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.
Deborah Adams
What happened to Matthew?
Robert Lee
You forgot to point out the 70 for Gad. That's another nations reference. also, the Bible project points out that the the pain of childbirth increasing in Genesis is not just the physical pain, but also the social and relationship pain. Every single woman in the genealogy of Jesus feels extraordinary social/societal, interpersonal, etc types of pain in addition to the physical. They're living out the curse in parallel to the promised/prophesied blessing of the Messiah.
Holly Cannon
I have studied Daniel several times on my own and in group Bible study. I was surprised that I learned a great deal of new-to-me information from this podcast already. I am really looking forward to the next episode!
Robert Lee
personal vengeance is absolutely part of David's prayers. I feel like you intentionally misled people on that point.
Moises Pazini
vocês são demais! Deus os abençoe grandemente.