We are in the process of exploring the context of the birth narrative of Jesus, and we have arrived at the time of the rise of Octavian. He will lead the Roman Republic into its Empire stage. But how does he do that and how does this change the Judean context of Bethlehem where Jesus is born?

Explore more about all the projects Dr. Smith is involved in:

Great Commission Bible Institute

Christian Travel Study Programs

Outreach Ministry: www.globalvisionoutreach.org

Through the Bible: 1hour1book.com

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Dr. Randal Smith is the Director of Christian Travel Study Program and a virtual encyclopedia about biblical context. We are in the process of exploring the context of the birth narrative of Jesus, and while we assume Roman domination, it wasn't always that way! Today we discuss how Rome emerged from squalor to an empire that dominated the Mediterranean, outmaneuvering the Greeks and innovating military, economic, and political systems.

Explore more about all the projects Dr. Smith is involved in:

Great Commission Bible Institute

Christian Travel Study Programs

Outreach Ministry: www.globalvisionoutreach.org

Through the Bible: 1hour1book.com

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Join Cyndi Parker's Patreon Team!

As we start to anticipate the time of Advent and ultimately the birth of Jesus, what are some of the contextual things we should be aware of? Each historical period had an influence on God's people. To kick off the "Advent of Advent" mini-series, we are going back to a conversation I had last year with Dr. George Athas. He is a professor at Moore College and the author of an excellent book Bridging the Testaments. Today we revisit his overview of the major time periods leading up to the Roman Empire's arrival on the scene along with his explanation of Jewish thought that makes the gospels' claim that Jesus is from the line of David so explosive.

Listen to the original podcast with Dr. Athas Here: Part 1 and Part 2

Find out more about Dr. Athas HERE

Read more about his book HERE

See his many other writings HERE

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Today is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Melesse Woldetsadik. We are following up on the need for discernment when blaming problems on the spiritual realm. In our post-modern world we have a tendency to dismiss spiritual beings to focus on science, and yet there are moments and situations that cannot be solved through the medical world or psychiatry. But others can, right? So how do we hold all these tools and how do we know which tool is needed for a particular problem? How do we know when medicine is a valuable part of the solution and when prayer is THE solution?

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Melesse Woldetsadik is the Pastor at Beta Selam Evangelical Church in North Carolina. He has a fascinating context of growing up in Coptic Christianity and walking away from the faith only for God to pull him back through dreams and specific spiritual experiences. He had many encounters with the spiritual realm even before he decided to train to be a pastor. Come sit around the podcast table a Melesse shares with us his many experiences and what he has learned about the spiritual realm.

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We pick up the conversation with Fr. Andrew talking about Demons. Who or what are they? You may be surprised to know that the term 'demon' originally referred to lesser spiritual beings (neither positive nor negative), but the early Christians used it pejoratively to describe pagan gods. In the Bible, these beings create chaos and involved in both oppression and possession.

Today's episode also includes a short analysis of the movie 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' (With Spoilers!) highlighting its themes of redemption, self-sacrifice, and the portrayal of demonic influences.

Find out more about Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick with links to his books HERE

Listen to The Lord of Spirits HERE

Listen to his review of K-Pop Demon Hunters (with spoilers!) HERE

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Fr. Andrew joins the Context Matters podcast again to talk about his wildly popular podcast series called The Lord of Spirits. We talk about the biblical and traditional texts to lead to this study of the unseen realm as well as why people in modern world should be aware of this world. We start by exploring who and what angels are -- their ranks and appearances, and how they interact with the physical and spiritual realms. This episode bridges the gap between ancient mythological perspectives and modern scientific thinking, revealing a world that's more enchanted than we might realize.

Find out more about Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick with links to his books HERE

Listen to The Lord of Spirits HERE

Listen to his review of K-Pop Demon Hunters (with spoilers!) HERE

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This is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Dan Darko about his book Against Principalities and Powers.Today we talk about the concept of salvation and spiritual warfare as depicted in the book of Ephesians. Dr. Darko also ellaborates on the relationship between Spiritual Powers with the community's identity as part of God's family. We end the episode with the correct understanding of spiritual warfare.

Read more about Dr. Dan Darko HERE

Explore his book Against Principalities and Powers HERE

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Join Cyndi Parker's Patreon Team!