Series Review: Christianity Explored (Herod)

If you are reading this review on the Sabbath, then I would like to wish you a Sabbath filled with the Holy Spirit.

This week’s review is for the series, Christianity Explored.  Episode: Herod

Description

Christianity Explored is a ten-week course that introduces people to Christianity using the Gospel of Mark as its basis. Written by Rico Tice and Barry Cooper and originally run as a course at All Souls Church, Langham Place in London -- where it is still in use -- this widely-used course aims to introduce people to Jesus as they read the gospel of Mark -- who he is, why he came and what it means to follow him.

This episode has key subjects such as our conscience, repentance and loyalty.  Rico rightly points out that our eternal destiny depends on who we choose to stand with.

Rico uses Mark chapter 6, which describes the relationship between King Herod and John the Baptist, to effectively explain our relationship with Jesus Christ.  In this same chapter, Rico delves deep into the choice Herod makes which leads to John the Baptist’s tragic death, and uses this to draw a parallel between Jesus’ death at the hands of Pontius Pilate.

Rico references Luke 23, to make some excellent observations about Herod’s and Pontius Pilate’s lost opportunities to choose wisely. 

At the centre of it all, Rico draws on Herod’s choice to appeal to the crowd, just like Pontius Pilate did and talks about how their approval of man was more important than repentance, which results in rejection of God’s kingdom, through Jesus Christ.

Rico references Mark 10:29-30

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

This verse can also be found in Matthew 19:29

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 

Matthew 19:29 means a lot to me, because I had a major upheaval in my life, back in 2011, due to me choosing to follow the Lord instead of man.  I don’t regret it for one bit.  This verse has given me great comfort throughout the years.

Rico references a very important verse, which a lot of people will probably find hard, since we are so connected to our biological families.  The verse describes who Jesus considers His real family. 

Mark 3:32-35 - And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Rico does a great job at focusing on scripture that tells us the importance of a repentant heart, what and who our culture is, and whose authority we should be loyal to.

I’m reminded of the verse from Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Herod, is another excellent episode from the Christianity Explored series.  I hope you will be as blessed as I was, when you listen to it.

Thank you for reading  this review.  Until next time, peace be with you.

–Deborah

https://watch.redeemtv.com/videos/christianity-explored-texted-ep9

True to the Word podcast link: https://www.renewedfaithmedia.com/podcast