Learn From the Stories of Jesus Do you have a favorite parable? This week we each share our favorite parables as we talk about the power of story and the influence Jesus’ stories have had on us. Finding Jesus in this week’s reading from our Into the Book reading plan, Matthew 9-13, we see him play 3D Chess with the Pharisees, but, on the other hand, offer a gentle, gracious invitation to the masses. We’re challenged by his words about words and his judgments about mercy. And we consider the role...
Jul 23, 2020•43 min•Ep. 71
Let Christ Shape Your Relationships It’s Sermon on the Mount week! We’re pretty excited about all of this amazing content, and it has us asking questions like: Why is the golden rule deceptively difficult to live? What is the problem with resisting those who would treat us unfairly? And why did Jesus go to be tempted in the wilderness like (as Bryan put it) a man with one arm tied behind his back? We spend time with the sermon’s opening words, closing words, and quite a few of the bits in betwee...
Jul 16, 2020•43 min•Ep. 70
Let Christ Strengthen You in Trial This week we count down our Top Four Proverbs on suffering, noticing the value of empathy, weakness, joy, and overlooking offenses. We learn how John the Baptist made a freeway through the desert for Jesus and how we can be like the Scribes in interpreting Jesus. We also find encouragement in the humanity of Christ as we consider what it meant for God to enter this world as an infant. The Big Idea: Our weakness can direct our attention to Christ, who understand...
Jul 09, 2020•46 min•Ep. 69
Programming Note: This week, we're replaying one of our favorite episodes from the past. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. This week, we’re rethinking “faith” and “faithfulness” as we continue through the Fruit of the Spirit series. What Jesus Said in Luke 12:42-48 raises the question, “Who am I when no one’s looking?” And some “Deep Thoughts” from the Minor Prophets take us to the heart of the gospel. Plus, Bryan encounters an unhappy cashier and Ryan notices coworkers watching ...
Jul 02, 2020•39 min
Get Transformed by Christ! This week, we notice that everything looks different when you see it through faith. For instance, when he describes Christ’s victory, why does Paul see himself as a humiliated captive? Aren’t we the winning team, fit for a parade? When Jesus picks up the “pen” of the Spirit, what does he write on your heart? Why do people (including Jesus!) look so different to Paul now that he’s in Christ? And how does it change your view of the afterlife to realize you’ll be “further...
Jun 25, 2020•40 min•Ep. 68
Embrace Your Role as Salt and Light This week we look at what it means to be a change maker in the world and the people around you, from a Biblical perspective. In our Finding Jesus segment, we deal with the cynicism that says, “what’s the use, it won’t make a difference” and the suffering that comes from the Lord. Then in today’s Scripture du Jour (1 Corinthians 16), we consider what it means to “act like a man” and Bryan makes some observations about the weekly collection. And then we go from ...
Jun 18, 2020•44 min•Ep. 67
How can we honor someone when they push us too far? How do people look at the same Lord and walk away with different ideas about him? And why is the communal aspect of the Lord’s Supper critical to its meaning? This week we consider a Heavy Word — fellowship ! We discover there are a lot of ways we can water it down, but also see that this one idea — properly understood — can alter our relationships and unite God’s people. We’re in week 23 of the Into the Book reading plan (1 Cor. 8-12) and our ...
Jun 11, 2020•41 min•Ep. 66
In the immortal words of the Princess Bride, “Marriage is what brings us together today!” We’re stepping all over our own toes with the Bible’s marital guidance. After a Scripture du Jour from Paul’s marriage chapter, First Corinthians 7, we dive into Four Proverbs to strengthen a marriage. From conflict avoidance to weaponizing Bible verses, the Proverbs remind us that living with faithfulness, integrity, and love is a lot harder than just saying “I love you.” The Big Idea: A marriage’s strengt...
Jun 04, 2020•43 min•Ep. 65
This week we’re setting Poetry in Motion again, as David gets some bad advice most of us can relate to in Psalm 11. Unity and humility come up again in the Scripture du Jour. And as we go looking for Jesus in this week’s reading, Bryan finds him in flaming fire, and Ryan notices where we WON’T find Jesus. The Big Idea: Recognizing the Lord’s coming judgment gives us comfort for our trials, compassion for the lost, and reverent awe for the great Judge of all. Weekly Challenge: *Be a voice for uni...
May 28, 2020•40 min•Ep. 64
Why is the Christian life a quiet life? What will it look like when Jesus comes again? This week we dive into 1 Thessalonians and then ask each other questions about the coming of Christ in a segment called “Do You Understand?” The Big Idea: History has a glorious destination: the day our king returns! Weekly Challenge: Encourage a brother or sister by reminding them of the Lord’s coming. Show Notes Into the Book - Week 20 Into the Book Preview - “1 Thessalonians 1-5” (DAILY DOWNLOAD) “Tortilla ...
May 21, 2020•40 min•Ep. 63
Maybe you’ve noticed tensions growing about how to handle the current health crisis. What if someone doesn’t wear a mask in worship? Is it safe to assemble? Is it liberal not to have a traditional assembly yet? What if someone tries to shake your hand or even hug you? While these issues are worthy of serious discussion, is there a more important goal than fighting about all this? How do we maintain harmony in the church while we navigate these questions? This week we’re Finding Jesus in Galatian...
May 14, 2020•43 min•Ep. 62
Programming Note: This week, we're replaying one of our favorite episodes from the past. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. This week, as we go Finding Jesus in Luke 16-20, we notice that Jesus is never boring and always knows the right thing to say. But we also see his heart ache for people, and learn that he likes to hear “thank you” as much as anyone. As we set Psalm 10 in Motion, we learn to speak frankly with God and turn our questions to praise. It may seem like God is avoid...
May 07, 2020•37 min
Is there anything good about being stuck at home? Find out as we list our Favorite Things: Quarantine Edition. Plus we find a prayer formula in Gethsemane, a helpful strategy for making big decisions, and a reality check for the “religious.” The Big Idea: When unproductive branches are pruned from your life, don’t try to graft them back on. Weekly Challenge: Identify some aspect of life you thought was important, but now doesn’t seem to be. Show Notes Into the Book - Week 17 Into the Book Previe...
Apr 30, 2020•38 min•Ep. 61
It’s March, er, April Madness! This week we break down the Bible Bracket tournament, offering our biggest surprises, our Most Valuable Passages, and what we learned along the way. And we spend some extra time with the winner, finding our Scriptures du Jour in Matthew 6, and asking questions like: Why is it essential for disciples to receive little children? And, how are we defined by what our eyes look at? Join us for a listen! The Big Idea: What you value most shapes your heart. Weekly Challeng...
Apr 23, 2020•40 min•Ep. 60
Why is it so important to learn to accept help from others? Did Jesus command his disciples to “play it by ear”? Why is it sometimes harder to value the input of those we know best? This is week 15 of the Into the Book reading plan, where we find interesting tidbits about the belief of demons and the disbelief of family friends. Join us for a listen! Also, don’t forget to vote in the Bible Bracket of Favorite Chapters this week! The Big Idea: Upward progress rarely comes when things are handed t...
Apr 16, 2020•39 min•Ep. 59
The last few weeks we’ve moseyed through the book of Romans, but today we “feel the need … for speed.” So we’re Flyin’ Through the Book, getting the big picture of what’s happening throughout this magnificent letter. We also look at how Jesus touched the untouchable, found time to pray, and brings his family together to glorify God in perfect harmony. The Big Idea: The Lord holds his people together, as we unite ourselves with him. Weekly Challenge: Find a way to maximize your time for the Lord ...
Apr 09, 2020•46 min•Ep. 58
What does it look like to live every day as a living sacrifice to God? How is imitating Christ’s character like putting on an armor of light? How do we avoid drunken “delusions of grandeur” as we evaluate ourselves? And is it realistic to do what’s right in other people’s eyes and live at peace with everyone? Join us this week, as we zero in on one of our favorite chapters — the practical instruction of Romans 12. The Big Idea: The mercy of God calls for nothing less than our whole body, mind, a...
Apr 02, 2020•36 min•Ep. 57
This week, we talk about toilet paper, anxiety, and the security we find in Christ. It’s a great week to find comfort in the encouraging words or Romans 4-8, and that’s where we find ourselves in our reading plan . There, we discover that for those in Christ Jesus, there is no social distancing ourselves from God! The harder things get, the more we need to return to God’s promises. We hope you find the conversation helpful. The Big Idea: If God has already proven his commitment to you at the cro...
Mar 26, 2020•39 min•Ep. 56
Have you ever wondered what the gospel is really all about? This week we’re lifting another Heavy Word — gospel — to see what it means and what it does. As we go looking for Jesus in the readings for week 11 of the Into the Book reading plan , Bryan explains how the Scriptures are like a Magic Eye picture and Ryan explains how Jesus is like the ark of the covenant’s lid. Plus, in the Scripture du Jour , we talk about hypocrisy and Aladdin’s lamp. The Big Idea: The gospel is meant to do something...
Mar 19, 2020•37 min•Ep. 55
Programming Note: This week, we're replaying one of our favorite episodes from the past. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. This week we continue our series for “young folks” with advice to our younger selves about “matters of the heart.” What kind of decisions can guide a Christian’s dating life towards a great, godly marriage? How do we protect ourselves (and our dates!) from decisions we’ll regret? What Jesus Said about plucking out your eye in Matthew 5:27-30 leads to what Job...
Mar 12, 2020•38 min
Like Bible Geek grenades, we’re lobbing questions at each other in a new segment called “ Do you understand? ,” as we try to better understand a topic. This week our questions focus on the early church’s assembly and leadership. Week 9 of the Into the Book reading plan takes us through Paul’s journeys, where we — surprisingly — find some red letter words of Christ. How does Paul’s trial parallel the Lord’s? What do you want on your epitaph? And what can a dead man in the middle of services teach...
Mar 05, 2020•36 min•Ep. 54
With all the fighting and division in Christianity today, have you ever wondered how early Christians worked out disagreements? Today’s Scriptures du Jour look to two examples of brethren disagreeing in Acts 15. Then, we try to get past our disclaimers for some real talk on fasting. When did churches fast in the New Testament, and what should we take from their example? The Big Idea: Unity is possible when we reason together with no agenda but God’s will and no authority but God’s Word. Weekly C...
Feb 27, 2020•39 min•Ep. 53
This week, we look at two Heavy Words: repentance and discipleship. Bryan explains why a Christian can never be like Darth Vader and Ryan explains why we’re like Gila monsters. We talk about the hardest thing in the Bible to do and why it’s so hard to believe someone can actually change. And we go looking for Jesus in week 7 of our reading plan (Acts 7-11), including our favorite verses from today’s readings. The Big Idea: As disciples, we will never be the master, but Jesus our master shows us ...
Feb 20, 2020•41 min•Ep. 52
This week we’re talking about the Holy Spirit — his work and presence in the early church and the church today. What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? How is it different from the gift of the Spirit Christians receive at baptism? And what does it really mean to be “filled with the Spirit”? And as this week’s “Into the Book” readings lead us into Acts, we look for the apostle’s “hobby horse” sermon topic and find that trembling before our awesome God is just as important in the New Testament as ...
Feb 13, 2020•38 min•Ep. 51
How did Jesus stay calm, composed, and classy in crisis? What did Jesus do to set people’s hearts on fire? Why did Jesus tell his disciples to touch him? And how is hurrying like a Mexican Buffet? This week we take on these and other exciting questions, as we finish Luke. The Scriptures du Jour come from Luke 24 and we finish up with some Deeep Thoughts about keeping it together. The Big Idea: We can find Christlike composure by entrusting ourselves to God. Weekly Challenge: Respond to difficult...
Feb 06, 2020•40 min•Ep. 50
This week, as we go Finding Jesus in Luke 16-20, we notice that Jesus is never boring and always knows the right thing to say. But we also see his heart ache for people, and learn that he likes to hear “thank you” as much as anyone. As we set Psalm 10 in Motion, we learn to speak frankly with God and turn our questions to praise. It may seem like God is avoiding you when you need him most, but the King is listening — so what are you asking? The Big Idea: Helping the helpless is one of God’s spec...
Jan 30, 2020•37 min•Ep. 49
This week, we’re on fire! Or at least we’re talking about fire a lot. We go looking for Jesus in this week’s readings and find a strong man casting fire on the earth. Our Scripture du Jour has us rethinking our dinner invitations and trying to stay salty. And a Psalm 9 edition of Poetry in Motion has us praising the God who sees us, maintains justice, and gives us a stronghold. The Big Idea: Understanding fire of God’s judgment on evil brings the humble heart to repent. Weekly Challenge: Get tog...
Jan 23, 2020•39 min•Ep. 48
Programming Note: This week, we're replaying one of our favorite episodes on spiritual growth. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. This week, we answer a listener question about going from milk to meat and find that the next step of growth is different for all of us. The conversation takes us from muscle men with toothpick legs to babies with giant heads, as what Jesus Said in Mark 8:14-21 reminds us that the Lord expects us to follow an appropriate growth curve. How do we overcome...
Jan 16, 2020•38 min
Why is it so hard to talk to people about the gospel? How can we engage people in real dialogue about the truth? Join us for a discussion about the gospel, as we seek to understand it and share it. And as we talk about the first week’s reading on this episode, it’s still a great time to start reading through the New Testament with us! With the new year, we’ve also changed up the format — Finding Jesus in every passage we read and offering our Scripture du Jour from the week’s reading. Hope you’l...
Jan 09, 2020•39 min•Ep. 47
Happy 2020 — are you ready to get Into the Book? We’re kicking off a new focus for this year, journeying through the New Testament, reading one chapter every weekday. Have you ever read through the Bible in a year? Maybe you do it every year or maybe you (like us!) have had some difficulty making it through. Either way, we hope you’ll join us! The Big Idea: Reading through the Bible in a year is a marathon, not a sprint, so we designed this plan to give you the flexibility to make it to the fini...
Jan 02, 2020•41 min•Ep. 46
