The Bible Speaks to You: Think, Pray, Love like Jesus

By James EarlyReligion & Spirituality Christianity Spirituality Religion

The Bible Speaks to You: Think, Pray, Love like Jesus episodes

August 06, 2024252 – The Reason You Should not Follow Jesus and the Reason You Should
252 – Are you following Jesus for the wrong reason?

Hey, it happens sometimes. Once in a while we get our priorities mixed up and our motives for following Jesus can get a little selfish.

You just want a blessing or a healing or a new job or whatever. Is that so bad? Well, there's nothing wrong with any of those things, but following Jesus just to get something is a bit self-focused.

The real reason to follow Jesus is because he's the Messiah, the Son of God. He gives us eternal life. He shows us our relationship with God.

This week's episode is a deep dive into Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. We talk about

Why so many people followed Jesus at one point
What Jesus said that confused them about following him
What Jesus said it really involves to follow him
Why so many people quit following Jesus
Why the 12 disciples continued to follow him
What you and I need to do to follow Jesus
Following Jesus for the right reason

Take an honest look at the reason you follow or want to follow Jesus? Is it just to get outward blessings, or is it to find God and His kingdom and experience your relationship with the Father through His Son, Jesus?

Jesus does expect a lot of us when we are his followers. But he never asks or expects anything of us that we’re not already capable of doing.

Show notes:
Full transcript and Bible verses mentioned this week: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/252

Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
25 min
July 30, 2024251 – Sharing Your Faith in Unexpected Places
251 – Are you sharing your faith in unusual ways?
Have you ever been hesitant sharing your faith with someone who you thought probably wasn’t receptive or that you really didn’t even want to talk to?
What would you do if God told you to go directly to that person and tell them about Jesus and the difference he had made in your life?

Would you just automatically go at God’s command or would you try to explain to God why it might not be such a good idea?

Peter and Cornelius

This is sort of what happened to Peter when the Holy Spirit told him to go with three strangers to meet Cornelius the Roman Centurion.

This week's episode explores
Sharing your faith in unexpected ways
Having visions that don't make any sense until later
God asking us to let go of some traditionalized practices
Trusting God to prepare the way
How to overcome resistance to sharing your faith with people who are different
Have you ever felt God calling you to share your faith in an unexpected way, with someone you would never have chosen to talk to? Do you ever feel you wouldn’t be able to do what Peter did? Or do you prayerfully yearn for such an opportunity? Maybe you don’t feel qualified or worthy to do something similar.
Never underestimate how God will use you and the good you will do when you have this desire in your heart. Then you’ll see yourself in this verse from Isaiah,
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 NIV
Show notes
Full transcript and Bible verses in this episode: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/251
Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
24 min
July 23, 2024250 – Joshua Tapp: Learning from People with a Different Faith than Yours
250 – How often do you have a conversation with someone who has a different faith than you do?

I know some Christians who won't talk to anyone except people they agree with 100%. They live in a "safe" little bubble.

But over the years, I have learned so much from people in other faiths. In fact, it always ends up strengthening my own faith when I talk to someone I don't agree with on everything.

That's what this week's podcast is all about.

And to make things interesting, my guest, Joshua Tapp, interviews me for this milestone episode, Episode 250.

We talk about what it means to
Forgive when someone really hurt you.
Be a true follower of Jesus (spoiler alert: it may not be what you're thinking)
Put your faith into action instead of just believing what someone tells you
Be saved by grace and how to live that grace in your daily life
And, how to get out of a spiritual funk
In asking about why my faith is important to me, Josh uncovers one of the most pivotal moments in my faith journey.

Listen now and let me know what you think.
Contact info
Check out Josh's podcast, The Lucky Titan
To contact Josh, text him at 208-206-4652

Show notes
Full transcript and Bible quotes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/250

Thank you for helping The Bible Speaks to You reach this milestone of 250 episodes.
Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
51 min
July 16, 2024249 – What Keeps You from Finding Your Self-Worth?
249 – What do you base your self-worth on?

Have you ever met someone who seemed to be full of confidence , but when you got to know them, you realized they based their self-worth on things like how much money they have, where they went to school, what job they have, or where they're from? Or maybe how good looking they are or how many followers they have on Social Media?

Unfortunately, when you define your worth based on these external factors, you'll never find your true self worth. In fact, this approach actually prevents you from seeing real spiritual self-worth as a child of God.

All these external things can be lost or taken away. But the fact you are God's child can never change.

In this week's episode, I talk about various folks in the Bible who didn't always have a good sense of self-worth. Sometimes they were worthy and didn't feel it. Sometimes they were basing their self-worth on the wrong things but didn't know it.
Jacob didn't feel worthy of all the blessings God had bestowed, partly because he had cheated his brother out of his birthright and blessing. And he was very sly in caring for Laban's flocks, choosing the best for himself.
Moses didn't think he was up for the task of talking to Pharaoh and bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt
Hannah didn't feel worthy because she didn't have any children
Nebuchadnezzar felt very worthy because he had built the kingdom of Babylon. But God took it all away. He had to find self-worth in glorifying God
John the Baptist didn't feel worthy to unlatch Jesus's sandals
The Centurion didn't feel worthy to have Jesus come into his house
Why is it so often the case that the ones who think they are not worthy – like Moses, Hannah, John the Baptist, and the Centurion – are actually very worthy?

How does this apply to you?

Listen now to discover how you can find what's keeping you from discovering your true self-worth.

Previous episode mentioned:
#153 Where Does Your Self-Worth Come From?

Show notes:
Full transcript and Bible quotes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/249
Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
28 min
July 09, 2024248 – That's Not the Jesus I Believe In.
248 – Have you ever heard someone talk about Jesus in a way that just didn’t quite fit with what was in the Bible?

Or maybe you read a book or saw a movie or a play about Jesus that either fell short of capturing the true essence of Jesus or it kind of stretched the truth and over-exaggerated things?

Recently in Season 4 of "The Chosen," there was a scene where Jesus made no effort to heal Ramah, when Thomas asked him to and openly confessed his faith that Jesus could heal her.

And back in Season 3, Jesus explains to Little James, one of the twelve disciples, why he wasn't going to heal him.

This is not the Jesus I believe in.

There's nothing in the Bible that describes Jesus ever acting this way.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love The Chosen. I've been deeply inspired by the show, but when it depicts Jesus in a way that's inconsistent with what the Bible reveals about Jesus, I have a hard time swallowing the story line.

That's what this week's episode is all about:
Is God sometimes willing to heal but not other times?
Is God always able to heal or not?
Was Jesus unable or unwilling to heal on some occasions?
How does it affect the way you pray if you believe God might choose not to heal you or cannot heal you?
No matter what others say about who Jesus is or what he does, always come back to the Bible to find him. Don’t take The Chosen’s version of Jesus. Don’t accept a preacher’s version of Jesus. Don’t take the Church’s traditionalized view of Jesus without coming back to the Bible.
When you do find Jesus in the Bible, you will find the Jesus you can follow and believe in.

Previous episode mentioned:
Episode 29: Is It Ever God’s Will You Are NOT Healed When You Pray?

Show notes:
To read a full transcript and the Bible quotes in this episode, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/248
Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
27 min
July 02, 2024247 – Finding freedom from man-made doctrines
247 – Have you ever felt like some folks are preaching man-made doctrines without even realizing it?

Have you ever felt intimidated by people insisting their doctrines are correct? And then someone with a different doctrine insists they are right and the other person is wrong?

How do we tell if a doctrine is man-made or a God-ordained truth?

This week's episode jumps into this and give some basic tools you can use to help determine if a doctrine is man-made or not.

We talk about:
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Is being a Christian based on doctrine or deeds?
Jesus's litmus test for what it means to be a true Christian
Lots of Christians believe things that don't really agree with what Jesus said
The one most important quality to have in your heart when thinking about whether you believe man-made doctrines or God's truth
I encourage you to take an honest look at your beliefs. Are they in line with what Jesus said and did? Do they express the love he lived?

The best way to find out is to pay careful attention to everything Jesus said and did and follow his example and obey his teachings. Do this until it’s totally natural to love your enemies and forgive those who have wronged you, among other things.
Then look through this practice and obedience to Jesus as a lens to evaluate your doctrines.

Previous episode mentioned:
Episode 224 – Why Should I Believe in the Nicene Creed?

Show notes:
Full transcript and Bible verses mentioned: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/247
Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
27 min
June 25, 2024246 – How to Make Your Faith Your Own Instead of Copying Someone Else
246 – Is your faith based on what someone told you you're supposed to believe or on your relationship with God?

I've talked to several people lately who have recently realized they believe what they were taught without questioning it. They never really made their faith their own.

They have finally given themselves permission to ask questions, read the Bible for themselves, and focus on their relationship with God, instead of just believing and doing what other people tell them they should.

This week's episode is about making your faith your own. Jesus's disciples had to learn this same lesson. It wasn't enough to just repeat Jesus's words. They had to practice what he taught them.

How to make your faith your own:
Get spiritually curious and ask questions
Spend some time alone with God and ask questions
Read the Bible for yourself
Start with what resonates with you, like loving your neighbor as yourself
Always ask God to direct the next steps you need to take
Keep a record of how God has worked in your life
Don't be surprised if you find yourself surrendering to God to guide your life
Be an active part of a community of like-minded believers
The best way to make your faith your own is to practice the basic teachings of Jesus and see where that leads you.

If you just repeat what someone else says, or even the words of Jesus, without putting them into practice, it's like buying seeds and not planting them.

When you practice your faith, it will grow, just as seeds grow when they're planted.

Trust the process.

Show notes:
Full transcript of this episode and Bible references--thebiblespeakstoyou.com/246
Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
24 min
June 18, 2024245 – How To Be Joyful No Matter What Happens
245 – What do you do when people or circumstances rob you of your joy?

Have you ever been on top of the world and full of joy when something terrible happens, your joy vanishes, and you feel like you're sinking into a pit of quicksand?

Is there a way to hold onto your joy when a challenging situation comes up?

That's what this week's episode is all about.

The Bible talks a lot about joy. But it's not the fleeting happiness that is like a weather vane, which shifts depending on which way the emotional winds are blowing.

True joy goes deeper than that:
Joy comes from within because of who we are as children of God
Joy is a result of knowing our relationship with God
True joy comes from being in God's presence
It comes from understanding your place in the kingdom of heaven
When you've lost your joy, the remedy is gratitude
The more you feel your deep spiritual connection with God, the less you’ll be influenced when terrible things happen or you get bad news.

Jesus says nothing can take away your true joy, your connection with God. (John 16:22)

There may be times when it feels like circumstances have robbed you of your joy. But your joy is actually still there, still part of who you are as a child of God.

Are you ready to discover your true spiritual joy? Listen now.

Show notes:
Full transcript and Bible verses--thebiblespeakstoyou.com/245

Previous episode mentioned:
Episode 111 : What Was Jesus Thankful for?

Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
26 min
June 11, 2024244 – Raising Kids with Love and Faith with Jared Haley and Chris Wilson
244 – Do you want to be a more effective dad, or know someone who does?

This week I talk with Jared Haley and Chris Wilson about what it means to be a good dad, to nurture your kids and support their spiritual growth.

Jared and Chris are both passionate about being good dads, spending quality time with their families, and guiding their kids spiritually as they grow up. But most important of all, loving and respecting them under all circumstances.

We talked about all kind of dad things. I asked each of them:
What's your favorite thing about being a dad?
Who is your favorite father figure in the Bible?
How do you help your kids hold onto their innocence and creativity?
What's your biggest challenge being a dad?
How do you guide your kids with healthy boundaries without stirring up resentment?
How do you quit repeating the patterns of temper or anger that you learned from your own parents?
What if we treated our children the way we would treat Jesus?
And of course, I asked my famous three last questions.
If you could talk to any Bible character other than Jesus, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Is there any Bible character you especially identify with?
This podcast is about getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus. How would you describe Jesus’s original message of how he wanted us to live our lives?
Listen now to hear the answers to these questions.

Show notes:
To download a pdf transcript and to see all Bible quotes, check out the show notes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/244.
Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
1 hr 6 min
June 04, 2024243 – The Secret to Spiritual Restoration
243 – What's the best way to experience spiritual restoration?

Have you ever felt like you needed some spiritual restoration in your life? I sure have.

The key word here is "restoration." It means that God is restoring us to the original condition of how He made us in His image and likeness.

It's kind of like someone cleaning an old oil painting, removing all the dirt and varnish from so you can see the original intention of the artist in the original colors. Check out the video below.

Spiritual restoration

God removes from our hearts and minds everything that is not in keeping with His original intention for us: past hurts and fears, sins we’ve committed and bad choices we’ve made, pride or self-depreciation, to name a few.

The secret of spiritual restoration is the simple fact that God originally created you in all glory, beauty, purity, and wholeness. Whatever has covered that up is not part of God’s original intention for you, any more than layers of dirt on a painting are part of an artist’s original intention for a piece of art.

It's not that is not that God transforms you from a sinner into a saint. He removes the sin, the hurts, the fears, whatever it is that’s covered up God’s original creation, because these things are not part of the original way God created you.

Resources mentioned:
Episode 227: God Still Loves You
YouTube video of painting being restored

Show notes:
Transcript and Bible quotes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/243
Text me your questions or comments.
Support the show
If you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

__________________
James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus)
Make a donation to support the show
Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you
Contact James here
27 min

About The Bible Speaks to You: Think, Pray, Love like Jesus

From the publisher's feed

Have you ever poured out your heart, almost begging God to solve a problem, but it doesn’t feel like your prayer is ever answered? You wonder if there’s a better way to pray you don’t know about.…