Even more so than when we first covered this topic over a year ago, this week's conversation is a timely and weighty one. In the final topic of our What Does the Bible Say About ____? series, Steve, Rich, and Sarah discuss what the Bible says about Christians and Israel.

This is a complex topic because it touches theology, history, politics, and current events. One of the biggest challenges is that people often use the word Israel to mean very different things. Are they referring to the Jewish people? The modern nation of Israel? Its government? Or some combination of all three? Before meaningful conversations can happen, it's important to understand what we actually mean.

In this episode, Steve and Rich help clarify the relationship between the Israel we read about in Scripture and the modern nation of Israel. They unpack key passages like Genesis 12 and 15, explaining God's covenant with Abraham and the family history that shapes the biblical story of Israel. While God's promises to Israel appear throughout Scripture, an important question remains: How should Christians understand those promises today?

The Jewish people have a unique history that traces back to Abraham nearly 4,000 years ago, but does that mean Christians should support everything the modern nation of Israel does? How should believers think biblically about the current events and conflicts involving Israel?

Join us as we thoughtfully wrestle with these questions and more. Be sure you're subscribed so you don't miss this important conversation continuing next week!

Check out Episode 86 (audio only) of Resident Strangers where replacement theology is discussed

Steve's sermon on this topic from February 2026

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If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

Before continuing last week's conversation, Steve, Rich, and Sarah take a few minutes to share favorite Fourth of July memories and reflect on America's upcoming 250th anniversary.

Picking up where they left off, the team revisits the topic of Christian nationalism. Steve offers this definition: a political and ideological movement that seeks to closely fuse Christianity with national identity, government, and public life. The conversation explores why America's founders did not clearly establish the nation as officially Christian and how their desire for religious freedom may have shaped that decision.

The crew emphasizes that while Christians can appreciate and engage in their nation, their ultimate allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. The primary mission of the Church is not to make a nation Christian, but to make Christ known. As Rich points out, America's deepest problem is not political, it is spiritual.

The episode also addresses the division politics can create, even among believers, and the importance of having thoughtful conversations rooted in grace and truth. Sarah shares how both idolizing and demonizing political figures can harm the witness of Christ and create confusion on where allegiances lie. Throughout it all, the reminder is clear: God can use anything, even politics, but Christians must keep the main thing the main thing. And the main thing is Jesus.

Up next week: What Does The Bible Say About Christians and Israel?

Check out Episode 53 (audio only) of Resident Strangers where Independence Day is discussed 🇺🇸 🎧

Steve's sermon on this topic from January 2026

Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube 🎥

Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list

Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com

If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.