The Bible Study Podcast

This episode is part 66 in a study of the book of Psalms. This episode covers two different Psalms. In the first, the psalmist talks about his love for Jerusalem. In the second psalm, the psalmist writes from the midst of terrible despair. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is part 65 in a study of the book of Psalms. In this Psalm of David, he calls out to God in distress. He has been faithful but is still in difficulty. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is part 64 in a study of the book of Psalms. In yet another psalm by the sons of Korah, we hear the psalmist remembering times in the past when God has forgiven his people and asking God to do so again. https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/85.html  Psalm 85 New International Version Psalm 85[a] For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. 1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land;    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2 You forgave the iniquity of your people    and covered all their sins.[b]3 You set aside all your wrath    and turned from your fierce anger. 4 Restore us again, God our Savior,    and put away your displeasure toward us.5 Will you be angry with us forever?    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?6 Will you not revive us again,    that your people may rejoice in you?7 Show us your unfailing love, Lord,    and grant us your salvation. 8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—    but let them not turn to folly.9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,    that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Love and faithfulness meet together;    righteousness and peace kiss each other.11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,    and righteousness looks down from heaven.12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,    and our land will yield its harvest.13 Righteousness goes before him    and prepares the way for his steps. Footnotes Psalm 85:1 In Hebrew texts 85:1-13 is numbered 85:2-14.Psalm 85:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is part 63 in a study of the book of psalms. In Psalm 85 we get images of heaven and a pilgrimage to get there as the psalmist decides "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere" Psalm 84 New International Version Psalm 84[a] For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. 1 How lovely is your dwelling place,    Lord Almighty!2 My soul yearns, even faints,    for the courts of the Lord;my heart and my flesh cry out    for the living God.3 Even the sparrow has found a home,    and the swallow a nest for herself,    where she may have her young—a place near your altar,    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;    they are ever praising you.[c] 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,    they make it a place of springs;    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.[d]7 They go from strength to strength,    till each appears before God in Zion. 8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;    listen to me, God of Jacob.9 Look on our shield,[e] O God;    look with favor on your anointed one. 10 Better is one day in your courts    than a thousand elsewhere;I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;    the Lord bestows favor and honor;no good thing does he withhold    from those whose walk is blameless. 12 Lord Almighty,    blessed is the one who trusts in you. Footnotes Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical termPsalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.Psalm 84:6 Or blessingsPsalm 84:9 Or sovereign https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+84&version=NIV Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is a sermon that I preached at Bethel Lutheran Church in Cupertino, California. It is about Romans 8 and the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. It is also about zombies. First Reading Genesis 25:19-3419These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, 20and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. 21Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. 22The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23And the LORD said to her,
     “Two nations are in your womb,
          and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
     the one shall be stronger than the other,
          the elder shall serve the younger.”
24When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. 25The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. 26Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.27When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.29Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) 31Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Second Reading Romans 8:1-111There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law — indeed it cannot, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. Gospel Matthew 13:1-9, 18-231That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!”18“Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is part 62 in a study of the book of Psalms. We wrap up the last of the psalms of Asaph with two psalms with a similar theme. Asaph cried out to God with "how long?" How long will he let his enemies prosper? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is a sermon that I preached at Bethel Lutheran Church in Cupertino. It is about T which is about sin. Paul uses two analogies: instruments and slaves. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is part 61 in a study of the book of Psalms. The people of God are encouraged to sing for joy. Is that what God intends his relationship with us to be like? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is part 60 in a study of the book of Psalms. This psalm compares the nation of Israel to a transplanted vine as it pleads for God to come and save them. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode is part 59 in a study of the book of Psalms. This song is a plea for mercy from God's people after they have been invaded by a foreign people. In the ruins of the Holy Jerusalem they call out to God. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.