Ever felt your faith isn't as strong as someone else's?

Back to the Bible Daily with Braden Pedersen explores the story of Thomas and how Jesus meets honest doubt with tenderness, turning hesitation into the worshipful confession "My Lord and my God." This episode encourages listeners to bring questions to God, receive his patience, and let doubt become a doorway to deeper faith.

Read: Read John 20:19-29.

Reflect: Where are you holding back from Jesus because of doubt? Notice how Jesus meets Thomas where he is.

Respond: Bring one specific question or fear to God in prayer today and journal what you hear. Choose one act of trust to practice this week.

Reveal: Share Thomas’s story with someone who’s wrestling with faith and offer to pray with them or listen without judgment.

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Who is Jesus? In this episode of Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen centers on Scripture to answer why Jesus is more than a teacher: fully God and fully man, the incarnate Word who lived, died, and rose for our salvation.

What you’ll hear: a clear look at John 1:1–14, Colossians, and Hebrews 1 as Braden explains Jesus’ deity, humanity, and why both matter for the gospel.

4R action steps:

- Read: Read John 1, Colossians 1, and Hebrews 1 this week.

- Reflect: Ask how Jesus’ dual nature changes your trust, worship, and daily choices.

- Respond: Pray confessing your need for Christ, repent where needed, and live out the gospel.

- Reveal: Share with one person why Jesus being both God and man matters; invite them to read the passages with you.

Listen now and center today on God’s Word. Keywords: who is Jesus, Jesus fully God and fully man, John 1, Colossians, Hebrews 1, Christology, Trinity, salvation, Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen

What does Jesus mean when he says faith can move mountains? In this episode of Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen explores the mustard-seed image of faith, why even tiny faith in a great God is powerful, and why faith aligns our will with God rather than functioning as a wish-granting tool.

Read: Read Jesus’ teaching on mustard-seed faith in the Gospels and the surrounding passage.

Reflect: Ask where you’re placing your trust—yourself, your plans, or God—and how a small faith in God changes your outlook.

Respond: Pray a short prayer of surrender, name one mountain you need God to move, and take one obedient step this week.

Reveal: Share this episode or the mustard-seed truth with someone, offer to pray with them, and point to God’s power in a real need.

If this encouraged you, subscribe to Back to the Bible Daily with Braden Pedersen for more short Scripture-centered devotionals.

Keywords: faith moves mountains, mustard seed faith, Braden Pedersen, Back to the Bible Daily, Christian devotion, Bible reflection, spiritual growth, trust God, scripture study, faith and obedience

What does real love look like according to Scripture? Braden Pedersen on Back to the Bible Daily unpacks 1 Corinthians 13 and passages in 1 John to show that true love is action, not just emotion. Hear why love is the greatest of faith, hope, and love, how the cross defines sacrificial love, and how you can practice love in marriage, friendships, and family even when feelings fade.

Read: Read 1 Corinthians 13 and the passages in 1 John about God’s love.

Reflect: Ask which verbs from the chapter you avoid when feelings fade and which one you can practice today.

Respond: Pick one action—be patient, show kindness, bear or endure—and do one concrete thing to live it out.

Reveal: Let the cross shape your demonstration of love; serve someone visibly, explain why you love them, and point others to Jesus’ sacrificial love.

Listen and be challenged to love as God loves through practical, chosen actions. Back to the Bible Daily with Braden Pedersen.

Keywords: Christian podcast, love, agape, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John, God is love, Braden Pedersen, Back to the Bible Daily, Christian devotion, marriage, relationships, Bible teaching, practical faith

Are you carrying the weight of loss today?

In this episode of Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen speaks gently to grieving hearts and shows how Scripture meets sorrow with nearness, blessing, and comfort. Listen as he walks through Psalm 34:18, Jesus’ words about mourning in the Sermon on the Mount, and Paul’s promise of the God of all comfort to help you grieve with hope and find practical ways to lean on God and community.

Read: Read Psalm 34:18, Matthew 5:4, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 aloud.

Reflect: Where do you feel God drawing near in your pain? Journal one memory or image that surfaces today.

Respond: Give yourself permission to grieve. Pray for God’s peace, name one person who can sit with you, and accept help.

Reveal: Share a verse or a short note with someone who is hurting and offer to listen or pray with them.

Keywords: grief, comfort, mourning, God is near, Psalm 34:18, Matthew 5:4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen, Christian encouragement, faith and loss, pastoral care

What would you do if obeying God could cost you your job, your reputation, or even your life? Today on Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen explores Daniel 3 and the remarkable faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In this episode, Braden explains why genuine faith refuses to compromise under pressure and unpacks the powerful meaning behind the words "but if not."

Read Read Daniel 3:1–30 and pay close attention to the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they stand before King Nebuchadnezzar.

Reflect Ask: Am I willing to trust God even when the outcome isn't what I hope for? Where am I tempted to compromise my faith because of fear or pressure?

Respond Take one step of courageous obedience this week. Trust God's character more than your circumstances, and choose faithfulness even if it comes at a cost.

Reveal Encourage someone facing a difficult trial by sharing Daniel 3 and reminding them that God may not always keep us from the fire, but He always walks with His people through it.

Keywords: Daniel 3, Shadrach Meshach Abednego, fiery furnace, faith under pressure, trusting God, courage, standing firm, God's presence, obedience, Christian faith, Braden Pedersen, Back to the Bible Daily, daily devotional, spiritual growth, perseverance, another in the fire

What is the church — a building you attend or the people you belong to? Today on Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen explores what the New Testament really teaches about the church as the body and household of God. In this episode Braden explains why the church is not a building but a living body and family, unpacks key passages from Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, and Hebrews.

Read Read passages about the church in Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, and Hebrews.

Reflect Ask: Do I think of church as a place I go or people I am part of? Where are my gifts needed in the body?

Respond Take one concrete step this week: join a small group, use a spiritual gift to serve, or stop sitting on the sidelines and volunteer.

Reveal Invite someone to church, serve together in your community, or share how belonging to the church has shaped your faith.

Keywords: church is not a building, body of Christ, local church, church family, Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, Hebrews, Braden Pedersen, Back to the Bible Daily, Christian community, spiritual growth, church membership, serve the church, discipleship, gospel community

Have you ever said "God helps those who help themselves" and wondered whether it's actually in Scripture? In this episode of Back to the Bible Daily Braden Pedersen explains why that saying is folk wisdom not Scripture, how the Bible teaches that God's power meets us in our weakness, and what that means for the gospel and everyday faith.

Read: Luke 5:31–32; Luke 23:39–43; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Proverbs 6:6–11.

Reflect: Where do you try to earn God’s favor instead of admitting need? Journal one area you feel helpless and bring it to God in prayer.

Respond: Pray a short honest prayer asking for grace today, then take one small obedient step toward growth in that area.

Reveal: Share the thief-on-the-cross story with someone and explain how grace meets helplessness; invite them to listen to this episode.

Keywords: God helps those who help themselves, grace, gospel, helplessness, Jesus, Paul’s thorn, thief on the cross, Bible study, Christian teaching, humility, Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen

What does the Bible teach about gratitude—and how can it change your daily life? Today's Back to the Bible Daily with Braden Pedersen examines 1 Thessalonians and Psalm 100, showing gratitude as a commanded practice for all circumstances, a habit that reorients the heart, and an act of worship directed to God.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 and Psalm 100.

Reflect: Where is your attention focused today? How can gratitude reframe your view of current struggles?

Respond: Name one thing out loud you’re thankful for now; list three specific gifts from the last week; practice daily, intentional thanksgiving.

Reveal: Share your thankfulness with someone, lead a brief family or friend prayer of thanks, or invite a friend to read these passages with you.

Keywords: gratitude, thankfulness, worship, Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen, 1 Thessalonians, Psalm 100, Christian living, spiritual discipline, prayer, praise, gratitude practice, thanksgiving, faith.

Feeling like a failure? Braden Pedersen on Back to the Bible Daily explores what Scripture says about falling, getting back up, and being used by God after failure. Join us for a look at Proverbs 24, passages from Micah, and Paul's words in Philippians to reframe failure as part of growth.

4R action steps

- Read: Proverbs 24, the Micah passages mentioned, and Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

- Reflect: Where has failure shaped my identity, and where do I need to get up and press on?

- Respond: Take one concrete step today—pray, confess, set a small goal, or reach out for accountability.

- Reveal: Share this hope with someone who feels defeated; read these passages together and encourage one another.

Listen, be encouraged, and press on with God.

Keywords: Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen, failure, resilience, get up again, Proverbs, Micah, Philippians, Christian encouragement, spiritual growth, forgiveness, identity in Christ