Bible Geeks Podcast

How does Jesus change things? In our second checkpoint in the Square One series, we discuss how Jesus brings hope. It’s the hinge of these conversations designed to bring someone to Christ, in between our “bad news” talk about sin and our next checkpoint, where we’ll invite them to make a decision and follow the Lord. We tell the Story of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and reign, and consider how Isaiah 53 explains his saving work. Look for more resources like videos and guides to help you lead these discussions in 2025.

The Big Idea: Jesus has conquered sin and death to bring hope, peace, and joy to our lives.

This Week's Challenge: Read Matthew 27:32-28:20 on your own and reflect on this important moment in Jesus' story.

Show Notes

• Finding Jesus: Luke 2:10-12 (VERSE)
• Square One Guided Study (GUIDED STUDY)
• Square One - Session 5 (LINK)
• Getting to Square One (GUIDED STUDY)
• Getting to Square One Study Guide (PDF)

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We’ve talked all season about leading gospel conversations with unbelievers. This week we introduce the first of a series of discussions we’ve designed to take someone from Square One to conversion. In this kickoff episode, we ask why things are so broken in our world. Where did we go wrong? Recognizing the problem is the first step toward understanding the solution Jesus offers. We discuss the bleak picture in Isaiah 59:1-13 and the Heavy Words the Bible uses for sin. After walking through the guided discussion, we take a Closer Look at some tips for leading a dialogue like this with someone in your life. We pray that as we shine a light on the gospel, God will use these discussions to expand his kingdom.

The Big Idea: Humanity has slipped into some terribly unhealthy patterns — and if we’re honest, we can see that brokenness in ourselves.

This Week's Challenge: Let’s watch this week for both healthy and unhealthy things in the world.

Show Notes

• Jesus Said: Matthew 9:12 (VERSE)
• Square One Guided Study (GUIDED STUDY)
• Square One - Session 1 (LINK)
• Getting to Square One (GUIDED STUDY)
• Getting to Square One Study Guide (PDF)

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This week we finish up Season 1 of The Chosen with a conversation about episode 8, “I Am He.” Reflecting on Jesus' interactions with the Samaritan woman, we (fittingly for our recent episodes!) find lots of insights about evangelism and disciple-making. We also discuss what Jesus Said in Matthew 9:10-13 about God’s desire for mercy!

The Big Idea: Jesus’ mission was to show mercy to broken people, and ours should be the same.

Show Notes

• The Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Jesus Said: Matthew 9:10-13 (VERSE)
• Watch the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Where to Stream the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• The Chosen - S1E8 - “I Am He” (WIKI)

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This week we take a Closer Look at our Adventures in Evangelism, sharing some of the approaches we’ve used and what we’ve learned. As usual, we start out by talking about Christ, learning from what Jesus Said about the connection between discipleship and disciple-making. We explore the metaphor of “fishing for men” from Matthew 4:19 and delve into effective evangelism approaches. We also explain the upcoming Square One series, designed to guide evangelistic conversations.

The Big Idea: Prayer and personal connection are powerful tools in sharing our faith with those who don’t yet know Jesus.

Show Notes

• Jesus Said: Matthew 4:19 (VERSE)
• Manipulative & Mechanical Approaches to Evangelism by Berry Kercheville (ARTICLE)
• Getting to Square One (GUIDED STUDY)

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On the heels of our 'Getting to Square One' mini-series — and before introducing our next series — we’re pausing to watch some TV! The Bible Geeks AV Club is back as we talk through 'The Chosen' Season 1, Episode 7. As always, our goal is to ground the show’s events in the relevant Biblical truths and events. We focus on Jesus' dialogue with Nicodemus in John’s gospel. What does it mean to be born again of water and the Spirit? What does the Bible really say about Nicodemus? We go through his story in a segment we call, “Hello, My Name Is…” and then we close with a Reach Out conversation. Building on a noteworthy comment by Jesus in the show, we discuss how we’ve each had to “Get used to different” as disciples.

The Big Idea: Keeping your faith tucked in your pockets for fear of offending or alienating someone leads to regret and lost opportunities.

Show Notes

• The Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Jesus Said: John 3:3-15 (VERSE)
• Watch the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Where to Stream the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• The Chosen - S1E7 - “Invitations” (WIKI)
• Episode 21 - “That’s Bad Advertising” (PODCAST EPISODE)
• Square One (GUIDED STUDY)

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In this episode, we finish our “Getting to Square One” Guided Study by discussing disciple-making practices. We open with a focus on the way Jesus asked questions. Then, we share a few of our Favorite Things to guide gospel-centered dialogue. It’s interesting how even our common, everyday conversations connect with the “holy conversations” we want to engage in as we bring God to the forefront and work through life’s most important issues. We pray this series has built you up and contributed to your efforts to share the good news. Go to biblegeeks.fm/squareone for videos, study guides, and more.

The Big Idea: Through love, we learn to lead a different kind of conversation, a holy conversation.

This Week's Challenge: Ask someone a spiritual question to start a conversation.

Show Notes

• Getting to Square One (GUIDED STUDY)
• Like the Teacher: John 5:6 (VERSE)
• Like the Teacher: Luke 9:18-20 (VERSE)
• Like the Teacher: Mark 12:35-37 (VERSE)
• Like the Teacher: John 3:12 (VERSE)

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What lie does Satan try to sell you about evangelism? And how does Jesus reframe our approach to evangelism? Here in session two of our Getting to Square One guided study, we examine our disciple-making paradigms. Whether you’ve tried selling salvation like Ginsu Knives or given up thinking people don’t care, an A-Team of evangelists like Ananias and Philip can teach us a better way. We want to make disciples Like the Teacher, so this week we rethink our timelines, strategies, and beliefs about it.

The Big Idea: Most people need more than just the facts; they need someone to help clear a path to the Lord.

This Week's Challenge: Have a conversation with someone about what does and doesn't work well in evangelism.

Show Notes

• Getting to Square One (GUIDED STUDY)
• Like the Teacher: John 4:1-45 (VERSE)
• Like the Teacher: Luke 19:1-10 (VERSE)
• Like the Teacher: Luke 8:42-48 (VERSE)
• Like the Teacher: John 21:15-19 (VERSE)

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This week we launch a 3-part guided study called Getting to Square One, all about the problems, paradigms, and practices of disciple-making (Matt. 28:19). If you’ve ever struggled leading others to Christ, you might relate to some of the gaffs we share in a new segment we’re calling Super Slo-Mo. We play “Monday morning quarterback” with each other’s evangelistic missteps, then we share the obstacles that others needed to overcome to teach and convert us. As always we start with Jesus, learning from some correction he gave to the “sons of thunder.” Later this season, we’ll move from “Getting to Square One” to “Square One,” a series of conversations designed for Christians to engage with non-Christians.

The Big Idea: Making disciples is challenging but it's easier if we get out of our own way.

This Week's Challenge: Have a conversation with someone about what does and doesn't work well in evangelism.

Show Notes

• Like the Teacher: Luke 9:51-56 (VERSE)
• Getting to Square One - Session 1 (LINK)
• Irresistible Evangelism by Steve Sjogren (BOOK)
• Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult by Nick Pollard (BOOK)
• Tactics by Greg Koukl (BOOK)

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What do Jesus’ miracles have to do with our greatest problem? And why is faith so hard for some people to get their minds around? We’re discussing one more episode of the Chosen before launching a new guided study next week. This week we watched Season 1, Episode 6 — “Indescribable Compassion” — then connected the dots from the plotlines to the gospels. In Luke 5, the leper, the lame, and the lost all find hope in Christ and we learn lessons from all of them. We hope you’re blessed by the conversation and look for session 1 of our evangelism study, “Getting to Square One,” next week!

The Big Idea: We find hope and comfort in Christ’s compassion for the lost.

Show Notes

• The Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Jesus Said: Matthew 8:1-4 (VERSE)
• Watch the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Where to Stream the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• The Chosen - S1E6 - “Indescribable Compassion” (WIKI)

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The Bible Geeks A.V. Club is back as we return to our popular series, talking through the TV show The Chosen. This week, we dive into the Bible background for the episode “The Wedding Gift” (Season 1, Episode 5), from young Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41-52) to the wedding where he turned water to wine (John 2:1-12). What’s the significance of that early miracle? What do we notice about Mary in these accounts? As we watch Jesus react to stressful situations with such poise, we ask ourselves: How can we, as his disciples, keep cool under pressure?

The Big Idea: Joy is at the heart of our service to the King.

This Week's Challenge: Watch The Chosen S1E6

Show Notes

• The Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Like the Teacher: Luke 2:41-52 (VERSE)
• Watch the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• Where to Stream the Chosen (WEBSITE)
• The Chosen - S1E5 - “The Wedding Gift” (WIKI)

Support the Show