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

June 13, 2023192– Jesus's Recipe to Stop Worrying
192 – Have you ever known someone who worried about almost everything?

Or have you ever been that person, that just couldn't help worrying about stuff?

This week's episode dives into Jesus's solution to overcoming being a worrywart. It's all about embracing his promise that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Here are some of the key things this week:
To quit worrying is about trusting God (Proverbs 3:5, 6, of course)
You have to quit trying to manipulate people and circumstances to get what you want
What are the consequences of the kingdom of heaven being at hand?
How to get rid of the fear that keeps us from trusting God
Find out what my friend Eunice quit worrying when there was no money and she didn't have one crumb of food to feed her family the day before Thanksgiving
What does it really mean to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?
You can't just quote Scriptures and think that will solve the problem
Some people think they're praying, when actually they're just worrying
The way to stop worrying, is to seek and find the kingdom of heaven at hand, to experience being in God’s presence.

Jesus would not tell us to seek this kingdom if we couldn’t find it. The implication is that we can be conscious right now of heaven’s presence and dwell there.
In heaven there’s nothing to worry about. And that is where you dwell. You have everything you need and God is in complete control.

For a full transcript of this episode and a list of Bible references mentioned, check out the show notes: Episode 192
Text me your questions or comments.
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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
June 06, 2023191 – How Early Christian Writings Help Us Understand the Bible with Shirley Paulson
191 – Did you know there are around 100 early Christian writings but only 27 of them are included in the New Testament?

This week my guest is Shirley Paulson, founder and principal producer of Early Christian Texts, the Bible, and Beyond.

We talked about how the early Christian writings, which aren't in the Bible, can help us understand the Bible better. They give us a bigger picture of what was going on in the early Christian church.

Shirley's academic work focuses on early Christian writings, and she discussed the Secret Revelation of John, a long text focused on the theology of healing.

Shirley emphasized the connection between healing and restoring the body and soul, which she sees as the essence of healing. We also talked about the concept of Gnosticism and how scholars have wrestled with ideas about Jesus, Christianity, and believing in God.

We covered lots of topics relating to these early non-canonical writings:

Consolidation of power by the Roman Empire under Constantine's rule
Development of the concept of heresy and exclusion of women, healers, and spiritual thinkers from positions of power
Formation of the Biblical canon and disagreement on which books should be included
Interests in reading various texts to understand better early Christianity and Jesus' followers
The Secret Revelation of John, a long text focused on the theology of healing
Shirley's focus on healing practices and theology in early followers of Jesus
Gnosticism is not what you thought it was
And so much more...
I learned that when the church became institutionalized, it tried to stamp out spiritual healing, the leadership of women in the church, and spiritually understanding your relationship with God. These three things were the biggest threat to the authority of the church institution.

One of the best books to start with is the Gospel of Mary.

Shirley has written a book exploring The Secret Revelation of John, which is really a guide to spiritual healing.

Shirley's books:
Illuminating the Secret Revelation of John: Catching the Light
And: After Jesus Before Christianity: A Historical Exploration of the First Two Centuries of Jesus Movements
Shirley's website: Early Christian Texts

For more details check out the show notes for Episode 191

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 4 min
May 30, 2023190 – Quit trying to change something when you pray
190 – When you pray, do you start with the problem or the solution?

This week we take a deep dive into how to pray more effectively. And so we're going to look at how Jesus prayed and see how we can follow his example.

Jesus never started his prayers with the problem. But isn't that what we do sometimes? We try to explain to God how bad the situation is, as if He doesn't already know what's really going on.

Jesus always started his prayers with the solution. Just look at how he taught us to pray.
It starts with our relationship with God
Then it acknowledges the power, kingdom, and glory of God
We humbly pray for God's will instead of our own
None of these lines in the Lord's Prayer are trying get God to fix the problem. The more we follow this model, the more effective our prayers will be.

Jesus said his purpose on earth was to bear witness to the truth. He could see what was true in heaven about a given situation, that God was supreme and in charge.

When challenges come up, ask yourself: What is true about this situation in the kingdom of heaven? Then be quiet and listen for an answer.

The more you do this, the better you’ll get at hearing God’s voice. Your prayers will no longer be an attempt to fix or change something or to get God to change something. More and more, they will become a joyful opportunity to bear witness to what is true in heaven right now.

Thanks for listening. To read all the Bible quotes in this episode, go to the shownotes page thebiblespeakstoyou.com/109.
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
May 23, 2023189 – How to Pray When You Feel Rejected
189 – What do you do when you feel rejected?
It can be a pretty lousy feeling. When you feel rejected, sometimes it's hard to know what to do.

I’ve been hearing from people lately who have been rejected in one way or another.

For some it’s being rejected by a family member or someone at school, or not getting the promotion at work they had hoped for.
I have several friends who have been rejected by their churches because they were misunderstood and misjudged, or sometimes because they disagreed with the pastor on some topic.
There are all kinds of rejection. It happens all the time. Some situations are not as significant as others. But sometimes a rejection, or series of rejections, can cut right into your sense of self-worth.

In this week's episode, I talk about several people in the Bible who were rejected for various reasons, some appropriate, some not.
Eliab, and all David's other brothers, when they weren't chosen as king
Hagar, when Sarah was jealous of her and had Abraham banish her
Elijah, when Jezebel threatened to kill him
Saul, when he had disobeyed God
Jeremiah, when people would not listen to his warnings
And Jesus, when religious leaders rejected his message and Messiahship
Some of the folks dealt with rejection better than others, but Jesus gives the best example: to love and forgive.

For a full transcript of this episode and all the Bible quotes this week, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/189 for the show notes.

How do you pray when you feel rejected?

If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts. Thanks.

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
May 16, 2023188 – The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea as Metaphors for Life
188 – The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea have the same source. Why are they so different?

Have you ever noticed how many water metaphors there are in the Bible?

One of the most important ones is not specifically mentioned. You have to know the geography of the Holy Land to understand it.

The Sea of Galilee has fresh water coming into and water flows out of it. As a result, the Sea of Galilee is teaming with life.

The Dead Sea has fresh water flowing into it, but there's no outlet for the water. It can only evaporate. All the minerals and sediments are left behind. Over thousands of years these deposits have become so concentrated that nothing can live in or around it.

These two seas are metaphors for how we live.

Are you someone who receives and gives in return. Or are you someone who takes, but never gives back.

In this week's episode I talk about several Bible characters who either have the Dead Sea approach to life or the Sea of Galilee mentality.
Nabal, Abigail's husband
The man who tore down his barns to build bigger ones
Joseph
Ananias, who healed Saul of blindness
Dorcas, also known as Tabitha
The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea don’t have a choice as to how the water comes in and goes out of them. But you and I do have a choice.
Be a cheerful giver. And I would add, be a cheerful and grateful receiver. You probably already are.

It’s not about the amount of resources you are given or how much time or money or effort you give. It’s about the gratitude for and generosity of God’s love that overflows in your heart to bless those around you.
To read the full transcript of this episode and to study all the Bible references mentioned this week, check out the show notes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/188.

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
May 09, 2023187 – Scot McKnight: Revelation for the Rest of Us
187 – What if the book of Revelation is not a prophecy of what will happen in the future, but a guidebook of how to follow the Lamb in the midst of Babylon?

This week I talk with Scot McKnight, author of Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple.

Scot warns against the tendency to read the book of Revelation through speculation as to who in the world today might be fulfilling specific prophecies.

This misses the main point of Revelation, which is to alert Christians to be faithful to following Jesus in the midst of Babylon's influence in the world.

Some of Scot's main points:
The book is a critique of Rome and its sin-sickness, its idolatry, its blasphemy, its immoralities, its exploitations, its warmongering.
Revelation is concerned with the seven churches beginning to act like Rome, allowing the way of Rome influence the way they were living.
The speculation approach to the book of Revelation has taught believers that we’re going to escape and this stuff is in the future and doesn’t have anything to do with us.
And we have missed the opportunity to disciple our congregations politically enough to discern Babylon and live faithfully when Babylon is breathing everywhere around us.
The three ways to resist Babylon as followers of Jesus
How the dragon got sLambed.
The effect of Constantine and the institutionalization of the Christianity was a great loss for the church.
Check out the episode and let me know what you think; contact info is below.
To purchase this book: Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple*

Check out the show notes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/187

*Amazon affiliate link

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
52 min
May 02, 2023186 – Staying Faithful over a Few Things
186 – With all the challenges in the world and in your life, is it really possible to stay faithful?

Yes, of course.

Sometimes we think of our faith in a big sweeping way. But staying faithful sometimes is about tiny little baby steps of doing what's right in the moment.

In this week's episode, I talk about
What it means to be and stay faithful
Who we should be faithful to (it's not just God)
What we should not be faithful to, but all too often are
Ways to takes steps that strengthen our faith
God and Jesus are faithful toward us
This gives us a foundation for our faith
When you feel your faith is challenged, or you've lost your faith, just pick something from the Sermon on the Mount or a chapter from one of the Gospels that calls out to you.

Be faithful over one thing that God is calling you to do.
Walk the extra mile with a friend
Forgive and love your enemies
Be more patient
Be grateful for times in the past when your faith was strong
Being faithful over a few things is not so much a final destination. It’s the way we journey one step of faith at a time on the path of life. Each step leads to the next.

Our faith grows and we are made rulers over many things. And then, from His infinite abundance of grace, love, and goodness, God gives us immeasurable gifts of the Spirit.

Show notes: Bible references quoted in this week - thebiblespeakstoyou.com/186
Previous episode mentioned: # 91 – Using Your God-given Talents
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
April 25, 2023185 – You Dwell in the House of the Lord Right Now
185 – What does it really mean to dwell in the house of the Lord?

Usually we think it means sometime way off in the future after we die. But the Bible gives a lot of clues which point to the fact that we live in the house of the Lord right now, and always.

That's what this episode is all about, living in the house of the Lord right now.

Here are some of the key points:
Psalm 23:6 says we dwell in the house of the Lord forever
Forever is not just in eternity. It's right now too.
What I learned about living in the house of the Lord from fixing my kitchen faucet
God Himself is actually our dwelling place (Psalm 90:1; Acts 27:28)
Dwelling in the house of the Lord doesn't mean you live in your church. It's the way you live your life
The way you live in your home is an indication of how aware you are of dwelling in God's house, being in God's presence
The way you dwell in God's presence is really how you worship Him
Jesus wants us to get over a limited form of worship, constricted by a location, a building, or thinking your church is the only one that can worship God correctly.
You can worship God wherever you are, because you are always in the house of the Lord. You are always in God’s presence, dwelling with and in Him. This is true for everyone.
The house of the Lord is where you live, right now.

To see the show notes, with all the Bible quotes and links to the original Hebrew words mentioned in this week's episode, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/185.
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
22 min
April 18, 2023184 – Is God Omnipotent?
184 – Does it bother you if someone says they don't believe God is omnipotent?
There's a lot of fresh discussion around this age old question, "Is God omnipotent?"

A lot of people are challenging this concept and tying to be honest with themselves about what they really believe. So that's what we're talking about today.

In fact, a lot of people are deciding that they no longer believe God is omnipotent. If God was all powerful, why would He allow all the evil in the world?

In this week's episode I dig into this age old question about God and whether He is all-powerful. Some of the highlights:
Most people who think they believe God is omnipotent really don't believe it
They believe in lots of other powers, usually the devil or evil
Those who say God is not omnipotent say the Bible doesn't teach it
But the Bible has lots of references to God's all-powerful nature. Some of the folks in the Bible who mention this are
Abram
David
Nebuchadnezzar
Gabriel
Jesus
Voices in the book of Revelations
Just because you don't believe God is omnipotent, doesn't mean He isn't. Just because you believe He is, doesn't mean He is.

Maybe the question should be, Does God see Himself as omnipotent? Isaiah has several things to say about that.

This is really a mindset issue. If you start with the premise that God is not omnipotent, then you will see "proof" of that everywhere you look. It's like looking through tinted sunglasses and everything is the color of your lenses.

The color is in the lens, not the object you're looking at.

The conviction that God is not omnipotent is in you, in the lens or mindset you're looking through, not in God or an event. And it colors all you see.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. How do you answer the question: Is God omnipotent?

To review all the Bible quotes in this week's episode, check out the show notes at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/184. Scroll all the way to the bottom.

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
28 min
April 11, 2023183 – Kit Cummings: Ministering to "the least of these"
183 – What is the best way to minister to the people most people ignore, the "least of these," as Jesus called them?

This week on the podcast, I talk with Kit Cummings about his ministry in prisons and institutions, including men on death row.

My favorite Kit quote:
“A selfless act of service wakes up something inside of a person that, I don’t think, can be touched any other way.”

We talked about
How he got started in his prison ministry
The struggle with alcoholism in his family and his own life
His rise as a popular preacher as a young man
His public fall from grace as a preacher
How he dealt with the shame of his mistakes
How he found healing for himself when he ministered to his brothers in prison
2 VERY powerful experiences working with men on death row
How to start a prison ministry
And so much more
You will love Kit's heart for Jesus. He truly sees Christ in each person he talks to in his ministry.

Kit encourages you to find a way to minister to the least of these. It doesn't have to be people in a prison. It could be someone in church who is lonely or someone in a nursing home that has no one to visit with.

Website:
kitcummings.com
Books:*
Peace Behind the Wire, a Nonviolent Resolution
The New Convict Code, Bringing Peace to the Streets from Behind the Wire
Check out the show notes page:
All the Bible quotes Kit referred to
Kits full bio
* Amazon affiliate links
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 17 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.…