Bible-Reading Coach

This week we’ll read more books than any other week. The bulk of our time will be on the small books of James, 1 Peter, and 1 John. We'll also read through the super-small books of 2 Peter, 2-3 John and Jude. For the first time since Acts, we’ll be reading letters that we know were written by someone other than Paul, namely the writers who the books are named after. Interestingly, these four authors include two of the 12 disciples and two of Jesus’ half-brothers. We’ll also get some great biblical wisdom out of these short, but powerful letters. Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we finish off the writings of Paul, with two very short letters. One (Titus) to a pastor, and another (Philemon) to a slave owner who was now a Christian. Philemon is a short, but complicated book about how a slave owner and a slave (both now Christians) should treat each other as brothers in Christ. But we’ll spend most of the week reading Hebrews, a book whose authorship is a mystery, but whose message couldn’t be clearer. It’s written to Jewish Christians to help them understand what it means to live as followers of Jesus, while still honoring, but not being bound by the Jewish cultures, traditions, scriptures, and families. Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll read six books, tying week 39 for the most books read in one week – at least until week 51, when we’ll read seven books. All were written by Paul. The first four are his instructions to the churches in the towns of Philippi, Colossae and Thessalonica. The final two are to Timothy, who was pastoring the church Paul had planted in the city of Ephesus. The letters to Timothy are the first of what are called the pastoral epistles. Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the next few weeks we’ll be reading an increasing number of books. No, we’re not going faster, the books are just getting smaller. Because they weren’t written as books, but as letters. This week we’ll read three mid-sized books written by Paul to churches he had planted. Two were written to Christians in large cities (Corinth and Ephesus), one was written to churches in several small towns in a mostly rural region (Galatia). So much of what we know about grace, faith, and how they operate in our lives as Christians come from these important books. Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Corinthians is one of the most personal, practical books in the New Testament. Written by the apostle Paul to a church that was having lots of problems, it contains many passages that you’ve probably heard out of context at weddings, funerals, and communion services. This is a great time to see them in their original context and learn from them in an even deeper way. Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’ll finish up the last few chapters of the book of Acts, then spend most of our time in one of the most pivotal books in world history, Paul’s letter to the Romans. It is the Bible’s most detailed description of Christian theology. It’s also the book that inspired Martin Luther to start the Reformation which has altered all of history since that time. Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a week of reading we have! Over the next several days we’ll see what happened in the very early days and years of a brand-new thing called “the church.” We’ll also read about • The start of Christian persecution • How quickly the gospel spread • How new believers taught each other to follow Jesus • How they cared for each other • Their excitement about sharing their newfound faith This week, we’ll even see the word “Christian” for the first time in the Bible, and we’ll see where that term came from. Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll read the last of the Gospels, written by the youngest of the 12 disciples. It’s not just the last of the four Gospels as they appear in the Bible, it’s the last one to have been written and it tells us a lot about Jesus that we haven’t read in the previous three Gospels. In fact, about 90 percent of John’s account is found only in John. In this episode we’ll point out some of those differences and we’ll show you the themes to look for that will help this amazing book come alive as you read it. Links From This Episode: Harmony of the Gospels Online edition Harmony of the Gospels Print editions Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Gospel of Luke is a favorite among people who love science, logic and research. Why? Because it was written by a man who tells us in the first four verses that he interviewed eyewitnesses, he did the research and he wrote an orderly and reliable account of the life of Jesus – a life filled with miracles, healings, plus a resurrection and ascension into heaven. This is an amazing week of reading, written by someone with great journalistic integrity. And this week we also talk about the integrity of the New Testament itself, as we walk through some of the evidence that the New Testament we have today reliably shows us what was written to begin with. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why does the Bible give us four different versions of the life of Jesus? This week, we’ll answer that question for you. We’ll also take a look at Mark, the second of the Gospels as they appear in the Bible, but the first Gospel ever written – and the shortest of the four. And we’ll take a look at how Jesus, as busy as he was, and as much as he loved people, did not trust crowds at all. He didn’t chase fame or power, but presented a completely different way of looking at the world. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is as big a week as we’ve had yet. Not only do we move from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we also start the Gospels and meet Jesus for the first time. It doesn’t get bigger than that. This teaching starts by talking about what happened between the testaments so we can have a better understanding of the big changes ahead. Then we’ll walk through Matthew and its message of the kingdom of God, including Jesus’ birth, the Sermon on the Mount, his miracles, his death and resurrection. Everything changes now. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we will finish our reading of the Old Testament. These books, especially the final three, are not just the last books of the Old Testament, they were the last ones. Because of this, they give us the clearest picture we have of what things were like before the 400-year gap between the testaments. As you read, note the patience of God as even the prophets question him, and take note of how quickly we tend to fall away from God, even after he has answered our deepest prayers. This all sets the stage for why we need Jesus to make everything right again. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll read more books than we have in any previous week – six in all. Aside from the story of Jonah, the other books are far less well known. But they have a lot to teach us. They jump back-and-forth in the timeline, so this teaching will help you with that. But what we’ll also see is the variety of sins that God condemns. While we tend to concentrate on certain sins while ignoring others, God pays attention to all of them – but he also offers a way to repent and find his mercy again. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a week of reading this is! As you can tell from the title, there’s a lot going on. First, we’ll read the last of the Minor Prophets, then we’ll read the first of the Major Prophets. We’ll also read two stories that are as well-known as any in the Bible – the fiery furnace and the lion’s den. Then we’ll read two equally-compelling, but lesser-known stories – the handwriting on the wall in Daniel, followed by the prophet (Hosea) who’s asked by God to marry a prostitute, then to buy her back to remarry her! Everything about this week’s reading is compelling, engaging and has so much to teach us. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we finish the epic prophecy of Ezekiel this week, we’ll see the final destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. We’ll also read a couple of the most well-known images of the entire book. This is the final section of Ezekiel, called the Book of Consolation. It includes the amazing, mind-bending vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, and a wonderfully detailed vision of a restored temple. We’ll also learn a little more about the nature and purpose of the Apocalyptic style of writing. Then we’ll come to the end of the book that, while it started with condemnation, and showed us the destruction of Jerusalem, it ends on a very hopeful note. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week we started the book of Ezekiel by reading just a few chapters. Now we’ll spend the next two weeks in this epic book. In this week’s reading, we’ll come to the end of the prophecies against Jerusalem because this is when the siege of the city finally happens, followed by its quick fall. We’ll also read about Ezekiel as he endures a huge personal loss, followed by a command from God to do something that will help us understand how difficult the role of the prophet truly is. But there’s hope as well. Before the week ends, we’ll see the tone shift from the condemnation of Jerusalem to the condemnation of her enemies. This will set the table for the last segment of the book where God will bring them hope in their sorrow. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll read one very short book (Lamentations) and start one very long book (Ezekiel). Written in different places by different authors, they have one big thing in common. They’re about the fall of Jerusalem. In Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah laments the recent fall of Jerusalem after a long, brutal Babylonian siege – a siege that he prophesied would happen, then he witnessed firsthand. In the first 12 of Ezekiel’s 48 chapters we’ll read prophecies that were given before the city fell – and they were given from 500 miles away in Babylon. Yet the details of the prophecies match up events and dates exactly. With so much ground to cover, this episode is a little longer than most, but it will help you navigate your way to a better understanding of these two valuable, but challenging books. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the last of three weeks in Jeremiah, the Bible’s longest book. In it, we’ll see the short-term imprisonment of Jeremiah, followed by a request to change his prophecies to positive (he doesn’t). We'll also see how both the king and the people give in to the fact that the collapse of Jerusalem is inevitable, so they try to find escape routes, which God closes. Finally Jerusalem falls, then a puppet king rebels, causing Babylon to destroy the city and the temple to the ground. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the second of three weeks that we’ll spend together in Jeremiah. The siege of Jerusalem continues, and Jeremiah is thrown in prison because they hate his prophecies. But even from prison, the king calls for Jeremiah, begging him to change his prophecies to give the people something positive. After letting him know their doom is assured, God has Jeremiah give an illustrated sermon with him wearing the wooden yoke of a beast of burden, signifying that this will be their fate for 70 years. Finally, God has Jeremiah write down what have until now been verbal warnings. The king burns that scroll, but Jeremiah has it rewritten so that even today we can read it and see that God’s prophecies always come true. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the first of three weeks that we’ll be reading through the book of Jeremiah together. It’s an amazing epic that is the longest book of the Bible (by word count) and one of the great, though tragic stories of scripture. In these chapters we’ll be introduced to Jeremiah as a very young man and we’ll be introduced to the Rule of the Reluctant Prophet. Despite his misgivings, we’ll see Jeremiah stand bravely to give a hard word to the people. We’ll see the people reject him for false prophets. We’ll also see the depth of the people’s sins that are bringing about God’s anger and Jeremiah’s prophecies. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s reading is much lighter than the heaviness of last week. We’re still in Isaiah, but now we’re in the Book of Comfort (chapters 40-66) not the Book of Judgment (chapters 1-39) As we read, we’ll see a lot of prophecies about the messiah who is to come, namely Jesus. In fact, the book of Isaiah is quoted more in the New Testament than any other Old Testament book. All but 25 of the New Testament’s 260 chapters contain a direct quote or reference to Isaiah. That’s over 90 percent of them! We will also see a lot about God’s holiness and his desire for his people to be holy. But holiness does not mean self-righteousness. It means humility, obedience, being set apart from evil, caring for the poor and weak, and standing against temptation. The Book of Comfort shows us a God of holiness, of love and of mercy, even in the middle of his judgment. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s teaching covers a huge chunk of an exceedingly important book. But it’s a challenging book, too. Isaiah is divided into two books: Chapters 1-39, which we’ll finish this week, is the Book of Judgment. Isaiah 40-66 is the Book of Comfort. It’s written by Isaiah, who had a forty-plus year ministry and is often considered the most important of Old Testament prophets. In this teaching Karl describes who the prophets are, what prophecy is (not just predicting the future) and what was going on in the world at the time of Isaiah. All of this is essential to understand and appreciate what you’ll read this week. It’s also important to note that God doesn’t pick sides, he always condemns evil. Evil committed by his people, and by the enemies of God’s people receive equal judgment. But don’t despair. Even in the Book of Judgment there are many small but necessary moments where light breaks through the darkness. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s reading might give you whiplash if you go in unprepared. So, this episode will help you get ready. We'll start with two books from Solomon. Then we’ll read the first 11 (out of 66) chapters from Isaiah, the first of the Prophetic books. First, Ecclesiastes was written by an old, depressed, lonely, wealthy, morally compromised king. It’s about regret, and it feels that way. Second, Song of Solomon, on the other hand, was written by a young, passionate, married, soon-to-be-extraordinarily-wealthy, morally strong king. It’s about love and sensuality, and it feels that way. These are the end of the Poetry (Wisdom) books. It’s essential to note that the first two books are Solomon talking to God. So, while they are a truthful and accurate expression of what Solomon was feeling, they’re not necessarily true from God’s standpoint. This is especially true of Ecclesiastes. Isaiah, on the other hand, is God speaking directly to his people through the prophet, so it can and must be seen through that lens. It’s a fascinating week of reading, with a lot of different perspectives, which is why this week’s teaching goes a little longer than usual to help you take on this amazing section of the Bible. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The book of Proverbs is one of the great mountain peaks of scripture. It has so many nuggets of wisdom that it needs to be read slowly and deliberately. In this teaching, we see what Proverbs is about, themes to look for, and there’s even a suggestion about how to change up your reading schedule this coming week so you can slow down and get the most out of the treasures it gives us. Some themes include: Wisdom is much more than applied knowledge Wisdom is inseparable from moral behavior Wisdom must be lived in relationship – with God and each other Wisdom was the raw material of creation If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the love of God is its goal Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll read both the shortest Psalm (Psalm 11, at 2 verses) and the longest Psalm (Psalm 119, at 176 verses!). We’ll also read one of the hardest Psalms to understand (Psalm 137). In this episode we’ll talk about who wrote the Psalms, then we'll look at the beautiful way Psalm 119 is arranged, and what it’s about. Plus, we’ll note what’s happening in one especially horrible verse in Psalm 137. Finally, we’ll wrap up with an appreciation of one of the beautiful Psalms (Songs) of Ascents. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll read Books III and IV of the five books that comprise the 150 Psalms. In this teaching, Karl Vaters will talk about what those “book” sections are all about. He’ll also talk about the superscriptions at the start of many Psalms that tell us Who wrote the Psalm How to sing it When it was intended to be sung We also talk about how to interpret some of the hard Psalms, including Psalm 82, which says “you are gods”. (Hint: It doesn’t mean what you may have been told.) Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll dig further into this amazing collection of ancient poems and hymns a​s we take a hard look at some of the Psalms that seem mean, even hateful. The key to note is this: the Psalms are not God talking to us, they’re us talking to God. If we miss that, we can take away some bad ideas. But if we understand it, everything makes a lot more sense. It also comforts us when we realize we can take everything to God – even the bad, hurtful and hateful things we're feeling – because God knows them already, and he loves us anyway. (Note: This episode in includes a reading of Psalm 58:1 but is incorrectly referred to as Psalm 59:1.) Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Psalms are one of the most-loved books of the Bible. It’s the longest book by chapters and verses, and it expresses the cry of people’s hearts to God in ways that are beautiful, inspiring, infuriating and cathartic. This week, we’ll talk about: The nature of Bible poetry What to look for as you read Why context matters And we’ll conclude with a simple reading of one of the Psalms. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The book of Job is a challenge because the bulk of it (chapters 3-37) contains arguments that God eventually tells us are wrong (chapters 38-42). So why read it? Because we still use the same arguments today – that only bad people suffer – which simply isn’t true. In this episode you’ll get some guidance to help bring this difficult, but powerful book alive and give us the lessons that only suffering can teach us. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a week of reading this is! We’ll be in two very different books, from two very different situations, but God is honored in both. First, we’ll read Esther. It’s a beautiful short story that takes place far away from Israel, in Babylon/Persia. It’s filled with enough palace intrigue, plots and subplots to keep anyone engaged and interested for days. Then we’ll start to read Job, by being introduced to God and Satan, then Job and his friends. It’s a head-scratching story that we’ll only begin to get into this week. But in this teaching, we’ll point out some ways to read it for deeper clarity and enrichment. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When God’s people follow God's will, we can overcome any enemy – even if we have to build with one hand while holding a sword in the other. But first, we have to overcome our own tendency toward selfishness. In this week's reading of Ezra and Nehemiah, the 70 years of exile are over, the people start to return, and a whole lot of time passes in a short number of chapters. The reasons for that, and the problems created by it are what we cover in this episode. Also note: In Ezra, the Israelites are called Jews for the first time Our church buildings are NOT the New Testament parallel to the Old Testament temple After this time, idolatry will never be a problem for the Jews again Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll finish up the retelling of Israel’s history from its height to its collapse. As we start, Israel has been torn into two nations, Israel (North) and Judah (south). Unlike how the story was told in 1 & 2 Kings, the Chronicles focus almost exclusively on Judah, their series of good and bad kings, and a few moments of hopefulness. By the end, Israel and Judah have both lost their kingdoms, and the stage is set for the eventual rebuilding under Ezra and Nehemiah. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s passage, we’ll read more about the story of Israel’s growth, height and fall. It starts with the reign of king David, his reestablishment of Israel’s glory, preparation for the temple, and handing the baton to his son, Solomon. Then we see, both the wisdom and the eventual fall of Solomon and the splintering of the kingdom. Mostly, we’ll get to appreciate the character of David, what it takes to let go of power, why it matters and how well things go for everyone when we do things for God’s glory and the benefit of others. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bible retells a lot of its stories. For good reason. This week we’ll cross a barrier that you may not notice, so in this podcast we’ll help you with it. Our readings will be the end of one story, and the start of its retelling. Karl will show you what the differences are. As we move from 2 Kings to 1 Chronicles you'll notice this shift because 1 Chronicles goes back to Adam. Yes, Adam! Then, after some geneology, the story kicks in again as the rest of 1 & 2 Chronicles retells the time of the Kings, but now as an encouragement. If you want further information about the differences between the books of Samuel/Kings and the Chronicles, check out this helpful article, What is the Difference Between Samuel/Kings and Chronicles? from Stephen J Bedard. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a week filled with stories you might have a vague recollection of, even if you’re not especially familiar with the Bible (“Chariots of Fire” anyone?). But few of us can put them in context. These stories may also feel familiar in another way. Like the book of Judges, we're in another time of darkness and uncertainty. While Judges was a time of darkness and uncertainty *before* the high point of Saul, David and Solomon, this is a time of darkness and uncertainty *after* those great kings have left the world stage. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If God said he would give you anything, what would you ask for? Just think about how bad it always goes in all those “Three Wishes” genie stories. In this week’s reading, that’s exactly what happens to Solomon. God offers him whatever he wants, and he gets it right! We know a lot about Solomon. He's one of two great kings of Israel, he wrote some Psalms, most of the Proverbs, all of the Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. But his era as king, though prosperous and eventful, doesn’t take much time. It starts and ends this week in just 11 chapters. Then the kingdom splits, and a prophet named Elijah steps up as they go into a long, terrible slide into one of the darkest times of their history. It's a rough era for them, but it makes for fascinating reading for us – and it has a lot of great lessons that apply today. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the next two weeks we head into the Glory Days of Israel’s history with David’s reign, followed by the reign of his son, Solomon. But before those lofty heights, we'll see some serious challenges. As you read this week’s passages, note a few important characteristics: The high price paid for the Glory Days How truly wonderful they were How very short they were We’ll also see David’s horrible sin against Bathsheba and how he responds when confronted by the prophet. Then we’ll read another sad, but exciting story of rebellion against David by his own son, Absalom. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll be reading the last half of 1 Samuel and the beginning of 2 Samuel. But it’s really the continuation of one long book since, as we saw last week, they were probably only split into two books because it was too big for one scroll. But they split it in a purposeful place. 1 Samuel covers the ministry of Samuel and kingdom of Saul. 2 Samuel is the kingdom of David. David is one of the great people of the Bible. In this week’s reading we’ll see a couple important characteristics: David’s integrity. Though far from perfect, David always seeks to do the honorable thing. Even when on the run from king Saul he behaves like the king he is called to be. David, the worshiper. He always gives thanks and praise to God first. Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll be reading the first 19 chapters of 1 Samuel. This is the start of a new, exciting era in Israel’s history – the time of the kings. We’ll see why the people want a king and how quickly it turns bad for them. Then we’ll be introduced to a young shepherd boy who will become one of the Bible’s most pivotal characters. David, the man who will eventually become their greatest king. Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’ll be reading the Bible’s seventh and eight books – Judges and Ruth. Judges is a weird, fascinating time to read about, while Ruth is a tiny book that takes place during the time of Judges, but stands so beautifully apart from it. In the time of Judges we’ll read about a lot of people, but most of our attention will be drawn to three very important characters – Deborah, Gideon and Samson. Then, our week of reading will close with a story of grace, redemption and great hope in the book of Ruth. Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this introduction to Joshua (the sixth book of the Bible), we'll see a significant change of pace. The Hebrews have stopped wandering in the desert and now they start conquering the Promised Land. Joshua also includes one of the most well-known Bible stories – the fall of the walls of Jericho. And there are also a couple mind-bending miracles. The Jordan River dries up for them to walk across (sound familiar?) and the sun stops in the sky for a while (yes, really!). Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we finish, not just the Bible’s 5th book (Deuteronomy 18-34) but we also finish what’s called the Torah, or the Books of Moses. We see, again, what the different types of Old Testament laws are, and why we, as Christians observe some, but not others. Then we’ll say a sad, but fond farewell to Moses. Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. First, in this episode we’ll see why this book is called Deuteronomy. Second, in chapters 1-17 we’ll begin to walk with Moses through the speeches he gave to the people at the end of their 40 years of wandering, reminding them of their own story, of God’s provision and God’s promises. Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we saw last week, because of their lack of faith God sentenced everyone but Joshua and Caleb to die in the desert for the next 40 years. But in the meantime, there’s a lot of work to do because even in the desert God does great things. Unfortunately, it starts with more rebellion and disobedience, this time from a group led by a man named Korah. After that, even Moses disobeys and loses out on the Promised Land because of it. There’s also a deadly disease, a bronze snake, a talking donkey, and a well-placed spear. Also, the borders of the tribes are mapped out. Here’s a link showing the Old Testament tribal borders side-by-side with today’s map: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-were-the-twelve-tribes-of-israel.html Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we finish the Bible’s third book and start the fourth book as we go from Leviticus 21 through Numbers 15. As we read through this challenging section of scripture together, this podcast episode helps us to see that while the rules for priests and feasts don’t directly apply to us today, the underlying principles do. Note how the requirements to serve God are always about morality and holiness, not leadership skills or extreme abilities. Then we see the pivotal moment where the people don’t have the faith to take the Promised Land, so God sentences them to wander and die in the desert for the next 40 years. But even then, God cares for them. He takes a detailed count of all the people, and shows them how he will be with them and guide them as they move from place to place. Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Warning! The book of Leviticus is where the great falling away gets very serious. Most who start reading with great passion make it this far, but in the next week or two they start dropping like flies. That’s one big reason we’re doing this series – not just to make these passages bearable, but understandable, applicable and exciting. This is the first (but not the last) time we talk about why we, as Christians, follow some Old Testament laws, but not others. It’s because there are three types of Old Testament laws. Ceremonial: we don’t do them any more because Jesus’ sacrifice made them unnecessary Civil: laws for Israelites that God didn’t even expect other nations to obey Moral: for everyone at all times (like the 10 Commandments) If you’re reading so far, this might be a good time to start a hybrid strategy by mixing in some audio books as well. Free Audio Options BibleStudyTools.com https://www.biblestudytools.com/audio-bible/ YouVersion https://help.youversion.com/l/en/article/ayv8e2ormh-how-to-listen-to-bible-audio-on-bible-com Biblica.com https://www.biblica.com/resources/niv-audio-bible-listen-online-for-free/ FaithComesByHearing.com https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/audio-bible-resources/bible-is Link to Outline Link to Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we'll read Exodus 20-40, which starts with the 10 Commandments and ends with the building the Tabernacle. As we’ll see, the 10 Commandments are the first writings to be in the library we call the Bible. But God gave many more laws than those – we’ll see 613 of them by the time the Old Testament is done. In this week’s passage, we’ll also see God reconfirming his covenant with his people and giving detailed instructions about how to build the tent where God will meet them, including the ark of the covenant. Outline Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we leave the first book of the Bible (Genesis) to spend the next two weeks in Exodus, this week covering chapters 1-19 in which Moses delivers God’s people. This is one of the most cinematic passages of the Bible (literally). It starts with “Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” Then it moves to 400 years of slavery, the call of Moses, the plagues of Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, then taking the entire nation back to the mountain where God met Moses, on the verge of receiving the 10 Commandments. In the middle of it all, we’ll see one of the Bible’s most important moments, when God tells Moses his name – “I AM”. Outline Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we finish reading the first book of the Bible, as we go through Genesis 36-50 together. It starts with a couple chapters that wrap up the sibling rivalry story of Jacob & Esau. Then we’ll spend the rest of the week walking through a long story of one of the Bible’s most admired characters – Jacob’s son, Joseph. We’ll read about the coat of many colors (the significance of which is explained in this episode), and how Joseph keeps doing the right thing even though it produces decades of horrible difficulties for him. Then we see how God uses all of that to make him into the man God needs to save a nation and his family. Audio options BibleStudyTools.com https://www.biblestudytools.com/audio-bible/ YouVersion https://help.youversion.com/l/en/article/ayv8e2ormh-how-to-listen-to-bible-audio-on-bible-com Biblica.com https://www.biblica.com/resources/niv-audio-bible-listen-online-for-free/ FaithComesByHearing.com https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/audio-bible-resources/bible-is Links From This Episode: Outline Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we read Genesis 15-35, we’ll see several important milestones and three big messy stories: 1) Hagar and Ishmael 2) Sodom & Gomorrah and 3) the near-sacrifice of Isaac. In this episode we’ll talk about the importance of trying to read these stories without too many preconceptions so we can see more clearly that what really happens may not be what we’ve been told. We’ll also walk through the life of Abraham’s son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob whose name changes to Israel, the name that will also be given to his descendants and their land forever. Links From This Episode: Outline Transcript Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Week 1 of the Bible-Reading Coach podcast – your guide to help you read through the entire Bible in 52 weeks. This week we’ll be reading through Genesis 1-14. It covers Creation, Adam & Eve, The Fall, Cain & Abel, Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel, and the Call of Abram. In this episode, we’ll also introduce you to this entire ancient library we call the Bible, and the section of that library that Christians call the Old Testament. This is a lot to cover in a single episode, and it has so many foundational elements, so it's a slightly longer episode than most – but it’s packed with great information, helpful tips and encouragement! Severla people have asked for more detail about the Tower of Babel story: Here's a link to a more thorough study I did about that. Links From This Episode: Outline Transcripts Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Karl Vaters introduces the Bible-Reading Coach podcast – what it’s about and how to use it as you read through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Whether you’re a follower of Jesus who’s tried and failed to read through the Bible before, or you’re new to the Bible and the Christian faith, this episode is your first step on a journey to 1) understand what the Bible says, 2) discover why this collection of ancient texts is essential to the life and faith of billions of people, and 3) inspire you to dig even deeper. Links From This Episode: Link to Outline Audio Bibles: Biblestudytools.com Youversion (app) Biblica.com Faithcomesbyhearing.com Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at https://karlvaters.com/support/ Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices