Criteria for evaluating a ministry
How do you know when a ministry is working? Numbers do not always reflect an accurate picture. These questions will help.
April 2025 Reflections
April 2025 Reflections Book Sneak Peak After years of writing, revising, and praying, I’m thrilled to tell you that my book Start Strong: A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Christianity is nearly ready. You can get a sneak peak on my website-in-progress. I am about...
How do I know I’m saved?
How do I know I am saved? How do I know that I won’t walk away from God one day? Here are a few passages that will answer that question.
What is Good Friday?
Since churches moved online in 2020, I took advantage of the opportunity to “attend” about 10 different Good Friday services. This was my favorite. Why was it my favorite? Because this service concentrated on telling the story of Good Friday.
Why the Resurrection is Important
On Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It matters whether something is real or not. It also matters whether an idea is true or not. The historical fact is Jesus rose from the dead, and it makes a difference that he did.
24 Why Believe? Themes from the Gospel of John’s Final Chapters
n this episode of the Wednesday in the Word, we summarize the themes of the Gospel of John as we learned in this series. We focus on John 20:30-31 as a lens to understand John’s purpose and the transformative power of belief.
In this week’s episode, we explore:
The significance of Jesus’ miraculous signs and their role in proving his identity as the Messiah.
The critical role of the apostles as eyewitnesses who pass down Jesus’ teachings through written testimony.
The theme of belief versus unbelief and why it’s central to John’s message.
Jesus as the Christ—prophet, priest, and king—and what that means for salvation.
The promise of eternal life and how faith in Jesus offers forgiveness, freedom from sin, and victory over death.
By listening, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of John’s purpose in writing his Gospel and how its themes of signs, testimony, and belief apply to your life today. Krisan Marotta breaks down complex ideas into an accessible overview, showing you how to connect the dots between Jesus’ actions and the hope of salvation. Whether you’re new to the Bible or a seasoned reader, this episode offers practical insights into why faith matters and how John’s words continue to resonate 2,000 years later.
Easter: Why have you forsaken me? Mark 15:22-41
After Jesus was captured in the Garden of Gethsemane, the soldiers led him to the high priest. Mark is very careful to point out that these two situations — the trial before the Sanhedrin and the denial of Peter — occur side by side. The contrast between these two situations gives us an illustration which is the answer to the question Jesus asks on the cross.
23 The Upper Room Discourse: Jesus’ Final Teaching (John 13-17)
In this episode of the Wednesday in the Word podcast, we tackle the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17) where Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure. Jesus addresses both the unique role of his apostles and the universal call for all his followers to live faithfully in his absence.
In this week’s episode, we explore:
Jesus’ Departure and Return: Jesus announces his leaving but reassures his disciples of his eventual return, offering hope through the promise of his second coming.
Commissioning of the Apostles: Jesus explains to his apostles their mission and the challenges they will face.
The Role of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promises he will not leave them alone. He will send the “Spirit of Truth” to eguip and guide them in their ministry.
Ethical Teachings for Believers: Jesus gives a new commandment to love one another, modeled after his own sacrificial love and service.
Perseverance in Faith: Jesus explains the importance of persevering in faith while he’s gone.
Assurance of God’s Protection: Jesus’ prays for his disciples and all future believers, promising that they will be preserved and protected by God.
By listening, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the Upper Room Discourse’s historical context and its profound implications for Christian life today. You’ll understand what applies uniquely to the apostles and what extends to all followers of Jesus. You’ll also discover practical insights into living out Jesus’ teachings on love, perseverance, and faith in a world where he is no longer physically present. This episode not only enriches your knowledge of the Gospel of John but also offers encouragement through the assurance that, though Jesus has left, his Spirit remains with us, and he will one day return.
I’m a new believer, now what?
I’m a new believer. Where do I start? Here’s one suggested path to start learning from Wednesday in the Word.
March 2025 Reflections
Thank you for casting your votes to decide our next study topic! The results are in: Ephesians emerged as the clear favorite with 48% of the vote.
22 Mary Anoints Jesus and the Triumphal Entry Explained (John 12)
In this episode of the Wednesday in the Word podcast, we study the narratives of Mary anointing Jesus and his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. These events underscore Jesus’ identity and mission while contrasting the responses of belief and unbelief, culminating in his voluntary path to the cross.
In this week’s episode, we explore:
Mary’s anointing of Jesus: Her act of devotion with costly perfume signifies loyalty and foreshadows Jesus’ burial.
Judas’ contrasting reactionl: His objection to Mary’s act reveals his self-interest and sets the stage for his treachery.
The triumphal entry: Jesus enters Jerusalem as a peaceful king on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy and accepting the crowd’s acclaim.
The dynamics of belief and unbelief: Mary’s faith starkly contrasts with Judas and the Pharisees’ rejection, highlighting the complexity of genuine faith.
Jesus’ acceptance of his destiny: He acknowledges his imminent death as necessary for salvation, affirmed by a voice from heaven.
The end of public ministry: Jesus summarizes his mission as bringing light and eternal life, urging belief before his withdrawal from public view.
Listening to this episode offers a compelling look at how John chapter 12 weaves together key themes of faith, sacrifice, and divine purpose. You’ll gain insight into the significance of Jesus’ action
Is Jesus coming back?
Yes, Jesus is coming back! Yes, he warned his disciples his return would not be soon. All the New Testament writes claim the return of Christ is integral to our Christian hope. Here are some passages to studyAbout the Author
Krisan Marotta is a Bible teacher and host of Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know.