The Sabbath Deeper

In this episode of Sabbath Deeper, we continue exploring Paul’s message to the church in Rome and the heart of the gospel in Romans 3-4. What does it mean to be “justified” by grace? Using powerful courtroom imagery, we unpack how Paul describes salvation as a legal verdict—where guilty sinners are freely acquitted through the blood of Jesus Christ. We wrestle with justice, mercy, the accusations of the enemy (Rev. 12:10), and the scandal of the cross—where God remains just while declaring us righteous. If you’ve ever struggled with shame, guilt, or wondering how forgiveness can truly be fair, this message will deepen your understanding of grace and the life-changing reality of being justified by faith.

In this teaching, we look at Romans 1–3, and how the apostle Paul exposes two broken cultures: a godless world outside the church and a self-righteous spirit within it. From suppressing truth to weaponizing it, from unrighteousness to spiritual pride, Paul levels the ground and asks the piercing question to the saints: “Are you any better?” This sermon traces Paul’s argument all the way to its beautiful conclusion—our knowledge, doctrines, Sabbath keeping, prophecy, and heritage are never the end goal (the telos). The telos, that is the end goal is Jesus. His grace for the ungodly, His righteousness for the broken, and His inseparable love declared in Romans 8:38–39 calls us away from pride and back to faith. Jesus is the point.

In this episode, we return to Romans 3:9, where Paul explains why the church is no better than the world around it—not merely because of behavior, but because all humanity stands “under sin.” We take a deep dive into the different types of sins described in Scripture, why compassion is a distinctly Christian response, and how acknowledging the problem is the first step toward healing. The good news is this: in Christ, we are moved from being under sin to living under grace, where grace—not sin—becomes the governing power of our lives.

In this episode, we explore Romans 1–2, examining how Paul confronts the godlessness and unrighteousness surrounding the church in first-century Rome—a culture surprisingly similar to our own. We unpack God’s wrath, not as punishment, but as righteous indignation against wrongdoing, and explore how disrespect for God can lead to disrespect for others. Paul challenges the church to live by faith, not pride or judgment, and reminds us that the gospel calls us to grace, truth, and right relationships with God and one another.

In this new teaching series on the book of Romans, Pastor Jonathan introduces Paul’s letter to the Romans as a deep, timely exposition of the gospel—what it is, why it matters, and how it transforms real lives. Set against competing worldviews and broken systems, the sermon traces humanity’s problem, God’s saving work in Christ, and the practical power of the gospel to bring freedom, hope, and change. Anchored in Romans and Revelation, it calls the church back to the everlasting gospel—personal, joyful, life giving, and unashamed.

In this third and final episode of our Ellen White series, we tackle the question of plagiarism by examining common accusations— theological, intellectual, emotional, and experiential— and reframing them through a biblical understanding of how prophetic inspiration actually works. We explore how prophets communicate, the role of sources and scribes, historical writing standards, and why originality and inerrancy were never the biblical tests of inspiration. The episode concludes with a call to thoughtful discernment (1 Thess. 5:19–21), affirming the prophetic gift while encouraging a balanced, contextual, and Christ-centered reading of Ellen White’s writings.

This episode is a continuation of part 1 where we revisit the questions and controversies that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s surrounding plagiarism, originality, and the prophetic authority of Ellen G. White. We review the findings of the Veltman Study Committee, the concerns raised about Ellen White’s use of sources, health counsel, and historical discrepancies, and how a growing gap developed between those who personally knew her ministry and later generations who inherited an idealized, nearly infallible image of her. The episode acknowledges the difficulty of addressing these issues briefly while setting them within their proper historical and theological context. The focus then shifts to a deeper exploration of how the prophetic gift actually functions in Scripture—how God reveals Himself through visions, dreams, the Spirit’s movement, and diverse human experiences, and how those messages are communicated through speech, writing, research, and collaboration. By examining biblical models of inspiration and comparing them with Ellen White’s own process, the episode argues that many modern objections arise from unrealistic expectations placed on prophets rather than from the evidence itself. Ultimately, listeners are invited to move beyond extremes, appreciate Ellen White's pastoral and evangelistic writing ministry, and reengage her writings with maturity, discernment, and gratitude for the lasting influence of her ministry.

In this episode we examine the prophetic gift and the life and ministry of Ellen G. White—who she was, what Adventists mean when they say she manifested the gift of prophecy, and why modern claims of prophecy remain controversial within Christianity. We trace her story from the Great Disappointment, her first vision in 1844, and her nearly 70-year ministry, to the ways her legacy was later mythologized, challenged, and re-examined by scholars. This episode sets the stage for an honest, thoughtful conversation about inspiration, authority, history, and faith—inviting listeners to approach the gift of prophecy with humility, clarity, and maturity.

In this episode we explore what the Bible says about empathy from the perspective of the teaching of Jesus in the sermon on the mount and the teaching of Paul in 2 Corinthians 1. In Matthew 5, we unpack what it means to be “blessed” (makarios): not superficial happiness, but the deep privilege of receiving God’s special favor. Jesus’ words confront our assumptions about poverty, hunger, persecution, and insult, culminating in the paradoxical statement, “Blessed are those who mourn.” How can mourning be called fortunate—and why would grief place someone in a position of blessing? Jumping over to 2 Corinthians 1:3–4, Paul says that suffering and loss are moments where God personally comforts us and then he invites us to become agents of comfort for others. We examine grief in its many forms—personal, relational, material, physical, and emotional—and discuss compassion and empathy as core Christian virtues. The episode concludes with practical guidance on how to comfort well: acknowledging pain, avoiding minimization, offering presence, expressing care, and learning what not to say. A thoughtful, pastoral reflection on grief, comfort, and the surprising way God meets us in our mourning.

In this episode, we explore 2 Thessalonians 2 focusing on Paul’s warning about the coming “man of sin” and the events leading up to the return of Christ. Drawing heavily from Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 11, we examine the historical and prophetic role of Rome, the rise of apostasy within the Christian church, and the restraining forces at work in the great controversy between good and evil. Key biblical themes such as *revelation* versus *appearing* help frame Paul’s argument and ground our hope in Scripture. The episode then turns to Paul’s sobering shift toward an end-time, supernatural deception—a counterfeit second coming empowered by satanic signs and wonders, foretold by Jesus and echoed in Revelation. Yet this is not a message of fear. Paul closes with assurance, calling believers to gratitude, faithfulness, and perseverance in truth, reminding us that prophetic understanding must always serve a lived, Christ-centered walk in the present while we await His true coming.

This teaching is based on 2 Thessalonians 2.

The sermon explores the challenging and potentially offensive nature of apocalyptic imagery in scripture, particularly in Daniel 7, comparing its surreal and disturbing elements to various art movements like surrealism and horror genres, while emphasizing its scriptural significance and cultural relevance to Adventist identity. It highlights how these vivid images intrigue and horrify, confronting modern sensibilities, yet serve to address real-world evils and personal struggles, urging believers to face fears and live with integrity. Ultimately, it balances the stark realism of apocalyptic imagery with the hope, love, and grace offered through Jesus, encouraging a life of faith and courage amidst life's challenges.

In this sermon, Pastor Jonathan explores the problem of saying Jesus is coming "soon." He presents 3 points, using various illustrations that can help shed light on the subject matter.

In this teaching, Pastor Jonathan looks at the five different ways in which the scriptures speak of the time of the end.

In today's teaching, Pastor Jonathan continues to explore the concepts related to the signs of the times, the end of the world, the turmoil and strife we see in our world, and how the gospel fits into it all.

In today's teaching, Pastor Jonathan explores two types of signs found in the teaching of Jesus.

In this episode I give a brief update about why I have not uploading anything since December 25, 2020. Thanks for your love and support!

This is our last presentation in our 2020 7 part series on the Sabbath. In this teaching we look at three principles that Jesus shares about keeping the Sabbath.

In this teaching we talk about certain practices that can help make Sabbath a special day.

In this teaching we explore the various passages in the Bible that have to do with "How" to keep the Sabbath. We learn throughout it that keeping the Sabbath is more art than science. The Sabbath is special yet sacred, and how do we wrestle and handle this tension.