Paul says that all his suffering doesn’t compare with the glory that is coming. How is this an encouragement to us? What does it mean that all of creation must be restored? Why is the redemption of the body such an important thing? What does it mean that the Spirit intercedes for us? What does it mean that all things work together for good? Daniel and Erick talk about all this and more. Have a listen!
Daniel and Erick breakdown what it means to be both sinner and saint. How do we deal with the fact that we desire to do what is good but struggle to carry it out? Where does Paul direct us for hope and comfort? If there is no condemnation for those in Christ, how do you know you are in Christ? What does it mean to have the Spirit and what is His role? What does it mean to be an heir with Christ? It’s all discussed in this episode. Have a listen!
Paul roots the Christian’s death to the law in baptism and makes a scandalous claim that the law arouses sin in people. What does it mean to be released from the written code of the law and to obey in spirit? How does the law increase sin? What does it mean that sin uses the law to deceive us? Is Romans 7 talking about pre or post conversion? Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Should we sin because we are not under law? How do you talk about the law, the gospel and grace in light of the fact that we still sin? What does it mean to be a slave to God or sin? What does it mean to be obedient from the heart? What is going on with sanctification? Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Paul sees an objection to the gospel he just laid out in chapter 5 coming and gets in front of it. Should we sin to increase grace? What does it mean for sin to not have dominion over us? Where and when did we die to sin? What does it mean to walk in newness of life? Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Paul describes the relationship between Adam/Sin and Jesus/righteousness. Why is a clean slate not enough? How are sinners made righteous and how many of them are? What is objective justification? What is the purpose of the law? Does grace really out-abound sin? Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Paul starts detailing what it means to be justified. He doubles down on the role of grace. What if we mess the Christian life up? How does grace give us a reason to hope? What does it mean to have the of God “poured” into our hearts? We might be willing to die for a good person but Paul says this is not what Jesus does. Where is the wrath of God located? Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Paul moves to talking about Abraham and how he was justified. Was it by works or faith? Before or after circumcision? What is it that Abraham believes about God and the ungodly? What about David? What kind of God did he believe in? The entire argument is to show that God justifies ungodly people. Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Paul wraps up his exposing of mankind. Did having the law help the Jews at all? Is anyone righteous? How does our unrighteousness play out? What is the ultimate purpose of the law? So where does righteousness come from? What does it mean that righteousness is apart from the law? Is there any room for boasting in our salvation? Who is really trying to undermine the law? Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Paul explains how God will justly judge both Jews and Gentiles. How much of an advantage is having the law and circumcision? Why does Paul say the uncircumcised may condemn the circumcised? How does Paul understand Israel and the church? What is the slander Paul says he has endured? Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Paul continues to expose all of humanity as sinners. He gives a few examples of God allowing people to do what they want. Parts of this text get emphasized over the rest of it. Why is that and why is it important to not do that? Paul leaves all of us wreaked and without excuse. It’s a tough text but Paul is taking us to Christ. Daniel and Erick discuss it all. Have a listen!
Daniel and Erick first spend some more time on verses 16 and 17. Why does Paul need to say that he is not ashamed of the gospel he preaches? What does it mean that “righteous shall live by faith?” They then move on and discuss what the law of God exposes us to be, some of the ways we spurn Him and how judgment works for those who haven’t heard the law. Have a listen!
Daniel and Erick continue their study of Romans. Paul is eager to get to Rome to preach the gospel to people who already believe. He wishes to impart a spiritual gift to them. And he declares that the gospel is the power of God for salvation and the righteous shall live by faith. They discuss all this and more. Have a listen!
Daniel and Erick begin their study of Paul’s letter the Romans in this episode. They lay the groundwork for the book and take a look at his greeting. Being a bondservant, the full humanity and divinity of Christ and the Christian identity are just a few things discussed. Have a listen!
It's almost Christmas! And that means 40 Minutes in the Old Testament and 30 Minutes in the New Testament are coming together again. Daniel, Chad, and Erick take a look at the 2nd chapter of Matthew and the passages he cites from Micah and Hosea. Bethlehem is blessed and God will call His Son out of Egypt. How are we to understand these things and why should they increase our joy? Have a listen and a merry Christmas!
In week three of the Advent series, Daniel and Erick are joined by Jared C Wilson. They look at the genealogy of Christ in the first chapter of Matthew. They discuss some of the people mentioned, the revisionist history of the gospel and what Jesus ultimately came to do. It’s another great conversation to get you ready for Christmas. Have a listen!
In week two of the Advent series, Daniel and Erick are joined by Elyse Fitzpatrick. They look at Luke 1:26-38 and discuss the role of Mary and other women in God’s promise of bringing a savior. And they find out what Elyse’s favorite Christmas hymn is. It’s another great conversation to get you ready for Christmas. Have a listen!
In week one of the Advent series, Daniel and Erick are joined by Pastor Matt Popovits. They discuss the relationship between Isaiah 9, John 1, light coming into darkness and God becoming flesh. And they find out what Matt’s favorite Christmas hymn is. It’s a great conversation to get you thinking about what God has done in the incarnation. Have a listen!
Silent Night and O Come, O Come Emmanuel Available at Communion Arts
Daniel and Erick wrap up Acts in this episode. Paul sets sail to Rome but it is anything but “smooth sailing.” God’s commitment to getting Paul to Rome amplified through a storm, ship-wreak and snake bite. The lives of all the prisoners are spared for the sake of Paul and they finally reach Rome. Paul is on house arrest and calls the Jews to come listen to him. And Luke ends the book with words that set the trajectory of the future church.
This is a live episode of 30 Minutes in the New Testament recorded at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Daniel and Erick discuss Mary and Martha hosting Jesus, what it means to abide in Christ and how fruit and good works come forth. Live episodes are always a lot of fun, so have a listen!
Before Paul is sent to Rome he stands before King Agrippa. We see how politics come into play as the leaders try to figure out what to do. Paul argues for the resurrection being an orthodox Jewish position. He then recounts his conversion again, as part of his defense. What does the indium “kick against the goads” mean and why does Paul use it? Festus thinks Paul has gone insane and the leaders agree to send him to Rome. Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Forty men make an oath not to eat until they kill Paul and put together a plan to carry it out. The Tribune won’t go along with the plot and instead sends Paul to the Governor. Felix puts Paul in prison where he spends the next two years. The new Governor tries to get Paul to go back to Jerusalem but Paul appeals to Caesar and is sent to Rome. Daniel and Erick discuss all this and more. Have a listen!
Paul asks to speak to his accusers and recounts the events that led him there. He says some amazing things about baptism but when he includes God sending him to the Gentiles, the crowd freaks out. Paul makes a series of brilliant moves involving both the Roman authorities and the Jewish religious leaders. Paul is one sharp Apostle, and Daniel and Erick discuss it all in this episode. Have a listen!
Paul is headed out, but there seems to be some contradictions concerning whether God wants him to go or not. How do we deal with these texts? James has a plan to help those “zealous for the law” accept Paul. It doesn’t go as planned. Paul ends up beaten by a mob and is almost killed. Should Paul have ever gone along with this plan? Daniel and Erick talk about all of this. Have a listen!
Paul wants to deliver an offering to the Jewish church. He sends Timothy to the church in Corinth with a letter as a riot breaks out due to the complaints of an idol maker. There is nothing that angers people more than having their idols exposed. The church is meeting on Sunday for the Lord’s Supper and Paul preaches a man to sleep. The man falls out of a window and dies but is raised back to life. Paul knows the end of his ministry is coming and tells the people at Ephesus that they will not see him again. Daniel and Erick discuss all of this. Have a listen!