5 Practices for Letting the Bible Shape Your Life

The goal of our Bible reading is not merely to know the Bible. It's ultimately to have our life be shaped by the Bible so that we come to know God and image Him in the way we live. In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast we explore the first two of five reading practices the help our life actually be shaped by the Bible. 

1. Read Prayerfully

2. Read Reflectively 

3. Read Repeatedly 

4. Read Imaginatively 

5. Read Obediently 

Bonus: Read honestly with humility and self awareness

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

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If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

5 Practices for Letting the Bible Shape Your Life

The goal of our Bible reading is not merely to know the Bible. It's ultimately to have our life be shaped by the Bible so that we come to know God and image Him in the way we live. In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast we explore the first two of five reading practices the help our life actually be shaped by the Bible. 

1. Read Prayerfully

2. Read Reflectively 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - [email protected]

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

Loving Jesus and Keeping His Commands | John 14:18-21

Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." So what does that mean when we fail to keep his commands? What about someone who loves Jesus and desires to remain in Him, but doesn't always keep His commands? Do that person actually love Jesus? 

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, we explore the relationship between loving Jesus, obedience, and God's grace. 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

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Cultivating Virtue  

There are two main components to growing in Christlikeness - putting off vice and putting on virtue. You see this all throughout the New Testament. 

For example, Colossians 3:5-9 concerns behaviors to be eliminated and 3:12-17 lists virtues to cultivate. 

You find this same pattern all throughout the New Testament. 

And in every place, we have are called to act. In other words, cultivating virtue doesn't happen on accident. It requires intentional effort, albeit effort enabled by God's grace through the Spirit. 

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast we consider some of the  things we can do to cultivate specific virtues. 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

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If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

Letting the Bible Shape our Parenting 

In this episode I share two big truths about kids from the Bible that shapes the way we relate to our kids and parent our kids. 

Proverbs 22:15

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

Mark 10:13-16

13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

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John 1:14 and the Tabernacle - A Christmas Reflection

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

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If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

What does it mean to be "God fearing"?

It used to be common to describe someone who was particularly devout as "God fearing," but that phrase is rarely used any more. But the Bible does call God's people to fear the Lord and promises good blessings for those who are God fearing. So what does it mean to fear God in the Bible? 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

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If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

The Kingdom of God and the Gospel  

Why does Jesus say that he preaches the gospel of the kingdom of God? 

The way the gospel is talked about by Christians today usually has little if anything to do with the kingdom of God. Usually Christians describe the gospel as being about Jesus' death and resurrection and how people can be saved. 

So what exactly is the gospel and how does it relate to the kingdom of God? 

Note: this episode comes about in answer to a question sent in by a faithful listener. 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

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How is God going to work out his plans if humans are so disloyal to Him even though they have the Holy Spirit? 

I saw this question recently: It doesn't seem as if God's plans are working out too well. Humans are loyal to him; only Jesus has been. The Holy Spirit doesn't seem to be making much of a difference. So how is God going to have loyal human partners and work out his plans? 

But this question misunderstands the entire storyline of the Bible. It fails to understand that "In hope we are saved" (Romans 8:24).  

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

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5 Things I'm Learning about Life and Ministry from 2 Corinthians, pt. 2  

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, I share the more lessons I am learning about faithfully serving God from Paul's example in 2 Corinthians. The full list of five things we reflect on in this two-part series are:

1. the connection between God's faithfulness and our integrity

2. embodying the cross 

3. celebrating our weaknesses

4. confidence in God over self-confidence

5. setting our eyes on our eternal hope

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

Connect with John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - [email protected]

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.