In this episode of Renown, we walk through Ezra and Nehemiah as the last great history books before the New Testament—tracing the return from exile, the three waves back to Jerusalem, and the rebuilding of the temple and the city walls in the face of fierce opposition. We dig into the leadership and prayer lives of Ezra and Nehemiah, how God used pagan kings to fulfill His promises, and where these stories point us straight to Jesus. Along the way, we press into discipleship themes of courage, perseverance, repentance, and the hope God holds out even when His people have blown it.

In this episode of Renown, Tobin, Josh, and Matt walk through 1 & 2 Chronicles and show how these often-overlooked books point straight to Jesus and the gospel. They unpack the difference between Kings and Chronicles, the hope given to a discouraged post-exilic people, and how the genealogies trace God's covenant faithfulness all the way to Christ. Along the way, they highlight stories like Manasseh’s radical repentance, Jehoshaphat’s dependence on God, and the unnamed faithful who abandoned comfort to follow the Lord. The guys press into themes of heart posture, obedience, costly discipleship, and worship as warfare, calling listeners to count the cost and follow Jesus with undivided hearts today.

Welcome back to Renown, where we’re finding Jesus all through the Old Testament and learning what that means for our lives today. In this episode, we’re diving into 2 Kings—from Elisha’s miracles that foreshadow Christ, to lepers at the gate, bears in the woods, and kings who either walked with God or rejected Him. We’ll trace how Elisha points us to Jesus, how exile reflects the consequences of drifting from God, and why obedience and wholehearted worship still matter for us right now. Grab your Bible, lean in, and let’s see how God’s faithfulness shines even through some of Israel’s darkest days.

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In this episode of Renown, Tobin, Josh, and Matt walk through 1 Kings, tracing how the rise and fall of Israel’s kings point us to Jesus as the true and greater King. From Solomon’s golden temple and tragic compromise to Ahab, Jezebel, and the showdown on Mount Carmel, they unpack God’s jealousy for exclusive worship and His relentless faithfulness to a wandering people. The guys highlight Elijah’s ministry, the danger of small compromises, and why leaders bear a unique responsibility to lead others toward—or away from—God. They wrap up with practical discipleship questions about who is ruling your heart, what idols you must reject, and how to finish well as a follower of Christ.

This episode of Renown continues our year-long journey of finding Jesus in every book of the Bible as we dive into 2 Samuel. Tobin, Joshua, and the team trace David’s rise to the throne, the holiness of God seen in Uzzah and the ark, and the need for a mediator ultimately fulfilled in Christ. They unpack the tenderness of David’s covenant love toward Mephibosheth as a vivid picture of grace, and then soberly walk through David’s sin with Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah, and the painful consequences that follow. Throughout, they highlight how David’s life—his humility, failures, repentance, and devotion—points us to Jesus, the true King after God’s own heart, whose mercy is greater than our sin.

Renown continues our “Finding Jesus in Every Book” journey as Tobin, Josh, and guest Glenn Cossaboom, dive into 1 Samuel. Together they trace the transition from judges to kings, unpacking Hannah’s desperate prayer, Samuel’s calling, Israel’s demand for a king, and the rise of Saul and David. Along the way they explore how Jesus is foreshadowed in Samuel’s prophetic ministry, Saul’s tragic failure, and David’s unexpected anointing and victory over Goliath. This episode presses into themes of obedience over appearance, character over charisma, and faithfulness in the wilderness, offering practical discipleship takeaways for everyday believers.

This recap episode of Renown walks through Genesis to Ruth, highlighting how every part of the Old Testament points to Jesus. Tobin, Josh, and Matt trace messianic themes from the first gospel promise in Genesis 3, through the Passover lamb, the tabernacle, the sacrificial system in Leviticus, the bronze serpent and water from the rock in Numbers, and Moses as a type of Christ in Deuteronomy. They show how Joshua’s leadership, Rahab’s scarlet cord, the flawed judges, and Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer all foreshadow Christ’s salvation, kingship, and grace to outsiders. Throughout, the conversation connects these “Jesus sightings” to personal discipleship, reminding listeners that God has always had a sovereign plan to redeem people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

In Judges, we catch glimpses of Jesus in the “angel of the Lord” who steps into Israel’s darkness with divine rescue. The judges themselves are flawed, temporary saviors who point to our need for a true and better Deliverer. Through Israel’s repeated cycle of rebellion and rescue, Judges stirs a longing for a King who won’t fail or leave His people. That longing is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, our eternal Judge, King, and Savior.

1. Where do we see Jesus foreshadowed in Judges(e.g., the “angel of the Lord,” the flawed deliverers, Samson’s final act), and how do these glimpses deepen your understanding of Him as our true Deliverer, King, and Bridegroom?
2. How does the cycle of sin → oppression → crying out → rescue in Judges mirror patterns in your own life, and what would true repentance (heart-change, not just behavior-change) look like for you right now?
3. Israel’s failure to “drive out” what God commanded them to remove led to compromise and eventual collapse. What “Canaanites” (habits, relationships, priorities, idols) are you currently tolerating instead of driving out, and what concrete steps could you take to obey God more fully?