Ready4Eternity Podcast

96: Was Rahab Really a Prostitute?

It has been claimed that Rahab wasn't really a prostitute, just an innkeeper. In this episode we trace that claim back to its source, look at what the Hebrew and Greek actually say, and ask why it matters that we get this right. Read: https://ready4eternity.com/was-rahab-really-a-prostitute/ [https://ready4eternity.com/was-rahab-really-a-prostitute/]   The presence of any advertisements in connection with this content is determined solely by the hosting platform. I have no control over whether ads appear or not. I appreciate your understanding.

95: Why So Many Churches?: How the Methodists Got Their Name – Part 14

Nobody names their own movement after an insult — but that's exactly what happened with the Methodists. In this episode, we trace the surprising origin of one of America's largest denominations, starting with two brothers at Oxford who couldn't stand how cold and formal the Church of England had become. We follow John and Charles Wesley from their disciplined little Bible study group — mockingly called the "Holy Club" — through a heart-changing night on Aldersgate Street in 1738, and all the way to the American frontier, where circuit riders on horseback carried the gospel to settlers who had never seen the inside of a church building. It's a story about people who took their faith seriously enough to be systematic about it, and how that seriousness sparked a revival that spread across two continents. Read: https://ready4eternity.com/why-so-many-churches-how-the-methodists-got-their-name-part-14/ [https://ready4eternity.com/why-so-many-churches-how-the-methodists-got-their-name-part-14/]   The presence of any advertisements in connection with this content is determined solely by the hosting platform. I have no control over whether ads appear or not. I appreciate your understanding.

94: What Really Makes Someone a Heretic?

The word "heretic" gets thrown around a lot in Christian circles. But what does the New Testament actually say makes someone a heretic? The answer is shorter, and more surprising, than you might think. Read: https://ready4eternity.com/what-really-makes-someone-a-heretic/ [https://ready4eternity.com/what-really-makes-someone-a-heretic/]   The presence of any advertisements in connection with this content is determined solely by the hosting platform. I have no control over whether ads appear or not. I appreciate your understanding.

93: Are We Born Sinful or Do We Become Sinful? What 'By Nature' Really Means in Ephesians 2:3

What does it mean to be "by nature children of wrath" in Ephesians 2:3? Most readers assume Paul is confirming the doctrine of inherited sinful nature — that we are born corrupt, guilty before we ever make a choice. But a closer look at the Greek, the immediate context, and the witness of early church history tells a different story. In this episode we examine what Paul actually meant, why it matters for how we understand sin and grace, and why this reading disappeared from the church after Augustine reshaped Western Christianity in the 5th century. Read: https://ready4eternity.com/are-we-born-sinful-or-do-we-become-sinful-what-by-nature-really-means-in-ephesians-23/ The presence of any advertisements in connection with this content is determined solely by the hosting platform. I have no control over whether ads appear or not. I appreciate your understanding.

92: Is Your Church Too Big?

How big is too big for a church? Anthropologist Robin Dunbar suggests we can only truly know about 150 people. Beyond that, relationships shift from personal to organizational. In this episode, we explore what happens when churches push past this “barrier,” the cost it places on pastors and congregations, and whether growth in numbers always reflects growth in love, care, and community. We also consider a different vision: multiple small churches instead of one large one, preserving intimacy and true shepherding. Read: https://ready4eternity.com/is-your-church-too-big/ [https://ready4eternity.com/is-your-church-too-big/] The presence of any advertisements in connection with this content is determined solely by the hosting platform. I have no control over whether ads appear or not. I appreciate your understanding.