Pondering the Bible

Ponder GMC
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A deeper dive into the bible. Hosts Rev. Rocky Ellison and Ken Corkins work through the books of the bible, uncovering historical background and word studies to deepen their understanding of God's Word. Weekly episodes. Find more information at www.pondergmc.org.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Understanding Sin: From Adam to Christ Romans 5:12–21

    Send us Fan Mail Romans 5:12–21 — Adam, Sin, Death, and the Greater Gift of Grace in Christ Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue Season 18’s study of Romans by finishing chapter 5 (verses 12–21, RSV), focusing on Paul’s “big picture” comparison of Adam and Jesus. They discuss how sin entered through one man and death spread to all, using this passage to explore original sin versus total depravity and how sin existed before Moses’ law even though the law later made trespass clearer. They explain Paul’s argument that death reigning from Adam to Moses implies sin was present, and they note Adam as a “type” of Christ in several ways while emphasizing Christ is not equal to Adam because Jesus’ act of righteousness and grace is “much more,” bringing justification and eternal life. They also address how “where sin increased grace abounded” can be misused as an excuse to sin, and preview Romans 6:1–14 for next week.  00:00 Welcome and Setup  00:26 Reading Romans 5  02:17 Why All Sin 03:06 Original Sin Debate  05:44 Sin Before the Law  08:48 Adam as a Type  11:52 Much More Grace  14:37 Not Equal Opposites  16:29 Law and Abounding Grace  18:19 Wrap Up and Next Week NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.pondergmc.org.  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock

    21 min

  2. 19 APR

    The Benefits of Salvation Romans 5:1–11

    Send us Fan Mail Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 5:1–11 (RSV) as a shift from how salvation happens to the benefits of being saved. They emphasize Paul’s capitalized “THEREFORE,” arguing that sin makes people enemies at war with God, and justification by faith is a completed act that brings “peace” as a military cessation of hostilities, supporting their view of once-saved-always-saved against Methodist/Arminian theology. They explain “access” to grace using the Greek prosagoge (royal introduction or safe-harbor entry). They unpack Paul’s logical chain: suffering produces endurance, character/sanctification, hope tied to resurrection, and culminates in God’s love poured out through the Holy Spirit. They discuss “at the right time” both theologically planned and historically optimal, and highlight God’s love shown in Christ dying for sinners/enemies, Jesus’ blood as the final sacrifice, and rejoicing in reconciliation that removes sin’s barrier with God. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.pondergmc.org.  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock

    26 min

  3. 12 APR

    A Legacy of Faith: Abraham’s Promise Romans 4:13–25

    Send us Fan Mail Romans 4:13–25: Abraham’s Faith, God’s Promise, and Resurrection Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue Season 18, Episode 10 of “Pondering the Bible,” finishing Romans 4:13–25 (RSV) on salvation by grace through faith using Abraham as Paul’s key example. They explain that God’s promise to Abraham came long before the law, so it could not be earned by law-keeping; they contrast conditional promises with God’s one-sided promise in Genesis to bless Abraham and make him a blessing to all nations, including Gentiles. They discuss Paul’s link between Abraham’s “against hope” belief—despite Abraham and Sarah being reproductively “dead” and the command to sacrifice Isaac—and faith in God who raises the dead. Rocky connects this to Christian belief in Jesus’ resurrection and to personal hardship strengthening faith, concluding that Jesus’ death and resurrection bring justification for sinners.  00:00 Welcome and Setup  00:44 Reading Romans Passage  02:41 Abraham Faith Recap  03:47 Promise Not Law  04:23 Grace Promise Explained  06:47 Who Inherits the World  09:49 Faith and Resurrection  14:53 Hardship Strengthens Faith  18:27 Reckoned as Righteousness  21:09 Chapter Four Wrap Up  22:47 Closing and Farewell NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.pondergmc.org.  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock

    24 min

  4. 5 APR

    Faith vs. Works: The Abraham Debate Romans 4:1–12

    Send us Fan Mail Romans 4:1–12—Abraham, David, and Salvation by Faith Apart from Works  Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue their Romans study (Season 18, Episode 9) by beginning Romans 4:1–12 in the RSV, where Paul answers objections to justification by faith by using Abraham and David as biblical proof. They explain that Genesis says Abraham “believed God” and righteousness was “reckoned” to him, meaning salvation is a gift of grace rather than earned wages, and Psalm 32 shows this reckoning involves sins not being counted against a person. Paul also argues the blessing applies to uncircumcised as well as circumcised because Abraham was counted righteous before circumcision, which later served as a sign or seal. Abraham’s faith preceded his works, and this supports welcoming Gentile believers and promoting unity in the Roman church.  00:00 Welcome and Setup  00:17 Romans Four Reading  02:28 Faith Not Works  03:34 Why Abraham Matters  05:58 Credited Righteousness  09:27 Gift Not Wages  11:35 David on Forgiveness  14:52 Circumcision and Gentiles  18:51 Faith Produces Works  21:44 Unity and Closing NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.pondergmc.org.  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock

    24 min

  5. 29 MAR

    The Core of Christian Theology. Romans 8:21-31

    Send us Fan Mail Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 3:21–31 (RSV) as Paul’s conclusion that everyone—Jew and Gentile—sins and cannot save themselves by obeying the law. They explain key terms Paul uses: saving faith in Jesus as the perfect God-man and sacrifice, justification as being declared not guilty and made sinless by God’s response to faith, grace as an undeserved gift, redemption as being bought back from slavery to sin, and expiation as Jesus’ suffering and death that makes amends for sin. They highlight God’s divine forbearance in delaying deserved punishment to give people time to believe, exclude boasting based on works, affirm one God who saves all through faith, and note Paul will next show in Romans 4 how Abraham was saved by faith. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.pondergmc.org.  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock

    29 min

  6. 22 MAR

    Paul's Universal Condemnation: Understanding Sin's Grip. Romans 3:9-20

    Send us Fan Mail Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 3:9–20 (RSV) in Season 18, episode seven. Rocky reviews Paul’s argument from Romans 2–3 that being a Jew is about obedience, not DNA, though Jews have the privilege of specific revelation in Scripture. They explain Paul’s claim that both Jews and Greeks are “under the power of sin,” likening it to a soldier or slave under authority. Rocky describes Paul’s “string of pearls” compilation from Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Isaiah (quoted from the Greek Septuagint) as a grouped list of sins against God, sins of speech, and sins against others, concluding with “no fear of God.” Verses 19–20 emphasize that the law holds everyone accountable and cannot justify; it reveals sin and leaves all condemned, setting up the “but” in verse 21 next week. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.pondergmc.org.  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock

    24 min

  7. 8 MAR

    The Essence of Being God's Chosen. Romans 3:1–8

    Send us Fan Mail Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue their Romans study switching from the NLT to the Revised Standard Version for its academic clarity. Covering Romans 3:1–8, they connect Paul’s argument from chapter 2 about who is truly a Jew—those who do God’s will—and ask what advantage being Jewish has. Paul’s main answer is that Jews were entrusted with the “oracles of God,” meaning God’s written words (debated as the whole Old Testament versus the Ten Commandments), and the hosts note “entrusted” implies responsibility to share it. They discuss how God’s fairness implies judgment applies to Jews and Gentiles alike, meaning some Jews may not be saved and some Gentiles may be. They then explain Paul’s attack on the heresy of antinomianism: the claim that doing more evil makes God look more forgiving, which Paul rejects.  Ken notes a one-week break before the next episode. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.pondergmc.org.  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock

    22 min

  8. 1 MAR

    The True Essence of Being a Jew. Romans 2:17-29

    Send us Fan Mail Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison resume Season 18,  noting upcoming travel breaks, and finish Romans chapter 2 by reading verses 17–29 from the Revised Standard Version to capture Paul’s deliberate word choices. They discuss Paul’s harsh critique of Jewish Christians who rely on the law and circumcision as marks of superiority while failing their responsibility to teach Gentiles, citing Isaiah 42 and 52 to show Israel was meant to be a light to the nations and that God’s name is blasphemed when they fail. They explain Paul’s diatribe against hypocrisy and his argument that outward circumcision is meaningless without obedience, using a wedding ring analogy, and conclude that true Jewishness and “circumcision” are inward matters of the heart, ending with Paul’s pun linking “praise” to Judah/Jew. Next episode covers Romans 3:1–8. NEW!: Rate us at Podchaser   Find us at www.pondergmc.org.  Feedback is welcome: PonderMethodist@gmail.com  Music performed by the Ponder GMC worship team. Cover Art: Joe Wagner Recorded, edited and mixed by Snikrock

    27 min
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A deeper dive into the bible. Hosts Rev. Rocky Ellison and Ken Corkins work through the books of the bible, uncovering historical background and word studies to deepen their understanding of God's Word. Weekly episodes. Find more information at www.pondergmc.org.

Information

  • Creator
    Ponder GMC
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    228
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pondering the Bible
  • Show Website
    Pondering the Bible

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