Simpler Bible

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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Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

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For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes

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.

Connect with Us:

Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

Join us in making Bible study Simpler!

Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

Malachi is speaking to a group of people who have been banished to captivity for seventy years, who have been restored to Jerusalem, who faltered in rebuilding the temple, who shirked their responsibility to rebuild the wall, and who offered profane offerings to him in worship. By the way, it was those offerings that he was referring to when he was rebuking them for their lack of tithes. Remember, he has just said it would be better to close the doors of the TEMPLE. That's what he's talking about here. Think back to Haggai chapter one; it was the people's neglect of God that had them living in lack and futility. However, as believers, we know that there is "no condemnation" for those who are in Christ Jesus. We know that the blessing is attached to the work of Jesus on the cross, and the curse of sin has been abolished. How can we, in good faith, believe that Malachi is God's rebuke to weak-willed Christians? It isn't even a good understanding of what God has graciously given to us through our Savior.

Be careful in your reading of the Scripture to hold fast to the context so that you might rightly enjoy Jesus.

For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes

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.

Connect with Us:

Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

Join us in making Bible study Simpler!

Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

God says, "I have loved you."

But the people respond, "How have you loved us?"

God asks, "If I am Father, where is my honor? If I am a master, where is my fear? O priests, who despise my name."

But the people respond, "How have we despised your name?"

It is vital to the understanding of of this short book that we understand God is having a conversation with rebellious priests. They are offering wicked sacrifices on the altar of the Lord in strict violation of the Law laid out in Leviticus. God is so repulsed by the wickedness of the priesthood he says, "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you. I will not accept an offering from your hand."

As we often do, we try to make Malachi a rebuke to the sinful people in the modern-day church. We switch out animal offerings for figurative offerings and ask those in the pews, "Are you offering to God profane offerings?" The message usually comes with an appeal for grief over sin, repentance, and a turning again to God. Look, I entirely agree that grief over sin is a good thing. I have some thoughts on repentance we should talk through sometime. But I certainly believe drawing near to God is a beautiful thing. Still, please don't lose sight of the context of Malachi, particularly when we roll into chapter two.

For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes

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.

Connect with Us:

Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

Join us in making Bible study Simpler!

Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

The King condemns Haman to death, elevates Mordecai to power, and issues a decree that the Jews are allowed to defend themselves on the day they find themselves confronted. (in the 12th month of the same year) Nine months later, people in the towns and rural areas raised themselves against the Jews, but God gave the Jews victory over their enemies. God has once again faithfully preserved his people. He will again. Though now, for our sakes, the Jews have been hardened so that the Gentiles can come to faith; we know that the Jews, in the last days, will be awakened to salvation in Jesus, for "The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Romans 11:25,29)

For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes

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.

Connect with Us:

Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

Join us in making Bible study Simpler!

Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

Esther, as a book, was on the chopping block when the early church considered whether they would also use the Jewish Scriptures as part of the Christian Scriptures. The reason for their debate was that there was no direct mention of God in the book. While that is true, I do think there is an obvious analogy of Jesus in the book of Esther. When she comes to stand before the King, he has every right to kill her, but he extends to her his scepter as a symbol of his grace and mercy, and Esther is permitted to draw near to him. I have often considered this a picture of our position before God. If we dare come before God our King, he has every right to kill us, but in his mercy and grace, he has extended to us his loving-kindness in Christ Jesus, by which we are brought near to God.

I also wonder how Haman felt parading Mordecai around in honor. That must have stung.

For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes

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.

Connect with Us:

Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

Join us in making Bible study Simpler!

Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

Second, pay attention to the dates in this book. I used to think this entire story took place in the span of a single year, but lets examine that. Esther 1:3 tells us this story begins in the 3rd year of the reign of the King. It isn't until the tenth month of his 7th year that Esther found favor in the sight of the King (see 2:16). It was four years and three months later when Haman made a plan against the Jews in the first month of the 12th year (see 3:7). So we see in the first three chapters somewhere between eight and nine years pass. I find it helpful to keep these sorts of things in mind to understand the story's timeline better. It is interesting to consider that Esther had been a queen for over four years before God used her to rescue the people. Joseph had been in place for at least nine years (in service of the king) but in Egypt for at least 22 years. Moses was in place for nearly 40 years. Daniel for 13.

For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes

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.

Connect with Us:

Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

Join us in making Bible study Simpler!

Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

There is, of course, the reference to the thirty pieces of silver for which christ was betrayed by Judas, but the last few chapters give us incredible insight to how the final days of this world will unfold. One of the things we see is that Jerusalem will be made a "heavy stone" and "all who lift it will surely hurt themselves. Furthermore, "all the nations of the earth will gather against it." But God will destroy all the nations that gathered against his anointed city. (See 12:9-10)

Intermingled with the last days prophesies we see the cross highlighted as well for "On that day there will be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness." And also, "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered."

For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes

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.

Connect with Us:

Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

Join us in making Bible study Simpler!

Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

First, we already know that "the Branch" is a reference to Jesus. We saw that in Isaiah 11. The Branch will build the Temple of the Lord, or build the house of the Lord. In the New Testament we see that the believers are the Temple of the Lord, built together in Christ our true cornerstone.

For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes

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.

Connect with Us:

Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

Join us in making Bible study Simpler!

For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes

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.

Connect with Us:

Don't Miss Out: Hit subscribe for a daily dose of Bible wisdom. Let's explore the Scriptures together, connect the dots, and uncover the major themes of redemption.

Join us in making Bible study Simpler!

Here’s an excerpt from the blog post.

I don't think there is any excuse for us to be uneducated in the Scripture. If we are brand new to the faith, it is understandable that we would not know the details, but we who have labored long in our faith ought to know the writings that frame our faith for us.

Nehemiah ends with him dealing, again, with the same sin that Ezra has already dealt with. Some may argue that Nehemiah was out of line for pulling out the hair of the offenders while Ezra, grief-stricken as he was, pulled out his own hair. Is there not room for both Nehemiah and Ezra to exist in our world of faith?

For more visit http://simplerbible.com/episodes