In this week’s episode, Mickey addresses the big question that disciples of Jesus have been asking for 2,000 years — “What will be the sign of the end of the age?” Mickey encourages us to think about what we want to be doing when Jesus returns. Jesus teaches us to live ready and stay alert like a faithful servant because we don’t know when the Master might return home.
In this week’s episode, Graff describes the controversial nature of Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem and contrasts that with the way a Roman ruler would have entered into the city. Graff does a great job of demonstrating the clash of kingdoms that is taking place through Jesus’ life and ministry and what that means for us who swear allegiance to Jesus and the kingdom of God. Jesus teaches us that we need to learn how to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s without compromising our ...
In this week’s episode, I sit down and have a conversation with Paul Goldschmidt from the St. Louis Cardinals. Paul and I talk about his approach to reading the Bible, how that approach has evolved over the years and how him a few teammates have committed to reading through the Bible together throughout the year. We also hit a little bit on Jesus’ definition of greatness and what that looks like in the professional baseball world.
In this week’s episode, Brian sits down and has a conversation with Shan from Consider the Lily, a home created to rescue and redeem girls in the Philippines, from exploitation. Brian and Shan take some time to share her story of how Jesus has rescued her and given her the power to forgive those who have hurt her. Shan has a beautiful story and I am so thankful that she was willing to share her story with us. She has blessed me and encouraged me to be someone who forgives like Jesus too. Shan ha...
In this week’s episode, Tyler sits down and has a conversation with Josh Lindblom, a pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers who also just happens to have a Masters Degree in Biblical Studies. Tyler and Josh take some time to talk about Jesus’ invitation to his disciples to take up your cross. What does it mean to pick up your cross? How does death ultimately lead to life? And what is the life that we are all longing to live?
In this week’s episode, Simon challenges us with two questions that are pivotal in our discipleship to Jesus. Simon breaks down the story of Jesus walking on water and points out the reason why Peter got out of the boat and walked on water too (even though it was for just a moment). This story should encourage us. The fact that Jesus has called us to be his disciples ought to fill us with the courage that we need to “get out of the boat” and to be just like Jesus.
In this week's episode, Luke describes how our expectations (especially our unmet expectations) can grab hold of us and take us captive. Luke points out that we often without even realizing it put more trust in our expectations than we do in God himself. This was a struggle that even the great Israelite prophet, John the Baptist, experienced, and Luke does a great job of connecting John’s struggle to our own personal struggles with unmet expectations.
In this episode, Mickey demonstrates for us how the authority of Jesus gives us everything that we need to change the lives of others through compassionate actions. Mickey points out how following Jesus ought to lead us to live our lives for the sake of others. I thought Mickey did a great job of communicating how Jesus’ instructions to his first disciples are instructions that are still relevant to us today as 21st century disciples of Jesus.
In this episode, Tony takes a look at all the so-called "outcasts" that were included in Jesus lineage, and the outcasts that made up Jesus' disciples. Tony also elaborates on what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus, and he helps us see discipleship as this process where these outcasts became kingdom builders who helped bring more outsiders into the family of God.
In this episode, Terry looks at what is perhaps the most shocking and profound sentence that any teacher, philosopher, sage or rabbi has ever uttered. This teaching of Jesus is so counterintuitive and so challenging that we are tempted to water it down because it just seems too inconvenient and not practical. We are tempted to make this teaching a little more “doable” because a straightforward commitment to it just seems too reckless and dangerous.
This episode is a message given by our friend Jay Stringer on anger and lust. Jay is a therapist, author and speaker who specializes in helping men and women discover how their story is shaping their patterns of unwanted sexual behavior. Jay’s book, Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing is based on Jay’s research on over 3,800 men and women addressing the key drivers of unwanted sexual behavior.
In this episode, Terry shares a teaching on what is commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. This introductory announcement that opens Jesus’ famous teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount paints a beautiful picture of how the kingdom of God turns our typical value systems and our perceptions about who and what are significant completely upside down. The Beatitudes introduce us to the kingdom way of life, and to the types of people through whom Jesus intends to transform the whole world.
In this week’s episode, Brian invites us into a conversation with his friend Jason Wahler. Jason appeared on MTV’s hit shows Laguna Beach and The Hills. And after years of publicly battling with addiction, Jason has an amazing story of redemption and restoration and now dedicates his life to raising awareness about addiction.
In this week's episode, Tyler Keele kicks things off for 2022 and gets us going in our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. Tyler focuses in on two forgotten characters in the Christmas story, Joseph and King Herod, and unpacks how the rule of God confronts the reign of man. Music: "Life" by KV
In this episode, Terry Evans introduces us to the new Bible Reading Plan that we have put together for 2022! We would like to invite you to join us. This year our plan is focused simply on the 4 Gospels. We will read short subsections each week that will take us through the Gospels at a slow pace of only 2 chapters per week. You can follow along on the UPI App, our Bible Reading Group and by listening to the Digging In Podcast. Join us and invite some friends. Music: "Life" by KV...
In this week's episode, Terry Evans finishes out this year's Bible Reading Plan by recapping the one big story that the Bible is telling. Terry takes us cover to cover from Genesis to Revelation to share the story of how God is partnering with humanity to rule over this incredible world that he has created.
In this week's episode, Simon Guehring connects the season of Advent with John's vision in Revelation of the Lamb who was slain. Simon shares the Roman perspective behind the word advent, the significance of a lamb from Bethlehem and how all of these things are combined to declare that Jesus is the one true King and the only one worthy of our total allegiance.
Tony shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He gives an introduction and overview to the book of Revelation. In doing so, he prepares and gives tools on how to read this long misunderstood letter.
Mickey shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on how intimate fellowship with God and others is an intentional pursuit that requires community, hard work, vulnerability, and sacrifice. It’s costly, but beautiful when done right.
Terry Evans shares a reflection from this week's reading from the book of Daniel. Terry highlights how the story of Daniel and his three friends reveals a way to resist compromising with the dominant culture around us.
Tyler shares a reflection from this past week's readings. He speaks on how being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger can radically transform us into seeing people through the eyes of our King.
Luke shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on experiencing the power of God through our pain and suffering.
Brian shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on what a true friend looks like. Someone who sits in the pain and does not try to fix it.
Simon shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He speaks on how Jesus is not afraid to meet us where we are at.
Mickey shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on how in Jesus' final discourse, He instructs us on what is truth and the benefits of walking in His truth.
Tony shares some thoughts from this past week's reading on the God of Unmet expectations. He works through these questions: What happens when life doesn’t go as we expected? How do we respond? Tony reflects in the video that God not doing what people expect is pretty common. Yet, that does not mean God is not working, in fact, it could mean that He is doing something even greater than we could have ever imagined.
Terry Evans shares a reflection from this week's reading on the book about the prophet Jonah. Terry highlights how the story of Jonah invites all of us to look into the mirror and ask ourselves a difficult question… are we okay with God showing compassion and forgiveness towards those who have harmed us?
Tyler shares a brief reflection from this past week's reading. He talks about how the Bible gives us wisdom on how to live our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit through the meditation of our hearts.
Luke shares a brief reflection from this past week's reading. He speaks on the intentionality of living in response to God's grace.
Simon shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on the importance of having someone who speaks truth into our lives.
