In this lesson we begin a sharp focus on the famous first few words that open this Book of Beginnings and look straight at a world-shaking claim: there was a true beginning, and God stood before it and brought it into being. Those four words—“In the beginning, God”—become a lens for everything that follows and a challenge to how we think about time, science, and meaning.

We share why we call Genesis the setup book, how it leans into the rest of Scripture, and why the start of all things can feel harder to picture than resurrections or multiplied loaves. Along the way, we draw a sharp line between good science and cultural scientism. We affirm the beauty of research done with humility, recall how figures like Kepler and Newton sought to understand God’s handiwork, and push back on modern tendencies to treat scientific consensus as unquestionable dogma. The goal isn’t to score points; it’s to keep each tool in its proper place, letting empirical inquiry describe mechanisms while Scripture reveals purpose, authorship, and ultimate origins.

From there we follow a simple thread of logic: if God acted at the first instant, He necessarily existed before it. That means God is not a part of the system He created but the cause of the system itself. This raises brave, human questions—Where was God “before” space? Why did He choose to begin the beginning? Can finite minds handle the idea of true nothing?—and we model how to ask them without fear or cynicism. You’ll hear why some answers remain beyond reach, why that is not a failure of faith or reason, and how those limits actually form a wiser starting point for study, worship, and life.

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What if the most important word in Paul’s introduction isn’t “apostle,” but “doulos”? We open Romans by slowing down on the very first phrase and uncover how a single Greek term—often softened to “servant” in the English translations—actually declares total allegiance to Jesus as Master. That shift in language changes everything: how we read Scripture, how we see ourselves, and how we understand the authority and joy that flow from being bound to a good King.

We walk through the text, read the first seven verses as one sweeping sentence, and trace why Paul packs his identity, calling, and message into that opening. Drawing from respected lexicons and scholars, we show that doulos means slave—one bound or pledged to serve—and we explain why Paul would not have chosen a lighter term because he meant nothing less. Then we set the word inside its ancient world: royal courts where bonded attendants exercised real authority while remaining wholly owned by the monarch. In that light, “slave of Christ” becomes a title of dignity and mission, not humiliation, especially when joined to “called to be an apostle” and “separated to the gospel of God.”

From there we lean into the heart-level implications. Christian slavery is voluntary, born of love, and it leads to freedom from sin and self. If Jesus is our Master, we stop negotiating the terms of discipleship and start obeying with gladness. We consider how this identity grounded Paul’s credibility with the Roman church that hadn’t met him yet, and why it still grounds our witness today. The takeaway is both simple and demanding: let Scripture define the relationship, embrace the bonds of love, and live as those sent under the King’s authority.

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A single chapter. A sweeping claim. Romans 1 opens by announcing a gospel promised long ago and proven in the resurrection, then turns the mirror on us with a fearless account of how humanity trades the Creator for created things. We read the text aloud and walk through Paul’s opening moves: why he isn’t ashamed of the gospel, how God’s righteousness is revealed by faith, and why God’s wrath exposes our exchanges.

We share why our study method matters—whole-chapter reading, careful context, and trustworthy commentaries—because shortcuts blur what Paul clarifies. From there, we trace the thread that ties the church to Israel’s story. Christianity doesn’t replace Judaism; it fulfills God’s promise to bless all nations through Abraham. That truth steadies Jewish believers in the first century and confronts a stubborn myth today: God’s people are special, not exclusive. The table widens in Christ, and the root still holds.

Paul’s own journey adds weight. Saul of Tarsus, trained in law and tradition, becomes Paul the servant and apostle set apart for the gospel of God. Whether his name shift served mission or marked transformation, his calling is clear: preach Christ where confusion reigns. We apply that clarity to modern drift—when churches trade Scripture for spectacle or soften holiness under the banner of grace. Saved by grace does not mean free to sin; it means free to obey. The just shall live by faith, and living looks like worshiping the Creator, loving truth, and refusing the easy exchange.

Join us as we begin Romans with humility and courage. Subscribe and share this episode with a friend who loves Scripture.