Foundations of Truth

Dr. Timothy Mann
  • 5.0 (19)
  • CHRISTIANITY

This is the podcast of Firm Foundations ministries.   Our mission is to help you build your life on the unshakable foundation of God's Word, rooted in Scripture and anchored in the grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Each episode is designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding, and encourage you to stand firm in a shifting world. 

  1. How Jesus Faced The Wilderness And What That Means For Your Next Battle

    4D AGO

    How Jesus Faced The Wilderness And What That Means For Your Next Battle

    How can we pray for you? Text us and tell us how the episode helped you, as well. Glory to wilderness in a single page-turn, Matthew 4 opens with one of Scripture’s most jarring transitions, and we walk right into it. Fresh from baptism and the Father’s public delight, Jesus is led by the Spirit into barren land to be tempted. That tension reframes our assumptions about growth: obedience can be followed by opposition, and the wilderness can be training, not punishment. We slow down over each temptation to see the craft beneath the surface. Stones to bread is not just about hunger; it’s a challenge to identity and timing, will we meet a real need in an unreal way, or trust the Father’s word when we feel empty. The leap from the temple turns Psalm 91 into a stage prop, inviting spiritual pride to demand spectacle. Here we confront the difference between authentic faith and manipulating God to prove Himself. The final offer, the kingdoms without the cross, exposes our craving for shortcuts: influence without obedience, glory without surrender. Each time, Jesus answers with Deuteronomy and shows us that Scripture isn’t a slogan; it’s a sword when believed, obeyed, and spoken in the moment of pressure. Along the way, we name the pattern many of us live: testing after triumph, temptation aimed at our weakest hour, and half-truths that sound holy while steering us off course. We share why weakness isn’t sin, why the Spirit’s leading means the desert is under divine control, and how the word of God anchors us when fear or pride pushes us to take control. If you’ve ever wondered whether hardship means you’ve drifted, or if you’ve felt Scripture used to justify what your conscience resists, this conversation will steady your steps. Walk with us through the wilderness as the tested King leads, and learn to fight with truth, refuse manipulation, and worship God alone.

    29 min
  2. Why Jesus Chose Baptism And What It Means For Us

    FEB 16

    Why Jesus Chose Baptism And What It Means For Us

    How can we pray for you? Text us and tell us how the episode helped you, as well. A quiet riverbank turns into a moment that changes everything. We open Matthew 3 and watch Jesus step into John’s baptism—not to repent, but to fulfill all righteousness and identify with sinners. The choice is deliberate and full of love: the sinless King stands where the guilty stand, beginning a journey that leads from the Jordan to Calvary and the empty tomb. From there, heaven refuses to stay closed. The skies open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice declares, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Together we explore why this is more than a symbolic scene: it is the public anointing of the Messiah, the unveiling of the Trinity in perfect unity, and the foundation for understanding salvation as the work of Father, Son, and Spirit. We talk about what it means to trust the One heaven has approved and how the Spirit’s empowerment shapes every step Jesus takes. Most of all, we draw out the personal implications. If Jesus entered the water for us, we can stop trying to earn what grace freely gives. The Father’s delight comes before performance, offering a secure identity that steadies us through doubt, temptation, and trial. We share practical ways to live from acceptance, not for it—walking by the Spirit’s power, resting in the Father’s love, and following the Son who stood in our place. If you’ve ever felt unworthy, distant, or exhausted by striving, this conversation invites you to stand on solid ground. If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review so more people can discover these truths.

    28 min
  3. Repentance, Renewal, And The Nearness Of The King

    FEB 9

    Repentance, Renewal, And The Nearness Of The King

    How can we pray for you? Text us and tell us how the episode helped you, as well. A voice rises from the wilderness and slices through our distracted lives: repent, the King is near. We open Matthew 3 to meet John the Baptist—not as a museum relic—but as a living challenge to complacency, casual faith, and crowded hearts. His message is piercing because it is merciful. Repentance is not about theatrics or guilt; it is a decisive turn toward the reign of Jesus, a clearing of the path so the King can enter without obstruction. Together we explore why repentance is directional, not merely emotional, and how a consecrated life lends credibility to our words. John’s simple, set-apart lifestyle—camel’s hair, locusts, and honey—wasn’t about being odd; it was about being available. That integrity drew people to confession and baptism because authentic holiness awakens hunger. We contrast that with the Pharisees and Sadducees, whose confidence in heritage and ritual collapses under John’s bold rebuke. Heritage cannot replace a new heart. True repentance produces fruit—humility, obedience, love, and holiness—that reveals a life under the King’s authority. We also wrestle with John’s sobering image of the axe at the root. God inspects roots, not costumes. Comfortable confidence without conversion is dangerous, but the clarity of this warning is an act of grace—a wake-up call designed to rescue, not to shame. By the end, you’ll have a practical grid for clearing spiritual clutter, aligning your private life with your public confession, and seeking fruit that lasts. If you’ve felt the fatigue of surface religion, this conversation offers a path to real transformation under the nearness of Jesus. If this helped you prepare room for the King, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with one step you’ll take this week.

    29 min
  4. When God Writes With Crooked Lines

    FEB 2

    When God Writes With Crooked Lines

    How can we pray for you? Text us and tell us how the episode helped you, as well. A king arrives and every throne trembles. We open Matthew 1–2 and follow a line of imperfect ancestors to a child named Jesus, whose birth keeps ancient promises and shatters our illusions of self-rule. The genealogy isn’t filler; it’s proof that God threads grace through generations of failure, placing Jesus squarely in history and squarely in our need. From Abraham’s doubts to David’s collapse, the pattern is clear: human sin does not cancel divine faithfulness. The story accelerates with the virgin birth. Joseph receives a message that reframes everything: name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Salvation here is not a DIY project; it is a gift to be received. Emmanuel means God with us, not God near us, and that changes how we face guilt, fear, and control. Joseph’s obedience costs him reputation, yet it places him inside God’s will—and that tension speaks to anyone wrestling with a hard yes today. Then come the travelers from the east and the tyrant on the throne. The Magi cross deserts to bow in joy; Herod clutches power and lashes out. Knowledge sits idle in Jerusalem while worship moves, kneels, and gives. The contrast is a mirror: will we protect our small kingdoms or welcome the true King? Even as evil rages, God preserves his purpose, guiding the Holy Family, and later leading them into obscurity where character is forged. If you’re hidden, take heart—formation often happens offstage. Join us as we explore promise, surrender, worship, and the quiet places where God does deep work. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review telling us where you see God asking for your next step of surrender.

    28 min
  5. From Salvation To Service: Why Grace Sends Us

    JAN 12

    From Salvation To Service: Why Grace Sends Us

    How can we pray for you? Text us and tell us how the episode helped you, as well. What if salvation is not the destination, but the deployment? We open with the joy of new life in Christ, then face a neglected truth: grace sends us. Drawing from 1 Peter 4:10–11, Pastor Timothy Mann lays out five straightforward principles that move believers from spectators to servants and turn church from a club into a kingdom outpost. We start with the gift every Christian receives at conversion—Spirit-empowered capacity to serve. That gift is not meant to be admired; it is meant to be used. Layer in your temperament, skills, passions, and life experiences, and you have a unique ministry profile crafted by God. Then we pivot outward. Scripture calls us to steward grace for others, not hoard it. Faithful ministry is steady and practical, meeting real needs and sharing the gospel with clarity and compassion. Words matter, so we explore how to “speak as the oracles of God,” letting Scripture shape our tone, content, and conversations both in person and online. Works matter too, so we talk about rolling up our sleeves in the strength God supplies—discipling, teaching, visiting, giving, and serving without self-promotion. All of this leans toward one aim: that God would be glorified through Jesus Christ as we live with the end in view. If you’ve ever wondered why you were saved and how your life can count, this message will help you identify your gifts, embrace your calling, and find joy in obedient service. If this conversation stirred you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show. Then tell us: where will you start serving this week?

    29 min
  6. From Genesis To Revelation: A Clear, One-Message Tour Of Scripture

    JAN 5

    From Genesis To Revelation: A Clear, One-Message Tour Of Scripture

    How can we pray for you? Text us and tell us how the episode helped you, as well. A big book can feel like a maze, but the Bible’s sprawling pages resolve into a single, powerful story when you see the six-act arc of redemption. We walk from Genesis to Revelation with clear steps—creation’s beauty, the shock of the fall, a covenant promise through Abraham, the long road of Israel, the life and resurrection of Jesus, the birth of the church, and the hope of Christ’s return. Along the way, we connect key moments—Exodus and Sinai, kings and prophets, exile and return—to the promise that finds its center in a crucified and risen Lord. You’ll hear how Jesus fulfills ancient expectations as the Lamb of God, the son of David, and Emmanuel. We trace the cross and empty tomb as the decisive hinge of history and show why the resurrection turns the gospel from advice into news. From Pentecost’s fire to the spread of the early church under pressure, the message “Jesus is Lord” travels across the empire, rooting communities in grace, truth, and mission. Revelation then lifts our hope beyond headlines, pointing to a future where justice rolls, evil ends, and all things are made new. This is a guided tour for anyone who wants the Bible’s main idea without losing its depth. If you’ve felt lost in the laws, names, and timelines, you’ll leave with a clear map and a vivid sense of how every book points to Christ. Listen, reflect, and consider your place in the story of redemption. If this helped you see Scripture with fresh eyes, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so others can find it too.

    29 min
  7. A Baby Born In Bethlehem Rewrote Your Past, Present, And Future

    12/24/2025

    A Baby Born In Bethlehem Rewrote Your Past, Present, And Future

    How can we pray for you? Text us and tell us how the episode helped you, as well. A single baby in a feeding trough doesn’t look like a revolution—until you realize God stepped into history to rewrite the human story. We explore why the arrival of Jesus still changes everything: clearing the weight of guilt, supplying strength for real-world pressure, and securing a future stronger than death. This isn’t seasonal fluff; it’s a durable hope that holds up on ordinary Tuesdays and in life’s hardest nights. We start with the problem we all feel but rarely name: regret. Drawing from Romans 3, we unpack forgiveness as an undeserved, instant, complete gift in Christ. No bargaining, no probation—God promises to remember forgiven sins no more. That’s not denial; it’s a decisive break from shame’s endless replay. From there, we move to the daily grind. Philippians 4 isn’t about superpowers; it’s about steady power. Through Christ, we can face every condition we meet—deadlines, grief, conflict, uncertainty—because God assumes responsibility for our needs and gives peace of mind and heart when circumstances refuse to cooperate. Then we face the universal fear most people avoid: death. Hebrews 2 says Jesus became like us to free us from lifelong slavery to that fear. When your life is anchored in his cross and empty tomb, the unknown becomes a homecoming, not a cliff edge. Christmas, then, is a gift within a gift: receive Christ and you receive forgiveness for the past, strength for the present, and eternal life for the future. These gifts are personal, practical, priceless, and permanent—costly to God and life-giving to us. If you’re tired of carrying what you can’t fix, of chasing strength that fades, or of dodging the big questions, this message offers more than inspiration—it offers a Savior. Listen, share with someone who needs peace today, and if it helps you, subscribe and leave a review to help others find the hope you found.

    25 min
  8. How Jesus Emptied Himself And Why It Changes Us

    12/23/2025

    How Jesus Emptied Himself And Why It Changes Us

    How can we pray for you? Text us and tell us how the episode helped you, as well. What if the cure for division isn’t stronger opinions but a different mind altogether? We open Philippians 2:5–11 and sit with the most stunning vision of Jesus: fully God, yet choosing the path of a servant, emptying Himself to meet us at our deepest need. This is not abstract theology; it is the heartbeat of unity. When pride fuels comparison and murmuring, Paul points us to the Christ who lays down rights, embraces the cross, and shows that the way up is down. We walk through the text carefully: what it means that Jesus is in the form of God, why equality with God was not something He had to grasp, and how “emptied Himself” reveals not a loss of deity but a laying aside of certain rights and honors. We explore the incarnation with clarity—God becoming man without ceasing to be God—and why this matters for everyday life. The result is a blueprint for communities that want real peace: take on the mind of Christ, renew your thinking in the Word, and let the Spirit turn status into service. From church conflict to family tension to workplace ambition, we bring this passage to the ground with practical steps. Humility is not weakness; it is courageous love in action. It looks like listening more than winning, serving more than showing, and being part of the solution instead of the noise. The promise at the end of the hymn is hope-filled: the path of obedience leads to joy and honor, and every knee will bow at the name of Jesus. If you’re hungry for a faith that changes posture, not just opinions, this conversation will give you both clarity and courage. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find it. Your voice helps spread truth and build a community marked by humility and joy.

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

This is the podcast of Firm Foundations ministries.   Our mission is to help you build your life on the unshakable foundation of God's Word, rooted in Scripture and anchored in the grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Each episode is designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding, and encourage you to stand firm in a shifting world. 

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Timothy Mann
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Foundations of Truth
  • Show Website
    Foundations of Truth