Bible Geeks Podcast

Silence isn’t always golden. This week, we tell the story of Jonah and draw some insights from his reluctance to speak God’s message. And speaking of speaking, what does speaking have to do with faith? We have five challenges to help you grow in your commitment to confess the Lord and share the gospel. Plus, a close look at one of Jesus’ conversations shows us that dialogue beats a data dump, when we want people to grasp the saving truth.

The Big Idea: As faith comes from hearing, faith leads to speaking.

Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges here.

Show Notes

• Cross Training - “Can’t Be Overshared” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 8
• Like the Teacher: John 4:4-42 (VERSE)
• Here’s the Story: Jonah (VERSE)

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How attached are you to the Lord? This week we continue our exploration of faith, taking steps to greater loyalty. We start by talking about the ultimate example of faithfulness, as Jesus goes all the way to the finish line. Then we learn some lessons from Job in a new segment we call “Hello, My Name Is …” Hope you’ll join us, and consider taking on our 5 Through the Week challenges this week!

The Big Idea: We serve at the Lord’s pleasure, not our own.

Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges here.

Show Notes

• Cross Training - “Through Thick and Thin” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 7
• Like the Teacher: John 19:16-30 (VERSE)

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Programming Note: This week, we're replaying one of our favorite episodes from the past. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode.

“It was a dark and stormy night…” As we begin part five of our “Here’s Your Sign” series, a moment of life-or-death peril at sea meets one of history’s most fantastic miracles. Starting with what Jesus Said about fear in Luke 12:4-7, we try to understand the times we pass through the waters.

Weekly Challenge: Memorize a powerful verse to help you overcome fearful situations.

Show Notes

• Jesus Said … Luke 12:4-7
• How To Talk To Yourself (Part 3) by Ryan Joy (SERMON)
• Through the Fire by Ryan Joy (SERMON)
• Overcoming Fear by Ryan Joy (SERMON)

How do you decide what to believe? Is there any place for doubt in the Christian’s life? And what can we do when we find our faith mingled with a touch of unbelief? This week we begin looking at FAITH, one of the marks of the Master we seek to imitate in our Cross Training to be like him. In this week’s Like the Master story, we imagine the incredulous tone of Jesus’ voice as he repeats three words from a frightened man. Then we give our Favorite Things for helping build belief, offering a few resources and approaches to apologetics that have helped us.

The Big Idea: Faith changes our perception of life, the future, and realities beyond our sight.

Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges here.

Show Notes

• Cross Training - “We Interrupt Our Program” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)

• Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 5

• Like the Teacher: Mark 9:14-29 (VERSE)

• Is it Reasonable to Believe in God in this Scientific Age? By Buddy Payne (SERMON SERIES)

• Partial Bibliography of Pertinent Works Relative to the Creation/Evolution Controversy by Buddy Payne (PDF)

• Books by Gary Habermas (WEBSITE)

• Books by Michael Licona (WEBSITE)

• William Lane Craig Debates (WEBSITE)

• Animated Reasonable Faith Videos (WEBSITE)

• On the Witness Stand (DAILY DOWNLOAD SERIES)

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Relationships … amiright?!? Even our closest friendships can take time and effort, yet Jesus leads us into all the “messiness” that comes with befriending, serving, and leading others closer to him. This week we focus on a fourth dimension of discipleship: COMMUNITY, identifying four Heavy Words that are essential for Christlike connections with people. We also learn why Jesus’ mission is the opposite of the United States Marines and why curiosity is a key to friendship.

The Big Idea: We can’t follow Christ and keep our distance from people.

Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges here.

Show Notes

• Cross Training - “Beyond the Cave” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 4
• Like the Teacher: Matthew 9:9-13 (VERSE)
• A Contagious Cure by Ryan Joy (SERMON)
• The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield (BOOK)
• “Fighter Jets of Gentleness” - Bible Geeks Weekly, Episode 10 (PODCAST)
• What’s a Member? by Ryan Joy (SERMON)

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"Aaand … ACTION!" In the last two episodes we talked about the importance of the truth and the heart, but a third dimension of discipleship is action — letting the Lord’s example shape our behavior. We revisit two iconic stories: First we learn from Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. Then, Abraham receives a shocking test in a segment we call Here’s the Story. As we see Jesus on his knees and Isaac on an altar, we recognize our own responsibility to do likewise, serving others and offering ourselves to God.

The Big Idea: Our character is proven by our actions in the moment of trial.

Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges here.

Show Notes

• Cross Training - “Action Figures” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 3
• Like the Teacher: John 13:1-17 (VERSE)
• Here’s the Story: Genesis 22:1-18 (VERSE)
• Emergency Broadcast System (WIKIPEDIA)
• Start Close In by David Whyte (POEM)

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How do we learn to love what the Lord loves? This week, we're looking at another dimension of discipleship — "Heart" — as we continue our Cross Training. In this episode's Like the Master story, Jesus stresses out his parents and Bryan takes a lesson from a mouthy robot. And in a Psalm 16 edition of Poetry in Motion, we find our refuge, our portion, and our hope in a prophecy of Christ's resurrection.

The Big Idea: All the stuff of your life flows from your heart.

Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges here.

Show Notes

• Cross Training - “Because He Loves It” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 2
• Like the Teacher: (VERSE)
• Into the Book Reading Plan
• Into the Book PDF (DOWNLOAD)

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Happy New Year! This week, we’re excited to start doing some “Cross Training.” Throughout this year, we’ll explore what it means to do the hard work of crucifying ourselves so that Christ can live in us. But the start of discipleship is listening to the teacher and learning to think like him. So in this episode, we talk about how a knowledge of truth changes us, and how to keep learning and growing in it. Hope you’ll start the journey with us, here in week one!

The Big Idea: A worldview informed by the truth is like seeing through a clear lens.

Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges on our website.

Show Notes

• Cross Training - “The More You Know” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 1
• Like the Teacher: Matthew 4:1-11 (VERSE)

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Watch This Introduction

Happy New Year everyone!

Now that our Into the Book reading plan is over, what's next? Today, we're excited to share our plans for 2021! We're calling it Cross Training — a yearlong discipleship development series for believers of all ages and spiritual maturity levels. We want to become fully trained — cross trained — by the Master Teacher himself (Luke 6:40). To do that, each week we'll focus on four different Dimensions of Discipleship:

• Truth — The Lord's teachings shape our thinking.
• Heart — The Lord's values shape our affections.
• Action — The Lord's actions shape our behavior.
• Community — Our connection to the Lord shapes all our relationships.

Every Monday beginning January 4th, we'll tackle a different Element of spiritual growth, taking our cues from Jesus. We'll release a Daily Download podcast episode, post an article on our website, and share a video on social media, just like we did with our Into the Book series in 2020. You can also sign up for our weekly email newsletter! We'll also share five Through the Week Challenges to help keep us motivated.

• Read — A few passages to help build your knowledge
• Reflect — A reflective question to ask yourself
• Request — A prayer you can bring before God
• Respond — A step to take that turns your belief into action
• Reach Out — A discussion to have with those you meet

We'll introduce the series, talking about the four Dimensions of Discipleship in detail in the first four weeks. And then, for the rest of the year, we'll cover twelve Marks of the Master, spending four weeks exploring foundational elements of each one. These Marks include Faith, Dedication, Servanthood, Joy, Reverence, Mercy, Integrity, Watchfulness, Fruitfulness, Endurance, Leadership, and Lifelong Learning.

We're hoping to grow together with you throughout the year in deeper discipleship and service to the Lord. If you've taken a break from the show, now's the time to jump back on board! Find out more information at biblegeeks.fm/crosstraining.

We made it! Congratulations on persevering through 2020 — especially to those of you who read through the New Testament with us. This week we talk about the Bible’s spectacular ending — its symmetry, grace, and, well, finality. We also look back at a few of our Favorite Things in 2020, reflecting on what helped us grow in the Lord this year. May God bless you in this new year. “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” (Rev. 22:21).

The Big Idea: Consistent spiritual habits help stabilize our lives, even in chaotic times.

Weekly Challenge: Recap your yearly accomplishments and struggles with someone close to you.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 52
• Into the Book Preview - “Revelation 18-22” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• A Metrical Psalter (BOOK)
• Working with the Word (PODCAST)
• Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home Through Time, Moments, and Milestones by Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin (BOOK)
• Audible Plus Catalog (AUDIOBOOKS)
• Run with the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best by Eugene Peterson (BOOK)
• A Mouth Full of Fire: The Word of God in the Words of Jeremiah by Andrew Shead (BOOK)
• Like Fire in the Bones: Listening for the Prophetic Word in Jeremiah by Walter Breuggemann (BOOK)
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer (BOOK)
• The Thread by Ryan Joy (SERMON)

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