Witnesses to Something Miraculous
This lesson emphasizes that God often chooses unexpected people to be witnesses of His greatest miracle—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unlike Thomas Jefferson’s edited “Bible,” which removed miracles and ended with Jesus in the tomb, the true Gospels declare the risen Savior.
Evidence of Something Supernatural
This lesson focuses on the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the central event of history. While the deaths of famous figures like Elvis Presley and Abraham Lincoln were surrounded by conspiracy theories, overwhelming evidence confirmed their deaths. In contrast, Jesus’ death and resurrection remain challenged by skeptics, but the biblical record offers undeniable proof of something supernatural.
The Surprising Conversion of a Supreme Court Justice
This lesson examines the account of Nicodemus in John 3, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council who privately seeks out Jesus by night. Jesus surprises Nicodemus with a conversation about the need to be born again—a spiritual rebirth that comes not from knowledge, tradition, or status, but from the Spirit of God. Nicodemus, though respected and religious, is told that his morality and achievements are not enough to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus uses the imagery of birth and the wind to explain the invisible and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. This exchange reveals that salvation is not about religion but transformation. Nicodemus fades into the background for a time but later reappears as a public follower of Christ, indicating that this late-night conversation had a life-changing impact. The lesson challenges all people—religious or not—to examine whether they’ve experienced the new birth Jesus described.
The Secret Disciple
This lesson explores the secret faith of Nicodemus, a Pharisee and religious leader who visits Jesus by night. While Nicodemus initially comes in secrecy, his interaction with Jesus leads to one of the most well-known declarations in Scripture—John 3:16. The lesson highlights how Jesus challenges Nicodemus' religious credentials and instead emphasizes the necessity of spiritual rebirth. Though Nicodemus remains quiet for much of Jesus' ministry, he later steps into the light, publicly participating in Jesus’ burial. The journey of Nicodemus reminds us that faith must eventually move from secret belief to public identification with Christ.
Bridging Niagara
This lesson explores Paul’s continued description of humanity’s moral decline in Romans 1:29–31. Paul presents a devastating list of 21 sins that reflect the complete corruption of the human heart when God gives people over to their sinful desires. These include sins against others (e.g., envy, murder, deceit, gossip, disobedience to parents) and sins of character (e.g., foolishness, heartlessness, ruthlessness). The passage shows how rejecting God leads not only to false worship but also to deep personal and social breakdown. The lesson emphasizes that apart from God’s grace, this list describes every human heart. It underscores the need for the gospel as the only solution to our spiritual condition and calls believers to thank God for rescuing them through Christ.
The Road Most Traveled
This lesson continues Paul’s detailed indictment of humanity’s moral and spiritual decay in Romans 1. In verses 28–32, Paul explains that because mankind has rejected God’s truth and chosen not to acknowledge Him, God has "given them over" to a debased mind. This means people not only do what is sinful, but they also actively approve and celebrate such behavior. Paul lists over 20 specific sins—such as envy, murder, strife, deceit, gossip, slander, arrogance, and disobedience to parents—to emphasize that the effects of a depraved mind touch every part of life. These sins are not just personal flaws; they reflect a society that suppresses truth and celebrates rebellion against God. The lesson highlights a sobering truth: people are not only doing what is wrong, but they’re also endorsing and encouraging others to do the same. Paul’s point is not simply to condemn the world but to reveal how desperately all humanity needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s a call for humility and repentance before a holy God.
Seasonings for the Tongue
In this lesson, the Apostle Paul presents a devastating list of sins that reflect the moral collapse of those who have rejected God. These verses outline the characteristics of a culture and individual lives that have been given over to depravity. Paul catalogs twenty-one distinct sins, including envy, murder, deceit, gossip, pride, disobedience to parents, and lack of love or mercy. These are not isolated acts but evidence of a corrupt heart and mind—proof that humanity, when left to itself, becomes enslaved to sin. The point is not merely to condemn others but to underscore the universal need for the gospel. Paul’s intent is to hold up a mirror to the human heart and show why God’s wrath is justified and His grace is necessary.
The Venom Within Us All
This lesson continues the exposition of Romans 1, focusing on the consequences of humanity's rebellion against God. Paul emphasizes that when people suppress the truth of God, He gives them over to their sinful desires, resulting in moral and relational corruption. Specifically, Paul outlines how dishonoring God leads to dishonoring oneself and others. The passage describes how idolatry leads to increasingly unnatural and destructive behaviors, culminating in a culture that celebrates sin rather than repents of it. Paul lists a wide range of sins—social, relational, and personal—to show the total depravity of mankind apart from God. The lesson concludes with a sobering reminder that not only do people practice such things, but they also approve of others who do them, revealing a hardened and collective rejection of God's truth. This study underscores humanity’s desperate need for the gospel and the righteousness that comes by faith.
The Prodigal People
This lesson focuses on the final stage of humanity’s moral and spiritual decline as described in Romans 1:28–32. When people persist in rejecting God, He eventually gives them over to a “debased mind,” meaning their thoughts become morally corrupt and distorted. The passage lists over 20 examples of this depravity, including envy, murder, deceit, arrogance, disobedience to parents, and lack of mercy. Paul emphasizes that this list is not exhaustive but representative of the kinds of behaviors that flourish when God's truth is rejected. The lesson warns that even approving or celebrating such sins is evidence of a hardened heart. Ultimately, it challenges believers to examine their own lives, remain sensitive to sin, and pursue a mind renewed by God’s truth.
Anything but Godly… Anyone but God
Romans 3:10–12 offers a brutal but necessary truth: no one is righteous, no one understands, and no one seeks after God. In this episode, Stephen Davey continues unfolding Paul’s list of fourteen indictments against humanity, focusing on three devastating facts: our total depravity, our spiritual blindness, and our instinct to run from God rather than toward Him.