While Nicole is on a break, we're replaying some of your favorite episodes from the archives. Be sure to grab a copy of Nicole's latest book Not What I Signed Up For!
This short letter is rich, deep, and will challenge how we have looked at Bible study so far. This pastoral letter, written by an older Christian, encourages us toward assurance and confidence in our faith.

As we begin to open this letter, remember that this letter has a tone of fellowship, joy, and blessing. 

Big Overview of the Letter: 
Circular themes of true doctrine, obedient living, fervent devotion

Walking through 1 John 1 with the Alive Method:

1. What does it say?
Themes of light/darkness, cleansing, sin

2. What’s the back story? 
Connection back to the gospel of John 
Circular themes--keep a list of questions 

3. What does it mean? 
There is a process to forgiveness 
There is a path to our righteousness 

4. What does it mean for me? 
The practice of confession    Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.  

Best Of: Why 1 John Will Challenge How You Approach Bible Study

As Christians, we want to experience God through the Bible… we really do!

But our good intentions fall flat when reading the Bible just doesn’t seem to help us experience God in a real way. What should feel dynamic and important and alive often feels confusing and boring and irrelevant. But it doesn’t have to feel this way.

In this bible study podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through His Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives. 
Topics covered in this podcast:


Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Religion & Spirituality

Other

Spirituality

Christianity

Buddhism

Hinduism

Judaism

Islam

How To

This week, we're continuing our series on the life of Joseph by exploring the theme of integrity. Joseph consistently makes the right choices, even when faced with difficulties. Standing firm in doing what is right, even when it may not lead to immediate blessings, is the life of integrity we should strive for. Listen in to hear what it looks like to make tough choices and stand firm in difficult situations.
Joseph is our model for seasons in our own life that feel confining. He perseveres in doing the next right thing, even when he finds himself in a place that feels not like what he signed up for. Anybody relate to that? When you're in a season that isn't what you wanted, what does it look like to do the next right thing?
Here's the secret. The secret is not trying harder. It's not gripping more tightly to what you wish was true. It's not shaming yourself into being better. True love and true righteousness do not materialize by gripping for it. This kind of love and righteousness comes from fixing our eyes on Jesus. That's what gives us the ability to stand up against the forces of the world that often come against us. 
Our faith is grown in difficult seasons. And in those difficult seasons, we get a very narrow focus and we focus on one day at a time. We ask God to give us the strength to show up with humility and love for the day that he has for us.
Bible Verses to Meditate on the Promises of God:
Romans 12 
1 Chronicles 16:34
Isaiah 40:29
Matthew 28:20
John 15:5
Philippians 4:6-7
THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES:
Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For 
When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide! 
Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble   Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.  

How God Grows Your Faith in Life's Longest, Toughest Seasons

we continued our series on navigating unexpected seasons in life, focusing on the biblical story of Joseph and how his experiences can inspire our faith today.
We delved into Joseph's long journey of unexpected challenges, from being sold into slavery to eventually rising to a position of power in Egypt. Despite the silence he might have felt from God during his trials, Joseph's story is a powerful testament to maintaining faith in times of uncertainty.
We also explored the concept of faith through the story of a woman in the New Testament who, despite suffering for 12 years, believed that touching Jesus' cloak would heal her. This story contrasts with the lack of faith seen in Jesus' own hometown, where familiarity bred contempt and limited the miracles He could perform.
This episode aims to encourage you to reflect on your own faith during difficult times. Are you moving toward God or away from Him? It's normal for faith to fluctuate, but the goal is to emerge with a stronger, more resilient faith.
We wrapped up by reminding everyone that God's presence is a constant, even when answers are not clear. The challenge is to seek daily sustenance from God, allowing our faith to grow step by step.
THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES:
Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For 
When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide! 
Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble   Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.  

Navigating Life's Unexpected Seasons: Lessons from Joseph

What do we do when we find ourselves in seasons that are unexpected or uncertain? Or when we find ourselves anxious about the future or regretful about the past? How do we handle a season when we feel uncertain about where it's going and we don't know how long it's going to last? If that sounds familiar to you, my dear friend, then you are going to find comfort and encouragement and direction through the story of Joseph.
Here is a truth: when we get into a place where our faith is being tested, and we feel under pressure because of some circumstance or pain in our life, we often will feel bad about ourselves. But we need to remember that the reality is, we're just learning who we really are, and God loves us in this journey. God desires to transform us in the deepest places of our hearts, our minds, and our souls so that our emotions and our thought patterns will actually be transformed by being renewed. It's a time to get honest with ourselves because when we're honest with ourselves, there is room now for growth.
So today, we come to the story of Joseph, who faced incredible circumstances that he did not sign up for. We’ll see what we can learn from Joseph's faith in times when he did not know how things were going to turn out. We’ll talk about what it looks like to really give our lives over to God, even the hard circumstances or the ones that you thought were about to change, and then they didn't change.
THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES:
Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For 
When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide! 
Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble   Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.  

Not What I Signed Up For: How to Think about Life’s Hardest Seasons (A Bible Study on Joseph)

What does it mean to have faith? And what does faithfulness look like over a lifetime? And, is it okay to ask or desire to see signs or proofs of God? We’ll cover all of that in today’s episode, the second part of our two part bible study on Gideon, found in Judges 6-8.
Is it okay to ask God for signs, as Gideon did? God knows we long for signs, and has answered that in the person of Jesus. It says in Scripture: You will be given a sign. This will be a sign among you. The virgin will give birth to a baby, and we will call him Jesus. The sign that we have that God can overcome and that God is the one who orders our steps, orders our days, and controls life and death is in Jesus. 
Gideon's story is a powerful reminder of the human nature of faith, which can falter and require reassurance. God's responses to Gideon's requests for signs teach us about His patience and willingness to strengthen our faith, even when we doubt. When we remember what God has done for us in the past, it can strengthen our faith in him in the present and for the future.
THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES:
Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For 
When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide! 
Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble   Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.  

Is It Okay to Seek Signs from God? (A Bible Study on Judges 6-8)

Today, we're delving into the Old Testament, specifically Judges 6 through 8, to discuss the story of Gideon. This narrative is deeply personal to me, as it reflects my own experiences and the lessons I've learned about faith. What do we do when our faith falters, when we have questions? This story has so much to teach us.
The context of Judges reveals a cycle of rebellion among the Israelites, who have turned away from God and are suffering the consequences. Despite their struggles, God sends messengers and judges to guide them back, but they often ignore these figures. This backdrop sets the stage for Gideon's story, which unfolds during a particularly challenging time for Israel.
Gideon, the least in his family and from the weakest clan, is found by an angel of the Lord while secretly threshing wheat to avoid it being stolen by the Midianites. The angel greets him as a "mighty warrior," which is ironic given Gideon's humble circumstances. Gideon questions why they have been abandoned by God if He is truly with them. The angel responds by encouraging Gideon to go in the strength he has, assuring him that God will be with him to defeat the Midianites.
Gideon's faith is hesitant, but he engages with the angel, asking for a sign to confirm the message. After receiving a miraculous sign, Gideon is convinced and embarks on a mission to tear down an altar to a foreign god and build one for the Lord instead. Despite his fear, he follows through, and his father defends his actions when others question them.
As we conclude this episode, we see Gideon's faith beginning to grow, even from a place of doubt and weakness. Next week, we'll continue with Gideon's story, discussing the significance of asking for signs and what it means for our faith. I invite you to read Judges 6, 7, and 8 to prepare for our next discussion about Gideon and the concept of laying out a fleece before God.
Three questions we can always ask the Bible as we study:

What is this story teaching me about people?
What is this story teaching me about God?
What is this story teaching me about God's interactions with people?

THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES:
Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For 
When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide! 
Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble   Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.  

Best Of: Why 1 John Will Challenge How You Approach Bible Study

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