What are the ways that anger manifests itself in the human heart, and what can we do to control it? Why is it important to deal with conflict before we come to the altar at church, and before we resort to the legal system? This episode continues our series on the Sermon on the Mount with Matthew 5: 21-26.This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer’s Book Virtuous Persua...
What are the moral laws in the Old Testament, and how do we discern which laws are moral and which are not? How can such laws teach us about the love of God?This episode continues our three episode series on Matthew 5: 17-20 in the Sermon on the Mount, addressing how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament laws known as the Moral Law.This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer...
What does it mean to follow the Old Testament laws that pertain to temples and animal sacrifices, if we do not have these things today? What do these laws tell us about how Christians today ought to approach worship?This episode continues our three episode series on Matthew 5: 17-20 in the Sermon on the Mount, addressing how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament laws known as the Ceremonial, or Liturgical Law.This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with int...
What does it mean for Jesus to fulfill the law? Does this mean we no longer have to follow the Old Testament laws? How can we tell which laws we still have to follow and which ones we don’t?This episode begins a three episode series on Matthew 5: 17-20: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is acco...
What does it mean to be the light of the world, and what, if anything, does the church have to do in order to become the light of the world? Do Christians have to worry about the impact and influence that their actions have on the world?This episode discusses Matthew 5: 14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine...
What does it mean for Christians to be the salt of the earth? How do Christians impact the world without being overcome by it?This episode unpacks Jesus' first statement after the Beatitudes: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.”This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to he...
Why is it that Christians who exhibit mercy and meekness should expect to be treated poorly by the world? If Jesus is the true way to all that is good, true, and beautiful, then why will Christians be reviled for believing in him?This episode addresses the final two beatitudes: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake," and "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you." This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with...
What does it mean to be a peacemaker, and how do actively make peace with others in the world? How does are ability to be at peace with God effect our ability to be peacemakers with our friends?This episode discusses the seventh Beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer’s Book Virtuous P...
What does it mean to be pure in heart? Is holiness something that we achieve, or something God does for us? What is the relationship between purity of heart and a vision of the face of God?This episode discusses the sixth Beatitude: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer’s Book Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology o...
Why do Christians proclaim “Lord have Mercy, Christ Have Mercy” each Sunday at Church? How can God be merciful and justice, and what is the relationship between justice and mercy? What does it mean for us to show mercy on our enemies?This episode discusses the beatitude “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer’...
What does it mean to be righteous, and how do we become righteous? How can we hunger and thirst for something other than food? This episode discusses the fourth Beatitude: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer’s Book Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Mission, as w...
What does it mean to be meek? Why should we not retaliate when someone harms us? How do we endure harm without having it effect our identity? This episode discusses the third Beatitude: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer’s Book Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Mission, as well as get a listene...
Why do we mourn, and what do we mourn for? Is the comfort that Jesus promises to mourners a present comfort, or something that only comes in the future? This episode discussed the second Beatitude: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer’s Book Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Mission, as well as ...
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? How is humility the opposite of pride? How do we grow in humility, and what should we expect to receive when we do?This episode examines the first beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer’s Book Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Mi...
Why does Jesus begin the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes? Are the beatitudes works we should try to perform, or something different? How do the blessings that Jesus offers in the Beatitudes differ from the blessings of the world?This episode continues our series on the Sermon on the Mount with an introduction to the Beatitudes.This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. ...
Why did Jesus scale a mountain in order to give this sermon, and what is the significance of mountains in the Bible? This episode introduces the Sermon on the Mount by placing it within the context of God's teaching upon the various mountains in scripture. It also discusses how we should approach this teaching as students drawing near to the very author of human life. This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you st...
What does it mean to believe in God’s Kingdom and Power, as opposed to the kingdoms and powers of the world? What is God’s Glory, and how do we partake of it? What will it look like to be in God’s glory forever and ever?This episode examines the last line of the Our Father: “For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever and Ever, Amen.” This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible dee...
What is the difference between trials and temptations? How do we resist temptation, and how do we pray for protection from temptation? This episode examines the eighth line of the Lord's Prayer: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. Niebauer’s Book Virtuous Persuasion: A Theology of Christian Mission, as well...
How do we forgive others who have harmed us, and what gives us the strength to forgive? What is the relationship between forgiveness and reconciliation? What must happen for broken relationships to be truly restored in Christ?This episode examines the seventh line of the Lord's Prayer: As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us.This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. You can find Dr. ...
What are the specific actions that constitute trespasses? Are they simply the bad things we have done, or are they broader, encompassing our thoughts, words, and deeds? When we ask God to forgive our trespasses, how can we be certain that He will indeed forgive them?This episode examines the sixth line of the Lord's Prayer: Forgive Us Our Trespasses.This We Believe is brought to you in part by Logos. Logos combines digital books with intelligent software to help you study the Bible deeply. Yo...