The Analytical Preacher - Bible Discussions For The Modern World

How should I act as a Christian? How do I grow as a Christian?  To mature in our faith we must do more than read our Bible and stop lying and cussing.  A maturing Christian will also seek out ways to both serve others and encourage others.  But what does the Bible mean when it instructs us to encourage one another and build each other up?  In this podcast, we look at some straight forward yet very simple ways that we can be an encourager to those around us and intentionally bring a little salt and light into a stressful and sometimes discouraging world.

John 3:16 is the most popular and the most searched for Bible verse on the internet.  It is a beautiful summary of the message of the entire New Testament and many of us know it by heart.  But what, exactly, is meant by the words that whoever believes shall have eternal life?  How are we to respond to the declaration that is John 3:16?  As always, the Bible defines its most important words and concepts, instructing us how to take action on the information contained therein.  In this podcast, Andy uses scripture itself (including other verses in John chapter 3) to define and comment on the most popular Bible verse in the world today.  If you want a better understanding of John 3:16, this should help.

What is the "god of the gaps" issue and why does it not apply to Bible-based religions?  For centuries, scientific progress has been squeezing one manmade god after another out of existence by filling in the gaps in human understand about how the natural world works.  These "gods of the gaps" as they have been called show the futility of mythologies and human derived religions.  The two main actions assigned to God in the Bible, however, have not been explained or replaced by scientific advancement.  If a gap exists today, it seems to be in science rather than in the foundational words of the Bible.  In this podcast, Andy explains why the defunct religions of the past made the mistakes they made and why Christianity is immune to those errors.

This podcast explores the concept of identity, delving into its source, potential issues that can arise from a misidentity, and the importance of knowing our identity as children of God. It also discusses the divisiveness of modern identity politics and emphasizes the transformative power of embracing our God-given identity to bring healing, acceptance, and unity in a divided society.

Though we should all read the Bible on a regular basis, including reading it from beginning to end a number of times in our lives, is there a simple way to provide a survey of the entire message of scripture?  Is there a TL;DR summary of what God is conveying to us in His word?  In this podcast, Andy zeros in on the main theme and focus of the 66 books of the Holy Bible, revealing the beautiful picture that was drawn for us in its pages.

The Bible teaches that one of the most important factors in our Christian walk is the motivation behind our actions.  This is true regarding how we worship in song.  But does the Bible allow, prohibit or stand neutral on the use of instruments in worship?  Of course, there are a number of non-instrumental churches around the world who say the use of instruments is not only not preferred but is actually sinful.  In this podcast, we explore their reasons for drawing such a conclusion and weigh the evidence for and against this position using the scriptures.

Within Christianity, there are young earth creationists and old earth creationists. Why the split? Does the Bible teach us how old the earth (universe) is?  If so, then what does  it teach?  But in any case, why do so many Christians find the answer to this question so important?  In this podcast, Andy provides an overview of the debate on the age of the earth and provides an explanation of the importance of the question.

In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us to ask for forgiveness of our trespasses.  And in the letter of 1st John, the Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness.  But if we fail to confess a specific sin, will we remain unforgiven for that sin?  If we fail to confess each trespass, do we risk going to hell?  In this podcast, Andy dives into the scriptures to explain the simple answer to these questions.

The Bible says God made humans in His image and after His likeness.  Since it obviously doesn’t mean that we are a physical replica of God, what does it mean to be made in His image?  We can use the Bible to help us understand what this means and what it doesn’t mean.  in this podcast, we list out a number of biblical points related to what it means to be made in God's image.

When should a person be baptized?  Of course, there are certain beliefs one must hold before being immersed but exactly what are they?  Are there any other requirements to which a person should adhere?  How do I know when I am ready to make that step?  In this podcast, Andy looks at a number of relevant scriptures to clearly explain the simple answer to this question.