What if one of Abraham’s biggest mistakes reveals something about the way we treat other people?

In Genesis 20, Abraham lies to Abimelech about Sarah because he assumes there is “no fear of God” in the place—and that assumption changes everything.

At first glance, it’s easy to point the finger at Abraham. But when we look closer, his mistake may expose a tendency that many of us share: deciding what someone’s relationship with God looks like before we actually take the time to know them.

Abimelech recognizes God as Lord. He understands that sin is wrong. God speaks to him in a dream. Does that make Abimelech a believer? A follower of God? No. But it does challenge Abraham’s assumption that he could simply write Abimelech off as someone who had no relationship with God whatsoever.

In this episode, we explore Abraham’s lie, the fear of God, evangelism, judging someone’s spiritual condition, and the danger of assuming who will or won’t be receptive to the Gospel. We also tackle a difficult ethical question Christians have debated for centuries: Is it ever right to withhold or conceal the truth in order to protect someone's life?

What about the classic example of hiding Jews from Nazis during the Holocaust? If someone comes to your door asking whether you are hiding people they intend to kill, are you obligated to tell them the truth?

We’ll look at why that question is different from what Abraham did—and why the distinction matters. Abraham was trying to preserve his life, but he acted on an assumption. He never investigated Abimelech’s motives or relationship with God. He simply decided what kind of person Abimelech was and acted accordingly. And perhaps that is the part of Abraham’s mistake that we all make.

How often do we assume someone won't listen to the Gospel?

How often do we decide that someone is too far from God, too hostile, too uninterested, or too unlikely to respond—before we've even shared the truth with them?

We are not called to be the judges of who is worthy of hearing the Gospel. We are called to preach the Gospel to every creature and make disciples of every nation.

This episode challenges us to stop making assumptions about people's hearts and start trusting God with the results.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#Abraham #Abimelech #Genesis20 #fearofGod #evangelism #Christianethics #thegreatcommission #God #Christian #Christianity #Jesus #Christ #JesusChrist #AbrahamandAbimelech #faith #hope #love #theology #apologetics #fyp #fypyoutube

A lot of Christians struggle to study the Bible—not because they don't care about Scripture, but because Bible study can feel intimidating.

We compare ourselves to the people around us. We wonder how often we're supposed to read, how much we're supposed to get out of it, or how deeply we're supposed to understand it.

Maybe we've heard a pastor unpack a passage in a way that seems impossible to replicate. Maybe we've watched theologians explain biblical languages and complicated theology. Maybe we've looked at a friend's Bible covered in notes while ours is still practically empty.

It can leave us feeling like we're standing at the edge of a massive ocean, convinced that if we're going to enter the water, we need to be ready for a deep dive. But before we learn to deep dive, we have to learn how to swim.

In this episode, we talk about approaching the Bible as a place of exploration and discovery rather than something intimidating that we're afraid we won't understand. Scripture has been studied for thousands of years, but that doesn't mean we have nothing left to discover as we personally encounter God's Word.

We'll walk through three questions designed to help us approach any passage of Scripture with greater confidence:

1. What do you notice, wonder about, or find interesting?

Your questions, observations, and reactions matter. We all come to Scripture with different experiences and perspectives, and noticing what catches your attention can help you recognize that you have a valuable lens through which to read the Bible.

2. What does this teach you about God?

Scripture tells us something about God's character, nature, work, desires, and relationship with humanity. Once we understand a passage in its proper context, we can ask why this is something God wants us to know.

3. What should change because of this Scripture?

Bible study isn't meant to stay theoretical. How should this passage change the way we think, live, pray, interact with others, participate in our churches, or respond to the world around us?

I originally developed these questions for a teen camp to help young people become more confident approaching their Bibles. But I've found that they're not just helpful for teenagers—they're helpful for all of us.

To put them into practice, we'll finish the episode by opening to a random passage in Psalm 136 and working through these questions together, using a section of Scripture I've never explored before.

You don't have to be a theologian to study the Bible. You don't need a Bible covered in notes. And you don't need to understand everything before you begin.

You just need to get in the water.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

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What do you do when you believe God’s promises—but they don’t feel true in your circumstances?

What does it actually mean when Scripture tells us that “all things are possible” with God?

I’ve grown up hearing verses like Matthew 19:26, Philippians 4:13, and 1 Corinthians 10:13—promises that God provides strength, makes a way of escape, and enables us to endure what we face. And yet, sometimes life doesn’t feel very possible. Sometimes we pray for deliverance, ask for strength, search for a way out—and still find ourselves standing in the middle of something we desperately wish we could escape.

I have believed verses like these for my whole life. But there have been plenty of moments when I’ve prayed for strength, asked God for a way out, and genuinely wondered: What if I can’t do this?

In this episode, we’ll wrestle with that tension and with the questions these verses have raised for me over the years.

The turning point came unexpectedly through C.S. Lewis’s Out of the Silent Planet.

As the book’s protagonist, Ransom, faces a terrifying situation he cannot escape, he comes to a simple realization: “It was necessary. And the necessary was always possible.”

That sentence stopped me.

Maybe part of the comfort of God’s promises isn’t that everything we want to be possible will suddenly become possible. Maybe it’s that everything God has determined is necessary can ultimately be endured, accomplished, or overcome—even when we cannot yet see how.

Sometimes the way forward isn’t the way we wanted. Sometimes the “way of escape” isn’t escape from the situation at all, but the strength to walk through it. And sometimes what feels absolutely necessary to us may not actually be what God is asking of us.

So what does it mean to trust that if something truly must be done, God will provide what is necessary to do it?

This episode is less an answer than an honest wrestling—with Scripture, with suffering, with fear, and with the possibility that God’s promises may be deeper than the way we sometimes interpret them.

If you’ve ever looked at “I can do all things through Christ” and thought, I know that’s true… but I don’t feel like I can do this, this conversation is for you.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#ChristianPodcast #Christianity #Faith #CSLewis #Bible #ChristianLiving #God #TrustGod #Perseverance #FaithInGod #outofthesilentplanet #hrossa #ransom #Christian #JesusChrist #Jesus #Christ #Messiah #suffering #1corinthians1013 #philippians413 #matthew1926 #fear #overcoming #theology #apologetics

What if one of the Bible’s most sobering stories about failure is actually a deeply encouraging story about God?

Moses struck the rock twice and was barred entrance to the Promised Land. At first glance, this can feel discouraging: if Moses—God’s chosen servant, the man who spoke with God and led Israel out of Egypt—could fail so seriously, what hope do the rest of us have?

But when we slow down and read the account carefully, we discover something remarkably encouraging.

What was God actually angry with?

Moses’ anger was certainly wrong. Striking the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded was presumptuous and disobedient. But the central issue God identifies is that Moses failed to hallow His name before the congregation. In front of Israel, Moses and Aaron effectively placed themselves in God’s position: “Must we bring water for you out of this rock?”

The miracle was God’s work, yet Moses took the glory for himself. And that is something God will not tolerate. No one—not even Moses—is to take God’s place.

Yet the story does not end there. In Deuteronomy 3, we learn that Moses pleaded with God, asking to enter the Promised Land. God did not remove the consequence of Moses’ sin, but He did show mercy. He took Moses to a high mountain and allowed him to see the land, graciously granting him part of what he had asked for.

From this one event, we can learn three profoundly encouraging truths about God:

**1. God is merciful, even when our failures are serious.**

Moses knew God as a God who would listen to his petition. Even when Moses’ actions were severely wrong, God still made room for mercy.

**2. Our ultimate purpose is bigger than the tasks God gives us.**

Moses spent his entire life leading Israel toward the Promised Land, only to fall short of entering it himself. That failure was devastating—but it did not separate Moses from God or prevent God from accomplishing His ultimate purpose for him. The responsibilities God gives us matter deeply, but they ultimately serve a greater purpose: leading us and others toward becoming part of His family.

**3. God holds leaders accountable.**

If we put ourselves in Israel’s place rather than Moses’ place, there is another source of comfort. Moses was a leader God loved and personally chose, but that did not give him permission to sin or lead others astray. He was not granted special privilege simply because of his position. God still held him accountable. When we feel powerless to change what our leaders do, we can trust that God sees, God cares, and God can hold even the most influential leaders to account.

The story of Moses striking the rock is not ultimately a story about how easily we can lose God’s favor. It is a story about the holiness of God, the danger of taking His glory for ourselves, the accountability of leadership, and—perhaps most encouragingly—the extraordinary mercy of a God who remains faithful even when His servants fail.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

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Sometimes the most revealing problems in our prayer life are the ones that don’t look like problems.

In this episode, I talk about something I’ve noticed in my own prayers: I say the word “help” constantly. “Help me with this.” “Help me through that.” “Help Your Kingdom come.”

On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with asking God for help. But when I looked beneath the surface, I realized that some of the seemingly harmless elements of my prayers were actually revealing something deeper—a lack of trust, complacency, and a tendency to keep God at arm’s length.

I realized that sometimes I was being vague in prayer because it felt safer. If I didn’t clearly ask God to do something, I couldn’t be disappointed if He didn’t do it. I trusted that God could intervene, but did I really trust that He would intervene for me?

That realization became especially clear when I found myself praying about a conflict where my instinct was to defend myself. I wanted God to be my defender, but I struggled to even articulate what I wanted Him to do.

Did I want vindication? Reconciliation? A change in circumstances? A change in someone’s heart? And what if I was wrong?

This led me to a much bigger question: What do the seemingly harmless habits in our prayers reveal about what we actually believe about God?

In this episode, I explore the difference between praying according to God’s will and simply being afraid to ask for what we really want. We’ll talk about trust, specificity in prayer, surrendering our desires to God, and the danger of unconsciously keeping God at a comfortable distance. And ultimately, I come back to Romans 8:31–35 and the question of how deeply we really believe that God is for us. If He did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us, what does that tell us about His willingness to care for us now?

This isn’t a formula for getting God to answer our prayers the way we want. God is not obligated to give us the outcomes we ask for, and sometimes He is quiet. But I think there is tremendous value in examining what we’re really asking for, confronting the things beneath the surface of our prayers, seeking to understand God’s will, and remembering that nothing—not difficult circumstances, not time, and not our uncertainty—can separate us from the love of Christ.

Maybe the problem with some of our prayers isn’t what we’re saying.

Maybe it’s what those words are quietly revealing about what we believe.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#Prayer #ChristianPrayer #PrayerLife #PrayerJourney #TrustGod #TrustingGod #FaithInGod #ChristianFaith #ChristianLiving #GrowingInFaith #RelationshipWithGod #HearingGod #GodsWill #GodsPlan #BiblicalTruth #BibleStudy #BibleReflection #Romans8 #ChristianEncouragement #ChristianPodcast #ChristianYouTube #FaithJourney #SpiritualGrowth #FollowingJesus #JesusChrist #GodIsGood #ChristianContent #PrayerLife #FaithOverFear #WalkWithGod

Often, people claim that the Bible is an instruction manual for life. While it can (and should) guide and teach us, this view of Scripture feels so narrow to me.

In this episode, I explore why I've never connected with books like James or Proverbs in quite the same way many Christians do—and what that has taught me about the way we read Scripture.

Commands, wisdom, and moral instruction are essential. We need the Law. We need to be taught, corrected, and guided. But being told to do good isn't always the same as being inspired to become good.

That's where stories matter.

The greatest works of fiction captivate us because they allow us to witness courage, sacrifice, integrity, redemption, and character growth. We don't simply learn about virtue—we come to admire it, long for it, and often find ourselves wanting to imitate it. The Bible offers this same gift through its narratives.

What if we've been reading those stories the wrong way?

Too often we approach biblical narratives only to extract lessons, commands, or principles, reducing living stories into bullet points for moral instruction. But God didn't just give us rules to follow—He gave us people to know, struggles to witness, failures to grieve, victories to celebrate, and examples that stir our hearts toward goodness.

The Bible isn't fiction. But sometimes we should read it the way we read great fiction: entering the story, connecting with the characters, feeling the weight of their choices, and allowing their lives to inspire us. Not just so we'll know what is good—but so we'll genuinely desire to be good.

Join me as we explore why inspiration is just as important as instruction, and why Scripture was designed to shape not only our actions, but also our affections.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

#Bible #BibleStudy #Christianity #ChristianPodcast #ChristianYouTube #Scripture #BiblicalWisdom #Faith #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth #CharacterFormation #Virtue #BiblicalNarrative #Storytelling #ReadTheBible #BibleReading #ChristianLiving #Theology #ChristianThought #FaithJourney #Jesus #OldTestament #NewTestament #ChristianContent #WisdomLiterature

**Is 1 Corinthians 14 really just about speaking in tongues?**

In this episode, we explore a broader principle hidden within Paul's instructions about tongues and interpretation. While language barriers may not look the same today, communication barriers are everywhere—in our churches, our worship, and even our relationships with one another.

Using 1 Corinthians 14 alongside 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, we discuss why being *right* isn't always enough.

As Christians, we're called not only to speak the truth, but to communicate it in ways that build others up. What happens when worship styles clash? Is it wrong to sing a prayer? Should we abandon tradition—or cling to it?

Rather than taking either extreme, this conversation looks at how both presenters and listeners share the responsibility of pursuing unity through love, humility, and effective communication.

Whether you're a preacher, worship leader, Bible teacher, or simply someone who wants to better understand Scripture and strengthen the church, this episode will challenge you to think differently about what it means to edify one another.

**Scriptures Discussed:** • 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 • 1 Corinthians 10:23-25

If this episode encourages you, consider subscribing, sharing it with a friend, and joining the conversation in the comments.

#BibleStudy #1Corinthians #ChristianPodcast #ChristianYouTube #Worship #ChurchUnity #BibleTeaching #ChristianLiving #Faith #Scripture #faith #truthbetold #JesusChrist #God #Jesus #Christ #church #theology #apologetics #speakingintongues #cultural #culture #communication #barriers #Communicationbarriers #languagebarriers #bible #biblical

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

In this episode of *Truth Be Told*, we take a look at a danger that can quietly creep into the lives of Christians: familiarity.

Because Christianity is so deeply woven into our culture, our families, and even our personal histories, it can sometimes begin to feel ordinary. We go to church, say our prayers, try to live good lives—and somewhere along the way, we can lose our sense of wonder.

We forget the incredible reality of what we have been called into.

The early Christians experienced this struggle as well. Many faced persecution, hardship, division, and uncertainty. They were scattered throughout the world and often looked at their circumstances and wondered where they fit in God’s plan. But Peter begins his first epistle by reminding them of something far greater than their immediate situation: they were not forgotten people living meaningless lives.

They were chosen by God, called according to His purpose, redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and brought into a salvation that generations of prophets longed to see. Peter reminds believers that this salvation was not a small or ordinary thing—it was the fulfillment of a plan that stretched across history.

It was something even angels longed to understand. Their circumstances may have been difficult, but their spiritual reality was extraordinary.

In this episode, we explore how passages like 1 Peter and Hebrews 11 challenge us to recover our amazement at the Christian life. The heroes of faith were still waiting for the completion of God’s promises, because God had planned something even greater that included us.

Our faith is not mundane. Our calling is not ordinary. The fact that Christianity may feel familiar does not mean God is common, boring, or small.

It means we have the privilege of living in the reality that generations before us hoped to see. Join us as we remember the epic truth of what it means to be called by God.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

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In this episode, we explore one of the most fascinating encounters in the Gospels: Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.

At first glance, the story of a woman who had five husbands—and was living with a man who was not her husband—may seem like a simple account of Jesus offering grace to a broken person. But when we look deeper into the Old Testament background, an incredible connection emerges.

The story of this Samaritan woman appears to parallel the history of Samaria itself, especially the events recorded in 2 Kings 17, where Assyria brought five foreign peoples into the land who mixed pagan worship with the worship of YHWH. The five husbands of the Samaritan woman may serve as a powerful literary and theological reflection of the five nations and their false gods that shaped Samaria’s history.

In this encounter, Jesus presents Himself as the true bridegroom—the one who comes to restore what has been broken and bring true worship back to God’s people.

But how should Christians respond when we find these kinds of striking parallels between the Old and New Testaments?

Some fear that connections like this make the Bible seem like an ancient myth—a story carefully crafted by human authors rather than a record of real events.

In this episode, we explore why that conclusion does not follow. Instead, these connections should deepen our awe at the way God works through history, through human authors, and through real lives to reveal His purposes. The writers of Scripture could recognize meaningful patterns and highlight details, while God Himself sovereignly guided history and inspired His Word to point toward the greater story He was telling.

Join us as we examine the Samaritan woman, the history of Samaria, and the incredible unity of Scripture that reveals a God who is not only able to inspire the written Word, but also to bring His promises to fulfillment through real people and real events.

Email: [email protected]

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

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Jacob is one of the most relatable people in the Bible. He's flawed, fearful, deceptive, and often running from the consequences of his choices. Yet God remains patient with him, shaping him into someone who no longer lives by fear—but by faith.

In this episode, we explore a fascinating pattern woven throughout Jacob's story in Genesis that centers on one recurring phrase: "seeing someone's face." From wrestling with God at Peniel, to reconciling with Esau, to embracing Joseph in Egypt, Jacob repeatedly expects judgment, loss, or even death—but instead encounters mercy, reconciliation, and restoration.

Could these moments be intentionally connected? And what do they reveal about Jacob's transformation... and about God's work in our own lives?

Together we'll examine:

Jacob's story reminds us that the places we fear the most are often the very places where God intends to reveal His grace. The faces we expect to bring condemnation may become the places where we discover mercy. And the circumstances we think will undo us may be the very means God uses to give us fuller life.

If you've ever struggled with fear, shame, or the temptation to keep running, this episode offers a fresh look at one of Genesis' most compelling stories—and a powerful reminder that God's grace often meets us exactly where we least expect it.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, subscribe on YouTube, and share it with someone who could use this encouragement. I'd also love to hear your thoughts: What do you think the repeated "face to face" moments in Jacob's life are meant to teach us?

Email: [email protected] 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

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