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

October 24, 2023211 – When Someone Disagrees with You on How to Follow Jesus
211 – Surprise, not everyone agrees on how to follow Jesus

What do you do when someone says you're not following Jesus the "right" way? Has someone ever "sent you to hell" because you didn't believe in Jesus or follow him the exact way they did?

Jesus said simply, "Come, follow me." He said this to Peter and Andrew, James and John. He said it to tax collectors and anyone who was receptive.

And here we are 2,000 years later still trying to figure out exactly what it means to follow Jesus.

In this week's episode I talk about:
The debate on how to follow Jesus has been going on ever since he was here
Some people make it about doctrine and theology
But Jesus wants us to follow his example
If you love Jesus you will obey his commandments
It's not about putting your feet where Jesus's feet were. It's abut putting your heart where Jesus's heart was--and is.
Jesus told us not be surprised when religious authorities are judgmental of how we follow him
Maybe the real question we need to ask is, Why should we follow Jesus?

For me, I follow him – some days better than others – because he is the Son of God, the Messiah, who came to show us the Way of Life. He has given us the promise of eternal life by overcoming sickness and sin, disease and death.
Christ has opened my eyes to see that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and not just way off in the future, that God is always present to help us. The more I follow Jesus, the more my life is transformed in a very positive way.
I’d love to know: What does it mean to you to follow Jesus?

To read a full transcript of this episode and study the Bible verses quoted, check out the show notes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/211
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
October 17, 2023210 – Jairus’s Daughter Is a Metaphor for Church Revitalization
210 – What if Jairus had not asked Jesus to heal his daughter?

The answer is pretty obvious. She would not have been restored to life.

I've been thinking of some of the challenges facing so many churches today and realized that Jairus's daughter being restored to life is a wonderful metaphor for what can happen to our churches when we turn to Christ for help.

All too often, a struggling church thinks to be successful, it needs to get better music or update their audio-visual equipment, have more programs for the members, or even have a coffee shop to get more people to come.

But none of these are real solutions to a dying church. In fact, they're actually decoys. The real answer to to reach out to Christ, like Jairus did.

That's what this week's episode is all about: the revitalization of your church based on turning to Christ, hearing and obeying his voice.
Jairus could have given up when the messenger told him his daughter was dead, but he didn't
When the world or a fellow church member says your church is dying or dead, you don't have to accept it.
Everyone else thought Jairus's daughter was dead. Jesus knew she was not.
Human opinions and activities will not save a dying church. Only Christ can.
Christ can always bring resurrection to your church when all members humble themselves.
When your church is united in and obedient to Christ, you’ll be baptized with the Holy Spirit. God will put words in your mouth and actions in your hands and feet. God will send you to the receptive heart and those in need.

And God will bless your church abundantly.
Previous episodes mentioned this week:
Episode 206 How to stop legalism from killing your church
Episode 120 You Are Loved and Accepted by God with Jason Elam
Show notes:
To read a full transcript of this week's episode and study the Bible verses mentioned go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/210.
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
October 10, 2023209 – Finding Your Spiritual Identity as a Child of God with Jared Capello
209 – How often do you think about your spiritual identity?

It's one thing to identify yourself based on what you see in the mirror or how much money you have in the bank, and lots of other such things.

But your real identity, who you are way down deep, is spiritual. It's who you are as a child of God made in God's image and likeness.

This week I talk with Jared Capello, a life coach and fulfillment strategist. He helps people discover who they really are spiritually. This opens up unlimited possibilities for a productive life of joy and love.

He grew up in a cult that was manipulative and fear-based. Leaving the cult helped him discover his relationship with God through love instead of fear.

Here are some of the main points we talked about:
Your spiritual identity is from God and nothing can take it away
Your identity is not wrapped up in what other people think about you
Jared shares how he helps people discover the deep desires of their heart and achieve them
You can't put God in a box
You can't find your identity or completeness in another person, only in God
Jesus showed us the true nature of God as love, not wrathful
When fear governs a church, they try to control you
When love governs a church, they empower you spiritually
And so much more
After the recent fires in Hawaii, Jared went to Maui to be a comfort to those suffering from the incredible losses of homes and family members.

Guess who Jared would like to talk to in the Bible and who he identifies with in the Bible. Check out this week's episode to find out.

For a full transcript of this episode and to study all the Bible verses quoted, go to the show notes page: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/209.
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 8 min
October 03, 2023208 – You Already Have Infinite Spiritual Resources
208 – What if you dug up a metal box in your back yard full of old gold coins?

How would you feel? Pretty good, right?

Why is it that, just the idea of unexpectedly getting a lot of money, makes us feel good? Well, it's probably because we tend to think of how much money we have as the source of how much happiness we can have in life.

But Jesus gave us a completely different perspective on life, happiness, and wealth. He said life isn't about all your material possessions. It's about your relationship with God.

In this week's episode, I talk about true wealth and the spiritual resources you have right now:
True wisdom is better than material wealth
We need a more spiritual concept of what riches and true wealth are
It’s not how much money you have but how much wisdom, love, righteousness, obedience, and all God’s other qualities, that you have
Jesus was completely aware that God would provide everything he needed
Money, on its own, is not a measure of God’s favor or how much He loves you
Jesus knew the kingdom of heaven is at hand and wanted us to see it too
If you think heaven is in the future, you won't experience God's abundance
The fullness of God is in you right now

You can’t see it with your eyes. You can’t measure it with your bank account. But when you quit believing what the material world tells you, and instead open your eyes, to the present reality of the spiritual abundance of heaven, here and now, you will experience a rich and overwhelming abundance of God’s blessings.
Right this moment, you have access to the infinite, spiritual resources of God and His kingdom.

Show notes: To read a full transcript of this episode and study the Bible verses quoted, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/208
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
21 min
September 26, 2023207 – How to Build Your Life on the Spiritual Foundation of Christ
207 – What would happen if you built your house on the sand next to the beach?

You might have a beautiful house, but over time the water would probably erode the sand around and underneath your house. And your house would fall apart.

Jesus uses the idea of a house built on a rock or the sand as a metaphor for obeying, or not obeying, the moral and spiritual precepts he taught in the Sermon on the Mount.

In this week's episode I talk about how to build a firm foundation of obedience to Christ. Here are some of the main points:
I share a real life story of a house that was built on the sand and what happened
How to sum up the Sermon on the Mount
The four guiding moral and spiritual principles to live by
What to do when you realize part of your house (your life) is built on sand
I include an exercise that helps you find freedom from past mistakes
When you build on the foundation of Christ, it has an influence on everyone around you. When you are living Jesus’s teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, people notice. They feel valued by you. They feel your love. They see the way you treat others. And it has an effect on them.
When you build you house, your life, on the rock of Christ – and I don’t mean by this going around and just quoting Jesus, telling others how they should be living – I mean actually living the precepts Jesus taught because you love Christ, when people see that, they often want what you have, the inner peace of mind and a strong faith.
You may never know what an impact you have on someone else, when you build your life on a spiritual foundation of obedience to Christ.
Show notes: To read a full transcript of this episode and study the Bible verses referred to, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/207.

Resources:
Previous episode mentioned: Finding Your Identity in Christ, Episode 85
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
September 19, 2023206 – How to Stop Legalism from Killing Your Church
206 – Is legalism killing your church?

Legalism puts a strangle hold on a church. It stunts the spiritual growth of the members and worst of all, it stifles the activity of the Holy Spirit.

But legalism is not a new thing. Jesus had to deal with the same tendency with the religious leaders of his day. They were more interested in observing all the minute rules and laws than having a relationship with God.

They thought their obedience to all these rules made them righteous.

In this week's episode, I talk about:
What legalism is and how to discern it
Some examples of legalism in churches today
Some examples of legalism in the Bible
Some examples of overcoming legalism in the Bible
Some examples of overcoming legalism today
And most importantly: the only real remedy for legalism
Is there any legalism in your church? Have you ever stifled the Holy Spirit?

We need to take an honest look at ourselves and our churches to see if there's any legalism lurking in our midst. And this requires humility.

The solution is simple. It's the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is moving upon the waters of your heart and your church right now.

To read a full transcript of this episode and to study the Bible verses quoted this week, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/206
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
September 12, 2023205 – The Epistle of James Was Written for Your Church with Robin Jennings
205 – How can the book of James help your church grow?

For a church to grow, there has to be a strong moral and spiritual foundation in Christ. And that's what the book of James is all about.

In fact, it's very similar in tone with the Sermon on the Mount.

When you and your church put these teachings into practice, individually and collectively, you will flourish.

This week I talk with author, Robin T. Jennings about how the book of James is a guidebook to church growth and a bridge to the next generation of church members.

Here are some of the points we covered
The importance of church for worship and community
The power of collective prayer
We need spiritual mentors and to spiritually mentor others
James shows us how to act (and not act) toward people when they come to our churches
Why it's important to live your faith
Who is James anyway?
Robin has written 3 books*
May You Live in Christ: Spiritual Growth Through the Vision of St. Peter
The Door to Renewal: Spiritual Growth Through the Mind of St. Paul
A Letter to the Church and the Next Generation: Spiritual Growth through the Witness of James
Check out Robin's Guided Reflection for Spiritual Growth and Renewal

To download a full transcript of this episode and to check out all the Bible verses mentioned, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/205.
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 7 min
September 05, 2023204 – How to Pray When You Feel Unwanted
204 – Have you ever felt unwanted?

I have a friend who was told by his parents that he was a mistake. They had not intended to have any more children. They constantly reminded him of this, as if it was his fault he was born.

And they never gave him the love and support they gave to his brothers and sisters. All his life he has struggled with the feeling of being unwanted. It has affected him in lots of very negative ways.

You'd be surprised at how many people I've met over the years who feel unwanted.

So the question is: How can we pray about this problem? Is there a solution? How can we find healing?

Yes, of course there's a solution, but the only real solution is spiritual. You can't heal this without God's help.

In this week's episode I share some helpful ideas about how to pray for yourself or someone else when there's a feeling of being unwanted. I talk about:
Start with God's promise in Revelation that you will find healing
As hard as it may be, you need to forgive those who hurt you
Find a supportive community
Pray for yourself and ask others to pray for you too
Take a deep dive into your Bible study
How to look at yourself from a new perspective
What would you do if you wrote a letter to God and got an answer?
You are not a mistake. You didn't just accidentally appear. God knew what He was doing when He created you. He created you because He wanted you to be His child.

The world may not see or believe that. But God does. And you can too.
_________

Here are two previous episodes mentioned this week:
Episode 135: Your Past Does not Define You
Episode 18: Forgiving 70 x 7: How I Forgave My 8th Grade Gym Teacher

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
August 29, 2023203 – What if Jesus Preached at Your Church?
203 – What if Jesus was the preacher at your church?

How would things be different? Would you listen more carefully to what was said? Would you be more inspired? Would you be afraid he might read your mind and see the things you don't want anyone to know about?

How would it change you? Would you invite your friends to come the next week?

I've been thinking about this lately. And that's what this episode is all about.

What made Jesus a good preacher? Why did people come to listen? Well, there were lots of reasons. Here are a few:
He was a good speaker
He told good stories, or parables
He spoke with authority, like he knew what he was talking about
He gave new meaning to the Scriptures
His message was powerful and had the ring of truth, because he lived the ideas he taught, he practiced what he preached
People felt uplifted, valued, and loved by Jesus
People were curious
People told others about Jesus and invited them to come see for themselves
People were healed and others came hoping they would be healed
They often liked what they heard and came to hear him again and brought their friends
One of the most important aspects to Jesus being not just a good preacher, but the best ever was because he was the Messiah, the Son of God. And he knew it.

Peter and Paul were also so completely aware that Jesus was the Messiah that it gave a spiritual power to their preaching.

When you go to church this Sunday, pretend that Jesus is your preacher. How would you listen? Now, listen to your pastor the same way you would listen to Jesus.

Let me know how it goes.

To see the Bible quotes in this episode and a full transcript, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/203.

Thanks for listening!
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
23 min
August 22, 2023202 – God Parts the Red Sea Today: Finding Freedom from Abuse
202 – Can God still part the Red Sea today?

Have you ever felt like you were trapped on the edge of the Red Sea with Pharaoh's war chariots charging toward you? And it didn't look like there was any way to escape?

Imagine what it must have been like to be in that crowd when Moses raised his staff over the water, the wind began to blow, and the waters parted before your very eyes.

God still delivers us from bondage

He still parts the Red Sea. It just looks different today.

In this week's episode, I share a modern day parting of the Red Sea. A close family member realized she had to get out of an abusive marriage. The counselor said her husband had the worst case of narcissism she had ever seen.

Our relative went through a terrible divorce, but each step of the way, God provided the a path to take, sometimes at the last minute, and often in very unexpected ways.

Even her church and pastor were supportive, once they realized how her husband had been treating her. This was pretty amazing given the fact that this denomination often tells women to stay with their abusive husbands, pray harder and try to save the marriage.

There's a lot more to the story, including a new job opportunity in a different state – with just two weeks to move – opened up (aka: the Red Sea parted again).

God can deliver you from a toxic relationship or situation. It is never His will for you to be abused physically, emotionally, or spiritually. He will provide an escape route.

Listen to this inspiring story of how God parted the Red Sea for our relative. And let me know if there are any ideas that are helpful to you.

To study the Bible verses quoted in today's episode, and to read a full transcript, go the the show notes page: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/202

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

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.…