Blessing in Scripture: Ephesians, Peter, and Genesis
- How does the New Testament talk about blessings — as tangible items or something else?
The hosts survey how Scripture actually talks about blessing: Ephesians 1's 'every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places' (read aloud at length), Hebrews 6, Romans 4:9 on blessing for circumcised and uncircumcised, 1 Peter 3's call to bless rather than repay evil, and Genesis where God blesses fish, Adam and Eve, and Noah to 'be fruitful and multiply.' The point: Scripture's blessings are spiritual, redemptive, and relational — not cars and clothes. Discussion covers Stephen stoned peacefully, the fiery furnace, and God walking with people through trouble rather than always removing it.
More on Old Testament
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Does God speak more now? Indwelling Spirit versus prophets
- Does God talk to people as much now as he did in the Old Testament or New Testament?
A host asks whether God talks to people as much now as in the Old and New Testaments. Ben's key distinction: the indwelling Holy Spirit means more people can have the experience…
From No. 597 · Maybe A Word From God
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Ben's three questions: is he real, is he good, is he capricious?
- Is God even real?
- Is God good?
Ben frames three reasonable reactions to Old Testament violence: (1) maybe God isn't real; (2) maybe he isn't good; (3) maybe he's capricious.
From No. 540 · Justice is Mine
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Ask the pastor: why does Daniel keep his Hebrew name while Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego don't?
- Why does the narrative revert Daniel to his Hebrew name while Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego keep their Babylonian names?
Boova's question: Daniel is given the Babylonian name Belteshazzar, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego receive Babylonian names too — but the narrative reverts Daniel to his Israelite name while the other three keep theirs throughout.
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Ask the pastor: Ezekiel 39:17 — God telling a prophet to speak to birds and beasts
- In Ezekiel 39:17, why would God tell a prophet to speak to birds and beasts, and is there precedent for God interacting with animals this way?
Boova was struck by Ezekiel 39:17, where Ezekiel is told to speak on God's behalf to the birds and beasts, inviting them to feast on God's defeated enemies.