Episodes

  • 374 The Ethical Teaching of Jesus: More Than Morality
    Nov 7 2024

    Thursday, November 7: In this episode, we explore the depth of Jesus' ethical teachings as unpacked on the Undeceptions podcast. What is the difference between the Golden Rule as Jesus taught it and other moral teachings throughout history? Why did Jesus ground His calls to love and mercy in the reality of God's character? Discover the heart of Jesus’ radical call to active love and mercy, a love that challenges us to embrace even our enemies in kindness.

    ⁠⁠Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spencerjd@thedailygrind.website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.

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    16 mins
  • 373 How We Know: Science, History, and the Different Paths to Truth
    Nov 6 2024

    Wednesday, November 6: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we explore the interplay between science and history in our pursuit of truth. Drawing from insights shared on the Undeceptions podcast, we reflect on the limitations of science as the only means of knowing and the importance of historical context in understanding our faith. Using an analogy from philosopher Alvin Plantinga, we consider how both disciplines illuminate different aspects of reality, enriching our understanding of the world and our relationship with God. Join us as we challenge ourselves to embrace wisdom and leverage both science and history in our quest for truth, recognizing how they work together to deepen our faith.

    ⁠⁠Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spencerjd@thedailygrind.website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.

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    16 mins
  • 372 How Humility Became a Virtue: The Cross Effect
    Nov 5 2024

    Tuesday, November 5: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we explore the revolutionary impact of Jesus on the concept of humility. John shares some ideas from John Dickson’s Undeceptions podcast, about how the ancient world saw humility as a form of weakness or shame, fit only for the oppressed. But Jesus transformed this. Through His crucifixion, He redefined greatness and made humility a beautiful, chosen virtue. By humbling Himself, even to death on a cross, Jesus challenged the honor-shame culture of His day and set a new standard. Today, humility is widely admired – a legacy of Jesus’ life and teaching.

    ⁠⁠Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spencerjd@thedailygrind.website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.

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    13 mins
  • 371 Why Christianity’s Claims Invite Scrutiny and Stand Up To It
    Nov 4 2024

    Monday, November 4: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we dive into the unique, challenging nature of Christianity’s historical claims. While other religions present beliefs beyond scrutiny, Christianity invites the world to examine its core events—Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. We discuss John Dickson’s insights into why Christianity stands out as a faith that’s open to questioning and how this willingness to be investigated gives Christianity a distinct credibility. If you’re curious about how history and faith intersect, this episode is for you.

    Voting Guide:

    1. The political process, while necessary, has little to do with how God is saving the world.

    2. The fate of the kingdom of God does not depend upon political contests.

    3. Don’t be naïve, political parties are more interested in Christian votes than they are in Christian values.

    4. The bottom line for political parties is power. The bottom line for a Christian is love. And therein lies the rub.

    5. While in pursuit of the Ring of Power, you are not permitted to abandon the Sermon on the Mount.

    6. If your political passion makes it hard for you to love your neighbor as yourself, you need to turn it down a notch.

    7. Your task is to bring the salt of Christian civility to an ugly and acrimonious political process.

    8. To dismember the body of Christ over politics is a grievous sin.

    9. Exercise your liberty to vote your conscience and conviction, while accepting that other Christians will do the same and vote differently than you.

    10. It’s more important that your soul be filled with love than it is for your political team to win the game.

    ⁠⁠Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spencerjd@thedailygrind.website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.

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    18 mins
  • 370 Bread of Life: Jesus’ Identity and the Struggle with Doubt and Commitment
    Nov 1 2024

    Friday, November 1: In this conversation, John and Mariza explore the themes of faith, miracles, and cultural significance as they delve into Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. They discuss the miracle of feeding the 5000, the importance of prayer in Jesus' life, and the spiritual implications of Jesus declaring himself as the 'bread of life.' The conversation also touches on the doubts of the crowd regarding Jesus' identity and the cultural significance of November 1st in Mariza's heritage. In this conversation, Mariza Saenz Olmos and John Spencer explore the complexities of Jesus' teachings, the challenges of discipleship, and the weight of choices in faith. They discuss the humanity of Jesus and his earthly family, the significance of the 'bread of life' metaphor, and the difficult teachings that led many disciples to turn away. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of commitment in faith, the struggle with doubt, and the necessity of making conscious choices in one's spiritual journey.

    ⁠⁠Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spencerjd@thedailygrind.website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.

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    58 mins
  • 369 Contentment, Partnership, and Generosity: Lessons from Philippians
    Oct 31 2024

    Thursday, October 31: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we conclude our series on Philippians by diving into Paul’s heartfelt thank-you letter found in Philippians 4:10-23. This passage isn't just a note of gratitude but a powerful message about contentment, partnership, and the true purpose of Christian generosity. Paul shares how he has learned to find contentment in Christ, regardless of his circumstances, and invites us to see our giving as a meaningful partnership in the gospel, an investment with eternal rewards, and an act of worship that delights God. Join us as we explore how these insights shape our view of generosity and invite us into a life of selfless giving, knowing that in Christ, we lack nothing.

    ⁠⁠Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spencerjd@thedailygrind.website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.

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    16 mins
  • 368 Pressing On: A Faith That Endures
    Oct 30 2024

    Wednesday, October 30: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we’re diving into Philippians 3:10–4:1, where Paul gives us powerful insights on pressing forward in faith. Paul’s desire to know Christ deeply and experience the power of His resurrection shapes every part of his life, and he invites us to the same commitment. We’ll explore what it means to view our lives as citizens of heaven, focusing on eternity even as we navigate the here and now. Paul’s words encourage us to leave behind past achievements and failures, reaching instead for the prize of knowing Christ more fully. Together, we’ll reflect on how we can “stand firm in the Lord” and let our hope in Christ shape our daily lives. Join us as we explore what it takes to live with an enduring faith that both inspires us and keeps our eyes fixed on our heavenly goal.

    ⁠⁠Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spencerjd@thedailygrind.website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.

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    17 mins
  • 367 Working Out Salvation: A Life of Worship
    Oct 29 2024

    Tuesday, October 29: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we dive into Philippians 2:12-30, where Paul challenges us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” What does that mean for us practically? Together, we explore how living out our faith is both a journey and a testimony, an active expression of humility and unity. With God working within us and through us, our lives are a shining witness to the world around us. Paul highlights Timothy and Epaphroditus, two faithful servants who model gospel service, to remind us that our lives become worship as we serve. Join us to reflect on the humble, joyful life to which we are called.

    ⁠⁠Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spencerjd@thedailygrind.website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.

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    16 mins