Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 85 Many of us have things in our past which affect our present realities—events, hurts, circumstances, habits, failures, or any other "kicks of the cow" that we can't seem to forget no matter how much we try. So what do we do with these past events? In one of my favorite sermons by Stephen Manley from his series in Matthew, Stephen addresses our past and how we are deal with it biblically. Taken from Matthew 27:52-53 (a scene right after the crucif...
Oct 10, 2018•54 min•Ep. 85
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 84 I'm a big fan of Christian biographies, especially stories of missionaries. Somehow, I get lost in their stories, am edified by their lives, and challenged by their givenness to Jesus Christ. I recently read Bruchko by Bruce Olson and was not only captivated by his story, but deeply convicted as well. So in this episode, I wanted to discuss seven things I learned while reading the book. Download the shownotes for this episode and get...
Oct 04, 2018•19 min•Ep. 84
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 83 Jesus declares in John 12:24, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." In order for a seed to produce life, it must be willing to lay down its life. As we go back into the classic sermon archives, Major Ian Thomas—a British preacher who knew what it meant to be completely focused upon and obsessed with Jesus—preaches a powerful sermon entitled "A G...
Sep 27, 2018•55 min•Ep. 83
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 82 In this classic Bravehearted Thot, my friend Eric Ludy uses several concepts from missionary CT Studd to ask us a few tough questions—such as: What are you attracted to? What moves you? What gets you up off the couch? Is it gold or is it God? Which one gets you up in the morning and cause you to risk life and limb? Originally taken from the graduation message of the first Ellerslie Discipleship Semester in December 2010, Eric reminds us that we must giv...
Sep 19, 2018•11 min•Ep. 82
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 81 American Ninja Warrior, one of my favorite shows, ended this week. While watching the final competition, I was struck by how the challenges and obstacles these athletes face is similar to our spiritual lives. In this episode, I talk about how American Ninja Warrior can challenge our spiritual lives as we seek to be trained daily and allow God to prepare us for any challenge and obstacle that may lie ahead in our lives. I also give seven ways God often...
Sep 12, 2018•28 min•Ep. 81
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 80 As Christians, the way we approach the Bible is important. Do we read or study God's Word flippantly, casually, or merely because we have to? No, of course not. The way we approach Scripture will affect what we get from Scripture. In this episode, I offer nine ways we as believers need to approach the Word of God—whether we read or study it. Learn why you should become a journalist, detective, student, child, fertile soil, cow, teacher, servant, ...
Sep 05, 2018•21 min•Ep. 80
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 79 Most Christians recognize that we (both personally and as the global Church) need revival. But what IS revival? In this episode, we listen to a classic sermon by Leonard Ravenhill entitled: "True Revival: The Presence of God." Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994) preaches from Isaiah 4:1-4 and explains that revival isn't something we manufacture, rather revival is all about the presence of God. Yes, our world, our country, and the Church desperately need revi...
Aug 29, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 79
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 78 I've been working on my upcoming book covering a simple and practical system to study the Bible … but before I finish, I need your advice to make sure I'm not missing any key concepts. So I encourage you to help me out by taking a moment to answer this question: "When it comes to how to study the Bible, what is the single biggest challenge, question, frustration, or problem that you've been struggling with?" » To leave a response, please visit the shownotes ...
Aug 22, 2018•12 min•Ep. 78
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 77 We know we are supposed to pray. In fact, Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that we are to pray without ceasing. But WHAT is it that we are to pray? Though there are a variety of types of prayer, one method you could try is to pray Scripture itself. When you take the words of God and use them as the basis for your prayer, you are merely crying out what God already wants to do and accomplish in your life. In this episode, we use Ephesians 3:16-21 as an ex...
Aug 20, 2018•19 min•Ep. 77
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 76 In this short episode, I walk through the latest of Deeper Christian and talk about the new website update we are about to launch, my new book, and the next Israel trip. Download the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperChristian.com/76/
Aug 08, 2018•8 min•Ep. 76
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 75 Many of us get stuck in our Bible study because we feel we need certain resources and tools to study well. While Bible resources are great (and if you have access to them, you might as well use them), but the truth is that you don't need Bible resources to study the Bible. The last couple days, I've been in training for how to use Logos Bible Software and while I love the program and what it can do, it reminded me that the most important thing for Bible stud...
Aug 01, 2018•10 min•Ep. 75
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 74 We are not to be parrots. Perhaps that is obvious, but too often in the Christian life, we "parrot" our faith rather than allow the Spirit of God to indwell and direct our lives. In this teaching session I gave at the Cross Style Training Camp, I walk through Creation and the seven levels of lifeforms mentioned in Genesis 1-3 and show how trying to mimic God (which we often call "WWJD") is no different than a parrot trying to mimic a human. We also discuss t...
Jul 25, 2018•50 min•Ep. 74
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 73 In episode 68, I gave a snapshot of the mysterious bride in Scripture, known as the Church. In today's episode, I share a recent sermon where I dive into the topic in depth and examine what it means to be the Bride of Christ, not merely from the New Testament, but all throughout Scripture, starting in Genesis. The profound depth of this topic is itself a deep well of richness, which this sermon only scratches the surface yet will captivate and capture our he...
Jul 18, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 73
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 72 God indwelling man is not something we aspire to or hope for it is the reality of every Christian. To be a Christian means that the life of Jesus indwells your life via the Holy Spirit. Anything less is not Christian. And the indwelling life of Christ was one of Major Ian Thomas's favorite subjects to talk about. In this episode of the Deeper Christian Podcast, we listen to a classic sermon by Major Ian Thomas called "Let God Be In You" and if you grasp the ...
Jul 12, 2018•45 min•Ep. 72
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 71 In the last episode, I invited you to a Bible Study Challenge diving into the bookends of Scripture (Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22). In this episode, I walk through a variety of parallels that begin in Genesis and find their conclusion, fulfillment, and climax in Revelation. If you want to see how God has written all of the Bible to say one thing, this episode will encourage and inspire you as you discover that all of Scripture has one message: Jesus Chri...
Jul 04, 2018•16 min•Ep. 71
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 70b I'm excited about the Bible Study Adventure Challenge but unfortunately, due to some scheduling conflicts, I won't be able to record the podcast until next week. So this gives you an extra week to dive into Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22. Download the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperChristian.com/70b/...
Jun 27, 2018•2 min
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 70 I invite you to join me on a Bible Study Challenge diving into the bookends of Scripture (Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22). These four chapters are the only chapters that are not tainted with sin and by looking at these four chapters, you discover several key themes that begin in Genesis and find their fulfillment in Revelation. So take the challenge this week (learn more in the podcast) and let's talk about the majesty of Scripture in the next podcast. Dow...
Jun 20, 2018•6 min•Ep. 70
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 69 So often Christians wrestle through temptations and trials yet forget that many of our struggles are a result of an unrenewed mind. If we desire to walk in victory and triumph in the Christian life, we must allow God to renew and redeem our minds. In this episode, we focus on the mind and discuss the power of a renewed mind. Download the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperChristian.com/69/...
Jun 13, 2018•14 min•Ep. 69
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 68 The bride of Christ is beautiful to behold but the mystery of the bride is found all throughout Scripture, starting in Genesis. In this sneak preview of my upcoming conference sermon, I talk about the Bride of Christ and reveal how she isn't merely a New Testament idea but rather the desire of God since the very beginning. Download the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperChristian.com/68/...
Jun 06, 2018•13 min•Ep. 68
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 67 Christianity can be summarized in one simple word: LIFE. Of course, this refers to Jesus being our life for He is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life. It is not that He has some life, He is life itself. Interestingly, Jesus says that He has come to give life abundant a superlative which conveys something to the highest degree and quality. In this episode, I give several of my favorite superlatives and talk about what it means to live the superabundant, superlat...
May 30, 2018•13 min•Ep. 67
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 66 We often declare we know certain truths but they have yet to change our lives. In this episode, I want to give you a test to see if you genuinely know Calvary Love. Calvary Love is not something to merely esteem or know information about it is something to embrace, experience, and be transformed by. Though short, this episode dives into Amy Carmichael's book "If" and reads several of her "Calvary Love" statements and we listen to the lyrics of a new song wri...
May 23, 2018•11 min•Ep. 66
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 65 Summertime is often the season where things slow down, we begin to coast, and thus grow stale spiritually. But what if we could spiritually thrive rather than survive this summer? In this episode, I give 12 ideas on how you can stay strong, continue to grow in your intimacy with Jesus and your love for His Word, and how to intentionally build your life around Him this summer. Download the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and ...
May 16, 2018•22 min•Ep. 65
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 64 How often have you asked for and longed to understand God's will and plan for your life? Does He even have a plan, or am I an afterthought or accident? In this episode, we listen in to one of my favorite preacher's sermons as we discover God's calling and plan for your life. Download the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperChristian.com/64/...
May 09, 2018•56 min•Ep. 64
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 63 In this third and final part of my sermon examining the Christophany of the Holy Land, we discuss the death of Christ and see how God wove a beautiful Christophany throughout the entirety of Scripture, ultimately pointing to the death of Jesus on the cross. This episode is breathtaking in realizing the layers of detail in the Bible pointing to the cross, the day and time it happened, how festivals celebrated for a thousand plus years were all about THE Passo...
May 02, 2018•42 min•Ep. 63
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 62 A Christophany is a picture of Jesus seen throughout the Bible specifically the Old Testament. And even the land itself, God's Promise Land, points to Jesus Christ and reveals our desperation and our need for dependency upon Him. In this second episode looking at the Christophany from the Holy Land, we walk through the geography of Israel and discuss why God chose such a dry and weary land as His Promise Land. Download the shownotes for this episode and get ...
Apr 25, 2018•20 min•Ep. 62
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 61 A Christophany is a picture of Jesus seen throughout the Bible specifically the Old Testament. Though we quickly understand that prophecy in the Bible points to Jesus, so too do people, events, geography all types and shadows pointing to the fulfillment and fullness in Christ Jesus. In this first part of a three-part series, we listen to one of my recent sermons and discover the delight of finding Jesus throughout all of God's Word. This first section focuse...
Apr 18, 2018•29 min•Ep. 61
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 60 The story of Martha and Mary in Scripture give a great contrast between distraction and devotion. But the question remains how devoted, how obsessed, how in love should we be with Jesus? The answer is: extravagantly. In this episode, we discuss that Christianity is not a half-hearted pursuit of God, it is an all-out, completely obsessed, fully given over to seeking, loving, knowing, and being devoted to Him. Join Nathan Johnson as we examine the lives of Mar...
Apr 11, 2018•21 min•Ep. 60
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 59 Far too many Christians are distracted with "good things" and thereby sacrificing intimacy and devotion to Jesus. In this episode, we examine the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10 and how their relationship to Jesus gives us a picture of how we are to relate to Jesus either completely devoted to Him and growing in intimacy or becoming distracted with anything else. As Christians, we must not think that doing things FOR God is the same as having intimacy WI...
Apr 04, 2018•20 min•Ep. 59
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 58 My trip to Israel was amazing and I want to quickly debrief the trip with you and share a few key things I learned along the way. In this episode of the deeperChristian Podcast, I talk about 8 things I learned and was reminded of during the trip which you can apply to your own life. Download the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperChristian.com/58/...
Mar 28, 2018•16 min•Ep. 58
Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 57 In this short explanatory episode, I explain that I am "pushing pause" for a couple weeks on the Podcast as I head out to Israel with a group of 33 others. We will resume the podcast in a couple weeks. Until then, know I am cheering you on as you build your life around Jesus Christ. Download the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperChristian.com/57/...
Mar 07, 2018•2 min•Ep. 57
