Bible Geeks Podcast

The Pharisees weren’t cartoon villains, they were real people known for taking their religion seriously — yet the Lord’s rebukes have made them infamous. And if we don’t take his warnings seriously, we can become the second coming of the Pharisees! So, this week we share some Deeep Thoughts, asking, “Is there a little bit of Pharisee in me?” We also Find Jesus slaying trees and spinning riddles in this week’s reading, Matthew 19-23. And, we learn what it means to be “chosen” and how the greatest commandments shape a disciple’s life.

The Big Idea: Jesus calls us to leave our divided lives and half measures, to follow him in holistic righteousness — the wholehearted obedience of love.

Weekly Challenge: Identify the “little bit of Pharisee” in your heart, and take a step to correct it.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 31
• Into the Book Preview - “Matthew 19-23” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• The Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight (BOOK)
• “What Not to Wear” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)

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Who doesn’t love a good story? This week, we’re mixing it up with a new segment called “Here’s the Story,” imagining together what it must have been like to see Jesus transfigured. As usual, we kick things off by Finding Jesus. This week we find him out among the “missing 1%” but also “where two or three are gathered” in his name. In our Scripture du Jour, we learn how “little-faith” keeps us stuck in anxiety, panic, and fear. And we see Jesus’ wisdom in not giving offense...sometimes. Join us for a listen and if you’re not reading along with us, consider checking out the Into the Book Bible reading plan!

The Big Idea: Fear and anxiety can indicate we have “little-faith” — a debilitating forgetfulness about the power and care of the Lord.

Weekly Challenge: Find a way to look out for the lost sheep this week.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 30
• Into the Book Preview - “Matthew 14-18” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)

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Do you have a favorite parable? This week we each share our favorite parables as we talk about the power of story and the influence Jesus’ stories have had on us. Finding Jesus in this week’s reading from our Into the Book reading plan, Matthew 9-13, we see him play 3D Chess with the Pharisees, but, on the other hand, offer a gentle, gracious invitation to the masses. We’re challenged by his words about words and his judgments about mercy. And we consider the role of imagination, patience, and boldness in teaching.

The Big Idea: We can’t make people change, but we can plant the seeds of change.

Weekly Challenge: Pick out your favorite parable this week and share it with someone close to you.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 29
• Into the Book Preview - “Matthew 9-13” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Mercy Not Sacrifice by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)
• Preaching and Teaching with Imagination (BOOK)
• The Good Life by Ryan Joy (SERMON)

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It’s Sermon on the Mount week! We’re pretty excited about all of this amazing content, and it has us asking questions like: Why is the golden rule deceptively difficult to live? What is the problem with resisting those who would treat us unfairly? And why did Jesus go to be tempted in the wilderness like (as Bryan put it) a man with one arm tied behind his back? We spend time with the sermon’s opening words, closing words, and quite a few of the bits in between as we try to learn how Jesus wants us to live.

The Big Idea: We won’t enjoy the fruit of Christ’s teaching until we start DOING what he says.

Weekly Challenge: Find a way to give your tunic this week!

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 28
• Into the Book Preview - “Matthew 4-8” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• “Crocodile and a Lion” (EPISODE)
• Give Your Tunic Too by Ryan Joy (SERMON)
• The Golden Rule by Ryan Joy (SERMON)
• Forgiving Our Enemies by Bryan Schiele (VIDEO)

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This week we count down our Top Four Proverbs on suffering, noticing the value of empathy, weakness, joy, and overlooking offenses. We learn how John the Baptist made a freeway through the desert for Jesus and how we can be like the Scribes in interpreting Jesus. We also find encouragement in the humanity of Christ as we consider what it meant for God to enter this world as an infant.

The Big Idea: Our weakness can direct our attention to Christ, who understands life in this frail flesh and supplies power and grace as we lean on him.

Weekly Challenge: See your trials joyfully, through the eyes of faith.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 27

• Into the Book Preview - “2 Corinthians 12-13, Matthew 1-3” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)

• “Dad Travel!” (EPISODE)

• “Mental Mentos” (EPISODE)

• “Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiments” (VIDEO)

• “Divine Conspiracy” by Dallas Willard (BOOK)

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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.

This week, we’re rethinking “faith” and “faithfulness” as we continue through the Fruit of the Spirit series. What Jesus Said in Luke 12:42-48 raises the question, “Who am I when no one’s looking?” And some “Deep Thoughts” from the Minor Prophets take us to the heart of the gospel. Plus, Bryan encounters an unhappy cashier and Ryan notices coworkers watching the Final Four in their cubicles. Join us for a listen!

Weekly Challenge: Write down three things you know and three things you want to know.

Show Notes

• Jesus Said … Luke 12:42-48
• Mercy Not Sacrifice by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)
• At Ease by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)
• The Pursuit of Paneled Houses by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)
• Sermons from North church of Christ (PODCAST)
• The Faith of God by Doy Moyer (BLOG)

This week, we notice that everything looks different when you see it through faith. For instance, when he describes Christ’s victory, why does Paul see himself as a humiliated captive? Aren’t we the winning team, fit for a parade? When Jesus picks up the “pen” of the Spirit, what does he write on your heart? Why do people (including Jesus!) look so different to Paul now that he’s in Christ? And how does it change your view of the afterlife to realize you’ll be “further clothed” in eternity? Finally, in a Psalm 12 edition of Poetry in Motion, we ask, what can we do when we see evil and empty talk all around us? We hope the answer encourages you!

The Big Idea: We’ll never see ourselves or others clearly, until we look through the lens of faith.

Weekly Challenge: Rather than despair, find confidence in prayer this week.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 25
• Into the Book Preview - “2 Corinthians 2-6” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• “The Triumph of Love” by Ryan Joy (SERMON)

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This week we look at what it means to be a change maker in the world and the people around you, from a Biblical perspective. In our Finding Jesus segment, we deal with the cynicism that says, “what’s the use, it won’t make a difference” and the suffering that comes from the Lord. Then in today’s Scripture du Jour (1 Corinthians 16), we consider what it means to “act like a man” and Bryan makes some observations about the weekly collection. And then we go from a Bryan Wilson song to the cross to the “man in the mirror” — as we look for ways to be a positive influence.

The Big Idea: We can’t influence the world if we shut ourselves off from it.

Weekly Challenge: Listen and find empathy for others around you this week.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 24
• Into the Book Preview - “1 Corinthians 13-16, 2 Corinthians 1” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Brian Wilson’s “Love and Mercy” (SONG)
• Walter Breuggeman’s “From Whom No Secrets Are Hid: Introducing the Psalms”

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How can we honor someone when they push us too far? How do people look at the same Lord and walk away with different ideas about him? And why is the communal aspect of the Lord’s Supper critical to its meaning? This week we consider a Heavy Word — fellowship! We discover there are a lot of ways we can water it down, but also see that this one idea — properly understood — can alter our relationships and unite God’s people. We’re in week 23 of the Into the Book reading plan (1 Cor. 8-12) and our Scripture du Jour is in 1 Corinthians 11 (or thereabouts!). Join us as we dive into the word!

The Big Idea: Because we serve the same Lord, we relate to one another differently, sharing our lives, our possessions, ourselves.

Weekly Challenge: Remember your fellow believers next time you take the Lord’s Supper.

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 23
• Into the Book Preview - “1 Corinthians 8-12” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• Koinonia Translations (INFOGRAPHIC)
• Koinonia Usage (INFOGRAPHIC)
• “Fellowship, Part 1” (SERMON)
• “Fellowship, Part 2” (SERMON)

In the immortal words of the Princess Bride, “Marriage is what brings us together today!” We’re stepping all over our own toes with the Bible’s marital guidance. After a Scripture du Jour from Paul’s marriage chapter, First Corinthians 7, we dive into Four Proverbs to strengthen a marriage. From conflict avoidance to weaponizing Bible verses, the Proverbs remind us that living with faithfulness, integrity, and love is a lot harder than just saying “I love you.”

The Big Idea: A marriage’s strength lies — not in our vows or lofty words — but in the care and daily work we put into it.

Weekly Challenge: Share a proverb that you’re personally working on with your spouse (or someone close to you).

Show Notes

• Into the Book - Week 22
• Into the Book Preview - “1 Corinthians 3-7” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)
• “A Goopy Kind of Love?” (EPISODE)