Shows
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastRejecting the Cheap Gospel: Yeshua’s Call to Costly Discipleship and Torah-Grounded TransformationThe Cost of Following Yeshua: A Call to True Discipleship and TransformationIn a world obsessed with instant gratification, it’s easy to fall for the notion that following Yeshua (Jesus) is a simple transaction: a raised hand, a quick prayer, and eternal life is secured with no further effort. Athletes bleed for glory, entrepreneurs grind for empires, and scientists wrestle through failure for truth, yet some portray Christianity as a free pass to golden streets and an eternal crown with no sweat required. This is a distortion of the gospel, a filthy lie that misrepresents Scripture an...2025-06-1017 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastAnchoring in Divine WisdomIn a world where human opinion often drowns out the voice of divine wisdom, the modern church stands at a crossroads. Will we continue to bow before the altar of popular thought, or will we heed the clarion call of Scripture to anchor our souls in the unshakable wisdom of God? The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, issues a stark warning: "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." This admonition, penned nearly...2025-05-3113 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastThe Paradox of Choice and Satan’s StrategyPicture a world overflowing with spiritual choices. You’re faced with countless denominations, theologies, and paths to God. It’s dizzying. Barry Schwartz, in his book The Paradox of Choice, published in 2004, argues that too many options create anxiety and dissatisfaction. Let’s apply that to faith. Scripture offers one clear path: the Torah, given by God to Israel, fulfilled in Yeshua, the Messiah. Yet, we see a flood of alternatives. Think of Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodoxy, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Calvinism. Each claims truth. I believe this isn’t just human confusion. It’s a deliberate strategy by Satan, the e...2025-05-2809 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastUnmasking Antisemitism, Embracing Truth:The Power of a ScreenshotIn an era where a single screenshot can ignite fury or fracture understanding, the stakes of truth have never been higher. Recently, an Instagram post (has since been removed) wielded this power, sharing a screenshot that claimed to unveil the Talmud’s darkest secrets. It accused Sanhedrin 54b of endorsing pedophilia and littered its narrative with fabricated quotes—such as “All children of Goyim are animals” and “Gentiles are not humans”—allegedly drawn from Jewish texts. These are not mere errors; they are calculated distortions, reviving the specter of antisemitic lies that have haunted h...2025-05-2510 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastRediscovering the Depth of FaithIntroduction: A Faith and Life in Need of RenewalIn a fast-paced world obsessed with instant gratification—where one-click purchases, swipe-right connections, and viral fame dominate—both faith and the pursuit of success have suffered a similar fate: a drift toward shallow convenience over meaningful depth. Modern Christianity, for many, has lost the transformative power that once defined it, reduced to a passive belief that asks little and delivers less. Likewise, society often celebrates quick wins and effortless gains, leaving us unfulfilled and craving something more substantial. True fulfillment, whether in spirituality or worldly endeavors, lies not in w...2025-05-1515 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastPauline Soteriology vs. Nazarene SoteriologySetting the Stage for TruthTo the Gentile church, I write with a heart both firm and tender, urging you to see the Scriptures through eyes unclouded by centuries of distortion. The story of our salvation—soteriology—is not a fractured tale of rival doctrines but a unified tapestry woven from the Jewish roots of our faith. Too often, you have been told that Paul’s gospel of grace stands in opposition to the Nazarene call to covenantal fidelity. This is a lie, born of misunderstanding and perpetuated by a tragic drift from our origins. I plead with y...2025-05-0613 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastRomans 11: A Deep and Expansive Article on God’s Redemptive Plan for Israel and the Gentile ChurchEpisode DescriptionIn this episode, we dive deep into Romans Chapter 11, exploring God's unchanging faithfulness to Israel and His gracious inclusion of the Gentiles. We’ll unpack Paul’s powerful message to the Gentile church, especially in the USA, confronting theological errors like replacement theology and the dilution of the faith’s Jewish roots. This is a wake-up call—scripturally backed and unapologetic. If you’ve ever wondered about the church’s role in God’s redemptive plan or why Israel still matters, this episode is for you.Key Topics:The remnant of Israel and God...2025-05-0325 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastThe Dunning-Kruger Effect in Ministry: A Wake-Up Call for PastorsThe Hidden Cost of Neglecting Jewish Roots: How Overconfidence and Historical Drift Have Weakened ChristianityChristianity, at its core, is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and Scripture. Jesus Himself was a Jew, and His teachings were grounded in the Hebrew Bible. However, over the centuries, Christianity has often neglected these Jewish roots, leading to a variety of theological misappropriations and flawed doctrines. One factor contributing to this neglect is the Dunning-Kruger effect—a cognitive bias where individuals with limited knowledge overestimate their competence. In the context of Christianity, this manifests as church leaders who lack a deep un...2025-04-2126 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastThe Hidden Threat to Your Faith: Unmasking Satan’s Subtle DeceptionsIntroduction: A Call to VigilanceWake up! The real danger to your faith isn’t the glaring sins you can spot from a distance—greed, lust, pride. Those are mere diversions, reckless pursuits you can name and confront. Think harder. Ha-Satan’s (הַשָּׂטָן) true genius lies not in the loud and obvious but in the shadows, in the quiet distortions he’s already threading into the fabric of your beliefs. You think you’re secure because you’re not chasing the blatant vices? You’re mistaken. The deadliest threat is already present, woven subtly into your faith, so insidious that if you d...2025-04-1517 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastThe Gentile Church and IsraelThe biblical narrative unfolds as a majestic tapestry, intricately woven with threads of divine promise, human frailty, and the relentless pursuit of restoration. At its core stands God’s covenant with Israel—a chosen people summoned not merely for their own sake but as a beacon of divine light to all nations. This covenant, initiated with Abraham, affirmed through Moses, and echoed by the prophets, forms the enduring backbone of God’s redemptive design for humanity. Within this grand story, the Gentile church emerges—not as a usurper or replacement, but as a participant grafted into the same covenantal roots th...2025-04-0826 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastThe Torah Endures: A Call to Love God with All We AreBeloved, wherever you stand—whether steeped in theology or new to the Word—hear this with your whole being: the Torah, God’s sacred instructions through Moses, is not gone. For too long, we’ve been lulled by a half-truth: that Yeshua’s coming erased the law, leaving us with a gospel of ease. I write this with a heart that burns like His—a love that weeps over a church adrift, yet rejoices in the unshakable truth of Scripture. As a scholar, I’ve wrestled with these texts; as a follower of Yeshua, I’ve seen their life. The Torah isn’t...2025-04-0118 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastWho Are You Worshipping?Imagine you’re married to someone who loves steak. You know this about them—it’s part of who they are. But one day, you decide to ignore that and start serving them vegetarian meals exclusively, pretending they’re someone they’re not. How long do you think that relationship would last? Not very long, right? Because love and respect in any relationship depend on knowing and honoring the true identity of the other person.The same principle applies to our relationship with God. If we misunderstand or misrepresent who He is, our connection with Him suffers. And when w...2025-03-2424 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastBeyond Milk: Unveiling the Depth of Salvation in Isaiah 53Imagine stepping into a room filled with treasures—golden artifacts from an ancient past, each piece whispering stories of sacrifice, redemption, and hope. For many, the journey of faith begins with a simple prayer: "I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior." This prayer, often called the sinner’s prayer, is a beautiful starting point, a doorway into a relationship with God. But what if we were invited to explore furt...2025-03-2314 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastDust and Grit: The Potter’s Real HandsPicture this: a potter at his wheel, hands steady, shaping a lump of clay. It’s an image that shows up in Scripture, especially in Romans 9:20-21, where Paul writes, “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?” If you’ve hung around Calvinist circles, you’ve probably heard this spun into a case for God’s total control—...2025-03-2010 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastThe Full Story: Missing the Jewish HeartImagine a relationship so profound that it spans centuries—a bond forged through joy and sorrow, rescue and discipline, miracles and correction, love and forgiveness. Picture a partner who walks through every trial, revealing their heart through sacred words, promising to one day return in person, unveiling the fullness of their presence. This is no mere human tale; it is the story of God and His people—the Jewish people—a narrative of intimacy stretching from the Hebrew Scriptures to the dusty roads of Galilee, culminating in Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah.As a simple Jew who loves the Bi...2025-03-1818 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastWhy Does Evil Thrive Under a Good God?The Paradox of a Good God and a Broken World: Finding Fulfillment in YeshuaThe question strikes at the heart of one of Christianity’s most persistent challenges: If God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, as followers of Yeshua proclaim, why does evil ravage the world—floods swallowing homes, diseases stealing lives, and human cruelty scarring history? It’s a tension that has haunted believers since Job wrestled with his anguish (Job 3:11-19) and still stirs debate today, from quiet prayers to impassioned posts on X. As a student of the Hebrew Scriptures, shaped by cherished tradition and se...2025-03-1415 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastReexamining the Modern Church: A Call for Accountability and Authenticity in FaithAudible SynopsisReexamining the Modern Church: A Call for Accountability and Authenticity in FaithIn an era marked by monumental shifts in how we engage with every facet of life—from education to community interaction—the church finds itself at a crossroads. The traditional church model many of us have grown accustomed to has strayed far from the dynamic, Spirit-led assemblies that characterized the early ekklesia. As believers, we face the pressing need to question, understand, and reconsider our roles within these structures, assessing whether they align with the biblical call and vision for the chur...2025-02-0410 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastBeyond Easy Believism: Challenging the Shallow Understanding of JustificationThe Interplay of Faith and Sound Logic: A Reflection on JustificationAudible IntroductionYesterday, amid the vibrant backdrop of Calvary Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona, I found myself drawn into a contemplative service that, while brimming with enthusiasm, left me grappling with the disconnect between the message delivered and the depth of scriptural truth. Accompanying a young Marine, a guest on his way to Camp Pendleton, I was struck by how our shared confusion during the sermon underscored a larger issue within certain interpretations of faith—namely, those that stem from Reformed theology. Ir...2025-02-0108 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastThe King’s Conundrum: Navigating the Tension Between Faith, Power, and InterpretationAudio OverviewIn a world increasingly shaped by the interplay of ideas, it becomes ever more essential to examine the undercurrents that influence our perspectives—those threads of human nature that weave together logic and faith, history and ideology. Recently, this realization struck me with profound clarity during a visit to the historic landmark, The Indian School in Central Phoenix, where I stood transfixed by artifacts that laid bare a dark chapter of American history. The stark juxtaposition of memorabilia elicits a contemplative inquiry into the forces that shape our understanding and interpretations of the wo...2025-01-2506 min
Sergio DeSoto The Counterintuitive PodcastThe Paradox of Depravity: Rethinking Faith and LogicIn the tapestry of human understanding, the threads of logic and faith weave intricate patterns that define our moral landscape. We often grapple with fundamental questions of existence, purpose, and justice. As we embark on this exploration, let us consider a poignant assertion: if man is born evil, totally depraved, then he must possess an innate and clear understanding of moral law paired with a purposeful intent to violate it. This audacious proposition invites us to ponder a chilling reality: what kind of world would we inhabit if every individual were imbued with a willful inclination toward...2025-01-1708 min