Focused on Christ

Focused on Christ
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  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Focused on Christ is dedicated to exalting Christ and equipping the church. Hosted by Mike Crump and Dr. Nathan Smith, Focused on Christ looks at topics and issues facing the Christian church and filters them through the Word of God. As pastors, Mike and Nathan can help navigate theology, current events, and relational issues that crop up in and around the church in order that followers of Jesus are prepared for living the gospel life among the nations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning on all podcasting platforms as well as YouTube and X.

  1. 2D AGO

    Ep. 160: Jacob I loved. Esau I hated.

    Jacob I Loved, Esau I Hated: Understanding the Mystery of Romans 9In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith tackle one of the most debated and challenging chapters in all of Scripture: Romans 9. This passage often sparks fierce debate because it touches on the very character of God, His sovereignty, and the nature of human responsibility.The team explores the "fear and trembling" associated with these verses, providing a necessary theological foundation before diving into the text. They discuss:The Character of God: Why we must begin with the presupposition that God is perfectly good, just, and loving—even when His providence feels like a mystery.Paul’s Heart for Israel: Understanding the deep "unceasing anguish" Paul felt for his kinsmen who had been given every spiritual advantage yet rejected the Messiah.The "Hate" Idiom: Breaking down the linguistic context of "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" to understand it as a Hebraic idiom of divine preference and purpose rather than vociferous hatred.The Potter and the Clay: How God’s sovereignty in "forming vessels" intersects with human agency and the reality that while salvation is an act of divine grace, rejection of God remains a human responsibility.Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart: A discussion on whether God "coerces" evil or simply withdraws His restraining grace, allowing a heart to harden itself in its own natural rebellion.Join us as we navigate the complexities of God’s election and mercy, ultimately landing in the beautiful doxology of trust in His perfect will.

    28 min
  2. Ep. 159: From Groaning to Glory

    MAR 31

    Ep. 159: From Groaning to Glory

    From Groaning to Glory: Finding Hope in Romans 8 In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive deep into the second half of Romans 8—often called one of the most precious chapters in all of Scripture. Picking up from their discussion on our identity of "no condemnation," the team explores the dual reality of Christian life: the internal struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, and the external weight of suffering in a fallen world. They discuss how our willingness to endure with Christ actually proves our identity in Him and why the future glory awaiting us makes today's trials pale in comparison. In this episode, we cover: The Purpose of Suffering: Understanding why Christians "suffer with Him" and how endurance serves as the ultimate test of fidelity. The Groaning of Creation: Why the world feels "broken" and how technology is often an attempt to circumvent the effects of the Fall. The Spirit’s Intercession: The comfort of knowing the Holy Spirit is actively praying for us even when we don't know the words. The Golden Chain of Redemption: A look at the "inter-trinitarian shield" where the Father plans, the Son effects, and the Spirit finishes our salvation. Unstoppable Love: Why nothing in all of creation—not even death—can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus.Join us as we explore why, in all these things, we are more than conquerors.

    21 min
  3. Ep. 158: No More Condemnation

    MAR 24

    Ep. 158: No More Condemnation

    No More Condemnation (Romans 8:1–17)In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into the opening of Romans 8, a chapter often hailed as one of the most beautiful and life-giving in all of Scripture. After exploring the intense internal struggle with sin described in Romans 7, the duo discusses the glorious pivot Paul makes toward the believer's true identity and the riches found in Christ.Together, they unpack what it means to live without a verdict of guilt or shame. They explore the radical shift from being a slave to the flesh to becoming a child of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in freedom. From the "omnipotent voice of God" that declares us valuable to the incredible promise of being joint heirs with Christ, this conversation is an invitation to stop living by old masters and start "tattooing" the truth of the Gospel onto your soul.Key highlights include:The Baseline of Grace: Understanding why there is "now no condemnation" for those in Christ.Flesh vs. Spirit: How to set your mind on the things of the Spirit and the discipline of daily intentionality.The Spirit of Adoption: What it means to cry out "Abba, Father" and lean into our divine access to God.Our Eternal Inheritance: A look at the benefits of being united with the "firstborn Son".

    24 min
  4. Ep. 157: The Battle Within

    MAR 17

    Ep. 157: The Battle Within

    Ep 157 - The War Within: Navigating Romans 7 In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into the complex and deeply relatable landscape of Romans 7. They explore the "now, but not yet" reality of the Christian walk, where spiritual freedom meets the ongoing internal struggle against sin. The discussion breaks down Paul’s powerful imagery of being released from a "marriage" to sin and death to be united with Jesus Christ under a new covenant. Together, they tackle the "war within"—the frustrating experience of wanting to do good but finding sinful desires still lingering in the flesh. In this episode, you’ll discover: The Marital Imagery: How death to the law frees us to be wed to Christ. The Purpose of the Law: Why the law was given to point out sin rather than to save us. The Internal Conflict: A practical look at the warfare between our new identity in Christ and our indwelling sin. Ultimate Hope: Why Paul’s cry of "Wretched man that I am!" ends in a celebration of security in Jesus. Whether you are feeling weary from the fight or seeking a deeper understanding of God’s grace, join us as we find hope in the truth that Christ alone is our deliverer. Next Step: Ready to go deeper? Read through Romans 8 this week to prepare for our next episode as we bask in the security of God's goodness.

    21 min
  5. Ep. 156: A Biblical View of War

    MAR 10

    Ep. 156: A Biblical View of War

    Episode Description: A Biblical View of War In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith tackle the heavy and often controversial topic of war. Amidst rising global tensions, they step back from political commentary to establish a sturdy biblical framework for understanding conflict, government authority, and the Christian’s response to a world in turmoil. The Root of Conflict: Explore why war is a horizontal reality of human existence that mirrors the vertical state of rebellion between mankind and God. War as Justice: Discuss the "Just War" concept and how God uses governing authorities as servants to restrain evil and enforce justice, even using imperfect nations to accomplish His purposes. The Tension of Rejoicing and Grieving: Is it right to celebrate the fall of evil regimes? Pastor Nathan and Mike navigate the complex emotions of rejoicing when injustice is dealt with while simultaneously grieving the tragic loss of life. Waging War Rightly: A look at how the means of war matter to God as much as the ends, referencing Old Testament laws that governed how warfare was to be conducted. Our Responsibility: Learn why Paul urges Christians to pray for those in high positions—not just for peace, but so the Church can freely exercise its mission to extol Christ. Matthew 24:6-8 (Wars and rumors of wars) Romans 13:3-4 (The authority of the sword) James 4:1-2 (The source of quarrels) 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (Praying for those in authority) Focused on Christ is a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church dedicated to exalting Christ and equipping the church. We invite you to join us as we seek to live out the Gospel in a broken world.

    22 min
  6. Ep. 155: Can I keep sinning because of grace?

    MAR 3

    Ep. 155: Can I keep sinning because of grace?

    Ep 155: Romans 6 - Can I Keep Sinning Because of Grace? In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into the profound truths of Romans 6. After exploring how we are saved by grace through faith rather than our own righteousness, they tackle a question that has persisted for centuries: If God’s grace abounds where sin increases, should we just keep sinning to give Him more glory?.Inside the Conversation:The Refutation of "Free Grace": The duo discusses the "free grace movement," clarifying that while grace covers all sin, it is never a license to continue in it.A Shift in Affection: Paul’s answer to "Should we continue in sin?" is a resounding "By no means!". Pastor Nathan explains that the mark of a believer is a reoriented heart that no longer wants to live in sin, even when the struggle remains.The Mastery of Sin vs. The Fatherhood of God: Using the imagery of being transferred from an abusive slave master to the household of a loving King, they explore why the process of sanctification takes time and faith.Slaves to Righteousness: Discover what it means to be "free in regards to righteousness" and how the fruit of the Spirit precedes and produces sanctification in the life of a believer.Wages vs. Gifts: A closing look at Romans 6:23—the reality that the only thing we can "earn" is death, while eternal life is a gift that must be received."For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 6:23 Connect With Us:Website: focusedonchrist.com Submit a Question: Have questions about Romans or the Christian walk? Reach out through our website! Next Week: Join us as we look at "The Battle Within"—the struggle to do what is right even when we desire to honor God.

    18 min
  7. Ep. 154: While we were sinners...

    FEB 24

    Ep. 154: While we were sinners...

    Ep. 154 - While we were still sinners… In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into Romans 5, a chapter that Mike credits with revolutionizing his understanding of the Gospel. They explore the profound shift from a legalistic, performance-based faith to a life grounded in the unassailable security of Christ’s work.Key Discussion Points:Peace and Access: Discover how justification provides both judicial peace (legal standing before God) and relational peace, granting us bold access to the Father.Purpose in Suffering: Why does Paul link salvation to suffering? The duo discusses how our security in Christ allows us to rejoice in trials, knowing God is using them to produce endurance, character, and hope.The Two Adams: Nathan breaks down the "linguistic density" of Paul’s comparison between Adam and Christ. If one man’s sin could bring death to all, how much more can the infinite Son of God bring eternal life?.God’s Initiating Love: A powerful reminder that God is moved by His love for us, not our love for Him. He went to the cross while we were still "scoundrels" and enemies in active rebellion."Salvation that is bound up in our nature sounds like you, you, you... Salvation that is bound up in the nature of Christ and God sounds like he, he, he." About Focused on ChristFocused on Christ is a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church, dedicated to exalting Christ and equipping the church.Connect with us:Watch past shows: focusedonchrist.com Submit questions: focusedonchrist.com Next Week: We tackle the big question from Romans 6: "Can we continue in sin so that grace may abound?".

    21 min
  8. Ep. 153: What does it mean to live by faith?

    FEB 17

    Ep. 153: What does it mean to live by faith?

    Ep 153 - What Does it Mean to “Live by Faith”? What is the relationship between faith, the law, and our standing before God? In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into Romans 4 to explore the "redemptive arc of history" and how the Old Testament substantiates our New Covenant realities.Using the life of Abraham as a foundational case study, we discuss why Paul points back to the patriarch to explain justification. We examine the crucial distinction between living by the law and living by faith, and how God’s grace is woven through both.In this episode, we discuss:The Progenitor of Faith: Why Abraham’s justification occurred before the law and circumcision were ever given.Justification Defined: Understanding our legal standing and identity as being "declared righteous" through faith.Law vs. Grace: Why the law is actually a gift of grace meant to point us away from ourselves and back to God.Lessons from Abraham’s Potholes: How to handle moments of wavering faith and the hope found in God’s steadfast promises.Our Greater Revelation: The comfort of knowing that the same God who worked through Abraham’s "shadow" revelation now works through the full revelation of Jesus Christ.Connect with Us:Visit our website: focusedonchrist.com to submit your questions for future episodes.Read Ahead: Next week, we’ll be diving into one of the most beloved chapters in the Bible: Romans 5.About Focused on Christ:A ministry of @HeritageBaptistChurch dedicated to exalting Christ and equipping the church.______0:00 – Introduction and the continuity of the Old and New Testaments.1:15 – Context: Justification by faith in Romans 3.3:00 – Abraham: The progenitor who entered relationship with God by faith.5:30 – Defining Faith: Believing what God has revealed.8:00 – Circumcision as a seal, not a source, of righteousness.10:45 – Living by Faith vs. Living by Law: Avoiding legalism and antinomianism.13:20 – How the Law acts as a gift of grace.15:15 – Reconciliation through faith vs. Justice through the law.17:40 – Handling moments of wavering faith and Abraham’s "potholes".20:10 – Closing: The comfort of our greater revelation in Christ.

    19 min
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5
out of 5
55 Ratings

About

Focused on Christ is dedicated to exalting Christ and equipping the church. Hosted by Mike Crump and Dr. Nathan Smith, Focused on Christ looks at topics and issues facing the Christian church and filters them through the Word of God. As pastors, Mike and Nathan can help navigate theology, current events, and relational issues that crop up in and around the church in order that followers of Jesus are prepared for living the gospel life among the nations. New episodes drop every Tuesday morning on all podcasting platforms as well as YouTube and X.

Information

  • Creator
    Focused on Christ
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    167
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Focused on Christ
  • Show Website
    Focused on Christ

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