Simpler Bible

By Simpler BibleReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Simpler Bible episodes

October 05, 2024Ep. 279. Acts 12 | Persecution
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Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

Persecution of believers has been ongoing since day one. Jesus told his followers that the enemies of the gospel would believe themselves servants of God when they put the Christians to death. Paul tells Timothy, "Everyone who desires to live a godly life will be persecuted." Peter also reminds his readers that suffering for the sake of Christ will not be unusual. Paul tells the Thessalonians that "we are destined for this." Here is what I encourage you to do. Go to Persecution.com and get the free magazine. Make yourself aware of what is happening in the world. Examine your faith and ask God to show you if you truly know and love him so deeply that you would lay down your life for him. Read the magazine articles to your teenagers. Engage in discussions about the reality of the persecution our faithful brothers and sisters are enduring around the world. Bring the persecution of Acts into a modern view for those in your church, your bible study, and especially your home.
For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
9 min
October 04, 2024Ep. 278. Acts 10 -11 | Even for the Gentiles
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Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

I suppose since almost everyone we know falls into the category of "Gentile," and since many of us grew up in church, the idea that the gospel was also "for the Gentiles" is as ordinary to us as believing the Bible is important. But, for the Jews, including the original apostles, the idea that the Gentiles were included in the redemptive work of the gospel was not only foreign but would have been repugnant. When Jesus said in Matthew 28 and Acts 1 that they were to go into "all nations" and go from "Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth," they thought he meant to bring the Jews from those places back into the fold of Israel. This become clear to us in Acts 10 and 11 when Peter is the first to go to the Gentiles and remarks, "it is unlawful for a Jew to associate or visit someone of another nation." When Peter saw that the Gentiles also received the Spirit of God by faith, he was amazed. In chapter 11, Peter was forced to defend himself and his ministry to the Gentiles. We so often read the Bible from a twenty-first-century perspective and forget that Peter, while a faithful follower of Jesus, was also just a man and a Jewish man at that. He had an understanding of the Scripture that was not yet fully realized in Christ. He had, like the Jewish leaders of the day, overlooked the Old Testament texts that foreshadowed and predicted the Gentile inclusion in the gospel. These OT references to the Gentiles are everywhere and seen as early as Genesis 12 when God tells Abraham, "Through you ALL the nations of the earth will be blessed." (emphasis mine) And arent' we grateful to God that the Gentiles were allowed to be included in the blessing of the gospel by faith? Thank you, God, for your gracious gift.
For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
19 min
October 03, 2024Ep. 277. Acts 9 | Saul's Conversion
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Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

One of the most important conversions in human history has to be the one of Saul of Tarsus. Not only did he become one of the most prolific preachers of the first century, but he also gave us two-thirds of the New Testament books and some of the clearest writing on the purpose and power of the cross. Contrary to popular sentiment, Saul did not change his name to Paul to show a change in character. Like many Jews of his day, he had multiple names, in this case, Greek and Hebrew names.
I do love the immediacy with which Paul begins to preach the gospel of Jesus. No sooner have the scales fallen from his eyes, both physically and spiritually, than we see him, now imbued with the Holy Spirit, boldly preaching the truth of the good news. Paul would later tell the Corinthian church that a veil lies over the hearts of the Jews so that they cannot understand the gospel but that it is taken away in Christ. This, for Paul, is the moment the veil is removed. (See 2 Corinthians 3:12-18)
Barnabas, whose name means son of encouragement, is the only one who initially believes in Paul's conversion. When the rest of the disciples are trying their best to avoid this former enemy of Jesus, Barnabas goes around making introductions to him and for him. Is it any wonder Paul and Barnabas end up working so well together, at least for a few years? But we will get to that in a few days.
For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
15 min
October 02, 2024Ep. 276. Acts 8 | Samaria Believes
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Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

Two days ago, we talked about the Hellenists, who, you will remember, were Greek-speaking Jews. Today, we see the Samaritans putting their faith in Jesus. We have talked about them a lot since 2 Kings 17, but as a reminder, let's talk about them again here. In 2 Kings, the Assyrian army destroys the northern kingdom of Israel, taking the idolatrous people of God into captivity. When the Assyrians resettled the land of Israel, God sent lions into their midsts to devour them. In a panic, they bring back some of the people of God and ask to be instructed in the ways of worshipping the "God of the land." Now, remember, the Israelites had long since abandoned God, but they did instruct the Assyrians on what the worship of God was supposed to be like. The Assyrians and the returned Israelites intermarry and populate the land of Samaria (the capital city of the land of Israel). They worshipped not only their false gods but also the God of the Hebrews. Fast forward a few hundred years, and we end up with the Samaritan people. (The most famous of these people might be the woman at the well in John 4) Now, these people who have for centuries been worshipping all manners of gods are coming to true faith in Jesus. Also, in this chapter, we have the Ethiopian Eunuch who put his faith in Jesus. It is an amazing thing that the Jews had rejected Jesus so completely, but the foreigners and the pagans were coming to him with ease. Of course, we know that this is how it had to be; the Jews had to miss Jesus so that they would crucify him. But as we will see in Romans, God will keep his promises to the people of Israel and ultimately bring them to faith.
For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
17 min
October 01, 2024Ep. 275. Acts 7 | Stephen's Defense
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Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

The amount of Scripture Stephen either quotes or references is overwhelming. I don't think for a moment that most of us would be able to walk people through so thorough a study of the people of God without notes at the ready. By my count, he references at least twenty passages from the Old Testament. I do not doubt that if Stephen had survived this ordeal, he would have been a faithful proclaimer of the goodness of God available through Jesus Christ. I would have loved to know more about the man and get glimpses into his life and ministry than the few lines we have. Even in his death, his attention and affection were on Jesus. In his final breath, he prayed for the pardon of those who were in the act of killing him. His character was above reproach. There was a purpose in his death, but I will address that tomorrow.
For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
16 min
September 30, 2024Ep. 274. Acts 6 | Seven Chosen
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Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

There are enough names and terms in the Bible that we struggle with on a regular basis when we first come to the Scripture; let "Hellenist" no longer be one of them. These are the Greek speaking Jews. Where did these Greek-speaking Jews originate? The answer is an easy one: Second Kings 17 when the Assyrians took the Israelites into captivity, and in 2 Kings 25, when the people of Judah were taken into captivity in Babylon. The two nations, formerly one, of God's people were scattered abroad, and then they made lives for themselves. Many of them continued their religious practices, but they stayed among the nations rather than return to their homeland. These are the people gathered together for the Feast in Acts 2, listening to Peter and the other Apostles preaching and teaching in their own languages. Stephen was one of these Greek speakers. The men set aside in this chapter to care for the widows in the distribution of food seem to be the first deacons. I don't know that this was meant to be a prescription for modern-day churches on how to appoint deacons, but neither do I think it is a bad idea. See where the need is within the body and find people willing to meet that need. I could happily do away with the two-year term limit or the committees, but I understand there needs to be some sort of order. I would say that if we are going to appoint deacons within the body, we must follow the prescriptions Paul laid out in 1 Timothy chapter three, but we will get there in due time.
For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
8 min
September 29, 2024Episodes 267-273 Summary
Welcome to Simpler Bible, your daily path to biblical understanding.

What's in Store: Daily podcasts, YouTube videos, and blog posts – everything you need to make your Bible study a breeze, no matter where you are on your faith journey.

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For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
14 min
September 29, 2024Ep. 273. Acts 4-5 | The Unity of the Believer
Welcome to Simpler Bible, your daily path to biblical understanding.
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Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness." What a fantastic prayer. In the face of threats and adversity, the believers prayed for boldness and to remain steadfast in the work of the gospel. I think back to Matthew thirteen and the seed that fell on the rocky soil. The plant sprang up quickly, but it withered in the time of persecution because it had no root. Persecution of the followers of Christ is a dividing force that shows those who are fully convinced of the truth of Jesus and those who pretend to be.

You'll notice in this text that the believers are "filled with the Holy Spirit." They had all just been filled with the Holy Spirit in chapter two, but here they are "filled" yet again. Later, we will see individuals "filled" with the Holy Spirit for specific tasks. This seems to mimic what we saw in the Old Testament, especially in the life of Samson, where the Holy Spirit empowered people to accomplish certain things in the name of and for the glory of God. I know that when I was growing up, I was under the impression that the Holy Spirit came and filled you up only once (at salvation); I have friends who believe in a second filling of the Holy Spirit, but I have never heard anyone discuss what seems to be happening in the book of Acts with multiple fillings. I wish I were smart enough to do more than speculate on the matter, but for now, I'll have to keep pondering this mystery.
For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
16 min
September 28, 2024Ep. 272. Acts 3-4 | The Boldness of Peter
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Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

Remember when Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus? That was just fifty days before this chapter. Remember when Jesus ran to the tomb and found it empty but wasn't sure what that meant? That was about 47 days before this moment. Remember when Peter decided to go fishing with his buddies, talked with Jesus on the beach, and admitted that he only loved Jesus like a close friend or a brother? That was about 40 days, give or take, prior to this. Remember when the disciples stood staring up into the sky, wondering where Jesus had gone? That was about ten days before this moment.
What changed?
Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit now. That's the difference. It grieves me when I see "Christians" compare themselves to Peter's worst moments and then justify themselves by saying, "Even Peter denied Jesus." No! Christian Peter DID NOT deny Jesus. Pre Holy Spirit, Peter denied Jesus.
Maybe our lives aren't lived boldly for Christ because we aren't actually saved; we don't actually have the Holy Spirit. Maybe someone finds it possible, or in some cases easy, to deny Christ because they never knew him in the first place. We've got to quit pretending that the Spirit doesn't have a dynamic impact on those whom he indwells.
For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
13 min
September 27, 2024Ep. 271. Acts 2 | The Holy Spirit
Welcome to Simpler Bible, your daily path to biblical understanding.
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Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

So many things about this chapter are really cool to me. I love that the giving of the Spirit and the "about 3000 saved" correspond to the Feast of the First Fruits. I also love the juxtaposition of the "about 3000 saved" when the Spirit was given and the "about 3000 dead" when the Law was given. That the Law brought death and that the Spirit brought life is a theme featured heavily in the New Testament. Peter shows his mastery of the Scripture, in his case, the Old Testament, by the various references he makes in his first sermon. Of course, this was an important thing for him to do because his audience, though from all over the world, was primarily Jewish. They would have understood and recognized these Scriptures immediately. With the somewhat lengthy quotation of Joel, Peter shows how the promised Spirit of God had now been given to the people to prophesy, see visions, and dream dreams. He concludes the quote from Joel with, "Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Paul will use this same line in Romans and in a Jewish context, though we know that salvation is for the Gentiles, too.
For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes
14 min

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Simpler Bible is your go-to online daily Bible reading program, where our dedicated pastor, Ryan, guides you through about one Bible chapter each day. Our mission is to make the Bible more accessible…