In this message from John 1:35–51, Pastor Christian unpacks Jesus’ first invitation to discipleship and the true meaning of the word disciple—mathetes, an apprentice who follows so closely that the dust of the Rabbi covers him.
Discover the biblical picture of discipleship:
• Following Jesus, not religion
• Walking in your new identity (Cephas/Peter)
• Why Jesus chooses ordinary people
• John the Baptist’s role in preparing true disciples
• The question Jesus asks every believer: “What are you seeking?”
• How Andrew models bringing people to Jesus—family, outsiders, and children
• Why discipleship is apprenticeship, imitation, and lifelong transformation
This episode is for anyone longing for deeper spiritual growth, stronger identity in Christ, and a clearer understanding of what it means to truly follow Jesus.
Keywords: discipleship, John 1 sermon, following Jesus, Christian identity, mathetes, biblical discipleship, Calvary Chapel teaching, Kona Hawaii church, apprenticeship to Christ, gospel of John study, Jesus calls His disciples, Andrew and Peter, Philip and Nathanael, new identity in Christ, spiritual formation.
Are you building your identity on shifting sand — feelings, achievements, or affiliations — instead of the solid foundation of Christ?
In this message from Pastor Christian Dobson at Calvary Kona, we open John 1:19-34 and study the life of John the Baptist, a man who stood firm in who he was not, who he was, and who God is.
Discover how understanding your God-given identity brings peace, purpose, and stability in a culture that says, “Define yourself.”
You’ll learn:
Why John the Baptist’s example dismantles the myth of self-made identity
How Scripture defines who you are in Christ
The three anchors of a stable identity: knowing who you’re not, who you are, and who Jesus is
If you’ve ever wrestled with questions like “Who am I?” or “What gives my life meaning?”, this teaching will help you rediscover your purpose in the light of the Gospel.
📖 Scripture: John 1:19-34
📍 From Calvary Kona — a generational church in Kailua Kona, Hawai‘i
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💬 Share this episode with someone seeking identity and truth in Christ.
Key Words: identity in Christ, John the Baptist, Gospel of John, Christian identity, Calvary Kona, Christian podcast, Bible teaching, purpose in life, finding purpose, faith podcast
What does it mean that “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”? In this teaching, Pastor Christian Dobson opens the Gospel of John to reveal how God’s plan unfolded from the Old Covenant to the New — from Law to Grace, from striving to rest, from religion to relationship.
Through the story of Israel’s struggle in the Old Testament and the powerful truth of John 1, we see how Jesus — the Logos, the very Word of God — stepped into human history, pitched His tent among us, and revealed the tangible glory of God.
Discover why the Law could never save us, how Christ fulfilled it perfectly, and what it means for you today to live under the New Covenant of Grace and Truth.
👉 Key Themes & Keywords:
Gospel of John, Bible Study, Old Covenant vs New Covenant, Jesus Christ, Logos, Grace and Truth, Law of Moses, Book of Nehemiah, Christian Teaching, Bible Podcast, Salvation, Word Became Flesh, Gospel Message, Communion, Faith, Spiritual Growth
What happens when God seems silent? Between the closing of Nehemiah and the opening of the Gospel of John, 400 years passed with no prophetic word—no miracles, no messengers… yet history was moving under His hand.
In this episode, Pastor Christian Dobson takes you through the powerful transition from the Old Testament’s final failures to the New Testament’s ultimate fulfillment. Discover how God used the rise of the Greek Empire, the spread of a universal language, and the Roman roads themselves to prepare the world for His greatest message—the Word made flesh.
You’ll learn:
Why human promises and passion can’t overcome sin
How the “silent years” were actually full of divine movement
The prophetic accuracy behind Daniel’s vision of Greece and Rome
Why John starts his Gospel with “In the beginning was the Word”
Key Verse: John 20:31 — “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
Tune in for a faith-building journey through history, prophecy, and purpose—and see how even in silence, God is still speaking.
In this powerful closing study of Nehemiah Chapter 13, we step into one of the most revealing moments in Old Testament history—the moment when revival fades, covenants are broken, and Nehemiah returns to find the people of God once again compromising their promises.
Nehemiah had watched genuine repentance, heartfelt tears, and sacred oaths in chapters 7–12. Leaders signed a covenant to honor God through marriage purity, Sabbath rest, and tithes to the Temple. But just twelve years later, every promise was broken. The revival didn’t last.
Here, as the curtain closes on the Old Testament narrative, we see what man-made religion, emotion, and rules can’t do — they can’t conquer sin. Even Nehemiah’s righteous anger, strong leadership, and temple reform can’t change the human heart.
But this is where the gospel story begins.
Right after Nehemiah… John’s Gospel opens.
Where the Old Testament ends with broken promises, the New Testament begins with Jesus Christ, the only One who can truly bring lasting transformation.
📖 Key Themes:
Nehemiah 13 Bible study
Revival, covenant, and human failure
Why man’s efforts can’t overcome sin
The need for Jesus Christ after the Old Testament
Historical bridge between Nehemiah and the Gospel of John
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In this episode, we walk through Nehemiah chapters 12 and 13, where joyful worship and faithful stewardship in God’s house collide with compromise and misplaced priorities. Nehemiah gathers the Levites to restore worship, creates space for generosity, and appoints faithful stewards—but after his departure, the enemy creeps back in. We’ll explore how God calls us to protect the sacred spaces of our hearts, homes, and churches so that His joy and work can continue.
Jerusalem needs to be repopulated, but who will go? Nehemiah and his leadership team work together to solve this problem. As we study the three groups who find themselves in Jerusalem we also get to learn about ourselves.
Join Pastor Christian as we open our Bibles to Nehemiah chapter 10 and trace how God stirred revival in the lives of ordinary people. Through a roster of 84 names we watch personal transformation take root—families, vocations, and congregational life recommitted to God. These leaders signed a covenant to protect their homes, honor Sabbath rhythms, and give firstfruits, showing how revival reshapes everyday choices. Tune in for practical encouragement on building godly families and a generational church here in Kona as we apply Nehemiah’s example to our lives today.
After weeks of celebration, the nation of Israel separates themselves for a time of humility and repentance. They seek God as a nation in mourning.
God gives wisdom on how to keep building the walls of Jerusalem despite growing pressures all around
Rebuilding of the wall starts as Israel as a nation grabs ahold of a shared vision
God gives his people a timely word of encouragement in a dark and perilous time
God gives his people hope in a dark time
As we are just getting this new church plant up and running may it reflect the character of our Lord Jesus and be filled with His resurrection power that fueled the early church.
This is the final Chapter of Acts we will be covering in this study