Groundwork is a half-hour weekly audio program that digs deeply into scripture as a foundation for our lives. https://groundworkonline.com/ en-us info@reframeministries.org 1977-2025 ReFrame Ministries 2009-2025 GroundworkOnline.com https://groundworkonline.com/assets/images/Groundwork-podcast.png https://groundworkonline.com/ en-US Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:13:19 -0600 info@groundworkonline.com Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:13:19 -0600 60 info@groundworkonline.com https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/gods-design-for-sex-and-relationships https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/gods-design-for-sex-and-relationships Groundwork Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

God's Design for Sex and Relationships

We don’t have to look far to find examples of broken relationships. Many of us have our own stories, and almost all of us know someone with a story of brokenness, betrayal, or abuse. The Song of Songs offers us a vision of relationships in stark contrast to the self-serving models we see around us in culture. The celebration of intimacy in the Song of Song shows us that God’s design for love and sex is deeply rooted in his own character and filled with self-sacrifice, mutuality, commitment, delight, and respect. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/a-beautiful-celebration-of-love-and-intimacy https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/a-beautiful-celebration-of-love-and-intimacy Groundwork Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

A Beautiful Celebration of Love and Intimacy

We do not often hear sermons on the Song of Songs. But this book of love poetry in the Bible helps us understand God’s perspective on love, intimacy, and sex. As we study the passionate exchange between two lovers, we uncover themes of intense desire, the constant seeking and finding of each other, and the celebration of romantic love and physical intimacy. The Song of Songs helps us see the truth that love and sex are divine gifts from God and part of his design for us. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-prays-for-us https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-prays-for-us Groundwork Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Jesus Prays for Us

Before his death, Jesus prayed for himself, his disciples, and finally, all believers in the future—including all of us today. When we study Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, we witness the depth of his love for us as he prays for us to experience unity, the Father’s love, and for the world to know God through our lives. Together, let’s discuss what it means to live in the reality of Jesus’ prayer, how it shapes our relationships, and how we can reflect the transformative power of God’s love to others. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-prays-for-his-disciples https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-prays-for-his-disciples Groundwork Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

Offering his High Priestly Prayer, Jesus interceded on behalf of his disciples, praying for their protection, unity, joy, and sanctification. Together, let’s discuss what his prayer meant for his disciples then, what it means for us as his disciples today, living as sanctified people in a world that doesn’t always welcome our faith. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/when-jesus-prays https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/when-jesus-prays Groundwork Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

When Jesus Prays

How do you pray when you know you’re about to face something hard? Facing his imminent death, Jesus prayed to be glorified. As we begin our study of Jesus’ prayer in John 17, we’ll discuss the background and context of Jesus’ prayer and why Christians commonly refer to it as his “High Priestly Prayer.” Then we’ll examine the opening verses that record his petition to the Father to glorify him so that he might glorify the Father. Together, we’ll unpack the meaning of Jesus’ words and the implications of his prayer for our own lives.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/repentance-forgiveness-and-sins-consequences https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/repentance-forgiveness-and-sins-consequences Groundwork Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Repentance, Forgiveness, and Sin's Consequences

Does God still punish us for our sins, even though through Jesus he has already forgiven all our sins? We may ask ourselves this question when confronted by the fallout of our own sins. As we continue our study of the story of David and Bathsheba, the Bible helps us understand the relationship between the consequences of sin, our repentance, and God’s forgiveness. In 2 Samuel 12, God sends his prophet Nathan to confront King David about his sins. As we study their exchange, we witness God’s mercy in action and discover important differences between punishment and consequence in the light of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/learning-from-the-sins-of-king-david https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/learning-from-the-sins-of-king-david Groundwork Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Learning from the Sins of King David

What was I thinking? How did I let this happen? We usually ask these questions when a choice we make leads to unwanted consequences. In the biblical story of David and Bathsheba, we find a sobering reminder of the destructive power of sin and our deep need for God’s grace. In his complacency and desperation, David compounds sin upon sin in a series of unsuccessful attempts to use his power as king to cover up his wrongdoing. Our study of David’s fall and the consequences of his actions illuminates our path toward honesty, repentance, and a life that pleases the Lord. Ultimately, we’ll discover hope that only God can provide. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/your-questions-about-scripture-and-hope https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/your-questions-about-scripture-and-hope Groundwork Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Your Questions about Scripture and Hope

Having questions is a natural part of our faith. Asking questions helps us clarify what we believe and what it means to live as Christians in the world. In this episode, we consider some of the questions you asked in response to our series on the Lord’s Prayer, Joshua, and Revelation. Then we’ll discuss issues that some of our listeners have shared that are most pressing for their faith right now. We’ll look at the Scriptures to find the hope and encouragement we need to live faithfully each day. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-our-prince-of-peace https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-our-prince-of-peace Groundwork Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Jesus: Our Prince of Peace

As we celebrate Christmas and re-tell the story of baby Jesus—the Savior of the world born in a lowly manger—may we also remember that he is the one the prophet Isaiah called the “Prince of Peace.” As we study the story of Jesus’ birth, we will reflect on the real need for this peace in our lives today. Together, we will dig into Scripture to discover the deep and meaningful shalom that Jesus brought to us in his birth, a peace that he promises to establish permanently when he returns. It’s this peace that we share as his witnesses to the world. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-our-everlasting-father https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-our-everlasting-father Groundwork Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Jesus: Our Everlasting Father

The prophet Isaiah continued to reveal the nature of the coming Messiah when he prophesied that he would be the “Everlasting Father.” Join us as we discuss how our understanding of the Triune God clarifies how the Son of God can also be our Everlasting Father. Together, let’s prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas with an Advent reflection on the true nature of a father as revealed to us in both the Old and New Testaments. We’ll better understand how this extraordinary title reveals the nature of Jesus and discover the comfort and belonging he brings to us.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-our-mighty-god https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-our-mighty-god Groundwork Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Jesus: Our Mighty God

The words of the prophet Isaiah offered hope during one of the lowest points in the history of Israel. As God’s people faced exile, Isaiah identified their Messiah as “Mighty God;” the one coming to save them would be more powerful than the enemies that persecuted them. We now know that the Messiah Isaiah prophesied about is Jesus Christ. As we look toward Christmas, we dig into Scripture to discover what the title “Mighty God” communicates to us about Jesus. Together we examine  Christ’s character and deeds and explore how his presence as a helpless baby displayed the awesomeness of God’s power. We discover how the promise of our “Mighty God” continues to give us hope as we anticipate Christ’s return. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-our-wonderful-counselor https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-our-wonderful-counselor Groundwork Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Jesus: Our Wonderful Counselor

In Isaiah 9:6, the first title the prophet Isaiah gives to the coming Messiah is “Wonderful Counselor.” Join us as we dig into Scripture to discover what this title communicates about Jesus and how it connects to the biblical wisdom tradition. As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we will discuss what it means that Jesus is the wisdom of God and is, therefore, a wonderful counselor whose guidance, when we seek and follow it with humility, keeps us on the right path.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/your-questions-about-christmas https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/your-questions-about-christmas Groundwork Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Your Questions about Christmas

Did the Christmas story really happen? Wasn’t Christmas originally a pagan holiday? Why do some churches celebrate Advent? Join Groundwork as we dig into Scripture to answer commonly asked questions about Christmas and Advent. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-day-of-the-lord https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-day-of-the-lord Groundwork Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

The Day of the Lord

Have you ever wondered what will happen when Jesus Christ returns? Whether you call it the Day of the Lord, Judgment Day, or the Second Coming, all these titles refer to the time and events of Christ’s return to earth. The early Christians waited expectantly for Christ’s second coming, but when he didn’t appear, scoffers planted seeds of doubt among the believers. Concluding his second letter to the believers in Asia Minor, the apostle Peter encouraged them to view life through the lens of eternity patiently. Join us as we reflect on God’s divine timing and patience and learn from Peter how we can live holy, purposeful lives in light of the coming Day of the Lord.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/be-on-guard-false-teaching-and-its-consequences https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/be-on-guard-false-teaching-and-its-consequences Groundwork Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Be On Guard: False Teaching and Its Consequences

We will always experience pressure to compromise our faith in Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter urged the early Christians to remain vigilant against deceptive influences and trust that God would ultimately hold false teachers accountable for their deceit. In our world today, we continue to deal with false teachers who distort the truth of the gospel and seek to lead believers astray. Together, we’ll study how Peter’s ardent defense of the gospel helps us stay rooted in God’s truth, learn discernment through the Holy Spirit, and live lives that fully align with the teachings of Christ.

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