Pillars of Smoke: Recent Episodes
Pillars of Smoke
Jesus emphasizes the importance of being constantly vigilant, faithful, and ready for His return, highlighting the rewards for preparedness and the consequences of neglect.
Jesus teaches the futility of greed, the importance of being "rich toward God," and encourages His followers to trust in God's provision and prioritize seeking His Kingdom over material concerns.
Jesus warns against hypocrisy, emphasizes the importance of fearing God over humans, and assures His followers of God's care and the Holy Spirit's guidance in times of persecution.
In Luke 11:27-54, Jesus responds to a woman's praise, warns against hypocrisy, and condemns the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and legalism.
Luke 11:1-28 is a powerful passage that teaches us about the transformative nature of prayer, the authority of Jesus over evil, and the necessity of living in alignment with God's word. This passage challenges us to examine our prayer life, our understanding of God’s kingdom, and our response to God’s word.
In Luke 10:25-42, Jesus teaches the Parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate loving one's neighbor and emphasizes the importance of listening to His word, as shown through the contrasting responses of Martha and Mary.
In Luke 10:1-24, Jesus sends out seventy-two followers to prepare towns for His visit, teaching them about faith, the importance of receiving the gospel, and rejoicing not in their power but in their salvation.
Explore the transformative lessons of faith, power, and discipleship in Luke 9:37-62, as we dive deep into the challenges and commitments of following Jesus in a world of contrasts and expectations.
Explore the transformative journey of the disciples as Jesus empowers them, challenges conventional understandings of His identity, and reveals His divine glory through miracles and the Transfiguration in Luke 9:1-36
Dive into Luke 8:22-56 and witness Jesus' incredible power over storms, demons, illness, and even death, showing us who He really is and teaching us about faith and His great love for those in need.
Exploring the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:4-21, this podcast delves into the profound meanings behind the seed, the soil, and the growth of faith, and examines how Jesus' words illuminate our understanding of hearing, retaining, and acting on God's message.
Luke 8:1-3, though brief, is rich in theological and practical insights. It challenges us to embrace the inclusive nature of the Gospel, recognize the sovereignty of God in calling His people, and value the varied ways we can serve within the body of Christ.
Jesus is anointed by a sinful woman at a Pharisee's house, leading to a teaching about forgiveness and faith as he tells her that her sins are forgiven due to her great love.
John the Baptist seeks confirmation of Jesus' messiahship, which Jesus affirms through His miracles, leading to Jesus praising John’s role in God’s plan while criticizing the fickle responses of the people to both their ministries.
Jesus instructs about loving enemies, not judging others, and building a strong foundation in life by following His teachings. Luke, outlines applicational theology, for post gospel faith.
Are you willing to break away from your traditions for the betterment of someone else? Jesus delves into Kingdom ethics to show us that nothing is as important than the life of fellow human being.
Jesus does not shy away from speaking to anyone, from calling disciples to healing the outcast of society, and even challenging the religious elite. Jesus shows the inclusivity of the Kingdom just by the words that He speaks.
In Luke 4:22-44, Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, where he proclaimed his identity as the Messiah. He performed miracles and taught with authority, illustrating his divine mission to bring healing and salvation to the people.
In this episode, we delve into Luke 4:1-21, where Jesus faces profound temptations in the wilderness, proclaims his messianic mission in his hometown, and experiences a range of reactions from awe to anger.
In Luke chapter 3, we delve into the pivotal moment when John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus' ministry, emphasizing the importance of repentance and baptism as a path to spiritual renewal. Join us as we explore the powerful message of John's preaching and its significance in the Gospel narrative.
Step into the heart of Luke chapter 2 in this enlightening podcast episode. Discover the pivotal events that shape the New Testament, from the humble birth of Jesus to the encounters with shepherds, angels, and the temple. Join us as we delve into the themes of humility, redemption, and the profound mystery of the Incarnation.
Luke 1 details the angel Gabriel announcing the births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, highlighting key events and prophecies. What can we learn from the response of those who received these announcements to apply in our own faith?
Join us in our first episode as we explore Luke's account of Jesus' life and mission. We'll break down its key themes, making it easy and engaging for everyone to understand.
We're back from out summer break, giving you life updates on places we've been, things we've done, and our reflections with the Lord!
Explore the remarkable covenant friendship between David and Jonathan in our latest episode, revealing deep biblical truths about selfless love, humility, and faith that can transform your relationships and Christian walk today.
Join us as we explore the profound friendship we have with our Creator, delving into several biblical aspects of how God engages with us as a friend. Discover how this divine relationship shapes our daily walk with God.
The author of Hebrews finished his letter with an exhortation on how to practice faithful Christian living, how to treat one another and submitting to the authority of those who lead us and ultimately the authority of Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 12:18-29, the author contrasts the awe-inspiring yet terrifying experience of God's manifestation at Mount Sinai with the gracious invitation to the heavenly Jerusalem, urging believers to appreciate the unshakeable kingdom they've received through grace, and to offer God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for He is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:1-17 exhorts believers to persevere in their faith, drawing strength from Jesus' example and viewing life's hardships as God's loving discipline, while diligently pursuing peace and holiness, and remaining vigilant against the corrosive effects of sin and bitterness, alluding to Esau's irreparable mistake as a warning.
Hebrews 11 celebrates the heroes of faith throughout biblical history, encouraging believers to follow their example of unwavering trust in God's promises and power, despite trials and tribulations.
Hebrews 10:19-39 emphasizes the superiority of Christ's sacrifice over the old system of animal sacrifices, encouraging believers to approach God with confidence and hold fast to their faith. The passage also warns against willful sin, reminding readers of the consequences of rejecting Christ and encouraging them to persevere in their faith.
God's economy requires blood to be spilled as the payment for sin and offer forgiveness. Under the old covenant, this practice was flawed and needed to be repeated every year. The new covenant replaced that with a sacrifice that would last for eternity. Hebrews 9 details how and who makes this sacrifice better and supreme over the old ways.
Hebrews 8, talks about a new covenant being better than an old one, but what makes this covenant so great, and why was the old one so flawed?
Discover the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Old Testament priesthood in Hebrews chapter 7. Through the example of Melchizedek, we see the establishment of a new and perfect covenant with better hope for salvation.
The importance of holding fast to our hope in Christ, and persevering in faith and patience despite the challenges we may face.
Hebrews 6:1-12 is a passage that encourages believers to press on towards spiritual maturity, to move beyond the basics of the faith and into deeper understanding and obedience.
If it's just a basic principal, then why is Jesus being our High Priest so critical to our faith?
Hebrews 4 emphasizes the importance of God's promise of rest for believers, and the need to strive to enter that rest by faith in Jesus Christ. It also warns against disobedience, which can lead to spiritual failure.
Hebrews 3 compares Jesus to Moses, with Jesus being greater than Moses in terms of his position as High Priest and his ability to save. This chapter encourages readers to consider Jesus as the High Priest and to hold fast to their faith in Him.
What are the messages in your life that you are paying attention to? Hebrews 2 is a warning to the church not to neglect the message of their salvation, as it is of the utmost importance. It emphasizes the supremacy of Christ and His role as the ultimate Mediator between God and humanity.
To trust the work of Christ we first must understand who He is! Hebrews begins with laying out the person and nature of Jesus. For to which of the angels did God ever say...
The Supremacy of Jesus has been a long contested topic from the time of His death to the present day. Join us in this new conversation about who Jesus is and why He is Supreme, as we walk through the book of Hebrews.
Prayer can be done at anytime, and anywhere. Our view on prayer, who we pray with, and what we pray for, will determine how effective our prayers are.
What is Biblical Church Leadership? What should a Church leader look like? What qualifies them to be a leader? How were they chosen? What does your leadership within the Church look like?
What do you think of when you hear or see the word, DISCIPLINE, is it a positive thought or a negative thought? How do you feel about the phase, "one of the points of Church membership is to be disciplined?" The fifth Mark of a healthy church is one who Biblically disciplines its members.
Man, have you ever really wondered Like why are we here? What the meaning to all of this? Mark Four of a healthy Church, looks at purpose of a Church membership. Why you need to be a part of a congregation, the benefits it brings, and the responsibilities you have as a Church member.
One of the primary Marks of the Church is to Evangelize, by sharing the good news of the work of Jesus, for salvation!
The point of Church is for the gospel to be proclaimed. What is the gospel? The gospel is the power of God for salvation. That power is not only based on the love He has for His people, but the power is rooted in the all encompassing attributes of God!
You ever looked at your church and thought "Why am I still here? I don't feel like I'm growing. What's the point of this?". That may be indicators of you being in an unhealthy church. Over the next few weeks we will be discussing the characteristics of what a healthy church looks like and what you can do to help your church. In this episode, we are starting with the most important characteristic, the Bible teaching.
We start the last portion of the Hebrew scriptures by taking a deeper look at 5 of 13 historical narratives (Ruth, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1st and 2nd Chronicles). They recount the attempts to restore Jerusalem to the proper worship of God, and what happens when Hebrew society flourishes once more.
We start the last portion of the Hebrew scriptures by taking a deeper look at 5 of 13 poetry and wisdom books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations). These books are almost entirely made up of poems, songs, and wise sayings that the ancient Jews (and the Christians who followed) used to make wise decisions and worship God.
We finalize the Nevi'im with the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel). In this episode we dive deep to survey the pre and post exilic books written for the people of Israel, both, to point to the promises of God for redemption through judgement, and restoration. These books are sprinkled with the prophets challenging the readers to repent, trust the Lord where ever you are, and rely on His world continually.
There are too many, so we started with 4 (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings). These are known as the former Prophets and the beginning of the Nevi'im. The main theme of these four books is discipline, repentance, and the faithfulness of God. These books will give us wider view in the development of the meta narrative of Scripture.
In this episode we give a concise overview of the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). We cover the main story arch, key themes, and key players of each book.
People always want to know who their ancestors were and enjoy emphasizing their personal and cultural roots. As students of the Bible we should have the same emphasis on our spiritual ancestors and culture. In this episode we begin an overview of Old Testament (The TaNaK). Listen in as we breakdown the structure, themes and motifs of The TaNaK.
Last episode we outlined the different resources and tools we use for Bible study and preparation. In this episode we delve into what our process looks like and how we use some of these tools.
Join us in this episode as we discuss some of our favorite Bible Study resources, such as: Bibles, Commentaries, Lexicons, Softwares, and even Websites.
The influences that we allow in our lives will either lead us closer to Christ or lead us further from Him. Many times the influences that lead us astray can be found in our own churches. Jude, writes this letter to bring us a sense of urgency to identify who those people are, how to deal with them, and how we can use our faith to protect ourselves from these kinds of people.
To forgive is an easy concept, and practically simple on small errors and non-issues, but forgiveness is much more difficult when it hits too close to home. Paul, appeals to Philemon's Christians character in order to remind him, that even when forgiving seems impossible, it's something we must practice.
In this episode we will take a close look at the prophecies of a sovereign God, spoken by Obadiah against the people of Edom. These are not only prophecies for the people of Edom, but they are also promises of the Lord to encourage His people that they have not been forgotten, their suffering is not in vein, and they will one day be restored to the Lord!
All roads may lead to Rome, but not all religions lead to God. Pluralism would have you believe that no matter your faith all religions ultimately end up at the same place. In this episode we have a conversation to talk about the gaps and issues with this philosophical heresy.
Do your experience on Sunday matter to you more than the message the pastor preached? Do you adhere to what you think scripture is saying, versus what it's actually teaching? Have you ever allowed culture to dictate how you live, versus letting the Bible dictate how you live? If so, you may have fallen into the trap of Theological Liberalism! In this episode we breakdown the heresy of Theological Liberalism, it's roots, and how it could affect your faith, and subsequently your daily life.
Was there a time where He (Jesus) was not? Arius of Libya seemed to believe so... Jump in with us as we scratch the surface of what Arianism really is.
If you're into manifestation this is the one for you! In this episode we break down the heresy of Modalism and its dangers against the Trinity.
We continue our conversation about the relationship between sin and war. In this episode we look at how the sins of a father passed onto his son caused a kingdom to be split, and civil war to breakout. We also see how jealousy and greed will lead even the most promising leaders to deeper into spiritual distraction.
The origin of every war is always rooted in sin. However, there is still is necessity for wars to be fought, firstly, to bring about the will of God, and secondly, to protect the innocent from evil. In this episode we look at certain wars throughout the Old Testament.
Maybe were just trying too hard, when really it's closer than it is too far. Up above in our heads, instead of going under...
What would you say if after decades of work the glory was not yours to claim? What would you say if all the work you did was called trash? Haggai concludes by calling the Israelites to consider that everything they do is defiled if God is not in it and the glory isn't His! What would you say?
Are you comfortable being comfortable? Has complacency become your priority? Haggai called the people of Israel to consider their ways when they prioritized these same things over what God wanted them to do. This episode revolves around looking into how that applies into our lives today. What are you prioritizing over what God wants you to do?
Dwelling on falsehoods will make you lose sleep; however, living in truth helps you rest peacefully. Join our conversation as we discuss the importance of living in the true gospel, and how we can find rest through it.
Have you ever had something so good to tell someone, but all you give them is a teaser over text, and then tell them, it's better if we talk in person? From prayer to encouragement, to dealing with problematic people we breakdown what John's letter says, but its better if he tells you!
We conclude the book of Habakkuk with a change of perspective. Habakkuk calls those who have faith in God to remember all of the Lord's work in the past to strengthen their faith and hope in God for the future.
Which side are you on? Scripture shows us plainly that we are either, living by our faith in God, or attempting to live on our own strength. In chapter 2, the Lord shows Habakkuk that the righteous must live by faith, and those who don't will have no hope.
Do your circumstances always feel too heavy and you feel like God isn't coming to your aide? Does justice seem to prevail only for the wicked? Who the heck is Habakkuk? Join our conversation as we talk through what Habakkuk and Israel were facing, and what we can learn from them and apply it to our circumstances today.
What are your plans for the coming year? Do you have any new resolutions or goals you want to accomplish? Have you sat down with God to go over these plans with Him? The conversation today revolves around how we as Christians should go about making plans and ensuring that God is always at the center of them.
What does the phrase 'God is love' mean to you? Is it a general tern you use to describe God or is it more intimate? Join our conversation as we explore what the Love of God truly mean during advent.
In a chaotic and restless world, especially during the holiday seasons, what do you look toward for peace? In our conversation we explore the peace that is brought from Jesus coming into the world, and what that means for us.
While in Advent we normally remember the hope of the birth of Christ. However, in this episode, we discuss how our hope in the promises of God and His faithfulness to those promises should lead us to live or lives.
Have you ever felt abandoned by God when He's silent? Do you feel like He hasn't listened or answered your prayers in your greatest times of need? What do you result to when you feel like no one listens your plea's? If so, you're in good company!
In times of chaos we are tempted to shy away from our faith. Jesus tells us in Luke 12 exactly what we are supposed to do in those times; He gives us a solemn warning of what happens when we don't acknowledge Him.
Judges 13 - Luke 3, what does it take to be a faithful servant. We all have a mission the Lord has given us, and completing that means being well equipped and faithful. We look at John the Baptist and his faithfulness to the death, and how you can equip yourself better than Samson's parents did to disciple someone else.
Who do you say Jesus is? Your answer to this question, will determine how much you are willing to give up to be his disciple. (Luke 9 and 1 Thessalonians 1 and 4)