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@groundworkonline.com 1977-2026 ReFrame Ministries GroundworkOnline.com https://groundworkonline.com/assets/images/Groundwork-podcast.png https://groundworkonline.com/ Sun, 12 Jul 2026 20:24:07 -0500 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 20:24:07 -0500 60 info@groundworkonline.com (ReFrame Ministries) https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/saul-and-david-envy-conflict-and-broken-shalom https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/saul-and-david-envy-conflict-and-broken-shalom Groundwork Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Saul and David: Envy, Conflict, and Broken Shalom

God anointed Saul as the first King of Israel. Yet, his leadership of Israel was inconsistent. In 1 Samuel, he waffled back and forth between loving and hating David, the leader of his armies, and unbeknownst to him, the one God chose to be Israel’s next king. In the ups and downs in Saul’s life, we witness firsthand the broken shalom that results when the deadly sin of envy grips our hearts. We also see God’s sovereignty and how he continues to work in the lives of his people even in difficult circumstances. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-calls-and-prepares-david https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-calls-and-prepares-david Groundwork Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

God Calls and Prepares David

As humans, we are drawn to strong, confident leaders. In 1 Samuel, God assures us that he’s not looking at appearances. As we study the accounts of David’s anointing and his battle with Goliath, we’ll learn what God looks for in the heart of a leader. We’ll see how God prepares the people he calls, and discuss what that means for us when he calls us to partner with him in his work in the world today.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-gives-israel-a-king https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-gives-israel-a-king Groundwork Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

God Gives Israel a King

We want a lot of things in life. Some of those are good for us; some aren’t. Some align with God's will for us, and some don't. Does God ever allow us to receive what we want, even though we will regret it one day? When we study the account of Israel’s first king, Saul, we see what happens when God grants Israel’s request to be like other nations and discover how God is faithful and sovereign, working behind the scenes even when his people make choices that don’t align with his will.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-power-of-gods-presence-and-a-call-for-repentance https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-power-of-gods-presence-and-a-call-for-repentance Groundwork Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Power of God's Presence and A Call for Repentance

When we feel vulnerable, we naturally seek reassurance. We want to hold onto something tangible for comfort. Throughout the Bible, God promises to be with his people, and many of us find his presence extremely comforting. But what happens when we think of God’s presence as something we can manipulate to accomplish what we want? The next few chapters in our study of 1 Samuel recount the loss of the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s presence with Israel, the pride of the Philistines turning to panic, and Samuel’s call for Israel to repent and return to worshipping the Lord. These chapters offer us a warning not to cherish outward symbols of faith without also maintaining our inward, faithful obedience to the Lord. They also invite us to return to the Lord and surrender our hearts to him. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-speaks-judgment-and-calls-samuel https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-speaks-judgment-and-calls-samuel Groundwork Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

God Speaks Judgment and Calls Samuel

When corruption and darkness seem to be in control, we may find it hard to hear and see God. Together, we can learn where to look for God and discover hope even when life's situations seem hopelessly unjust and bleak, as in the stories of Israel, the high priest Eli, Eli’s corrupt sons, and Samuel.   

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/hannahs-prayer-and-gods-big-answer https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/hannahs-prayer-and-gods-big-answer Groundwork Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Hannah's Prayer and God's Big Answer

Sometimes the deepest prayers are the ones nobody hears but God. When Hannah poured out her pain and longing before God, the people around her did not understand. But God understood and answered her prayer. Studying Hannah’s sorrow, prayer, and song of praise in the opening chapters of 1 Samuel reveals God’s character, helps us understand where to find God, and what he wants us to do with our pain. Together, we’ll also see how Hannah’s sorrow and private prayer become part of God’s public plan for his people.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-makes-all-things-new https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-makes-all-things-new Groundwork Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

God Makes All Things New

The fourth major theme of the Bible is that of consummation, the time when God will complete his redemptive plan and make all creation new. Join us as we study biblical passages that describe a future where God’s presence eradicates suffering and evil, and brings justice and eternal joy. We’ll talk about what the hope of consummation means for us as we live in anticipation of the ultimate restoration of creation while persevering in God’s work of love and justice now.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-redeems https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-redeems Groundwork Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

God Redeems

The biblical theme of redemption is unique to Christian theology and sets Christianity apart from other religions. Join us as we trace God’s story of redemption from Genesis through the Old Testament to the ultimate sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. Together, we’ll learn how our loving God sent his only Son to accomplish our salvation, without expecting anything from us first. We’ll discuss distinctives of depravity, election, and grace as articulated by the confessions in the Reformed faith tradition. Reflecting on the transformative power of God’s redemptive work, we’ll talk about living redeemed lives as we go about our daily lives. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/humanity-falls https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/humanity-falls Groundwork Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Humanity Falls

Just after the story of creation, the Bible tells us the story of humanity’s fall. The immediate result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden was alienation from God and relational discord. It released sin and brokenness into the world with all the strife, suffering, and decay we see around us to this day. Together, let’s examine the second major theme of the Bible, the Christian doctrine of the fall. Drawn from both Old and New Testament Scriptures, this theme emphasizes the catastrophic impact of sin on humanity and creation and clearly articulates our universal need for a Savior in Jesus Christ. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-creates https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/god-creates Groundwork Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

God Creates

The Bible begins with an origin story: God’s creation of our world and of us, his image bearers. It’s a story that introduces us to our loving Creator God and the theme of creation that echoes throughout the Bible. Join us as we study the creation theme and discuss what it reveals to us about God’s character, love, and intentions. We’ll marvel at God’s acts of creation, ponder creation as God’s temple, and consider our call to reflect God’s creativity with our own as bearers of his image. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/how-to-live-in-christ https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/how-to-live-in-christ Groundwork Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

How to Live in Christ

Throughout the book of Galatians, Paul makes it very clear that we can’t do anything to earn our salvation. So, do our actions and behavior even matter? Keeping laws and customs won’t benefit our salvation at all, but that doesn’t mean our actions don’t matter. Paul explains the importance of freedom with limits. These limits empower us to serve each other in love. Paul reminds believers that faith in Jesus Christ has the power to transform our lives and that we should live accordingly. Join us as we close our study of Galatians by examining Paul’s description of how to live in Christ. Together we’ll discuss the Fruits of the Spirit and what grateful Christian living looks like as we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/understanding-the-purpose-of-gods-law https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/understanding-the-purpose-of-gods-law Groundwork Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Understanding the Purpose of God's Law

In Galatians 3 and 4, Paul continues to impress upon the new believers in Galatia that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by their works nor by their ability to follow the Mosaic law. Paul explores in depth the contrasting paths of legalism and freedom in faith.  As we study Paul’s teaching, we discover that God gave us his law to protect and guide us, not to save us. Together, let’s hear Paul’s loving heart as he urges the Galatians, and consequently, us to stay focused on Christ, to embrace our identity as God’s children, and to find our unity as believers in Christ. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-cross-of-jesus-is-the-only-way https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/the-cross-of-jesus-is-the-only-way Groundwork Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The Cross of Jesus is the Only Way

As Paul continues his letter to the Galatian Christians, he continues to address their confusion about salvation. He tells them that the esteemed leaders in Jerusalem affirmed Paul’s message of salvation and his calling to preach to the Gentiles.  He reiterates that Jewish customs like circumcision are not required for salvation. Then he publicly confronts the apostle Peter for his hypocritical behavior which had become a stumbling block for new believers.  Studying Galatians 2 underscores the importance of Paul’s emphatic message that the cross of Jesus is the only way to salvation. Join us to explore the struggle the apostles faced as the Christian faith spread, and along the way find the courage to embody the truth of salvation in your relationships and daily life. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/salvation-through-jesus-christ-alone https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/salvation-through-jesus-christ-alone Groundwork Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Salvation Through Jesus Christ Alone

The Christian faith spread as Paul and the other apostles traveled around and shared the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.  However, after Paul left Galatia, other teachers came in and added to his message, spreading false truths about the requirements needed to receive salvation. When Paul gets the news,  he urgently writes a letter to the Galatian Christians. In the opening of his letter, Paul adamantly emphasized the importance and power of the unaltered gospel: salvation comes by grace through Jesus Christ alone, no additional works required. To underscore this truth, he then reminded the early Christians that he received his apostolic authority directly from Jesus Christ. Together, let’s study Paul’s salvation teaching to examine what makes Christianity transformative and evaluate our own hearts to ensure we’re guarding and preserving the gospel rather than corrupting the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. 

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]]> https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-death-burial-and-resurrection https://groundworkonline.com/episodes/jesus-death-burial-and-resurrection Groundwork Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Jesus' Death, Burial, and Resurrection

We’ve reached the pinnacle moments of salvation history in our Stations of the Cross journey. As we arrive at the thirteenth and fourteenth Stations of the Cross, we witness Jesus’ suffering, death, and burial. Commemorating these events every year on Good Friday poignantly reminds us of how much Jesus Christ endured to accomplish our salvation. Yet, lingering at the tomb a while longer, we see the power of the gospel in Christ’s glorious resurrection and celebrate his Easter victory over death with wonder and gratitude. 

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