Bible Geeks Podcast

Have you ever wondered what the gospel is really all about? This week we’re lifting another Heavy Word — gospel — to see what it means and what it does. As we go looking for Jesus in the readings for week 11 of the Into the Book reading plan, Bryan explains how the Scriptures are like a Magic Eye picture and Ryan explains how Jesus is like the ark of the covenant’s lid. Plus, in the Scripture du Jour, we talk about hypocrisy and Aladdin’s lamp.

The Big Idea: The gospel is meant to do something to us — changing us by bringing us into submission to Christ through faith.

Weekly Challenge: Share with someone what the gospel means to you.

Show Notes

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 continue our series for “young folks” with advice to our younger selves about “matters of the heart.” What kind of decisions can guide a Christian’s dating life towards a great, godly marriage? How do we protect ourselves (and our dates!) from decisions we’ll regret? What Jesus Said about plucking out your eye in Matthew 5:27-30 leads to what Job said about making a covenant with his eyes, and we can’t help but notice how uncomplicated these issues really are, if we’re honest. From establishing better guardrails to asking better questions, the only way any of it works is when we decide for ourselves where we are going to stand. Hope you benefit from the conversation and invite the young people in your life to have a listen!

The Big Idea: Committing yourself to divine principles can guide your “life story” (and even your “love story”) away from regret and toward blessing.

Weekly Challenge: Establish guardrails.

Show Notes

Like Bible Geek grenades, we’re lobbing questions at each other in a new segment called “Do you understand?,” as we try to better understand a topic. This week our questions focus on the early church’s assembly and leadership. Week 9 of the Into the Book reading plan takes us through Paul’s journeys, where we — surprisingly — find some red letter words of Christ. How does Paul’s trial parallel the Lord’s? What do you want on your epitaph? And what can a dead man in the middle of services teach us about paying attention?

The Big Idea: Godly lives — past and present — illuminate the path of love and faithfulness.

Weekly Challenge: If there’s something keeping you from speaking out, conquer that fear with Christ.

Show Notes

With all the fighting and division in Christianity today, have you ever wondered how early Christians worked out disagreements? Today’s Scriptures du Jour look to two examples of brethren disagreeing in Acts 15. Then, we try to get past our disclaimers for some real talk on fasting. When did churches fast in the New Testament, and what should we take from their example?

The Big Idea: Unity is possible when we reason together with no agenda but God’s will and no authority but God’s Word.

Weekly Challenge: Fast or give up something for one day this week.

Show Notes

This week, we look at two Heavy Words: repentance and discipleship. Bryan explains why a Christian can never be like Darth Vader and Ryan explains why we’re like Gila monsters. We talk about the hardest thing in the Bible to do and why it’s so hard to believe someone can actually change. And we go looking for Jesus in week 7 of our reading plan (Acts 7-11), including our favorite verses from today’s readings.

The Big Idea: As disciples, we will never be the master, but Jesus our master shows us the Ultimate Disciple.

Weekly Challenge: Connect with someone who might be seeking the Lord this week.

Show Notes

This week we’re talking about the Holy Spirit — his work and presence in the early church and the church today. What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? How is it different from the gift of the Spirit Christians receive at baptism? And what does it really mean to be “filled with the Spirit”? And as this week’s “Into the Book” readings lead us into Acts, we look for the apostle’s “hobby horse” sermon topic and find that trembling before our awesome God is just as important in the New Testament as the Old Testament.

The Big Idea: The Lord continues to live and work in his people today.

Weekly Challenge: Be aware of God’s presence in your life this week.

Show Notes

How did Jesus stay calm, composed, and classy in crisis? What did Jesus do to set people’s hearts on fire? Why did Jesus tell his disciples to touch him? And how is hurrying like a Mexican Buffet? This week we take on these and other exciting questions, as we finish Luke. The Scriptures du Jour come from Luke 24 and we finish up with some Deeep Thoughts about keeping it together.

The Big Idea: We can find Christlike composure by entrusting ourselves to God.

Weekly Challenge: Respond to difficulty with grace this week.

Show Notes

This week, as we go Finding Jesus in Luke 16-20, we notice that Jesus is never boring and always knows the right thing to say. But we also see his heart ache for people, and learn that he likes to hear “thank you” as much as anyone. As we set Psalm 10 in Motion, we learn to speak frankly with God and turn our questions to praise. It may seem like God is avoiding you when you need him most, but the King is listening — so what are you asking?

The Big Idea: Helping the helpless is one of God’s specialties.

Weekly Challenge: Speak your mind to God in prayer this week.

Show Notes

This week, we’re on fire! Or at least we’re talking about fire a lot. We go looking for Jesus in this week’s readings and find a strong man casting fire on the earth. Our Scripture du Jour has us rethinking our dinner invitations and trying to stay salty. And a Psalm 9 edition of Poetry in Motion has us praising the God who sees us, maintains justice, and gives us a stronghold.

The Big Idea: Understanding fire of God’s judgment on evil brings the humble heart to repent.

Weekly Challenge: Get together with someone you would normally not invite.

Show Notes

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

This week, we answer a listener question about going from milk to meat and find that the next step of growth is different for all of us. The conversation takes us from muscle men with toothpick legs to babies with giant heads, as what Jesus Said in Mark 8:14-21 reminds us that the Lord expects us to follow an appropriate growth curve. How do we overcome spiritual stagnation and keep moving forward, both as Bible students and as disciples? Join us as we try to figure it out!

The Big Idea: Discernment is the art of appropriately applying all the relevant Biblical principles to a circumstance or issue.

Weekly Challenge: Read a book of the Bible that you haven’t studied in-depth.

Show Notes