Truthspresso

truthspresso

A Christian podcast addressing theology, politics, economics, and practical life tips as caffeine for your mind.

  1. MAY 18

    The Book of Mormon: Part 35 (3 Nephi chapters 1-10)

    This episode is part 35 in a series going through the story of the Book of Mormon. This episode covers chapters 1-10 of the book of 3 Nephi. The Nephites and Lamanites see the sign of Christ's birth in the sky. The Gadianton robbers threaten to take over the land and destroy all the people. The Nephites and Lamanites conglomerate into an area of Zarahemla for protection with plenty of supplies. The Gadianton robbers struggle with the now desolate lands but try to scare the people. The people fight back and drive the Gadiantons back and eventually get total victory. The Gadiantons who refuse to repent are executed. The ones that convert are released and find settlement. After some peace, a sect of people wanting a monarchy kill the new chief judge. The fallout causes the people to split the land into tribes. The monarchy supporters anoint a king and try to get dissenters from the tribes. Eventually, the sign of Christ's death ravages the land in darkness and natural disasters that kill many people and wreck cities. Toward the end of the three days of darkness a voice from heaven says he is Jesus Christ and explains the destruction but offers hope. The voice says some things we would recognize from the gospel accounts, but also borrows from New Testament epistles that would not have been written yet. Further research: Book of Mormon in video Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration The Book of Mormon online: 3 Nephi [chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10] Have questions for Truthspresso? Contact us!

    51 min
  2. MAY 4

    Sunday School lesson: Did Jesus die on a cross or a stake?

    Here is the Sunday School lesson I taught this Sunday. Jehovah's Witnesses argue that Jesus died on an upright stake with no crossbeam. His hands were nailed together above his head. This is because the Greek words stauros and xulon only mean one piece of timber. They're actually right about what those words literally mean. Does that mean Jesus didn't die on a cross? Let's look at some evidence from the Bible and historical works before Constantine that strongly suggest a cross beam. Sources Cited: "Did Jesus Die on a Cross?" JW.org. New Bible Dictionary, 3rd ed., s.v. "Cross, Crucifixion" (pp. 245-246). The Imperial Bible-Dictionary, vol. 1., s.v. "Cross." E. W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, Appendix 162 ("The Cross and Crucifixion"). William Wood Seymour, The Cross in Tradition, History, and Art (pp. 54,64,73,75). Frederick Zugibe, The Crucifixion of Jesus: A Forensic Inquiry, 2nd ed. (New York: M. Evans and Company, Inc., 2005), 104. "The Epistle of Barnabas," NewAdvent.org. "Dialogue with Trypho (Chapters 89-108)," NewAdvent.org. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities, Book VII. Artemidorus Daldianus, Oneirocritica 1:76. Lucian, Trial in the Court of Vowels, 12.4-13. "The Alexamenos Graffito," ChristianIconography.info. "The Staurogram," Biblical Archaeology Society, September 30, 2025. Patrick Young, "Early Christian Symbols: Staurogram," Forgotten Christianity on Substack, March 20, 2026. "The Cross - Is it Biblical?" JW.org. Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 27:37 John 20:24-25 John 21:18-19 John 19:31-33 Mark 15:44 1 Corinthians 1:18,23 We value your feedback! Have questions for Truthspresso? Contact us!

    55 min
4.6
out of 5
9 Ratings

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A Christian podcast addressing theology, politics, economics, and practical life tips as caffeine for your mind.