Episodes

Sunday May 24, 2020
Colossians 1:15-19
Sunday May 24, 2020
Sunday May 24, 2020
There was a technical difficulty with the previous podcast Colossians 1:11-14. At the beginning of this podcast I do a quick wrap of the verses before we turn our attention to the passage for this podcast.
We look at the hymn embedded in this passage. There are ongoing discussions among Biblical scholars as to who the author of the hymn is. Was it Paul or did he incorporate an existing hymn into his epistle?
We look at the theology of the song (after all Hymns were and should still be used) to teach doctrine (spiritual truths).
One technique Paul and other human authors of the Scriptures use is a chiasm. A chiasm started with a thought followed by a second statement. The second statement is repeated and then the first is repeated. Often the way scholars distinguish these statements or thoughts is to use letters - ABBA, ABCBA, ABCCBA, etc. the key to understanding chiasm is that the central theme is what the author wants to emphasize.
In verse 16 we see Heaven, Earth, Visible, and Invisible. The core thought is that Jesus is the creator and sustainer if the physical realm as well as the invisible realm. This teaching is in direct contrast with the proto-Gnosticism that the church in Colossi was battling.
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truth

Monday May 11, 2020
Colossians 1:5-10
Monday May 11, 2020
Monday May 11, 2020
The second podcast of our Colossians study. We discuss the difference between God's general will vs. His specific will.
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truth

Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Introduction to Colossians & 1:1-4
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
This podcast is the first in our new study of the Epistle to the Colossians. We explore the setting, history, and the reason why the letter was written. The theme is the preeminence of Christ in and over all things. The main thoughts are the cosmological view of Christology and Soteriology.
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Monday Mar 09, 2020
Philippians 4:10-23
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Giving is one of the final topics that Paul discusses in Philippians. Paul is thankful that the church of Philippi is continuing to give to Paul's ministry. It is not for Paul's sake but rather for the sake of the church. God views our giving as one of the acceptable spiritual sacrifices that New Testament priests are commanded to give (1Peter 2:5).
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Monday Mar 09, 2020
Philippians 4:8-9
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Ethics is the subject of this podcast. Computer nerds know the term GIGO, which means garbage in garbage out. Jesus says that it is not what we eat that defiles us it is what is in the heart that comes out of our mouth. What are the things you think about? And how does your thought-life affect your actions?
These are some of the things we discuss in this podcast.
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Monday Mar 09, 2020
Philippians 4:1-7
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Every church has issues. It would appear that the problem was not doctrinal. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. used to say that when two godly people disagree, the truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
In this podcast we see Paul pleading for the two women to put aside their issues for the sake of unity in the church. St. Augustine is attributed to saying “In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.” Today we need to grant more liberty and grace in nonessentials.
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Saturday Feb 15, 2020
Philippians 3:17-21
Saturday Feb 15, 2020
Saturday Feb 15, 2020
This podcast refers to our glorification, which is the end result of our salvation when Christ returns we receive our glorified body when we experience the final result of our salvation. As aliens, we are foreigners and pilgrims who await our King's return.
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Saturday Feb 15, 2020
Philippians 3:12-16
Saturday Feb 15, 2020
Saturday Feb 15, 2020
In our last podcast, we saw how Paul used accounting terms to describe salvation. Salvation has several aspects. Justification is a declaration of our new righteous standing in God's eyes because of our faith in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. Sanctification is the process we go through as we are perfected into the image of Christ.
This podcast Paul uses athletic terms to describe the ongoing process of sanctification. This is something that we press on. Paul tells us not to look back but to press on towards the finish line.
We are encouraged to forget the past regardless of the past is filled with failures or successes. Failures can weigh us down and cause us to stumble. Our adversary uses our failures to discourage us from pressing on. The problem looking back at our accomplishments is that it temps us to want to rest on our laurels and not press on to win the prize.
God wants us to forget the past, good or bad, and run with all the determination we have to cross the finish line!
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Philippians 3:9-11
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Everyone wants the power of the resurrection. But no one is interested in the process to achieve that power! The only way to gain the power of the resurrection is to enter into the suffering of Christ by dying to self.
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Philippians 3:1-9
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Are human accomplishments important when considering our relationship with God? Why is boasting bad? Is there anything we can boast about?
These are some of the issues we discuss in this podcast.
These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths