The revchristruelsen’s Podcast

The World, Lit Up

Featured text: John 1. 

The light of Christ shines in the dark world.  The world was made through Christ, yet, when He arrived in the fullness of time, the world did not know Him! 

Hymns: Away in a Manger, Silent Night.  (Public domain).  

The painting: Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622.  (Public domain). 

The Golden Thread: Messiah

This podcast is a celebration of Christmas, tracing the golden thread, the theme of Messiah through the Old Testament to the birth of Jesus in the proper fullness of time.  

This special service ends with prayers and song.  

Hymns: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, What Child is This, Gentle Mary Laid Her Child, Away in a Manger, Silent Night.  (All public domain).

The painting: Adoration of the Shepherds by Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1600s) Public domain.  

ALL scriptural passages come from the ESV translation of scripture.  

Help for the Downtrodden, Salvation for Those in Darkness and in the Shadow of Death

Text for discussion: More from Luke on the preparation for the birth of the Savior.  

Mary sings a song about how God fulfills His promises.  Zechariah prophesies regarding his son as the forerunner to the Savior, Jesus.  

The hymn: Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates.  (Public domain).

The painting: The Dream of Joseph by Rembrandt.  1645.  (public domain).  

What is His Son's Name? Surely You Know

Text for Discussion: Luke 1:1-38.

During the Advent season we see in what ways Messiah was foretold, going back to the Old Testament, and how He came to be called Jesus.  

 

The painting: The Dream of Joseph by Rembrandt, 1645. (Public domain).  

Hymns: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, What Child is This?  (Public domain).

The LORD is Salvation

Text for discussion: Matthew 1.  

In this season of Advent we look at the Gospel narratives surrounding the birth of Jesus.  

Hymn: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (public domain) 

The painting: The Dream of Joseph by Rembrandt, 1645. (public domain)

Engraved on You

Text for discussion: Deuteronomy 10.  

Just as God engraved his testimony on the tablets of stone, He writes his name on our hearts.  

 

Image: personal photo.  A slice of geode with John 3:16 written on it, by Chris Truelsen, 2025. 

Hymns: (all public domain) 

Amazing Grace. Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven. The Day Thou Gavest. When Peace, Like a River. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. We Praise You, O God. Savior, Again, to Thy Dear Name We Raise.  

Delivered from the Domain of Darkness

Text for discussion: Deuteronomy 9.  

 

Egypt was a domain of slavery, darkness, false gods, and death.  God brought Israel into the Promised Land, driving out the people there in the Land of Canaan.  This was not by the peoples' own righteousness, but for the sake of His promises to Abraham, and His own faithfulness.  He gives us a better life as we put aside sin and selfishness and live a new life in Him.  

The engraving by Dore is of Moses and the Ten Commandments.  (public domain)

The hymn: Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me (public domain).  

God Stands in the Way, Revisited

Text for discussion: Numbers 22.  

We may seek to do well, but there are times when we stray from the will and ways of God, seeking our own way, not His.  

Sometimes God shows us something different, pulls us in a different direction.  But in some instances God keeps us from being our own worst enemy when we go astray, and God stands in the way.  (This is a replay from March 28 of this year).  

Hymn of the day: I Bind Unto Myself Today 

 the painting: Balaam's Ass, 1626.  Rembrandt.  Public domain.  

 

Heaven on Earth?

Deuteronomy 8.  

Since Eden, humanity has always sought to regain paradise lost.  What sinful humanity most often seems to want is paradise without God.  Moses reminds the Israelites that their entering into the Promised Land will not be by their own virtue, but because God keeps his promises, even ones made to their fathers, long dead.  

Yet, God is indeed the God of the living, and those who believe in Christ will have salvation and life in Him.  

Hymn of the day: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing 

Engraving: (subject is Moses with the Ten Commandments and the Israelites).  

The Ghosts of Sin

Text for Discussion: Deuteronomy 7.

 

The children of Israel were to drive the Canaanites and many other nations out of the Promised Land.  Their time was over.  Today, we have the choice between a virtuous society, or a wicked society, hell-bent.  Here I go into why it was necessary for Jesus to drive out demons in his own time.  Some of these things also tie into the phenomenon of "ghosts" today.  Many have claimed to have experienced strange things in various places.  What is the Christian (or anyone) to make of them?  

The hymns (all are public domain): A Mighty Fortress, My Soul Now Praise Your Maker, For All the Saints.

The engraving: Dore's image of Moses and the Ten Commandments.