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A Stranger in the House of God

A Stranger in the House of God

By: John Koessler
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A Stranger in the House of God is the Podcast of award-winning author John Koessler. Growing up the son of agnostics, John Koessler saw a Catholic church on one end of the street and a Baptist church on the other. In the no-man’s land between the two, this curious outsider wondered about the God they worshiped—and began a lifelong search to comprehend the grace and mystery of God. John's podcast addresses fundamental questions and struggles faced by spiritual seekers and mature believers. John is the author of 17 books and a columnist for Mature Living Magazine.

© 2026 John Koessler Spirituality
Episodes
  • Don't Ask: Why Some Questions are Better Left Unanswered

    Don't Ask: Why Some Questions are Better Left Unanswered
    Feb 11 2026

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    When I was a college professor, students often asked me questions. Some began by saying, “This may be a stupid question.” For many years, my stock response was, “There are no stupid questions.” But after a while, it dawned on me that I was wrong about this. There are stupid questions. There are also disingenuous questions. Some are traps, and many are merely dead ends. Satan deconstructed Eve's faith with a question. Some questions are better left unanswered.

    Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

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    16 mins
  • Simon the Bold

    Simon the Bold
    Jan 11 2026

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    Most sermons that I have heard, including some that I have preached myself, that focus on Simon Peter tend to portray him as something of a buffoon. They present Simon Peter as a boaster and a blowhard. Peter, as the Gospels admit, said and did some foolish things. But that did not make him a fool. Nor was he a coward. The bravest thing that Simon Peter ever did is probably not what you think.

    Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

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    13 mins
  • Blue Christmas: The Cure for Christmas Melancholy

    Blue Christmas: The Cure for Christmas Melancholy
    Dec 13 2025

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    The cure for Christmas melancholia is not, as a popular song tells us, that we “need a little Christmas right now.” Nor is it necessarily Puritan austerity or renunciation of all observance of Christmas. The cure, strange as it may seem, is good theology.

    Dr. John Koessler is an award-winning writer and retired faculty emeritus of Moody Bible Institute. John writes the Praying the Word column for the Lifeway publication Mature Living and is the author of 16 books. His latest book, On Things Above: The Earthly Importance of Heavenly Reality, is available from Amazon. You can learn more about John at https://www.johnkoessler.com.

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    17 mins
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