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

Solomon's son becomes king, and is immediately faced with a dilemma: Follow the leadership advice of his friends, or his father's elder counselors. Rehoboam chooses wrongly in a spectacularly awful way, but we learn a lot about leadership ourselves from his blunder.

Today we here an amazing prayer from Solomon, and find in it a key to returning to God when we are far away from Him. While returning to God might seem complicated, it is almost always simple.

Today we wrestle with a big question: Do James and Paul contradict each other? Is one saying that salvation is by faith and works, and the other saying that salvation is by faith alone? A careful reading will show that both are emphasizing different sides of the same truth, as Charles Spurgeon and Got Questions helps us see.

James 1 gives Christians a definition of the kind of religion that God is after. That kind of religion which is pure and undefiled will be both holy and will focus on taking care of those in desperate need. Some Christians denominations embrace 1/2 of what James is saying, and not the other 1/2. How can we bring the two sides of undefiled religion together?

Today we discuss the Bible promise that we will reap a harvest/blessing/benefit/impact if we do NOT give up in doing good and serving. Of more importance, we focus in on the one thing that Paul bragged about, and consider whether we should also brag and boast about the same thing. (We should!)

What does a mature Christian look like? Will they have great preaching ability, or lead a large church, or have miraculous gifts, or super nice sneakers? Actually, according to Jesus and Paul, we will be able to tell whether or not somebody is walking with Jesus by the fruit of their life. How can you and I produce this fruit of the Spirit? (Hint: we can't!)

It is enough that Jesus died to pay the price for our sins - we don't deserve such a gift. Eternal life with God is even more undeserved and unearned, and an incredibly wondrous gift also. Today's passage in Galatians shows us that forgiveness and eternal life aren't the only wonderful blessings that come through what Jesus did for His people!

King David is probably the most influential person in history on worship music and worship singing. He was also a great man of prayer. Today we read through one of the prayers of David, and learn three principles to help us in our prayer lives.

Today we read about David dancing before God with all of His strength, and note how his wife criticizes him for such an ostentatious spectacle. This leads us to discuss the things God delights in and the things that seem to anger God greatly in the Bible.

How is it possible for a vile sinner to be declared 'not guilty?' Today we discuss one of the great and central truths of Christianity and hear one of the best illustrations ever from Charles Spurgeon.

Is it possible that there could be a downside to being nice? Surely not - surely the Bible wants us to always be nice and kind, right? Well - yes it does, but as pastor John Piper points out to us today, there is a weakness inherent in some nice people. How can we guard against that weakness?

Adding something to a good thing, or changing the makeup of that good thing can turn it into a bad thing, as a drug mixup disaster in 1937 demonstrates to us. in Galatians 1, Paul warns the Galatians to not add to or subtract from the gospel, and tells them to not even listen to an ANGEL with a different gospel. An angel?!

Three quick topics today: Can angels look and act like humans? (Yes! Says Hebrews 13) Are rules about food helpful at all? Where will we spend the large majority of existence?

The Bible calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus so that we can persevere and overcome in difficult times. How can we do this - does this command mean that we should be able to literally see Jesus?

God sends Samuel to anoint the next king from among the sons of Jesse. When Samuel sees Eliab, the oldest, tallest and handsomest, he immediately assumes that he has found the next king of Israel. God, however, has an entirely different plan, and explains to Samuel the dangers of making appearance based judgments.

The Israelites demanded a king, but the man of God Samuel knew that this was a bad idea. God allowed it to happen, however, and this put Samuel in the position to mentor that first king, King Saul. As Charles Spurgeon points out, we can learn much about hearing God's Word from the way that Samuel instructed Saul.

How is it possible that a prostitute is commended by the New Testament as a champion of faith? What does this tell us about faith and salvation that is surprising? Also: Where, according to the Bible, is our primary citizenship?

In the Old Testament, we see the Hebrew people so afraid of coming near God that they demand Moses speak to God instead of them, and they stand far off trembling and afraid. The New Testament, however, calls us to draw very close to God - how can this be possible?

The sight of blood is often enough to make somebody recoil in horror or turn away in shock. Why, then does the Bible focus so much on blood - why is blood so important? How does the blood of Jesus possibly cleanse somebody from sin or play a part in forgiveness?

Three questions for today. What is Heaven like? (clues are in Exodus 26-27!) What is Jesus doing today, and our main topic: Does the Bible teach that the Old Testament Law is obsolete?

Who Was Melchizedek - could he have actually been an appearance of Jesus? Hebrews 7 seems to point us in that direction. Also, what is the best thing that is currently happening in all of creation right now? Hebrews 7 will tell us, and it is mind-bogglingly good news.

Today our focus is on the story of Ruth and Naomi - both widows who saw God move incredibly in the midst of their tragedy. What truths about God can we learn from this Moabite woman and the book with her name?

God has sent His people, the Israelites, to the Promised Land to fight and defeat the Canaanite people there. Surely this means that God is on the Israelite's side and opposed to the Canaanites, right? Actually, as Joshua will find out, no - it does not mean that.

Hebrews 6 contains several stark warnings that cause most reading it to wonder if Christians can lose their salvation. Is such a thing possible? If not, then what are the warnings in Hebrews (and other Bible passages) actually warning us about?

Begotten is an old fashioned and confusing word, but it represents an important truth about Jesus - that He is God's ONLY BEGOTTEN son. What does this mean - does it mean that Jesus is created?

Hebrews 4 tells us that God's Word is alive and active - how can Words have life, and bring life? We are also told that God's Word is sharp - like a sword? What does this metaphor mean - how is the Bible sharp and able to divide between soul and spirit?

Today we consider how the Word of God calls us to encourage each other daily, and how we must also receive daily encouragement. What can we do when we are in an environment devoid of daily encouragement?

Today we see in Hebrews that Jesus our Lord was fully human. (He was also fully God!) Being fully human means that Jesus suffered in every way that we do - including in being tempted to sin. And because He overcame, so can we. Because He suffered - He has mercy on us when we suffer!

In Joshua 1, God tells Joshua that one way that he is sure to prosper and be successful is to meditate on God's Word, because meditation will ensure obedience. Why should Christians today also meditate on Biblical truth?

Deuteronomy 28 has some wonderful blessings of God that He gives to those who obey His Word. It also has some terrifying consequences for disobedience that are enough to shake the stoutest of hearts. Today we consider the blessings and curses of God.

Today we discuss the role or job of angels - what does the Bible say angels do on for Christians? Also, of greater import, how can we know who God the Father is by knowing about Jesus? How does Jesus reveal to us His Father?

Everybody has heard of snake-handling, right? Although only a tiny percentage of 'churches' in America practice snake-handling, most people are quite aware of the so called snake-handling churches. Is there any Scripture justification for such practices, or are snake-handling churches blatantly disobeying God's commands?

Today we see God promising Paul (through an angel) to protect everybody whom Paul is sailing with - all 276 men. Unfortunately, a terrible storm causes the boat to break apart and sink at sea - how does God keep His Word to Paul?

Today we consider Paul - a bitter, angry, enraged enemy of Jesus that was gloriously saved by God. Why did God save Paul and use Him so mightily? Couldn't He have found somebody different who wasn't trying to murder as many Christians or get them put to death?

How can we know that the Bible contains reliable and genuine eye-witness accounts? Today we discuss the reliability of the Bible, and specifically, the genuine way that Luke records instances in the book of Acts without bias, editorializing or editing out embarrassing incidents.

When the Ten Commandments were given to the people of Israel, they were so terrified that they asked Moses to go near God and listen, rather than they themselves. They wanted to hide in their tents - away from the presence of God. The coming of Jesus, however, has changed that for us. How?

In Numbers 21 we read that the Israelites bitterly complained, leading to a plague of venomous snakes, and salvation from that plague of snakes by one bronze snake, lifted up on a pole. If one simply looked at that bronze snake, they would love. Jesus Himself uses this passage to proclaim salvation by faith in Him, and Charles Spurgeon would be saved by following the counsel of this passage - Look to Jesus and live!

In Acts 24, Paul talks to Roman Governor Festus about righteousness and judgment to come...which ends up scaring the pagan Roman governor. Today we discuss why this topic stirred up fear in him, and what exactly the judgment to come is all about.

Today our focus is on a statement of Paul that tore apart the Sanhedrin - ruling council - of the Jews - that he was on trial for his hope in the resurrection of the dead. What is this hope that Paul had - will all be resurrected after death? (Also: Why Paul made such a good messenger for Jesus.)

Three topics in today's fast-paced show: #1 Does God Speak to People In Trances? #2 Are there racists in the Bible? Today we meet several, behaving like toddlers having a temper-tantrum. #3 - Why did God save Paul, considering that Paul was an avowed enemy of Jesus?

In today's Bible chapter, we meet four daughters of Philip the evangelist, who were prophesying, which leads us to discuss female ministers in the Bible - including a full list of all of the prophetesses in the Bible. Can you name them all?

Today we discuss crying - should men cry? Of course - when the time is right. In Acts 20, we see tears discussed 3 different times, and also find Paul quoting Jesus on giving, but we can't find in the Gospels where Jesus actually said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." How did Paul know Jesus said this?

In Numbers 14, it appears that Moses 'changes' God's mind in prayer, and causes God to take a different path. Does prayer really change God's mind, or is something deeper at work here? Also - discussing God's Kindness and His Justice.

Today we return to the Old Testament and learn about ordination, as we read about the ordination of Aaron and his sons. We also discuss the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament - why was there so much blood in the OT, and what connection do Christians today have with blood?

Today we consider the discipleship strategy of Paul- reaching a whole region by daily teaching about Jesus and leading discussions in a secular lecture hall. We also discuss the coming/filling/empowering of the Holy Spirit - does He come before salvation, during salvation, or after salvation?

Two topics today: #1 What was a tentmaker in the first century, and what does that word mean now? Also - Overcoming timidity and learning to boldly speak more about Jesus?

The first century church was vibrant and effective in evangelism - reaching multitudes quickly and effectively. Was this because of their methods, or because of their message? Today we discuss first century church evangelism.

Today we cover three episodes in the life of Paul, and ask why Timothy ahd to be circumcised, what in the world is a python spirit, and how a Philippian jailer and his WHOLE family somehow came to faith at the preaching of a prisoner.

Paul and Barnabas get into a sharp disagreement in today's chapter, but the Bible doesn't tell us which one of them was in the correct position, which brings up a very common question faced by many Christians: How can we handle disputes in situations where the Bible doesn't clearly tell us what to do?

Today we see that God's glory filled the tabernacle so thickly, that not even Moses could go inside. What is glory - is it a physical thing, or a spiritual thing? How does the Bible describe the glory of God?