Faith & Family Bible Podcast with Steve Wood

Why do so many Catholic young people walk away from the Faith—even after years of religious education? In this episode, Steve Wood uncovers the root cause of faith failure from Matthew 7:21–23: “I never knew you.”

Jesus’ warning isn’t aimed at obvious sinners, but at professing Christians who knew about God yet never truly knew Him. Drawing from Scripture, the Catechism, and insights echoed by Pope Benedict XVI, this episode explains why knowing God is not a notional belief—but a living, transforming relationship.

Essential listening for parents, pastors, and anyone concerned about Catholic faith formation, youth apostasy, and passing on a faith that lasts.

To obtain your free copy of Steve's new book - visit us at www.rescuingyoungcatholics.com.

In Matthew 7:7–11, Jesus commands us to ask, seek, and knock—persistently. In this episode, Steve Wood explains what Christians should be asking for above all else: the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Drawing from Luke 11 and Acts 1–2, this episode calls parents to a clear, focused mission: for the next 36 months, pray daily that your children receive the promised power of the Holy Spirit—an essential foundation for lasting faith in today’s culture.

Learn more in Transforming Grace, Steve's new book. Get your free copy at: www.RescuingYoungCatholics.com.

Why are so many Catholic marriages failing—despite Jesus’ clear teaching on the indissolubility of marriage? In this episode, Steve Wood confronts the roots of marital conflict in original sin and oversized wills, then turns to Jesus’ radical call to lifelong fidelity in Matthew 5 and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

You’ll discover why God says “I hate divorce,” how the New Covenant makes faithful, lifelong marriage possible, and why drawing close to God is the true key to marital harmony. The episode culminates in a powerful connection between marriage and the Eucharist, grounded in John 15—“apart from me you can do nothing.”

A hope-filled, practical episode for rescuing Catholic marriages before it’s too late.

To get a copy of Steve's new book referenced in this episode, visit us at www.rescuingyoungcatholics.com.

A vital episode for Catholics preparing for marriage—and for those helping couples build marriages rooted in divine love.

In this episode of Faith & Family Bible Study, Steve Wood explores Jesus’ clear teaching on divorce and lifelong marriage in the Sermon on the Mount and Matthew 19.

Why did Moses permit divorce, and why does Jesus now call His followers to lifelong fidelity? Steve explains how Christ, the New Moses, reveals that lasting marriage is not achieved by willpower alone—but through hearts transformed by grace and the indwelling love of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

Special announcement! Steve introduces his new book, Transforming Grace: How to Rescue Young Catholics Drowning in a Secular Culture, available for a limited time at no charge (donation optional for U.S. residents). Learn more at: www.RescuingYoungCatholics.com.

Confused by how Jesus can call persecution a blessing? In this short, thought-provoking episode, Steve Wood explores “Blessed are the persecuted” from the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:10–12) and explains how joy, rejoicing, and gladness can coexist with suffering for Christ.

Drawing from Scripture, Church teaching, and a powerful personal experience, Steve shows why persecution is not an exception to the Christian life—but often part of it—and how the future joy of heaven breaks into the present through the risen Christ living in us.

For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit—and why is it the pivot of human life and history? In this episode of Faith & Family Bible Study, Steve Wood explains how the Beatitudes describe the inner life of Christ formed in the believer, not a checklist of steps. Focusing on the first Beatitude, Steve traces the root of human suffering to pride in Genesis, connects it to modern moral relativism, marriage struggles, and end-times warnings, and shows why humility before God is essential today. A timely call to dethrone the self and live fully united to Christ.

For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.

What are the Beatitudes, and why do they seem so paradoxical and counter-cultural? In this episode, we explore Jesus’ opening words of the Sermon on the Mount and how they reveal what a renewed world truly looks like. Drawing from Matthew 5 and the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI, this study explains the Beatitudes as the Kingdom of Heaven breaking into the present—end-time realities already at work in daily Christian life. Learn how Jesus speaks to both the crowds and committed disciples, calling believers into a new relationship with God shaped by the values of the coming Kingdom.

For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.

In this episode of Faith & Family Bible Study, Steve Wood offers a crucial caution about teaching the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. Using the familiar “ladder to heaven” metaphor, he explains why framing salvation as moral ladder-climbing leads to fear, burnout, and failure—especially for modern Catholics. Drawing on Scripture, the Catechism, and Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, this episode clarifies the primacy of grace, showing that the Sermon on the Mount is not about self-salvation but about Christ living His life in us through a living union with Him.

Visit us at www.BibleforCatholics.com for more resources. 

In Part II of this youth discipleship series, Steve Wood explains why parish-based large-group programs alone cannot form lifelong Christian disciples. Drawing on Scripture, real-world experience, and the teaching of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, this episode lays out a clear, four-part framework for authentic youth discipleship—beginning with parents as the primary disciplers. Learn why family catechesis is irreplaceable, how camps and small groups can support real spiritual growth, and what’s fueling today’s widespread youth disengagement from the faith.

For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.

In this episode, Steve Wood explores youth discipleship through the lens of Jesus’ own method—being with His disciples from Matthew 4 to the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Drawing from Scripture, the Catechism, and lived experience, this talk explains why classroom-only religious education often leads to dropout Catholicism, while intentional family-based disciple-making forms lifelong faith.

You’ll hear why parents—especially fathers—are the primary youth discipleship leaders, why 60 minutes a week can’t form a disciple, and how the contrast between a “family motel” and a true disciple-making Catholic home shapes the faith of future generations. Featuring wisdom from Scripture and the powerful witness of St. John Paul II, this episode challenges Catholic families to recover a way of life that passes on faith in a hostile culture.

For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.