Spoken Gospel

When persecution scatters the church beyond Jerusalem, Philip takes the gospel to Samaria—a region synonymous with religious syncretism and idolatry for centuries. In this episode, David, Christine, and Josh explore how Philip's ministry mirrors Jesus' own work, bringing healing and freedom to a people long excluded from God's family.

Pentecost wasn't just another Jewish festival—it was God's cosmic reset button for all creation. David, Christine, and Josh walk through the dramatic events of Acts 2, where the theophanic cloud that once filled the temple now fills God's people. They explore how Peter's sermon reveals the most scandalous aspect of the Gospel: those who killed God are offered forgiveness, cleansing, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The same number who died at Sinai for worshiping the golden calf—3,000—are now saved through the ultimate crime of crucifying God Himself.

What does it mean that Jesus ascended on a cloud and promised to return the same way? David, Christine, and Josh explore how Acts continues the story Jesus began in Luke's Gospel, showing Jesus as the cloud-riding Son of Man from Daniel 7 who conquers evil empires and shares his throne with his people.

The middle songs of ascent (Psalms 125-129) form the climactic high point of these ancient worship songs, with Solomon's temple psalm at the very center. Seth and David explore how these psalms promise that those who trust in God are as immovable as Mount Zion itself, while wicked rulers will never permanently rest in God's land.

The Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) tell the story of Israel's return from exile. In this episode, Seth and David walk through the first five psalms in this collection, exploring how they capture the journey from the farthest point of exile—surrounded by enemies and word vipers—through the wilderness, and finally arriving at Jerusalem's gates. These songs show us how God comes to us in our exile to bring us home.

The Songs of Ascent are 15 psalms that form a unique "concept album" within Scripture, telling the story of God's people returning from exile to Jerusalem and the temple. In this podcast episode, Seth and David explore how these interconnected psalms represent a pilgrim's journey from Babylon back to God's mountain, moving through three movements: calling on God from exile, finding safety within the temple walls, and finally becoming instruments of God's blessing to the nations.

The identity of the woman in Proverbs 31 has been debated for generations. In this sermon episode, David reveals how she represents far more than an impossible standard for individual women—she's actually the culmination of the entire biblical story. From the Garden of Eden to the New Testament church, David traces the hope that a wise king would marry Wisdom itself. This hope points directly to and is fulfilled in Jesus and his bride, the church, who together bring God's flourishing kingdom to a broken world.

Paul's "thorn in the flesh" has sparked countless theories about physical ailments and personal struggles, but the answer may be simpler than we think. Seth and David explore Paul's third heaven experience and show how his thorn in the flesh connects to the pattern of Old Testament prophets and God's power being made perfect in weakness.

Paul spends two entire chapters in 2 Corinthians asking for money, which seems to contradict his earlier insistence that he never charged the Corinthians for his ministry. In this podcast episode, Seth and David explore Paul's teaching on generosity and show how he reframes giving as participating in God's miracle of provision and proving the genuineness of our faith through Christ-like sacrifice.

The phrase "do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers" is commonly applied to Christian marriage, but that wasn't Paul's original intent. Seth and David explore the rich biblical background of this famous passage and show how Paul was actually warning the Corinthians against yoking themselves to false teachers who were leading them away from Jesus and his Gospel.

Everyone in Mark's trial narrative bears false witness about who Jesus is—the religious leaders, the crowds, and even Peter who denies knowing him three times. But Jesus himself bears true witness, revealing that he is the merciful God who dies for those who betray him. In this podcast episode, David explores how this passage completes the story Scripture has been telling since Eden about God's relentless pursuit of his unfaithful people.

For the first time in Mark's Gospel, Jesus crosses from Jewish territory into Gentile lands to confront the spiritual forces that have oppressed the nations. In this podcast episode, David walks through the longest exorcism account in Scripture, showing how Jesus fulfills God's promise to bless all nations by liberating a man possessed by a legion of demons and demonstrating his authority over every fallen spiritual power.

The Pharisees created extra laws around God's commands to bring the Messiah and restore Israel as a blessing to the world. But when Jesus comes, he shows that he is the fulfillment, authority, and purpose of the law. In this podcast episode, David walks through three stories in Mark where Jesus demonstrates His lordship over the Sabbath and reveals Himself as the long-awaited bridegroom, King, and God of the new creation.

In this podcast episode, David Bowden delves into Mark 1:2-15 on John the Baptist.

In this episode of the Spoken Gospel Podcast, David and Seth explore one of the most challenging passages in 1 Corinthians - chapter 14. They examine Paul's teachings on spiritual gifts, particularly tongues and prophecy, as well as his instructions for orderly worship. Given Corinth's pagan context, Paul is determined to teach these new Christians that the purpose of their God-given gifts is to benefit and build up one another rather than competitively trying to outdo one another.

In this episode of the Spoken Gospel Podcast, David and Seth explore the controversial passage on head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11. They examine the cultural context of ancient Corinth, unpack Paul's arguments, and reveal how this challenging text ultimately points to the beauty of Jesus and the Gospel.

In this episode of the Spoken Gospel podcast, David and Seth explore the complex issue of food sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians 8-10. They unpack the historical context of Corinth as a pagan Greek city and how new Christian converts struggled with questions about eating meat offered to idols.

In this episode of the Spoken Gospel Podcast, host David Bowden sits down with Daniel Day from Our Daily Bread Ministries to discuss Bible engagement and the Reclaim Today initiative.

In this podcast episode, David Bowden delves into Mark 11:12-25, exploring the interconnected stories of Jesus cursing the fig tree, cleansing the temple, and teaching about faith and prayer. David unpacks the rich symbolism and theological significance behind these events, demonstrating how they relate to God's larger plan for redemption and the role of the temple throughout biblical history.

In this podcast episode, David Bowden explores Jesus' teaching on divorce from Mark 10:1-12. David examines the passage within the broader narrative of Mark's gospel and the overarching story of Scripture. He unpacks how Jesus' response to the Pharisees reveals profound truths about God's design for marriage and His relationship with His people.