Best Berean Bible Society Podcasts (2025)

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Judaism, Israel, and Catholicism: Addressing a Convert's Concern (#361) 30:52

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2h ago30:52

30:52

Greg Smith responds to a listener's email expressing shock at perceived anti-Semitism in Catholic online spaces. He clarifies the Catholic Church's official teachings on Judaism and the State of Israel, emphasizing respect, shared roots, and a balanced call for peace amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Greg distinguishes between binding doctrines on fa…

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Kids in Church: Why Catholic Mass Beats Evangelical Entertainment (#360) 23:20

1d ago23:20

23:20

Greg responds to a listener's heartfelt email about her journey toward Catholicism and a major hesitation: how the Church approaches children's ministry compared to engaging evangelical programs. Drawing from his consulting experience with megachurches, Greg critiques the entertainment-focused model, shares data on high youth dropout rates, and exp…

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The Church's Messy Past: How a Thought Experiment Helped Me Convert (#359) 38:38

5d ago38:38

38:38

Greg responds to listener Shandra's heartfelt question about the Catholic Church's historical involvement in injustices like the transatlantic slave trade and the subjugation of Ireland. Drawing from his own conversion journey as a former Protestant, he shares a thought experiment: What if the Church hadn't existed as a societal force? Exploring re…

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Translation Traps? Manuscript Mysteries, Word Wars, and the Sola Scriptura Sinkhole (#358) 45:20

7d ago45:20

45:20

Building on Part 1's takedown of KJV-onlyism, Greg delves into the heart of Bible translation debates in this thought-provoking conclusion, examining three key issues: faithfulness to ancient manuscripts (spotlighted by the Johannine Comma), the doctrinal weight of unique words like "full of grace" in Luke 1:28, and dynamic equivalence with modern …

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KJV Only? Debunking a Fundamentalist Myth and Discovering Catholic Bibles (#357) 38:59

9d ago38:59

38:59

In this first installment of a two-part series, Greg responds to a fundamentalist chain letter claiming the King James Version (KJV) is the only true Bible, unpacking its bizarre mindset and deep anti-Catholic roots from the Reformation era. Greg refutes the claims with historical facts, manuscript evidence, and theological insights, showing why th…

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The Tale of Two Sons - Luke 15:11–32 58:20

10d ago58:20

58:20

Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on July 20, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 15:11–32 - Luke 15:11–16 - Luke 15:1-10 - Proverbs 13:18 - Proverbs 21:17 - Proverbs 28:19 - Proverbs 29:3 - Psalm 107:17 - Luke 15:17–24 - Psalm 51:4 - Psalm 32:3–5 - 1 John 1:9 - Ephesians 2:4–5 - Romans 5:8 - …

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The Cost of Discipleship, Part 2 (#356) 39:09

13d ago39:09

39:09

Continuing their conversation Secret Compound, Greg and Ed tackle the deeply personal challenges of considering Catholicism when opposition comes from within the home, particularly from a spouse. Responding to a listener's email about navigating a Protestant spouse and a complex marriage situation, they explore the emotional and spiritual dilemmas …

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The Cost of Discipleship, Part 1 (#355) 39:50

16d ago39:50

39:50

Greg and Ed the Protestant return to the Secret Compound and dive into the real challenges faced by those considering Catholicism, especially when it means navigating opposition from friends, family, or fellow Protestants. They explore the emotional and social costs of pursuing the Catholic faith, drawing from listener emails about anti-Catholic se…

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Lost and Found - Luke 15:1–10

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on July 13, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 15:1–10 - Luke 15:1–3 - Luke 5:29–32 - 1 Corinthians 1:26–29 - Matthew 11:28–29 - Romans 5:8 - Luke 15:4–7 - Isaiah 53:6 - Ezekiel 34:11-16 - Psalm 14:2-3 - Romans 3:11 - Isaiah 40:11 - Matthew 9:12–13 - Luke 15:…

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Protestant Games, Part 2: The Berean Gambit (#354) 28:21

20d ago28:21

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In Part 2 of a two-part series, "Protestant Games," Greg dismantles the Protestant “Berean Gambit”—their claim that Acts 17:11 proves sola scriptura. Far from a mic-drop, this move backfires, showing the Bereans trusted Paul’s oral apostolic tradition—resurrection, Trinity, Gentile inclusion—checked for consistency with the Old Testament, aligning …

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Protestant Games, Part 1: Why Play By Protestant Rules? (#353) 29:04

23d ago29:04

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In Part 1 of a two-part series, Greg tackles Protestant apologist Gavin Ortlund’s 5 Reasons I Am Not Catholic, which shakes cradle Catholic Iris and others with evangelical critiques. Instead of playing the “rigged game” of proving Catholicism by Protestant rules (sola scriptura, sola fide, Bible-only faith), Greg flips the script, showing these pr…

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The Cost of Being a Disciple - Luke 14:25–35 56:44

24d ago56:44

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on July 6, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 14:25–35 - Luke 14:25–27 - Matthew 10:37 - Matthew 19:29 - Luke 9:23 - Galatians 6:14 - Galatians 5:24 - John 12:23–25 - Luke 14:28–32 - Proverbs 14:15 - Luke 9:61–62 - Philippians 3:8 - Luke 14:33–35 - Matthew 5:…

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Evangelicals and Israel, the Alamo and End Times (#352) 22:04

26d ago22:04

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Why do American evangelicals passionately support modern Israel, especially in conflicts like Israel-Iran? In the final part of our Seeking Roots, Finding the Church series, Greg Smith shares why Americans, including evangelicals, admire Israel’s pioneer spirit and military prowess, akin to Davy Crockett at the Alamo. Buy notes that dispensationali…

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Why Do Protestants Choose the Bible of the Rabbis Over the Bible of the Apostles? (#351) 31:35

28d ago31:35

31:35

Why do evangelicals trust a Jewish canon finalized centuries after Christ over the Bible of the apostles? In part two of our Seeking Roots, Finding the Church series, Greg shares his journey from a Calvinist seminary where the Masoretic Text was taught as the “authentic” Old Testament to Catholicism, where he discovered the Septuagint’s role in the…

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Why Evangelicals Choose Galilee Over St. Peter’s (#350) 38:50

1M ago38:50

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Why do American evangelicals love Holy Land trips, seder dinners, and supporting the modern state of Israel? In this first of a three-part series, "Seeking Roots, Finding the Church," Greg explores how evangelicals, seeking a faith with gravitas, embrace a romanticized pre-Christian Jewish identity, imagining a simple, intimate faith free of “elabo…

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The Parable of the Great Banquet - Luke 14:15–24 40:54

1M ago40:54

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on June 29, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 14:15–24 - Luke 14:15 - Luke 14:1-6 - Luke 14: 7-11 - Luke 14:12-14 - Luke 14:16–20 - Matthew 8:11–12 - Luke 9:59–62 - Matthew 22:1-7 - Luke 14:21–24 - Matthew 21:43 - Matthew 22:8-14 - Isaiah 65:12 - Isaiah 45:2…

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Who's View of Sex is Stranger? Catholic or Protestant? (#349) 36:34

1M ago36:34

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Greg Smith tackles Catholic and Protestant views on sex, asking: whose take is stranger? From marriage as a sacrament to celibacy as a gift and Mary’s perpetual virginity, he defends Catholic teachings as biblical and healthy against Protestant critiques on divorce, contraception, and more. Using the Cathar heresy as a cautionary tale, Greg shows h…

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Burritos, Bridges, and Truth: Why Catholicism Isn’t a House of Cards (#348) 27:06

1M ago27:06

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Is Catholicism a house of cards, ready to collapse under one false teaching? In this episode, Greg responds to a listener—an evangelical exploring Catholicism—who fears he can’t be certain the Church is the truth. With fun analogies like burritos and bridges, Greg unpacks why Protestantism’s “modest” claim is a mirage and how Catholicism’s evidence…

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Is The Mass Just "Going Through the Motions?" (#347) 39:33

1M ago39:33

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Why does the Mass feel so formal, and how can you love it? In this episode, Greg responds to Darcy, a 25-year-old evangelical exploring Catholicism, who’s struggling with the Mass’s structure—repetition, kneeling, and call-and-response. He unpacks why our culture overvalues spontaneity, how the Mass’s form protects truth, and why the early Church w…

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Are You Known by God? - Matthew 7:21-23 47:46

1M ago47:46

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on June 22, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Exodus 32:4-5 - Matthew 7:21–23 - Matthew 7:21 - Matthew 26:64 - Romans 8:1 - Matthew 25:31-46 - Matthew 10:32 - John 14:6 - 1 Corinthians 8:3 - John 14:23 - Luke 6:46-49 - Matthew 7:22–23(a) - 2 Timothy 2:19 - Matthe…

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What is Heaven? Part 6: New Heaven, New Earth, New Us (#346) 41:59

1M ago41:59

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In the final episode of the series on heaven, Greg and Cory explore the eschaton—the ultimate end of God’s plan, where Christ returns to renew creation as the New Heaven and New Earth. They unpack the biblical parallelism between Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 21-22, where God restores communion between Himself, humanity, and creation, fulfilling our d…

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What is Heaven? Part 5: The Resurrection (#345) 38:41

1M ago38:41

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Greg and Cory delve into the radical Christian teaching of the physical resurrection of the body, a cornerstone of Catholic eschatology that sets Christianity apart from other worldviews. They explore how the resurrection restores humanity to God’s original design in Genesis, uniting body and soul as seen in Christ’s own resurrection. Contrasting t…

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Beloved, Be a Berean - Acts 17:10–12 47:30

2M ago47:30

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on June 15, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Acts 17:10–12 - Acts 17:10 - Acts 17:1-3 - Acts 17:4-5 - Acts 17:6-9 - Acts 17:13 - Acts 17:11(a) - Matthew 22:29 - Matthew 10:16 - Acts 17:11(b) - 2 Chronicles 15:15 - Jeremiah 15:16 - Acts 17:11(c) - Psalm 111:2 - P…

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Sublime or Subjective? A Tale of Two Services (#344) 32:36

2M ago32:36

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Greg and Ed unpack a recent experience at a casual evangelical worship service, contrasting its informal, emotion-driven approach with the objective beauty of the Catholic Mass. They describe a service filled with pop culture references, minimal Scripture, and a vague "remembrance" with Wonder Bread and grape juice, lacking the structure and transc…

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Raging Tacos: Are We Too Hard on Protestants? (#343) 34:49

2M ago34:49

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In this lively episode of Considering Catholicism, Greg and Ed the Protestant tackle a listener’s critique that the show is too harsh on Protestants, sparking a candid discussion over tacos. They reflect on their tone, owning occasional snark while defending the need to draw distinctions between Catholic and Protestant beliefs, as truth claims—like…

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A Lesson in Dinner Hosting - Luke 14:12–14 40:45

2M ago40:45

40:45

Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on June 8, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 14:12–14 - Luke 14:12 - Luke 14:1-6 - Luke 14:7-11 - Luke 14:26 - Luke 6:30-34 - Luke 14:13–14(a) - Matthew 11:29 - James 2:2–4 - Romans 12:16 - Psalm 82:3–4 - Job 29:15 - Proverbs 31:8 - James 2:15–16 - 1 John 3:…

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What is Heaven? Part 4: Three Destinations (#342) 35:26

2M ago35:26

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Greg and Cory explore the three destinations awaiting every soul after the particular judgment: heaven, hell, and purgatory. They unpack Catholic teaching on these eternal and temporal states, using Dante’s Divine Comedy and Scripture to illustrate heaven as perfect communion with God, hell as eternal separation, and purgatory as a remedial journey…

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What is Heaven? Part 3: We Will Be Judged (#341) 35:30

2M ago35:30

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In this continuation of the series about Heaven, Greg and Cory dive into the Catholic teaching on judgment, exploring the two moments every soul faces: the particular judgment at death and the final judgment at the end of time. They unpack how God’s justice and mercy intertwine, dispel common misconceptions, and discuss why our choices—rooted in fa…

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The Parable of the Wedding Feast - Luke 14:7–11 41:26

2M ago41:26

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on June 1, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 14:7–11 - Luke 14:7 - Luke 14:1-6 - Luke 14:1 - Matthew 23:1–7 - John 12:42-43 - Luke 22:24-26 - Matthew 18:1–5 - Luke 14:8–9 - Proverbs 25:6–8 - Proverbs 25:27 - Luke 14:10–11 - 1 Peter 5:5 - Luke 18:9–14 - Matth…

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Killer Rabbits and Gargoyles: What Medieval Art Teaches Catholics Today (#340) 38:19

2M ago38:19

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Ever wonder why medieval manuscripts show knights fighting giant snails or rabbits wielding swords? Or why Gothic cathedrals are covered in grinning gargoyles and quirky carvings? In this episode, Greg dives into a wild X thread that sparked a reflection on the medieval Catholic worldview—a universe alive with God’s purpose, where every doodle and …

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What is Heaven? Part 2: The Moment of Death (#339) 35:21

2M ago35:21

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Greg Smith and Cory Lakatos dive into the profound question of what happens when we die. In this second episode of the Heaven series, they explore the separation of soul and body, the particular judgment, and the three intermediate destinations—heaven, purgatory, or hell. They debunk pop-culture myths like reincarnation and clarify why death feels …

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Healing of a Man on the Sabbath - Luke 14:1–6 45:44

2M ago45:44

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on May 25, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 14:1–6 - Luke 14:1 - Exodus 20:8-11 - Mark 2:23–28 - John 5:16 - Luke 20:20 - Luke 14:2–4 - John 2:24-25 - Luke 13:10–17 - John 7:21–24 - Luke 14:5–6 - Deuteronomy 22:4 - Matthew 12:10–12 - Mark 3:4-6…

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What is Heaven? Part 1: Checking Our Vocabulary (#338) 35:24

2M ago35:24

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Join Greg Smith and Cory Lakatos as they kick off a deep dive into Catholic teaching on Heaven. In this first episode, they lay the foundation by defining key terms like "soul," "heaven," "purgatory," "beatific vision," and more, ensuring you’re ready for the journey ahead. Expect clear, orthodox insights drawn from the Catechism, with a conversati…

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Peter’s Keys, Leo’s Tears: The Joy of a New Pope (#337) 29:52

2M ago29:52

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Greg Smith reflects on the joyful inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, unpacking its rituals, from the emotional moment Leo received the Fisherman’s Ring to the inclusive rite of obedience. He answers why the ceremony is grand yet humble, why it’s called the Mass for the Petrine Ministry, and how Leo’s Chicago-to-Peru journey…

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Lament over Jerusalem - Luke 13:31–35 45:49

2M ago45:49

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on May 18, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 13:31–35 - Luke 13:31–32 - Luke 13:22-30 - Matthew 8:16 - Luke 4:18 - John 10:17-18 - Mark 3:6 - John 5:18 - Luke 11:47–51 - Luke 19:47 - John 8:37 - Luke 13:33–34 - Matthew 13:57 - Luke 20:9–16 - Hosea 11:1–4 - L…

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Is "Reformed Theology" Just Tweed-Coated Evangelicalism? (#336) 36:54

3M ago36:54

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What’s “Reformed” theology today? Greg Smith, a former Reformed pastor, unravels the tweed-coated posturing of a brand that claims intellectual edge but feels like evangelicalism with elbow patches. From preaching TULIP to questioning its cracks, he exposes a vague identity coasting on buzzwords. Catholicism’s 2,000-year depth—think Aquinas, cathed…

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Is Pope Leo XIV Red or Blue? Why That’s the Wrong Question (#335) 42:22

3M ago42:22

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Greg addresses conservative non-Catholic friends asking if Pope Leo XIV is “red” or “blue,” arguing that the 2,000-year-old Catholic Church transcends American political categories. Acknowledging concerns about Pope Francis’s perceived meddling on issues like immigration and climate change, Greg explores where red and blue ideologies intersect with…

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The Narrow Door - Luke 13:22–30 49:20

3M ago49:20

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on May 11, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 13:22–30 - Luke 13:22–23(a) - John 6:66 - Luke 14:33 - Luke 13:23(b)–27 - Romans 10:9 - Ephesians 2:8-9 - 1 Timothy 4:10 - 1 Corinthians 9:25–27 - Hebrews 12:17 - Matthew 25:1–12 - Matthew 7:22–23 - Jeremiah 7:9–1…

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Habemus Papam! Why I’m Loyal to the Church Under Leo XIV (#334) 25:21

3M ago25:21

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Hours after white smoke announced Pope Leo XIV, Greg reflects on Cardinal Robert Prevost’s election as the first American pope. Exploring Leo XIV’s choice of name, traditional regalia, and call to “build bridges,” Greg sees hope for a pope who unites past and future, left and right, in a tumultuous century. Rejecting speculation, he calls for loyal…

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Tartaria or Catholicism? Rediscovering a Lost Civilization (#333) 43:11

3M ago43:11

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Dive into the wild Tartaria conspiracy and discover a deeper truth: modernity bulldozed a sacred way of life, but Catholicism holds the key to reclaiming it. Host Greg explores how cathedrals, G.K. Chesterton, and the Mass connect us to a lost world, and why today’s souls are hungry for roots—and why the Church is their home–sparking a Catholic rev…

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Jesus Heals on the Sabbath - Luke 13:10–17 48:24

3M ago48:24

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Expository Sermon by Pastor Samuel Farag. Preached on April 27, 2025, at Bethel Baptist Church in Gorham, NY. Scripture References: - Luke 13:10–17 - Luke 13:10–13 - Matthew 14:14 - Acts 10:38 - Luke 13:14 - Deuteronomy 5:13-14 - Mark 3:1-5 - Luke 13:15–17 - Luke 6:5 - Matthew 23:13 - Matthew 15:7–9 - Matthew 23:23–33 - Mark 2:27 - Matthew 12:12 - …

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One Church, One Leader: Why the Pope’s Funeral Stopped the World (#329) 36:53

3M ago36:53

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When Pope Francis’s funeral drew millions and the world’s eyes turned to Rome, it revealed something unique: only the Catholic Church has a global leader. In this episode, Greg explores why the papacy matters, how it holds Christianity together, and what the upcoming conclave says about the need for one voice in a divided faith. Join us to discover…

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A Pope's Funeral and Rome's Hidden Gem (#328) 33:54

3M ago33:54

33:54

Pope Francis' funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at St. Peter's Basilica. But he has chosen to be buried in another church, the Basilica of St. Mary Major on the Esquiline Hill in central Rome. This magnificent basilica, founded in 432 AD, is the home of the relic of the Holy Manger and the Salus Populi Romani, one of the most beloved…

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Sermon: Romans 16:1-16 – Paul’s Greetings to Those in Rome 40:40

3M ago40:40

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