A Stranger in the House of God

John Koessler
  • 4.9 (14)
  • RELIGION
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

A Stranger in the House of God is the Podcast of award-winning author John Koessler. Growing up the son of agnostics, John Koessler saw a Catholic church on one end of the street and a Baptist church on the other. In the no-man’s land between the two, this curious outsider wondered about the God they worshiped—and began a lifelong search to comprehend the grace and mystery of God. John's podcast addresses fundamental questions and struggles faced by spiritual seekers and mature believers. John is the author of 17 books and a columnist for Mature Living Magazine.  

  1. 6D AGO

    Don't Ask: Why Some Questions are Better Left Unanswered

    Send a text When I was a college professor, students often asked me questions. Some began by saying, “This may be a stupid question.” For many years, my stock response was, “There are no stupid questions.” But after a while, it dawned on me that I was wrong about this. There are stupid questions. There are also disingenuous questions. Some are traps, and many are merely dead ends. Satan deconstructed Eve's faith with a question. Some questions are better left unanswered.  Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

    16 min

  2. JAN 11

    Simon the Bold

    Send a text Most sermons that I have heard, including some that I have preached myself, that focus on Simon Peter tend to portray him as something of a buffoon. They present Simon Peter as a boaster and a blowhard. Peter, as the Gospels admit, said and did some foolish things. But that did not make him a fool. Nor was he a coward. The bravest thing that Simon Peter ever did is probably not what you think.  Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

    13 min

  3. 12/13/2025

    Blue Christmas: The Cure for Christmas Melancholy

    Send a text The cure for Christmas melancholia is not, as a popular song tells us, that we “need a little Christmas right now.” Nor is it necessarily Puritan austerity or renunciation of all observance of Christmas. The cure, strange as it may seem, is good theology.  Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

    17 min

  4. 11/25/2025

    Mary's Lullaby

    Send a text I used to think that lullaby carols were odd. Why place so much emphasis on the baby Jesus? But this year, I began listening to Christmas carols in July in connection with a new book I was writing. I see them differently now.  Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

    12 min

  5. 06/27/2025

    Insatiable Desire and World Weariness: Signs We Were Made for Eternity

    Send a text I have heard more than one Christian express reservations about what we can look forward to in the age to come. What is it about Heaven that makes some of us nervous?  Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

    12 min

  6. 04/22/2025

    Slow Faith: Lessons About Belief From the Disciples

    Send a text When Jesus called the two disciples on the Emmaus Road "slow to believe," he was describing many of us as well. The disciples' struggle to believe provides insight into our own slow faith.  Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

    16 min

  7. 03/27/2025

    The Rediscovered Country: Heaven is More Familiar Than We Think

    Send a text  Shakespeare called death “the undiscovered country.” But its environs may be more familiar than we think.  The landscape of the undiscovered country is not as alien as we thought. Nor do we have to wait until we pass through the gates of death to catch a glimpse of its powers. In fact, if we take Scripture at its word, all those who are in Christ are already in residence there in some mysterious sense.  Today's topic reflects the theme of John's latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality. You can order it now from Amazon.  Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

    12 min

  8. 01/31/2025

    Full of Days: The Five Blessings of Old Age

    Send a text Scripture says that Job died "old and full of days." Unlike our culture, which tends to view old age through the lens of loss and debilitation, the Bible's perspective on aging is generally positive. What are the five "blessings" that come with old age? Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

    14 min
See All (99)

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

A Stranger in the House of God is the Podcast of award-winning author John Koessler. Growing up the son of agnostics, John Koessler saw a Catholic church on one end of the street and a Baptist church on the other. In the no-man’s land between the two, this curious outsider wondered about the God they worshiped—and began a lifelong search to comprehend the grace and mystery of God. John's podcast addresses fundamental questions and struggles faced by spiritual seekers and mature believers. John is the author of 17 books and a columnist for Mature Living Magazine.  

Information