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

266 – Have you ever wanted to be part of a group so bad you tried to fit in but you still felt left out?It happens all the time. You want to be in a group or community or a church, but to feel part of things and be accepted you have to copy the attitudes and behaviors of the members of the group.It's hard because you don't feel you can really be yourself, but being part of the group is important. So you sometimes end up compromising your own values and individuality to be in the group.The Bib...

265 – Are you trusting God no matter what happens with the election?Have you ever felt like your life goes from one challenge to another, or one crisis to another? And just look at the national scene. As soon as one political battle comes to an end another one starts. And what about the election!!!How do you keep your peace in all these situations? It’s not always easy.The question is: Do you trust God in the midst of all these problems?That's what this week's episode is all about. I ask...

264 – How do you find peace in the midst of political divisiveness?Politics can be so divisive. And messy! It's so easy to get caught up in the drama, but at some point, we all need to get away from all the chaos and find a sense of peace.Some folks think they will only get some peace when their candidate(s) win. But that kind of peace is pretty fragile, when it depends on people and situations to be just right.True peace comes from God; it’s spiritual, and cannot be taken away from you. It’s...

263 – Do you ever think of yourself as an ambassador of Christ?What does that even mean?Well, it starts with walking in the footsteps of Jesus and living the way he taught us to, loving like he did.And most of all it means letting the light of Christ in your heart shine in the world so others can see this light and be drawn to it.This week's episode is a conversation with Paul Granger, host of the Where Did You See God podcast.We talk about what it means to be an ambassador of Christ. It's no...

262 – What needs to be healed from your past?Have you ever felt that because of things that happened to you in the past, either mistakes you made or things other people did to you, you haven’t been able to live your life the way you wanted to or be as successful as you could be?Once in a while, it a can be a good idea to take a look at your past: mistakes you've made, things others have done that harm you, or situations that had a negative impact on your life.If you're holding onto resentment...

261 – What is your motive when you pray for healing?Is there anything in your life right now that you’re praying about for healing? Maybe you’re praying for healing for someone else. It could be a health issue, a relationship problem, finding a new job, financial struggles, or maybe an emotional challenge.The Bible says that God "heals all your diseases." But have you ever not felt your prayer for healing was being answered the way you felt it should be? I sure have.It's definitely good to pr...

260 – Is it possible for you to bless people 100 years from now?Have you ever wondered what impact your life might have on future generations? Will people remember you 100 or 200 years from now or will your life be forgotten by the world in general?You just might have more influence on the future than you can imagine. Think of folks who lived hundreds of years ago who are a blessing to you: maybe an author or an artist, or some historical figure.And of course, think of all the people in the B...

259 – What does your church need to learn from Deborah?Deborah, the Judge and Prophetess in the Old Testament, has a message for you and your church, and it's probably not what you'd expect.Most Christians don't really know much about Deborah and how she broke the female stereotypes of her day as a Judge, a Prophet, and her role in a military victory.This week's episode is a conversation with Sandra Richter, who has unlocked the lessons Deborah has for us today. Sandy sheds light onThe cycles...

258 – If you had lived 2,000 years ago, would you have been a disciple of Jesus?Imagine you lived in the time of Jesus and heard him preach. You saw him heal people. Would you decide to follow him? Would you want to be one of his disciples?Would you have realized he was the Messiah? We would like to think we would, but it's hard to know for sure.Jesus made some pretty strong demands on those who decided to follow him. Those expectations apply to you and me today.What does it really mean to be...

257– How do you show someone who you really are?You've probably heard the phrase, “When someone shows you who they really are, believe them.” I had a friend who used to say that all the time to remind herself that one person in particular she had been associated with in the past were not a good influence on her. She had been fooled by his attractive personality and the smooth words he spoke. But his actions, the way he actually treated her, were harmful and even abusive.It took her year...

246 – Do you feel lonely at times--or all the time?Maybe you’ve lost someone you felt close to, or maybe there are lots of people in your life but there’s no one you can connect with, no one on the same wave length enough that you enjoy being in their presence? Maybe at work or church, everyone is satisfied with the status quo, but you have some new ideas you think would make things better. But no one else feels that way. That's a pretty lonely feeling.There are lots of reasons people feel lo...

255 – Is it really possible to find true satisfaction in life?So many people today are looking for satisfaction in getting a new car or a new job, accomplishing their personal and career goals, or maybe it's getting lots of followers on social media. Or whatever!But the satisfaction that comes from these sorts of things never lasts very long. And then you always want something else.The only thing that can bring you complete satisfaction, on every level and dimension of your life, is knowing G...

254 – Is it really true that God already knows what you need?If that's the case, why do we need to ask God for anything? Why doesn't He just give it to us?Well, sometimes He does, but usually it's important to ask because it reminds us that God is the source of all our blessings and we are not.The question is: What do you really need?Sometimes we get what we need mixed up with what we want and we end up praying for the wrong thing.Based on what Jesus said and did, and knowing that he was givi...

253 – Is it ever hard for you to surrender to God's will?How often do you pray for God to give you what you want? And how often do you pray for what God wants?You'd be surprised how many people actually tell God what they want and try to convince Him to give it to them.There's a tiny little (actually big) problem with this. Sometimes, what we think we want and pray for is the worst thing for us. This week' episode is all about surrendering what we want to what God wants for us. I talk aboutWh...

252 – Are you following Jesus for the wrong reason?Hey, it happens sometimes. Once in a while we get our priorities mixed up and our motives for following Jesus can get a little selfish. You just want a blessing or a healing or a new job or whatever. Is that so bad? Well, there's nothing wrong with any of those things, but following Jesus just to get something is a bit self-focused.The real reason to follow Jesus is because he's the Messiah, the Son of God. He gives us eternal life. He ...

251 – Are you sharing your faith in unusual ways?Have you ever been hesitant sharing your faith with someone who you thought probably wasn’t receptive or that you really didn’t even want to talk to?What would you do if God told you to go directly to that person and tell them about Jesus and the difference he had made in your life? Would you just automatically go at God’s command or would you try to explain to God why it might not be such a good idea?Peter and CorneliusThis is sort of what hap...

250 – How often do you have a conversation with someone who has a different faith than you do?I know some Christians who won't talk to anyone except people they agree with 100%. They live in a "safe" little bubble.But over the years, I have learned so much from people in other faiths. In fact, it always ends up strengthening my own faith when I talk to someone I don't agree with on everything.That's what this week's podcast is all about. And to make things interesting, my guest, Joshua Tapp, ...

249 – What do you base your self-worth on?Have you ever met someone who seemed to be full of confidence , but when you got to know them, you realized they based their self-worth on things like how much money they have, where they went to school, what job they have, or where they're from? Or maybe how good looking they are or how many followers they have on Social Media?Unfortunately, when you define your worth based on these external factors, you'll never find your true self worth. In fact, t...

248 – Have you ever heard someone talk about Jesus in a way that just didn’t quite fit with what was in the Bible? Or maybe you read a book or saw a movie or a play about Jesus that either fell short of capturing the true essence of Jesus or it kind of stretched the truth and over-exaggerated things? Recently in Season 4 of "The Chosen," there was a scene where Jesus made no effort to heal Ramah, when Thomas asked him to and openly confessed his faith that Jesus could heal her.And back in Sea...

247 – Have you ever felt like some folks are preaching man-made doctrines without even realizing it?Have you ever felt intimidated by people insisting their doctrines are correct? And then someone with a different doctrine insists they are right and the other person is wrong?How do we tell if a doctrine is man-made or a God-ordained truth?This week's episode jumps into this and give some basic tools you can use to help determine if a doctrine is man-made or not.We talk about:What does it mean...

246 – Is your faith based on what someone told you you're supposed to believe or on your relationship with God?I've talked to several people lately who have recently realized they believe what they were taught without questioning it. They never really made their faith their own. They have finally given themselves permission to ask questions, read the Bible for themselves, and focus on their relationship with God, instead of just believing and doing what other people tell them they should...

245 – What do you do when people or circumstances rob you of your joy?Have you ever been on top of the world and full of joy when something terrible happens, your joy vanishes, and you feel like you're sinking into a pit of quicksand?Is there a way to hold onto your joy when a challenging situation comes up? That's what this week's episode is all about.The Bible talks a lot about joy. But it's not the fleeting happiness that is like a weather vane, which shifts depending on which way th...

244 – Do you want to be a more effective dad, or know someone who does?This week I talk with Jared Haley and Chris Wilson about what it means to be a good dad, to nurture your kids and support their spiritual growth.Jared and Chris are both passionate about being good dads, spending quality time with their families, and guiding their kids spiritually as they grow up. But most important of all, loving and respecting them under all circumstances.We talked about all kind of dad things. I asked e...

243 – What's the best way to experience spiritual restoration?Have you ever felt like you needed some spiritual restoration in your life? I sure have.The key word here is "restoration." It means that God is restoring us to the original condition of how He made us in His image and likeness.It's kind of like someone cleaning an old oil painting, removing all the dirt and varnish from so you can see the original intention of the artist in the original colors. Check out the video below.Spiritual ...

242 – What is your priority at church, getting new members or taking care of the sheep you have?I used to think my church should focus only on reaching out to the community, sharing the gospel, and getting more people to come to church.But over the years I've realized it's equally important to nurture and care for the members we already have.This week's podcast episode talks about the difference between the Great Commission and, what I call, the Great Shepherding of the flock.Jesus knew his f...

241 – Why should you read the Gospel of Thomas?Well, do you want to be closer to Christ? Then the Gospel of Thomas is for you.But you have to learn how to decode it. That's where Kieth Giles comes in. His book helps find the deeper meaning: The Quantum Sayings of Jesus: Decoding the Lost Gospel of Thomas*This week I talk with Keith Giles about the Gospel of Thomas. Keith explains why this ancient text is really important and how it helps us get a really deep insight into how to follow J...

240 – If Jesus was here today, would he get involved in politics?Do you think he would be a member of your political party? Would he take sides at all? Or would he take a different approach to solving the problems people are facing today?How would Jesus bring healing to the political divisions in today’s society? Would he go to Washington, D.C. and make a speech in congress? Would he meet with opposing political opponents and try to get them to agree on things? Or would he hold a political ra...

239 – Have you ever felt far away from God?Maybe you've made some huge mistakes, or someone had done something that harmed you. But no matter what has happened in your life, God is always with you, even if you're not aware of it.This week's episode digs deep into this idea that God is always with us, no matter what. Highlights this week:Psalm 139: Wherever you go, God is thereMy parents story of losing their business, but feeling God's presence with them during the challengesRomans 8:38,...

238 – Have you ever wondered if there's a way to really know God loves you?Does God's love ever seem far away? Or maybe you know theoretically that God loves you, but you just don't feel it?Maybe you've made bad life choices that makes it hard to imagine God still loves you.When I'm discouraged, it's been really helpful to remember that God sent Jesus because He loves us so much, all of us.Jesus's whole life, everything he said and did, is an example of how God loves you and me, not jus...

237 – Is it possible to find healing from the effects of trauma and abuse?Have you or someone you know been in an abusive or traumatic situation or relationship? This episode is for you.Marina Carrier shares how she overcame the residual effects of being an unwanted child and sexual abuse at the age of nine. It was only through the power of the Holy Spirit, which brought her back to the church and the study of the Bible, which started her journey of healing.Some important steps along the way ...

236 – If the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to your church, what would he say?First, imagine if you had lived back in the days of the early Christian Church. Paul may have come to your church to preach.And you may have received a letter from him later with some helpful ideas, prayers, and reminders of what he told you when he was there.Of course, he might also rebuke you for a couple of things your church was doing that wasn't faithful to Christ.Now, think of your church today.What would Paul sa...

235 – What does it even mean to be filled with God's fullness?In his letter to the Ephesians, at the end of Chapter 3, Paul prays that the church members would know the love of Christ and be filled with all the fullness of God.But is that even possible? Most Christians I talk to think that's the sort of thing that happens after they die and go to heaven. But Paul is praying for the Ephesians to experience here on earth.In this week's episode, I talk about Paul's prayer (there's a lot mo...

234 – Do you have a hard time forgiving yourself?Right. Join the club. It's not easy to forgive yourself. But it's something we need to do. And we can.This week I look at several Bible characters who, in one way or another, had to come to terms with the mistakes they made and their sins. The Bible doesn't tell us what these folks were thinking and if they ever forgave themselves or if it was enough just to feel God's forgiveness. Here are the people I talk about this week. Do you think they e...

233 – Where are you looking for Jesus?A lot of people are looking for Jesus these days, the real Jesus.Unfortunately, a lot of people have become disillusioned by the difference between what they’re discovering about Jesus in the Bible and the way their churches have followed, or rather not followed, Jesus.This week's episode is about where to look for Jesus and where not look for him. The Bible gives some pretty good insights on this.Where NOT to look for Jesus:Your preconceptions and opinio...

232 – Is anything keeping you from doing what God has called you to do?Do you have a strong sense of purpose in your life but it seems things keep getting in the way of you doing what God has called you to do?Or maybe you're still waiting to see what God wants you to do with your life.Sometimes, even when we know what God's will is for our lives, we haven't really pursued it because somehow we're waiting to get permission and approval from someone else.This week's episode is all about not wai...

231 – Do you notice when God is trying to get your attention?God talks to us in lots of ways. But how often do we notice?Take a minute to think of all the ways God tries to get your attention. Sometimes it might be because you're doing something you shouldn't. Sometimes it's because you're not doing something you should. And sometimes it's because your doing exactly what God wants you to do and He's confirming that you're right where you need to be.In this week's episode, I talk about h...

230 – Has God ever asked you to dance with Him?What does that even mean?When God asks you to dance, it's a metaphor for God asking you to participate in life and follow where He leads.Have you ever danced with someone who didn't know how to lead, or follow, depending on which role you were in? It can be confusing, awkward, and sometimes get pretty messy.Things can get pretty confusing and messy when God asks us to dance with Him and we don't follow His lead, especially if we try to lead.That'...

229 – How often do you hear: "The blood of Jesus saves you from your sins," or something to that effect?The more I have pondered and prayed about all the Bible has to say about God's forgiveness of sins, Jesus's crucifixion, and more specifically, the blood of Jesus, I've come to the conclusion that there's more to forgiveness than just the fact that Jesus's blood was shed.Spoiler Alert:This may sound a little controversial at first, but when you listen to this episode, you'll understand what...

228 – Did you ever realize how many women leaders there are in the New Testament?More than you probably realized. There are some I didn't even realize were women? Why haven't we been told about these amazing women who risked their lives to share the Gospel in the early Christian Church?This week I talk with Dr. Nijay Gupta about these women leaders in the early Christian church and how they set examples for how women can have leadership roles in the church today. He has written a book called:...

227 – Have you ever wondered if God still loves you?All too often we think of all the mistakes we've made or the things that have happened to us, and somehow decide God must not love us anymore, that we're not worthy of His love.But no matter what you've done ( or not done that you should have), no matter what mistakes you've made, big or small, God still loves you. It's as simple as that. Why do we make it so complicated?In this week's episode, I share some of my personal journey to actually...

226 – What does it mean to be more than a conqueror through Christ?With all the challenges in the world and in your own personal life, does it ever seem like there's just no end to the chaos?In Chapter 8 of Romans, Paul lists a host of challenges that describes what a lot of people are dealing with today. But he also promises us that we can find answers, solutions, and healing through Christ.In this week's episode, I talk about what it means to be more than just a conqueror:We can never...

225 – If you could ask Jesus a favor, what would it be?If you had met Jesus 2,000 years ago while as he was traveling around healing and ministering to people, what would you ask him for? A healing? Deliverance from a problem? The answer to a burning question in your heart?Lots of people came up to Jesus to ask him for all sorts of things. Sometimes he granted their requests and sometimes he didn't. There's so much to learn from these folks who approached Jesus with a request. In this week's ...

224 – Do you have to believe in the Nicene Creed to be a true Christian?This is a pretty heavy duty topic. And people have been arguing over this for about 1,700 years. So this is not the final answer or discussion on the topic.But is incredibly important to think about what it means to be a Christian. Is it based on what you believe or how you put into practice the teachings of Jesus?Or is it a combination of the two?This week, I share my thoughts on the Nicene Creed and some of the pr...

223 – Have you ever thought of the Bible as a verb?All too often we think of the Bible as a source for our beliefs, our theology, and our faith. But have you ever looked at the Bible through the lens of the action items that need to be on our daily to-do list?This week, I talk to my wife, Polly Castor, about the Bible as resource for how we are to behave, what we are to do, not just what we're supposed to believe.Polly shares LOTS of Bible action items, things we need to do, like:Obey the Com...

222 – Have you ever tried to find yourself in the Bible?So many people are trying to find themselves these days. They're looking in so many different directions, but they often overlook the spiritual aspect of who they are as a child of God.The best place to discover your identity is in the Bible. In a couple of previous episodes, I talked specifically about this: Episode 37: You Are the Image and Likens of God. What the Heck Does that Mean?Episode 144: Finding Your Identity in the Bible...

221 – Have you ever been so preoccupied with what others are doing that you don't focus on following Christ?Welcome to 2024!A new year is a wonderful opportunity to take stock of where you've been, where you are and where you're going.Instead of a New Year's Resolution this year, I decided simply to quit comparing myself to what others are doing and just focus on following Christ.Remember when Jesus said to Peter, "What is that to you? As for you, follow me." John 21:22That's why in this week...

220 – Highlights from The Bible Speaks to You Podcast in 2023The end of the year is a good time to look back and see where you've come from. It's a time to appreciate and be grateful for all the blessings from the previous 12 months. In these last few days of 2023, I've gone back to review some of the podcast episodes that, according to you, my listeners, were the most helpful. This week's episode shares some of the highlights from these favorite episodes from 2023.Here are the episodes which...

219 – What are you expecting to get for Christmas this year?Remember that sense of expectation you had as a kid at Christmastime? There was so much anticipation for what presents you'd get.What if you could have that same sense of expectation for all that Christ is giving you this Christmas? Have you ever stopped to think about all that Jesus has given us? In this week's episode I talk about some of the more obvious things Christ gives us, not just at Christmas, but all year long:Love, joy, p...

218 – Do you have a prodigal in your family?This week I talk with Pam Fields, mother of nine, and grandmother of four, about how to pray when you have a prodigal child.One of Pam's grown children has broken away from the family and renounced their faith.Pam talks about the way she has prayed about this and how she has supported others who have had similar experiences.Here are some of the points we covered:Acknowledge and deal with your emotions, such as guilt and shameA prodigal may lea...

217 – Have there been times in your life that gave you a deeper sense of what Christmas is all about?The Bible is full of these decisions people made and actions they took that create a chain of events that eventually lead to the birth of Jesus.In this week's episode, I talk about a few of these pivotal moments that altered the course of Bible history and bring us to Bethlehem when Jesus is born.Pivotal moments in the Bible that point us to that first Christmas:Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, w...

216 – Believe it or not, some people debate whether or not God really does love everyone.And they can debate all they want. To me, the simple answer to this question is the fact that God sent Jesus to show and be the Way for us, to bring healing and salvation to us and the whole world.The Bible verse that captures this all-inclusive love of God for all mankind, throughout all time is John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in ...

215 – Does your heart overflow with gratitude?I've been thinking of everything I'm grateful for. With all the tensions in the world, not to mention the challenges in my own life, I’ve found that expressing gratitude helps get me refocused on God and brings some peace of mind. Gratitude helps clear the air so my heart can breathe more freely.This week's episode takes a deep dive into some of the many ways people in the Bible express gratitude or encourage others to be grateful.Old Testament:Th...

214 – How are you surrendering to Christ today?We live in challenging times with so many influences trying to pull us away from following Jesus.But this is not new. It happened all the way back in Bible times.This week, Jay Kim and I talk about what it means to surrender completely to Christ and how the book of Colossians gives us a roadmap. Jay, the lead pastor at Westgate Church in Silicon Valley, California, has written a book about Paul's letter to the Colossians and how their challenges ...

213 – Is it really possible to be grateful in every situation?When things are going well in life, it is pretty easy to be grateful. But maybe you’re going through a season of your life right now where things aren’t going so well. Things aren’t working out. Or whatever it might be. Sometimes it’s pretty hard to find anything to be grateful for.So, where ever you are on the spectrum of how much or how little you think you have to be grateful for, I want to encourage you to just take a step...

212 – Do you want to pray more effectively?I learned a really important lesson from Halloween several years ago about how to pray in a way I had never thought of.When kids come to your door for Halloween, yelling "Trick or Treat," do you ever wonder if those are real witches or super heroes behind the masks?Of course not. Even if you pretend to be scared, you know the kids are just wearing costumes. It's a game we play every Halloween and everyone knows the rules. You know the costume is not ...

211 – Surprise, not everyone agrees on how to follow JesusWhat do you do when someone says you're not following Jesus the "right" way? Has someone ever "sent you to hell" because you didn't believe in Jesus or follow him the exact way they did?Jesus said simply, "Come, follow me." He said this to Peter and Andrew, James and John. He said it to tax collectors and anyone who was receptive.And here we are 2,000 years later still trying to figure out exactly what it means to follow Jesus.In this ...

210 – What if Jairus had not asked Jesus to heal his daughter?The answer is pretty obvious. She would not have been restored to life.I've been thinking of some of the challenges facing so many churches today and realized that Jairus's daughter being restored to life is a wonderful metaphor for what can happen to our churches when we turn to Christ for help.All too often, a struggling church thinks to be successful, it needs to get better music or update their audio-visual equipmen...

209 – How often do you think about your spiritual identity?It's one thing to identify yourself based on what you see in the mirror or how much money you have in the bank, and lots of other such things. But your real identity, who you are way down deep, is spiritual. It's who you are as a child of God made in God's image and likeness.This week I talk with Jared Capello, a life coach and fulfillment strategist. He helps people discover who they really are spiritually. This opens up unlimited po...

208 – What if you dug up a metal box in your back yard full of old gold coins?How would you feel? Pretty good, right?Why is it that, just the idea of unexpectedly getting a lot of money, makes us feel good? Well, it's probably because we tend to think of how much money we have as the source of how much happiness we can have in life.But Jesus gave us a completely different perspective on life, happiness, and wealth. He said life isn't about all your material possessions. It's about your relati...

207 – What would happen if you built your house on the sand next to the beach?You might have a beautiful house, but over time the water would probably erode the sand around and underneath your house. And your house would fall apart.Jesus uses the idea of a house built on a rock or the sand as a metaphor for obeying, or not obeying, the moral and spiritual precepts he taught in the Sermon on the Mount.In this week's episode I talk about how to build a firm foundation of obedience to Christ. He...

206 – Is legalism killing your church?Legalism puts a strangle hold on a church. It stunts the spiritual growth of the members and worst of all, it stifles the activity of the Holy Spirit.But legalism is not a new thing. Jesus had to deal with the same tendency with the religious leaders of his day. They were more interested in observing all the minute rules and laws than having a relationship with God. They thought their obedience to all these rules made them righteous.In this week's e...

205 – How can the book of James help your church grow?For a church to grow, there has to be a strong moral and spiritual foundation in Christ. And that's what the book of James is all about. In fact, it's very similar in tone with the Sermon on the Mount.When you and your church put these teachings into practice, individually and collectively, you will flourish.This week I talk with author, Robin T. Jennings about how the book of James is a guidebook to church growth and a bridge to the...

204 – Have you ever felt unwanted?I have a friend who was told by his parents that he was a mistake. They had not intended to have any more children. They constantly reminded him of this, as if it was his fault he was born.And they never gave him the love and support they gave to his brothers and sisters. All his life he has struggled with the feeling of being unwanted. It has affected him in lots of very negative ways.You'd be surprised at how many people I've met over the years ...

203 – What if Jesus was the preacher at your church?How would things be different? Would you listen more carefully to what was said? Would you be more inspired? Would you be afraid he might read your mind and see the things you don't want anyone to know about?How would it change you? Would you invite your friends to come the next week?I've been thinking about this lately. And that's what this episode is all about.What made Jesus a good preacher? Why did people come to listen? Well, there were...

202 – Can God still part the Red Sea today?Have you ever felt like you were trapped on the edge of the Red Sea with Pharaoh's war chariots charging toward you? And it didn't look like there was any way to escape?Imagine what it must have been like to be in that crowd when Moses raised his staff over the water, the wind began to blow, and the waters parted before your very eyes.God still delivers us from bondage He still parts the Red Sea. It just looks different today.In this week's epi...

201 – How good are you at walking in someone else's shoes?This week I have a conversation with Neil Matthews, host of the Other People's Shoes podcast.We talked about the importance of empathy when interacting with others.Neil shared several examples in the Bible when people expressed empathy:Jesus with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's wellJesus with the woman caught in adulteryPharaoh's daughter when she took baby Jesus out of the basket in the NileWhy empathy is importantNeil also talked abou...

200 – What are some of your favorite Bible verses?That's what this episode is all about.To celebrate Episode 200 of The Bible Speaks to You Podcast, I asked listeners to share their favorite Bible verse and why it's important to them.The response has been tremendous. Over 70 people, from all over the world, emailed me with their favorite passages in the Bible.Listen now, to see if someone mentioned your favorite verse.If you'd like to read everyone's response, go to the show notes page: thebi...

199 – How do you pray when bad things happen?Have you ever felt overwhelmed by with a problem, or series of problems, when it seemed like evil forces are trying to tempt or harm you?As always Jesus has the answer to these kinds of situationsHe told his disciples, who had been out preaching and healing, that he gave them authority to overcome all the power of the enemy (Satan).Christ gives you and me this same power today, to defeat the lies and temptations of the devil.That's what this week's...

178 – Did you have to memorize Bible verses when you were a kid in Sunday School?It can be a really good way to get to know the Bible. But it's not enough just to know the words. We need the spirit behind the words.Too much of what's in our hearts has been put there by the world, by people with good and bad intentions, and our own experiences.It seems like everyone and everything is trying to influence us in one way or another.But the most important things in your heart are what God puts ther...

197 – Have you ever looked at someone through a wall of glass bricks?The image is all distorted. You can't really tell who's behind all that glass. You can see shapes and forms and some color, but that's about it.Believe it or not, that's the way some people look at God. But it's not a literal wall of glass bricks. They see God through fear, man-made doctrines, and their own misconceptions about God.For example, if you think God is wrathful and vindictive and gleefully waiting to punish you f...

196 – How do you make room for God in your life?With all the busyness of today's world and the demands of daily life, it's sometimes hard to find the time to make space for one-on-one time with God.In this week's episode, I chat with author Tommy Thompson about how he has discovered ways to benefit from creating spaces in your life to be with God.Tommy says the best way to do this is start with small steps making room for God in your life. It could be just 10 more minutes of prayer each morni...

195 – Have you ever thought about having a Spiritual Independence Day?July 4 is celebrated in the United Sates as Independence Day. It's the anniversary of the day, back in 1776 when a small group of men, gathered in Philadelphia, and after much discussion and debate, decided to declare independence from England.If you would like to read a copy of that document, and don’t have one, click this link: The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.If you are a citizen of the Uni...

194 – Who do you identify with the most in the parable of the Good Samaritan?We usually like to think of ourselves as always being like the Good Samaritan, but sometimes we play some of the other roles.When I take an honest look at my life, there have been lots of times I have been more like the priest and the Levite.But there are several other characters in the story and this week's episode talks about all of them and what we can learn from them:Here they are. Which ones have you been? Who a...

193 – What comes to mind when you hear the phrase: surrender to God?Is it something you're comfortable with? Or is it a something you've tried to do but not very successfully? Or maybe it's something you don't really think about that much?This week, we're going to dive into this topic of surrendering to GodWhat does the word surrender actually mean?What it means to surrender to God What should we surrender?How to surrender to GodThe best example in the Bible of someone who surrende...

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 wa...

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 Ch...

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...

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...

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....

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 ...

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 faithfulWho we should be faithful to (it's not just God)What we should not be faithful to, but all too often areWays to takes steps that strengthen our faith...

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 foreverForever is not just in eternity. It's right now too.What I learned about...

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 ep...

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 aboutHow he got started in his prison ministryThe struggle with alcoholism in his family and his own life&n...

182 – Have you ever wondered how Jesus could say “I have overcome the world,” before he was crucified?Easter is in just a few days and I’ve been thinking about something Jesus said to his disciples after the Last Supper and just before he went to the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s his famous saying, “I have overcome the world.” I’ve been pondering what he meant.Jesus knew exactly what was coming. He had tried to warn his disciples ahead of time that he would be arrested, tried, falsely accus...

181 – It's easy to see what your eyes see, but have you ever wondered how to see spiritually?Recently a listener asked me to comment of 1 Corinthians 2:9-14. She wanted to know what it means to see spiritually and how we can do that.This famous passage points out that the material senses, even the human mind and heart, cannot see or perceive the spiritual things God reveals to us. They can only be discerned spiritually.That's what this week's podcast is all about: how to see spiritually...

180 – Have you ever had a "burning bush" moment and felt like you were standing on holy ground?God appears to us in so many ways and situations. Even when it seems you're wandering in the desert, hungry and thirsty, either literally or figuratively, searching for answers and solutions to problems, in need of healing and love, maybe even at the end of your rope, right there and then, you are on holy ground. God is ready to guide you, protect you, love you, and heal you. You only need to be hum...

179 – Why did God rest on the original Sabbath day?Was God tired? What does it mean for God to rest? How does this apply to you and me? Is there something we need to know about the original Sabbath day, that helps us find a Biblical rest and what it really means to obey the Fourth Commandment?In this week's episode, I talk with Gregory Hall about what the original Sabbath is and how we can remember it the way God intended.Here are some of the things we talked about:How some people m...

178 – How do you see yourself?There's a lot of debate these days about how some people choose to self-identify when their choices don't follow society's stereotypes.Who or what is that defines us? Can we decide who and what we are? Are we defined by our past, our position in life, our culture, our money and education, our emotions. Can our mistakes define us? Can other people define who we are? Can we define ourselves; can we decide our own identity?You are so m...

177 – Are you searching for the pathway to healing?Have you ever felt like you were a long way off from getting an answer to your prayers? Maybe you’ve been praying for a long time about a resolution to challenge of some sort, guidance in making an important choice, or maybe you’ve been praying for healing, either physical or emotional, in your own life or for a friend. Sometimes it’s tempting to wish Jesus was here and we could just walk up to him and ask him to heal us, solve our ...

176 – Have you ever wondered if how much you love will have an impact on the future?A couple of weeks ago during my prayer time, God dropped this question into my heart:How much do you love the people who will be born 100 years from now?It really blew me out of the water.In this week's episode, I share some possible answers to this question. And I encourage you to think how you would answer it.Just thinking about this question gave me a more all-encompassing perspective of what it means...

175 – How is it possible to live in the kingdom of heaven today?Recently I was talking with a new listener to The Bible Speaks to You Podcast about what it means to embrace the mind of Christ on the subject of the kingdom of heaven.Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. If that's really true, how can we be more conscious of its presence? Can we actually live in the kingdom here on earth? And what does that look like?These are some of the things I talk about in this week's episode:I...

174 – Getting from hurt to hopeAre there things hurting you from the past you're still carrying around? Or do you know someone who is? This week's podcast episode is full of healing. I'm talking with Steve Wormer about his work as a minister, and the Hurt to Hope program he works with to help churches and individuals find healing in their lives. It's a Bible-based program that helps someone move from the hurts of the past to hope for the future.We talk about what it takes to bring heali...

173 – Is there anything you need to surrender to God?This week's episode is a parable about six year-old Charlotte, who tries to take all 12 of her stuffed animals on a hike, crammed into her backpack.But it's not so easy to keep them all tucked away. One after the other they either fall in the water, get left behind, get covered in mud, or fall in a thorn bush.But Charlotte is determined to take all her "friends" with her each day.Join in the fun and listen as the wise little six-year ...

172 – What is it like to live in the Holy Spirit?Is it still possible today? Yes, it is!To understand why, we need to go back to when Jesus promises his disciples he will send the Holy Spirit to guide them, teach them everything they need to know, and remind them of everything he taught them.In this week's episode I talk aboutWhy Jesus had to leave before the Holy Spirit would comeHow to know that you have the Holy Spirit in your life2 things you can do that bring the Holy SpiritThe overall p...

171 – Have you ever wondered why Jesus spoke in parables so often?Recently I got an email from a listener, Brian, wondering why Jesus spoke so often in parables but didn't ever explain things to the crowds of people who were listening. He only explained them to his disciples.So I decided to do a whole episode about this. There's actually a lot to it and Brian actually had a lot of related questions.Here are the questions Brian asked and that I talk about this week. He was referring specifical...

170 – If you're stuck in a legalistic church, it may be time to leave.Being in a legalistic church is like being stuck in a small, tight box with little freedom. In today's podcast, I have a conversation with my friend Emily Louis, a worthiness coach and the host of the Abundant Grace Podcast, who left legalism for God's abundant grace.Here are some of the things we talked about:Why did you start your podcast, Abundant Grace and how has it blessed folks?What was the first thing you found free...

169 – Have you thought about what your spiritual vision for 2023 will be? It's not just setting a goal and making it happen but seeing what God is doing in your life.The book of Proverbs shares a powerful truth: "Where there is no vision, the people perish:" (Proverbs 29:18)But this vision doesn't just mean what you see with your eyeballs. It means spiritual or prophetic vision, the ability to see what God is doing in your life and the world.In this week's episode, I talk aboutWhy spiritual v...

2022 Highlights of The Bible Speaks to You PodcastSometimes at the end of the year and before the new year begins, you need a little reminder of all the good things that happened in the last 12 months.In this episode I share clips from 10 of the most listened to episodes of The Bible Speaks to You Podcast during 2022.Here are links to the full episodes of all those mentioned:# 120 Jason Elam: You Are Loved and Accepted by God# 125 Can Your Prayers to End War Make a Difference?# 13...