This week’s episode continues last week’s conversation by asking how a God who shows wrath can also show such deep grace between the Old and New Testament. Steve challenges the idea that the Old and New Testaments present different versions of God, noting that both wrath and grace are found in each. One key difference is focus. The New Testament centers on individuals and how they are called to live like Christ, while the Old Testament often addresses nations as a whole. Comparing the two isn’t always fair, since God may call nations and individuals to very different things.

Rich points out that God’s people once formed a literal nation, while today the Kingdom of God is made up of believers spread across the world. Steve adds important context to some of the larger Old Testament conquests that can be difficult to understand. As discussed last week, Jesus bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments, continuing the same story rather than starting a new one. When Jesus says, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father,” that includes the God of the Old Testament. Ultimately, the message remains the same: today is the day of salvation, and we still need God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube 🎥

Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list

Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com

If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

It’s Tuesday again, which means a new episode of Resident Strangers is here! This week is exciting as the crew begins digging into listener-submitted questions and suggestions. Over the next two episodes, we’re diving into a big one: Is the God of the Old Testament different from the God of the New Testament? Some see stark differences between the two, while others believe God has always been the same.

Steve points out that this question isn’t new as it goes back centuries. Rich helps unpack the historical context, showing how these early debates emerged not long after Jesus walked the earth and even influenced how the Bible was formed and which writings were included. Much of the tension centers on the wrath we see throughout the Old Testament. Steve offers a thoughtful counterpoint, highlighting the abundance of grace found there as well and how the New Testament continues to reveal the same God. Jesus’ own teachings affirm this truth. After all, grace and mercy only make sense when justice exists too. This conversation offers a fresh and challenging perspective and it’s only part one! Be sure to come back next week as the discussion continues.

Resident Strangers Episode 88 on Deconstruction

Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube 🎥

Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list

Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com

If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

Happy New Year and welcome back to Resident Strangers!

A new year naturally invites reflection and a longing for something new. Steve opens the conversation by emphasizing the importance of spiritual self-examination, reminding us how easy it is to let life simply happen to us rather than living with intention. He points to 1 Kings 19, where God asks Elijah, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” This is a question that can still challenge us today.

Rich agrees, sharing how vital it is to be intentional as life unfolds. He even reflects on how, before recording this episode, he asked God to help clear away distractions as he steps into the new year. Together, they talk about the importance of recognizing changing seasons, being mindful of what God has already done and attentive to what He may be preparing to do next. Perhaps the focus shouldn’t be so much on the end goal, but on faithfully taking the steps along the way.

This conversation is full of thoughtful insight as we begin a new year. Be sure to join us next week as we dive into the discussion of the God of the Old and New Testament.

Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube 🎥

Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list

Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com

If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.