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Groundwork: Biblical Foundations for Life

Christian Talk

Groundwork is a half-hour conversation that digs deeply into Scripture, the foundation for our lives. Each week, pastors Dave Bast (president of Words of Hope) and Scott Hoezee (director of CEP at Calvin Seminary) cultivate our understanding of God's Word by unpacking the richness of the Bible and applying it with insight to today's world.

Groundwork is a half-hour conversation that digs deeply into Scripture, the foundation for our lives. Each week, pastors Dave Bast (president of Words of Hope) and Scott Hoezee (director of CEP at Calvin Seminary) cultivate our understanding of God's Word by unpacking the richness of the Bible and applying it with insight to today's world.

Location:

Holland, MI

Description:

Groundwork is a half-hour conversation that digs deeply into Scripture, the foundation for our lives. Each week, pastors Dave Bast (president of Words of Hope) and Scott Hoezee (director of CEP at Calvin Seminary) cultivate our understanding of God's Word by unpacking the richness of the Bible and applying it with insight to today's world.

Language:

English

Contact:

Groundwork c/o ReFrame Media 6555 West College Drive Palos Heights, IL 60463 800-879-6555

Episodes

Your Identity in Christ and Your Behavior

1/21/2022
Whether you are a new Christian, a life-long believer, or fall somewhere in between, it’s natural to have questions about how your faith should influence your choices and behavior. Does faith only influence our church attendance or does it impact our jobs, our sex life, and the everyday words we speak? In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul tells the Christians in Ephesus that believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior should change your behavior, in all spheres of your life, because your...

Duration:00:24:32

You Belong. Be Rooted in Christ’s Love.

1/14/2022
Keeping a strong faith can be hard when life’s circumstances are difficult. It’s easy to second guess what we know to be true when everything around us seems to challenge or oppose that truth. The Ephesian Christians knew firsthand how it felt to question whether or not God’s promises really extended to them and whether or not they were really part of God’s plan. In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers of God’s original plan for inclusion and affirms their...

Duration:00:24:26

Life and Reconciliation in Christ

1/7/2022
Injustice and sin are rampant in our world. And much of it flows from humanity’s sinful inclination to literally and metaphorically build walls to exclude others. In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul discusses this human tendency. He reminds us that before Christ we were spiritually dead, and without Christ, we continue to be so. But Paul seeks also to energize our faith in the midst of discouraging circumstances. He unpacks the profound truth of God’s grace so we can find hope in God’s gift of...

Duration:00:24:43

God's Plan and Spiritual Blessings

12/31/2021
When life seems inexplicable and out of control, it’s easy to feel anxious or unsure. Having a plan can bring us assurance in such circumstances. Having a plan ensures we know what direction we’re headed. It often also means we know what comes next and who is going to do what. In Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul reassures the early Christians in Ephesus, and us, that God most definitely has a salvation plan, and that his plan isn’t just a reaction to what’s going on in the moment. God put his...

Duration:00:24:19

Christmas Hope: Mary and Christ's birth

12/24/2021
As our study of the women in Jesus’ family tree draws to a close and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we’re reminded that even his birth was mired by the appearance of scandal. Join Groundwork for a Christmas reflection on the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the last woman named in his genealogy. Together, we’ll discover a God and a Savior who draws close, who does not move away from our sin and pain, but instead comes alongside us, and in the process, redefines...

Duration:00:24:22

Christmas Hope: Bathsheba

12/17/2021
Life is messy. No matter how hard we try, it’s impossible to be perfect. This can be so hard and uncomfortable at Christmas when we want everything to feel cheerful and bring back warm fuzzy memories, but the reality is, our stories are filled with sin and brokenness: mistakes, missteps, and moments when our best simply was not enough. Join Groundwork for an Advent reflection on the story of Bathsheba, the fourth woman referenced in Jesus’ genealogy. Through the story of “Uriah’s wife,”...

Duration:00:24:59

Christmas Hope: Ruth

12/10/2021
Life has its difficult seasons and when the trials and challenges drag on with no end in sight, it’s easy to wonder if God cares. Sometimes we even question if continued faithfulness is worth the effort. Join Groundwork for an Advent reflection on the story of Ruth, the third woman named in Jesus’ genealogy. Ruth faced many trials in her life that left her very vulnerable. But in her story, we’ll discover how God uses the simple faithfulness of both her and Boaz to ensure the continuation of...

Duration:00:24:31

Christmas Hope: Rahab

12/3/2021
Do you ever question why God would want you in his family? Do you ever feel like you just don’t belong or that you’re too messed up to bother saving? These feelings are difficult any time of the year but can be particularly acute during the Christmas season. Join Groundwork for an Advent reflection on the story of Rahab. Rahab is the second woman named in Jesus’ genealogy. She was a prostitute, she wasn’t an Israelite, and she was seemingly as unworthy of belonging in God’s family as one...

Duration:00:24:19

Christmas Hope: Tamar

11/26/2021
If you feel far from God this Christmas—or if you just need a reminder that nothing can separate you from his love—then join Groundwork for an Advent reflection on the story of Tamar. Tamar is the first woman named in Jesus’ family tree. She is not an Israelite. Her story exposes sinfulness and sexual sin in Jesus’ genealogy. But it also reminds us that this is why Jesus comes. In his love and grace, Jesus comes to provide a way to belong for outsiders, sinners, and those who are sinned...

Duration:00:24:44

Jonah: Discovering God's Heart

11/19/2021
If someone asked you whether or not you wanted to know and understand the heart of God, you’d likely say “yes!”Join Groundwork as we conclude our study of Jonah, gain deeper insight into the heart of God, and witness the stark contrast between our human tendencies and God’s sovereignty. As God questions and teaches Jonah, he gives us a unique opportunity to see his heart. Together, we’ll marvel at the ways God continually provides in order to deliver us and meet our needs, we’ll hear God’s...

Duration:00:24:00

Jonah: Doing God's Work

11/12/2021
God has work for each of us to do. It doesn’t matter who we are, what we’ve done, or how inadequate we feel, God has a message of relentless love and abundant mercy for us to share with people who need to hear it. As we continue studying the book of Jonah, we’re reminded that our God is a God of second chances—both for us and for others. Whether we like it or not, God is eager to spread his compassion and mercy through us. Together, let's grow deeper in our understanding of how much God...

Duration:00:24:29

Jonah: Praying for God's Deliverance

11/5/2021
When we find ourselves in a situation that we cannot fix, it’s natural to feel anxious, desperate, overwhelmed, exhausted, and scared. Sometimes our own bad choices or actions have caused our situation, sometimes not, but the story of Jonah reminds us that no matter what we’ve done or what we’ve experienced, it is never too late to pray. God is ready to hear us, to deliver us, and to offer his abundant mercy. In Jonah, we find encouragement for times of trouble, assurance of God’s constant...

Duration:00:24:31

Jonah: Running Away from God

10/29/2021
Sometimes, doing what God wants us to do is no easy task. It may be uncomfortable. It may be countercultural. It may even cause others to judge or turn away from you. Sometimes, when God calls us to act, we simply just don’t want to do it. There are so many reasons we might neglect, ignore, or even run away from God’s call in our lives. God’s prophet Jonah knew this feeling all too well. As we study the story of Jonah running away from God, we discover important truths, not only about...

Duration:00:24:37

Your Questions about Discipleship, the Holy Spirit, and Death

10/22/2021
As we encounter our life experiences from the perspective of faith it is natural to develop questions about the Bible and what it means to live faithfully in each season of our lives. On this episode of Groundwork, we're discussing questions and topics you sent us this past year. Together, we’ll study Scripture to talk about our relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, and what happens after death.

Duration:00:24:24

Your Questions about God, Sin, Evil, and Evangelism

10/15/2021
Faith is a journey, and whether you are new to the Christian faith or whether you have been a believer your whole life, it is normal to have questions along the way. We’re honored when you share those questions with us. In this episode, we’re discussing questions and topics you sent us this past year. Together, we’ll study God’s Word to talk about: the forgiveness of sins and whether or not we need to be able to identify and remember all of our sins, God’s sovereignty and whether or not he...

Duration:00:24:57

You Shall Not Covet

10/8/2021
Have you ever desired to possess what God gave someone else? Maybe a job, a house, an opportunity, or a talent? When we covet, it not only reveals a lack of trust in God’s providence, but it can have a pervasive and damaging effect on our attitudes, our relationships, and our communities. Together, let’s study the tenth commandment that tells us not to covet so that we can better understand the spiritual and relational implications of coveting and identify ways we can combat covetousness and...

Duration:00:24:57

You Shall Not Give False Testimony

10/1/2021
It is surprisingly easy to break the ninth commandment and often more tempting than we realize. It might seem like giving false testimony or false witness is limited to lying in a court of law, but what about those times we twist someone’s words or leave out vital information in order to help us prove our point? What about those times when we keep silent instead of speaking up to defend another person? Join Groundwork as we study scripture from the Old and New testaments to learn more about...

Duration:00:24:57

You Shall Not Steal

9/24/2021
It can be easy to dismiss the eighth command, “you shall not steal,” as irrelevant if you’ve never actually shoplifted or committed burglary, but in reality, stealing isn’t limited to physical property. We can also steal ideas, identities, or someone else’s sense of security. And when we do steal, it can be tempting to justify our actions with excuses based on our merit, desperation, or idealism. But stealing often stems from our human tendency to compare ourselves to others and it reveals...

Duration:00:24:57

You Shall Not Commit Adultery

9/17/2021
The Ten Commandments help us see that our relationships are important to God. The seventh commandment, “you shall not commit adultery” helps us live rightly in sacred marriage relationships. Join Groundwork as we study the story of David and Bathsheba, a biblical example of adultery, and other New Testament scriptures to help us better understand why marriage is sacred, why adultery is so particularly intimate and painful, and why it negatively affects not just those who sin, but also those...

Duration:00:24:57

You Shall Not Murder

9/10/2021
The sixth commandment “You shall not murder” seems quite straightforward. And yet, we know that sometimes people kill in wars, or in self-defense, and so we need to ask ourselves is it ever ok to kill? In Ecclesiastes it says that there is a time to kill, so how do we reconcile that with this commandment? And what exactly does the sixth commandment demand of us? Join Groundwork as we study the first murder recorded in the Bible and other passages in both the Old and New Testaments to gain a...

Duration:00:24:57

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