Pondering the Bible

Ponder GMC
  • 4.8 (6)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

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. May 25

    Beyond Rules: Life in the Spirit Romans 7:1–6

    Send us Fan Mail Romans 7:1–6 — Dead to the Law, Alive in the Spirit Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison host “Pondering the Bible” (Season 18, Episode 15), continuing their study of Romans by covering chapter 7:1–6 (RSV). They discuss Paul addressing the Jew–Gentile conflict in the Roman church: Jews emphasize strict adherence to the law while Gentiles claim the Spirit makes the law unnecessary. Using Paul’s marriage-and-death analogy, they explain that the law binds only while “alive,” and believers “die to the law” through Christ’s crucifixion so they can belong to the risen Christ and bear fruit for God. They note the law exposes sin and can even arouse sinful desire, while the Holy Spirit leads positively into good behavior without discarding Scripture. They also explore how the same action can be sin in one situation but not another, then announce a break next week and a return in two weeks to finish Romans 7.  00:00 Welcome and Setup  00:35 Romans Seven Reading  01:49 Jews and Gentiles Clash  03:16 Law Ends at Death  06:10 Marriage Law Example  08:23 Intent Versus Rules  10:24 Died With Christ  14:06 Law Sparks Temptation  15:34 New Life in Spirit  18:13 Situational Sin Example  20:14 Next Episode 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

    22 min

  2. May 17

    Slaves to Sin or Slaves to Righteousness Romans 6:15–23

    Send us Fan Mail Romans 6:15–23: Slaves to Sin or Slaves to Righteousness Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 6:15–23, continuing Paul’s argument about law versus grace and revisiting the rejection of antinomianism. They explain Paul’s slavery metaphor: people are born slaves to sin through original sin and cannot choose freedom on their own, but hearing and accepting Jesus’ teachings introduces the only real alternative—becoming slaves to righteousness/Christ. Rocky contrasts obedience of the heart and mind with the body’s actions, clarifies that “members” refers to the body, and emphasizes sanctification as a step-by-step lifelong process rather than instant perfection, warning against shame and discouragement. They highlight the two outcomes Paul presents: sin earns wages leading to spiritual death, while God offers the free gift of eternal life in Christ, noting that refusing to choose is still a choice.  00:00 Welcome and Catch Up  00:54 Recap and Passage Setup  02:34 Reading Romans 6  04:09 Grace Not License  04:58 Slaves to Sin or Christ  06:14 Teachings of Jesus Choice  09:13 Sanctification Takes Time  15:26 Sin Ends in Death  16:59 Gift of Eternal Life  21:17 Final Reflections and Outro 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

    23 min

  3. May 3

    Baptism and the Journey of Faith Romans 6:1–14

    Send us Fan Mail Romans 6: Dead to Sin, Alive to God Co-hosts Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Alison discuss Romans 6:1–14 (RSV), focusing on Paul’s rejection of antinomianism (“Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means”) and the teaching that believers have died to sin. They explain “baptized into Christ’s death” as the first-century conversion process where confession, repentance, baptism (likely immersion), and church acceptance occurred together, signifying regeneration (“born again”) and a new life. Dying with Christ means release from sin’s debt and slavery, while resurrection life begins at conversion, not only after physical death, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. They address whether Christians can live sin-free, noting Paul’s coming struggle in Romans 7, and introduce the Methodist doctrine of entire sanctification as moments of being “perfected in love” toward God and neighbor. They announce a one-week break due to Rocky’s trip and Ken’s move.  00:00 Welcome and Catch Up  00:31 Romans 6 Reading  02:22 Grace vs Sin Debate  04:06 Baptized Into Death  05:18 First Century Baptism  09:54 Regeneration Born Again  12:47 Freed From Sin 16:02 Resurrection Starts Now  18:04 Sin No Dominion  20:23 Entire Sanctification  24:58 Wrap Up and Next Time 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

  4. Apr 26

    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

  5. Apr 19

    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

  6. Apr 12

    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

  7. Apr 5

    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

  8. Mar 29

    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
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About

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
    231
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pondering the Bible
  • Show Website
    Pondering the Bible

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