Christian sparks a little "beach envy" by checking in from Florida while John Luke is stuck with the oily pond next door, and the guys get a lighthearted update on life with newborn twins. Zach and Al help trace how Jesus entered a world driven by power, fear, and control. With Rome, religious leaders, and the crowd all fighting to protect their influence, the same forces driving their decisions still show up today, pointing to a bigger story where surrender—not control—defines true power. In this episode: Matthew 3, verses 13–17; Matthew 4; Mark 9; John 1, verse 29; Psalm 139; Psalm 51; Hosea 11, verse 1; John 11; Acts 6; John 18; 1 Corinthians 15 Today’s conversation is about Lessons 4 of Ancient Christianity taught by visiting Hillsdale Professor of History Kenneth Calvert. Take the course with us at no cost to you! Sign up at http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/. More about Ancient Christianity: Christ entered the world during the reign of Caesar Augustus. The tensions between Christianity and the Roman Empire shaped the daily practice of the Christian faith and led many Romans to distrust and persecute the early Christians. But Christianity also benefitted from the Roman world. And when Rome collapsed in the West, Christianity provided the hope for preserving civilization. In this free, eleven-lecture course, Professor Kenneth Calvert will explore: How the Jewish, Greek, and Roman cultures all contributed to preparing the world to hear the Gospel. Why many Romans distrusted and persecuted the early Christians. The inspiring stories of Christ, His apostles, and faithful ones throughout the first four centuries of Christianity. The arguments of key early Christian apologists—Ignatius, Irenaeus, Justin, Athanasius, and more—who defended and defined the Christian faith amidst the animosity of the Roman world. The conversion of Constantine and how he brought stability to Rome, and how the rivalry between his sons almost returned Rome to paganism. How Augustine’s writings helped preserve the message of Christianity during the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West. You will discover the uncertainties, trials, and triumphs of the earliest Christians as they confronted controversies within the faith and persecutions from outside it. Join us today to discover the improbable and miraculous story of Christianity. Sign up at ⁠http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621 Chapters00:00 Beach Envy04:55 Twin Update09:20 Why This Lecture Gets to the Heart of It All13:30 Why Jesus Didn’t Fit Any Cultural Box19:00 The Magi, Provision & God’s Bigger Plan29:30 Jesus as King vs. Rome’s Authority35:00 Pilate, Politics & the Pressure to Crucify41:30 Surrender & Why It Still Changes Everything — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices