The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

God created men with unique strength and aggression to cultivate His creation, helping it flourish through focused work that brings life to our hearts and souls. 

• God uniquely designed men to be stronger, faster, and wired differently for a specific purpose
• Genesis 2:15 reveals our mandate to work and watch over God's creation with our strength
• Cultivation means creating, building, and helping things flourish under God's direction
• Meaningful work in a fallen world is painfully difficult but ultimately rewarding
• Men must first cultivate a healthy sense of self before cultivating other areas
• Understanding your behavior...

Pastor Matt Chandler addresses the cultural narrative of "toxic masculinity" that has left many men feeling discouraged, devalued, and demoralized. He begins a week-long exploration of biblical masculinity by examining God's unique biological design for men and setting up the question of why God created these differences.

• The American Psychological Association's 2018 guidelines denounced "traditional masculine ideology" as harmful
• Many men today struggle with loneliness, frustration, exhaustion, and negative generational patterns
• Being male (XY chromosomes) doesn't automatically make someone a man
• Genesis 2:7 shows God's intentional creation and positioning of man
• Men have biological differences including...

We examine Psalm 97:10, which commands those who love the Lord to hate evil, applying this principle specifically to ideologies that contradict biblical teaching. Our focus centers on why Christians should more actively oppose destructive philosophical systems like Marxism, communism, socialism, and feminism.

• Brief explanation of each ideology's core principles
• God's design brings order while these ideologies foster chaos
• These systems breed hatred and envy by pitting groups against each other
• Biblical warnings against covetousness directly counter these philosophies
• These ideologies pull people away from the roles God established
• Scripture passages from Ephesians 5 and 1 Corint...

Today we explore how Christians should respond to standpoint epistemology – the belief that knowledge and truth are determined by one's social position. We examine Psalm 97:10 which commands believers who love the Lord to hate evil.

• Standpoint epistemology manifests in modern culture as critical race theory and "my truth" thinking
• This ideology contradicts biblical truth by replacing God's objective Truth with subjective personal perspectives
• God explicitly condemns showing partiality based on social identities (James 2:1)
• Our primary identity should be in Christ, not in social categories or immutable characteristics
• Unity in Christ (Galatians 3:28) is directly opposed by i...

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Psalm 97 challenges believers with the imperative command: "Oh you who love the Lord, hate evil." This powerful enthronement psalm depicts God's sovereignty, justice, and righteous judgment over all the earth.

• Psalm 97 belongs to the enthronement psalms (Psalms 93-99) celebrating God's reign as king
• The psalm divides into three sections: God's glory in creation (v1-6), God's exaltation over false idols (v7-9), and people rejoicing in the Lord (v10-12)
• Verse 10 contains a direct command that loving God requires hating evil
• Multiple Scripture passages confirm that God hates evil (Psalm 5:4-5, Proverbs 8:13, Romans 12:9)
• Many churc...

Jesus demonstrates his power over death by raising Lazarus from the tomb, highlighting the difference between merely believing and acting on that belief. The resurrection story serves as a powerful metaphor for our spiritual transformation, showing how we must remove our old "grave clothes" after being made alive in Christ.

• Martha professed belief in Jesus' power but hesitated when he was about to act
• Faith without corresponding actions is worthless, as James says "faith without works is dead"
• Jesus specifically called Lazarus by name or he would have emptied the entire cemetery
• Dead people can't ma...

Emotions aren't signs of weakness but gifts from God that allow us to navigate life authentically and connect with others in their suffering. Jesus demonstrates this truth in John 11 when he weeps with Mary before raising Lazarus, showing that true strength includes emotional vulnerability.

• Many men mistakenly believe withholding emotion equals strength
• Jesus, the strongest man who ever lived, openly wept (John 11:35)
• Ecclesiastes 3 teaches there is a season for every emotion
• People who can't cry when appropriate often can't fully experience joy either
• Being "strong" doesn't mean emotional suppression but appropriate expression
• Jesus priori...

Jesus demonstrates how he meets different personalities in their grief as we continue our study of John 11, showing how he responds to Martha with theological truth while meeting Mary in emotional comfort.

• Jesus deliberately arrives four days after Lazarus's death, when Jewish tradition considered someone "dead dead"
• Martha (the Type A personality) approaches Jesus with questions and bold statements about what could have happened
• Jesus meets Martha with theological teaching, declaring "I am the resurrection and the life"
• It's appropriate to bring real questions to God in grief without questioning His fundamental character
• The Christ...

God's timing often differs significantly from our own expectations, as demonstrated in the story of Jesus deliberately waiting before helping Lazarus. We explore why Jesus waited two days after hearing about Lazarus's illness and what this teaches us about trusting God even when His timing doesn't align with our desires.

• God's ways and plans are always higher and better than ours
• When Jesus heard Lazarus was ill, He deliberately waited two days
• Christians don't actually die - we transition from earthly life to eternal life
• Jesus allowed Lazarus to die specifically so the disciples would be...

Jesus uses the story of Lazarus in John 11 to teach us why bad things happen even to people God loves. We explore five theological realities that explain pain and suffering in the world.

• The fall of humanity brought forth pain, strife, and suffering as collateral damage
• Demonic attacks cause suffering as Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy
• Our own sinful choices and poor decisions lead to painful consequences
• Other people's sinful choices can cause suffering in our lives
• Sometimes suffering comes directly from God's hand for his purposes
• All suffering ultimately falls under...

John Harper, a Scottish Baptist evangelist, became one of Christianity's greatest unsung heroes during the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. His extraordinary sacrifice and unwavering commitment to share the gospel even as the ship sank demonstrates a faith that challenges us to examine our own priorities.

• Harper was a 39-year-old widower traveling with his 6-year-old daughter Annie and his sister to preach at Moody Church in Chicago
• After securing his daughter and sister on a lifeboat, Harper chose to remain on the sinking ship to evangelize
• Harper gave his life vest to an unsaved passenger saying...

Harold Lowe, fifth officer of the Titanic, demonstrates extraordinary courage by being the only officer to return to the site of the sinking to rescue survivors after the ship went down. His actions parallel Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, challenging us to consider whether we merely do what's minimally required or go above and beyond to help others in need.

• Harold Lowe managed lifeboat #14 during the Titanic disaster, saving 63 people initially
• Unlike other officers, Lowe returned to the sinking site after redistributing survivors among other boats
• His courageous decision resulted in saving four additional men fr...

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

We explore five essential attributes of a great man found in Matthew 20, challenging cultural definitions of masculinity with Jesus' counter-cultural teaching on true greatness.

• A great man puts Jesus first, including prioritizing Sabbath rest
• A great man knows how to endure suffering that comes from pushing back darkness
• A great man lives under authority before expecting to receive authority
• A great man serves others rather than seeking positions of prominence
• A great man is ransomed by Christ and becomes part of the rescue team for others

If you want to help equip othe...

Jesus radically redefines greatness through the fourth characteristic we explore from Matthew 20: a great man serves. In stark contrast to worldly leadership that lords authority over others, Jesus calls his followers to a completely different model where true greatness is found in becoming a servant.

• Examining how Jesus confronts the mother of James and John when she asks for positions of honor for her sons
• Highlighting Christ's stark declaration about worldly leadership: "It shall not be so among you"
• Understanding the difference between using positional authority versus serving from a place of humility
• Exploring how we'v...

Our rebellious culture celebrates individualism, but true greatness comes through living under authority, just as Jesus submitted to his Father's will.

• Great men know how to live under authority
• Jesus demonstrates submission to the Father in Matthew 20:20-28
• God will not bless rebellion against established authorities
• Personal testimony of honoring pastoral authority when planting Church 11:22
• Biblical examples from Matthew 16 and Philippians 2 showing submission precedes authority
• Challenge to repent of rebellious attitudes toward authority figures
• Cultural celebration of rebellion contrasts with Kingdom values

If you want to help equip other men for the fi...

True greatness in God's kingdom comes through suffering, not worldly power or position. The desire for greatness isn't inherently wrong, but it must be pursued God's way, following Christ's example on the cross.

• Matthew 20 reveals that great men know how to suffer
• Direct correlation between suffering endured and responsibility God entrusts
• Jesus asked disciples if they could drink His cup of suffering
• The "cup" refers to bearing God's wrath that Jesus would endure on the cross
• Following Jesus means daily taking up our cross and embracing suffering
• Chuck Swindoll: "When God wants to do an imp...

Jesus redefines greatness for his disciples by flipping worldly values upside down and establishing a new kingdom paradigm based on serving others rather than seeking power.

• The first sign of kingdom greatness is finding proximity to Jesus rather than pursuing positional power
• Jesus never scolded his disciples for wanting greatness, but completely redefined what it means to be great
• True greatness begins with kneeling before Jesus and submitting ourselves to him
• A great man finds his identity first and foremost in Jesus, not in accomplishments or titles
• When Jesus isn't first in our lives, eve...

The journey to Golgotha reveals God's masterful plan of redemption across millennia, connecting Abraham's near-sacrifice, David's victory over Goliath, and Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection at the place of the skull.

• Mount Moriah: Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac, stopped by God who provided a substitutionary ram with its head caught in thorns
• Battle of Elah: David defeated Goliath and buried his head at "the place of the skull" - Golgotha
• Crucifixion: Jesus was executed at Golgotha, wearing a crown of thorns, as the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice
• Three key connections: substitutionary atonement, defeat of God's enemies, and conqueri...

We explore how biblical narratives across thousands of years connect at a single sacred location, Golgotha, revealing God's redemptive plan unfolding throughout history.

• Connection between Abraham's sacrifice on Mount Moriah and David's battle with Goliath
• David's confidence in God rather than weapons when facing the Philistine giant
• Why David took five stones (Goliath had four brothers)
• The buried head of Goliath on Mount Moriah near Jerusalem
• How this location became known as Golgotha or "place of the skull"
• The significance of this same mountain being where God provided a substitutionary sacrifice for Abraham
...

David's journey from shepherd boy to giant-slayer unfolds against the backdrop of God's rejection of King Saul and the anointing of a new king. This dramatic story reveals how a teenager's fierce faith propelled him to confront the massive Philistine warrior who had terrorized Israel's army for 40 days.

• God rejects Saul as king and sends Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's sons
• Samuel anoints David, the youngest son who was tending sheep
• David serves in Saul's court, playing the lyre to calm the king's tormented spirit
• The Philistine army assembles with Goliath, their 9'9" champion...

The story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah reveals profound foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice when Abraham discovers a ram caught by its horns in a thicket of thorns—essentially wearing a "crown of thorns" as the substitutionary sacrifice God provided.

• Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his promised son Isaac on Mount Moriah
• Isaac was likely a teenager or young adult who willingly submitted to being sacrificed
• God stopped Abraham at the critical moment, providing a ram caught in thorns instead
• The ram caught by its horns in thorny bushes previews Christ's crown of thorns

We begin our week-long journey to Golgotha by examining its Old Testament foundations in the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus form the bedrock of Christianity, but understanding their significance requires exploring biblical history that points to this ultimate sacrifice.

• Abram's journey begins in Genesis 12 when God promises to make him a great nation
• Abraham and Sarah wait decades for their promised son Isaac, born when Abraham was 100
• Genesis 22 presents Abraham with an unthinkable test: sacrifice his beloved son Isaac
• Contrary to popular depictions, Isaac was likely a...

John 5 challenges us to examine whether we rejoice in God's miracles or criticize them like the Pharisees did when Jesus healed on the Sabbath. The passage reveals how religious leaders missed the miracle by focusing on rule-breaking rather than celebrating a life transformed after 38 years of disability.

• Jesus heals a man who had been disabled for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda
• The religious leaders criticize the healed man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath
• The mat wasn't a burden but a testimony of transformation
• Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful
• We...

Jesus encounters a man at the Pool of Bethesda who had been paralyzed for 38 years, asking him a simple yet profound question: "Do you want to be healed?" The man responds with excuses rather than a direct answer, revealing our human tendency to blame circumstances rather than take responsibility.

• Making excuses versus making things happen in our Christian life
• The paralyzed man's excuse-making response to Jesus' offer of healing
• Looking to the wrong source for solutions to our problems
• Jesus showing extraordinary grace despite the man's complaining
• Application to marriage and loving our wives as C...

Jesus asks a seemingly obvious question at the Pool of Bethesda: "Do you want to be healed?" This profound inquiry reveals that many people don't actually want healing because they've built their identity around their wounds.

• Many resist healing because wounds have become their identity
• Some cling to injuries as excuses for destructive behaviors
• Others avoid healing because it requires difficult, sustained work
• Jesus is the Great Physician who offers true healing
• True identity comes from Christ, not from our wounds or scars
• Healing may involve both divine intervention and human effort

Bri...

Jesus visits the pool of Bethesda by Jerusalem's Sheep Gate, where society's "invalids" gathered, and demonstrates how our true identity comes not from worldly labels but from Christ's validation.

• Sheep Gate was the easternmost gate on Jerusalem's northern wall where sacrificial animals entered
• The location was symbolic—people treated like animals gathered at pools near the sheep washing areas
• The English word "invalid" literally means "not valid"—revealing how society viewed these individuals
• Satan tries to define us by our worst moments, failures, and weaknesses
• Condemnation means "unfit for use"—the language the enemy uses again...

Jesus reveals the true nature of miracles by performing signs that point to God's greater redemptive story, not just displays of raw power. His healing of a man at the Pool of Bethesda demonstrates how miracles often require a step of faith or obedience from those receiving them.

• Miracles in John's gospel are always called "signs" because they point to something greater than themselves
• The healing at the Pool of Bethesda involves a man who had been an invalid for 38 years
• Jesus performs this healing on the Sabbath, creating controversy with religious leaders
• Miracles often ha...

God reveals seven key attributes of Himself in Exodus 34:6-7, providing a comprehensive self-description that balances divine mercy with perfect justice. We explore the final attribute—God's justice—and how it works together with His compassion, grace, patience, loving-kindness, faithfulness, and forgiveness to form His complete character.

• God's justice requires that sin must be punished
• Biblical examples of God's justice include the Fall, the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Egyptian plagues
• God doesn't show mercy by overlooking sin or compromising His justice
• Christ's death on the cross satisfies God's justice while allowing His mercy to flo...

We explore God's attributes in Exodus 34:6-7, focusing on His faithfulness and forgiveness as revealed directly by God to Moses. These divine qualities provide a foundation for understanding God's character and how we should respond to others.

• God is faithful, meaning He overflows with truth and always fulfills His promises
• God's faithfulness demonstrated through promises to Abraham, Israel's exodus, and David's eternal throne
• God's forgiveness covers all types of sin: iniquity (wandering), transgression (rebellion), and sin (missing the mark)
• Forgiveness isn't a feeling but a decision to cancel someone's debt
• Our willingness to forgive ot...

God reveals seven attributes of His character in Exodus 34:6-7, providing a powerful description of divine nature through His own words to Moses. We explore four of these attributes: God's compassion, graciousness, patience (slowness to anger), and His unfailing loving kindness (chesed).

• God describes Himself as "slow to anger" – demonstrating incredible patience with humanity
• The Hebrew word "chesed" means loyal love or "stubborn love" that persists despite obstacles
• God's patience gives us multiple chances and serves as a model for our relationships
• Romans 2:4 reveals that God's patience and kindness are designed to lead us to repenta...

God describes seven distinct attributes of himself in Exodus 34:6-7, revealing his true nature and character to Moses after the Israelites' rebellion with the golden calf.

• Compassion is the first attribute God reveals, sharing its root with the Hebrew word for "womb," showing the depth of God's protective care
• The word gracious means "to bend or stoop down," illustrating how God actively reaches down to humanity
• These attributes appear 12 times throughout the Old Testament, highlighting their significance
• God didn't have to renew his covenant with the rebellious Israelites, but chose to show compassion
• The parabl...

God provides a list of His attributes in Exodus 34:6-7, offering a unique opportunity to understand how He describes Himself. Before revealing His attributes, God established four protective barriers for Moses, demonstrating that while He desires to reveal Himself, our finite nature requires protection from His full glory.

• Understanding God's attributes can be challenging without His direct revelation
• The context begins with the Israelites' idolatry with the golden calf in Exodus 32
• Moses interceded for the people after God threatened to destroy them
• Moses requested to see God's glory after pitching the tabernacle outside camp
• Go...

We examine one of Christianity's most misunderstood teachings: Jesus' command to "turn the other cheek," revealing why this verse doesn't prohibit self-defense as commonly believed.

• Part of our "Yeah, That's Not What That Means" series covering misapplied scriptures
• Matthew 5:38-39 refers to verbal slights, not physical assaults requiring self-defense
• The "right cheek" reference indicates a backhanded slap, symbolizing insult rather than attack
• Jesus referenced Old Testament laws that limited punishment to be proportional to crimes
• Multiple Bible passages support self-defense, including Jesus telling disciples to buy swords
• Nehemiah 4 shows God's people armed while rebuil...

The second episode in our "Yeah, That's Not What That Means" series tackles two commonly misinterpreted Bible verses: Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11, revealing how prosperity preachers have twisted these passages to falsely promise believers guaranteed success and material prosperity.

• Clarifying that Jeremiah 29:11 was specifically addressed to Jewish exiles in Babylon, promising their restoration after 70 years
• Examining the full context of Jeremiah 29:10-14 to understand God's specific historical promise
• Breaking down Romans 8:28 alongside verses 29-30 which define what "good" God works toward
• Explaining that God's ultimate purpose is conforming believers to Christ's image, not guaranteeing worldly success<...

We're exploring commonly misunderstood scriptures in our series "Yeah, That's Not What That Means," tackling Philippians 4:13 and revealing its true context as a teaching about contentment rather than personal achievement.

• Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me") is frequently misused as motivation for personal success
• The verse appears on merchandise and in sports facilities across the Bible Belt
• When read in context (Philippians 4:10-13), Paul is actually discussing contentment in all circumstances
• Paul's life included extreme highs (education, privilege) and lows (imprisonment, beatings, shipwrecks)
• The strength mentioned comes from Christ liv...