In this Scripture Study section I read some introductory material on Romans from Raymond Brown’s superb New Testament Introduction, as well as the introduction to Adam Miller’s Grace is Not God’s Backup Plan.

Reading: Romans 1-6; 7-16.

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You can access my Lesson Notes here.
Annotated Reading

Related Episodes and Resources
162: Paul to the Romans
Grace is Not God’s Backup Plan, Paraphrase of Romans
Maxwell Institute podcast with Adam Miller, talking about his paraphrase
New Testament for Latter-day Saints

If we are saved by grace, what’s the point of going to Church? In his magnum opus, Paul wrestles with such questions as the relationship of faith and works, the fate of Jews and Gentiles, and sets the record straight about his own mission.

Reading: Romans 1-6; 7-16.

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You can access my Lesson Notes here.
Annotated Reading

Related Episodes and Resources
162: Paul to the Romans
Grace is Not God’s Backup Plan, Paraphrase of Romans
Maxwell Institute podcast with Adam Miller, talking about his paraphrase
New Testament for Latter-day Saints

Paul tells us he is “all things to all people” (1 Cor. 9), and in these chapters we see the master at work. Watch for how he adapts his message to each audience. And underneath that adaptability is his resolution to follow God’s will and preach from Jerusalem to Rome.

Reading: Acts 16-21 (Home Study); Acts 22-28 (Sunday School)

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You can access my Lesson Notes here.

You can access the Annotated Reading for Acts 21-28 here.

Related Episodes
164: The Trials of Paul (Acts 21-28)

Thanks to Trent Oliphant for postproduction and to Marshall McDonald for the bumper music! Thanks to Lisa Salisbury for donating our beautiful logo.

Good thing my last episode was about being wrong… because I’ve been wrong! I asked listeners what they want, and most encouraged me to refocus on the scriptures. So that’s what I’m going to do!

Let me know if you have any other feedback, questions, or thoughts!

We like to tell conversion stories, but we don’t like to think about where conversion starts… with being wrong! And while we are painfully aware of the many ways we fall short and are wrong in our behavior, we are literally unable to know where we are wrong in our beliefs! These chapters teach important lessons about conversion and change in the lives of Paul, Peter, and the early Church.

Reading: Acts 6-9 (for July 14); 10-15 (for July 21)

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You can access my Lesson Notes here (or PDF)

Resources
On Being Wrong, Kathryn Schultz’ TED talk

Related Episodes
155: Growth of the Church (Acts 6-9)
156: Partiality, God, and Humans (Acts 10-15)

The beginning of Acts tells of conversion, courage, and community. Peter, now converted so he can strengthen others, powerfully testifies no matter the cost. People are “troubled in their hearts” and turn to Christ, and join an ideal community where all are cared for.

Reading: Acts 1-5

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You can access my Lesson Notes here (or PDF).

Related Episodes
154: Witnesses for Christ (Acts 1-5)
337: Even though it be a cross (Mk 15; Mt 27; Lk 23; Jn 19)
339: Empty tomb (Mk 16; Mt 28; Lk 24; Jn 20-21)

Thanks to Trent Oliphant for postproduction and to Marshall McDonald for the bumper music! Thanks to Lisa Salisbury for donating our beautiful logo.

Have faith in Jesus, even though you haven’t seen him. This is the message of each of the gospels. And Jesus’ message to us is to love each other during this life.

In addition, each gospel has a distinct emphasis: Mark teaches us to overcome fear with faith; Matthew encourages us to tell the world that God is with us; Luke teaches us to recognize Jesus through faith and covenant; and John encourages us to live our love.

Reading: Mark 16; Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20-21.

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You can access my Lesson Notes here (or PDF).

Related Episodes

328: Easter
153: Resurrection ( Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20-21 )

Thanks to Trent Oliphant for postproduction and to Marshall McDonald for the bumper music! Thanks to Lisa Salisbury for donating our beautiful logo.

Jesus’ crucifixion isn’t really about his death… it is about misunderstanding, humiliation, and the tragic subversion of Jesus’ proclamation that the Kingdom has come near.

Reading: Mark 15; Matthew 27; Luke 23; John 19

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Related Episodes

You can access my Lesson Notes here (or PDF).

Thanks to Trent Oliphant for postproduction and to Marshall McDonald for the bumper music! Thanks to Lisa Salisbury for donating our beautiful logo.

Gethsemane. These chapters teach us some of the hardest, most essential lessons life requires. How do we deal with betrayal? How do we have the strength to show up for each other? And most importantly, how do we align what we want with what must be? How do we shift, turn, return, to God’s path?

Reading: Mark 14; Matthew 26; Luke 22; John 18 (Also John 13-17 from last week).

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You can access my Lesson Notes here (or PDF)

Previous Episodes
149: Love One Another ( Luke 22:1-38; John 13-14)
150: That We May Be One (John 16-17)
151: Atonement (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46)

SECRET BIBLE CODE REVEALS THE EXACT DATE OF THE END OF THE WORLD!!

As attention getting as that headline is (though would we really want to know? I doubt it), what these chapters teach is far more useful: How we can live so well, so awake, and so ready that it does not matter when Jesus returns, when the world ends, or when our own lives end. We can live ready to die tomorrow and ready to live a century. And I dearly pray we can transition to sustainability so human civilization can last another two thousand years if needed.

Class Reading: Mark 12-13; JST-Matthew 1; Matthew 25; Luke 21

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You can access my Lesson Notes here (or PDF).
Annotated Reading for Matthew 24
Annotated Reading for Matthew 25

Resources

United Nations Report on Global Environmental Damage and Solutions

Past Episodes and Resource Links
147: The Second Coming (JS-Matthew 1/Matthew 24)
148: Kingdom Come (Matthew 25)
244.1: Second Coming, Updated
244.2: Second Coming, Reissued (D&C 29:9–29; 34:5–12; 45:16–75; 88:86–99; 101:22–34; 133; D&C 49:6–7; D&C 27:15–18 D&C 43:20–23 )