Dewey Bertolini's Podcast

While I am away speaking at Hume Lake, please enjoy this encore PODCAST. You are about to hear an amazing story about a remarkable man, AND an encounter with Jesus that includes one of the most important and practical biblical principles that you will find anywhere in the pages of the Bible. Quite a claim, I know. One that I will absolutely prove in this PODCAST. A principle that I will be presumptuous enough to suggest that you and I need to hear, and of which we need to be reminded, perhaps often. This is on the surface a story about a man born blind (which would be remarkable enough). But it is also a story about sheep, about a sheepfold, about the door of the sheepfold, about Jesus who identified Himself as the “door of the sheep,” and about life in the desert in which the sheep and shepherds in Israel lived and continue to live. Before we get to the story itself, I need very briefly to remind you of something we talked about way back on February 2, 2013, nearly 3 years ago. When God appeared to Moses in

It is an elegantly simple, straightforward, non-controversial statement (at least in original language). Yet, as you will hear in this PODCAST, one that has led to nearly 2000 years of confusion. Confusion over things like: What is the proper mode of baptism? (Sprinkling? Immersing?) Should babies be baptized? Is baptism a sacrament? An ordinance? What’s the difference between the two? And what does it matter? Must someone be baptized in order to be saved? And if you have not been baptized, are you then not going to Heaven? My, oh my. How adept we humans are at taking something so supremely simple, and making it so insufferably complicated. My friends, we have a lot to talk about. Specifically: We need to talk about: 1. What did Peter actually say? 2. What did Peter not say? 3. What is the Scriptural significance of baptism? 4. Where exactly did Peter say this? IOW, is this story even plausible? Where in the Jerusalem of Jesus’ day do you find enough water to baptize three thousand people? 5. What are implica

It is time for us to celebrate. That’s the tone with which I want to share this PODCAST with you tonight. A tone of celebration. A celebration of a day unlike any other. A day that began so ordinarily; but one that ended so spectacularly, in the Holy City, on the southern steps of the Holy Temple Mount. So many miles from this place (McMinnville); so many years from this year (2017). Yet this was a day—the effects of which are so clearly manifested in the fact that you would not be listening to this podcast right now if this glorious day had not occurred. We’re talking, of course, about the Day of Pentecost, in or around AD 33. Which would make this the 1,984th Pentecost weekend since the Dispensation of God’s Glorious Grace began so wondrously nearly two millennia ago. Jesus, in Matthew 16, made this awe-inspiring declaration to jaw-dropping effect as far as His disciples were concerned (Verse 18), “I will build my ekklesia” (Jesus’ brand new, yet-to-be-born, worldwide family of faith), “and all the powers o

As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, to our Western sensibilities, Acts 2:23 plunges us into a theological quagmire of staggering proportions. The age-old debate between God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility. But trust me. When Peter introduced this indictment of that Day of Pentecost crowd, he didn’t even flinch. And therein lies the story. Consider this: It’s verses like Acts 2:23 that have given rise to literally centuries of endless (and may I humbly suggest, pointless) theological debate. All the while, Peter’s words in this landmark verse are so wonderfully elegant in their economy—a rather modest 15 words in the Greek; though something of a more elaborate 31 words in our English (NIV) translations. So here it comes. Acts 2:23. With its attendant theological quagmire. Hear it as it does… Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

It was proof undeniable. A reality on the ground about which every person in that vast crowd on this most significant Day of Pentecost knew. As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, Peter triumphantly trumpeted to that crowd, and to us, “As you yourselves know.” Boy, did they know. How could they not have known? Fact is, reports of this wonder-working man from Galilee had circulated far and wide throughout the whole of the Roman Empire. Eyewitness accounts of His “miracles, wonders, and signs” had spread to every corner of the Mediterranean world. Fact is, if the people who had gathered in the Holy City on this Holy Day were honest with themselves and honest with the facts, they knew that what Peter’s voice boomed in Acts 2:36 was undeniably true: “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah.” Yes, they knew. “For certain,” they knew!!! Of course, the obvious questions are: Why did they know for certain? How could they have known fo

Welcome to Peter’s first-ever sermon. As you will hear in this PODCAST, this fisherman-turned-preacher’s initial foray into the world of sermonizing is memorable in extreme. And whether you realize it or not, Peter’s first sermon out of the gate is all about… Grasshoppers. As in locusts. Lots and lots of locusts. A plague of locusts. A past-plague of locusts. A coming plague of locusts. And a future (even future for us) plague of locusts. See it there in Acts 2:14-16? Listen as I read it to you, and see if you can hear ominous chomps of locusts: "Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, 'Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel.'" See any locusts in that? No? Well, then, keep listening. Because as you are about to hear, it is vital that we d

It is one of the great ironies of Christian life. As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, the Holy Spirit came to this earth in Jesus’ absence in part to bring a supernatural unity to committed Christ-followers throughout the world. For example, we read in Ephesians 4:3, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” That phrase “the unity of the Spirit” notwithstanding, Christians throughout the world have arguably divided more over the gifts of Holy Spirit than any other single issue. Divisions that, quite frankly, have turned spiritually toxic. There are those who will tell you and me with some measure of intensity that if you do not speak in tongues, you are at the least not filled with the Spirit; and at the worst, not a Christian at all. There are those who will tell you and me with some measure of intensity that if you do speak in tongues, you are believing a false Gospel and consequently going to Hell. So as we enter this discussion, I will give to you my promise, and

Ready to hit the ground running? This is so exciting. And just remember, I Love this stuff! As you will hear in this PODCAST, in the culture of Jesus’ day, the agricultural cycle of sowing and reaping, planting and harvesting, was absolutely central to the existence of the Jewish people. So much so that the agricultural calendar was an essential part of the day-in and day-out rhythm of their lives, including Jesus’. You can understand why. They could not simply go to Roths, Winco, Alberstons, Safeway or some other grocery store to buy their food. Their lives literally depended upon, revolved around their agricultural calendar. Hold onto that thought for a second. Allow me now to shift gears ever so slightly, to this thought: God wants you to know with absolute certainty, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that death is not the end, but is a gloriously grand beginning. Think about that for a second. We live (in theory) with an awesome, palpable sense of anticipation for the day when we will get brand new bodies,

His name was Matthias. I wouldn’t blame you a bit if you had no recollection of this selfless servant of Christ. As you will hear in this PODCAST, Matthias is mentioned only twice in the NT, both times here in Acts 1 (verses 23 and 26). At first blush, Matthias may appear to be just a footnote in the ever-developing drama of redemption. But I can assure you that he is anything but. Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

Today is Easter Sunday. BUT, as you are about to hear in this PODCAST, today is infinitely, eternally so much more than that. A day of incomparable significance.  "Christ IS risen. He is risen INDEED." But that is only half the story. Ready to hear the other half? Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it might take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

Such incredibly dramatic moment, on multiple levels. That is what you are about to hear in this PODCAST. Finally, the time had come for Jesus to go home. He had been away from home, more specifically, away from His beloved Father, for some thirty-three years. Jesus, who from eternity past was according to John 1:1 face-to-face with His Father, enjoying from eternity past an unbroken, undiminished intimacy with His Father that eclipses every possible human relationship. Thirty-three years prior to this moment, Jesus left His Father to embark upon a rescue mission of immeasurable importance and eternal consequence. A rescue mission defined by Jesus Himself as His coming “to seek and to save those who are lost” Luke 19:10. That mission was now completed. Now, it was time. Time for Jesus to go home. Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

So it is with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye that in this PODCAST we bid adieu to Jesus in HD. Lest you regret that we will now no longer hear all-things-Jesus-related, fear not, my friends. For as we now break the seal on the amazing book of Acts and our study of Peter in HD, which of course will then pivot to Paul in HD somewhere around ch 13, and as I will demonstrate in mere moments, the book of Acts is very much a book all about Jesus primarily; Peter, Paul and other apostles secondarily. In this podcast, our goal is to lay the foundation for this entire study. A study that will include: 1. Entire of book of Acts; the lives primarily of both Peter and then Paul, along with an entire array of some of the most interesting individuals you’d every want to meet; 2. The birth, growth, and establishment of what Jesus called in Matthew 16:18 His ekklesia — this when He declared for all the world to hear, “I will build my ekklesia, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” 3. The non-stop-yet-fai

Welcome to the conclusion of Jesus in HD! It's been 205 podcasts in coming, but here it is. On deck, Peter in HD and the bright and beautiful book of Acts. That will be next week. But for now, it is universally referred to as “Great Commission.” As you are about to hear in this PODCAST… Yes, I will readily agree that Jesus’ words here at the tail-end of Matthew’s glorious gospel are indeed “great.” And yes, they do in fact contain a “commission.” Jesus’ final commission to His disciples, to make disciples. But I would prefer to think of this as Jesus’ Ministry Model — both in terms of what He wants us (all of us, each of us) to do, and how He wants us to do it. A ministry model that Jesus intended for us to follow (as Jesus said) “to the very end of the age.” Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

The angel said to the women, “But go, tell His disciples — and Peter…” As you will hear in this PODCAST, kudos to Peter for allowing Mark to include this rather inglorious detail about this darkest hour of Peter’s storied life. If the trajectory of Peter’s faith journey was filled with ups and downs, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, here Peter hits rock bottom. What was the significance of the angel’s words to the women, “But go, tell His disciples — and Peter…”? More than you and I could ever imagine. An epic story of falling and rising, regret and redemption. You want to see redemption in real time, here it is. A story of hope and promise that you will not want to miss. Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 referenced what he called the single most important event of human history. And it all centers upon that one-telling-three-word-phrase, “the third day.” Quite a statement that: “I passed on to you what was most important.” Most: πρῶτος, a superlative in Greek. A word that means the best, the chief, the first and foremost of all. Meaning that Paul went over and above to point out in the most emphatic way possible that nothing that he could ever, or would ever write would eclipse this one statement in its importance: “I passed on to you the best—the chief, the first and foremost in importance—fact of all time: Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” A most-important, and most-specific chronology — not to be overlooked. In this case, the chronology is the story. Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, i

Think of it. As you will hear in this PODCAST… Promptly at 3 PM… Exactly at That.Very.Moment when Jesus breathed His last… Precisely to the second when Jesus exclaimed, “It is finished. Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit”… This happened: “Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Do you have any idea what that means? It will take the remainder of this discussion for us even to begin to understand What.That.Means. Why did God tear the veil? It was obviously God who ripped it. No human hand could possibly tear it. That veil was an elaborately woven fabric that stood 60 feet high, equal in height to a seven-story building. No one could tear that curtain. Only God could tear that curtain. Which only amplifies the question, Why? Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

They say that “For every sigh, there’s a psalm.” As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, they are 100% correct. What an absolutely, beautifully inspired collection of very real, honest, soul-soaring, gut-wrenching human expressions is contained within its 150 chapters. So many verses of its 150 songs are profoundly personal prayers that you and I can pray right back to God, giving us an immediate connection with the principle players in the biblical drama. Psalms, the single most emotion-filled book in the Bible. Yes, indeed. For every sigh, there IS a psalm. If variety is the spice of life, then the Book of Psalms is a pretty spicy book. One that includes hymns of praise, thanksgiving, godly wisdom and sound theology, expressions of our doubts and fears balanced by an unshakable faith in God through good times and bad. Imprecatory psalms that are cries for God’s justice and vengeance in an unjust world. Songs of lament that give voice to the many challenges of our painful lives. There are also historical p

Caiaphas, the high priest that year, must have been fit to be tied. Well, somewhat so. As you will hear in this PODCAST, it was Passover. The Holy City, Jerusalem, was teaming with pilgrims. The all-important 3 PM Passover sacrifice at the Temple was fast-approaching. It was arguably single most financially-flourishing day of the year (second only, perhaps, to the Day of Atonement) as far as the corrupt Temple Industrial Complex over which Caiaphas presided was concerned. There was money to be made this day. Lots and lots of money. But the heavens seemed to conspire against Caiaphas. Of all the luck (bad luck indeed), a most-rare, hauntingly-eerie atmospheric anomaly threatened to diminish severely Caiaphas’ shady haul of ill-gotten shekels. At 12 PM, high noon, a mere three hours before the afternoon sacrifice, the sky turned ominously dark. If it stayed that way, there would be no 3 PM Passover Lamb sacrificed that day. Well, according to Matthew 27 — Read ’em and weep, Caiaphas  “At noon, darkness fell acr

Welcome back to the foot of the cross. In this PODCAST, we are now in that six-hour window of time — between 9 AM and 3 PM. 9 AM when the Romans nailed Jesus to His cross; 3 PM, that moment when Jesus finally succumbed to His brutal beatings, His massive blood loss, and the tortures of crucifixion — finally and mercifully to die. Within that six-hour window, Jesus spoke seven times. The final words of His earthly life pre-resurrection. As we noted last week, a complete, seven-sayings, last lingering look into Jesus’ beautiful, sizable, and irresistible soul. The first two of these sayings we discussed last week. We’ll consider the middle two now. And the final three we’ll explain next week. Let me give you a heads-up. Get yourself ready for a rollercoaster of a ride tonight. This because the first of the two that we consider now is without a doubt the most emotional of the seven. I dare say, this may well be the single most emotional scene in the entire Bible. I’ll leave that for you to decide. The second of

“Jesus said…” As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, the fact of the matter is this: Jesus said seven statements, this as His life was literally dripping out of Him drop by precious drop. Each one of the seven — when considered separately — tells a most-dramatic tale. All of the seven — when considered collectively — give us an unparalleled insight into the heart of Jesus. It was, after all, Jesus who much earlier in His ministry said this: “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (Matthew 12). On yet another occasion, Luke 6, Jesus said, “What you say flows from what is in your heart.” So if we want to know what is in Jesus’ heart, we need look no further than what Jesus said. His words. And as we are about to learn, what Jesus said from the cross, in the closing moments of His storied life, reveals perhaps most clearly of all exactly what was in His sizable heart. What a beautiful heart His was and is. So join me now at the foot of the cross as we hear for ourselves the final words of Jesu