Cedar & Cypress Podcast

Advent with Allison Part 5: Christmas for the Weary & Restless

Merry Christmas! Welcome to the fifth and final installment of Advent with Allison. Today, we’re having a casual conversation about hearing from God, feeling restless and unsettled during the holiday season, and why we need to stop pursuing happiness and “self-love” as the highest good in our lives.
(Also, a quick correction on my John 16 commentary – I stated this was before Jesus’s ascension, but it was before his arrest and crucifixion. I’ve included a resource below regarding this chapter. Sorry about that!)
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
Job 38
Psalm‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬ 
Proverbs 4:23
Matthew 11:28-30
John 15-16
Resources
ESV Study Bible
David Guzik, “John 16 – The Departing Jesus’ Final Teaching”
Joe Carter, “What You Should Know About the Prosperity Gospel”
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.

Advent with Allison Part 4: Forgive as You’ve Been Forgiven

Welcome back to Advent with Allison, a five-part series where we anticipate the annual commemoration of Jesus’s birth. This episode is part four, covering the perfect forgiveness that Jesus modeled in his birth, life, death, and resurrection. Our almighty God extends salvation, freedom from sin, and eternal security to those who accept it. Tune in to explore Jesus’s forgiveness made available to you and why Christ-followers must extend gracious forgiveness to others.
(A quick note of correction: When I talked about Jesus’s crucifixion around the 34-35 minute mark, I misspoke and used the phrase “tie up” but we know Jesus had nails driven into his hands or wrists from John 20:24-27. Sorry for any confusion!)
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
Genesis 16:13
Leviticus 4:32-35
Psalm 32, 51, 103:12
Matthew 4:1-11, 5:27-30, 6:14, 7:13-14, 18:21-35, 26:15, 26:40, 27
Mark 15
Luke 23
John 19
Acts 7:54-60
Romans 6:23, 10:9
2 Corinthians 1:3
Philippians 2:1-11
Hebrews 4:15
1 John 1:8-10
Resources
ESV Study Bible
Bible Project, “Animal Sacrifice? Really?” (Article)
Bible Project, “Sacrifice and Atonement” (YouTube Video)
David Guzik, “Matthew 21 Commentary: The Beginning of Jesus’s Last Week”
David Guzik, “Matthew 25 Commentary: Jesus’s Olivet Discourse”
ESV, “Sacrifices”
Got Questions, “Does God really forget our sins?”
Got Questions, “If I do not forgive others, does that mean my sins are not forgiven?”
James Beilby, Paul Eddy, Thomas Schreiner, Gregory Boyd, Joel Green, Bruce Reichenbach, The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views (Spectrum Multiview Book Series)
The Harmony of the Gospels: The Crucifixion (side-by-side comparison from all four gospels)
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.

Advent with Allison Part 3: Mighty are the Meek

Welcome back to Advent with Allison, a five-part series where we anticipate the annual commemoration of Jesus’s birth. This episode is part three, covering humility and meekness. We will examine humility from the example set by Joseph, Jesus’s father. Tune in to discover the richness of humility and why Christ’s followers must also pursue humility.
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
2 Chronicles 7:14
Psalm 138:6, 139:13
Proverbs 3:34, 29:23
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-15, 16:24-27, 23:12
Luke 1:52
Philippians 2:1-11
James 4:6
1 Peter 5:5
Resources
ESV Study Bible
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.

Advent with Allison Part 2: Messianic Prophecies

Welcome to Advent with Allison, a five-part series where we anticipate the annual commemoration of Jesus’s birth. This episode is part two, covering the Messianic prophecies God gifted to humanity to signal Jesus’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. There are over 300 prophecies, and we will explore just four of them, including their fulfillment. Tune in to rediscover the incredible wonder of the Christmas story!
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
Genesis 21:1-7, 37, 39-50
Exodus 2:11-12, 14
1 Samuel 17:34-37
Daniel 2, 7, 9, 12
Psalm 16:10, 35:19, 49:15, 69:4, 139:1-3
Isaiah 7:14
Zechariah 9:9
Matthew 1:22-23, 6:1-4,  27:37, 28:2-7
Mark 9:23-25, 11:7-11
Luke 1:26-31, 2, 15:10
John 1:1-4, 1:49, 9:23-25, 11:1-44, 15:24-25, 20:24-29
Acts 2:22-32
Philippians 4:11-13
Hebrews 11:12-14
Revelation 21
Resources
ESV Study Bible
“351 Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ”
“44 Prophecies Jesus Christ Fulfilled”
Empower Global,  “The Mathematical Probability that Jesus is the Christ” 
Jesus Film, “Old Testament Prophecies”
Jews for Jesus, “40 Most Helpful Messianic Prophecies”
Wikipedia, “Old Testament Messianic Prophecies Quoted in the New Testament”
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.

BONUS | You Really Need to Slow Down, and Here’s Why

Before we get much further in our Advent series, we encourage you to slow down and live with more intention. The holiday season’s tendency to be all “hustle-and-bustle” can be an insidious distraction from God’s presence in our lives. God commands your awareness of him, observation of his handiwork, and participation in his Kingdom work. In this episode, Allison explains the necessity of solitude with God and provides tips on seeking God’s presence daily. We all do this imperfectly, so it’s not about striving for perfection! It’s about looking for God with an honest heart and open mind.
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
Psalm 46:10
Matthew 7:7-12, 14:13
Mark 1:35
Luke 6:12-13, 10:38-42, 22:39-44
John 15:4-11
Hebrews 4:14-16 
Bible Study Resources
(Please note that the inclusion of a source is not necessarily an endorsement of every idea or message purported by said author or individual. However, these are helpful resources to be used with discretion.)
Bible App (YouVersion)
Bible Gateway
Bible Hub
Bible Project YouTube
Blue Letter Bible
Daily Grace Co 2022 Bible Reading Plan
Enduring Word Commentary
ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Got Questions - FAQs about Christianity
New Morning Mercies Devotional
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.

Advent with Allison Part 1: The Greatest Lie Ever Told

Welcome to Advent with Allison, a five-part series where we anticipate the annual commemoration of Jesus’s birth. This episode is part one, covering the picturesque universe God created. From the overflow of love, God creates humans to enjoy his good world and work the earth for its prosperity. But this perfect relationship is shattered when humans disobey God’s instruction. Humanity has been doing the same ever since. Tune in to learn about the greatest lie ever told.
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
Genesis 1-3
Isaiah 14:12-14
Ezekiel 28:12-18
Luke 10:18
John 1:1-3, 1:14, 8:44
Romans 6:23
Resources
ESV Study Bible
Bible Project, “Sin” (YouTube Video)
Bible Project, “The Satan and Demons” (YouTube Video)
Got Questions, “How, why, and when did Satan fall from heaven?”
Ryan Reeves, “The History of Advent” (The Gospel Coalition)
Tim Challies, “Our God is a Relational God”
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.

Episode 26 | True Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving! Gratitude practices are often shallow and surface-level. People will say, “Keep a gratitude journal!” where you are meant to write down a list of all your circumstantially “good” things. The problem with this gratitude approach is that circumstances outside your control define it. Thus, gratitude ebbs and flows with how you feel each passing moment. How can we maintain thankfulness and joy amid hard times? Tune in to find out!
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
Exodus 4:11
Job 38
John 1:14
Romans 8:18
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:16-18
James 1:2-4
Resources
ESV Study Bible
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.

Episode 25 | The Identity Crisis

Identity is an essential facet of our lives. Everything we believe is rooted in our view of God and ourselves. When we operate with warped “realities” about who God is or who we are, the burden of seeking security, satisfaction, and significance falls on us. However, when we build our lives upon the foundation of Christ, not even the worst storms of life can shake us. Tune in this week to hear about how we can accept our identity in Christ and find our purpose in God alone.
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
Genesis 1:26
Psalm 139:13-16
Haggai 1:5-9
Matthew 7:24-28, 28:16-20
Romans 1:18-32, 5:8
Ephesians 3:20
James 1:5-7
Revelation 21:6
(Slight correction: Around 29:55, Allison mentions a passage from the Apostle Paul’s writings. This verse is Ephesians 3:20 and is not found in Philippians.)
Previous episodes mentioned: “Episode 1 The God of the Bible” and “Episode 14 A Study of Haggai”
Resources
ESV Study Bible
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.

Episode 24 | Wayward Women’s Ministries

Some of us have had great experiences with women’s ministries, and some have not. Allison and Liv have had less-than-ideal experiences with women’s ministries since they lacked theological depth, biblical accuracy, and discipleship. Biblical truth is edifying, constructive, and challenging. In this episode, we will share our personal experiences and offer recommendations for improving women’s ministries.
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
Romans 3:23-26
1 Corinthians 13:11
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Titus 2:3-5
Resources
ESV Study Bible
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.

Episode 23 | Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Today, we wade into the deep waters of controversy! Join us as we compare Halloween’s dark history with its modern context, discuss our personal convictions on the spooky autumn holiday, and warn Christians from passing judgment on each other for their choices.
Thank you for joining us! Below, you can find the information we studied for this episode.
Scriptures
Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:18
John 15:19
Romans 12:2, 14:13-23
1 Corinthians 1:28-31
Ephesians 6:12
James 1:5, 3:13-18
Resources
ESV Study Bible
Billy Graham Ministries, “Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?”
Crossway, “Why We Should Not Fear Satan and Demons”
Joshua Mark, “History of Halloween”
History.com, “Halloween 2022”
To be alerted of new episodes, please follow us on Instagram @cedarandcypresspod! If you have questions, want to suggest an episode topic, or connect with us, you can reach us at cedarandcypresspod@gmail.com.