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 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 01:15:03 -0500 info@groundworkonline.com Thu, 04 Sep 2025 01:15:03 -0500 60 info@groundworkonline.com https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-kingdom-parables https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-kingdom-parables Groundwork Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Jesus' Kingdom Parables

Jesus often used parables to teach his followers about the kingdom of God. His stories and analogies sometimes confused his followers, but Jesus patiently but urgently described what God’s kingdom looks like, what its values are, and how the people of his kingdom should behave. Jesus’ kingdom parables still reveal aspects of God’s kingdom and point the way for his people today. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-brings-the-kingdom-of-god-near https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-brings-the-kingdom-of-god-near Groundwork Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Jesus Brings the Kingdom of God Near

When Jesus declared that God’s kingdom was near, his life embodied that truth. In our study of Jesus’ teachings, we’ll discover what it means for the kingdom to show up in real time through healing, justice, and welcome. We’ll talk about how God’s kingdom continues to come near in Jesus today, and how he calls us to participate in his kingdom here and now.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/gods-kingdom-in-the-whole-bible https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/gods-kingdom-in-the-whole-bible Groundwork Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

God's Kingdom in the Whole Bible

The concept of God’s kingdom is woven throughout the Bible. Jesus and the apostles taught and preached about the kingdom of God. Kingdom language arcs through the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, defining what God’s kingdom is, what it looks like, and the kind of King we have in Jesus. Studying God’s kingdom helps us recognize our place in it today. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-longs-to-restore-his-people https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-longs-to-restore-his-people Groundwork Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

God Longs to Restore His People

Amidst all of his judgment in Hosea, God reveals the tender ache of a father’s heart and gives the prophet powerful images of restoration for his people. Let’s study these messages together and discuss how this ancient prophecy still calls us back to God's heart and to restoration. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/remember-repent-and-return https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/remember-repent-and-return Groundwork Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Remember, Repent, and Return

Through much of Hosea, the prophet speaks directly against Israel’s spiritual betrayal. Chapter after chapter, God accuses Israel of idolatry, rampant injustice, and misplaced trust. We learn the consequences of their blatant rebellion. We also witness his longing for his people as he pleads for them to remember all he had done for them, to repent of their sins, and to return to him. Hosea’s prophetic message for Israel is a reflection of God’s heart. Together, we’ll discuss what we can learn from Israel’s story about our own hearts today.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/unfaithful-people-and-gods-grace https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/unfaithful-people-and-gods-grace Groundwork Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Unfaithful People and God's Grace

God called the prophet Hosea to bring a message to his people, Israel. He wanted them to know they had strayed from their relationship with him; their pride and arrogance in following other gods were the causes of all their troubles. God famously instructed Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman and used his marriage to Gomer as a symbol of all that was wrong with Israel in their relationship with God. Yet, though his judgment was harsh, God offered Israel hope and restoration. Studying the prophetic relationship of Hosea and Gomer invites us as his people today into an honest reflection on our own relationship with God and our need for his grace. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-parables-discipleship-and-the-cost-of-following-jesus https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-parables-discipleship-and-the-cost-of-following-jesus Groundwork Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Jesus' Parables, Discipleship, and the Cost of Following Jesus

Jesus often taught in parables, simple stories that illustrated a spiritual truth. Some of Jesus’ most famous parables are unique to the Gospel of Luke. In what we call the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus describes for his followers who would be their neighbor and what it means to be a good neighbor. Telling the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector, he focuses on the condition of the heart and salvation by grace. Jesus’ parables highlight a major theme in Luke: our call to discipleship. Throughout the book, we repeatedly find the invitation to follow Jesus Christ. Together, let’s discover what Jesus teaches about the attitudes and hearts of his followers and discuss honestly what it costs to prioritize Jesus in our lives. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-victory-of-god https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-victory-of-god Groundwork Fri, 11 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The Victory of God

As Christians, we celebrate God’s victory through Jesus Christ in worship every week. But in story after story in Luke, Jesus extends healing and victory to outsiders, individuals who experienced suffering, rejection, and isolation in the Jewish community. Join us as we study the recurring theme of God's victory for us and for all who are marginalized or far off, and think about what this means for how we live our faith today. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jubilee-and-the-joy-of-salvation https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jubilee-and-the-joy-of-salvation Groundwork Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Jubilee and the Joy of Salvation

Jubilee and joy are featured frequently in Luke’s gospel. People are constantly rejoicing. Why? Because they encountered Jesus and salvation. Trace the themes of jubilee and joy in the gospel of Luke with us. Together we’ll study Jesus’ parables and the famous story of Zacchaeus to recognize the importance of these themes, how they connect to and continue the tradition of the Old Testament’s Year of Jubilee, and what this means for how we faithfully respond to our own encounters with Jesus and salvation today. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/prayer-and-dependence-on-god https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/prayer-and-dependence-on-god Groundwork Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Prayer and Dependence on God

Prayer and dependence on God are the heartbeat of the Gospel of Luke. As we read about Jesus’ baptism, the start of his ministry, and his teaching of the Lord’s Prayer, Luke shows us how Jesus modeled a robust and intentional prayer life. Learn how following Jesus draws us into deeper intimacy with the Father, why prayer is key to a resilient faith, and what it means to be people of prayer. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/justice-and-jesus-the-prophet https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/justice-and-jesus-the-prophet Groundwork Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Justice and Jesus the Prophet

The stories of Jesus’ life and teachings recorded in the Book of Luke highlight recurring themes of economic justice and Jesus as a prophet in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets. Together, let’s explore how Jesus’ teachings about justice continue God’s emphasis on justice in the Old Testament. Let’s discuss what Luke still teaches us today about how and when we should care for justice as Christians.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-holy-spirit-at-work https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-holy-spirit-at-work Groundwork Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The Holy Spirit at Work

Like Matthew, Mark, and John, the gospel of Luke was written to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. Together, let’s examine the author, audience, and background of Luke to better understand its unique and valuable perspective on Jesus. We’ll also observe the central role of the Holy Spirit throughout Luke’s gospel and discuss the impact of a Spirit-empowered life on our discipleship today. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-cares-and-will-provide-trust-him https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-cares-and-will-provide-trust-him Groundwork Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

God Cares and Will Provide, Trust Him

The Bible repeatedly makes clear that it is God’s nature to provide for his creation. And in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clearly teaches us not to worry (Matthew 6:25-34). Join us as we study Scriptures that teach us about God’s providence. We’ll talk about the difference between worry and having proper concern for our circumstances.  We’ll discuss God’s character and his involvement in our lives, and what it means for us to trust in God’s provision. Finally, we’ll examine how our belief informs the way we think and pray about our needs and our finances. Together, we’ll consider practical ways we can demonstrate our trust in God’s providential care both in times of need and times of plenty. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/honor-god-by-using-his-resources-wisely https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/honor-god-by-using-his-resources-wisely Groundwork Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Honor God By Using His Resources Wisely

Is tithing still relevant for Christians today or is it an outdated practice from the Old Testament? Does God really want us to “give until it hurts”? As Christians, we wrestle with questions like these as we try to discern what it means to live faithfully with our finances. The Bible teaches us that everything we have belongs to God. So, as stewards of God’s resources, let’s study Scripture together to better understand biblical stewardship and what this means for how we handle the money and possessions we have in this life. We’ll also dig into the meaning and purpose of the Christian practice of tithing and look at what it realistically means for us today. Together, we’ll cultivate a spirit of generosity in our lives while also considering what good balance looks like so that we might use God’s resources wisely to honor his heart. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/money-and-the-attitude-of-your-heart https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/money-and-the-attitude-of-your-heart Groundwork Fri, 23 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Money and the Attitude of Your Heart

It can sometimes feel tricky to know what God wants us to do with money. On the one hand, Jesus told the rich young ruler to give all of his money away (Mark 10:17-27). On the other hand, he got upset with the religious leaders when the poor widow gave her last coins to the temple (Mark 12:41-44). How exactly is Jesus expecting his followers to handle their money? Should we really give it away if we struggle to provide for our families? Join us as we examine these stories and additional Scripture references that teach us God’s concern for our hearts in matters of money. Whether we have a little or a lot, together we’ll discover how to maintain a balanced attitude toward our money and possessions— having appropriate concern for it in this life without letting it become a master of our lives, the source of our identity, or a snare for our salvation. 

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