We’re talking about the ultimate litmus test for worship songs—because we can’t just let any melody into our setlist.

Step One: It must be biblical. And by biblical, we mean it needs to quote Scripture directly—at least 90% in the original Greek or Hebrew (because transliterations are sus).

Step Two: It must be about the gospel. If your lyrics wander more than 7 words (God’s number, obviously) away from the cross, it’s automatically out.

Step Three: Every songwriter must attend weekly accountability meetings with David Paul Tripp. No exceptions.

Step Four: All writers and band members must actively practice at least four spiritual disciplines per week, rotating one out monthly. And if they haven’t ruthlessly eliminated hurry from their lives, they must enter a mandatory 7-day (God’s number, again) digital fast.

Want to know the final three steps? Good! That means you actually take your faith seriously. But let’s be real—figuring out what worship songs belong in a church setlist is tricky.

Should we sing songs from ministries we don’t align with? Does playing a song mean endorsing the theology (or the lifestyle) of its writers? And what do we do when a worship song is great, but the songwriter later walks away from the faith? Jimmy and Kelly dive into these questions, breaking down biblical wisdom, church history, and personal experience to help us think critically—without overcomplicating worship.

Resources Mentioned:

📖 Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin – Get the book

📖 Rhythms of Grace by Mike Cosper – Get the book

🎧 Jimmy's Sermon on Worship: The Life of a Disciple: Worship – Listen here

Stories of a guy’s magic hair, a woman's tent peg assassination, a tiny army's screaming and some broken pots that win a war. It gets weirder, it gets darker, but don't worry! Jimmy opens with a Spice Girls reference.

What do the Spice Girls and the Book of Judges have in common? Not much… but we found a way to make it work! In this episode, we dive deep into one of the Bible’s darkest and most chaotic books—full of wild battles, unexpected heroes, and some seriously questionable life choices. From Gideon’s smashing success to Samson’s legendary hair problems, we unpack why Judges is both a tough read and an essential one.

We talk about why this book is often misunderstood, what it teaches us about human nature, and how it all points to our need for a true King. Plus, we attempt to name all twelve judges (with mixed success), discuss why Quentin Tarantino might be the perfect director for a Judges movie, and explain how everyone doing what was right in their own eyes led to some of the Bible’s most jaw-dropping moments.

So grab your torches and tent pegs, and let’s explore Judges!

🎶 Bonus: Check out this catchy kids’ song about the judges we mentioned in the episode: Judges Song

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This is an important episode. To start, you need to memorize these key phrases for winning any argument:

•   "I know you are, but what am I?"
•   "I'm rubber, you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you."
•   "Takes one to know one!"
•   "If you love it so much, why don’t you marry it?"

If none of those work, try kicking them in the shin.

That’s the abridged version—if you want more detail, listen to the episode!

What if conflict wasn’t something to avoid, but actually a tool for growth?

In this episode of Clearly, we (Jimmy & Kelly) dive into the messy, awkward, and often uncomfortable world of arguments. We’ve had our fair share—especially in the early years of our marriage—so we’re bringing real stories, hard-learned lessons, and a whole lot of biblical wisdom to the table.

We talk about why most of us either avoid conflict (peace-faking) or blow up in it (peace-breaking) and how there’s actually a better way—peace-making. We’ll break down how honesty, curiosity, and grace can change the way we handle tension in our relationships, whether it’s with a spouse, a friend, or even that coworker who just gets to you.

So, what does it look like to argue for the glory of God? Let’s get into it.

Additional Resource:

If you want to dive deeper into handling anger and conflict well, check out Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness by David Powlison.

Don't get mad, you started it. We just Aed your Qs. So if you are mad at the As, ask better Qs. Need to know where to ask Qs? That is a Q we can A right here. Send all your Qs to [email protected] and we will do our best to A. Ok, and now back to the Q&A!

This month, we’re diving into your questions—big, small, and everything in between! From mental health and the role of faith in therapy to the biblical dynamics of men and women in the home, we’re unpacking it all. Ever wondered how small group leaders fit into the church’s authority structure? Yep, we tackled that too.

Questions We Answered Today:

• What is the biblical role of men and women within the home?
• What authority should small group leaders have compared to pastors or elders?
• How should Christians approach mental health issues? Is it appropriate to seek help from counselors and psychologists?
• What are some of your favorite books and songs from the past year?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Can Women Speak in Church? Context is Everything
• Elders, Pastors, and Church Leadership
• What is Complementarianism?
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Amazon)
• Answering God by Eugene Peterson (Amazon)
• The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Pocket Edition (Amazon)
• Beethoven Blues by Jon Batiste (Spotify)
• Sing the Bible Vol. 1 by Slugs and Bugs (YouTube)
• The Corner Room: Psalm 23 (YouTube)

Got more questions for us? Submit them to [email protected] or hit us up on Instagram @theclearlypodcast. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Arrr, mateys, lend an ear, for the tale of Joshua be as fierce as a squall on the open sea! After the old sea dog Moses sails off into the sunset, young Joshua takes the wheel, leadin’...wait, this isn't a pirate-themed episode? Wow. This is awkward. Maybe we all need to go read Joshua or listen to this podcast. Our bad.

In this episode, we dive into the book of Joshua, unpacking its epic narrative, profound symbolism, and the timeless lessons it holds for all of us. Together, we explore:

How Joshua steps into Moses’ shoes and leads God’s people into the Promised Land.

The fulfillment of God’s promises, alongside the spiritual struggles that don’t magically disappear.

Rahab’s surprising redemption story and Achan’s cautionary tale.

How we can wrestle with tough questions about God’s justice in the conquest of Canaan.

We also share tips for tackling those challenging sections (yes, even the land allocation chapters) and talk about how Joshua connects to the bigger story of Scripture—and ultimately points us to Jesus.

Be sure to grab our Joshua one-pager from the show notes to guide your reading, and share this episode with someone you know who might enjoy digging deeper into God’s Word. Join us next time as we jump into Judges!

As you’re reading this, I’m doing one-handed pushups while blending a protein shake and logging both my macros and micros. Don’t forget your amino acids, electrolytes, and H2O while you listen—we’re just here to care about your health! Now that you’re holding a deep squat (you are, right?), hit play and enjoy the episode...

Is the pursuit of health and wellness about living longer—or is there a deeper purpose? In this episode, we dig into the rise of health culture, from anti-aging fads to the balance between stewardship and obsession.

We’ll explore:

✅ What the Bible says about caring for our bodies

✅ The dangers of over-prioritizing physical health

✅ How the gospel shapes our perspective on fitness, food, and self-care

Whether you’re all-in on fitness or just love a good peanut butter sandwich, this conversation is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and laughs.

🔗 Related Resources:

📖 God at the Center of My Eating Habits

📖 Food and the Christian

📖 Food and the Bible: Good Food, Bad Food

📖 Beautifully Distinct

TWG-ing is in, friends, and today you’re going to learn all about it. I TWG-ed earlier, and let me tell you, it was intense. Like, not Moses-on-a-mountain intense or Moses-in-tents (go back to the Pentateuch if you didn’t get that), but still, pretttttty cool. So jump in and learn how to TWG all by yourself!

We’re diving into the ins and outs of “quiet time” and why setting aside time with God can transform your year and your heart. Whether you’re a seasoned Bible reader or new to this, we’ve got practical tips, honest moments, and a whole lot of encouragement to help you deepen your relationship with God.

Highlights include:

Why time with God isn’t about checking boxes 🎯

Journaling, Bible reading, and prayer: how we make it work 📝

Honest moments from our own quiet time journeys 💡

Links to free Bible reading plans and one-pagers to help you get started 🔗

Helpful Resources:

Bible Reading Plan Generator: A customizable tool to help you design a Bible reading plan that works for you.

Kelly’s Curated Content on Knowing the Word: A collection of articles, resources, and practical tools for diving deeper into Bible reading and study.

12 Interesting Ways to Read Your Bible in 2025: Creative ideas and methods to mix up your Bible reading this year.

Download your free “Make a Plan” PDF.

So grab your Bible, your journal, and maybe a tent (just kidding, unless you’re Moses), and let’s TWG together! 🕊️✨

Get the John One-Pager here!

The gospel of John is so poetic, only a sonnet is fit to describe it!

In the beginning, Word eternal shone,

A light that pierced the dark of ancient skies.

Through signs and wonders hath His glory grown,

And called men’s hearts to see through veiled eyes.

Behold the Lamb, whose blood doth cleanse the stain,

The Passover fulfilled in Him alone.

In "I am" truths, His might and love are plain,

To draw all souls to bow before His throne.

No parables adorn this Gospel’s tale,

But speeches rich with wisdom, deep and pure.

Three feasts doth mark redemption’s holy trail,

Where mercy’s work in Him shall e'er endure.

Take up this tome, and read of heav’n’s design,

The Word made flesh, eternal and divine.

Who wrote John? John the Disciple of Jesus

When was John written? Probably 85-90 AD

Who was it written to? Gentiles and Jews - which was a wide range of people!

Why was John written? Check out JimmyandKelly.com for more extensive show notes.

Our Recommendations:

• Did you miss our episode on apostolicity? Check it out here! 
• Check out some ancient Biblical manuscripts here: csntm.org
• 🧠 Resources: 
• Get to Know Your Bible (Free Download!)
• Saved for God’s Sake
• ✝️ Sermon: The Sovereignty of God
• 📖 Reading: The Doctrine of Election Saved Me from Depression
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Teaching for children: Inside Bad vs. Outside Bad

When you buy something through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Sign up for our free newsletter

Become a Patreon Partner: http://patreon.com/jimmykellyneedham

Want to ask us a question? Email [email protected].

Get the Luke One-Pager here!

Linear narrative, clear gospel, and a perichoretic nature that is harmonious: this is just a taste of the gospel of Luke. And if you are like 90% of people you just skipped over a word I completely made up. Or did I? Ok stop googling if perichoretic is a word! Just listen to the episode to get context and why that matters!

Who wrote Luke? Luke, though not an apostle, was an apostolic associate.

When was Luke written? Around 58-59 AD.

Who was it written to? Unlike most books, this was written to one person - Theophilus! We know almost nothing about him except that he was a gentile of high standing. The important thing to keep in mind is that Luke was written to greek-speaking gentiles.

Why was Luke written? Check out JimmyandKelly.com for more extensive show notes.

Our Recommendations:

• 🎶 Fun Listening: Who Knew It’d Be You This Christmas
• ✝️ Sermon: The Holy Spirit
• 📖 Reading: 
• The Fruitfulness of Dying to Dreams: Meditations on Luke 1 & 2
• Glorious Humility Laid in a Manger Bed
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Teaching for children: Real Bady Guys by Jimmy Needham

When you buy something through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Sign up for our free newsletter

Become a Patreon Partner: http://patreon.com/jimmykellyneedham

Want to ask us a question? Email [email protected].

Get the Mark One-Pager here!

You know Kanye's "Power," or DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win"? Of course you don't because you are a good Christian and don't listen to anything but Christian music. BUT if, for some crazy reason, you might have heard those songs...just know the book of Mark is, like, the exact opposite. Okay, go back to listening to your WOW CDs. I hear Steven Curtis Chapman has a banger coming out...

(00:01:15) - What genre is Mark? Mark is one of the four Gospel books and we discuss why there are four accounts of these events!

(00:05:15) - Who wrote Mark? Mark (also known as John Mark)

Fun fact: Mark was not one of the twelve disciples! He was a close friend of Peter’s (1 Peter 5:13).

(00:06:51) - When was Mark written? Some think this was the earliest gospel, written around 45 AD. Others place it after the book of Matthew at around 67-68 AD.

(00:08:20) - Who’s the audience? It was written to the Roman community to convince them that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior.

For tips for reading the Book of Mark, our loves about the book, and the challenges, check out JimmyandKelly.com for more extensive show notes.

Our Recommendations:

• Missed our episode on how we got the 66 books of the Bible? Check it out here! 
• Check out some ancient Biblical manuscripts here: csntm.org
• 🧠 Resource: Get to Know Your Bible (Free Download!)
• 📖 Reading: King's Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus by Timothy Keller

When you buy something through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Sign up for our free newsletter

Want to ask us a question? Email [email protected].