Baldhead Bible Podcast

I am continuing my series on the messages I delivered at various camp chapels this summer. Throughout the season, I shared stories from Jesus' life and explored what it means to be a disciple. This week, we focus on the idea that being a disciple requires us to rely on Jesus to meet all of our needs. Drawing from the story of the feeding of the 5,000 found in the gospels, we observe how Jesus, upon learning about the death of His friend John the Baptist, was moved by grief. Despite His sorrow, He saw the people as sheep without a shepherd and chose to address their spiritual and physical needs. The story culminates in the miraculous event where Jesus feeds thousands with just five loaves of barley and two fish. How did He accomplish this? Tune in to this week's podcast to find out.

Hey Baldhead Bible Friends,Today I am taking a short break from the Acts series and instead posting what I am preaching at the various camps I have the privilege of speaking at this summer. I am focusing on stories from the life of Jesus and challenging the kids with Jesus' call to radical discipleship. I recorded this first sermon while walking some of the trails at Trout Creek Bible Camp in Corbett, OR. In this first sermon, I challenge the kids to hear God's call to be a disciple and to "Come Follow Me." Turn to Luke 5 to follow along in your Bibles.

In this episode, we delve into the journey of Paul as he begins his third missionary journey. Right away, he faces a riot in Ephesus, a major influential city in ancient Asia Minor. We explore Paul's encounters with Apollos, an eloquent speaker who learns about the complete baptism in Jesus, and with disciples of John who realize they need to understand who Jesus truly is. The episode also covers a dramatic story involving the sons of Skiva, who fail in their attempt to use Jesus’ name to exorcise demons, highlighting the power and supernatural nature of Paul's ministry. Lastly, we witness the profound impact of the gospel on the city, leading to the public burning of valuable pagan artifacts and causing significant unrest among the devotees of Artemis. Turn to Acts 18 and 19 to follow along.

In this episode, we explore Paul's transition from preaching in Athens to his missionary work in Corinth. We delve into his initial strategies to reach the Athenian intellectuals and his subsequent efforts to spread the gospel among the pleasure-seeking Corinthians. Paul’s journey also highlights the significance of his work as a tent maker, which provided both income and opportunities to engage with the local community. Additionally, this episode examines the challenges Paul faced, including opposition from synagogues and legal confrontations, which ultimately helped legitimize Christianity in Roman law. This week, we learn the need to evangelize through everyday work, the importance of community in ministry, and the sovereign role of God in reaching His people. So, join us as we unpack the lessons from Paul's missionary endeavors and learn how to apply them to our own lives. Turn to Acts 18 to follow along.

We are BACK. We were away for a month, but now we're back and moving on with the story of the church in the Book of Acts.This week, we are examining how the Apostle Paul preached the gospel in the highly religious and philosophically diverse society of Athens. This video explores Paul's strategies for sharing the message of Jesus with Jewish people in synagogues and with pagan Greeks in the marketplace. Discover how Paul used cultural touchstones, such as idols and local philosophies, to contextualize the gospel in a theological vacuum. Learn how Paul's approach can serve as a model for preaching in today's spiritually disconnected culture. Turn to Acts 17 to follow along.

In this episode, we follow Paul, Silas, and Timothy as they spread the gospel from Philippi to Thessalonica and beyond. From freeing a demon-possessed girl to igniting a cultural revolution in Thessalonica, witness how their teachings on Jesus as the Messiah disrupt societies and "turn the world upside down." Then follow Paul as he heads to Athens and finds a city full of idol after idol, and is invited to address the great Athenian thinkers of his day with this new philosophy founded by a man they had never heard of before... Jesus. Join us as we go from Phillipi to Thessalonica, Berea, and then Athens. Turn to Acts 17 to follow along.

In this episode, we recount the story of Paul and Silas in Philippi, focusing on their imprisonment and the miraculous events that unfolded. Despite being beaten and thrown into the depths of a grim Roman prison, Paul and Silas turn to prayer and hymns, demonstrating unwavering faith. Their responses lead to an earthquake that opens their prison doors and the conversion of the jailer and his entire household. This story highlights the power of joy and faith in adversity, and how God's work can transform lives and build communities of faith. Turn to Acts 16 to follow along.

Join us as we delve into the inspiring and challenging journey of Paul and Silas in Philippi. From their encounter with Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman, to a transformative moment with a demon-possessed slave girl, this story highlights the power of the gospel to change lives. Witness Paul and Silas' unwavering faith despite severe persecution and explore the early expansion of Christianity into Europe. Learn important lessons on the dangers of demonic influences and the enduring power of Christ's name. Turn to Acts 16 to follow along.

In this episode, we explore the poignant story of Paul and Barnabas, two early church leaders whose sharp disagreement caused them to part ways. The disagreement over John Mark leads to their separation, but we do see that these three men always leave room for reconciliation. So, now, a new partner in ministry joins forces with Paul, and his name is Silas. Together Paul and Silas begin the second missionary journey to visit the churches they had just planted. Along the way, they encounter a young man named Timothy, who joins them in the work, and finally, the author of the book of Acts, Luke, joins them as well. In this episode, we will hear about the great sacrifices some made to spread the gospel. We also see how God leads his people through a combination of the Holy Spirit and circumstances to affect His will. And finally, we see the gospel expanding westward into Europe for the first time. God is doing incredible work through Paul and Silas. Turn to Acts 15 and 16 to follow along.

Join us as we delve into Acts 15, where the early church faces its first major doctrinal dispute: How is one saved? Understand how the church leaders, including Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James, debated the necessity of Jewish law for salvation and ultimately confirmed that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Learn about the cultural and religious tensions and how the early church addressed and resolved critical theological issues, setting a precedent for doctrinal clarity and church unity. Turn to Acts 15 to follow along.

The Book of Acts so far has followed the birth of the church and focused on Peter and the activities of the disciples in establishing the church in Jerusalem. But starting in Acts 13 we see a new focus, a focus on Paul, previously called Saul, and his work of spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. This week, we are telling the story of Paul and Barnabas and the exciting adventures they experienced during their first missionary journey. Turn to Acts 13 and follow along as we begin this first great missionary adventure.

In today's episode, we see Peter pulling another miracle escape. But it's not because he is an early Harry Houdini. No. It is because Peter serves a miracle-producing God. We hear the story of his escape, but then we also hear of the tragic death of Herod Agrippa the First. Who instead of giving glory to God, decided to take it all for himself and paid the ultimate price. Listen to this weeks episode to hear of the last great adventure of Peter recorded in the Book of Acts, and the reintroduciton of Saul of Tarsus after disappearing from the story for over 12 years. But now, the story will center on him and his missionary work. Turn to Acts 11 and 12 to follow along.

This week we hear about the conversion of a man named Cornelius and a whole bunch of animals on a bedsheet. Now how are those two things connected, and what does that have to do with the gospel? Turn to Acts Chapter Ten to follow along.

We now come to the first recorded resurrection in the Book of Acts. And it happens to one of the worst-named women in the Bible. Yes, you guessed it: Dorcas. But before Dorcas is raised, we meet another poorly named disciple named Aeneas. Listen to this week's story to hear more about these two and hopefully come away with a greater appreciation for the power of the gospel. Turn to Acts Chapter Nine to follow along.

We are sharing the story of Saul of Tarsus, who was once a persecutor of Jesus' followers but has now been radically transformed by faith. The gospel has changed him from a persecutor into a believer. If you have ever wondered about the power of the gospel to change someone’s life, please take the time to listen to today's story and be encouraged. The gospel is real, and lives can be changed—even those who seem most hardened to it. If you'd like to follow along, please turn to Acts 9.

This week, we tell the story of Paul's conversion. He went from persecuting those who followed Jesus to becoming a disciple of Jesus himself. Turn to Acts chapter nine to follow along.

We are currently studying the Book of Acts and have reached chapter 8. Last week, we discussed the story of Simon the Magician and his response to the gospel. This week, we encounter another man who was exposed to Jesus and the gospel, but his reaction was very different from Simon's. This prompts us to consider: How will we respond when we encounter Jesus? If you'd like to follow along, please turn to Acts chapter 8.

In today's story, we meet a man named Phillip. We also hear of believers being severely persecuted for their faith led by a man named Saul. But they stand firm and continue proclaiming Christ no matter the cost. Phillip is one of them who, because of the persecution, has to leave Jerusalem, and he eventually arrives in an area called Samaria. There, he encounters a dark spiritual force led by Simon the sorcerer. What will happen? Who will win this spiritual battle, the forces of darkness or the forces of Jesus? Turn to Acts chapter 8 to follow along.

In this episode, we will tell the story of Stephen. The Bible describes him as a man full of faith who was a powerful preacher and debater. He was so skilled at defending the faith that everyone who debated with him would lose. Stephen played a significant role in turning Jerusalem upside down and bringing in many converts. However, the Sanhedrin was determined to stop this and was willing to go to great lengths, including killing him, to do so. Would they succeed? Tune in to this week's episode to find out. You can follow along by turning to the book of Acts, chapters 6-8.

We took a break for over a month and couldn't post any content because we went on a vacation to Rome, Italy, and then on a ten-day cruise. It was pretty hectic before we left, and I barely had any time to post content for our podcast. But now we're back, and we're hoping to start posting content weekly. This week, we're continuing our series in the Book of Acts. We're picking up the story right after the events surrounding the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. When news of their deaths and the reasons behind them spread, a great sense of fear fell upon many people. At the same time, great signs and wonders were happening among the people, and many in Jerusalem were turning to follow "The Name." This made some people very jealous, which led to the arrest of all 12 disciples. Turn to Acts 5 as we continue the story.