Bible Geeks Podcast

What do a group of lepers, an adulteress woman, a dead, rich man, and a former demon-possessed strong man have in common? We’re excited to be back for a new season of Bible Geeks! This season will focus on evangelism. This week we introduce a new segment we call “Bible Headlines” and zoom in on some unlikely evangelists. Thanks for jumping back in and listening!

The Big Idea: You don’t have to be the most eloquent or well-read disciple to share the good news about Jesus.

Show Notes

• Jesus Said: Luke 16:27-28 (VERSE)

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What are your favorite qualities of your best friend, and how have your friends changed you? As we conclude this season of Bible Geeks, we finish up our Two by Two study with a celebration of God’s gift of friendship. We begin with a moment where Christ looked to a dear one to care for his mother after his death. Then, we go Flyin’ Through the Book of Third John, with its portraits of Gaius, Demetrius, and Diotrephes. Why does John give Christians the moniker “the friends” (3 John 15) and how does his prayer exemplify what we want for each other (3 John 2)? We’ll be gone for a couple months on break, but look forward to returning in August with a new guided study and lots of other good stuff! Until then, we hope you’ll take advantage of the resources at biblegeeks.fm (including the full Two by Two study guide and videos) and keep in touch!

The Big Idea: Some relationships change us in ways we won't even realize until we look back.

This Week's Challenge: Pick up the bill for dinner with a close friend.

Show Notes

• "An Epic Adventure" (CONVERSATION STARTER)
• Like the Teacher: John 19:25-27 (VERSE)
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)

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How would your life's biggest trials have turned out without a friend to bear your load? Scripture says “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity” (Prov. 17:17). This week, in the penultimate episode of this season (and of our Two by Two study), we reflect on the support we find in good companions when everything falls apart. We build an A Team of Friends Through Adversity, learning from the examples of Bible all-stars Ruth & Naomi and Aaron & Hur. Finding Jesus in Galatians 6 leads us back to a Martin Luther sermon about Jesus carrying us on his shoulders. And we reflect on bad days with friends — and how we somehow wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Find all the goodies that go with this series at biblegeeks.fm/twobytwo.

The Big Idea: The hard things in life are made a little bit easier with friends you can count on.

This Week's Challenge: Ask someone how you can carry their load or share yours with them.

Show Notes

• "Filthy Fun Runs" (CONVERSATION STARTER)
• Finding Jesus: Gal. 6:1-5 (VERSE)
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)

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Everybody loves getting poked in the eye, right? No, it’s never fun on either end of those “we need to talk” moments between friends, yet the Bible calls a friend’s wounds “faithful” (Prov. 27:6). So session 7 of our Two by Two study focuses on how friends sharpen each other like iron on iron (Prov. 27:17). It may sound like we’re contradicting ourselves after we just discussed a “circle of safety,” so we ask “What’s the Deal?” with that and harmonize these two crucial aspects of friendship. We also learn from Jesus’ example of telling it straight to the young ruler. And we share what we’ve each learned about having difficult conversations. As you work towards stronger bonds in YOUR life, spend some time with the first seven sessions of this 9-part guided study at biblegeeks.fm/twobytwo.

The Big Idea: A foundation of trust lets us say — and hear — the hard truths.

This Week's Challenge: Consider how to stir up a friend to love and good works this week.

Show Notes

• "Friends Don’t Let Friends ..." (CONVERSATION STARTER)
• Like the Teacher: Mark 10:17-22 (VERSE)
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)

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How are fickle companions like imaginary friends? In session six of our friendship study, we explore how trust, loyalty, and honesty change our interactions. One of the gifts of friendship is knowing someone has your back and feeling safe to share what’s really happening in your life. So this week we dig into Four Proverbs on dependable friends, learning how gossip makes us clam up and how someone’s investment in you makes you want to hear their counsel. We also look to Jesus, the perfect friend, and hear how he redefines the word. Check out the study guides and videos at biblegeeks.fm/twobytwo.

The Big Idea: A true friend is someone you can count on.

This Week's Challenge: Tell someone, "Thank you for being a friend."

Show Notes

• "Blanches and Roses" (CONVERSATION STARTER)
• Jesus Said: John 15:12-16 (VERSE)
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)

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How can we give our friendships a boost by lending an ear? Where did Eli go wrong and where did he get it right with Hannah? And what’s the deal with those brackets around John 7:53-8:11 in modern Bibles? Session 5 of the Two By Two study focuses on listening as a core friendship trait. We look at the story of a woman caught in adultery and one about a woman accused of drunkenness. In both, we notice the value of waiting to speak. Find more of this study — like videos and study guides — at biblegeeks.fm/twobytwo. And as always, thanks for … listening!

The Big Idea: Listening is one of the purest expressions of love and connection.

This Week's Challenge: Focus your conversations this week on asking good questions and listening to the answers.

Show Notes

• "The Bahamas" (CONVERSATION STARTER)
• Like the Teacher: John 8:1-11 (VERSE)
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)

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The results are in and the votes counted. This year’s Bible Bracket has gone from a field of 64 beloved Bible stories down to one. On this episode we walk through some lessons learned from our Final Four and celebrate the life-changing power of Scripture’s many rich stories. We also share our own personal favorites and upsets and discuss what Jesus Said about his parables. A big thank you to all who shared, commented, and participated in this year’s tournament. Go to biblegeeks.fm/bracket to see the full bracket.

The Big Idea: Scripture’s stories pierce us like a two-edged sword.

This Week's Challenge: Ask someone about their favorite Bible story.

Show Notes

• Bible Geeks Bracket - Draft Results
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)

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What happens when you expect a friend to never let you down or have a fault? How do we stay steady and reliable in our love for others? Here, in session four of our Two By Two study, we get to the heart of friendship. We work through how we look out for each other — from demonstrating mercy to friends to saying “I love you” without making it weird. We’re breaking out some of Scripture’s greatest hits — like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and Paul’s great Love Chapter (1 Corinthians 13) — to apply Christlike love to the people in our lives. Go to biblegeeks.fm/twobytwo for all the videos and study guides. And don’t forget to vote at biblegeeks.fm/bracket as we wrap up this year's Bible Bracket on favorite stories!

The Big Idea: Love and compassion are the super glue that binds a friendship together.

This Week's Challenge: Ask a friend, "How can I be a better friend to you?"

Show Notes

• "World’s Strongest Adhesive" (CONVERSATION STARTER)
• Jesus Said: Luke 10:25-37 (VERSE)
• Scripture du Jour: 1 Corinthians 13 (VERSE)
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)

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How do our fears, anxieties, and differences get in the way of forming new and deeper relationships? In session three of our “Two By Two” study of friendship, we face the fact that sometimes making friends isn’t easy. We share some Deep Thoughts about Paul’s great ode to humility in Philippians 2:1-11. We also look to the example of Jesus and his diverse collection of followers and share our own struggles with growing close to different groups of people. Go to biblegeeks.fm/twobytwo for the study guides and videos. And don’t forget — the Bible Bracket moves onto the Sweet Sixteen this week, so we’d love it if you’d go to biblegeeks.fm/bracket and vote for your favorite Bible stories!

The Big Idea: Limiting friendships to people just like you severely shrinks your pool of possible partners.

This Week's Challenge: Leave your comfort zone and invest in someone else's interests.

Show Notes

• "Bible Bracket" (WEBSITE)
• "Make a Picture" (CONVERSATION STARTER)
• Like the Teacher: Mark 3:13-21 (VERSE)
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)

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Spring is in the air, March Madness is on TV, and you know what that means over here at the Bible Geeks: It’s Bible Bracket time! This year’s bracket focuses on “Favorite Bible Stories,” celebrating the greatest hits of the world’s greatest book with four “regionals”: Profound Parables, Ancient Heroes, Sunday School Classics, and Jesus in Action. On this episode of the podcast, we draft the 64 stories that we’ll encourage everyone to vote on in the bracket. In a few weeks, we’ll have another episode featuring the results and talking through these wonderful stories (especially the Final Four). In the meantime, we encourage you to rock the vote, share the bracket with others, and talk to your family and friends about these amazing stories and why you love them! Go to biblegeeks.fm/bracket to vote!

The Big Idea: The Bible’s stories make a profound impact on God’s people.

Show Notes

• Bible Geeks Bracket - Draft Results
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)

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