Episodes

  • Using God’s Word to Answer Hard Questions

    Using God’s Word to Answer Hard Questions
    Apr 25 2026
    Ever wrestled with a question that felt too big to answer—something that Google couldn’t quite help with, and the Bible app just gave a list of verses that didn’t really land? We live in a world of instant answers, but spiritual wisdom takes more than a search bar. So, how do we actually find answers to hard questions using God’s Word first, not last? Today’s episode is called “Bible First: Finding Real Answers to Questions”, and we’re talking about how to study, search, and investigate hard topics using Scripture, not just shortcuts. And the episode is less about specific questions and more about methods to use when searching for answers. When you have a question, where do you usually start? Why do you take this approach? Be honest! Here are more questions to consider: Why is our default to Google or search in the Bible app? And is that always bad?What does it look like to actually investigate using Scripture alone?What types of resources can we use when searching for answers?What makes this kind of study so hard for most of us?What fruit comes from doing it “the hard way”—the Bible-first way?What do we really need when we’re studying? TIME and PATIENCE! I hope our listeners know that that Google is not our enemy, but we should still question the root, and the effect, of getting quick answers that we seldom meditate upon. How do you need to slow down, read, reread, and ponder God’s word? This is a challenge for me, as well. We don’t learn everything all at once; growth takes time. We are always learning! We encourage you to keep reading, praying, and talking with the Lord about your questions. Then, speak with mature Christians who have navigated similar questions and know their Bibles well. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! UNEDITED TRANSCRIPTION: 00:00:00 Patricia: Have you ever wrestled with a question that felt too big to answer? Something that Google couldn’t quite help you with? And the Bible app just gave a list of verses that didn’t really land. We live in a world of instant answers, but gaining spiritual wisdom takes more than just searching in a search bar. So today’s podcast is about using the Bible first finding real answers to our questions. Welcome to our Patterns of Truth podcast. I’m Patricia, your host, and today we are talking about how to study, search and investigate hard topics using the scriptures and not just shortcuts. Shortcuts are not a bad thing. We’ll talk about that. Um, but we want to kind of reexamine the practices that we engage in when we’re searching for answers. So this episode is about is not really about specific questions, specific hard questions that we seek to answer, but more about the methods that we can use when searching for those answers. So hello to everyone on the podcast today. Hello, Peter. Hello, Roy. Hello, Bethel. How are you all doing today? 00:01:05 Peter: Hello, hello. 00:01:07 Roy: Hey, great. Rainy and cold in Oregon. Oh it’s raining. Yeah. Rainy. 00:01:15 Bethel: Not humid here. 00:01:17 Patricia: Yeah. 00:01:17 Peter: Whereas here Bethel. 00:01:19 Bethel: Right now it’s Jersey. 00:01:21 Patricia: Yeah. 00:01:22 Bethel: It’s not Philly. It’s Jersey today. 00:01:24 Patricia: Jersey. Welcome back. All right. So um I’ll start with a panel question for all of us. So when any of us have a question, something popped into your mind. Somebody talks about something. Where do you usually start to find the answer? It can be any resource. It could be Google, it could be another. Right. So where do you start and why do you take this approach? 00:01:52 Bethel: I’m a Googler. 00:01:54 Patricia: All right. Yeah. 00:01:55 Bethel: Everybody and everybody makes fun of me that I even use Google because everybody just uses AI. Like everybody’s just like, just ask ChatGPT. Just ask ChatGPT. Um, so even googling is like outdated at this point, but depending on how deep I might text my dad. 00:02:11 Patricia: Oh, nice. All right. Cool. Roy? Peter. 00:02:17 Roy: Um, I asked my wife. 00:02:19 Patricia: Okay. 00:02:21 Roy: Um, good place to start. That’s good intuition. Um, my daughter, um, who also has very good insight. Um, and then it depends on what kind of a question. And I appreciate the Google answer. Um, in fact, I did, I used Google just the other day when I wanted to know the initial, um, area that was assigned to the tribe of Dan and I got a pretty good answer. So if the question is specific enough, um, then I think, um, Google is fine or I don’t know about chat, I haven’t used chat GP so I don’t know how that works, but I know Google uses AI underneath. So Google basically a, a front end to an AI program. Yeah. But it has to be specific. It depends on the type of question. 00:03:18 Patricia: Yeah, I like that you mentioned that because sometimes you could do like a broad question and then who knows what you’re going to get just just how Google works. Right. Sorry, Peter. 00:03:28 ...
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    37 mins
  • Shadow of a Doubt: Can Your Faith Survive It?

    Shadow of a Doubt: Can Your Faith Survive It?
    Mar 28 2026
    Faith, Doubt, Leaving the Faith A few years ago, I followed a well-known Christian influencer whose faith journey was encouraging many, including me. But recently, he announced he was stepping away from Christianity, citing years of wrestling with doubts about the fundamentals of the faith. He said his doubt was too overwhelming to maintain his Christian life. Hearing this was both difficult and confusing. I don’t know his heart or what God is doing in this man’s life, but I pray for him and trust him to the Lord’s care. His story made me pause and ask: Is he the only one? How many of us have quietly struggled with similar doubts? How much doubt can we carry before it becomes paralyzing or makes us question where we stand with God? Today, we’ll ask: What does it mean to doubt as a believer? How does God respond to our questions? Is there space for some doubt that isn’t disruptive? And, ultimately, how do we move forward—growing in confidence and resembling Him more, even when we’re not sure we have all the answers? Our goal is NOT to spread doubts and “infect” others, so to speak. However, we can acknowledge them without giving them too much power. What type of doubts have you experienced? Doubting the existence of GodStruggling with doubts during challenges in life (wondering if there’s a point in all of this – seeing God’s hand) I hope our listeners know that they are not the only ones who may struggle with similar questions and wonder: how much doubt should I be having? We encourage you to keep reading, praying, and talking with the Lord about your doubts. Then, speak with mature Christians who have navigated these challenges. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! UNEDITED TRANSCRIPTION: 00:00:00 Patricia: Welcome to another Patterns of Truth podcast. A few years ago, I followed a well-known Christian Christian influencer whose faith journey was encouraging many, including me. But recently he announced that he was stepping away from Christianity, citing years of wrestling with doubts about the fundamentals of the faith. He said his doubt was too overwhelming to maintain his Christian life. Hearing this was both difficult and confusing. I don’t know his heart or what God is doing in this man’s life, but I pray for him and I trust in the Lord’s care. But his story made me pause and ask, is he the only one? How many of us have quietly struggled with similar doubts? How much doubt can we carry before it becomes paralyzing or makes us question where we stand with God? I’m Patricia, your host for today’s Patterns of Truth podcast. And today we will ask the question, what does it mean to doubt as a believer? How does God respond to our questions and our doubts? And is there space for some doubt that isn’t disruptive? Ultimately, how do we move forward, growing in confidence and resembling the Lord even more, even when we do not have all the answers? Our goal for today’s podcast and conversation is not to spread doubt and infect others with disbelief, so to speak, but we want to acknowledge that we all experience doubt from time to time without giving that doubt too much power. So hey everyone, we have Peter, Roy, and Bethel. How are you guys doing today? 00:01:31 Bethel: Good. How’s it going? Oh. 00:01:34 Patricia: Good. All right. So I want to launch right into our first question. Um and it doesn’t matter who answers, but what type of doubts have you experienced in your Christian life? 00:01:51 Bethel: I think even in my limited amount of life, as I go through different seasons, different phases, there’s always some point that I’m kind of like, Is God who he says he is in terms of, is God as good as he says he is? Is God um, always with me as he says he is? Which I mean, an utmost respect. I don’t mean that in any irreverent way, but I think that that’s normal, that we all kind of go through a point where we’re like, um, God, really with me. Is God really carrying me? Is God really sticking with me? 00:02:26 Patricia: MM. Yeah. Anybody else? What type of doubts have you experienced? 00:02:32 Peter: Like many of us who are new believers, I, uh, at the beginning of my salvation, uh, did doubt being saved. I remember praying multiple times. Um, and every time there was a salvation message, I was always worried, oh, no, if there’s another message. Um, until I reached a point where I prayed, Lord, you know, I don’t know what’s going on. And, um, I remember that I saw a difference in my life. And, uh, that was a shooting to me that, you know, the Lord worked in my heart. People didn’t know. They didn’t see the difference. But I knew the difference. I know that I started, you know, desiring to read scripture more. Um, my attitude towards life changed. Um, when I was I mean, still like a young, maybe thirteen years old. So that’s one of the doubts, um, that I had. Um. 00:03:39 Patricia: Okay. Right. 00:03:42 Roy: I, um, no doubt it’s been ...
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    44 mins
  • Who Am I – Understanding Your Identity in Christ

    Who Am I – Understanding Your Identity in Christ
    Nov 29 2025
    We’re diving into one of life’s most powerful questions: Who am I? It’s a question we’ve all wrestled with at some point, and for believers, it carries a deeper weight. As life changes, we may question our identities completely. Am I still a sinner, or am I something new? Does my past define me? What does it mean to have an identity in Christ? For those who are not saved, we challenge you to consider your identity: a sinner, on your way to a Christless eternity. More specifically, what that means is eternal suffering and separation from God in a conscious state for eternity. This is not what the Lord intended – listen to the call of the Gospel. Good news that the Son of God was born as a baby, grew into a Man, fully man, fully God, and died on the Cross to pay a price you could not pay. Your Sin was condemned, and your sins were paid for; accept the free gift of salvation and have a new identity today: new creation in Christ. In this episode, we’re going to unpack what the Bible says about who you really are — not who the world says you are, not who your mistakes say you are — but who God says you are. If you had to introduce yourself to someone, how would you identify yourself? What happens when I have an unstable identity?Being saved – are you saved?!How does it impact my life when I don’t know who I am or when I let my identity shift based on circumstances or opinions?”What does it mean to be “born again?”“Ye must be born again” – the words of the Lord Jesus2 Corinthians 5:7, 17Ephesians 2:10What or Who ultimately defines my identity? My actions or God? Or is it a little bit of both?2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…”How do I see myself: as a sinner, a saint, or something else?When I sin, is it ok for me to admit: “I’m a sinner?”Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”Ephesians 1:6 – “…He made us accepted in the Beloved.”Is there a difference between repentance and confession?Do sinners repent? Do saints confess?Do I need to keep repenting to stay saved?Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”Hebrews 10:14 – “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”Is salvation still active in my present life?Does that mean I can lose my salvation?2 Corinthians 4:16 – “…the inward man is being renewed day by day.”Colossians 3: 1 – 17 (focus on verse 10). – Man’s responsibility Philippians 2:12-13 – “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you…” Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! UNEDITED TRANSCRIPTION: Welcome to the Patterns of Truth podcast, the place for casual discussion of biblical principles and difficult questions that face the Christian believer. We believe that the Bible can speak to today’s issues, giving us the wisdom and the courage we need for our lives. We are so glad that you are joining us, and you can always find us at patterns of thought. Welcome to the Patterns of Truth podcast. This is the show where we explore the foundations of our faith and what it really means to live in the truth of the gospel. I’m your host for today’s conversation, Patricia. And today we’re diving into one of life’s most powerful questions who am I? It’s a question we’ve all wrestled with at some point, whether we’re in different stages of life or just growing and figuring ourselves out. But as Christians, as believers, this question carries a deeper weight Await as life changes, we may question our identities completely. Like I said before, we may ask ourselves based on my action, am I still a sinner or am I something new, a saint? Does my past define me? What does it mean to have identity in Christ? But first, I have to always mention we can’t assume that all of our listeners are Christians are saved. So we challenge those who may not be saved. Maybe you’re curious about the Bible, about Jesus Christ, about Christians. Whatever we talk about, we challenge you to consider your identity. In the Scripture. There are only two. You either belong to the Lord or you don’t. A sinner means that you are on your way to a christless eternity. And that term may sound unfamiliar, but specifically, that term means that eternal suffering and separation from God happens in a conscious state for all of eternity. You do not accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. This is not what the Lord intended for human beings, his creation. Please listen to the call of the gospel. That’s a word that means good news. And this good news is that the Son of God was born as a baby. His name is Jesus Christ. He grew up into a man. He was fully man and fully ...
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    47 mins
  • Are You Trying Too Hard? How to Balance Discipline and Dependence in the Christian Life

    Are You Trying Too Hard? How to Balance Discipline and Dependence in the Christian Life
    Sep 27 2025

    Welcome back to the Patterns of Truth podcast — we’re diving into one of life’s most powerful questions: Who am I?

    It’s a question we’ve all wrestled with at some point, and for believers, it carries a deeper weight. As life changes, we may question our identities completely. Am I still a sinner, or am I something new? Does my past define me? What does it mean to have an identity in Christ?

    For those who are not saved, we challenge you to consider your identity: a sinner, on your way to a Christless eternity. More specifically, what that means is eternal suffering and separation from God in a conscious state for eternity. This is not what the Lord intended – listen to the call of the Gospel. Good news that the Son of God was born as a baby, grew into a Man, fully man, fully God, and died on the Cross to pay a price you could not pay. Your Sin was condemned, and your sins were paid for; accept the free gift of salvation and have a new identity today: new creation in Christ.

    In this episode, we’re going to unpack what the Bible says about who you really are — not who the world says you are, not who your mistakes say you are — but who God says you are.

    So whether you’ve just started your faith journey or you’ve been walking with Jesus for years, this conversation is for you.

    Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

    The post Are You Trying Too Hard? How to Balance Discipline and Dependence in the Christian Life appeared first on Patterns of Truth.
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    44 mins
  • The Whole Counsel Of God

    The Whole Counsel Of God
    Aug 30 2025
    Episode Summary

    This episode comes as a lecture from one of our regular contributors. Aaron (the speaker in this lecture) takes up the question, Is truth captured or held in creeds and traditions? We think this is a very important question because we are seeing more return to traditions and rituals in our Christian circles. Aaron does something interesting. Instead of answering the question, he starts by looking at the scripture and what it tells us or reveals about God, and God the Son.

    Along the way, he compares historic creeds like the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed with the “whole counsel of God” found in the Bible. Are these man-made statements helpful, or do they risk missing the fullness of God’s revelation? Aaron emphasizes that while creeds can summarize aspects of truth, only Scripture itself is living, active, and able to transform hearts.

    This episode challenges us to seek truth not in human constructions but in the Word of God, which remains forever.

    Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

    The post The Whole Counsel Of God appeared first on Patterns of Truth.
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    41 mins
  • TULIP or no TULIP

    TULIP or no TULIP
    Jul 26 2025

    Welcome to another episode of Patterns of Truth — a podcast where we explore challenging questions through the lens of Scripture.

    We’ve got a big topic on the table: Calvinism.

    In today’s episode, we’ll be unpacking the major ideas behind the five points of Calvinism — commonly remembered by the acronym TULIP. But what do those points actually mean? And what does Scripture have to say about them?

    We recently published an article on this topic: A brief review of Calvinism: TULIP, or not TULIP?, but we thought it would be helpful to bring the authors Roy and Aaron and expand on it further and address some questions our audience might have.

    Before we dive in, a quick disclaimer: our guests today aren’t professional theologians or scholars — we’re simply believers aiming to examine this topic carefully and biblically.

    Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or fully on board, we’re really glad you’re here. Check out the article that sparked the discussion:

    A brief review of Calvinism: TULIP, or not TULIP?

    The post TULIP or no TULIP appeared first on Patterns of Truth.
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    40 mins
  • Covenant Theology vs. Dispensationalism: Navigating Theological Perspectives in Christianity

    Covenant Theology vs. Dispensationalism: Navigating Theological Perspectives in Christianity
    Jun 28 2025

    “Covenant Theology” is a term that more and more Christians are encountering in the mainstream on various platforms. What should we think of it? Is Covenant Theology new? Is it old? And what exactly is it? The same questions can be applied to “Dispensations.” Are covenants at odds with dispensations?

    Maybe you’re thinking: why does this even matter? Isn’t this topic for theological students and shouldn’t “regular Christians” just stick to the point? Understanding Covenant Theology and Dispensations directly impacts how we read the Bible, understand our places as Christians, and, even, how we address God in prayer. Each one of us must study and know what’s in God’s word.

    In today’s episode, join host Patricia and guests Roy, Peter, Nate, and Daniel as they discuss what Covenant Theology is, what it isn’t, what Dispensational Truth is, and what it isn’t; tackling the challenges and misconceptions surrounding these theological frameworks along the way. This podcast will not be an exhaustive conversation of each detail and the ins and outs of both Covenant Theology and Dispensational Truth.

    Remember that understanding these theological frameworks is crucial for accurately interpreting Scripture. In a world filled with diverse ideas and influences, it’s vital to cut through the noise and uncover what the Bible truly says. Our primary focus should always be on understanding God’s Word in its proper context, remembering that His ways are not our ways.

    Keep studying and searching the Scriptures!

    We’d love to hear from you! If you have additional questions about this topic, visit us at patternsoftruth.org and click on the Q&A button to “Ask a Question.”

    The post Covenant Theology vs. Dispensationalism: Navigating Theological Perspectives in Christianity appeared first on Patterns of Truth.
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    44 mins
  • Top Three Things We’re Scared Of

    Top Three Things We’re Scared Of
    May 31 2025
    Episode Summary

    Fear—irrational, circumstantial, or deeply rooted—is something we all face. In this episode of the Patterns of Truth podcast, Patricia is joined by Roy, Bethel, and Peter for a heartfelt and faith-filled conversation about the top three fears they’re currently facing, how those fears have changed over time, and what the Bible has to say about anxiety, trust, and spiritual peace.

    From fears of failure, loneliness, and death, to anxiety about health, flying, or FOMO, this discussion cover personal stories and Biblical truth. Together, the hosts explore whether anxiety is sinful, how to distinguish between emotional and spiritual fear, and how believers can biblically process overwhelming emotions while trusting in God’s promises.

    Whether you’re battling fear in silence or just curious about how faith intersects with emotional well-being, this episode is a relatable, encouraging, and a timely listen.

    Resources & References
    • “Is Anxiety or Depression a Sin?” – Read the blog post
    • Philippians 4:6–8, Psalm 23, Mark 4:35–41, Psalm 105
    • Book mentioned: Out of the Blues (on Christian perspectives on depression)
    Call to Action

    Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone. Lean into God’s promises, open up to trusted community, and don’t be afraid to seek help. Whether you’re facing emotional, circumstantial, or spiritual fears, peace is possible through Christ.

    Want more encouragement on difficult topics?
    Visit PatternsOfTruth.org to explore thoughtful, biblical answers to real-life questions.

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with a friend who needs biblical encouragement!

    Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

    The post Top Three Things We’re Scared Of appeared first on Patterns of Truth.
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    48 mins