410// Sheep Among Wolves: A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 10:16-23 When Jesus sends out the disciples to go share the good news with others, he doesn’t send them unprepared. In today’s bible study, we’re going to look closely at Jesus’ instructions for the disciples' long-term mission (which is our mission, too!). While this section of scripture can feel dark and heavy, we’ll see that there is also a ton of hope. Join us as we pray, study, and hear from God through the book of Matthew. Calli...
Oct 24, 2023•22 min•Ep. 410
409// What to Do When Others Reject the Gospel: A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 10:7-15 What did Jesus do when a community rejected him? Today, we’re studying a challenging passage of scripture - what do we do when the gospel seems offensive or is rejected? There’s a lot to unpack in just a few verses and a lot we can apply to our own ministry efforts as well. Dive in with us as we explore Matthew 10:7-15. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids -...
Oct 23, 2023•24 min•Ep. 409
Finding Hope and Joy with Special Guest Raquelle Stevens As a special bonus episode, I invited my friend Raquelle Stevens onto the show to talk about finding hope and joy. In a post-pandemic world, and the hustle culture we find ourselves in, sometimes finding joy in the day-to-day can be difficult. Together we talk through some of the issues that are common for women, and how having a “Sunshine Mindset” makes all the difference. The Sunshine Mind can be found here: https://amzn.to/3RpLKkU In th...
Oct 21, 2023•41 min•Ep. 408
408// Using Soul Care to Transform Chaos to Calm With everything that is going on right now in the world, I thought I would air this conversation with my friend Bonnie Gray as we talk about ways to transform chaos to calm. Soul care can be an important way that God transforms our lives. We discuss some practical strategies that I am confident will help you experience God’s peace in your life. Bonnie's book, Breathe, can be found here: https://amzn.to/3RpLKkU Calling all kids (and parents of kids...
Oct 20, 2023•50 min•Ep. 408
407// Ordinary People With An Extraordinary God: A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 10:1-6 Sometimes we can look at the apostles with admiration, thinking there is no way we could ever measure up. But when we realize that they were ordinary people, it helps us to realize that they were only able to do what they did because we have an extraordinary God. If God used them, He can certainly use you. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids - be sure to su...
Oct 19, 2023•22 min•Ep. 407
406// Jesus Is The Healer: A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 9:27-35 Jesus sets the example for us in the Scriptures when He ministers healing to people in the gospels. Today as we look at Jesus as the healer, we recognize that there is a role for us to play in the lives of those around us. In a world that is hurting and broken, Jesus calls us to take light into the darkness because the harvest is ready. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids - be ...
Oct 18, 2023•27 min•Ep. 406
405// A Scandalous Kind of Faith: A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 9:14-26 There are times in the Scriptures when Jesus is moved with compassion because of the amount of faith that someone approaches Him with. Often, it comes from someone that you would least expect it to. Join us today as we learn about a kind of faith that would have been scandalous at the time, and learn how Jesus responded. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids - be sure to s...
Oct 17, 2023•28 min•Ep. 405
404// You Have A Seat At the Table With Jesus: A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 9:9-13 Have you ever wondered how a tax collector named Matthew went on to write one of the gospels? Who was he before, and how did meeting and following Jesus change him? Well, today’s story gives us a little insight into why Matthew sitting at the table with Jesus was so upsetting to the religious leaders at the time. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids - be sure ...
Oct 16, 2023•24 min
403// How to Stay Faithful In Different Life Seasons (And Other Audience Questions!) We’re doing something a little different today; we’re taking a break from our study of Matthew to answer your questions. We’re answering a wide variety of questions, from what to do about lust, to fighting bitterness after serving in ministry, to struggling to accept God’s love for us, and more. If you have a question you want me to answer in a future podcast, connect with me at https://shehears.org/contact. Cal...
Oct 13, 2023•27 min•Ep. 403
402// How Sickness and Sin Are Connected - And How They Are Not: A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 9:1-8 In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day, there was a connection between sin and sickness. They saw it as basically the same thing. But throughout his ministry, Jesus delineates between the two. In today’s bible study on Matthew 9, we’ll talk about when sickness and sin are related, and when they are not. In this chapter, we learn that Jesus is concerned not just with healing sickness but ultima...
Oct 12, 2023•20 min•Ep. 402
401// Why Would Jesus Drown 2000 Pigs? A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 8:28-34 This Bible story has a lot in it that can confuse or even agitate us. First, we have to grapple with demonic possession and what that was like in Jesus’ day. Then, we have to grapple with the fact that Jesus drove the demons into a large herd of pigs, causing them to rush into the water and drown. Why would Jesus allow this to happen? We’ll be looking at the historical context for this story to gain clarity, and t...
Oct 11, 2023•19 min•Ep. 401
400// When the Storms of Life Hit, Do This: A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 8:23-27 Ever been caught driving through an unexpected storm? It can be terrifying. What about a hurricane? We would want to avoid being out in a storm like that at all costs. Now imagine being in the middle of a body of water, on a small boat, in the middle of a hurricane, and I’m sure you can start to imagine just how terrified the disciples were, and how perplexed they would have been that Jesus was asleep through...
Oct 10, 2023•15 min•Ep. 400
399// The Cost of Following Jesus: A Devotional Bible Study on Matthew 8:14-22 As we make our way through the gospel of Matthew, we read about Jesus healing Peter’s mother after she has suffered through an illness. What she does after she is healed ought to be a blueprint for our own actions after we experience healing. After that, we read of men who came to Jesus ready to follow him, but Jesus’ reply shows us just what it costs to follow Jesus. Today’s bible study helps us see that the cost of ...
Oct 09, 2023•27 min•Ep. 399
Life is about transitions, it’s part of the human experience. How do we embrace those moments instead of longing for the next stage? Today I invited my friend Nicki Koziarz on the show to talk about those transitions and her new book, Your New Now. Nicki walks us through the life of Moses, as an example to us when we are living in a place of transition. I pray this episode blesses you! Nicki Koziarz is an ECPA bestselling author and a speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She speaks nationally at...
Oct 06, 2023•35 min•Ep. 398
Ever wonder what it would have taken to impress Jesus? Well, we get a glimpse of that in Matthew 8, in the story of the faith of the Centurian. In this bible study, we’ll examine what about his faith was so remarkable to Jesus. We’ll also discuss the kind of people Jesus went looking for to make disciples, and how surprising his choices were to the people of that day. Finally, we’ll wrap in prayer for our own faith to grow in what Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, can accomplish in us. Calling all...
Oct 05, 2023•21 min•Ep. 397
If you’ve studied the Bible for any length of time, you know that a huge portion of the work Jesus did on earth was healing people. We see him opening the eyes of the blind, healing the sick, and even raising the dead back to life. In this devotional on Matthew 8, we see Jesus’ interaction with a man who has leprosy. Let’s hear from God today and learn what it cost Jesus to heal then, and what it has cost him to heal us now. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing J...
Oct 04, 2023•19 min•Ep. 396
Jesus had a lot to say about good fruit and bad fruit. But it’s not always obvious what kind of fruit we (or the people around us) are growing. The Bible give us guidance on what good fruit looks like and how we avoid rotten fruit. Today, we’ll wrap up our Bible study on Matthew 7 and look at what it means to bear good fruit, how to spot rotten fruit, and how to build a firm foundation on Jesus. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids - be sure to sub...
Oct 03, 2023•22 min•Ep. 395
We’re continuing our bible study on the Sermon on the Mount, as we read and pray through Matthew 7:7-12. We’re going to discuss persistence in prayer, using Jesus’ instructions to ask, seek, and knock. I’ll share my personal experience of persisting in prayer in ministry despite facing challenges and opposition, highlighting the importance of trusting in God's timing and seeking His will. Today’s devotional is for anyone who needs to know that God longs to hear your prayers. Calling all kids (an...
Oct 02, 2023•20 min•Ep. 394
Calling all parents and kids! Do you know about Rachael’s new show – Hearing Jesus for Kids? We’re sharing a sample episode with you today on The Lord’s Prayer. In this devotional for kids, Rachael teaches us how this prayer is like a "How to Pray" model, guiding us to pray in our own unique way. Learn why addressing God Our Father in heaven is so special and how to keep God's name holy in your life. Plus, explore the importance of love in following God's commands. Join Rachael on this exciting ...
Sep 30, 2023•15 min
What does it mean to have a log in your eye? Or giving your pearls to pigs? How would the disciples heard these messages from Jesus? How do we safe-guard our pearls? What are our pearls? All this and more on today’s episode. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids - be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! This episode is a companion to Episode 19 of the Hearing Jesus for Kids Podcast. For family discussion guides, journaling worksheets, bon...
Sep 29, 2023•18 min•Ep. 393
Today we continue studying the Lord’s Prayer, we talk through the idea of forgiveness and how it impacts our relationship with God. While this prayer is called a model prayer, it’s not about reciting words or a formula. Instead it’s about recognizing God as a faithful Father who longs to connect with His children. I pray this episode blesses you. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids - be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! This episode ...
Sep 28, 2023•31 min•Ep. 392
The Lord’s Prayer is one that many of us are familiar with. Sometimes though, that familiarity keeps us from fully understanding what Jesus was meaning when it was called a model prayer. As we unpack one of the most famous portions of all of Scripture, let’s read it with a fresh heart and fresh mind. Calling all kids (and parents of kids)! Check out my new show Hearing Jesus for Kids - be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! This episode is a companion to Episode 17 of the Hearing Jes...
Sep 27, 2023•26 min•Ep. 391
Intimacy with God starts with prayer. Today we take a look at the way Jesus taught us to pray, as well as the ways He taught us NOT to pray. Authenticity and vulnerability are the keys to inviting Jesus into our mess, so it’s important that we pray from that place instead of trying to “clean up” our prayers. As we uncover the depth of prayer beyond mere words, I pray this episode blesses you. This episode is a companion to Episode 16 of the Hearing Jesus for Kids Podcast: Hearing Jesus for Kids ...
Sep 26, 2023•24 min•Ep. 390
Welcome to the Hearing Jesus Podcast with your host, Rachael Groll. In today’s episode, we are talking all about the heart of Jesus when He is discipling his earliest followers. As we listen in as He teaches His original disciples what it means to live within the kingdom, it helps us understand how we can live that way today. I pray this episode is a blessing to you as we learn how to live out our faith with sincerity and compassion. This episode is a companion to Episode 15 of the Hearing Jesus...
Sep 25, 2023•27 min•Ep. 388
Welcome to the Hearing Jesus Podcast with your host, Rachael Groll. In today’s episode, Rachael is joined by special guest Pastor Max Lucado to talk about his latest book, God Never Gives Up On You. Max and Rachael talk about the story of Jacob, and what it teaches us about grace, mercy, and God’s relentless love. You can find Max's book here: https://amzn.to/3RpLKkU Join us for an inspiring journey of redemption, vulnerability, and discovering God's transformative power in our imperfections. If...
Sep 22, 2023•35 min•Ep. 389
Welcome to the "Hearing Jesus" podcast with your host, Rachael Groll. Join us on this devotional journey through the gospels, where we explore the teachings of Jesus chapter by chapter. We provide historical and cultural context to help you better understand the message. If you're seeking to live a life that reflects God's, this podcast is for you. Tune in to "Hearing Jesus" and become a part of our community as we strive to become more like Jesus as we learn to hear Him more clearly. This episo...
Sep 21, 2023•31 min•Ep. 387
Welcome to the Hearing Jesus podcast with your host, Rachael Groll. In this episode, we continue to explore Matthew 5 as part of our ongoing journey through the introduction to the Gospels. Join us as we unravel the depth of Jesus' message and its enduring relevance in our walk of faith. Don't miss out on this transformative exploration of the Sermon on the Mount and the heart of discipleship. This episode is a companion to Episode 13 of the Hearing Jesus for Kids Podcast: Hearing Jesus for Kids...
Sep 20, 2023•19 min•Ep. 386
Welcome to the Hearing Jesus podcast with your host, Rachael Groll. In today's episode, we explore the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, specifically focusing on the Beatitudes. Join us as we explore these teachings of Jesus, revealing how they challenge conventional expectations and redirect us toward meekness, mercy, and peace. Discover the significance of being the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" in this transformative journey through the foundational wisdom of Jesus. Tun...
Sep 19, 2023•24 min•Ep. 385
Welcome to the Hearing Jesus podcast with your host, Rachael Groll. In this episode, we explore the profound moment when Jesus calls his first disciples. But there's more to this story than meets the eye. Rachael unpacks the historical and cultural context, revealing the significance of Jesus's invitation to "follow me" and become "fishers of people." This episode is a companion to Episode 11 of the Hearing Jesus for Kids Podcast: Hearing Jesus for Kids For family discussion guides, journaling w...
Sep 18, 2023•27 min•Ep. 384
Welcome to the Hearing Jesus podcast with your host, Rachael Groll. Tune in as Rachael emphasizes the importance of understanding the true nature of temptation and testing, the power of recognizing God's voice through His Word, and the significance of relying on the Holy Spirit during challenging times. Discover the depth of Jesus's identity and His unwavering commitment to God's plan as we navigate through these 11 verses. Join us in this insightful episode as we explore the lessons from Matthe...
Sep 15, 2023•20 min•Ep. 383
