Bible Geeks Podcast

What kind of year has it been? This week, as we draw to the close of the year, we also near the end of reading through the New Testament. And these strange pictures in Revelation seem as good a backdrop as any to reflect on lessons from this strange year. So we’re Finding Jesus in Revelation 13-17 and talking about weakness, instability, grit, and a God who cares. Join us for a listen!

The Big Idea: God’s judgment comes from his goodness, love, and justice.

Weekly Challenge: Catch up on your reading before the end of the year!

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 51
• Into the Book Preview - “Revelation 13-17” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Unbroken Vessels by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)
• “A Golden Thumbs Up” (WEEKLY EPISODE)

Support the Show

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.

This week, we’re going to war! What does spiritual warfare look like? What is the “_armor of God_” (Eph. 6:10-18) all about? And who is the real enemy? And as we discuss Ephesians 2-6, we find a challenging standard for maturity and a stabilizing love in Christ. Then we talk about sleeping and submitting in an Ephesians 5 edition of Scripture du Jour. And by the way, “Ephesians Week” is as good a time as any to start reading the New Testament with us, just one chapter a day! Either way, hope you’ll join us for a listen and find some encouragement for your walk with Christ.

The Big Idea: God equips us with his own weapons to fight against evil.

Weekly Challenge: Take a moment this week to meditate on God’s love for you.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 34
• Into the Book Preview - “Philppians 1-4, Ephesians 1” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Into the Book - Week 35
• Into the Book Preview - “Ephesians 2-6” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• “Everybody Wins” (EPISODE)

Support the Show

This week, John’s vision leads us through a door and into God’s spectacular throne room. Revelation helps us understand how we’ll celebrate in heaven and how the Lord sees congregations. As we go Finding Jesus, we learn that the lion is the lamb, and the lamb is the shepherd. Then we dive into Christ’s letters to the churches with some “Deeep Thoughts.” What does it have to do with Twilight Zone, Chuck Norris, and Jeff Bezos? You’ll have to listen to find out!

The Big Idea: Jesus knows and cares what is happening in his churches.

Weekly Challenge: Rate and review your work for the Lord.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 49
• Into the Book Preview - “Revelation 3-7” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• “To the Conquerors” (DAILY DOWNLOAD SERIES)

Support the Show

What do we learn about idolatry from WALL-E, Andy Griffith, and John Calvin? This week we take a look at our idols, acknowledging the many ways we can elevate other things and downgrade the One True God. As usual, we start the episode by Finding Jesus in this week’s reading, discovering the “Anti” Anti-Christ and learning how Jesus the opposite of the Wizard of Oz. And in our Scripture du Jour, Bryan enrolls us in “Symbols 101” as Jesus explains how to interpret the book of Revelation.

The Big Idea: The well-ordered heart directs its greatest hope and adoration toward God. Anything less is idolatry.

Weekly Challenge: Seek and destroy some modern-day idol that’s pulling your time or attention away from God.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 48

• Into the Book Preview - “1 John 5, 2 & 3 John, Revelation 1-2” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)

• “5 Idols Revealed through Hardship” by Mark Vroegop (ARTICLE)

• Nothing Gold Can Stay (WIKIPEDIA)

• Lazy Humans From WALL-E (YOUTUBE)

Support the Show

What do Craftsmen Tools and the Phantom Menace have to do with our confidence in Christ? With all the uncertainty around us, it seems like the perfect time to focus on what we can KNOW from the book of 1 John. Why does healing require honesty and why does prayer require give and take? This week’s reading in Hebrews 13 and 1 John 1-4 shows us how to deal with misplaced guilt and fear, how to confidently pray, and how what we love defines our stability.

The Big Idea: Living in God’s love leads to confidence.

Weekly Challenge: Do something to show someone your love for them this week.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 47
• Into the Book Preview - “Hebrews 13, 1 John 1-4” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Shrug Emoji ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (EMOJIPEDIA)

Support the Show

This week, in a Psalm 15 edition of Poetry in Motion, we learn that God wants to host people in his home, but not everyone can enter. We discuss how the tabernacle is like LEGOs, character is like a key card, and seeking God is like dating (it made sense when we said it!). Plus, we answer questions like: Does God really want us to despise “vile” people? Is it wrong to do good things because we want the reward? And how can we say, “All is well,” when our circumstances seem “anything but.” Hebrews 11 is our Scripture du Jour and we’re Finding Jesus in this week’s reading — Hebrews 8-12.

The Big Idea: God is the rewarder of the faithful, but he is also the greatest REWARD.

Weekly Challenge: Spend some time praying and worshiping in God’s presence.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 46
• Into the Book Preview - “Hebrews 8-12” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• “All is Well” by Ryan Joy (SERMON)

Support the Show

Where are your spiritual “growing pains”? This week, we had a frank conversation about some of the difficulties that have threatened to pull us off course spiritually. From the magnetic pull of the comfortable to the isolation of feeling you’re on your own, there are so many ways to get discouraged and stop growing. Our current reading in Hebrews 3-7 exhorts a group of Christians to keep growing and keep holding onto the Lord. Join us as we dive into the Scriptures with an eye toward maturing in Christ!

The Big Idea: God calls us from our easy comforts to an adventure that demands faith, courage, love, and a will to keep learning and growing in him.

Weekly Challenge: Share your challenges with someone and ask them to pray for you.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 45
• Into the Book Preview - “Hebrews 3-7” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• We Have an Anchor (SONG)

Support the Show

What is your defining metaphor for life? What does it tell you about Jesus that as he hung on the cross, he put plans in place for a trusted disciple to look after his mom? And how is hidden love like winking at a girl in the dark? This week we go Finding Jesus in our weekly reading from the Into the Book reading plan — John 19-21 and Hebrews 1-2. Then we share 4 Proverbs that give a Better Way. Join us for a listen, and as always, don’t hesitate to contact us with topics, questions, and feedback!

The Big Idea: *When we look closely at Jesus, we see what it means to be human and what it means to be God. *

Weekly Challenge: Sing a song of praise to Jesus.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 44
• Into the Book Preview - “John 19-21, Hebrews 1-2” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)

Support the Show

Have you ever asked, “Why did God make me?” This week, we discuss our purpose, our relationships, and the source of all our accomplishments, drawing from this week’s readings in John 14-18. What’s the difference between a servant and a friend, and why does Jesus call his disciples friends? And what kind of friendship with one another does that call us into? Plus, we look at a story where Jesus literally knocks an army down with two words, and we share a few of our Favorite Things about John’s gospel.

The Big Idea: Rather than standing at a distance, Jesus reveals himself to us and calls us his friends.

Weekly Challenge: Invest in your relationship with someone this week.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 43
• Into the Book Preview - “John 14-18” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• “I’ll Be a Friend to Jesus” (SONG)

Support the Show

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.

We have big questions on our minds, as death looms over this week’s passages. Questions like: How can we put God in a box, even when we trust him in the big stuff? Does the famously brief verse, “Jesus wept,” display Christ’s humanity or his deity? And Jesus Said he holds the keys to Hades in Revelation 1:17-18, but what does that mean for us? Throughout our seventh “Here’s Your Sign” segment, we consider how the raising of Lazarus should affect our view of death. It’s heavy stuff, but we think you’ll find it worth your while to join us!

The Big Idea: Believing in Christ puts death in its proper perspective: it’s complicated and sometimes heartbreaking, but for believers, it’s also a joyful step on our path to eternal life.

Weekly Challenge: Read John 19-21 about Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Show Notes

• Jesus Said … Revelation 1:17-18
• John 19-21

Support the Show