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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Is it just us, or is it hard to find room for all the friendships you want to maintain? Sometimes we feel guilt over not being close to everyone in the church, and other times we wonder how we’ll make the time to connect with anyone at a substantive level! So here, in session 2 of our Two by Two guided study, we notice how Jesus tended to friendships and take a Closer Look at Paul’s band of close partners. We discuss some particular challenges each of us has run into and learn to make what one brother called friendship “shepherd’s pie.” As we work towards closer relationships, you can find each session of this 9-part guided study at biblegeeks.fm/twobytwo.

The Big Idea: You can't be everyone's best friend, but you can make time to invest in close relationships.

This Week's Challenge: Schedule a day on your calendar this month to get together with a friend for coffee or a meal.

Show Notes

• "Jesus' Greatest Miracle?" (CONVERSATION STARTER)
• Like the Teacher: John 11:1-11 (VERSE)
• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)
• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker (BOOK)

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We’re back and excited to start a new guided study on friendship called “Two By Two.” This first study comes from the Bible’s encouragement to value and invest in building these bonds. Four Proverbs on Friends remind us to choose our companions carefully and value quality over quantity. We learn from how Jesus sent the disciples out that he wants us to team up, and we ask, “What gets in the way of the kind of close friendships we want?” We pray this series enriches your relationships as you study along with us!

The Big Idea: A strong circle of Christian friends is invaluable on our heavenward journey.

This Week's Challenge: Perform a social audit, rating the interactions you have with others as “+” or “-“ in your journal.

Show Notes

• Two By Two Guided Study (WEBSITE)
• "Two is One" (CONVERSATION STARTER)
• Like the Teacher: Mark 6:7-13 (VERSE)

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Today — as this drops — it’s the fifth anniversary of our first show’s release. And since it’s also our 200th episode, we took some time to look back and share our Favorite Things about doing Bible Geeks (including a few favorite clips!). We kick it off with a “meta” Finding Jesus, talking about why we always start with Christ. Then we get into why we’re still here and don’t plan to stop anytime soon. To anyone who has ever listened, engaged with us, or supported us, we want to offer a HUGE thank you! You have made this a fun and encouraging journey, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

The Big Idea: Thanks for sticking with us for five years of Bible Geeks!

Show Notes

• Bible Geeks Patreon (WEBSITE)
• Her Strength in Him (PODCAST)

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“If the Messiah is here, the Romans don’t matter—anything is possible now!” The AV Club is back with a Chosen episode that challenges us to hold onto our faith when life’s problems overwhelm us and we don’t understand God’s commands. From all-nighters to Matthew’s unique outlook, the episode sparked a lot of questions and a few Deep Thoughts. Simon Peter’s story is so relatable, with his bold personality, his doubts and fears, and his powerful conversion. We hope you walk away from this talk reaffirming your commitment to do what Peter did, leaving behind who you were to follow the One who changes everything.

The Big Idea: Faith isn't faith if we keep it separate from the issues and questions of our lives.

Show Notes

• The Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Like the Teacher: Luke 5:1-11 (VERSE)
• Watch the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Where to Stream the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• The Chosen - S1E4 - “The Rock On Which It Is Built” (WIKI)

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Ever wanted a straightforward process for learning from your past and planning some growth and goals for the future? Well, “take a look! It’s in a book!” The Bible Geeks Book Club is back with part 2 of our discussion of Michael Hyatt’s Your Best Year Ever. This week we share a few of our Favorite Things, highlighting Scriptural principles like grace, clarity, and order — as they relate to this goal-setting process. We also share some themes that have begun to show up in our own planning for 2024. We hope this conversation blesses you, as you prayerfully set out to make 2024 a fruitful year!

The Big Idea: There’s wisdom in ordering our lives with purpose and planning.

This Week's Challenge: Spend time in prayer, dedicating all your work to God, and let him establish your plans for 2024 (cf. Prov. 16:3).

Show Notes

• Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt (BOOK)
• Watch the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Where to Stream the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• The Chosen - S1E4 - “The Rock On Which It Is Built” (WIKI)

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If your past year were a movie, what genre would it be? And what do gratitude and belief have to do with setting goals? This week we look backward and forward with the help of a book fit for a new year, as the Bible Geeks Book Club returns. Michael Hyatt’s Your Best Year Ever, a resource Ryan had used for years, leads us through a process for “catching up” with the past and planning the year ahead. We consider what Jesus and the book of Proverbs teach us about planning. Then we go Flyin’ Through the Book, before slowing down to reflect on what limiting beliefs threaten to hold us back as we move forward into 2024.

The Big Idea: Looking back helps us look forward.

This Week's Challenge: Look back on the past year and note some lessons learned, some successes, and any changes you want to make going forward.

Show Notes

• Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt (BOOK)

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What does Jesus' work have to do with his desire to "let the little children come" to him (Matt. 19:14)? The Bible Geeks A.V. Club is back to discuss season 1, episode 3 of The Chosen! After a brief recap of the story, we take a Closer Look at the Scriptural background for the episode's plot. We learn from two moments in Mark 9 and 10 when Jesus engaged with children (Mark 9:35-37; 10:13-16) and examine our engagement with kids in light of the Savior's example. There's more to think about on this subject than you may realize! We hope you enjoy reflecting on these dramatizations of Jesus' life as much as we've enjoyed talking about them!

The Big Idea: Our Master’s willingness to take time for children should affect our choices.

This Week's Challenge: Watch The Chosen - S1E3 and talk about it with a friend.

Show Notes

• The Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Like the Teacher: Mark 9:35-37 (VERSE)
• Watch the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Where to Stream the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• The Chosen - S1E3 - “Jesus Loves the Little Children” (WIKI)
• The Chosen - S1E4 - “The Rock On Which It Is Build” (WIKI)

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