Shepherd Thoughts Podcast

As a teenager becomes an adult, he or she eventually faces the question of whether to marry and whom to marry. Perhaps you are facing this question right now, or perhaps your child, a friend, or someone you know is doing so. Whatever the case, a believer should approach this significant decision in a distinctly biblical way. Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to consider four biblical principles that prepare a person for this crucial decision.

Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to consider six ways that you should allow the doctrine of the Trinity to impact your relationship with God, your approach to life, and your mission to the world.

Having considered that God is one and that there are three distinct persons within the Godhead, join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to discover where Scripture presents the members of the Godhead as sharing in the divine nature equally, meaning that one is not somehow more divine than another and underscoring that all three members are fully and equally one-and-the-same God.

Having recognized the equally divine and eternal nature of each member of the Godhead, join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to learn how Scripture also portrays them as persons, each having the attributes of a personal being and not merely an abstract force or emanation of some kind.

Having established the three-in-oneness of God, join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to learn how Scripture also teaches that each member of the Godhead is equally and eternally God, no more and no less than the others. 

While Scriptures clearly teach that there is one God, they also intimate that somehow there is a plurality within the Godhead. Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to discover what this means and where the Bible teaches this idea.

To understand the Trinity properly, it is necessary to observe that the Bible reveals one God and not three. Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to discover what the Bible teaches about the oneness of God.

Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to learn a basic definition of the Trinity as taught by the Bible. Memorizing this definition will be an excellent way to strengthen your faith and to grow in your knowledge of God and your relationship with him. In this episode, you will also learn two misconceptions to avoid when explaining the doctrine of the Trinity, and you will learn how this doctrine upholds the divine origin of Scripture and the truth of the Christian faith.

Does the word trinity appear in Scripture? Did the Catholic Church invent the doctrine of the Trinity? Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to discover the answers to these questions and more.

Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to consider how other religions either misunderstand or misrepresent the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. This episode will reference the perspective of Jehovah Witnesses, Muslims, and some pantheistic religions, like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christian Scientism.

Bad things happen in the world, don’t they? But you should still be grateful to God for all that he does, for all that he gives, for all that he allows into your life, and - most of all - for all that he is. God is completely and continually good. Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to consider what James 1:16-17 teaches about the goodness of God so that you may be more grateful.

Promotional emails and full-color mailers for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other holiday sales are coming your way, and so are the urges to buy more things, a lot more things. But tune in to this special episode with Pastor Thomas Overmiller to consider some valuable wisdom from Proverbs that will enable you to navigate the snowstorm of materialism that is blowing your way.

How should a Christian respond to news of terror and violence? Should you be afraid? Should you change your plans for service to God? Should you worry that something terrible will happen to you soon, also? In his second letter to Timothy, Paul provides an excellent reminder of how a believer should respond to the feelings of dread and cowardly fear. Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to consider these encouraging words from 2 Timothy 1:7.

When you choose to follow Jesus, you may find yourself in the middle of a difficult family situation. Unbelieving relatives, especially immediate family members, may place intense pressure on you to withdraw from your faith entirely or to diminish your church involvement and obedience to Christ. Did you know that Jesus also experienced this dilemma? Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to learn what Jesus experienced and taught about this difficult trial.

The only place in Scripture that provides insight into appointing new deacons is Acts 6:1-6. Since no subsequent teaching in Acts or the NT epistles alters or annuls this example, it is fitting to view this scenario as a biblical case study for appointing deacons in a church. Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to examine this example of harmonious cooperation between the pastoral leadership and the congregation.

How does the Bible portray the responsibilities of deacons in a church? Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to discover biblical insights into what kind of needs deacons should meet.

Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to consider some necessary clarifications for appointing deacons in a church. Though Scripture does provide detailed qualifications for this role, there are some things that it does not requires and they are important to understand.

Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to learn what specific qualities the Bible requires, in 1 Timothy, for a man to serve as a deacon in the church.

Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller to learn what general qualities the Bible requires, in Acts, for a man to serve as a deacon in the church.

Deacons play an important role in a growing, biblical church. Therefore, it is necessary to understand and practice what the Bible teaches about this office. Doing so will strengthen any church and prepare it for new growth and expansion. Join Pastor Thomas Overmiller for a basic introduction to Bible teaching on the office of a deacon.