Eusebeia with Josh Kruger

John writes letters to two more churches.  And in describing what he has heard and what he has seen he intentionally quotes or refers to the prophets Daniel and Isaiah.  He wants his reader to think in an apocalyptic way.  Isaiah faced the temptations of empire and of sin, death, and devil in his day.  So did Daniel.  Our journey continues.

John's writing now turns to the genre of letter/epistle.  God guides John into writing to seven churches like a correcting prophet would write to a group of people or nation.  What apocalyptic writing will John employ to communicate a message in his time?  Check it out.

We conclude chapter 1 of John's Revelation.  As readers we are urged to think in terms of Isaiah, Daniel, and Hosea.  A prophet who lived at a time of an oppressive government, of God's judgment, and of a future hope.  Check it out as we wrap up chapter 1 and prepare for chapter 2.
 

As John's revelation unfolds he sees and hears more.  A temple is revealed!  God's presence!  So in this episode we'll learn about what that temple theme means.  Likewise John zeroes in on Daniel and Ezekiel, drawing the reader to think about his apocalypse just like their apocalypses.  Full of rich symbols and ways of subverting the earthly power of the day to point toward the heavenly power.  

John's Apocalypse - his revealing/unveiling - begins by getting the reading thinking about Daniel and Isaiah.  We are continually harkened back to the cultural and spiritual moments of those prophets.  Why?  What are the connections?  How does this help us think in an "apocalyptic" way?  Check out this episode.

Following the 2024 Election there have been all sorts of wild claims about fulfillments of biblical prophecy and "end times" warnings or even excitement.  But is that what the Bible is really saying?  Do biblical apocalypses actually refer to the United States of America?  And to the 21st century?  Or do apocalypses actually unveil and reveal something else?  And if so, how could those speak to us today?  We begin a whole new series!

The final episode of the APEST Five Fold Ministry from Ephesians 4.  Teaching.  The rightward ministry.  Teaching is essential in the church to make disciples.  Right beliefs (orthodoxy), right actions (orthopraxy), and right being.  Teachers guide, instruct, correct, inform, help us be wise, steer us toward holy living, and so much more.  So check out this final ministry of the APEST Five-Fold set.
 

More exploration of the APEST Five Fold Ministry from Ephesians 4.  We've explore forward (apostolic), downward (prophetic), outward (evangelistic), and now the inward ministry:  shepherding - pastoring.  Pastoral ministry in our culture is usually shorthand for the paid staff person(s) at our church.  But that definition has changed a great deal from its origins 2000 years ago.  In this episode we explore the original nature of the pastoral ministry and begin asking what a shepherding ministry could look like in our churches today.

Our trek thru the Five Fold Ministry of Ephesians 4 continues.  In this episode we explore the outward ministry - evangelism.  Sharing the good news of Jesus with people so that they may be saved from the powers of sin, death, and darkness and be welcomed into a love relationship with God for all eternity.  Lets learn about this vital gifting and calling within the church!

Our walk thru the Five Fold Ministry continues.  Building on previous episodes of introducing the topic and apostleship we now turn our attention to prophecy.  This topic sometimes makes Christians nervous.  And sometimes churches outright reject and shut down prophetic ministries.  Find out why!  And we will also explore the amazing blessing that prophecy is to the church when done in a God-glorifying and people-edifying way.  Check it out.