BeachCast.TV: Bible Exploration, Apologetics and Church History with Dr. Chase A. Thompson:

Godliness is not a trait that can be produced by humanity - we cannot by our efforts make ourselves more godly...but in today's reading from the book of Titus, Paul reveals a supernatural activity that can and will produce godliness in the lives of those who partake of it.

In 2nd Timothy 4, Paul gives an eerily accurate description of a time in the future where religious people (who likely call themselves Christians) will not put up with truth from God's Word, but will seek out teachers who will say nice and inoffensive things to them. Paul here seems to be describing our present age, and thus gives us advice on how to live in it. We also conclude with the 'SPOOKIEST' story in the entire Bible, in which a dead person comes back to life and terrifies a group of already scared men!

Today we discuss having a good and profitable hope in hard times, and how to be faithful when the culture around us isn't. We also continue in our spookiest Bible stories mini series, with the second scariest Bible story!

Today we begin looking at the 5 spookiest stories in the Bible, including a story about a supernaturally empowered man who lived in a graveyard and howled all of the time and the time a group of men were in a small boat, miles away from land when a storm hit and as they were trying to get back to land, they saw a ghostly figure approaching! More seriously, we also discuss the Bible's discipleship strategy.

Paul writes to a young minister in 2nd Timothy who might be struggling with fear and timidity and assures him that God is not the one who has given that 'spirit of fear' to Timothy, nor anyone else, because God doesn't give a spirit of fear. What does this mean, practically, why is 'do not fear' one of the most often repeated commands of the Bible, and HOW can we overcome fear when we are struggling with it?

The Bible has many warnings for the wealthy and warnings against the wholehearted pursuit of riches. Does this mean that it is actually a sin to be rich? Today we dive into the very nuanced biblical teachings on money, riches and giving with the help of our old friend Charles Spurgeon.

Gossip - most people know that gossiping is wrong, but are actually quite confused about what, precisely, gossip is. Today we discuss what the Bible means when it forbids gossip and we find out just how dangerous and destructive gossip can be.

Paul warns his protege Timothy to watch out for false teachings inspired by demons and lying spirits...and then he proceeds to tell Timothy what sorts of teachings that he means. While many would expect demonic teachings to be more overtly evil and awful, it turns out that the kinds of demonic teachings Paul was warning Timothy about are surprisingly mundane, but yet very, very dangerous.

How important is happiness? Many preachers have extolled the benefits of joy, while considering happiness a more fleshly pursuit. The Bible, however, seems to speak of both of those terms in the same way, and on today's podcast the mighty man of faith George Muller is going to show us how to be happy in the Lord on a daily basis.

If you've grown up in the church, you've very likely heard at least one - perhaps many - sermons based on Paul's instructions to women in 1 Timothy 2 to dress modestly. Why are these commands in the Bible, and what is Paul meaning in his use of the word 'modest?"

Paul calls Timothy (and Christians) to "fight the good fight." COnsidering that Jesus taught Christians to turn the other cheek, this command raises some important questions: Who should Christians fight and how should they fight? Is Paul using figurative language hear to reveal a deep spiritual truth, or should we all be looking for somebody to punch in the nose?

We all know that Jesus was compassionate and taught His followers to give to, sacrifice for and care for the least of these - the hungry, the poor, the naked, the alien/stranger/foreigner, etc. Today we consider that there is a surprising exception to the command to feed the hungry in Scripture. The apostle Paul commands that members of this one particular group must not be fed - can disqualify you from being a recipient of food help from the church??

Daniel 6 contains one of the best known and most iconic stories in the Bible: Daniel and the Lion's den. In this story, a pagan king is tricked into signing an execution warrant for the righteous Daniel. God rescues Daniel in an amazing and miraculous way. A second near miracle in the passage is perhaps less well-known. Why is it that the pagan king Darius was so worried and concerned for Daniel, and what does that teach us about how to be good Christians in the workplace?

Most people think that church growth is the #1 sign of a healthy church. Do we get this idea from anywhere in the Bible? Today we consider what seems to be signs of a healthy and strong church in the eyes of Paul from his letter to the Thessalonians, and also briefly survey Mark Dever's "9 Marks of a Healthy Church."

In a fascinating story from today's Bible reading, God sends a lying spirit to ensnare the evil king Ahab and bring about his destruction. Does this mean that God governs and uses evil to bring about His will and do good?

King Ahab was just awful - a murderer, an idolator, and a whiny, selfish and spineless king. He was one of the worst kings in Israel's history and God pronounces a terrible judgment on Ahab through the prophet Elijah...but all of the sudden, God shows great mercy - what happened to cause that?!

If you ask the average man on the street if God gets angry, he will probably answer in the negative, because most people can't picture how a good and loving God could actually be angry. When you read the Bible, however, you find that God does indeed get angry and does so frequently. How can this be? How can a kind, loving and good God be angry?

Elijah was a mighty man of God, and had seen incredible spiritual victories and miracles in his lifetime. Suddenly, however, he is threatened by the queen and runs in fear of his life, giving up, and asking God to kill him. How did Elijah fall from victory to hopelessness so quickly, and what can we do when we find ourselves in the same situation?

The New Testament book of James exhorts Christians to pray like Elijah, who prayed to God after 3.5 years of no rain, and God answered and sent rain. What was Elijah's secret? It turns out that there is no hidden mystery to how Elijah prayed...he just prayed with profound persistence, and so can you and I!

Epaphras, an unsung Bible hero, was constantly 'wrestling' in prayer for the Colossian church. The results of this wrestling, according to the apostle Paul, was maturity in Christ and great assurance of faith. What does it mean to wrestle in prayer, how can we do it, and what sort of impact might it make in our local church and city?

In Colossians 3, Paul lists out a number of behaviors that Christians must put to death in themselves, and the list contains such seemingly major sins like sexual immorality, and other seemingly banal/common sins like anger and slander. What can we learn from this, and what behaviors and attitudes are Christians called to embrace, or put on?

Today we discuss spiritual friendships and the C.S. Lewis insight that adding friends to a group doesn't dilute the friendship, but enhances it. We also discuss Paul's insight in Colossians that Christians will know Jesus and God's ways better in a loving community than as individuals.

In my youth, I used to frequently pray for the 'starving children in Africa.' Do such general prayers offered for people we've never seen or met actually have any impact, or are they just religious acts of emptiness? Today we discover that Paul devoted significant time praying for a group of Christians that he had never personally seen - what can learn about prayer from this practice of Paul?

An argument has shaken the church at Philippi, and news of the disagreement reaches Paul, who writes back, urging the two combatants to AGREE. He doesn't say which one is write, or wrong - he makes no ruling on the source of the conflict, only commands agreement. As we study the New Testament, we find this command to agree repeated multiple times - MUST we be in agreement, and if so, then HOW?!

Today we discuss strong language and the Bible. It turns out that there are myriad examples of very strong and offensive (but not foul) language in the Bible, including Paul's use of a very strange Greek term in Philippians 3 that can best be translated as 'crap' or 'dung.' Why would Paul use language like this, and what important point was he making with such a strong word?

Solomon was the wisest to ever live. Brilliant, blessed beyond measure and the son of a great and mighty man of God. He talked to God face to face at least twice, and led one of the greatest worship gatherings in the entire Bible. All of these advantages, and yet Solomon fell away from God in his old age. Why did Solomon fall away, and what can we learn from his fall that will help us to NOT fall away?

The Apostle Paul says an astounding thing in Philippians 1: That he would rather die and be with Jesus, than to live and stay on earth...he also talks about death as gain, and as a good thing. Most people - even most Christians - have a much less positive view of death. Was Paul crazy, or did he know something that most of us don't know?

Most people have heard that 'Agape' means 'God's unconditional love,' Is that true, or just another "preacher myth?" Today we discuss the nature of God's love for His people - does He love all unconditionally? The biblical answer is somewhat complicated...

"Wives, submit to your husband," says one of the most controversial and disregarded Bible passages. Is this a command for modern days, or is it hopelessly outdated? Today we discuss Paul's commands to wives AND husbands, and find out that both have a very difficult mandate to live with, and a wonderful example to draw strength from.

Some people gravitate towards truth a little more and others have a personality that might make them stronger on the love side of things, but not quite as able to boldly speak truth. Which is more important for a Christian to embrace - love or truth? Plus: What should our spiritual response be when we are trapped in devastating circumstances?

There are dozens of prayers in the Bible - not just the Lord's prayer. When we read through these prayers we find some interesting facts: most prayers in the Bible don't start with 'Dear God,' and end with 'amen.' Digging deeper, we also find great insight into how to pray and what to prioritize in prayer. Today we learn how to pray from the Bible's apostolic prayers.

The Gospel (or, the good news) is the very centerpiece of Christian theology - pointing to salvation by grace (unearned) through faith (belief!) in Jesus and what Jesus did on the cross. Our faith doesn't save us, nor do works save us, but the work of Jesus saves us...so there is never a reason to boast, nor is there a reason to fear that we aren't good enough for eternal life in Heaven, because it is not our goodness that saves us, but the perfect goodness of Jesus.

Given the opportunity to ask for anything under the sun, Solomon chose to ask God for wisdom and discernment - the ability to lead well and choose rightly between good and evil. Today we discuss that decision and the great need for wisdom in 2020, when life has become as confusing as it could possibly be.

Both Adonijah and Joab grab the horns of the altar in a desperate attempt to save their lives from King Solomon. This act only saves one of them - did Joab do something wrong, or was he trusting in the wrong thing to save him? Today we discuss how to be saved by grabbing the real and spiritual altar, as well as the dangers of trusting in external religious acts like going to church, listening to sermons, and taking the Lord's Supper.

Paul's letter to Galatians was written, at least in part, because the church there was being led astray by a false teaching that combined the doing of good works like circumcision with faith in Jesus. Paul writes to correct such heresy, warning those that choose to trust in good works for even part of their salvation are severing themselves from Christ. Is it possible that trying to do good could separate us from God?

For many Christians, the good news means that Jesus died to save us from our sins - which is true, praise God - but is such a short summary of the good news of what Jesus has done for us, that it lacks some of the important blessings of being saved by jesus, such as being ADOPTED as sons of God and being co-heirs, along with Jesus. Today we are talking about the glorious truths of adoption and our inheritance as sons of the King!

To the Jewish people, dying on a tree (dying on a cross...) meant that the person who died was under God's curse, so this was a terrible way to die. Paul tells us in our Galatians reading today that Jesus was not only under God's curse because of the way He died, but that HE WAS A CURSE. What does this even mean?

Two big discussions today: First we tackle the issue of why parts of the Bible are so violent and horrifying. Second we discuss how Paul called out Peter for hypocrisy - is this a huge deal that a disciple of Jesus who wrote books of the Bible would be a hypocrite? We also discuss what hypocrisy is, exactly.

The Psalms are unflinchingly honest, and today's reading contains an extended lament that God isn't listening to or heeding the Psalmists prayer. Surely you have been in that place, right? You've prayed and prayed and prayed, but God hasn't rescued you yet. How do we deal with that situation - what is the right response?

Paul commands Christians in today's passage to 'test' and 'examine' themselves. Does such an act cause doubt and undermine assurance of faith? How does a Christian actually test themselves - what does that look like, and why is it so important that it is a command repeated multiple times in the Bible?

Today we discuss one of the most profound and deep mysteries of the Bible, Paul's statement that, "When I am weak, then I am strong." Paul's discussion of weakness in 2nd Corinthians 12 is so counterintuitive and yet absolutely central and crucial to the Christian life. If you think God is about the business of making you strong, healthy, wealthy and confident, then today's Bible passage will quickly challenge that erroneous idea, and replace it with a far better, and more encouraging one!

Most Westerners think of Satan as a red-skinned being with a pointy tale and a pitchfork, but the Bible says that we are more likely to encounter him as "an angel of light." What does this mean to us practically, and how can we recognize this sort of deception?

Paul talks about spiritual warfare and the 'weapons of our warfare' in today's Bible passage from 2 Corinthians. What sort of weapons are Christians given, how do we use them, and who do we use them against? Are these weapons given for fighting and ruling over other people?

Giving might be one of the most controversial Bible topics. Should Christians give under compulsion? Will God make rich those who give much? Is it right for pastors and tv preachers to receive offerings through guilt and manipulation? Today we study the Bible's teaching on giving, and find that there are surprising blessings associated with giving, but not necessarily the blessings that the charlatans preach about.

King David has committed treachery and murder, and is now paying a heavy price for his sins, watching his family and his kingdom fall apart. Why must there be a price for sins? Why won't God just wave His hands and forgive sins? Is God more merciful or more just?

In our Bible passage today, the apostle Paul contrasts the dangers of worldly and empty sorrow with the blessings of Godly sorrow. How can we know the difference between the two? Also: Story time about the older gentleman with powers who taught me to memorize the Word of God.

Many try to 'sell' Christianity and attract adherents through promises of stress free life, health, wealth and prosperity. Are such promises of easy living compatible with biblical Christianity? No, it turns out - the Bible is a far more authentic and truthful description of the sorrows and joys of life than are many best selling 'puff' books.

In our readings today, King David has fallen from grace and committed horrible crimes. God send Nathan - a friend and prophet - to confront David for his evil deeds and to pronounce judgment on him - but also to bring grace. What does this teach us about God's character and why do we still need Nathans in our lives today?

King David, the supposed hero of the Israelites and one of the greatest leaders in the Old Testament, commits adultery, possible rape AND cold-blooded murder in today's passage from 2nd Samuel. Where did David go wrong? What led him to commit the brutal crimes he committed? What can we learn from David's fall?

Today we discuss whether or not Jesus wrote a literal letter to an Edessan King called Agbar, which is a claim made by Eusebius, writing in the 300s. More importantly, we will see how Jesus uses His people as His letters to the world.