Jon and Dave continue their Advent conversation in anticipation of the birth of Jesus. For Episode 6 of Character Study, journalist Jon Fortt and pastor David Tieche explore the story of Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, and how he responded to the miraculous news that a baby was on the way.

Dave and Jon take a break from the Abraham cycle in the podcast to begin reflecting on the Christmas moment in scripture. In Episode 5 of Character Study, journalist Jon Fortt and pastor David Tieche look at how different audiences react to the news of the savior's arrival, and what we can learn from them.

Your money or your life? Lot follows his uncle Abraham on an epic journey, but along the way their economic interests collide. As a result, Lot makes a fateful decision to pitch his tent near a city notorious for values that are out of alignment with the God he and Abraham serve. In Episode 4 of Character Study, journalist Jon Fortt and pastor David Tieche look at Lot's choices and Abrahams, the contrast in what they value, and how that sets them on very different paths – both literally and figuratively.

This is a tough story. Hagar shows up in Genesis 16, but it's in a context where, as we talked about in the last couple episodes, Abraham and Sarah have been promised a child, an offspring, but they're old. Then there's a delay. And that's the problem. Sarah had an Egyptian slave named Hagar. So she said to Abraham, "The Lord has kept me from having children. Go sleep with my slave. Perhaps I can build a family through her." In Episode 3 of Character Study, journalist Jon Fortt and pastor David Tieche delve into Hagar's pain and hope, and explore how God's promise to her illuminates His character.

Sarah wants children but can't get pregnant. God promises to fix the situation – but isn't in a rush. Her husband has big dreams and a bigger calling, and she sometimes feels like an afterthought. In Episode 2 of Character Study, journalist Jon Fortt and pastor David Tieche explore the story of a woman dealing with extraordinary circumstances and massive disappointment – and what we can learn from the way God addresses her needs.

Pastor David Tieche and journalist Jon Fortt kick off the Character Study series by breaking down one of the biggest moments in the Bible, and one of the most important people, Abraham. Does Abraham have amazing faith, or is he really gullible? How is God's encounter here different from anything that's happened before? And do you stop for food on a road trip of this magnitude? Beginning in Genesis 11.