Podcast
Redwood Church Preaching
Hosted by Redwood Church · EN
26episodes
Episodes
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Psalm 111, God’s acrostic love for his people
Mar 2100:37:12Tap to summarizeGod has given us nine acrostic psalms, yet modern songwriting sensibilities do not include this form. Why would God make alphabetical lines a priority for poetic expression? Why limit himself to having his message dictated by the order of the Hebrew alphabet? What profound truth does the form and nature of this poetry communicate about God’s love for his covenant people? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Good kissing & glorious dancing (Song of Songs part 2)
Feb 1300:40:38Tap to summarizeBeing discipled by chick flicks and pop songs, we tend to think of love as the initial flames set ablaze when we meet the person of our dreams. But the “flame of Yah”—true love as God designed it—is a cultivated fire from start to finish. To keep this marital fire burning brightly, Song of Songs depicts key elements of romance which we can cultivate in our own marriages. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Tuning the modern ear to biblical poetry (Song of Songs part 1)
Jan 3100:43:57Tap to summarizeIf Song of Songs is truly named, then it is the best and most important song ever written. Yet the modern reader finds its poetry awkward, unsatisfying, and confusing. What help does God offer through this song for cultivating romantic affection in our own marriages—and how can we train our modern ears to find it profitable? Three elements contribute to poetic excellence, and help us to discern the value in Solomon’s work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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The truth that grounds every new year, and time itself
Dec 2700:33:40Tap to summarizePsalm 47 is a psalm that grounds all of time, drawing history together into a meaningful whole. Always it has been true, always it is true, and always it will be true. It is the great foundation of the past; the great promise of the future; the linchpin of yesterday, today, and tomorrow: King is God over the nations; very ascended is he. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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The inconvenience of Christmas
Dec 2000:29:28Tap to summarizeDespite the celebrations, Christmas is a time of many mundane hardships and difficulties — from annoying relatives to stretched finances. Since it is easy for us to feel set-upon and inconvenienced, it is helpful to reflect on how the first Christmas is a story of stress and anxiety, confusion and unknowns for Mary and Joseph, who had their expectations, hopes, and plans for their lives completely upended. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 7, part 3: holy war still involves torches, horns & jars
Aug 2300:44:38Tap to summarizeGideon knows the Midianite camp is given into his hand, but how shall he receive the victory? Why does he choose this strange method of warfare? The “sword of Gideon” involves no swords—instead horns and torches and pitchers. When he attacks, he does not advance upon the camp, but stands still. His strategy reflects the spiritual principles it is based upon, liturgically resonating with the cutting of God’s covenants. And it is a method God continues to use in the New Testament. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 7, part 2: a model for discerning dreams
Aug 9, 202500:35:21Tap to summarizeIf Gideon is afraid to go into the camp of Midian, God offers him yet another sign to help his unbelief: a dream recounted by a Midianite. The power of this sign is not in the dream itself, but in Gideon’s faith to discern its meaning. God continues to work through such dreams at times, and scripture explicitly tells us that these private revelations will be dark and riddle-like. Here we receive help for understanding the symbolic language of such dreams, and interpreting their meanings. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 7, part 1: crouching soldier, lapping dog-man
Aug 2, 202500:42:24Tap to summarizeNow that Gideon has successfully made war on the idolatry of Israel, he is ready to make war on Midian. Yet, outnumbered four to one, God tells him his army is too big. Holy war cannot be fought, except by men who believe, so two thirds of the army must be sent away. This remains true within the church. Yet still the people are too many, so God refines them a second time, until they are outnumbered 450 to one. But why does he use the lappy-dog test? Why does Gideon need an army of 300 dog-like misfits? And what is the significance for us in the church? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Psalm 58, the hidden violence of self-righteous politics
Jul 26, 202500:39:25Tap to summarizeWicked rulers operate by cloaking their violence in the terminology of righteousness. Though they are preparing a path of violence, they want to appear benevolent and good. As in David’s day, so in ours, where terms like “climate justice,” and “Maori rights” are used to legitimize theft and the threat of violence. Our solution should be the same as David’s, but the church cannot act effectively without unity over the limits of the state’s right to bear the sword. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 6, part 4: fear, faith, and fleece
Jul 19, 202500:42:48Tap to summarizeThe Spirit clothes Gideon—a word used especially for priests being invested with the garments of their identity as God’s servants. Yet suddenly, he seems to get cold feet and asks for two strange miracles. Why would someone with the Spirit act this way? Comparing Gideon’s words to Abraham’s in interceding for Sodom reveals that this is not faithless act, but a faithful one—and the sign of the fleece is not a hasty or foolish request, but a public display with a priestly logic and clear meaning. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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