Episodes
Can the Bible alone be our ultimate authority, or do we need something more? Dr. John Neufeld begins a defense of sola scriptura—the principle that Scripture alone is our final authority for faith and practice. Addressing objections from Roman Catholics and others, Dr. John demonstrates that Jesus Himself chose the apostles and promised the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. The church didn't decide which books belong in the Bible—it simply recognized what God had already established.The Case for Sola Scriptura: Is the Bible alone our ultimate authority? In this 5-part series, Dr....
Throughout history, people have reinterpreted Jesus—as a social reformer, a prophet, even just a good teacher. Dr. John explores Matthew 20:29-34, where two blind men publicly declare Jesus as "Son of David"—the Messiah. For years, Jesus kept His identity secret, but now, on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, He allows the declaration to stand and heals the blind men in front of the crowd. This moment marks the end of the messianic secret and sets the stage for His crucifixion for claiming to be the Son of God.The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19...
We all want to be great—to achieve something memorable, to be recognized and honored. Dr. John explores Matthew 20:20-28, where James and John ask Jesus for the seats of highest honor in His kingdom. Their request reveals the human hunger for status and recognition that we all share. But Jesus turns greatness upside down: "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant." True greatness isn't found in ruling over others but in laying down your life to serve them, just as Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many.The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matt...
"Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?" This challenging question from the parable of the workers leads Dr. John to explore God's sovereignty—even over Jesus Himself. In Matthew 20:17-19, Jesus predicts His suffering in precise detail for the third time, revealing that the Father had predetermined to crush His Son for our salvation. Dr. John shows how God sovereignly ordains even our sufferings for His glory and our eternal good.The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. The crow...
Why does God reward the thief on the cross—who believed at the last moment—with the same eternal life as the apostle Paul, who suffered a lifetime of hardship for the gospel? Dr. John concludes his exploration of the parable of the workers in the vineyard from Matthew 20:1-16. The frustration we feel at this "unfairness" reveals a dangerous assumption: that our service to God places Him in our debt. All of God's rewards are grace, not wages—the generosity extended to the last will equal that given to the first.The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-...
The parable of the workers in the vineyard seems deeply unfair—why should those who worked one hour receive the same pay as those who labored all day in the scorching heat? Dr. John begins a two-part exploration of this confusing parable from Matthew 20:1-16, addressing a crucial question: Is it wrong to be motivated by rewards? Examining Jesus' own teachings, Dr. John reveals that God designed us to pursue reward—and that following Jesus is the shrewdest investment we could ever make.The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His ...
After the rich young ruler walks away, Jesus tells His disciples something shocking: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." Dr. John Neufeld explores Matthew 19:23-30, where Jesus reassures His astonished disciples that what's impossible with man is possible with God, and promises that those who leave everything to follow Him will receive a hundredfold and eternal life. This episode challenges us to ask: what are you really trusting in?The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20...
A wealthy young ruler runs to Jesus with an urgent question: "What good deed must I do to have eternal life?" Dr. John Neufeld explores Matthew 19:16-22, where Jesus exposes the man's real problem—not his failure to keep the commandments, but his failure to trust God completely. When Jesus tells him to sell everything and follow Him, the young man walks away sorrowful, revealing that eternal life isn't about being good enough—it's about trusting Christ with everything.The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jer...
Jesus' teaching on marriage leaves the disciples reeling—wondering if it's even worth getting married at all. Dr. John Neufeld explores Matthew 19:9-15, where Jesus addresses lifestyle choices, affirming both lifelong marriage and singleness for the kingdom. When parents bring their children for blessing, Jesus rebukes the disciples and welcomes them, reminding us that God calls us to lives of commitment, not independence and self-fulfillment.The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. The crowds are gro...
The Pharisees set a trap for Jesus, asking about divorce to damage His reputation and divide the crowd. Dr. John Neufeld explores Matthew 19:3-9, where Jesus bypasses competing rabbis and points straight to Scripture, teaching God's original design for lifelong marriage while addressing the reality of hard hearts. This episode reminds us that standing behind the shield of Scripture is the key to navigating divisive questions with truth and grace.The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. The crowds are ...
Can't see the forest for the trees? Dr. John Neufeld helps us grasp the big picture of Jesus' life by exploring how the four Gospels each offer a unique perspective—Matthew's Jewish Messiah, Mark's Son of God, Luke's perfect man, and John's declaration of deity. As we begin a journey through Matthew 19-20, Dr. Neufeld sets the scene: Jesus is leaving Galilee for the final time, heading toward Jerusalem with growing crowds—and an approaching cross.The Ministry of Our Lord: Join Dr. John Neufeld for a journey through Matthew 19-20, where Jesus makes His final trip to Jerusalem. The crowds are...
Just when Isaiah's harsh condemnation of idolatry seems relentless, the tone shifts dramatically to God's breathtaking mercy. Dr. John explores Isaiah 44:21-28, where God declares He has blotted out Israel's transgressions like mist and will never forget His covenant with them. This passage even names the Persian king Cyrus over 200 years before he would decree Israel's return from exile, revealing that our salvation depends not on our faithfulness, but on God's unfailing commitment to His promises.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–...
Why do people worship idols when it's so obviously foolish? Dr. John walks through Isaiah 44:9-20, where the prophet exposes the absurdity of idolatry with biting irony. Isaiah describes craftsmen using half their wood for cooking fires and bowing down to worship the other half. Despite the clear madness of worshipping what we've made with our own hands, idolatry persists because our hearts are deluded and our eyes are shut.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explores one of Scripture's most powerful confrontation...
How can God command us to fear Him while also telling us "fear not"? Dr. John tackles this apparent contradiction in Isaiah 44:1-8, exploring what it means to fear God rightly. As God promises judgment through Babylon, He simultaneously declares to Israel: "Fear not, I will never abandon you." For believers struggling with sin and uncertainty, these words offer profound comfort—we need not fear that God will forsake us or that His promises will fail.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explores one of Scripture's m...
Just as God delivered Israel from Egypt in the first Exodus, Isaiah prophesies a second Exodus—this time from Babylon. Dr. John walks through Isaiah 43:14-28, exploring God's promise to bring down Babylon and rescue His people once again. This passage confronts Israel's hollow religious practices while offering hope for struggling sinners. God blots out our transgressions through Christ's blood, pointing us to the greatest Exodus of all—our deliverance from sin and death.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explore...
In a world that values pluralism and diversity, how do we balance cultural inclusion with biblical truth? Dr. John explores Isaiah 43:8-13, where God calls the nations to account and declares there is only one true God. While we celebrate diversity and inclusion in society, the church must remain unwavering in its loyalty to Jesus Christ alone—the only Savior who can deliver us from judgment. Israel was called to witness this truth to the nations, and today, Christians carry that same responsibility to share the hope found only in Christ.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshi...
If God is for us, who can be against us? Dr. John Neufeld explores Isaiah 43:1-7, where God speaks tenderly to His rebellious people: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; you are mine." Despite Israel's blindness and coming judgment, God promises they will not drown in the waters or be consumed by fire—He would even exchange nations as ransom for His chosen people. This unbreakable covenant love extends beyond Israel to all who are called by His name through the Messiah, gathered from the ends of the earth for His glory.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this seri...
Why did God seemingly focus only on Israel in the Old Testament while ignoring the nations? Dr. John Neufeld explores Isaiah 42:14-26, revealing that God always had a global plan—He was simply waiting for the right moment to cry out like a woman in labor. When the servant Israel failed their mission to bring light to the nations, God sent another Servant who would succeed. This passage challenges us: will we faithfully participate in God's unstoppable plan to fill the earth with His glory, or will we repeat Israel's blindness?God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In th...
When God says "Behold my servant," we should pay attention. Dr. John Neufeld unpacks Isaiah 42:1-13, the first of four "servant songs" revealing the Messiah's identity and mission. Unlike empty idols, God presents His servant—sinless, Spirit-empowered, and gentle with the broken—who will establish a new covenant with all nations, opening blind eyes and freeing prisoners from darkness. Only Jesus has fulfilled these ancient prophecies.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explores one of Scripture's most powerful con...
What evidence do you have for what you believe? In Isaiah 41:21-29, God issues a bold challenge: idols and the Almighty will both "set forth their case." Dr. John Neufeld explores this courtroom scene where God demonstrates His reality through detailed prophecy—including naming Cyrus 200 years before his birth—while idols remain silent and powerless. We become like what we worship, making this choice eternally significant.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explores one of Scripture's most powerful confrontations ...
In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld explores Isaiah 41:11-20 and the journey from victim to victor. Using the apostle Paul as an example, he examines how believers can move beyond a victim mentality to embrace confidence in God's help, promises of triumph, and provision of abundance. Dr. Neufeld reminds us that our hope isn't found in positive thinking, but in the resurrection of Jesus and God's unwavering commitment to His redeemed people. When God is for us, who can stand against us?God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neu...
Is the God of Israel simply a tribal deity, or does He rule over all nations? Dr. John Neufeld examines Isaiah 41:1-10, where God summons the nations to His courtroom for judgment. He reveals that He controls the rise and fall of empires, stirring up a king from the east who will trample nations. The terrified nations respond by creating idols they must nail down to keep from falling, but to Israel, God speaks differently: "Fear not, for I am with you."God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explores one of Scripture'...
What do you do when heaven is silent and God seems far away? Dr. John Neufeld examines Isaiah 40:27-31, where Israel cries out that their way is hidden from the Lord. Isaiah's response isn't to explain the silence, but to remind them who God is - everlasting, never growing weary, with unsearchable understanding. When we feel abandoned, we must preach God's attributes to ourselves, not because we feel them, but because they're true.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explores one of Scripture's most powerful confro...
Just who do you think you're talking to when you talk to God? Dr. John Neufeld examines Isaiah 40:12-26, where God asks eleven questions that reveal His incomparable nature. Who has measured the oceans in the hollow of His hand or marked off the heavens with a span? Idols - whether carved from wood or forged from gold - are products of human imagination, easily toppled and compared to creation. But the true God is beyond comparison, beyond human comprehension.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explores one of Scr...
Everyone needs hope, but what happens when the things we've placed our hope in inevitably fail? Dr. John Neufeld continues in Isaiah 40, where God commands the prophet to cry out a sobering truth: all flesh is grass, withering quickly like desert flowers in the scorching heat. But here's the contrast that changes everything: the word of our God stands forever. While idols and human plans crumble, God comes with omnipotent power, tending His flock like a shepherd who carries lambs in His arms.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr....
The heart is an idol factory, constantly manufacturing gods that promise everything we desire without demanding a change of heart. Dr. John Neufeld begins a series in Isaiah 40-44, contrasting the one true God with the world's countless idols. Isaiah opens with surprising words of comfort to sinful Jerusalem: God promises her warfare will end, her iniquity will be pardoned, and a voice will cry out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord.God and the World's Idols: What are you really worshipping? In this series through Isaiah 40–44, Dr. John Neufeld explores one of Scripture's most...
Doing what's right over the long haul - that's what faithfulness looks like. Dr. John Neufeld concludes this series on Christ's return by examining two parables Jesus tells about watchfulness and faithfulness. Since we don't know when He's returning, we must stay awake - engaged in the Master's business and living with kingdom values. The wise and faithful servant is the one who, when the Master returns, is still doing what Christ assigned them to do.The Best Is Ahead: Looking ahead, some of us are fearful. But for the believers who have put their confidence fully in Christ, we know with ce...
We don't know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow. Dr. John Neufeld examines Jesus' parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24, addressing the disciples' burning question: when will these things happen? Jesus makes it clear that no one knows the day or hour of His return - not even the Son in His human nature. The lesson isn't about calculating timelines, but about living in continual expectation, knowing we're in the era of Christ's return.The Best Is Ahead: Looking ahead, some of us are fearful. But for the believers who have put their confidence fully in Christ, we know with c...
What we know with certainty about the future changes everything about how we face the present. Dr. John Neufeld continues in Matthew 24, examining Jesus' warnings about false messiahs who will arise in the last days, performing signs to deceive many. Jesus assures His followers the true Savior will not appear in secret locations, but visibly across the heavens like lightning, returning in power and glory to gather His elect.The Best Is Ahead: Looking ahead, some of us are fearful. But for the believers who have put their confidence fully in Christ, we know with certainty that our best days ...
Some moments in history are so defining they serve as lessons for all time. Dr. John Neufeld examines Jesus' cryptic reference to "the abomination of desolation" from Daniel's prophecy - a warning that was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when Roman forces destroyed Jerusalem. Christians who heeded Jesus' words escaped the city during what became unprecedented suffering for the Jewish people, proving that when Jesus speaks about the future, His words are always trustworthy.The Best Is Ahead: Looking ahead, some of us are fearful. But for the believers who have put their confidence fully in Christ, we k...