Scripture Matters Podcast

Jonathan Sanford & Cliff Thompson
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Scripture Matters is a Bible-focused podcast hosted by Jonathan Sanford and Cliff Thompson dedicated to exploring the truth, authority, and life-changing power of God’s Word. Each episode takes listeners deeper into Scripture, addressing honest questions about faith, doubt, and discipleship while demonstrating why the Bible remains the foundation for believing, living, and following Christ today.

  1. 2d ago

    Scripture Matters Podcast - S2E3 - Forgiveness Matters

    Forgiveness is one of the hardest commands God has ever given. It is easy to talk about forgiveness in theory. It becomes much more difficult when the hurt has a name, a face, and a memory attached to it. In this episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, Jonathan Sanford and Cliff Thompson explore what the Bible really teaches about forgiveness. Is forgiveness pretending the hurt never happened? Does forgiving someone mean trust is immediately restored? What do we do when someone never apologizes? And why does God command His people to forgive even when the wound still feels fresh? Together, we examine Scripture's answer to one of life's most personal struggles and discover that true forgiveness is not found by looking within ourselves—but by looking to the cross of Jesus Christ. In this episode: • Why forgiveness is so difficult when the hurt is personal • What forgiveness is—and what it is not • How bitterness quietly changes the heart • Why forgiven people must learn to forgive • What Ephesians 4:32 and Matthew 18 teach about God's mercy • How the cross becomes the Christian's greatest lesson in forgiveness • Finding healing without minimizing the pain Whether you are struggling to forgive someone, seeking reconciliation, or simply wanting to understand God's heart more deeply, we pray this conversation encourages you to trust His wisdom and extend the same grace that has been extended to each of us. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." — Ephesians 4:32 📺 Watch Scripture Matters on YouTube and Facebook 🎧 Listen on Buzzsprout, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. If this episode encourages you, please Like, Share, Subscribe, Follow, and leave us a comment. Those simple actions help these conversations reach more hearts, more homes, and more people searching for God's truth. Coming Next S2E4 — Unity Matters After discussing forgiveness, we'll examine why Christian unity is so precious, how Satan works to divide God's people, and what Scripture teaches about preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Support the show

  2. Jul 10

    Scripture Matters Podcast - Season 2 Episode 2 - Marriage Matters

    Marriage can feel fragile when the pressure piles up, but Scripture paints a clearer picture than most of what we hear from culture. We sit down to talk through God’s design for Christian marriage and why the Bible calls it a covenant, not a contract. That one word changes the way we approach commitment, love, and the hard seasons every couple eventually faces. We start by defining biblical marriage as a sacred, lifelong union established by God, rooted all the way back in the Garden of Eden. From there we explore what Christ-centered marriage looks like in real life: Jesus as Lord over the home, love that goes deeper than feelings, and a shared purpose that keeps husband and wife on the same team. We also connect practical daily choices to spiritual outcomes, because strong marriages are built over time through humility, patience, honesty, and faithful service. Then we get honest about the enemy’s playbook. Satan often attacks slowly through selfishness, pride, anger, poor communication, temptation, and spiritual neglect. We talk about warning signs that a marriage is drifting such as constant criticism, sarcasm, resentment, emotional distance, and refusing to seek help. Finally, we walk through protections God gives: seeking him first, praying together, keeping Scripture central, and applying Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 with Christlike love, mutual humility, and respect. If you want biblical marriage encouragement that’s practical and anchored in God’s Word, listen now, share it with someone you love, and subscribe. After you listen, what’s one choice you can make today that strengthens your marriage? Support the show

  3. Jul 3

    Scripture Matters Podcast - Season 2 Episode 1 - Freedom Matters

    Today's episode marks the beginning of Season 2 of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with co-hosts Jonathan Sanford & Cliff Thompson. Freedom is one of the most celebrated words in American life, but it can also be one of the most misunderstood. As our nation prepares for Independence Day, we use that moment of gratitude as a doorway into a deeper, Bible-centered conversation about Christian freedom and the hidden bondage that can live inside a “free” life. We talk honestly about how the world often defines freedom as self-rule, no limits, and total personal independence, and why that definition can quietly turn into a new kind of slavery. From John 8, we sit with Jesus’ blunt diagnosis: sin is not just a mistake or a bad habit, it is bondage. Pride, bitterness, lust, anger, fear, greed, and even the need for approval can take over a heart so slowly that we stop noticing the chains. Then we move to the good news. Jesus doesn’t expose slavery to shame us; he exposes it to free us, and his promise still stands: “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” We connect that hope to Romans 6, Colossians 1:13-14, Galatians 5:1, and 1 Peter 2:16 to show what real spiritual freedom looks like in daily choices, worship, and home life. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the Scripture Matters Podcast. Support the show

  4. Jun 5

    Scripture Matters Podcast - Episode 16 (Final Interview: Jack Wilkie)

    This is the 16th episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with hosts Cliff Thompson & Jonathan Sanford. In today's episode we conclude our review of the book published by Focus Press, and written by Jack Wilkie, "You Are Saved - A Christian's Assurance." As a way of tying a bow on this entire journey, in today's episode we welcome back author and evangelist, Jack Wilkie. Please like, share and make sure you've subscribed to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published alongside the Watters Road Church of Christ. Below is a synopsis of this week's episode: Saying “I know I’m saved” can feel impossible if you’ve spent years wondering whether God is pleased with you or just waiting to catch you on a technicality. We wanted to end our book review series with the author himself, so we brought Jack Wilkie back to talk about the heart of You Are Saved: not a smug confidence in ourselves, but a steady, Scripture-shaped assurance grounded in Jesus. We dig into why Christians get nervous when assurance and obedience are mentioned together, and why the gospel actually works the other way around: we obey from rest in Christ, not to finally earn rest. Along the way, we tackle the real-life pressure points that stir doubt, including baptism as the starting line, the danger of “scripture wars” that refuse the whole counsel of God, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as the source of inside-out transformation (not just “try harder”). We also talk through common fears that tender-hearted believers carry quietly: waiting for assurance to arrive as a sudden emotion, anxiety over partaking of the Lord’s Supper “unworthily,” and the haunting question, “What if I’m wrong?” Jack explains why Matthew 7 is often misapplied, what counterfeit assurance can look like, and how accepting God’s forgiveness changes the way we pray. We even shift gears into concerns about division in the church and what conversations may be next, plus where you can find Jack’s work and how to download the digital version of the book for free. If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs peace, and leave a review that helps others find the conversation. Support the show

    Scripture Matters Podcast - Episode 16 (Final Interview: Jack Wilkie)

  5. May 22

    Scripture Matters Podcast - Episode 15 (Chapter 13 "Standing On The Promises")

    This is the 15th episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with hosts Cliff Thompson & Jonathan Sanford. Currently we are reviewing the book published by Focus Press, and written by Jack Wilkie, "You Are Saved - A Christian's Assurance." Please like, share and make sure you've subscribed to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published alongside the Watters Road Church of Christ. Below is a synopsis of this week's episode: The warning sirens are blaring, the sky goes dark, and you spot a shelter that can save your life, but you pause at the door. That moment captures where many Christians live spiritually: we believe God’s promises exist, yet we struggle to believe those promises are truly for us. Jonathan Sanford and Cliff Thompson wrap up Chapter 13 of Jack Wilkie’s “You Are Saved: A Christian’s Assurance” with one clear aim: stop standing outside the promises of God and start standing on them. We dig into the “accuser” problem and why lingering doubt often sounds spiritual while quietly stealing peace. From Zechariah 3 to Revelation 12:10, we look at how Satan weaponizes old stains and how God answers with cleansing, justification, and clean garments in Christ. The goal is not hype or denial, but a steady assurance of salvation that trusts God’s Word more than shifting feelings. Then we get practical. We talk about Jesus’ easy yoke in Matthew 11:28–30 and how Christians can accidentally turn discipleship into an ever-growing checklist of self-justification. We walk through Romans to clarify the difference between sinful boasting and worshipful confidence, and we explain how assurance changes everyday life: receiving the meat of the word without panic, accepting forgiveness after confession through 1 John 1:9, praying with boldness from Hebrews 4:16, and facing eternity with hope instead of dread. If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I really know I’m saved?” this conversation is for you. Share this episode with a friend who needs peace, and don't forget to "like, share, and subscribe!" Support the show

  6. May 15

    Scripture Matters Podcast - Episode 14 (Chapter 12 "I Never Knew You")

    This is the 14th episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with hosts Cliff Thompson & Jonathan Sanford. Currently we are reviewing the book published by Focus Press, and written by Jack Wilkie, "You Are Saved - A Christian's Assurance." Please like, share and make sure you've subscribed to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published alongside the Watters Road Church of Christ. Below is a synopsis of this week's episode: A counterfeit can shine like treasure until someone who knows the real thing looks closely. We start with that kind of moment and use it to ask a hard spiritual question: what if the confidence we feel about our faith is not the same as biblical assurance? Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you,” are not meant to entertain us, they are meant to wake us up and drive us back to Scripture with humility. We walk through several “pitfalls” that can produce counterfeit assurance, including checkbox religion that focuses on visible actions while the heart stays untouched. Using passages like 2 Corinthians 13:5 and Matthew 23, we talk about why self-examination is not the enemy of assurance when it is rooted in God’s word. The Bible is meant to be a mirror, not a microscope we use to inspect everyone else. We also tackle hard-heartedness and “itching ears,” where someone resists correction even when the truth is clear. From there we move into worldliness and the slow drift that happens through tiny compromises and shifting priorities. Sanctification should make us more like Christ over time, but culture can quietly become the standard if we are not careful. Finally, we get very practical about love for the brethren, bitterness, and unresolved division, because how we treat other Christians reveals what is happening in the heart. If you want a clearer, calmer, more biblical view of Christian assurance, press play and let Scripture do its honest work. Like, Share and Subscribe, to help more people find the show! Support the show

  7. May 8

    Scripture Matters Podcast - Episode 13 (Chapter 11 "What If I'm Wrong?")

    This is the 13th episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with hosts Cliff Thompson & Jonathan Sanford. Currently we are reviewing the book published by Focus Press, and written by Jack Wilkie, "You Are Saved - A Christian's Assurance." Please like, share and make sure you've subscribed to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published alongside the Watters Road Church of Christ. Below is a synopsis of this week's episode: You can walk into faith with real confidence and still be haunted by one question: what if I’m wrong? That fear is not hypothetical. It shows up when you realize how many sincere people believe conflicting things about salvation, worship, and the will of God. We take that tension seriously and go straight to Scripture to find something sturdier than feelings: a God shaped view of Christian assurance. We talk through Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:21-23 and why sincerity alone cannot be the final test. Then we trace two powerful case studies from Acts 18 and Acts 19: Apollos receives a more accurate explanation, while the disciples in Ephesus need fuller teaching and baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus. Those stories help answer a question many Christians avoid saying out loud: where is the line between misunderstanding and being outside God’s will? From there, we wrestle with the sobering account of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10, and we compare it with Aaron’s situation to see how obedience, motive, and the heart factor into accountability. We also push back on the idea that God is like Zeus, waiting to throw a lightning bolt the moment we slip up. Scripture says God desires all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and is patient toward repentance (2 Peter 3:9), and that changes how we think about grace, spiritual growth, and responsibility. If you want biblical salvation assurance without pretending you never struggle, press play. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs steadier ground, and leave a review that tells us what part of the “what if I’m wrong” question you’re working through right now. Support the show

  8. May 1

    Scripture Matters Podcast - Episode 12 (Chapter 10 "Can I Fall?")

    This is the 12th episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with hosts Cliff Thompson & Jonathan Sanford. Currently we are reviewing the book published by Focus Press, and written by Jack Wilkie, "You Are Saved - A Christian's Assurance." Please like, share and make sure you've subscribed to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published alongside the Watters Road Church of Christ. Below is a synopsis of this week's episode: The most unsettling detour in the Christian life isn’t the one where you openly rebel. It’s the one where everything feels familiar, you ignore the warning signs, and only later realize you’ve drifted far off course. That’s the tension we tackle as we keep reviewing Jack Wilkie’s You Are Saved: A Christian’s Assurance and open Scripture around one of the most debated questions in Christianity: can a Christian fall away? We slow down and define what people actually mean when they say “once saved always saved” and how that differs from “perseverance of the saints.” Then we treat the strongest arguments fairly, including passages like John 10:28 and Ephesians 2:8–9, because real assurance has to be built on what the Bible actually says, not what we wish it said. From there, we lean into the warning passages many people try to soften, including Hebrews 12, Hebrews 6:4–6, and 2 Peter 2:20–21, and we ask the honest question: why would God warn believers about something that can’t happen? The turning point is learning to separate falling short from falling away. With 1 John 1:7–8, we talk about assurance that isn’t tied to flawless performance but to a faithful walk and a steady direction toward Christ. We also get practical about how people drift, using Hebrews 2:1 and Hebrews 3:12–13, and why staying in the Word, staying in prayer, and staying connected to other Christians is part of God’s protection. If you’ve ever wondered whether your struggles cancel your salvation, or whether the Bible’s warnings destroy confidence, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more weekly Bible study, share this with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a review to help more people find Scripture Matters. Support the show

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About

Scripture Matters is a Bible-focused podcast hosted by Jonathan Sanford and Cliff Thompson dedicated to exploring the truth, authority, and life-changing power of God’s Word. Each episode takes listeners deeper into Scripture, addressing honest questions about faith, doubt, and discipleship while demonstrating why the Bible remains the foundation for believing, living, and following Christ today.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Sanford & Cliff Thompson
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Scripture Matters Podcast
  • Show Website
    Scripture Matters Podcast