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What if the way we answer “Where did life begin?” quietly decides how we live, love, and hope? We journey from Romans 4 to Genesis 1 and Revelation to make a clear case: a real Creator is the foundation of human dignity, moral clarity, and lasting meaning. Along the way, we examine why science can measure the world with precision yet still cannot declare who set the pendulum in motion. We talk about DNA’s complexity, the appeal of intelligent design, and why the New Testament treats Adam and Eve as history that undergirds the gospel itself.

We also tackle the cultural fallout when humans are reduced to animals. From classroom narratives to pop lyrics and policy, the loss of a Creator flattens identity and erodes fidelity, stewardship, and compassion. We contrast that with a richer vision: people made in God’s image, entrusted to cultivate and enjoy creation without worshiping it, and invited into redemption by the same God who called all things into being. If God authored life, He alone can promise eternal life; if He can create a new heaven and new earth, He can remake broken hearts.

This conversation is both theological and practical. We offer parents concrete guidance for helping kids spot anti-human propaganda, show why origins matter for ethics and law, and connect the first creation to the hope of new creation. Whether you’re wrestling with questions about evolution, intelligent design, or faith’s relevance, you’ll find a steady, thoughtful path back to purpose. Listen, share with a friend, and tell us: how does your view of origins shape your daily choices? If this resonates, follow the show, leave a review, and pass it on to someone who needs hope today.

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Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

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Grace doesn’t discount the price—it pays the whole bill. We explore why the law was never meant to save you, how it functions like a mirror that reveals but can’t repair, and what it means to receive an inheritance you could never earn. Using Abraham as our guide and Romans 4 as our map, we unpack the difference between righteous deeds, religious rituals, and rule‑keeping on one side, and faith, grace, and promise on the other. The contrast is not subtle: try to pay for the gift and you void it; trust the Giver and you receive a guaranteed promise rooted in God’s character.

We share vivid stories that bring theology down to street level—from a bank reversing the rules of lending to everyday analogies like bathroom scales and X‑rays—each one pressing the same point: exposure isn’t cure. The law brings knowledge of sin and, with it, wrath; only Christ brings righteousness by faith. We also address the quiet ways many of us mix grace with works, turning good practices into bargaining chips and trading assurance for anxiety. Abraham’s example speaks across time: the inheritance of the world came not through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

If you’ve wrestled with being “good enough,” or wondered whether your standing with God rises and falls with your performance, this conversation is for you. You’ll walk away with a clearer grasp of why God’s promise is unconditional, why assurance rests on His character, and how faith receives what works can never secure. Listen now, share it with a friend who needs hope, and if it helps you, subscribe and leave a review so others can find it too.

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Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

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What if the timeline of Abraham’s life overturns everything you thought about how God saves? We walk through Romans 4, Galatians 3, and Genesis to show why Abraham was counted righteous long before he received any covenant sign—and why that changes how we think about faith, ritual, and belonging. By contrasting Abraham and David—both undeniably flawed—we spotlight Paul’s central claim: justification is God’s gift, not a reward for a moral record. Grace is credited through faith, not sealed by ancestry or secured by law.

From there, we tackle a common confusion: the role of signs. Circumcision was a sign and a seal, like a wedding ring—it points to a deeper covenant but doesn’t create it. That distinction matters today when outward practices can eclipse inward reality. We draw a straight line from Abraham’s seal to ours: the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers as heaven’s official pledge and marks us as citizens of a better country. This lens reframes identity. Abraham is called the father of all who believe, not because faith follows bloodlines, but because trust in God’s promise makes a family that crosses cultures and languages.

We also explore how faith waits. Abraham wandered the promised land while owning only a gravesite, trusting a future he couldn’t yet touch. That same resilient trust carries us now—we believe the promised King and the coming kingdom, even when circumstances lag behind. Along the way, we trace fellow travelers in Abraham’s footsteps: Rahab, Ruth, the Magi, the Ethiopian, Cornelius, and more—people who heard, believed, and moved toward God’s promise.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’ve confused the sign for the substance, or if your background could ever be enough, this conversation calls you back to the core: Christ’s finished work credited to those who believe. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs clarity about faith and ritual, and leave a review telling us how this shaped your view of belonging in God’s family.

Support the show

Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback