Keeping it in Context

What happens when studying the Bible changes what you believe—but your church isn't ready for the questions you're asking? Can you question your church's teachings without questioning your faith in Jesus Christ? In this episode of Keeping It in Context, Robert Morris explores the challenges that sometimes accompany serious Bible study, including changes in our understanding of Scripture, disagreements with church traditions, and the personal cost of asking difficult questions. Drawing from his personal experiences and the influence of biblical scholar Dr. Michael S. Heiser, Robert discusses why Christians should move beyond simply repeating WHAT they believe and WHY they believe it to examining HOW they arrived at those conclusions. But gaining biblical knowledge brings another challenge: How do we grow in understanding without becoming arrogant, damaging relationships, or abandoning the importance of Christian community? In this episode, we explore: Why deeper Bible study can challenge what you've always been taught What happens when church leaders discourage difficult biblical questions The difference between being right and being righteous How biblical knowledge should transform our character and relationships Why Christians still need community, accountability, and spiritual maturity The influence of Dr. Michael S. Heiser on Robert's approach to biblical interpretation How to begin investigating Jesus' words, "On this rock I will build my church," in Matthew 16:18 SPECIAL BIBLE STUDY: WHAT IS THE ROCK IN MATTHEW 16:18? Near the end of the episode, Robert begins examining the Greek word petra (rock) and how Matthew uses it elsewhere in his Gospel. Rather than simply accepting an interpretation because it's familiar, we're challenged to investigate the biblical evidence. The investigation continues in a future episode. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Have you ever discovered something in Scripture that challenged what you were taught in church? How did you respond, and how did the people around you react? Follow Keeping It in Context for conversations that encourage you to examine Scripture in its literary, historical, cultural, and religious contexts. WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB-iK6kMOeE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://keepingitincontext.com Keeping It in Context — Filtering Your Life Through the Bible.

Why can two sincere Christians read the same Bible and come away with completely different interpretations? In this episode of Keeping it in Context, Robert Morris explores one of the most important questions in Bible study: If Scripture is meant to be understood, why is interpretation sometimes so difficult? We look at the clarity of Scripture, why serious Bible study requires more than simply reading a verse, and why context, history, culture, grammar, and careful reasoning matter. We also examine the difference between knowing what you believe, knowing why you believe it, and being able to explain how you actually came to that conclusion. Then we put those ideas to the test with Matthew 16:18: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” What does Jesus mean by “this rock”? Rather than simply giving you an answer, this episode challenges you to investigate the passage for yourself, compare different interpretations, and examine whether your current belief came from careful study—or simply from what you have always heard. If you want to move beyond surface-level Bible reading and learn how to think more carefully about Scripture, this episode is for you. Chapters00:00 Welcome to Keeping it in Context 02:40 Why Bible Study Is Hard 04:44 Can the Bible Really Be Understood? 05:58 If Scripture Is Clear, Why Interpret It? 08:24 The Problem With “Ice Cream Sermons” 11:36 Why Christians and Scholars Disagree 11:58 The Bible Was Written for Us, Not to Us 13:02 The Basic Message Is Clear 14:24 Letting the Bible Interpret the Bible 16:24 How Inspiration Actually Works 18:04 The Freedom to Read the Bible for Yourself 18:48 The Danger of Bad Interpretation 21:36 Why Interpretation Is Necessary 23:00 What Serious Bible Study Requires 25:00 Application Comes After Interpretation 25:48 Matthew 16:18: The Challenge 26:08 What Does “This Rock” Mean? 27:36 What Do You Believe—and Why? 29:24 WHAT, WHY, and HOW 30:12 Turn Your Brain On 30:44 Support the Show 34:24 Final Challenge Your ChallengeRead Matthew 16:13–20 and ask yourself: What do I believe “this rock” means? Why do I believe it? And how did I come to that conclusion? Watch the video version on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple: https://www.youtube.com/live/3ITtYGcDepw?si=H8YlznJqNLYzfggS Support Keeping it in Context and join the Context Crew: https://keepingitincontext.com/promo/CCPROMO18 Keeping it in Context Filtering Your Life Through the Bible.

WHEN GOD HAS HAD ENOUGH What does the Bible mean by “sin that leads to death”? Can we take God’s patience and grace for granted because we assume there will always be another chance to repent? In this episode of Keeping it in Context, Robert examines a sobering distinction: there is a difference between struggling with sin and knowingly testing God. Beginning with Israel’s rebellion in Numbers 11, we look at what happens when ordinary dissatisfaction becomes rejection of God. From there, we examine the promise of forgiveness in 1 John 1:9, John’s difficult statement about “sin that leads to death” in 1 John 5:16–17, and the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. The central question is not whether believers ever struggle with sin—we do. The question is what happens when someone knowingly chooses what God has forbidden while assuming, “God forgave someone else, so He will forgive me too.” God’s patience should lead us toward repentance, not convince us that disobedience is safe. CHAPTERS 00:00 – When God Has Had Enough 02:33 – “But You Did It”: Taking God’s Mercy for Granted 07:46 – Why Biblical Context Matters 13:29 – Israel’s Complaining in the Wilderness 15:44 – Numbers 11: The Anger of the Lord 21:56 – Moses Reaches His Breaking Point 26:30 – God Provides the Quail 29:41 – When God’s Anger Leads to Judgment 32:58 – 1 John 1:9: Confession and Forgiveness 34:33 – What Is “Sin That Leads to Death”? 38:10 – Will You Always Have Time to Repent? 41:32 – Acts 4: Setting the Context 47:35 – Ananias and Sapphira 52:21 – Testing the Spirit of the Lord 57:58 – Struggling With Sin vs. Deliberate Rebellion 1:01:22 – Struggling With Sin vs. Struggling With the Holy Spirit 1:04:15 – Final Thoughts 1:05:07 – Supporting Keeping it in Context KEY SCRIPTURES Numbers 11 1 John 1:9 1 John 5:16–17 Acts 4:32–37 Acts 5:1–11 KEEPING IT IN CONTEXT Filtering Your Life Through the Bible Our goal is to help you keep the Bible in context and filter your life through the Bible. Visit: https://keepingitincontext.com If this episode helped you, follow the podcast, share it with someone, and leave a rating or review on your podcast platform.

The podcast episode begins with the host addressing technical difficulties that prevented the live broadcast. It then delves into a discussion about false doctrines, heresy, and the sincerity of preaching lies. The importance of context in understanding biblical passages is emphasized, along with a demonstration of biblical connectivity. The episode concludes with a reflection on feeling forsaken and the silence of heaven in times of distress. The conversation delves into the themes of endurance, perseverance, and faith in the face of challenges, followed by an exploration of the crucifixion and spiritual warfare. It then emphasizes the importance of understanding scripture in context, the significance of faith and action, and the need for unity and understanding within the community. KEEPING IT IN CONTEXT Filtering Your Life Through the Bible Our goal is to help you keep the Bible in context and filter your life through the Bible. Visit: https://keepingitincontext.com If this episode helped you, follow the podcast, share it with someone, and leave a rating or review on your podcast platform. Takeaways Importance of addressing false doctrines and heresy Understanding the significance of context in biblical interpretation Endurance and faith are essential in times of trial. Understanding scripture in context is crucial for accurate interpretation. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Channel Update 02:11 Did Jesus Suffer in Hell? Examining the Claim 05:36 Can a Sincere Preacher Be Wrong? 12:21 When Harmful Teaching Must Be Challenged 18:44 Why Bible Context Matters 20:05 Studying Scripture with Logos Bible Software 21:52 Matthew 27: Reading the Crucifixion Account 26:44 Psalm 22: “Why Have You Forsaken Me?” 29:35 When Heaven Seems Silent 32:06 Connecting Psalm 22 to the Cross 33:59 The Bulls of Bashan and Spiritual Warfare 36:39 Jesus’ Victory and the Underworld 38:08 Understanding the Bible’s Ancient Context 42:44 Taking Bible Study Seriously: The Football Illustration 46:32 Living Your Faith: Outreach, Church, and Leadership 50:51 Join the Context Crew and Support the Show 53:26 Staying Teachable and Discussing Scripture Respectfully 55:42 Final Encouragement and Closing

Keeping It in Context is finally live. After years of delays, loss, family challenges, and life getting in the way, host Robert Morris is back with a Bible show that stays on the text. The “IT” is the Bible. The goal is simple: help you filter your life through Scripture in its literary, historical, religious, and cultural context. This is not a politics show. It is not self-help. It is not entertainment. And it is not a homework dump. Robert introduces a deeper way of reading the Bible and gives you enough to keep going on your own. In this first live episode, he starts with a Kickstarter on Genesis 1:1. Should it read as an independent clause (“In the beginning God created…”) or a dependent clause (“When God began to create…”)? That grammar fight often centers on protecting creation-from-nothing. Using Hebrew, Logos Bible Software, Vine’s Dictionary, Genesis 2, and a question from the comments about the Septuagint, Robert argues you do not have to force the grammar to protect God’s sovereignty. Bara is richer than “made from nothing.” God formed man from the dust and still created him. Then the real question of the episode: what does it take to change your mind? Beliefs get embedded like DNA. Robert uses flat-earth experiments, a conversation with Dr. Michael Heiser about the communion cup, the camel-through-the-eye-of-a-needle myth, snake handling, and “I’m spiritual, not religious” language to show why evidence alone often is not enough. Honesty and humility are required. From there he opens the big picture: a graph of more than 63,000 biblical cross-references. The New Testament is a commentary on the Old. Scripture is a matrix of ideas, not a private interpretation. Reading 2 Peter 1:12–21, he lays down the only standard he will accept before changing his mind: WHAT do you want me to believe? WHY do you believe it? HOW did you reach that conclusion from the text? If you cannot show the literary, historical, and cultural context, plus the connections inside Scripture, he will not hand that teaching to his family. Scripture & tools in this episode Genesis 1:1–3 • Genesis 1:26–27 • Genesis 2:4–7 • 2 Peter 1:12–21 • Logos Bible Software (not a sponsor) • Logos Research Commentary • Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary • Lexham English Septuagint Timestamps 0:00 Welcome to Keeping It in Context 1:08 Why this live took eight years 5:15 The “IT” is the Bible 6:27 Literary, historical, religious, and cultural context 10:02 Kickstarter: Genesis 1 17:29 Does bara mean creation from nothing? 25:50 The Septuagint question 34:40 What does it take to change your mind? 47:34 When beliefs feel like DNA 51:23 63,000 cross-references 59:32 WHAT, WHY, and HOW 1:14:45 The only standard I’ll change my mind on 1:18:02 Merch and how to support the show 1:22:14 Fridays and Sundays at 7 PM CST 1:24:21 Filter your life through the Bible All links: https://linktr.ee/keepingitincontext Support the show: https://keepingitincontext.com