559: Pouring Out Our Hearts in Prayer: Hannah: Women of the Old Testament Bible Study In this episode, Rachael discusses the story of Hannah from the Old Testament. Hannah was a woman who struggled with infertility and faced rivalry from her husband's other wife. Despite her pain, Hannah remained faithful and poured out her heart to God, making a vow to dedicate her child to Him if He granted her a son. God answered her prayer, and Hannah gave birth to Samuel. She fulfilled her vow and left Samu...
May 16, 2024•23 min•Ep. 559
558: When God Writes a Love Story: Ruth: Women of the Old Testament Bible Study The story of Ruth is a beautiful love story that unfolds in the Bible. Ruth's impact goes beyond her own story and plays a significant role in the entire storyline of Scripture. In this episode, Rachael unpacks Ruth's story and explores the character of Naomi. The episode highlights the themes of hearing God's voice, faithfulness, provision, redemption, and the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan. The story of Ruth a...
May 15, 2024•22 min•Ep. 558
557: Trusting The God Of Provision During A Famine: Naomi: Women of the Old Testament Bible Study In today’s episode, Rachael discusses the story of Naomi and Ruth through the lens of Naomi's journey and the character of God. Naomi's decision to leave Bethlehem during a famine and her subsequent losses set the stage for her return and reconciliation with God. We also learn how the names of the characters reflect their experiences and identities. Naomi's bitterness and Ruth's loyalty are highligh...
May 14, 2024•25 min•Ep. 557
556: Biblical Meditation and Contemplative Prayer: An Exercise to Connect With Jesus This conversation is a guided contemplative prayer exercise based on Scripture. Rachael leads the listener through a series of instructions to help them connect with Jesus and seek healing. The exercise involves visualizing the scene, imagining approaching Jesus in a crowded place, and experiencing his healing touch. The listener is encouraged to reflect on their own desires for healing and to communicate with t...
May 13, 2024•27 min•Ep. 556
555: The Transforming Power of the Gospel: Hope for Mothers in Desperate Situations In this episode, Rachael chats with Alli Watson, about the impact of a survival program for mothers and babies. She shares her experience visiting Kenya and witnessing the transformation in the lives of mothers and children. Alli highlights the importance of empowering mothers with skills and providing them with vocational training. She also emphasizes the opportunity to sponsor mothers and children together, cre...
May 10, 2024•33 min•Ep. 555
554: Avoiding the Enemy’s Snares: Delilah: Women of the Old Testament Bible Study In this episode, Rachael focuses on the story of Samson and Delilah from the Old Testament. She explores Delilah's role and influence on Samson, highlighting the consequences of their relationship. Rachael emphasizes the importance of avoiding snares and persistent sins in our lives, and offers practical steps for accountability and confession. The episode serves as a reminder of the need to align our actions with ...
May 09, 2024•22 min•Ep. 554
553: Women Can Lead in the Church: Deborah and Jael: Women of the Old Testament Bible Study Deborah's story in the book of Judges reveals God's design to include women in leadership. Deborah, a prophet, wife, and judge, played a crucial role in delivering Israel from their enemies. Her leadership and partnership with Barak led to the defeat of General Sisera and the Canaanite army. Deborah's story challenges the misconception that women were only used as leaders when there were no men available....
May 08, 2024•24 min•Ep. 553
552: Our Past Doesn’t Disqualify Us: Rahab: Women of the Old Testament Bible Study In this episode, Rachael discusses the story of Rahab, a woman in Scripture who was used mightily by God. Despite her past, Rahab believed in God and took action to protect the Israelite spies. As a result, she and her family were spared when the city of Jericho was destroyed. Rahab's story teaches us that our past sins do not disqualify us from being used by God, and that faith must be accompanied by action. She ...
May 07, 2024•25 min•Ep. 552
551: Influence or Impact? How Five Women We Don't Know Shaped Legal History Daughters of Zelophehad: Women of the Old Testament Bible Study The daughters of Zalophehad in the Old Testament occupy a lot of real estate in scripture, yet many of us have no idea who they are. It turns out, their story is still impacting the American court system and their case is quoted by the American Bar Association. Curious about their story? Listen to today’s episode to learn more. Additional Resources: For ad-f...
May 06, 2024•22 min•Ep. 551
550: How to Have a Healthy Relationship With the News as a Christian In this episode, host Rachael interviews Jason Woodruff, the creator of Pour Over News, a resource that provides a Christian perspective on current events. They discuss the importance of being informed without allowing the news to negatively impact our mood and worldview. They emphasize the need for Christians to have a spiritually healthy relationship with the news and to focus on Christ rather than getting caught up in politi...
May 03, 2024•36 min•Ep. 550
549: Spring Bible Study: Miriam: Prepared to Praise SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Miriam In this episode, we continue our devotional Bible study through the Old Testament and focus on the story of Miriam. Miriam was one of the few women in scripture who was called a prophet. We explore her story and how she played a significant role in leading the women of Israel. Rachael encourages listeners to approach difficult scenarios with a posture of praise and reminds listeners that Go...
May 02, 2024•22 min•Ep. 549
548: Spring Bible Study: Zipporah: An Unbelieving Spouse SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Zipporah Zipporah, the wife of Moses, is often overlooked in the Bible. This episode explores her life and the role she played in Moses' journey. It highlights the importance of obedience to God, even in difficult circumstances, and the need to deal with sin in our lives. The episode also touches on the challenges of being married to an unbeliever and the process of sanctification. Overall, i...
May 01, 2024•24 min•Ep. 548
547: Spring Bible Study: Jochebed: The Faith of a Mother SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Jochebed Jochebed, the mother of Moses, is an example of extraordinary faith and obedience. She hid Moses for three months and then placed him in a basket in the Nile, where he was found by Pharaoh's daughter. Jochebed's faith and obedience set the foundation for Moses' leadership and the deliverance of God's people. Her story teaches us the importance of acting in faith, even in the face of ...
Apr 30, 2024•23 min•Ep. 547
546: Spring Bible Study: Shiphrah and Puah: Fearing God Over Man SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Shiprah and Puah In this episode, Rachael explores the story of Shiphrah and Puah, two midwives in the book of Exodus who defied Pharaoh's orders to kill Hebrew baby boys. Despite the risk to their own lives, Shiprah and Puah feared God more than Pharaoh and chose to protect the innocent lives. Their courage and faithfulness to God's commandments serve as an inspiration for believers ...
Apr 29, 2024•24 min•Ep. 546
545: Spring Bible Study: Potiphar’s Wife: Chasing Pleasure SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Potiphar’s Wife In this episode, Rachael discusses the story of Potiphar's wife and the lessons we can learn from Joseph's character throughout his interactions with her. Potiphar's wife represents a woman who sins for the sake of sinning and lives a life of indulgence. Joseph, on the other hand, demonstrates integrity and resists her advances, even at the risk of losing everything. The sto...
Apr 26, 2024•21 min•Ep. 545
544: Spring Bible Study: Tamar- The Dysfunctional Family Line of Jesus SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Tamar: In this episode, Rachael explores the story of Tamar in the Old Testament. Tamar is often seen as a prostitute, but her story is one of redemption as she is the first woman named in the lineage of Christ. Rachael discusses the reasons behind Tamar's actions and the double standards she faced. She also highlights the importance of understanding the cultural context and the...
Apr 25, 2024•29 min•Ep. 544
543: Spring Bible Study: Dinah- When Justice Warriors Take It Too Far SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Dinah Dinah's story in the Old Testament is a difficult one, but it offers insights into our own human nature. The story highlights the mistakes made by Dinah, her father Jacob, and her brothers, and explores themes of justice, consequences, and the importance of responding instead of reacting. Episode Resources: To Sponsor a Child through Compassion International: Compassion.com...
Apr 24, 2024•26 min•Ep. 543
541: Spring Bible Study: Esau’s Wives- Generational Chaos From Marrying An Unbeliever SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Esau’s Wives This episode of the Hearing Jesus podcast explores the story of Esau and his marriages to Judith and Basemath. Rachel discusses the impact of these marriages on Esau's family and the generational consequences of his choices. The episode emphasizes the importance of marrying believers and the potential long-lasting effects of marrying outside of God's ...
Apr 23, 2024•24 min•Ep. 541
540: Spring Bible Study: Rachel- Choosing Gratitude Over Longing SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Rachel In this episode, Rachael discusses the story of Rachel, the sister of Leah, from the Old Testament. Rachel is described as beautiful, but her beauty becomes a source of competition and jealousy between her and her sister. This episode discusses the consequences of allowing bitterness to consume us. Episode Resources: To Sponsor a Child through Compassion International: Compassi...
Apr 22, 2024•26 min•Ep. 540
540: The Gospel on a Dirty Street in Calcutta: A Conversation With Angie Smith In this conversation, Rachael Groll interviews Angie Smith, author of one of Rachael’s favorite Bible Studies, Seamless. They discuss Angie's faith journey and the importance of perspective and understanding the larger narrative of Scripture. Angie shares her favorite part of connecting with audiences and witnessing their transformation. The conversation ends with a prayer for listeners who may be hesitant or skeptica...
Apr 19, 2024•38 min•Ep. 540
539: Spring Bible Study: Leah- How God Sees and Cares for the Unloved and Rejected SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Leah In this episode, Rachael discusses the story of Leah, one of the sisters who was married to Jacob. We learn from Scripture that Jacob loved her sister Rachel more. Despite feeling unloved and rejected, Leah had many children and played a significant role in the lineage of Jesus. We learn about the importance of not comparing ourselves to others and finding value...
Apr 18, 2024•26 min•Ep. 539
538: Spring Bible Study: Deborah the Nursemaid- Serving Faithfully Throughout Our Lives SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Deborah, Rebekah’s Nurse Maid In this episode, Rachael explores the life of Deborah, but it’s probably not the Deborah you remember from Scripture. Deborah was Rebekah’s nursemaid, and she played a significant role in Jacob and Esau's life. Deborah’s story reminds us that even in the sometimes overlooked tasks of the day to day, God sees us and values our impact...
Apr 17, 2024•21 min•Ep. 538
537: Spring Bible Study: Rebekah- The Mom Who Manipulated SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Rebekah Rebecca's story in the Old Testament starts off with good intentions, but we learn how she soon gets off track. She falls into deception and manipulation and later has to deal with the consequences. So many of us can see ourselves in her story, but we can be thankful for a God who remains faithful throughout it all. Episode Resources: To Sponsor a Child through Compassion Internation...
Apr 16, 2024•24 min•Ep. 537
536: A Heart Divided: Lot’s Wife SPRING BIBLE STUDY: WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: Lot’s Wife While we don’t ever learn the name of Lot’s wife, we see her mentioned by Jesus in the New Testament. Her divided heart and attachment to the world led to her being used as a warning to be ready when He comes back. Episode Resources: To Sponsor a Child through Compassion International: Compassion.com/hearingjesus Or Text HEARINGJESUS to 83393 For ad-free content, family discussion guides, journaling works...
Apr 15, 2024•25 min•Ep. 536
535: Did You Know Abraham Had a Third Wife? Meet: Keturah Did you know Abraham had a third wife? Many of us know about Sarah and Hagar, but we often forget about his third wife, Keturah. On today’s episode, we discuss the mother of six of Abraham’s children and how the Lord sees us, even when others don’t. Episode Resources: To Sponsor a Child through Compassion International: Compassion.com/hearingjesus Or Text HEARINGJESUS to 83393 For ad-free content, family discussion guides, journaling work...
Apr 12, 2024•16 min•Ep. 535
534: A Woman Who Still Impacts The World Today: Hagar On today’s episode, we continue on with the story of Sarah as we learn about her maidservant, Hagar. Hagar’s story still impacts the world today, even if you don’t realize it. As we learn about Hagar, we realize that there can be a lasting impact to our rebellion from God- it’s not just about us. Episode Resources: To Sponsor a Child through Compassion International: Compassion.com/hearingjesus Or Text HEARINGJESUS to 83393 For ad-free conten...
Apr 11, 2024•20 min•Ep. 534
533: The Matriarch Who Didn't Always Get it Right: Sarah Today Rachael discusses the story of Sarah, one of the matriarch’s of the faith. Even though Sarah is mentioned in the hall of faith chapter in Hebrews 11, we learn that Sarah didn’t always get it right. From Sarah’s story, we can be so thankful for God’s hand of redemption and that He can still use broken people. Episode Resources: To Sponsor a Child through Compassion International: Compassion.com/hearingjesus Or Text HEARINGJESUS to 833...
Apr 10, 2024•20 min•Ep. 533
532: Who Are Adah and Zillah? Women You May Not Remember from Genesis Today Rachael continues the Women of the Old Testament with a daily devotional Bible Study on Adah and Zillah. Have you ever heard of them before? Many of us haven’t. Although we may have read their names, many of us haven’t taken the time to consider their story. As we take a minute to look at the lives of these two women, we are reminded of how the enemy has a counterfeit version of God’s design for our lives. Listen in as R...
Apr 09, 2024•20 min•Ep. 532
531: Eve: The Woman We Love to Hate Today, Rachael starts the Spring Bible Study of the Women of the Old Testament. Each day, Rachael teaches on one woman, reading her story from Scripture, and then unpacking some powerful truths we can learn from her relationship with God. In today’s episode, Rachael teaches on Eve, the woman we all love to hate. As we study Eve’s story, though, we can learn how to hold onto the promise of redemption, even after we’ve messed up. Episode Resources: To Sponsor a ...
Apr 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 531
530: The Struggles and Joys of Adult Friendships Part 2 This conversation explores the topic of friendship, including the process of letting go of old friendships and seeking new ones. It emphasizes the importance of being honest with God about raw emotions and recognizing dysfunction in relationships. The conversation also highlights the need for community and female friendships, as well as the challenges of finding and creating opportunities for connection. It discusses the significance of fri...
Apr 05, 2024•28 min•Ep. 530
