but it can have a pervasive and damaging effect on our attitudes, our relationships, and our communities. Together, let’s study the tenth commandment that tells us not to covet so that we can better understand the spiritual and relational implications of coveting and identify ways we can combat covetousness and enhance gratitude in our lives.
It is surprisingly easy to break the ninth commandment and often more tempting than we realize. It might seem like giving false testimony or false witness is limited to lying in a court of law, but what about those times we twist someone’s words or leave out vital information in order to help us prove our point? What about those times when we keep silent instead of speaking up to defend another person? Join Groundwork as we study scripture from the Old and New testaments to learn more about the relationship between our words and our character. What does the ninth commandment reveal about the condition of our hearts when we bear false witness and the importance of truth? And how can we cultivate practices of truthfulness in our daily lives to maintain our fellowship with Jesus and with each other in the way God desires?
It can be easy to dismiss the eighth command, “you shall not steal,” as irrelevant if you’ve never actually shoplifted or committed burglary, but in reality, stealing isn’t limited to physical property. We can also steal ideas, identities, or someone else’s sense of security. And when we do steal, it can be tempting to justify our actions with excuses based on our merit, desperation, or idealism. But stealing often stems from our human tendency to compare ourselves to others and it reveals our lack of trust in God’s provision. Join Groundwork as we study this eighth commandment and dig into scriptures that help us better understand the damage stealing causes in our relationships, what it says about the state of our hearts, and what attitudes we can cultivate to help curb any temptation to steal something for our own benefit.
The Ten Commandments help us see that our relationships are important to God. The seventh commandment, “you shall not commit adultery” helps us live rightly in sacred marriage relationships. Join Groundwork as we study the story of David and Bathsheba, a biblical example of adultery, and other New Testament scriptures to help us better understand why marriage is sacred, why adultery is so particularly intimate and painful, and why it negatively affects not just those who sin, but also those who are sinned against. We recognize divorce is an unfortunate, but common reality for both justified and unjustified reasons, so together we’ll discuss this commandment in light of that reality and talk about how we find the hope and grace to help us forgive or receive forgiveness and recommit to keeping this commandment.
The sixth commandment “You shall not murder” seems quite straightforward. And yet, we know that sometimes people kill in wars, or in self-defense, and so we need to ask ourselves is it ever ok to kill? In Ecclesiastes it says that there is a time to kill, so how do we reconcile that with this commandment? And what exactly does the sixth commandment demand of us? Join Groundwork as we study the first murder recorded in the Bible and other passages in both the Old and New Testaments to gain a deeper understanding of the sixth commandment and discover why recognizing each person as an image-bearer of God is so vital to helping us keep it.
The fifth commandment is proof that God cares about our families. At first glance, it may seem like God is only providing direction for children, but the fifth commandment has implications for those in authority too. Join Groundworkin studying God’s command to “honor your father and mother” and together we’ll examine scripture to better understand what this commandment means for children, for parents, for our spiritual life, and for our relationship with other authority figures. And because abuse of power and broken family relationships can make this commandment particularly painful for some of us, we’ll discuss what this commandment means and what it looks like to honor it in situations of abusive authority too.
What does sabbath mean to you? Is it a day with a lot of rules that mean you can’t do anything except go to church? Or is it a gift from God? Why does God want us to remember the sabbath? What does it mean to keep it holy? Join Groundwork as we study the second of the Ten Commandments to better understand the purpose of keeping a sabbath and why God wants us to follow the rhythm of sabbath in our lives and set aside time for rest and enjoyment. Together we’ll discuss the implications of sabbath on our values, our priorities, and our relationship with God and we’ll discuss the practices and activities that help us cultivate the rhythm of sabbath in our lives.
The first three of the Ten Commandments all provide guidance for our relationship with God: have no other gods before God, don’t create or bow down to idols, and don’t take God’s name in vain. These commands may seem restrictive, but their purpose is to help us honor God’s character, keep God in our hearts, and give God the reverence he deserves. Join Groundworkas we discuss the first three commandments, why we still keep them, and what it looks like to follow them in our lives today.
It can be really hard to trust in God’s provision especially when we seem to repeatedly “lose” and when we so desperately need something to go our way. Sometimes, life’s difficult circumstances are the result of our failure, but sometimes we’ve done nothing wrong and life’s circumstances are simply beyond our control. No matter the reason for our suffering, the Bible urges us to remember God’s character. In story after story, scripture reminds us that God is faithful, even when we are not; it reminds us that his character is consistent and unchanging; and that he is a covenant God. Discover why covenant is important and how we can be confident that God will keep his promises.
Do you long for peace? There’s no doubt that this world lacks the peace that so many of us crave. In our personal lives, we deal with all kinds of uncertainty: maybe you’re awaiting the results of medical tests, or in the midst of a chaotic divorce, or experiencing the instability of a job change or move. Maybe your personal life is good at the moment, but you still long for peace in a world torn apart by polarization and injustice. At times like this, how do we find the strength to declare “it is well with our souls,” even though our circumstances may not be well at the moment? Join Groundwork as we study God’s promises in scripture to better understand the truth of God’s perfect peace and to discover how we can experience this peace for ourselves, even when the circumstances of our lives aren't very peaceful.
Whether life’s changes are good or bad, not knowing outcomes and not yet having answers can lead us to question God. We might feel lonely, uncertain, and anxious and even wonder if God cares or hears our cries. Yet, turning to scripture in the storms of life can provide the comfort and reassurance we long for. Join Groundworkas we study passages in both the Old and New Testaments that remind us and give us examples of just how much God cares about us and the details of our lives. Discover again how his constant, reliable presence and character can encourage us in our discipleship and give us strength to cope with life’s changing circumstances.
After the Apostle Paul started the church in Corinth, others came after him that began to teach the Corinthian Christians differently. These false teachers were challenging Paul’s teaching on the resurrection, a crucial and important truth at the heart of the Christian faith. Influenced by the culture around them, they suggested that Christ’s resurrection was not a true, physical, bodily resurrection. As Paul responds to these false teachings, he is adamant that it is necessary to believe in the truth of Christ’s bodily resurrection. Discover what Paul says are the consequences for our faith if Jesus is not raised from the dead and why this truth is crucial to the gospel message. Learn from Paul’s message to the Corinthians why you can continue to stand firm today on the truth and reality of Christ’s resurrection.
Every church is made up of broken, sinful believers redeemed by the blood of Christ. But far too often our human condition gets the better of us and we argue, disagree, inflict pain on one another, and sometimes even experience a break in a relationship. This reality is not unique to the modern church. The Corinthian church struggled with unity too. They did not care for one another as they should have and the church had an almost clique-like mentality. In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul calls their behavior unacceptable and instructs them to make Christ-like love their guiding principle for their thoughts, motives, and actions. He also gives them further teaching on spiritual gifts so they can better understand the value of each of their members. Studying Paul’s instruction to the Corinthian Christians provides guidance for us still today as we seek to worship and live well together in community.
Freedom is a value most of us cherish and protect. But what happens when our personal freedom is in direct conflict with someone else’s personal freedom? How do our Christian faith and our freedom in Christ help us navigate these conflicts and make it possible to continue living in unity? And how can we be sure that our efforts to live in unity don’t compromise our integrity or cause us to become lukewarm or wishy-washy Christians? Join us as we study the Apostle Paul’s guidance to the early Christians in 1 Corinthians to discover the wisdom we seek to reconcile these questions. Discover why Paul does not equate personal freedom with Christian freedom and why remembering the second Greatest Commandment—to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39)—helps us embrace our Christian freedom more fully.
How does faith in God affect the daily choices you make? Sometimes, it’s easy or clear to see how faith influences a decision. Should I steal? No, that wouldn’t be the choice of a faithful Christian. But other things are less clear. Can I enjoy sex or is it sinful? Can I eat anything I want or do I need to be more discerning? The early Christians in Corinth had many questions about how they should best honor God through their choices and they sought advice from the Apostle Paul. Let’s study Paul’s guidance to the Corinthians so that we can glean his wisdom and gain a better understanding of God’s vision for how we honor and glorify him through our choices and how our faith informs how we act—in our personal lives, in our relationships, and in our communities.
The early Christians in the Corinthian church had many questions about how their faith impacted various aspects of their lives. You might be surprised that many of the topics the Apostle Paul advised them on in his letter are things we’re still wrestling with today: sexuality and sexual immorality, accountability in the life of the church, and lawsuits or disagreements among believers. Discover why in each of these situations Paul admonished believers to remember their identity as those baptized in Christ and to act accordingly.
As humans, we almost can’t help but make comparisons. But when comparing distracts us from what’s true and what’s important, then it becomes unhelpful and even problematic. The Christians in Corinth struggled with a comparison problem. As Paul addresses their problem in 1 Corinthians, he offers not only the Corinthians, but us too a valuable perspective on power, authority, and leadership in the church, and a vital reminder that Christ is the foundation upon which we should build all things. Together, let’s study Paul’s guidance to the Corinthians to gain a better understanding of what it means to dwell in Christ and live and work as believers today.
The Apostle Paul opens his letter to the Corinthian church by addressing those who are "sanctified and called." But we quickly discover that much like ourselves, the Corinthian church was full of imperfect believers sorting out the impact of their faith on how they lived in the world. In the opening chapters of this letter, Paul reminds believers that God’s wisdom may not make sense by the world’s standards, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25). Join us in digging into Paul’s reminder that when we are confused or need help discerning God’s way, we should return back to the basics and the heart of the gospel message.
There are so many unexpected situations in life that are beyond our control and that have a profound impact on our faith: the death of loved ones, natural disasters, lost jobs...How do we respond with faith when we suffer? What happens to our discipleship while we experience grief, pain, frustration, and anger? How can we be sure that tragedy and trauma don’t shatter our faith? Join us as we study scriptures together and receive assurance that God cares about all your experiences and emotions, good and bad. Find out what the Bible says it takes, and what God provides, to stay the course of discipleship in the midst of life’s tragedies.
Sometimes the things we do and say are out of sync with the faith we profess to believe as disciples of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we make mistakes and consequently experience setbacks in our discipleship journey. These seasons of stagnation in our spiritual growth are not necessarily evidence of weak faith or failure. Even the Apostle Peter experienced setbacks in his journey of discipleship. Scripture is clear that God is with us even during these seasons, guiding and helping us understand what he expects and what he is doing for us. Join us as we study the scriptures to better understand the value of repentance and the ready abundance of God’s grace and forgiveness for reinvigorating our own discipleship growth.
We should expect to grow and mature as disciples of Jesus Christ. What does that growth look like? What is this “solid food” the Apostle Paul says is for mature followers of Jesus? How can we be sure we’re maturing? Thankfully, we don’t need to figure it all out on our own. By his grace, God provides his Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, and supply what we need for spiritual growth. Find out how to live as a maturing disciple of Jesus and discover the signs of dynamic discipleship already apparent in your own life.
So you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, now what? While Jesus Christ has done the heavy lifting of salvation for us, that doesn’t mean we are fully formed disciples of Christ at conversion. In fact, our discipleship journey is a lifelong one. So, what do Christians mean by the term discipleship? When does discipleship begin? What does it look like? The Apostle Paul talks about spiritual milk, what is that? Explore these questions with Groundwork as we look to scripture to help us understand what it means to live as disciples of Christ today and as we explore the importance of community in our discipleship journey.
Change is inevitable. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes neutral, and sometimes downright awful. Any type of transition in life can create uncertainty and anxiety in us. But one thing scripture assures us over and over again is that our God is faithful and constant. No matter what we’re going through, God is with us. We may feel distant from him or wonder what he’s doing, but through it all, we can trust that he’s with us because the Bible assures us this is true. Today, we’ll examine some of those promises in scripture as we recognize a significant change here on Groundwork. Together, we’ll say goodbye, thank you, and God bless you to our co-host, Dave Bast, as he retires and we’ll also welcome his successor, Darrell Delaney, to the co-host seat alongside Scott Hoezee. While one voice behind the mic may be changing, God’s Word endures and so does our commitment to dig deeply into scripture to lay the foundation for our lives.
During any season of rebuilding, it’s vital to reacquaint ourselves with God’s word. Whether we’ve been faithful to God all along or whether we’ve strayed from him long ago, we can only rediscover our place in God’s story by reading and retelling it in community. Discover how Ezra led the Israelites in reading God’s word during their rebuilding of Jerusalem and be reminded that when life’s challenges feel insurmountable, when the guilt of the past overwhelms, when loneliness and a temptation to give up creep in, we don’t need to rely on our own ability to cling to God. Because of his great love for us, God—in his grace—has already given us the antidote we need to carry us through.
When we are rebuilding after our life has fallen apart, even the smallest opposition can feel like an insurmountable force. Sometimes people mean well but derail our progress. Other times people purposely thwart our efforts, simply because they don’t want to see us succeed. Whether our opposition comes from external pressure or even our own internal fears, doubts, and shame, we can learn a lot about the essential building blocks for biblical success from Ezra and Nehemiah. Their response to the external and internal opposition that threatened their progress while rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple, model for us how prayer, work, compassion, and grace can align us with God’s will and help us maintain forward momentum as we rebuild against all odds.