The Teaching Series with Brad Gray

Latest Episodes:

Episode 128 – The Journey Pt 1: It’s Not About the Destination Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

Episode 128 – The Journey Pt 1: It’s Not About the Destination

Key Passage(s): Genesis 12:1-4, Hebrews 11:8, Exodus 3:9-10, John 1:35-36, 1 John 2:6

Abraham is often held up as a model of faithfulness because when God told him to go, he went. No questions. No “yeah buts.” He didn’t even know where he was going. But he started moving anyways. Abraham understood something about God many of us miss: God is the God of the journey, not the destination. And trusting God as we walk into the unknown is challenging for so many of us because we crave clarity. But when we bring that mentality to life with God, things don’t go so well. By the end of this new series, The Journey, you’ll understand how to adopt a journey mindset, what it looks like to journey well with God, and how to spot the things holding you back from moving forward in faith in the midst of the unknown.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
What do you think are some of the main things that hold you back from journeying well with God?
We’ll sometimes say things like, “I don’t think I would be who I am today if I hadn’t had to go through that.” That’s a journey statement. What are some of the journeys God has used to change you?
How would you describe the difference between clarity and confidence?
What are some of the things you’ve found helpful in developing a journey mindset?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 127 – Ask, Seek, Knock Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

Episode 127 – Ask, Seek, Knock

Key Passage(s): Matthew 7:7-11

What does Jesus mean when he says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you?” When we look carefully at where and when he says these words, it becomes clear that he’s not giving us a blank check to pursue whatever it is our heart’s desire. God is many things, but a genie in a bottle isn’t one of them. Instead, Jesus is offering us a helpful way of approaching God with our requests. But prayer is more than just asking. It’s also about listening to God and discerning what we truly need, and then practicing consistent, radical dependence on the Father whose extravagant, generous love is just waiting to meet us in our place of need.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You have not because you ask not!” In what ways have you experienced that to be true in life?
Sometimes we have no idea what we need, and we need God’s voice to help us name it. What does it look like in your life to listen to God? Where do you go? What do you do to hear God’s voice? (Silence? Going for a run? Etc.?)
How do you feel about the characterization of God as a good father who loves extravagantly?
Would you agree that practicing dependence in a culture that idolizes independence is a critical way for people to embody God’s kingdom? Why or why not?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 123 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 7: A Difficult Lifestyle Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

Episode 123 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 7: A Difficult Lifestyle

Key Passage(s): Matthew 4:23; Luke 9:57-58

We all want to live fully and deeply, but in order to do that we’ve got to live as Jesus lived. The problem is we don’t always understand what Jesus’s life looked like. In this episode, we dig into the details of the itinerant rabbinic lifestyle and quickly realize that Jesus’s life as a traveling rabbi wasn’t glorious or easy. It was actually really, really difficult. It came with a cost. But according to Jesus and the rabbis of the day, it was worth it – costly, but worth it. It’s a message we all need to hear or be reminded of, as we seek to faithfully follow Jesus and experience life that is truly life.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
There’s a saying, “You can’t know at 20 what only 30 can teach you.” Age and experience often go hand-in-hand. Reflect on what you’ve learned and identify one way in which you’ve grown over the last 10 years.
What stood out most to you about the itinerant lifestyle Jesus and his disciples lived?
What are some areas in your life where you’ve caught yourself saying or thinking: It’s hard, but it’s worth it?
What, in your experience, have been one or two of the most difficult parts of following Jesus and seeking to live as a disciple? What have you learned?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin – Chapter 2

Episode 126 – Easter at Emmaus Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

Episode 126 – Easter at Emmaus

Key Passage(s): Luke 24:13-32

Easter isn’t a day we celebrate. It’s a way of being in the world. It’s a posture of heart that announces, “What Jesus accomplished at the cross and empty tomb changes everything!” In this resurrection episode, we’ll look at the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus—a story only Luke records in vivid detail—and see how Luke’s subtle use of Scripture makes the bold claim that, in Jesus, everything that had been torn apart was finally being put back together. This episode will help you see connections from the resurrection story that are often overlooked. But, more importantly, Jesus’s actions at Emmaus remind us that in a world of shattered hope, we can live as people who have burning hearts of hope because He is risen!

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
In Luke’s gospel, Jesus can usually be found at a meal, on a way to a meal, leaving a meal, or telling a story about a meal. Meals were the way Jesus embodied his kingdom announcement. How have you experienced the significance of meals in your life?
We experience pain and disappointment when reality doesn’t live up to our expectations. The disciples say to Jesus, “We had hoped…” Think of one or two of your own disappointments or painful seasons and finish this sentence, “I had hoped_______.”
Jesus reinterprets the story of his death for the disciples in a way that’s hopeful. How has Jesus re-interpreted painful stories or experiences in your life in a way that helped you to see hope in them?
What does it mean to you that Easter isn’t just a day we celebrate but a way of being in the world?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 125 – Who’s the GOAT? Jesus vs. Caesar Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

Episode 125 – Who’s the GOAT? Jesus vs. Caesar

Key Passage(s): Mark 1:1; Luke 2:10-14, Romans 1:1-4, Colossians 1:15-20

The New Testament uses all kinds of words and phrases to describe Jesus and his kingdom. Savior. Son of God. Gospel. Forgiveness of sins. But these aren’t just poetic, flowery phrases. They’re actually concrete ideas everyone in Jesus’s world was familiar with. But not because of Jesus. They were familiar with those ideas because of Caesar. What the New Testament, and especially Paul’s writings, do is they show us two competing narratives: The gospel of Caesar in which peace is imposed by a sword, and the gospel of Jesus in which peace is offered through a cross. One is strong. The other is weak. One dominates. The other is gentle. Which narrative will you allow to order your world? By the end of this episode, you’re going to hear all those poetic, flowery titles for Jesus through a completely new lens.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
How do you feel about the fact that these ideas and titles were used by Caesar prior to the time of Jesus?
The gospel of Caesar and the gospel of Jesus are very different. Using your own words, describe how the way Caesar brings peace is different from the way Jesus brings peace?
What are some of the other “gospels” or “lords” that compete with the gospel of Jesus in our day and age?
If the gospel of Jesus is upside-down and peculiar when compared to the gospel of Caesar, in what ways is your life upside-down and peculiar when compared to the competing “gospels and lords” of our day?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 124 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 8: Jesus’s Yoke Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

Episode 124 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 8: Jesus’s Yoke

Key Passage(s): Matthew 11:28-30

One of the biggest problems we have when reading the Bible is familiarity. When we’re too familiar with a passage, we start believing we already know what it means. In doing so, we forget there’s so much more it has to teach us, and we rob it of its explosive power to transform our lives. In this final episode in our series, Rabbis and Disciples, we set Jesus’s famous words about “his yoke” in their historical and cultural context, and discover Jesus making a shocking claim that no other rabbi ever made. By understanding this passage anew, you’ll experience the depth, the audacious challenge, and the compelling nature of Jesus’s invitation to life in him!

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
How did exploring the different “hints” Jesus gave in this passage change or deepen its meaning for you?
What are one or two specific examples of times you’ve made life harder for yourself by trying to do it your way rather than doing it Jesus’s way?
What are one or two specific examples of times you practiced the way of Jesus and it helped you to navigate the difficulty of life with a kind of ease and lightness?
What does “rest for your soul” look like in your life?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin – Chapter 4

Episode 122 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 6: Jesus’s Occupation Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

Episode 122 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 6: Jesus’s Occupation

Key Passage(s): Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3

In the culture of Jesus’s day, one was forbidden to receive payment for the teaching of God’s Word. Which is why every rabbi had a trade or occupation. Jesus had one, but the term “carpenter” doesn’t nearly do it justice. In fact, Jesus’s occupation is filled with surprises that perfectly explain how his trade prepared him for his ministry. Speaking of which, the Text implies that once Jesus launches his ministry, he devotes himself entirely to his disciples and teachings. If he wasn’t working and rabbis couldn’t receive payment for teaching God’s Word, how did Jesus and the disciples pay the bills? Let’s find out, and in doing so, let’s gain a deeper appreciation for the way God uses the details to bring about His purposes in our lives.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
What surprised you most in learning more about Jesus’s occupation?
How do you think Jesus’s occupation as a tekton prepared him for his ministry?
What are one or two moments from your past where it seems like God was preparing you to advance His kingdom in the world?
What are some of the inspiring ways you see God advancing His purposes in the world through a person/group/organization that is dependent on the generosity of others?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin – Chapter 2

Episode 121 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 5: Having Authority Jan 26, 2021

Show notes

Episode 121 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 5: Having Authority

Key Passage(s): Matthew 21:23-27; Matthew 28:18-20

In the Gospels, people were always commenting on Jesus’s authority. It was clear to everyone that he had it. Some marveled at it, while others scoffed at it. The Scribes and Pharisees even questioned it. But what exactly did they mean by authority? How did Jesus understand it? And does that enhance our understanding of what happens with the Great Commission in Matthew 28? Without question! Welcome to an explosive episode where you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’s biblical authority and how discipleship with Jesus’s authority leads to the life that God desires for us all.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
We’ve all met people who had authority by virtue of their role or position. But who is someone you’ve met that may or may not have had a role or position but nevertheless possessed an unmistakable gift or life-giving presence?
What are your thoughts about the following statement? Most of us have been taught to understand salvation as the finish line rather than the starting line to a life of discipleship.
How do you feel about the idea that Jesus ordained you and has given you his authority?
In what ways are/have you been sharing the depth of the life you’ve received and learned from Jesus with others?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

The New Testament and Rabbinic Judaism by David Daube – p. 206-223

Episode 120 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 4: Walking On Water Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Episode 120 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 4: Walking On Water

Key Passage(s): Matthew 14:22-31

Jesus walking on water is one of the best-known stories in the entire Bible. But we often miss the point because we fail to see the discipleship component at play. When we see it, we learn that the story has less to do with Jesus walking on water and more to do with Peter’s actions and Jesus’s response. But the story isn’t just about Peter. It’s about you and me, and all of the ways we doubt ourselves. By the end of this episode, you’ll have deeper confidence because you’ll know God is with you. You’ll be more willing to face your fears and take holy risks because you know God believes in you. And you’ll grow in your trust that God won’t call you to something and then fail to equip you for it.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
What goes through your mind when you hear that God believes in you more than you believe in yourself?
What are one or two ways God has met you in the place of your deepest fear in your life?
Who is a person that really believed in you, and how did their belief in you make a huge difference in your life?
Where are you doubting yourself right now?
In what way(s), is God inviting you to get out of the boat?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 119 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 3: Being Like Jesus Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

Episode 119 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 3: Being Like Jesus

Key Passage(s): Matthew 4:18-22; John 8:31–32

Most of us love the idea of Jesus as savior. We’re usually less enthusiastic about him being our teacher and reorienting our lives around his. But that’s precisely what it meant to be a disciple. The goal wasn’t to know what the rabbi knew. It was to become who the rabbi was. It meant journeying with him and observing how he spoke, what he noticed, and how he interacted with others. It meant understanding how he made sense of life and then learning to do the same. It’s not the kind of learning that takes place in a classroom. Instead, it takes place on the road and in the experiences of everyday life. By the end of this episode of our Rabbis and Disciples series, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what it means to truly follow Jesus, and you’ll be inspired to follow him more closely in the coming year.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
Ask another person who knows you well this question: What are 1 or 2 ways you’ve seen me become more like Jesus? Then share with your group how you felt about what they said.
If following Jesus was less about the destination and more about the journey, what’s one thing you’ve learned about Jesus during your journey over the last year?
Being covered in the dust of the rabbi was evidence you’d been paying attention and following close on the heels of your rabbi. What kind of evidence do you see in the lives of others that they’re following Jesus closely?
How do you feel about the statement, “We hire Jesus as our savior, but we fire him as our teacher?”
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?