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 Tue, 25 Mar 2025 01:13:49 -0500 info@groundworkonline.com Tue, 25 Mar 2025 01:13:49 -0500 60 info@groundworkonline.com https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/pauls-journey-to-rome-proclaiming-jesus-everywhere https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/pauls-journey-to-rome-proclaiming-jesus-everywhere Groundwork Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Paul's Journey to Rome: Proclaiming Jesus Everywhere

As the apostle Paul continued to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, crowds became increasingly contentious, and he was once again arrested and beaten. During the long series of trials that eventually led him to Rome, Paul seized every opportunity to share his testimony and preach the gospel. As we study Paul’s journey to Rome, we too can gain confidence and readiness to share the good news of Jesus everywhere we go. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/pauls-third-journey-strengthening-and-encouraging-believers https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/pauls-third-journey-strengthening-and-encouraging-believers Groundwork Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Paul's Third Journey: Strengthening and Encouraging Believers

Not long after completing his second missionary journey, the apostle Paul left Antioch again to start his third missionary journey. Luke records the events of this trip in Acts chapters 18-21. This journey was marked by faith, courage, and love. Paul spent four to five years revisiting many of the cities where he had planted churches on his previous journeys, teaching, strengthening, and encouraging the believers. By studying Paul’s incredible third journey, with all its challenges, opportunities, and heartbreaking goodbyes, we learn how to live with the same bold trust and purpose in our own lives.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/pauls-second-journey-jesus-the-messiah-and-the-resurrection-of-the-dead https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/pauls-second-journey-jesus-the-messiah-and-the-resurrection-of-the-dead Groundwork Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Paul's Second Journey: Jesus the Messiah and the Resurrection of the Dead

On his second missionary journey, Paul carried the message of salvation and resurrection of the dead through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit led him to more than a dozen cities over the course of the four-year journey. Everywhere he went, Paul convinced Jews and Gentiles alike of the gospel message. But his work also stirred up opposition. Paul suffered ridicule, imprisonment, and physical harm as he shared the good news of Jesus. Paul’s preaching and encouragement recorded in Acts 15-18, provide us with theological clarity for our own efforts to share the gospel and remain faithful to Jesus Christ in all circumstances. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-jerusalem-council-the-church-resolves-division-and-seeks-unity https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-jerusalem-council-the-church-resolves-division-and-seeks-unity Groundwork Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

The Jerusalem Council: The Church Resolves Division and Seeks Unity

As the church grew, Jewish believers disagreed about integrating new Gentile believers into the church. Must they become Jews first? Should they abide by all the laws and traditions of Jewish culture? What about the practice of circumcision? Paul discussed important theological implications with the other apostles, including Peter and James, to guide the growing church. Together, they sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit to resolve their division and seek unity. This Jerusalem Council reached pivotal conclusions that set the pattern for Paul’s subsequent missionary journeys and shaped the church's future. What they discovered about grace, unity, and God’s plan for his people guides the church to this day.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/pauls-first-journey-the-gospel-spreads-and-the-church-grows https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/pauls-first-journey-the-gospel-spreads-and-the-church-grows Groundwork Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Paul's First Journey: The Gospel Spreads and the Church Grows

The Apostle Paul's first missionary journey is recorded in Acts 13 and 14 and tells the story of how the gospel spread beyond Jewish communities to Gentiles. It’s a story of the Holy Spirit and the perseverance of the early church in the face of determined persecution. We are encouraged when we recognize parallels between Paul’s experiences and our modern efforts to partner with the Holy Spirit to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

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]]> 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 and 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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