Shows
Context for KidsEpisode 175: You NEVER Bother GOD!This week we are going to look at what Jesus said about kids, their angels, and anyone who hurts them.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/07/13/episode-175-you-never-bother-god/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/aae1xF8jOTY
2025-07-1325 minContext for KidsEpisode 174: God’s Honor Reversal RollercoasterWe’re going to talk about a very important part of God’s love this week—justice! What did Jesus mean when He said that people who exalt themselves will be exalted and people who humble themselves would be humbled? How do the stories of Joseph, David, Jesus and the churches of Revelation teach us how God’s love works in making things right?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/06/27/episode-174-gods-honor-reversal-rollercoaster/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/iYaD7oevFXw
2025-06-2725 minContext for KidsEpisode 173: Grownups Behaving Badly on Social MediaThis has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year on social media so far but the last two weeks have been the worst so far. Sometimes, when grownups and kids are in front of a computer and can’t be punched, the say the most terrible things you can imagine to others--things they wouldn’t ever say if they were in front of the person. And if they would say those things in person, they need Jesus really bad. So, we are going to talk about body shaming and insults and how we should treat one another.
2025-06-1325 minContext for KidsEpisode 172: The Rich Man on the Trash HeapYeah, everyone calls it the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man but when we look at what Jesus was telling His audience of mostly poor Jews, it was a funny and outrageous story about a very rich man who is so rotten that he ends up getting thrown into the canyon where all the trash of Jerusalem is burned.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/06/08/episode-172-the-rich-man-on-the-trash-heap/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/zqwC_7i3ZtM
2025-06-0825 minContext for KidsEpisode 171: The Miracles of Jesus and Why It Isn’t Good to be AloneI love the Doctor Pimple Popper TV show because she has something in common with Jesus in the work she does to reunite people with their communities! Jesus healed people and no one did it better than Him but sometimes we forget that the most important thing about many of His miracles is that He got people back together with their families!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/05/23/episode-171-the-miracles-of-jesus-and-why-it-isnt-good-to-be-alone/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ciy2tIX2bh0
2025-05-2325 minContext for KidsEpisode 170: Sheep, Goats, and the Love of JesusHow do we love like Jesus? We’re going to talk about the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, how goats aren’t evil, and what it looks like to love the least of these in school and church.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/05/07/episode-170-sheep-goats-and-the-love-of-jesus/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/BhKgIiGHnE0
2025-05-0825 minContext for KidsEpisode 169: Love and the Good SamaritanBefore we go back to Genesis and tackle the ever growing family of Abraham, we need to understand love as Jesus taught it. Otherwise, we might make the mistake of thinking that God approves of the nonsense those guys get into. Case in point—selling your little brother as a slave is not okay.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/05/02/episode-169-love-and-the-good-samaritan/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZUjw_df4TEw
2025-05-0325 minContext for KidsEpisode 168: Being Like Jesus—What is Love?Love is a very complicated thing in the Bible and so we are going to treat it very seriously. The Bible shows us that God’s love is emotional and active and also very interested in justice and mercy. And of course, we can’t talk about love without mentioning Mister Rogers!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/04/25/episode-168-being-like-jesus-what-is-love/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/f8GG7YuiGzE
2025-04-2525 minContext for KidsEpisode 167: Being Like Jesus—JoyfulnessWhat is joy and how is it different from happiness? This week, I teach the kids about my own journey from sorrow to joy and we’ll talk about Jesus’s joyful life.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/04/03/episode-167-being-like-jesus-joyfulness/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayDINsXL8Qk
2025-04-0325 minContext for KidsEpisode 166: Being Like Jesus--PeacefulnessWhat does Paul mean when he talks about peace? What does Jesus have to say about peacemakers? Is peace a feeling or an action or both? To learn about this we will have to travel all the way from Galilee to Galatia and then to Rome.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/03/26/episode-166-being-like-jesus-peacefulness/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/orlaG6H0SJA
2025-03-2625 minContext for KidsEpisode 165: Abraham and the Mountain of the LordAbraham just found out on the Mountain of the Lord that God will provide. God was getting ready to make His final promise to Abraham and He swears by Himself that absolutely everything He ever promised to Abraham is a done deal and will happen through Isaac and his descendants.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/01/22/episode-165-abraham-and-the-mountain-of-the-lord/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/HFBAbXGSsiQ
2025-01-2225 minContext for KidsEpisode 164: God saves Isaac!When is a sacrifice not a sacrifice? That’s the big question this week as the Angel of the Lord interrupts the sacrifice of Isaac. And what does this have to do with Jesus? We will also be discussing the ancient concept of the heavens in ancient Near Eastern context.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/01/14/episode-164-god-saves-isaac/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/8NRh5pNcZXs
2025-01-1525 minContext for KidsEpisode 163: Isaac’s Scary QuestionWait a minute—Isaac notices a red flag. They have the sacrificial knife, the coals for a new fire, and the wood, but there is no animal for the slaughter. As Han Solo would say, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” and Isaac is finally alone with his father and able to ask the question his father doesn’t want to answer.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2025/01/07/episode-163-isaacs-scary-question/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/9vAf94KTA7s
2025-01-0725 minContext for KidsEpisode 162: Father Abraham said...nothing?? RU Serious?Last time we were with Abraham, he had a terrible decision to make. Was he going to sacrifice Isaac in the Land of Moriah or was he going to refuse, or at least argue with God about it? Abraham's response is even more confusing than God's request--absolutely nothing for three whole days. We are starting to see hints about Jesus in this story, and so we will talk about the "type" of Isaac and the "antitype" of Jesus both carrying wood on their backs.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/12/18/episode-162-father-abraham-said-nothing-ru-serious/
YouTube (longer version): https://youtu...2024-12-1825 minContext for KidsEpisode 161: Jesus, the Hannukah KingSo, this year, I want to talk about Advent, which is a season on a lot of liturgical calendars but is often misunderstood as being another name for Christmas--which it isn't. Advent is a word meaning "the arrival of an important person or event" and because Advent almost always (but not this year) overlaps with Hannukah and many scholars believe Jesus was conceived in the winter and born during the Fall Festivals, I would like to think that the Light of the World was indeed conceived during Hannukah, beginning a nine-month season of waiting with anticipation for His birth...2024-12-0425 minContext for KidsEpisode 160: Thankfulness and the Dayenu of JesusThis week we are looking at the difference between being sad and being ungrateful. I am also talking to the kids about why Jesus was all He had to be and how anything less wouldn’t have been enough to save us.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/11/26/episode-160-thankfulness-and-the-dayenu-of-jesus/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Q5F9PL4dXOA
2024-11-2725 minContext for KidsEpisode 159: Abraham’s Terrible Test!This week, we are beginning the last chapter of Torah Portion Vayers, where God says something shocking to Abraham in order to test him.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/11/20/episode-159-abrahams-terrible-test/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ekW1OgGhoWM
2024-11-2025 minContext for KidsEpisode 158: Types, antitypes, and human sacrifice?Genesis 12 begins next week and we have two more things we need to learn before that. First of all, we are going to talk theology with typology, which is a fun and clever way to discover clues about Jesus all the way through the entire Bible. Then we get serious and talk about human sacrifice but don’t worry--I am not going to be gross about it.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/11/12/episode-158-types-antitypes-and-human-sacrifice/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/U4Hz5T8QHu8
2024-11-1325 minContext for KidsEpisode 157: What is an Olah Offering?To better understand the Akeida in Genesis 22, we need to have some background on the olah offering—also translated as the whole burnt offering or ascending offering. What was it? How was it different from other sacrifices? Why did they believe that God needed smoke in order to smell it? This lesson is going to give us a lot of ancient Near Eastern context!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/10/31/episode-157-what-is-an-olah-offering/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ad-8iFZnUpI
2024-10-3125 minContext for KidsEpisode 156: Being Like Jesus—Love part 1Oh my gosh, we start Genesis 22 in two weeks and can you believe it? The Bible hasn’t mentioned love even once! Is that a problem? Not really. Love will be mentioned for the first time in chapter 22. And it isn’t even God’s love. This week we will talk about how God has been showing His love and faithfulness and loyalty in a lot of ways even though the word isn’t mentioned—and when we really want to see God’s love in action, there is no better lesson than the life of Jesus.
Transcript...2024-10-2325 minContext for KidsEpisode 155: Abraham’s Stolen Well and a New CovenantWow, here we are at the end of Genesis chapter twenty-one at last! Before taking a break for the Fall Festivals, we’re going to look at the consequences of not being trusted as well as not being trustworthy—as both Abraham and Abimelech know very well. And we’ll be talking about sheep, wells, and planting trees in the middle of the desert!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/09/25/episode-155-abrahams-stolen-well-and-a-new-covenant/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLiDI1wuJEU
2024-09-2525 minContext for KidsEpisode 154: “Do whatever Sarah says.”Oh man, I hate this portion of the Bible. It’s so messy and sad and frustrating. Abraham is upset about Sarah wanting Ishmael gone forever—I mean, of course he is! God hasn’t chimed in but when He does, it’s shocking so we will need to get an explanation. God isn’t done with Hagar or Ishmael yet, and Hagar is going to get one more visit before she exits the Biblical account of her life.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/09/18/episode-154-do-whatever-sarah-says/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/pqYl7zMx-9o
2024-09-1825 minContext for KidsEpisode 153: The Fools and the Wise in the BibleA huge theme in ancient writings (and especially the Bible) is the difference between foolish and wise people. When we aren’t aware of it, we are tempted to look at everything people are doing in the Bible as examples of what is good and right but the Bible isn’t that sort of book. It’s a book about God being wise and putting up with humans—when even the best of them do some incredibly foolish things. The contrast shows us how patient and kind God is. Another word for patience is long-suffering because that’s what best descr...2024-09-0425 min
First-Century Youth Ministry143 CAN WOMEN LEAD IN THE CHURCH WITH TYLER DAWN ROSENQUISTIn this fascinating follow-up episode, Heather and Jonathan once again welcome Tyler Dawn Rosenquist to continue their exploration of 1 Timothy 2. This time, they delve into the critical context of Artemus worship in ancient Ephesus and its influence on Paul’s instructions about women’s roles in the church.Tyler sheds light on how the pervasive worship of Artemis shaped the cultural and religious landscape of Ephesus, providing crucial background for understanding Paul’s guidance to Timothy regarding women’s conduct in the church. They also dive into the original Greek terms used in the passage, offering a clearer...2024-09-0214 minContext for KidsEpisode 152: Sarah’s Disturbing DemandHurray! Isaac is weaned and has passed through the very dangerous first three years of life in the ancient world. Abraham throws a big party to celebrate but not everyone is happy. What happens when seventeen-year-old Ishmael expresses his anger over being replaced by a toddler? Why did Sarah even think that her solution was okay? In talking about the rejection of Ishmael, we’ll also have a conversation about the rejection of the Messiah and the difference between what is normal vs what is good.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/08/28/episode-152-sarahs-disturbing-demand/
YouTube: https://youtu.be...2024-08-2825 minFirst-Century Youth Ministry143 UNDERSTAND THIS BEFORE YOU INTERPRET 1 TIMOTHY 2 WITH TYLER DAWN ROSENQUISTJoin Heather and Jonathan in this thought-provoking episode as they welcome special guest Tyler Dawn Rosenquist to dive deep into the complexities of 1 Timothy 2 and its implications for women's roles in the church.In this enlightening discussion, Tyler helps unravel what this often-debated passage isn't saying and emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and cultural context of Ephesus to grasp Paul’s message to Timothy fully. Together, they explore the nuances of interpreting scripture with an informed perspective, challenging conventional readings and uncovering a more nuanced understanding of women’s contributions within the church.Whet...2024-08-2619 minContext for KidsEpisode 151: She’s Having a Baby! And She’s Ninety!We’ve been waiting for ten chapters, since Sarah was introduced at the end of chapter 11, and finally Isaac is here. But why is the story so short??? In fact, why are all the stories about Isaac so short? For someone we’ve been anxiously waiting for so long, he doesn’t get nearly as much attention as his father Abraham and his son Jacob. Sometimes the mysteries tell us just as much as the long stories do.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/08/22/episode-151-shes-having-a-baby-and-shes-ninety/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/MghzUjfDcPA
2024-08-2225 minContext for KidsEpisode 150: Being Like Jesus—PatienceFew things are less understood and acknowledged than God's incredible patience, and there’s no better time to discuss the patience of God than when we are beginning to wrap up the story of Abraham, Sarah, Ishmael, and Hagar. Impatience wrecked their family peace while God’s patience leads to Jesus! And Jesus shows us God’s patience in how He dealt with His very annoying disciples.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/08/14/episode-150-being-like-jesus-patience/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/8CN5QHtLefU
2024-08-1425 minContext for KidsEpisode 149: What is the ancient Near East?Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy studying the history of the ancient Near East because it is also the history around the Bible. But what is it? Where is it? And how is it different from the Greco-Roman Near East of Jesus? And does it make any difference?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/08/07/episode-149-what-is-the-ancient-near-east/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/kRAxGPzjLIU
2024-08-0725 minContext for KidsEpisode 148: What happens when we read the Bible?I have been wanting to do this lesson for a long time and I wish someone had shared all of this with me—or even any of it with me—when I was a beginner. We never read anything without translating it in our own minds, and the Bible is no exception. We read the Bible and decide what it means based on our own lives, understandings, and what we have heard from others. How does the Spirit help us with our reading and what doesn’t the Spirit do? Is every thought while we are reading the Bible from G...2024-07-3125 minContext for KidsEpisode 147: Abimelech Pays and Abraham Prays.Our last teaching in Genesis 20. Abimelech finally does what he should have done in the first place if he wanted to marry Sarah, and he finds himself in the unpleasant position of having to reward someone who lied to him so that Abraham will pray for him and his household. Although this would have made sense to Abimelech, what are we supposed to think about it?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/07/18/episode-147-abimelech-pays-and-abraham-prays/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Zuo_sYdhGXk
2024-07-1825 minContext for KidsEpisode 146: Is Sarah Really Abraham’s Sister?God is getting Sarah back home, but Abraham starts making excuses—can we believe any of them, or is he just trying to keep himself out of trouble? Abimelech is furious, and so are his people when they hear about Abraham’s plan. But what are we supposed to think about all of this? And what do we do when a friend tells us to lie if we want to still be friends?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/07/10/episode-146-is-sarah-really-abrahams-sister/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/UnHI2aR4Vo4
2024-07-1025 minContext for KidsEpisode 145: Is Abimelech Really as Innocent as He Thinks?Considering the fact that Abimelech has kidnapped Sarah, it’s shocking to us that when he tells God how innocent he is, God agrees. But God is most certainly not giving Abimelech a pass and makes a terrifying threat that Abimelech had better do what is right—or else.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/07/07/episode-145-is-abimelech-really-as-innocent-as-he-thinks/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/fnkgPu079nE
2024-07-0425 minContext for KidsEpisode 144: Abraham, Sarah, Abimelech, and the Big LieAudio fixed on this--my apologies. I uploaded the parent version. You’re not going to believe this but we’re going to have a replay of Genesis 12 where Abraham lies to Pharaoh about Sarah his wife and gets her into more trouble. How is this time the same? How is it different? And how is God going to get her out of it this time? And who is Abimelech and who are the mysterious Philistines?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/06/25/episode-144-abraham-sarah-abimelech-and-the-big-lie/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/-sk7BXt8dj4
2024-06-2525 minContext for KidsEpisode 143: Becoming Like Jesus—HonestyWe are circling back to talking about what it means to become more like Jesus again because, as we will see again next week when we start Genesis 20, Abraham has a real problem with lying when he is scared and not trusting God. What did Jesus do when He was afraid? What does the Bible tell us about lying and when is it the right or wrong thing to do?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/06/12/episode-143-becoming-like-jesus-honesty/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/WzRuQjsi4Lg
2024-06-1225 minContext for KidsEpisode 142: Are You a Disciple of Jesus?Were all disciples men? What does the word even mean? What did Jesus have to say about disciples and why He had them in the first place? Was Jesus the only person to ever have disciples? Are you a disciple of Jesus or are you not quite sure? What should we think of when we hear the word disciple? What words did Jesus say about what it takes to be one of His disciples? So many questions. This week we’re going to talk about this very important topic because in your life, nothing is more important than becoming a...2024-06-0525 minContext for KidsEpisode 141: The End of Sodom—and Lot’s StoryThis week we close out Genesis 19 and say goodbye to Lot. Sometimes it is easy to forget that this chapter of the Bible is about Lot and not about the wicked city he is living in. Lot isn’t done with his bad decisions, and some of the worst are yet to come. Why can’t Lot just trust God and obey? Why do there always have to be arguments and foot dragging? What can we learn from looking at the end of Lot’s life, as far as the Bible story tells us?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/20...2024-05-2925 minContext for KidsEpisode 140: Angels to the Rescue/What is Forgiveness?Lot is super irritating and what he does this week proves that just being unhappy with how people are acting isn’t enough to make a difference in a wicked place. No one respects Lot or takes him seriously—not even his future sons-in-law. Lot still isn’t willing to leave Sodom, even when his neighbors want him dead but God keeps forgiving Lot and giving him chances to do what is right. We’ll also be talking this week about what forgiveness is and isn’t.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/05/22/episode-140-angels-to-the-rescue-what-is-forgiveness/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/w...2024-05-2225 minContext for KidsEpisode 139: Lot—Worst Dad Ever!There are a lot of bad dads and moms in the Bible but if Lot isn’t the worst one then he is near the top of the list. Being a young girl in the ancient world was a very dangerous thing and sometimes the members of your own family could be your worst enemies. How far will Lot go to obey the hospitality codes of the ancient world? Who is he willing to sacrifice in order to look good? And what can we learn about the men of Sodom from the way they reacted to what Lot tried to...2024-05-1525 minContext for KidsEpisode 138: Mysterious Strangers in SodomThis week we will be talking about the mysterious angels in disguise, what Lot did to make his neighbors angry, and what a city gate was.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/05/06/episode-138-mysterious-strangers-in-sodom/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/b2LMiM2ulJg
2024-05-0625 minContext for KidsEpisode 137: Talking about Angels in the BibleThe truth is that we know more about angels on tv and in Christian art than we do about angels in the Bible, and so before we dive into our first real encounter with angels in Genesis 19 we’re going to see what the Bible does and doesn’t say about Angels. And we’ll talk about the three most famous angels of all!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/04/09/episode-137-talking-about-angels-in-the-bible/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/nGEpf1E44xI
2024-04-0925 minContext for KidsEpisode 136: The One When Abraham Tries to Save SodomWho is the first intercessor in the Bible? Abraham! He went to bat for the people of Sodom, appealing to and reasoning with God's mercy over His sense of justice. This makes him very different from everyone who went before Him--especially Noah!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/03/27/episode-136-the-one-when-abraham-tries-to-save-sodom/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/3S6g6yZth5M
2024-03-2725 minContext for KidsEpisode 135: Esther and the Great Big MessLast year, we talked about the stories of Esther and Vashti, but this year, we are going to focus on irresponsible King Ahasuerus, Esther’s cousin Mordecai, who didn’t follow his own wise advice, and the wicked Haman.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/03/20/episode-135-esther-and-the-great-big-mess/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Fq9diKf9mG8
2024-03-2025 minContext for KidsEpisode 134: Abraham, the First ProphetDo you know what a prophet is? There are many stories going around that make it look like prophets were fortune tellers, but nothing could be further from the truth. God is going to name Abraham a prophet in chapter 21, but in Genesis 18, he is already being treated like one. Understanding prophets and what they are and are not will help you understand much more of the Bible than if you think they are all about predicting the future. And what does all this have to do with Sodom and what God is telling Abraham He expects from his...2024-03-1225 minContext for KidsEpisode 133: Sarah's Mysterious LaughterMost people look at Sarah’s laughter in Genesis 18 and think nothing of it. We think of what it looks like in the movies or in our picture books but what does the Bible tell us about Sarah laughing when she heard she was going to finally be a mom? Why are we so confused about what the Bible does and doesn’t say and what does it tell us about the story Moses was telling the children of Israel?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/03/05/episode-133-sarahs-mysterious-laughter/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/XHQmICJa-cA
2024-03-0625 minContext for KidsEpisode 132: Abraham and the Three Mysterious VisitorsThis week we are beginning Torah portion Vayera, which covers the time from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to the Akeida in chapter 22. Today we start out with a very mysterious appearance of three strangers soon after Abraham circumcised all the men in his household. From the very first line, we know that one of the strangers is God but why is He there and how will Abraham react?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/02/29/episode-132-abraham-and-the-three-mysterious-visitors/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/57C8PgcxFJo
2024-02-2925 minContext for KidsEpisode 131: Hospitality, Travel, and Family in the BibleWell, I was planning on doing a teaching on patience but that isn’t going so well lately so I decided that this was the perfect time to do a lesson on hospitality because that’s mostly what Genesis 18 and 19 are about! Just like Honor and Shame and Covenants, once you understand the rules of ancient hospitality, you will know it when you see it and it makes the Bible a lot more interesting. So, until I get a lot more patient, we’re back to studying Genesis and beginning Torah Portion Vayera—which starts in chapter 18 and goes all the...2024-02-2125 minContext for KidsEpisode 130: Being like Jesus--KindnessKindness is complicated. It’s a lot different than just being nice because Jesus wasn’t always nice but He was always kind. Being nice is just being pleasant to people, but kindness is treating people better than we think they deserve to be treated. And that isn’t easy when we are angry, sad, in pain, or just plain frustrated. Kindness is going to be really important to understand when we get back to Genesis 18 and 19!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/02/14/episode-130-being-like-jesus-kindness/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/--gql90WhDI
2024-02-1425 minContext for KidsEpisode 129: Being like Jesus—Goodness and the Holy SpiritWell, whenever someone says goodness is how to be like Jesus, it makes me want to say, “Well, duh…” but what does goodness even mean? It means so many different things in English that it makes your head spin. This week we will talk about what “goodness” means in the Bible and how the Holy Spirit works in us to get us closer and closer to being good.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/02/07/episode-129-being-like-jesus-goodness-and-the-holy-spirit/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/IKKwwvTyMw8
2024-02-0725 minContext for KidsEpisode 128: Being Like Jesus--FaithfulnessWhat faithfulness means to us today and what the Greek word pistis meant to Paul are sort of the same but also very different. Fortunately, what Paul meant will teach us how much we can trust Jesus and how we want to become people who can be trusted by Jesus.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/01/23/episode-128-being-like-jesus-faithfulness/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/IcI7sxNeYmA
2024-01-2325 minContext for KidsEpisode 127: Being like Jesus—GentlenessMercy is a huge thing in the Bible and so we would expect Jesus to not only teach about the importance of being merciful but also that He would be merciful. Mercy is a big step up from showing self-control. To show how mercy works, we’re going to look at one of the funniest parables about the Ungrateful Servant. It doesn’t seem funny at first, but believe me, it’s really hilarious once you stop to think about what is going on and how crazy the situation is.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/01/16/episode-127-being-like-jesus-gentleness/
Yo...2024-01-1725 minContext for KidsEpisode 126: Being like Jesus—Self-ControlIt’s one thing to say that Jesus had every single fruit of the Spirit to perfection, but quite another to look at what that really means when you have the authority and power to do absolutely anything you want. It isn’t so much about what Jesus did but what He was capable of. That makes Him even more amazing!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/01/11/episode-126-being-like-jesus-self-control/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/y0xhF3ElCzY
2024-01-1125 minContext for KidsEpisode 125: Your Prayers Don’t Have to Be Perfect!Have you ever been scared to pray because you don’t want to say the wrong thing or because you are afraid that you can’t trust God to do what is right or that He will be angry if you are honest? Today, we’re going to talk about why we can always be ourselves when we are talking to God. And not only that, but about how having to be perfect in our prayers comes from pagan religions and not from the Bible.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2024/01/01/episode-125-your-prayers-dont-have-to-be-perfect/
YouTube: https://youtu.b...2024-01-0125 minContext for KidsEpisode 124: Being like Jesus—ForgivenessForgiveness is hard to understand and even harder to do. Grownups ask me all the time about what forgiveness is and isn’t, and if it means forgetting and acting like nothing happened or if we can still be careful when someone is dangerous. Learning about the forgiveness from God we have through our King Jesus, and what Jesus told us to do, and how He helps us grow from people who never want to forgive and don’t know how to even begin, to people who are able to forgive, helps us to follow God maybe more than any...2023-12-2725 minContext for KidsEpisode 123: The Lech Lecha StoryWe are about halfway through the story of Abraham in the Bible. His life story in Genesis is traditionally divided into two "Torah Portions"--Lech Lecha and Vayera. As we just finished Lech Lecha, I wanted to toss out all the context and to just enjoy myself telling the first part of Abraham's story the way that extra-biblical Jewish writers did to tell the story more creatively.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/11/13/episode-123-the-lech-lecha-story/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/qTLi1VVJWo4
2023-11-1327 minContext for KidsEpisode 122: Was Ishmael a Mistake?Special episode: Many kids feel (or are made to feel) that they are mistakes for this or that reason. It’s an issue near and dear to my heart so we are going to tackle it.
Oh no! God has made it clear that it was always His plan to give a miracle baby through Sarai and now Abraham realizes that his beloved thirteen-year-old son Ishmael won’t be his heir. From now on, what was once just a mess is now heartbreaking and it will only get worse.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/11/08/episode-122-was-ishmael-a-mistake/
...2023-11-0825 minContext for KidsEpisode 121: Sarai’s New Name!This week we will be talking about one of the themes of Scripture—miracle babies! Sarai’s will be the very first of seven and that calls for a new name, new promises, and new problems for Abraham.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/10/31/episode-121-sarais-new-name/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/vgnbqUGa-MY
2023-11-0125 minContext for KidsEpisode120: Circumcision--No Slave or FreeGod is going to tell Abraham to make a decision that can’t ever be taken back, by obeying a commandment that can’t ever be undone. And what does it tell us about how different our God is in how He feels about kids and slaves? And why weren’t women included??
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/10/23/episode-120-circumcision-no-slave-or-free/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/vP_r2e-kiD8
2023-10-2325 minContext for KidsEpisode 119: A Permanent Covenant!When God makes a Covenant, He really makes a Covenant. In chapter 17, Abraham is given the promise of a permanent Covenant, which means it will be around as long as God is around. And you know, that’s forever!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/10/18/episode-119-a-permanent-covenant/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/2hACXSgYML0
2023-10-1825 minContext for KidsEpisode 118: Abram’s New NameThe surprising new covenant promise is revealed and Abram gets a brand new name! I can’t tell you how relieved I am that I can write Abraham from now on because it’s easier to remember than Abram.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/10/09/episode-118-abrams-new-name/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/8tM3Rv98dyw
2023-10-0925 minContext for KidsEpisode 117: El ShaddaiGod appears to Abram for the first time in twenty-four years (I am not counting the vision appearance of the Word of the Lord in Gen 15), introduces Himself by a new mysterious name, promises a new covenant, and gives Abram a new command!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/10/02/episode-117-el-shaddai/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ifm-4Uo4whI
2023-10-0325 minContext for KidsEpisode 116: Holiness, Circumcision, and Signs in the BibleSorry, parents--but in order to teach Genesis 17, we can’t avoid talking about circumcision—a subject that was absolutely normal and not at all embarrassing in the ancient world. It’s actually incredibly interesting! And not only that, but we have to talk about what holiness is and about the nine special signs in the Old Testament. I will also be posting an episode on my grown up show, Character in Context, helping adults to understand circumcision if you want to teach it yourself.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/09/26/episode-116-holiness-circumcision-and-signs-in-the-bible/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/fGCK8tKpv4M2023-09-2625 minContext for KidsEpisode 115: Yom Kippur--Why Does God Hate Lies So Much?For Yom Kippur this year, the Day of Atonement when the Temple would be cleansed from the sins of the people of Israel, I want to talk about invisible sins and how they mess everything up.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/09/18/episode-115-yom-kippur-why-does-god-hate-lies-so-much/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/cOHEZ_YyV8o
2023-09-1825 minContext for KidsEpisode 114: What Hagar Did for God (that no one else ever did)Hagar is unique and important in the Bible for a lot of reasons. We’ve already talked about some of them but perhaps her most important contribution to our faith is when she gave God a name. No one else ever does. What does that name tell us about Hagar, about God, and about her son Ishmael? Plus, we’re going to explore another “what if” story to try and make sense of what happens later.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/09/11/episode-114-what-hagar-did-for-god-that-no-one-else-ever-did/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/hPzWTN31rds
2023-09-1125 minContext for KidsEpisode 113: Hagar and the Angel of the LordWho is the first person to actually see AND talk to the Angel of the Lord? It’s Hagar! In this episode, we’re going to see how much God loves Hagar and even calls her by name when Abram and Sarai don’t. God has some amazing promises for Hagar that would eventually mean a completely different and better life for her. In fact, God makes Hagar a promise that He has only ever made to Abram at this point.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/09/06/episode-113-hagar-and-the-angel-of-the-lord/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ho8yoG24748
2023-09-0625 minContext for KidsEpisode 112: Taking Matters into Their Own HandsGenesis 16 isn’t a good chapter for Abram, Sarai, and especially for Sarai’s Egyptian slave Hagar. Sarai comes up with an idea to get a child for herself by following ancient Near Eastern custom, and Abram goes along with it. The result is one huge mess and a whole lot of pain for everyone.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/08/30/episode-112-taking-matters-into-their-own-hands/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/zKI2achyLoA
2023-08-3025 minContext for KidsEpisode 111: Hagar and the Importance of Having a VoiceToday we are going to learn about a very important young lady in the Bible. Her name is Hagar and even though the people in her life treated her badly, God treated her like a VIP, a Very Important Person. All of chapter sixteen is about Hagar, so she deserves her own story “before the story”. We will be learning about Egyptians, slavery, and about how important it is to treat others as though they are better than we are. We will also be learning how to do something that Hagar couldn’t ever do—speaking up when something isn’t ok...2023-07-2425 minContext for KidsEpisode 110: What is obedience (and who should we obey)?This is an episode designed to address a serious issue for both adults and kids—what does it mean to honor mother and father, and how does one obey their parents “in the Lord” as per Eph 6:1? There isn’t anyone in Christian or Jewish leadership who hasn’t been asked these questions—generally by adults suffering under the weight of abusive and irresponsible parents. So, I thought it would be a good idea to talk to kids about what it does and doesn’t mean--we certainly don't want kids to be obeying every adult they come across, right? Warning: this...2023-07-1825 minContext for KidsEpisode 109: The Covenant of the Pieces and our King JesusWe talked about this a bit back in episode 107, but this episode is actually about a lot more than it looks like on the surface. When we know what to look for, this is the most powerful promise yet about the Messiah, Jesus. God made a promise to Eve, and now He makes an even greater promise to Abram! This will be the last lesson in Gen 15.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/07/10/episode-109-the-covenant-of-the-pieces-and-our-king-jesus/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/2WE77oHh9Qw
2023-07-1126 minContext for KidsEpisode 108: The Bad News and the Good NewsIn Gen 15, God gets really specific about the scary future of Abram’s descendants, some good news for Abram, and the reason why he can’t have the Land of Canaan yet. We’re also going to talk about why Jesus’s disciples are just like fruit trees.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/06/27/episode-108-the-bad-news-and-the-good-news/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/l4Zz2ice3sY
2023-06-2725 minContext for KidsEpisode 107: Cutting Critters? Super Gross, but Super Cool too.In Genesis 15, Abram asks God for a sign and God tells Him to do something so utterly bizarre that it will require quite an explanation! We’ll also be talking about the prophet Jeremiah and the time the citizens of Jerusalem made a very big mistake.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/06/21/episode-107-cutting-critters-super-gross-but-super-cool-too/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/qIEtQXxZtfU
2023-06-2125 minContext for KidsEpisode 106: Look at the Stars, Abram!Gen 15:4-6 Abram has been promised that his kids and grandkids and great grands will be as many as the stars in the sky! God says that Abram is going to be a daddy but what about Sarai? This week we will talk about great faith in the Bible—from Abram to the people who surprised Jesus with their faith!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/06/13/episode-106-look-at-the-stars-abram/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/wyR9-soZFpQ
2023-06-1425 minContext for KidsEpisode 105: Abram’s Complaint!Continuing with Gen 15, this week’s lesson is a lot about relationship building with the God who wants all of us, even our complaints! We’re going to learn about Ethan the priest’s complaint in the Psalms and about adoption in the ancient world and how the Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus was adopted by Joseph.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/06/06/episode-105-abrams-complaint/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/40Yn3YyQt0k
2023-06-0625 minContext for KidsEpisode 104: Fear not, Abram!Genesis 15 is one of the most important chapters in all of the Bible! It is where God finally makes His covenant with Abram, promises to deal with the sins of humanity Himself, gives someone a vision, and says “Fear not!” This week, I will explain the difference between dreams and visions, talk about what the “word of the Lord” might be, and the difference between when God, the angels, and Jesus tell people to “Fear not!”
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/06/01/episode-104-fear-not-abram/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/IQ9opcDWvcg
2023-06-0125 minContext for KidsEpisode 103: Pentecost--Ruth and How Kindness Changes EverythingWhat’s Pentecost? Why do we study Exodus and Ruth this weekend? And how does the story of Ruth change God’s mind about the Moabites?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/05/24/episode-103-pentecost-ruth-and-how-kindness-changes-everything/
Video: https://youtu.be/xH2npc9_Ehw
2023-05-2525 minContext for KidsEpisode 102: Bullies in the Bible!Before we start chapter fifteen of Genesis, I want to talk about what will start happening in chapter sixteen and continue all the way to the end of the Bible. There are a lot of bullies and God doesn’t like it. We’re going to look at some surprising bullies and also the people who were bullied and read a Psalm that tells us how people who are rich, powerful, strong, and popular are expected to treat those who aren’t. We’re also going to talk about our own responsibilities and how we can be bullies too and what...2023-05-1825 minContext for KidsEpisode 101: Abram and the Rude Dude from SodomThe King of Sodom wants to make Abram an offer that he figures can’t be refused. But Abram has other ideas because of his growing trust in God. But why does that rascally king think he can accomplish and why is he even doing it?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/05/10/episode-101-abram-and-the-rude-dude-from-sodom/
2023-05-1025 minContext for KidsEpisode 100: The Mysterious MelchizedekOne of the great unsolved mysteries of the Bible is the identity of Melchizedek, the priest king of Salem (which will later be called Jerusalem). We’ve seen it before, as with Nimrod, that when the Bible and history don’t tell us anything about someone in the Bible, there are a lot of crazy stories trying to fill in those gaps. However, what we really can know about Melchizedek is still very important and very interesting.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/05/03/episode-100-the-mysterious-melchizedek/
2023-05-0325 minContext for KidsEpisode 99: Abram the Hebrew and the Case of the Kidnapped Nephew!At one point, Lot was camped by the city of Sodom and now we see that he is actually living in the city—and when the rebellion of the five kings goes terribly wrong, Lot and his family get taken as captives and all their stuff gets taken too. Instead of paying a ransom for his safe return, Abram and his allies assemble an army and take back all the people and all the stuff that was taken.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/04/27/episode-99-abram-the-hebrew-and-the-case-of-the-kidnapped-nephew/
2023-04-2725 minContext for KidsEpisode 98: Four Kings vs Five Kings: Suzerain Vassal CovenantsIf you have read my curriculum book The Ten Commandments and the Covenants of Promise, then some of this will be a review for you. Otherwise, this week you will be learning about why these kings were fighting and how understanding their relationship with King Chedorlaomer also helps us to understand God’s relationship with the children of Israel and with us too!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/04/18/episode-98-four-kings-vs-five-kings-suzerain-vassal-covenants/
2023-04-1825 minContext for KidsEpisode 97: Jesus and the Omer!Today we are going to talk about the most exciting fifty days in the history of all the world! And also about why the strangest day on the entire Biblical calendar turned out to be the most important of all. If you have never heard of the counting of the omer, hold on to your hats because that’s what we will be learning about today.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/04/12/episode-97-jesus-and-the-omer/
2023-04-1225 minContext for KidsEpisode 96: Passover and the Importance of HopeThere are terrible times in our lives when everything seems to have gone so wrong that nothing will ever be right again. When Jesus died, the disciples must have felt like their whole world ended. They had given up their jobs, their families, and everything to follow Him. They had hoped to be rich, famous, and powerful when Jesus became King and suddenly, they probably wished that none of it had ever happened. But God always has other plans, even when things seem darkest and most terrible.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/03/30/episode-96-passover-and-the-importance-of-hope/
2023-03-3025 minContext for KidsEpisode 95: Archaeology of the Bible Part 1Do Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob show up in archaeological records? Why or why not? Chapters 14 and 15 of Genesis are going to need a lot more archaeology to explain than what has gone before and so I thought it would be a good idea to talk about how we know what we know about the Biblical world, who figured it out, and how and most importantly, where I get my information from so you guys can find it too. There will be a ton of links in the transcript this week for those of you who really want to "dig...2023-03-2225 minContext for KidsEpisode 94: Lot’s terrible decision!Abram wisely solved the problem of the family squabbles by allowing Lot to choose whatever land he wanted—which could have gone terribly wrong, but Abram trusted God that no matter what, his children would still inherit the Land of Canaan. Lot chose the very best of the Land for itself, but that is going to come with a high price tag.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/03/15/episode-94-lots-terrible-decision/
2023-03-1525 minContext for KidsEpisode 93: A Whole “Lot” of TroubleMaybe during COVID you found out how difficult it can be for a bunch of people to be in a small space for a long time, and that’s what happened with Abram and Lot, who had so much stuff and so many slaves and hired men that there was a lot of arguing over who should be able to feed their animals in what places. What is Abram going to do to solve this terrible problem? And how does it show us how much he trusts God?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/03/08/episode-93-a-whole-lot-of-trouble/
2023-03-0825 minContext for KidsEpisode 92: Esther and Vashti—Two Brave QueensThis weekend, Jewish people from all over the world will be celebrating Purim, a holiday which honors God for saving His people from the wicked Haman during the time of the Medo-Persian Empire. We can learn a lot about courage and bravery from this story about two Queens who stood up for what was right.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/02/28/episode-92-esther-and-vashti-two-brave-queens/
2023-02-2825 minContext for KidsEpisode 91: What’s Happening at Asbury and What Is a Revival?Every once in a while, something is going on with Christians or the world and I think it is important to explore it with the kids so that they understand better what everyone is talking about. This week we’re going to learn about revivals and outpourings of the Holy Spirit and what we can learn about them from looking at Ezekiel, Acts, and the ministry of Jesus.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/02/22/episode-91-whats-happening-at-asbury-and-what-is-a-revival/
2023-02-2225 minContext for KidsEpisode 90: Praying When We Are ScaredAbram, Sarai, and Lot all return to the land of Canaan and when Abram returns to his home base in Bethel, he calls on the Name of the Lord again. But what if he had done that before he went to Egypt? How might that have changed the story for the better and saved a whole lot of people a whole world of hurt—and especially Sarai and her maidservant Hagar.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/02/14/episode-90-praying-when-we-are-scared/
2023-02-1425 minContext for KidsEpisode 89: God Saves Sarai!Sarai got into big trouble by agreeing to lie about who she was, and now she is a captive of the Pharaoh but God has special plans for her life so He does something pretty amazing to save her. We will also be talking about the importance of ethics in the Bible and in our real lives.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/02/08/episode-89-god-saves-sarai/
2023-02-0825 minContext for KidsEpisode 88: Abram, the Terrible Famine, and the Dangerous LieAbram has a lot of ups and downs in his walk with God and this week we will be talking about one of the downs. Famine strikes the land of Canaan and Abram takes Sarai and their household down to Egypt where there is plenty of food. There’s a big problem though—Sarai is a very beautiful woman and Abram asks her to promise him something that puts her in a lot of danger.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2023/01/31/episode-88-abram-the-terrible-famine-and-the-dangerous-lie/
2023-02-0125 minContext for KidsEpisode 87: Seven Special Babies in the BibleEveryone is talking about Baby Jesus now, all over the world, but what you may not know is that God just loves to do things through “impossible” babies who couldn’t have even been born without God working incredible miracles. So, this week we are going to look at Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist to see how God makes impossible things possible and especially through the greatest miracle baby of all—Jesus!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2022/12/22/episode-87-seven-special-babies-in-the-bible/
2022-12-2225 minContext for KidsEpisode 86: How Hannukah Gave Us JesusWhat if the Maccabees never stood up to Antiochus Epiphanes? What if they had lost the war? What if Mary and Joseph had never been born or they had been raised as pagans? Thousands of things could have gone wrong, but fortunately, Hannukah is the story of how things happened in such a way as to make sure that Jesus, our Savior, was born!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2022/12/14/episode-86-no-hannukah-no-jesus/
2022-12-1425 minContext for KidsEpisode 85: Hannukah and the Importance of LoyaltyWe are taking a break for the next two weeks to talk about the celebration that made the birth of Jesus possible! That’s right—the Feast of Dedication aka Hannukah. This week we’ll talk about the importance of being loyal to God no matter what! Next week, I will explain why there is no Jesus without Hannukah!
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2022/12/07/episode-85-hannukah-and-the-importance-of-loyalty/
2022-12-0725 minContext for KidsEpisode 84: More Promises for Abram!Abram, Sarai and Lot all arrive in the Promised Land and God actually appears to Abram for the first time and makes him two more promises that help to explain his very first promise to Abram! But uh oh, what problem will this cause with Lot? We’ll talk about sacred groves, regional gods, altar building and what it meant for Abram to “call on the Name of the Lord” outside a Canaanite city.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2022/11/30/episode-84-more-promises-for-abram/
2022-11-3025 minContext for KidsEpisode 83: The Journey to CanaanWow! Abram listened to God, believed His promises to bless him—almost—and left his home for the land of the dreaded Canaanites. But why did he disobey and bring his nephew Lot? And how does all this relate to the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness?
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2022/11/24/episode-83-the-journey-to-canaan/
2022-11-2425 minContext for KidsEpisode 82: The Promise!This week we will tackle one of the most important things in the Bible—God’s very first promise to Abraham! Up to now, the world has mostly been a mess but God is about to take matters into His own hands to create for himself a nation unlike any other on earth. We’ll be talking about the words bless and blessing and what they mean when they are referring to people. As a bonus, we’ll see exactly why no one in the Bible is perfect except for Jesus and why that’s okay.
Transcript: https://co...2022-11-1625 minContext for KidsEpisode 81: A Man Named AbramToday we are going to introduce the family of Terah and discuss why the Bible is about to change so drastically! The life of Abraham literally changes the world forever, and as we would expect, the story of the Bible is going to change as well. Up until now, we have only been in the introduction—God has been introduced as the Creator, as the Savior, and as the one who has never stopped wanting to fix our drama—and now we get to see Him finally putting His rescue plan into action. This is the last teaching of Tora...2022-11-0925 minContext for KidsEpisode 80: What is the Bible?The Bible really changes when we get to Genesis 12 and so I wanted to take a week to talk to the kids about what the Bible is and isn’t and why there are so many different kinds of writings by so many different people in it, and why we can trust it.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2022/11/02/episode-80-what-is-the-bible/
2022-11-0225 minContext for KidsEpisode 79: The Shema Prayer—God is “One”Before we start talking about Abraham next week, it’s really important to talk about “the prayer before the Lord’s prayer” which we find in Deuteronomy and begins with the Hebrew word shema, which isn’t an easy word to translate into English but it is a very important word that we need to understand. If that wasn’t confusing enough for us, we also have to figure out what the heck it means that God is “one” because people have been asking questions about that for a very long time.
Transcript: https://contextforkids.com/2022/10/26/episode-79-the-shema-praye...2022-10-2625 min
Conversations with the BibleWhat Makes it Pagan? with Tyler Dawn RosenquistTyler Dawn Rosenquist and I discuss how we are to handle claims that certain names, holidays, practices, etc are "pagan".
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