Pondering the Bible
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.
Episodes
247 episodes
A Call for Harmony in Faith Romans 14:1–12
Co-hosts Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue their Romans study in season 18, episode 31, covering Romans 14:1–12 (RSV). They explain Paul’s instruction to welcome the “weak in faith” (seen as legalists adding rules to the gospel) wit...
Owing Love: Paul's Guidance on Christian Behavior Romans 13:8–14
Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue “Pondering the Bible” (Season 18, Episode 30) by finishing Romans 13:8–14 (RSV), emphasizing that Christians should avoid debt except the ongoing “debt” of loving others, since loving a neighbor ful...
Christians, Government, and Paying Taxes Romans 13:1–7
Romans 13:1–7: Christians, Government, and Paying Taxes Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison host season 18, episode 29 of Pondering the Bible, continuing their verse-by-verse study of Romans with Romans 13:1–7 (RSV) on submitting to governing ...
"Embracing Zeal and Harmony" Romans 12:9–21
Romans 12:9–21 Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison host Season 18, Episode 28 of Pondering the Bible, moving into Romans 12:9–21 (RSV). They frame Romans 1–11 as explaining salvation and chapter 12 as answering “now what,” describing what a sa...
Living Sacrifice Romans 12:1–8
Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 12:1–8 (RSV), marking Paul’s shift from salvation debates in chapters 7–11 to practical sanctification—how saved believers should live daily. They explain presenting one’s body as a “living sa...
The Mystery of Salvation Romans 11:22–36
Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison return for Season 18, Episode 26 of “Pondering the Bible,” finishing Romans 11:22–36. They discuss God’s kindness and severity, including debate over whether believers can lose salvation, with Rocky ar...
Grafted In, Stay Humble. Romans 11:11–21
Important Note: Next Episode will be Sept. 27thKen Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison mark five years of “Pondering the Bible” (240 episodes heard in 112 countries and 795 cities) before continuing their Romans study in season 18, e...
Has God Rejected Israel? The Remnant Chosen by Grace Romans 11:1–10
Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison record Season 18, Episode 24 of Pondering the Bible from a home studio during a heat wave and begin Romans 11:1–10 (RSV). They discuss Paul’s argument that God has not rejected Israel, pointing to Paul’s own...
Paul's Complex Queries Simplified. Romans 10:14–21
Romans 10:14–21: Hearing, Preaching, and Israel’s Response Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue “Pondering the Bible” in Romans 10:14–21 (RSV), aiming to finish chapter 10. They unpack Paul’s chain of questions about calling, believing...
Zeal Without Knowledge and Salvation by Faith Romans 10:1–13
Romans 10:1–13 — Zeal Without Knowledge and Salvation by Faith Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 10:1–13 (RSV) in season 18, episode 22, focusing on Paul’s anguish that many Jews reject Christ despite serious religious zeal. T...
God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility Romans 9:14–33
Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue Romans in season 18, episode 21, finishing Romans 9:14–33 from the Revised Standard Version. They discuss Paul’s “therefore/what shall we say” style of arguing against a fictitious objector and expl...
"Paul's Anguish and the Promise of Salvation" Romans 9:1–13
Romans 9:1–13 (RSV). Paul’s Sorrow for Israel and God’s Election Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison open Season 18, Episode 20 of “Pondering the Bible,” noting Rocky’s recovery from recent throat surgery, then begin Romans 9:1–13 (RSV). They ...
The Unbreakable Bond: God's Love in Romans 8:31–39
Romans 8:31–39: Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue Season 18 of Pondering the Bible by finishing Romans 8:31–39 (RSV). They explain Paul’s “therefore” conclusion to the prior discussion of sin’...
The Cosmic Groan: Understanding Creation's Despair. Romans 8:18-30
Romans 8:18–30: Suffering, Creation’s Groaning, the Spirit’s Help, and Predestination Ken Corkins and pastor Rock Ellison record season 18, episode 18 of Pondering the Bible after Vacation Bible School and continue their study of Romans, readin...
The Spirit Within: A Guide to Assurance. Romans 8:1–17
Romans 8:1–17: No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and Adoption as God’s Children Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 8:1–17 (RSV) on “Pondering the Bible,” focusing on Paul’s shift from despair in Romans 7 to assurance that th...
The Battle Within: Paul's Letter to the Romans Romans 7:7–25
Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison continue “Pondering the Bible” (Season 18, Episode 16) by finishing Romans 7:7–25 from the Revised Standard Version. They discuss Paul’s teaching that the law is holy and reveals sin—especially the internal ...
Beyond Rules: Life in the Spirit Romans 7:1–6
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–...
Slaves to Sin or Slaves to Righteousness Romans 6:15–23
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 m...
Baptism and the Journey of Faith Romans 6:1–14
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 b...
Understanding Sin: From Adam to Christ Romans 5:12–21
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...
The Benefits of Salvation Romans 5:1–11
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 jus...
A Legacy of Faith: Abraham’s Promise Romans 4:13–25
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 P...
Faith vs. Works: The Abraham Debate Romans 4:1–12
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 justi...
The Core of Christian Theology. Romans 8:21-31
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-...
Paul's Universal Condemnation: Understanding Sin's Grip. Romans 3:9-20
Ken Corkins and pastor Rocky Ellison discuss Romans 3:9–20 (RSV) in Season 18, episode seven. Rocky reviews Paul’s argument from Romans 2–3 that being a Jew is about obedience, not DNA, though Jews have the privilege of specific revelation in S...