August

August 2023 Reflections

August 31, 2023 by Krisan Marotta

Galatians has started and we’ve already finished chapter 1. The best is yet to come.

Did you know there is more to Wednesday in the Word than a podcast? The website contains over 1000 pages of free bible study tools and resources. As you resume your local bible studies, WitW can help with your homework. I’ve got a resource page for each book of the Bible with links to tools, commentaries, outlines and articles. It’s all free and growing!

Check out the Library

August Podcasts

Paul wrote this letter around 49 AD, about 15 years after the resurrection of Jesus to churches he founded during his first missionary journey. After Paul left, the Judaizers began teaching the Galatians that they must keep the law to be fully Christian. Paul writes this letter in response.

Paul opens his letter by defending his authority and his gospel. He argues you can recognize the true gospel by its source and its substance.

Paul’s argues he received his gospel first-hand as a revelation from the risen Lord. His lack of contact with the other apostles proves to the divine origin of his understanding.

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August Resources

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Please tell your friends about the podcast — but more importantly, encourage them with something you learned.

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There are so many ways to listen to podcasts, getting started is confusing. Here are some tutorials for Android, iPhone, Spotify, Alexa, Audible, etc.

You can also make your own “app” to access podcasts directly from the website.

Please tell your friends about the podcast — but more importantly, encourage them with something you learned.

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Next: September 2023

Previous: June 2023

Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash

August 2022 Reflections

August 31, 2022 by Krisan Marotta

Did you know there is more to Wednesday in the Word than a podcast? The website contains over 1000 pages of free bible study tools and resources. As you resume your local bible studies, WitW can help you with your homework. I’ve got a resource page for each book of the Bible with links to tools, commentaries, outlines and articles. It’s all free and growing! While the podcast is on study break, visit the library.

August Podcasts

In these stories, Jesus challenges the religious culture and practices of the Pharisees, not the Old Testament. His understanding is so fundamentally incompatible with the Pharisees that if he tried to reform their their views, he would only destroy them. Listen: 49 Matthew 9:14-17 Fasting, cloth & wine skins

Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” In a metaphorical way, he asks it still. You can try to touch his robe and then run away. But if you do, you’re missing the greatest gift of all: salvation. Listen: 50 Matthew 9:18-26 The bleeding woman

Death should no longer command fear and power over us, because we follow a savior with authority over death, as we see in the raising of Jairus’s daughter. Listen: 51 Matthew 9:18-26 Jairus’s daughter

In these last two miracles, Matthew foreshadows the growing conflict with the Pharisees. While the crowds are excited and amazed, the Pharisees reject Jesus as working with the devil. Ultimately the unbelief of the Jewish leadership is going to be a crucial part of the story. Listen 52 Matthew 9:27-34 Blind & mute

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New Resources

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Featured Resources

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Next: September 2022

Previous: July 2022

Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash

August 2021 Reflections

August 29, 2021 by Krisan Marotta

The Wednesday in the Word podcast is on break to celebrate the arrival of my newest grandchild! Mother and baby are doing great! Thanks for your prayers.

We’ll return to the Gospel of Matthew in mid-September. We finished the beatitudes (here’s a 1-page summary). We’ll pick up with the “Antitheses,” where Jesus says “you’ve heard X, but I say to you Y”.

In the meantime, you can also listen to any of over 500 previous podcasts and here are 16 other things to do while Bible study is on break.

New Resources

I have a few new word study resources for you this month.

There are so many ways to listen to podcasts, getting started is confusing. Here are some tutorials for Android, iPhone, Spotify, Alexa, Audible, etc.

You can also make your own “app” to access podcasts directly from the website.

Please tell your friends about the podcast — but more importantly, encourage them with something you learned.

Next: September 2021

Previous: July 2021

Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash

July 2021 Reflections

July 31, 2021 by Krisan Marotta

When people learn I have a Bible study podcast, I’m often asked: “You don’t interpret the Bible literally, do you?!” This question is usually accompanied by a peculiar look and a raised eyebrow, suggesting that no self-respecting adult would ever do such a thing.

My answer is: “Of course, I do.”

Interpreting the Bible literally means interpreting the Bible according to the way it was written.

When it’s written in the form of a narrative, I interpret it according to the rules of narrative. When it’s written in the form of poetry, I interpret it according to the rules of poetry and so forth. We may reject what Scripture says, but we have no right to twist it to say something the authors never meant to say.

See Understanding the Genres of Scripture.

Now that we’ve finished the beatitudes, I’m taking a break from the podcast to celebrate the arrival of my newest grandchild and spend lots of time with family. We’ll resume in September with the next section of the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew’s Gospel.

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July 2021 Podcasts

21 Matthew 5:8 The pure in heart

The pure in heart are not those who are morally perfect. Rather their hearts have been cleansed of rebellion and rejection of God. The pure in heart live like the gospel is true, though not perfectly. One day they will stand before God and be accepted.

22 Matthew 5:9 The peacemakers

Like the merciful, those commit the costly act of refusing to answer injury for injury and seeking a peaceful reconciliation instead will find their inheritance as children of God in the kingdom of heaven. When we realize how deeply we ourselves are indebted to God’s grace and dependent on His mercy, we also realize we’re in no position to condemn the sins of others.

23 Matthew 5:10-16 Persecuted

People marked by the being poor in spirit, mourning over sin, hungering for righteousness, pursuing peace and mercy, etc. will draw the hostility of the world, but they will be rewarded with eternal life in the kingdom of God. We, his disciples, are not to shrink from following Jesus for fear that the world might hate us. We are to follow him, even though that invites mocking, scoffing and persecution.

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