God called Aaron to serve beside Moses and later entrusted him with Israel’s priesthood. His life demonstrates that God can accomplish His purposes through an imperfect servant while still taking both holiness and failure seriously.

Episode Aim: To help listeners see Aaron as more than Moses’ brother or the man associated with the golden calf. Scripture presents him as a man specifically called by God, gifted for service, entrusted with sacred responsibility, capable of serious failure, subject to divine discipline, and nevertheless used within God’s purposes for Israel.

Primary Scriptures: Exodus 4:10–16, 27–31; Exodus 28:1–3; Numbers 16:46–48

Supporting Scriptures: Exodus 7:1–2; Exodus 17:8–13; Exodus 24:1–14; Exodus 32:1–6, 21–24; Leviticus 8:1–12; Leviticus 10:1–3; Numbers 12:1–11; Numbers 20:7–12, 22–29; Deuteronomy 9:20

The resurrection is the historical, bodily raising of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day, demonstrating His victory over sin and death and guaranteeing the future resurrection and eternal life of all who belong to Him.

Episode Aim: To help believers understand that Christianity stands or falls upon the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that because Christ lives, the believer possesses forgiveness, hope, victory over death, and the certainty of future resurrection.

Primary Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:12–22, John 11:25–26

Supporting Scriptures: Matthew 28:1–10, Luke 24:36–43, John 20:24–29, Acts 1:1–3, Acts 2:22–36, Acts 17:30–31, Romans 1:4, Romans 4:24–25, Romans 6:4–11, 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, 35–58, 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, Revelation 1:17–18

The Christian life includes wonderful truths that are already ours in Christ, but Scripture also points believers toward something still to come. We have eternal life now. We belong to God now. Yet we still struggle with sin, suffer, grow weary, and live in mortal bodies. Our present condition is not our final condition.

In this episode of Written and Read, Dr. Robert Crowder and McKenzie Fleming examine the biblical doctrine of glorification. Beginning with the promise of 1 John 3 that “when he shall appear, we shall be like him,” they consider what Scripture says about the future transformation of everyone who belongs to Christ. Philippians 3 points to Christ changing our present bodies, while Romans 8 places present suffering alongside the glory God has promised.

Glorification is not human self-improvement carried to its highest level. It is God's future work in the believer when Christ comes. The presence of sin will finally be gone, our present mortality will give way to the future God has promised, and we will be fitted for eternal life in His presence. Christian hope therefore looks beyond present weakness and suffering toward Christ Himself and the day when we shall see Him as He is.

Primary Scriptures

1 John 3:2–3; Philippians 3:20–21

Secondary/Supporting Scriptures

Romans 8:18–30; 1 Corinthians 15:49–53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 21:1–5

Can a Christian really know that he is saved? And when doubts arise, where should the believer look for assurance?

In this episode of Written and Read, Dr. Robert Crowder and McKenzie Fleming examine the biblical doctrine of assurance of salvation and an important distinction that Christians sometimes miss: eternal security describes the security of the believer's salvation in Christ, while assurance describes the believer's confidence in that security. Beginning with 1 John 5:11–13 and Jesus’ words in John 10:27–30, they show that God does not leave His children dependent upon changing emotions to determine whether they belong to Him.

The believer's assurance rests upon the finished work of Jesus Christ and the promises God has given in His Word. Feelings change. Spiritual struggles come. Christians sometimes fail and require confession, correction, and restoration. Yet none of those things means Christ has abandoned those who belong to Him. Scripture directs the believer away from confidence in his own ability to keep himself saved and toward confidence in the Savior who keeps His own.

Primary Scriptures

1 John 5:11–13; John 10:27–30

Secondary/Supporting Scriptures

John 3:16; John 5:24; John 6:37–40; Romans 6:1–2; Romans 8:1, 31–39; Ephesians 1:13–14; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:5–11; 1 Peter 1:3–5; 1 John 1:9

How can a holy God declare a guilty sinner righteous without ignoring sin or lowering His standard? The biblical doctrine of imputation takes us to the heart of that question and, ultimately, to the heart of the Gospel.

In this episode of Written and Read, Dr. Robert Crowder and McKenzie Fleming examine what Scripture means when it speaks of righteousness being “counted,” “reckoned,” or credited to the believer. Beginning with Abraham in Romans 4 and following Paul’s testimony in Philippians 3, they explore the great exchange accomplished through Jesus Christ: our sin placed upon Christ and His righteousness credited to those who believe.

Imputation reminds us that our acceptance before God does not rest upon our religious performance, personal goodness, or ability to make ourselves worthy. The believer's confidence rests in Christ and in the righteousness God provides through faith in Him. The result is neither spiritual pride nor carelessness about holiness, but humility, gratitude, confidence, and worship. This is grace applied personally: not our righteousness, but His.

Primary Scriptures: Romans 4:3–8, Philippians 3:7–9

Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 15:6, Isaiah 53:4–6, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:21–26, Romans 5:12–19, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:6–9, 1 Corinthians 1:30

When God saved us, He did more than forgive our sins. He welcomed us into His family.

The doctrine of adoption answers one of the most personal questions in salvation: What relationship did God give us with Himself when He saved us? Scripture tells us that those who trust Jesus Christ are not left standing at a distance from God. They are given the privilege of becoming His children and calling Him Father.

In this episode of Written and Read, McKenzie Fleming and Dr. Robert C. Crowder explore the biblical doctrine of adoption through Romans 8, Galatians 4, and other key passages. They examine what it means to receive “the Spirit of adoption,” why believers can cry, “Abba, Father,” and how Christ’s work of redemption made our entrance into God’s family possible.

Adoption gives the believer a new relationship, a place of belonging, the loving care and correction of a heavenly Father, fellowship with God’s family, and the promise of an eternal inheritance. Salvation does more than change our standing before God. Through Jesus Christ, God makes us His children.

Scripture References

Romans 8:14–18, 23, 29; Galatians 4:4–7; John 1:12–13; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:3–6; Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 12:5–11; 1 John 3:1–3; 1 Peter 1:3–5

If God has given us new life in Christ, why do we still struggle with sin?

That question troubles many sincere Christians. We know we have been saved, yet temptation remains. Old habits sometimes return. Spiritual growth can seem painfully slow. Does the continuing struggle mean something went wrong when we were saved?

In this episode of Written and Read, McKenzie Fleming and Dr. Robert C. Crowder explore the biblical doctrine of sanctification and the encouraging answer Scripture gives to that question. Beginning with Paul’s declaration, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,” they examine how God continues the work He began when He saved us.

Through passages including 1 Thessalonians 4, Romans 12, Galatians 5, and Philippians 1, they consider the believer’s continuing battle with sin, the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, the importance of God’s Word, and the believer’s responsibility to yield to God in faith and obedience.

Regeneration gives us spiritual life. Sanctification is God developing that life. The Christian life is not instant perfection, but continuing growth as God patiently shapes His children into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Scripture References

1 Thessalonians 4:3–7; Romans 12:1–2; John 17:17; Romans 6:11–14; Romans 7:18–25; Romans 8:29; Galatians 5:16–17, 22–25; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:12–13; 2 Corinthians 3:18

The commission is Christ’s continuing command to His people to carry the Gospel to the world, make disciples, teach believers to obey His Word, and trust the Holy Spirit to accomplish what human effort alone cannot do.

Episode Aim: To help believers understand that salvation gives them both a message and a mission. Every believer is called to live as a faithful witness of Jesus Christ and to participate in making disciples until He returns.

Primary Scriptures: Matthew 28:18–20, Acts 1:8

Supporting Scriptures: Matthew 9:36–38, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46–49, John 20:21, Acts 2:42–47, Romans 1:16, Romans 10:13–17, 1 Corinthians 3:5–9, 2 Corinthians 5:18–20, 2 Timothy 2:2