Spoken Gospel

After nearly thirty chapters of accusations, a new voice enters the debate. Elihu claims to speak for God, but he twists Job's words just like the serpent in the garden, until God himself answers from the whirlwind with a question: who darkens my counsel? David and Christine finish the book of Job and talk about Elihu, Behemoth and Leviathan, and the good news that Jesus is the innocent sufferer who intercedes for his accusers and binds the dragon.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar arrive to comfort Job and spend thirty chapters insisting that his suffering is proof of hidden guilt. Everything they say about God is true, and they aim all of it at an innocent man. David and Christine walk through the three cycles of speeches and talk about windy arguments, whether innocent suffering is even a legitimate category, and Job's hope in a redeemer who would vindicate him out of the grave.

The accuser always offers a shortcut. He tells Eve she can have maturity without waiting, tells Job he can end his suffering by cursing God, and tells Jesus he can have the nations without a cross. David and Christine walk through Genesis 3, Job 1–2, and the temptation of Jesus, and show how Job passes the test Adam failed and how Jesus finally defeats the accuser by refusing every easy road.

In the land of Uz, out in Gentile wilderness, a blameless king-priest tends a pocket of paradise—a flourishing household he rules and intercedes for, keeping the snakes out. Then the accuser appears in God's throne room and takes every good gift Job has been given and twists it into an indictment: remove the hedge, and this man will curse God to his face. David and Christine walk through Job's first two trials and the leash God places on chaos, and show how Job defeats the accuser not by arguing with him but by blessing God in the middle of his suffering.

Job is not the only ancient book about a righteous man who suffers for no nameable reason. Cultures across Sumer, Babylon, and Egypt wrote about pious sufferers who lamented, searched their lives for a hidden crime, and found nothing—and every one of them eventually traded away either their innocence or their god to make the pain stop. David and Christine open a new series on Job by reading it alongside these ancient neighbors and showing why Job refuses that trade, and why what he asks for is not relief but vindication.

When Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, he isn't just fulfilling a single prediction from Zechariah. He's taking up a promise made to Judah on Jacob's deathbed—a scepter, a roused lion, and a donkey tethered to his brother Joseph's vine—that has been waiting centuries for Israel's two divided kingdoms to become one again. David and Christine trace donkeys and vines from Genesis 49 to a strangely well-behaved lion in 1 Kings 13. They talk about brothers, exile, and the good news that the oldest rift in Israel is finally healed in the grave of a resurrected King.

Six days before Passover, as all Jerusalem prepares lambs for slaughter, Mary pours out a pound of costly perfume over Jesus' feet at a dinner in the slum of Bethany, and the whole house fills with its fragrance. In this single extravagant act, Jesus is revealed as the Passover lamb, the consecrated priest, the anointed King, and the Bridegroom on his way to the grave. David and Christine walk through Jesus' anointing in John 12, tracing how Mary's offering prepares the body of Life himself to carry the aroma of resurrection down into the tomb.

Three times in John 6, Jesus retells the story of the Exodus: he feeds a hungry crowd near Passover, crosses a stormy sea, and declares himself the true bread from heaven that came down to sustain his people. Beneath the miracle of the loaves and fish lies a web of echoes—the manna in the wilderness, the bread of the presence, and the tree of life in Eden. David and Christine walk through this dense chapter and the good news that Jesus is the true Passover meal, offering his own life so that all who feed on him will be raised up on the last day.

Water shows up in nearly every chapter of John's Gospel, and it's almost never simple—sometimes death, sometimes life, sometimes the boundary between them. Having spent the last episode tracing the theme of water through the Old Testament, David and Christine return to John to watch all those waves crash together into one story. They walk through Jesus' baptism, the wedding at Cana, the woman at the well, the storm on the sea, and the water that flows from his pierced side, showing how John presents Jesus as the living water who has come to cleanse an unfaithful people and make a dead and thirsty world new.

Water flows through nearly every chapter of John's Gospel. From Jesus' baptism to the woman at the well, from healing beside a pool to walking on the sea, John uses water imagery to describe Jesus' ministry. David and Christine dive into the Old Testament to trace the theme of water through the biblical story and how rescue from chaotic depths and provision of life-giving streams are images that prepare us for Jesus, who invites all who are thirsty to come to him and drink.

The Gospel of John is structured around seven signs that build toward an eighth—the resurrection of Jesus. To understand what John means by a "sign," David and Christine walk through the biblical story, tracing where and how signs appear in Scripture. From the heavenly lights of creation to the plagues that fell on Egypt, John shows that Jesus' signs reveal that he is God in the flesh who has come to bring new creation and salvation to humanity.

John opens his Gospel not with a birth narrative or a genealogy, but with a stunning claim about who Jesus has always been. David and Christine walk through John's prologue and talk about how the Word of God appears as a visible divine person over 100 times in the Old Testament, how the logic of creation itself proves Jesus is uncreated and therefore God, and why the incarnation—God becoming flesh and dwelling among us—is not just something we celebrate at Christmas but the very means by which God saves and restores the world.

John's account of Jesus' life and Gospel has long been noted for its uniqueness compared to the synoptic accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In this episode, David and Christine begin the series on the Gospel of John, exploring who John is as a unique eyewitness, his purpose for writing, and the importance of reading John on his own terms to see Jesus as the God who incarnates and fulfills Scripture's images, themes, and patterns.

After nearly seven years of reading through the entire Bible together, Seth Stewart steps away from the Spoken Gospel Podcast to pursue eldership and family ministry full time. In this episode, Seth and David reflect on how seeing Jesus on every page of Scripture changed their understanding of who he is, what it really means to read the Bible faithfully, and why no podcast — including this one — can replace the local church.

As the gospel continues to spread among the Gentiles, a dispute arises as to whether non-Jewish converts need to follow Jewish customs like circumcision to be included in the kingdom of God. David and Christine explore the depths of the apostles' discussion in Jerusalem surrounding this issue, taking a closer look at how the apostles interpreted the Scriptures in light of Jesus' ascension to reach their conclusion.

As the gospel spreads from Jerusalem to distant lands, the church lives out Jesus' life on earth through patterns of growth, persecution, and deliverance. In fact, this has been the story of God's people since the very first Passover in Egypt. David and Christine trace the Passover themes in Peter's escape from prison, which showcase Jesus' ultimate Passover that all people are invited into.

What does it mean that Gentiles are made clean? How can the Holy Spirit fill Gentiles supposedly outside of God's Kingdom? David and Christine explore the events surrounding Peter's visit to Cornelius, the implications that Jesus' ascension and worldwide atonement have on the nations, and how the Gentile Pentecost connects to the stories of Ezekiel, Jonah, and even Noah's descendants.

Saul was breathing out threats and murder against the followers of Jesus—until Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. David and Christine explore how this story echoes both King Saul's pursuit of David and Elisha's surprising hospitality to enemy soldiers. Together, they uncover a stunning theme: God saves his people by showing kindness to his enemies.

Stephen was the first person to give his life for Jesus, and his death mirrors the death of Jesus in stunning ways. David and Christine walk through Stephen's brilliant sermon, his vision of the risen Christ, and how his martyrdom set the stage for the gospel to spread and for Saul's transformation into the Apostle Paul.

The final five Songs of Ascent (Psalms 130-134) complete Israel's journey from the watery depths of exile to the heights of God's temple. David and Seth explore how these psalms reveal God's plenteous forgiveness, the promises made to King David, and Israel's calling as a kingdom of priests who will bless the nations through the coming Messiah.

A wealthy Ethiopian official journeys to Jerusalem seeking the God of Israel, only to find himself excluded from the very temple he longed to enter. David and Christine talk about ancient riddles, the Queen of Sheba, and how Philip's encounter with this outsider shows that the Gospel breaks down every barrier to bring the nations into God's family.

When persecution scatters the church beyond Jerusalem, Philip takes the gospel to Samaria—a region synonymous with religious syncretism and idolatry for centuries. In this episode, David, Christine, and Josh explore how Philip's ministry mirrors Jesus' own work, bringing healing and freedom to a people long excluded from God's family.

Pentecost wasn't just another Jewish festival—it was God's cosmic reset button for all creation. David, Christine, and Josh walk through the dramatic events of Acts 2, where the theophanic cloud that once filled the temple now fills God's people. They explore how Peter's sermon reveals the most scandalous aspect of the Gospel: those who killed God are offered forgiveness, cleansing, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The same number who died at Sinai for worshiping the golden calf—3,000—are now saved through the ultimate crime of crucifying God Himself.

What does it mean that Jesus ascended on a cloud and promised to return the same way? David, Christine, and Josh explore how Acts continues the story Jesus began in Luke's Gospel, showing Jesus as the cloud-riding Son of Man from Daniel 7 who conquers evil empires and shares his throne with his people.

The middle songs of ascent (Psalms 125-129) form the climactic high point of these ancient worship songs, with Solomon's temple psalm at the very center. Seth and David explore how these psalms promise that those who trust in God are as immovable as Mount Zion itself, while wicked rulers will never permanently rest in God's land.

The Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) tell the story of Israel's return from exile. In this episode, Seth and David walk through the first five psalms in this collection, exploring how they capture the journey from the farthest point of exile—surrounded by enemies and word vipers—through the wilderness, and finally arriving at Jerusalem's gates. These songs show us how God comes to us in our exile to bring us home.

The Songs of Ascent are 15 psalms that form a unique "concept album" within Scripture, telling the story of God's people returning from exile to Jerusalem and the temple. In this podcast episode, Seth and David explore how these interconnected psalms represent a pilgrim's journey from Babylon back to God's mountain, moving through three movements: calling on God from exile, finding safety within the temple walls, and finally becoming instruments of God's blessing to the nations.

The identity of the woman in Proverbs 31 has been debated for generations. In this sermon episode, David reveals how she represents far more than an impossible standard for individual women—she's actually the culmination of the entire biblical story. From the Garden of Eden to the New Testament church, David traces the hope that a wise king would marry Wisdom itself. This hope points directly to and is fulfilled in Jesus and his bride, the church, who together bring God's flourishing kingdom to a broken world.

Paul's "thorn in the flesh" has sparked countless theories about physical ailments and personal struggles, but the answer may be simpler than we think. Seth and David explore Paul's third heaven experience and show how his thorn in the flesh connects to the pattern of Old Testament prophets and God's power being made perfect in weakness.

Paul spends two entire chapters in 2 Corinthians asking for money, which seems to contradict his earlier insistence that he never charged the Corinthians for his ministry. In this podcast episode, Seth and David explore Paul's teaching on generosity and show how he reframes giving as participating in God's miracle of provision and proving the genuineness of our faith through Christ-like sacrifice.

The phrase "do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers" is commonly applied to Christian marriage, but that wasn't Paul's original intent. Seth and David explore the rich biblical background of this famous passage and show how Paul was actually warning the Corinthians against yoking themselves to false teachers who were leading them away from Jesus and his Gospel.

Everyone in Mark's trial narrative bears false witness about who Jesus is—the religious leaders, the crowds, and even Peter who denies knowing him three times. But Jesus himself bears true witness, revealing that he is the merciful God who dies for those who betray him. In this podcast episode, David explores how this passage completes the story Scripture has been telling since Eden about God's relentless pursuit of his unfaithful people.

For the first time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus crosses from Jewish territory into Gentile lands to confront the spiritual forces that have oppressed the nations. In this podcast episode, David walks through the longest exorcism account in Scripture, showing how Jesus fulfills God's promise to bless all nations by liberating a man possessed by a legion of demons and demonstrating his authority over every fallen spiritual power.

The Pharisees created extra laws around God's commands to bring the Messiah and restore Israel as a blessing to the world. But when Jesus comes, he shows that he is the fulfillment, authority, and purpose of the law. In this podcast episode, David walks through three stories in Mark where Jesus demonstrates His lordship over the Sabbath and reveals Himself as the long-awaited bridegroom, King, and God of the new creation.

In this podcast episode, David Bowden delves into Mark 1:2-15 on John the Baptist.

In this episode of the Spoken Gospel Podcast, David and Seth explore one of the most challenging passages in 1 Corinthians - chapter 14. They examine Paul's teachings on spiritual gifts, particularly tongues and prophecy, as well as his instructions for orderly worship. Given Corinth's pagan context, Paul is determined to teach these new Christians that the purpose of their God-given gifts is to benefit and build up one another rather than competitively trying to outdo one another.

In this episode of the Spoken Gospel Podcast, David and Seth explore the controversial passage on head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11. They examine the cultural context of ancient Corinth, unpack Paul's arguments, and reveal how this challenging text ultimately points to the beauty of Jesus and the Gospel.

In this episode of the Spoken Gospel podcast, David and Seth explore the complex issue of food sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians 8-10. They unpack the historical context of Corinth as a pagan Greek city and how new Christian converts struggled with questions about eating meat offered to idols.

In this episode of the Spoken Gospel Podcast, host David Bowden sits down with Daniel Day from Our Daily Bread Ministries to discuss Bible engagement and the Reclaim Today initiative.

In this podcast episode, David Bowden delves into Mark 11:12-25, exploring the interconnected stories of Jesus cursing the fig tree, cleansing the temple, and teaching about faith and prayer. David unpacks the rich symbolism and theological significance behind these events, demonstrating how they relate to God's larger plan for redemption and the role of the temple throughout biblical history.

In this podcast episode, David Bowden explores Jesus' teaching on divorce from Mark 10:1-12. David examines the passage within the broader narrative of Mark's gospel and the overarching story of Scripture. He unpacks how Jesus' response to the Pharisees reveals profound truths about God's design for marriage and His relationship with His people.

In this podcast episode, we dive deep into Mark 7:24-30, exploring the challenging story of Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman. This passage has often confused and even offended readers, but when understood in its proper context, it reveals a beautiful picture of Jesus' ministry to outcasts and foreigners.

In this episode, David and Seth explore the cast of characters that fill the book of Proverbs, from the Fool and the Wicked to the Wise and the Righteous. Through the journey of "Pete the Simple" - the malleable youth open to instruction - they show how these characters serve as warnings and examples on the path to wisdom, ultimately pointing to Jesus as the perfect model to follow.

In this podcast episode, Seth and David explore what it means to "fear the Lord" in the quest for wisdom. Starting in Genesis, they track the theme of wisdom and folly throughout the biblical story - from Adam and Eve's fateful choice in Eden to Jesus' perfect example of godly wisdom. Though the world saw the cross as foolishness, Jesus' humble obedience revealed God's true wisdom and opened the way back to paradise.

God made the world to reflect his wisdom. As people observe God’s wise ordering of the universe they compile proverbs, short sayings meant to be contemplated and applied to everyday life. Every culture has proverbs, so it’s no surpise we should find a book full of them in our Bibles. But what is wisdom as the Bible sees it? How do we live well in the world God made? David and Seth explore the genre of Proverbs and how we encounter God’s wisdom perfectly reflected in Jesus.

Seth and David ask why a song about the honeymoon night is in our Bibles and try to tell the story of the Hebrew people and Jesus as the story of a marriage.

Seth and David go deep into the five main poetic movements in the Song of Songs. 

Get ready to hear about the greatest of all songs, the Song of Songs, or as it's also known, the Song of Solomon. Seth and David talk about the interconnected poems of the Song and the unique contribution it makes to the Bible's story. 

In this podcast episode, Seth and David do a deep dive into one of their favorite verses in the Bible.

A group of "super-apostles" have invaded the church in Corinth. In this episode, Seth and David talk about what exactly an apostle is and why Paul spends so much of this letter defending his ministry.

In this podcast episode, Spoken Gospel Executive Director David Bowden shares about his latest book, Learning to Be Loved. This episode also includes a free audio version of Chapter 9: Bible, where you'll learn how the Bible is a place to encounter Jesus and be transformed.

There are four songs in Isaiah attributed to God's Servant. Seth and David walk though each one and show how they anticipate the coming of Jesus and restoration of God's people.

Every Christmas, Christians worldwide hear Isaiah's prophecies about a child called "Immanuel." Seth and David talk about one of the best-known prophecies in Scripture and how it prepares us for the birth of Jesus.

One of Isaiah's most famous prophecies talks about a "suffering servant." But that idea is found all the way back in the book of Genesis. Seth and David trace the theme of servants throughout the Bible and talk about servants in the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah is one of the most important books for both the Old and New Testaments. In this intro episode, Seth and David talk about what prophecy is and why Isaiah is so important to the Biblical story.

Underneath almost every command Paul gives the Corinthian church is a summons to remember that Jesus is coming back soon. Jesus' second coming and the resurrection of all people are the motivation for almost everything he calls his church to do. In this podcast episode, Seth and David talk about bodies, Jesus' resurrection, and why resurrection bodies were so important to Paul.

The church in Corinth had a lot of problems and most of them had something to do with Corinthian’s posture towards their culture and their understanding of the resurrection. Seth and David introduce the book of Corinthians, talk about the strange way the ancient philosophy of Dualism pops up in modern culture, and how Corinthians is really good news for really broken churches.

The final section of Romans opens with a question. If non-Jews have been included in God's promises to Israel because of faith in Jesus, what about Jews who do not believe in Jesus? Seth and David talk about the faithfulness of God and how he is still faithful to God's people. 

Paul tells us everything we "get" because of our faith in Jesus' death and resurrection. Seth and David talk about what it means to be God's heirs, to have the Spirit, to be adopted, and to be free.

The opening chapters of Romans tell us that when humans stand before God, everyone is equal. We are all under the thumb of Sin and Death. Humanity's only hope to be rescued is faith in Jesus. Seth and David talk about what it means to be "saved" and how Jesus rescues us from both the power of Death and God's perfect justice. 

Romans is one of the most unique and important books of the Bible. It's a letter that says over and over that ALL people are included in the promises God made to Israel. Seth and David talk through who Paul was and what was going on in Rome that led to the letter we call "Romans." 

The Book of Lamentations is a series of five anonymous, acrostic poems that record and weep over the devastation of Jerusalem at the hands of Babylon. Seth and David walk through the story weaved throughout Lamentations' five poems and talk about the surprising good news of God's silence in the middle of suffering.

The Book of Lamentations is a series of five anonymous, acrostic poems that record and weep over the devastation of Jerusalem at the hands of Babylon. Seth and David talk about the artistic genius of Lamentations, the theological and therapeutic value of laments, and why we shouldn't sanitize our prayers.

Even more shocking than Ezekiel's oracles of judgment is his insistence that God has not rejected the very same people who have abandoned him. Seth and David talk about the shocking mercy of God, architectural Sabbaths, and why a vision of God's temple shows up at the end of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel's prophecies are meant to shock his audience out of their spiritual apathy and idolatry and Ezekiel uses some of the most graphic language in the Bible to do it. Ezekiel uses images of blood, insects, prostitution, and even donkey sex to make his point. Seth and David walk through some of Ezekiel's most shocking prophecies and talk about how even passages of judgment prove the goodness of God.

The opening chapters of Ezekiel start with a bang. Ezekiel sees a vision of God and it's... overwhelming. Wheels full of eyes, four-headed angels, and a massive storm rush over Ezekiel and he's left comatose for 7 days. Seth and David walk through one of the most intense depictions of God in the Old Testament and show how it all connects to Jesus getting baptized.

Ezekiel and his prophecies are some of the most vivid, intense, and disturbing in all the Bible. But Ezekiel isn't primarily a prophet of doom but of new creation. Seth and David talk about Ezekiel's prophecies and the good news that in Jesus Ezekiel's prophecies begin to come true.

When we think of the word "gospel" we normally think of something religious but when Jesus' first followers would have heard it, they would have heard something closer to Roman propaganda. Seth and David talk about the origins of the term "Gospel" and how Jesus brings good news into a world full of bad news.

There are just SO MANY parallels between Jesus and Jeremiah. Seth and David walk through dozens of examples where Jesus completes the narrative arc begun in Jeremiah and brings the hopes of Jeremiah's ministry to completion.

One of Jeremiah's most used metaphors to describe Judah is as an adulterous bride. Seth and David unpack this sometimes unsettling image and discuss how Jesus is the Groom who stops at nothing to rescue and marry his bride.

Ever since God led his people out of Egypt he promised that Israel would always have a prophetic leader like Moses to help guide the nation. While Moses was God's prophet at Israel's founding, Jeremiah was God's prophet as Israel died. Seth and David discuss Jeremiah as Moses' prophetic successor and how Jesus walks on the scene as the prophet of Israel's re-creation.

Jeremiah is a tortured prophet tasked to preach a message of inescapable death and decline. In this episode, Seth and David unpack Jeremiah's unique prophetic ministry and how a prophet of such gloomy news helps us encounter Jesus.

The book of Thessalonians has some of the most specific and yet some of the most vague passages about when Jesus comes again. In this experimental episode Seth and David wade through one option for understanding the Day of the Lord and who the Man of Lawlessness might be.

Under intense persecution, the Thessalonian church slowly began to believe that Jesus had already returned, and perhaps, left them behind. Seth and David talk about misconceptions about Jesus' return and why our suffering can be both good news and proof that we haven't been left behind.

What does it mean when Paul says we are "caught up in the air"? Seth and David walk through the back half of the book of Thessalonians and talk about the good news that Jesus is coming back soon.

After only spending about three weeks with a brand new group of believers in Thessalonica, the apostle Paul and Silas are kicked out of the city by a mob and are unable to return. But despite the intense persecution and their immature faith, the Thessalonians became model Christians throughout the Mediterranean. In this episode, Seth and David talk about this fledgling church and the good news that knowing Jesus equips us to handle whatever is thrown at us.

2 Chronicles opens by describing Solomon as an ideal leader. He is who all Israelite kings should try to live up to. But the rest of 2 Chronicles charts how none of Israel's kings ever reach his glory. Seth and David talk through the Chroniclers' "perfect" description of Solomon and why it's good news that priesthoods determine the course of nations.

1 Chronicles centers around David's rise to power, his skill as a nation-builder, and his preparation to construct God's temple. Seth and David talk about the eternal dynasty promised to David and the surprising good news of priestly bureaucracy.

Chronicles records the history of God's people from Adam all the way to their return from exile. It's also a book full of music, instruments, singing, and songs. Seth and David compare Chronicles to Hamilton and talk about how the story of Israel's founding father, David, gives a new generation of leaders a rubric to rebuild their nation.

The book of Revelation is a unified story of hope for Christians who are suffering and being persecuted. David and Seth unpack the story of Revelation and how all its complex images tell a beautiful story that ends in a wedding.

At the beginning of Revelation, there is a king seated on a throne, and throughout Revelation, a bride prepares herself to marry this king, and at the very end, there is a wedding. Seth and David talk about the themes of "King" and "Bride" in the book of Revelation and how Jesus can't wait to marry his people.

Like Jesus, humanity is meant to rule the world and to spill their blood for the good of others. Seth and David talk about one of the most counter-intuitive teachings in Revelation–that Christians conquer when they suffer and die.

How does Psalm 22 reflect Jesus' Crucifixion? In this episode, David and Seth are joined by author Cameron Cole to discuss Psalm 22, and how in our suffering, God hears and understands the pain, sorrow, and misery that comes in this life, because he suffered the loss of his son Jesus on the cross. Cameron Cole has been the Director of Youth Ministries at the Cathedral Church of the Advent for 14 years in Birmingham, Alabama, and as of January 2016, his role has developed to include Children, Youth, and Families. He is also the Founding Chairman of Rooted Ministry, an organization that promotes Gospel-Centered Student Ministry and Youth Ministry. He is also the Co-Editor of “Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry: A Practice Guide” (Crossway, 2016). He is pursuing a Masters in Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary. Check Out Cameron Cole’s latest book, “Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy”: https://www.amazon.com/Therefore-Have-Hope-Comfort-Sustain-ebook/dp/B079XXYNYC/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Cameron+cole&qid=1550699021&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Visit Cameron’s Blog: https://www.rootedministry.com For more information about Spoken Gospel visit: http://www.spokengospel.com

How can we see Jesus worshipped and praised in the Psalms? In this episode, David and Seth are introducing the Psalms and are joined by pastor Jeff Vanderstelt to examine how the Psalms reflect the gospel. Jeff is a pastor, speaker, author, and founder and visionary leader of Saturate and the Soma Family of Churches. He serves as a teaching pastor and Director of Missional Communities at Doxa Church in Bellevue, WA. Additionally, Jeff supports church planting globally through training and as a member of the Advisory Board of C2C Network. He and Jayne, his wife of twenty-five years, have three children; Haylee, Caleb, and Maggie. Connect with Jeff at his website www.jeffvanderstelt.com or on twitter @JeffVanderstelt. Check out Jeff Vanderstelt's books, "Gospel Basics for Kids" and "Gospel Fluency Handbook". "Gospel Basics for Kids": https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Basics-Kids-Heidi-Wygle/dp/1732491305 "Gospel Fluency Handbook": https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Fluency-Handbook-Practical-Speaking-ebook/dp/B075N847CY For more information, visit https://saturatetheworld.com For more information about Spoken Gospel visit: http://www.spokengospel.com Support Spoken Gospel

The instructions for the building of the tabernacle is finished, so where do the people go from here? Bezalel and Oholiab are two people who are given the Spirit of God to accomplish the building of the tabernacle and its finest details. How do we see Jesus in these two men? In this episode, David and Seth discuss how the Spirit of God helps us obey the God's commandments. For more information about Spoken Gospel visit: http://www.spokengospel.com Welcome to Spoken Gospel. This is our journey to speak the gospel out of every corner of scripture. Each week author and poet David Bowden sits down with preacher and blogger Seth Stewart to address one pericope of scripture and show how it points to Jesus. We believe that the whole Bible is about Jesus. In fact, everything is about Jesus. “From him, through him, and to him are all things” (Rom. 11:36). “For by him all things were created…all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16-17). Since everything in the world is about Jesus, certainly the Bible, which is his word, is about him too. “And Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk. 24:25-27) “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (Jn. 5:39) In fact, we are convinced that reading the Bible without seeing how it points us to Jesus is to read the Bible with a veil over it. “For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed” (2 Cor. 3:14-16). This text goes on to say that it is the Gospel that is veiled. But when the veil is taken away by the Spirit, and we see the Gospel throughout the Bible, we don’t just get new information or discover clever connections. We actually see, “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4). Seeing Jesus and his Gospel throughout the whole Bible is not about trying to see something that isn’t really there, but trusting the Spirit of God to show us what is really there. And what is really there is the image and glory of God in Jesus. This isn’t about seeing beyond the text or through the text. It isn’t about overlooking the historical events or the author’s intent, to see something mystical and secret. It is about seeing how God operated in historical events, through authorial intent, in the texts of scripture to show us more of his glory in Jesus. That is our goal in this podcast. We will work through books of the Bible in segments. Usually these segments will be broken up by the text itself, pausing for reflection where the literature seems to tell us to stop and take account. Our hope is to make it through the whole Bible, speaking the Gospel out of every corner of Scripture. Welcome to our public experiment to test this thesis. Welcome to Spoken Gospel. Support Spoken Gospel

The book of Revelation is full of complex symbols, strange beasts, and mysterious numbers. In this episode, Seth and David talk about how to approach all the complexities of Revelation and how to read it as a story of hope for persecuted and suffering Christians.

Hebrews includes some of the scariest warnings in all of Scripture right next to dozens of examples of the most impressive people in the Bible. Many of us have read these passages and wondered how we'll ever measure up, and if God might just decide to be done with us. Seth and David talk about what the warning passages of Hebrews mean and what it means to have faith.

The author of Hebrews continues to challenge his Jewish audience to follow Jesus despite persecution. Because Jesus is a better priest and offers a better sacrifices he is worth their perseverance. Seth and David talk about the lesser-known character of Melchizedek and why it's good news that Jesus has been sworn into his priestly order.

Hebrews starts somewhere we might not, proving that Jesus is better than angels, or more generally, the "messengers" of the Old Covenant. Seth and David explain why the author of Hebrews starts his letter talking about angels and why it's good news that Jesus is not an angel.

In case you missed our special Holy Week releases, here they are again! This time our eight mini-episodes covering each day of Holy Week are here in one two-hour special!

1600 years ago Christians began calling the last days of Jesus’ life “Holy Week.” Seth and David talk about Easter Sunday and why it's good news that Jesus was raised from the dead.

1600 years ago Christians began calling the last days of Jesus’ life “Holy Week.” Today is Holy Saturday. Seth and David talk about Holy Saturday and the day Jesus rested in his tomb is good news.

1600 years ago Christians began calling the last days of Jesus’ life “Holy Week.” Today is Good Friday. Seth and David talk about why Good Friday, the day Jesus was condemned by Pilate, crucified on a cross, and buried in a tomb is good news.

1600 years ago Christians began calling the last days of Jesus’ life “Holy Week.” Today is Maundy Thursday. Seth and David talk about Maundy Thursday and why Jesus' final meal and new covenant is good news.

1600 years ago Christians began calling the last days of Jesus’ life “Holy Week.” Today is Spy Wednesday. Seth and David talk about the sober choice Spy Wednesday, the day Jesus was covered in an expensive perfume by Mary and betrayed by Judas, offers us.

1600 years ago Christians began calling the last days of Jesus’ life “Holy Week.” Today is Holy Tuesday. Seth and David talk about Holy Tuesday and why Jesus cursing a fig tree is a call to join a rebellion.

1600 years ago Christians began calling the last days of Jesus’ life “Holy Week.” Today is Holy Monday. Seth and David talk about Holy Monday, the day Jesus came into Jerusalem’s temple with a homemade whip in his hand.

1600 years ago Christians began calling the last days of Jesus’ life “Holy Week.” Today is Palm Sunday. Seth and David talk about Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey like a rival king to challenge Caesar and his Roman empire.

Starting on Palm Sunday, we will be releasing a short podcast every day leading up to Resurrection Sunday. Join us DAILY for eight days as we explore the final days of Jesus' life and how both his suffering and resurrection is good news.