Study+
Study+ is an occasional podcast where we supplement Pastor Mike Focht's weekly Wednesday night Bible studies at Calvary Chapel by exploring different topics to which particular texts of scripture speak. If we don't cover it on a Wednesday night, you might find a discussion about it here.
Episodes
16 episodes
Why Don’t Christians Keep the Old Testament Law?
Sometimes Christians get accused of “picking and choosing” when it comes to which laws of God we keep and which we don’t keep. Is that the case? Mike and Brian discuss how Christians relate to the laws in the Old Testament, and why we aren’t un...
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41:14
Christianity and Gay Identity
Is it wise for Christians to use the identity labels such as “Gay,” even if they remain celibate? Mike and Brian discuss the wisdom of using labels like this, and how the scriptures lead us to think about these aspects of our identity.C...
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1:02:45
Learning from Paul's Prayers
The Bible gives us all kinds of instruction to help us learn to pray—especially in the form of recorded prayers themselves. Mike and Brian discuss Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, and what these prayers have to teach us about our prayer lives....
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47:32
Church Membership
How should a church keep track of who its members are? Is formal membership the best way to care for the body of Christ? Mike and Brian discuss the pros and cons of formal church membership, and why other options exits.
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56:13
Calvinism, part 7: Wrap Up
Mike and Brian discuss final observations and overall take-aways from the issues raised by thinking through how Calvinism and Arminianism interpret the Biblical teachings about salvation.
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31:43
Calvinism, part 6: Perseverance of the Saints
Is it possible for someone who is truly saved to “lose” their salvation, or walk away from Jesus, and not come back? Mike and Brian discuss the Calvinist Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints, and other ways the Biblical teachings about th...
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30:29
Calvinism, part 5: Irresistible Grace
We need God’s grace to be saved—that much is clear from the Scriptures. But what is God’s grace? And how is it that grace saves us? Mike and Brian discuss the commonalities and the distinctions between that Calvinist and Arminian under...
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42:06
Calvinism, part 4: Limited Atonement
The death of Christ on the cross is our only hope for salvation. But when Christ died on the cross, who did he die for? Mike and Brian discuss the Biblical teaching on the extent of the Atonement.
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37:46
Calvinism, part 3: Unconditional Election
The Bible clearly teaches that God reserves the right to sovereignly choose whom He saves from their sins. But what does the Bible teach about how He makes that choice? Mike and Brian discuss the issues raised by the Biblical teachings...
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41:03
Calvinism, part 2: Total Depravity
When the Bible says that human beings can’t do anything to earn salvation, what does it mean? Mike and Brian discuss the Calvinist doctrine of Total Depravity, and how Christians have thought through the issues involved in different ways throug...
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45:16
Calvinism, part 1: Introduction
Mike and Brian begin the first “mini-series” of Study+, looking at how issues raised by 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 impact how we think about two theological systems known as “Calvinism” and “Arminianism.” On this episode, we introduce the next few e...
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41:16
The Intermediate State
Mike and Brian sit down to discuss 2 Corinthians 5 and how it informs our understanding of what is often called "The Intermediate State," which is the time in between Christ's ascension and his return, including the time a believer personally e...
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48:26
Jewish People, Gentiles, and the Gospel
On this episode of Study+, Mike and Brian discuss 2 Corinthians 3:12-16 as it relates to the Biblical status of the people of Israel as God's chosen people, what that means in the plan of God, and how it affects the need of individuals within I...
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34:41
Applying the Old Testament Stories
On this episode of Study+ Pastor Mike and Pastor Brian discuss how 1 Corinthian 11:1-11 helps us understand the various ways we can read the Old Testament stories and find application to our lives, as well as the implications for how we teach t...
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45:51