On this “Memorable Verses” edition of Deep in Scripture, Marcus Grodi welcomes former nondenominational pastor Don Smith to talk about the meaning of redemptive suffering, and how God calls us to hope, regardless to our circumstances. As St. Paul tells both the Colossians and the Romans, suffering is unavoidable; but in the midst of it, if we trust the cross, hope will ultimately prevail. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflic...
Sep 19, 2019•34 min•Ep. 196
On the latest "Memorable Verses" edition of Deep in Scripture, Marcus Grodi and Ken Hensley look at St. Paul's letter to the Philippians and his thoughts on imitating Christ, and the famous "hall of faith" in Hebrews 11. We are called to imitate Christ, but in addition to Jesus, we have other models of faith and obedience in the patriarchs and prophets of God that followed His will before even realizing the promise of the incarnation.
Sep 12, 2019•47 min•Ep. 195
Marcus Grodi continues his "Memorable Verses" series of Deep in Scripture by welcoming Matt D'Antuono, whose work appears regularly at the National Catholic Register. On this episode, they look at I Timothy 3:15 and Ephesians 2:8-9. It's a great answer to some of the false dichotomies that exist in certain theological circles; faith cannot be separated from works, nor can Scripture be separated from the Church. "(I)f I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, whi...
Sep 05, 2019•32 min•Ep. 194
On the latest "Memorable Verses" edition of Deep in Scripture, Marcus Grodi and Matt Swaim look at the importance of humility in the spiritual life, not only for keeping harmony with our neighbors, but also for staying in relationship with Christ. Jesus gives us the example of humility, as St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians; and as Isaiah tells us, sometimes that humility means waiting upon the Lord rather than advancing our own agendas.
Aug 29, 2019•41 min•Ep. 193
Marcus Grodi continues his "Memorable Verses" series with Dr. John Bergsma, looking at the teachings of Jesus about the end of the world, and the importance of staying connected to God's word, no matter what the future holds. When we see trouble in the world, or even trouble in the Church, we should not despair that God is no longer in control; we should rather trust more radically in the promises of His word, that he will be a source of strength for us. "Therefore you also must be ready; for th...
Aug 22, 2019•31 min•Ep. 192
TL Putnam, host of Outside the Walls, joins Marcus Grodi to look at a couple more "Memorable Verses" from the Scriptures, specifically addressing the questions of providence and priority. They look at Jesus' call to seek first the Kingdom of God in Matthew 6:33, and Paul's testimony to God's providence in Philippians 4:19 as ways to understand that when we put God first and foremost in our lives, he provides for us in ways we could never imagine.
Aug 01, 2019•39 min•Ep. 191
In the latest Memorable Verses edition of Deep in Scripture, Marcus Grodi and Seth Paine look at what the Scriptures have to say about what it means to abide in Christ, and specifically how loving one another helps us to abide in Christ. Reflecting on one passage from John's Gospel, and one from his first Epistle, they dig into how God's love empowers us not only to remain in him, but also to share that love with others. Seth even sings his verse, so be listening for that! "Abide in me as I abid...
Jul 25, 2019•46 min•Ep. 190
Marcus Grodi continues his "Memorable Verses" series with Jeff Cavins, founder of the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. They look at the Great Commission, as well as St. Paul's exploration of how God reveals himself through creation, and talk about what those two passages tell us about how we're supposed to share our Catholic faith. They dig into natural law, faith, and reason, and touch a lot of interesting bases along the way! “Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, h...
Jul 18, 2019•49 min•Ep. 189
Marcus Grodi continues the theme of "Memorable Verses" with Ken Hensley, who works in pastoral care for The Coming Home Network. This time around, they select from John the Baptist and King David, and look at how both of these men attracted acclaim in the eyes of men, but both ultimately realized that to find true fulfillment, they needed to remind themselves that it is God who gives all good things, and He Himself is the one who can fulfill us. "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30...
Jul 10, 2019•41 min•Ep. 188
On the latest "Memorable Verses" edition of the Deep in Scripture podcast, Marcus Grodi and Catholic Bible study author Sonja Corbitt talk about two verses from the Psalms that are crucial to understanding how to live in relationship with God. Marcus shares how delighting in the Lord is the way to find true fulfillment, and Sonja talks about how being obsessed with anger distracts us from our true purpose as children of God. Sonja Corbitt is online at biblestudyevangelista.com. "Delight yourself...
Jul 03, 2019•37 min•Ep. 187
On this "Memorable Verses" episode of Deep in Scripture, Marcus Grodi and Jim Anderson look at St. Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5:17 about being a new creation in Christ, and also his teaching in I Timothy 2:5-6, which talks about Jesus being the mediator between God and man who gives himself as a ransom for all. Marcus and Jim discuss how Christ's saving work on the cross, which was offered for all, is the means by which we have the opportunity to become a new creation in Him. "Therefore, if a...
Jun 26, 2019•36 min•Ep. 186
In a new series of Deep in Scripture episodes, Marcus Grodi begins a focus on "memorable verses," ones that many Christians have memorized and Catholics would do well to commit to memory. In this first episode, Marcus and Matt Swaim discuss Proverbs 3:5-6, on trusting the Lord, and Galatians 5:22-23 on the fruits of the Spirit, and share why those two passages are significant to reflect upon when it comes to growing in a relationship with God. "Trust in the Lordwith all your heart and lean not o...
Jun 11, 2019•46 min•Ep. 185
As pastors, Marcus Grodi (Presbyterian) and Ken Hensley (Baptist) saw the Bible as their ultimate authority when it came to teaching the truths of the faith. However, the more each of them preached from the Scriptures, the more it became apparent to them that they were bringing their own prejudices, experiences, and denominational influences to the texts. And if the Bible wasn't a self-interpreting document, then what was the correct interpretation? Those questions and doubts led Ken and Marcus,...
May 30, 2019•51 min•Ep. 184
After the initial joy of the Easter season begins to die down, how do we sustain the joy and strength necessary to continue in our walk with Christ? On this episode of Deep in Scripture, Marcus and JonMarc Grodi look at Hebrews 10:19-25, which contains not only a call to persevere in the faith, but also a road map of how to do so. In that, the writer of Hebrews emphasizes the importance of community; that no Christian is ever meant to go it alone. We are not merely called to follow Jesus as indi...
May 15, 2019•55 min•Ep. 183
With so many Christian denominations out there, how can a follower of Jesus know that they're a part of a congregation that has a historic claim to uphold the teachings of Jesus? Does it matter for a Christian to be connected to his or her own religious forbears, or are we meant to figure it out for ourselves in every generation? In this Deep in History podcast, Marcus and JonMarc Grodi look at the conversion of Cornelius in Acts 10, and the thought of John Henry Newman, in regard to how the tru...
May 01, 2019•58 min•Ep. 182
For many who come from other Christian backgrounds, the Catholic practices that surround Holy Week can seem foreign, or even excessive. Some things, such as foot washing on Holy Thursday, are widely practiced by Christians. But the idea of venerating the cross, the fasting and silence, and the notion of a vigil on Holy Saturday to welcome Easter, can seem odd those who come from non-liturgical Christianity. Marcus and JonMarc Grodi reflect on coming to love these traditions as former Presbyteria...
Apr 15, 2019•45 min•Ep. 181
What does it mean to sin against the love of God? We may not worship the false pagan gods that were popular in the early days of Israel, but our affections are pulled in a number of different directions if we don't take care to keep our focus on God. In paragraph 2094, the Catechism of the Catholic Church lists five sins against the love of God: indifference, ingratitude, lukewarmness, acedia and hatred of God. Marcus and JonMarc Grodi unpack these five sins and look at practical ways to combat ...
Apr 04, 2019•55 min•Ep. 180
Marcus and JonMarc Grodi continue their discussion of St. Paul's wise counsel on how to seek godliness with contentment. In Part I of this discussion, they looked at Paul's joyful exhortation to the Philippians, and began to unpack a list of ten "ingredients" for spiritual fulfillment. This time around, they look at more practical ways to remember God's blessings in everyday life, and share the joy of our Catholic faith with all whom we encounter.
Mar 21, 2019•45 min•Ep. 179
Philippians 4 contains one of the most robust calls to joy in all of Scripture. And yet when Paul writes in Philippians 4:11 that he has learned the secret of being content in every situation, he's saying so from inside a prison cell. How was St. Paul able to find joy and rest and contentment in the Lord, regardless of what life threw at him? And how can we, in our day and age, rest in Christ in a world that seems to be falling apart around us? Marcus and JonMarc look at some simple ways to prac...
Mar 14, 2019•40 min•Ep. 178
Continuing on the theme of spiritual humility, Marcus and JonMarc Grodi look more at St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy, and the advice Paul gives regarding pride and the sins connected with it. A desire for controversy leads to an air of superiority, and blinds us not only to the truth, but also to our own faults. Paul knew that this kind of pride was a major temptation in his time, and is certainly pervasive in our own time. Marcus and JonMarc dig into St. Paul's advice to Timothy on spiritual...
Mar 07, 2019•49 min•Ep. 177
In St. Paul's first letter to Timothy, he gives a number of wise instructions about how Timothy should conduct himself as a spiritual leader, and how to avoid temptations that will derail not only his ministry, but his relationship with God. Love of money, an unhealthy interest in controversies, and a conceited heart -- all these things bring focus on the self instead of God, and replace humility with the sin of pride. But, as Paul reminds Timothy in the face of all these temptations, "Godliness...
Feb 28, 2019•33 min•Ep. 176
There is a major difference between the contemporary secular concept of love, and the way that love is presented in the Scriptures. Especially in chapter 13 of St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, there is a sacrificial quality of love, which requires the exercise of will rather than a reliance upon emotional whims. Marcus and JonMarc Grodi look at the Christian call to true charity, and how Jesus is our ultimate example of a love that is willing to risk everything for the good of the oth...
Feb 21, 2019•42 min•Ep. 175
In an ongoing series focusing on how to abide and abound in Christ, Marcus and JonMarc Grodi look at how the relationship between husband and wife reflects the relationship between the God and the believer. They unpack St. Paul's teaching to the Galatians on the Fruits of the Spirit, and discuss the importance of relying upon grace in order to grow in love. They also look at what John the Baptist and St. Peter can tell us about humility and conversion in relation to both marriage and a relations...
Feb 14, 2019•58 min•Ep. 174
St. Paul's letter to the Philippians is one of the most joyful texts in the New Testament, and yet he wrote it from prison! In it, St. Paul calls us to rejoice in whatever adversity we might be facing, giving us a clear Scriptural groundwork for the Catholic theology of suffering. In this Deep in Scripture episode, Marcus and JonMarc Grodi look at how St. Paul's message from Philippians 4:4-7 calls us all to abide and abound in Christ, and to do so joyfully.
Feb 06, 2019•34 min•Ep. 173
In this episode of Deep in Scripture, Marcus and JonMarc Grodi unpack more passages related to the concept of abiding and abounding in Christ. Looking at Hebrews 12:11-16 and 28-29, as well as the beginning of Hebrews 3, they reflect on what it means to respond to grace, and how that affects not only our personal walk with the Lord, but also how we walk together as a community of believers. Marcus and JonMarc also look at the danger that bitterness can pose to the spiritual life, and how it can ...
Jan 24, 2019•52 min•Ep. 172
How does one live abundantly in Christ, and abide in him, as he commands us to do? For every Christian, there is a call to grow in grace, walking each day more closely with him. Marcus reflects on what it means to abide and abound in Christ, and why conversion isn't a one-time event, but a lifelong call to deepening relationship with Jesus. He examines a number of Scriptures that describe what this process should look like in the lives of believers.
Jan 21, 2019•20 min•Ep. 171
In the story of Jesus' first miracle at the Wedding of Cana, many Catholics focus on Mary's words to the servants there, "do whatever he tells you," as a model for Christian piety and action. On today's episode, however, Fr. Skip Thompson, a convert to the Catholic faith, focuses on the words of Our Lord to His Mother in that exchange: "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." Is this merely a rebuke of Mary? Or is there a lot more to this passage, beginning with the fact...
Nov 29, 2018•35 min•Ep. 169
In the midst of scandals and chaos in the Catholic Church, how should those in Christian leadership conduct themselves? As a former Presbyterian minister tasked with the pastoral care of souls, Marcus Grodi looks at some of the current measures that are being considered by bishops and priests to help establish a "code of conduct" to encourage fidelity, and prevent further scandal. Marcus suggests that maybe the solution to these problems lies not with something new, but rather with a return to s...
Oct 25, 2018•14 min•Ep. 158
Many Christians today see physical expressions of faith as superficial, or unnecessary to the Gospel. For them, salvation can be distilled down to an assent of the mind and affinity of the heart toward God. In the latest episode of Deep in Scripture, Marcus Grodi reflects on how Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, a physical act with eternal spiritual consequences, is an indication of the way that in the age of the Church, God chooses to mediate his grace to us through physical means in the sacrame...
Oct 16, 2018•16 min•Ep. 159
Marcus Grodi welcomes former nondenominational pastor Steve Gleason to the program to discuss the words of Jesus in John 3, when he tells Nicodemus that he must be born again, of water and the spirit. Steve and Marcus reflect on what they thought it meant to be "born again" when they were Protestant Christians, and how they understand this teaching of Our Lord now as Catholics.
Sep 26, 2018•36 min•Ep. 136
