In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy Guthrie speaks to Iain Duguid about the book of Judges. Duguid has been a professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary since 2014, having taught previously at Grove City College, Westminster Seminary California, and RTS Jackson. Duguid is the author of numerous commentaries and books, including volumes on Daniel and Esther and Ruth in the Reformed Expository Commentary series, The Song of Songs in the Tyndale Old Testament Comm...
Sep 02, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 142
On this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy Guthrie talks with David Garner of Westminster Theological Seminary. They discuss what it takes to be clear as a teacher, how to lead in situations where participants want to take the discussion in a direction away from the text, and how our sense of the authority of Scripture impacts what and how we teach. Garner is the editor of Did God Really Say? Affirming the Truthfulness and Trustworthiness of Scripture . His lectures on the authority of S...
Aug 19, 2021•47 min•Ep. 141
You’ve been asked to give a Bible talk. So where do you begin? And how do you make sure you’re understanding and applying the passage of scripture rightly? How will you get to the gospel? In this workshop session, recorded live at The 2021 Gospel Coalition National Conference, Nancy Guthrie takes listeners through the process of preparing to teach the Bible including prayer, looking at the context, determining the structure of the passage, composing and aim, creating an outline, getting to the g...
Aug 05, 2021•53 min•Ep. 140
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible, Nancy sat down with Christopher Ash at his home in Cambridge, England, to get help for teaching the book of Job, which was perhaps the first book of the Bible written. Their conversation covers ways Job is often taught inadequately and the many ways to preach Christ through this ancient book. Ash is a pastor and writer in residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge. He recently retired as director of the Cornhill Training Course, where he served from 2004 ...
Jul 22, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 139
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy talked with Greg Beale , who was at the time professor of New Testament and biblical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, about the book of Revelation—the book of the Bible surveys say people most want to be taught to them and teachers least want to teach. We work our way through key statements from Beale’s Revelation: A Shorter Commentary to cover questions on: symbolism; recapitulation; the nature of the renewal of all things; and cen...
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 138
Even in churches in which men and women are getting a regular diet of biblical theology and redemptive history in what is being preached from the pulpit, often what is being offered in small-group Bible study is driven by felt needs, has little biblical or theological rigor, or is oriented around self-improvement. But when biblical theology infiltrates Bible study, it puts the emphasis on what Christ has done rather than on what we must do. It helps participants put the various parts of the Bibl...
Jun 24, 2021•52 min•Ep. 137
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible, Nancy talked with Robert Smith Jr., professor of preaching at Beeson Divinity School . They discussed Psalm 42–43 and what it has to teach about moving from sorrow to joy, from mourning to morning. Smith was previously associate professor of Christian preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Among other writing projects, he is the author of Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life , ...
Jun 10, 2021•42 min•Ep. 136
In this the second of a two-part episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy talked to Gary Millar , principal of Queensland Theological College in Brisbane, Australia, and author of Saving Eutychus . Millar is currently working on a commentary on 1 and 2 Kings, which will be published by Crossway. The Book of 1 Kings opens with a weakened King David who can’t seem to keep warm in bed, and subsequently works its way through: the glorious and yet ultimately failed kingship of Solomon the building ...
Apr 29, 2021•40 min•Ep. 133
In this two-part episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy talked to Gary Millar , principal of Queensland Theological College in Brisbane, Australia, and author of Saving Eutychus . Millar is currently working on a commentary on 1 and 2 Kings, which will be published by Crossway. The Book of 1 Kings opens with a weakened King David who can’t seem to keep warm in bed, and subsequently works its way through: the glorious and yet ultimately failed kingship of Solomon the building and dedication o...
Apr 15, 2021•55 min•Ep. 132
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible Nancy went to Columbia, South Carolina, to sit down with Derek Thomas and ask his help for teaching through the book of Mark. Over the course of the conversation they discussed: the miracle stories and how to apply them the kingdom of God true repentance what it means to be a disciple Recommended audio resources: Sermons on the book of Mark by Derek Thomas Sermons on the book of Mark by Kevin DeYoung Sermon series on the book of Mark from Holy Trinity C...
Apr 01, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 131
In this, the second of two episodes, Nancy talked with Ryan Kelly , pastor for preaching at Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he taught through the book of 1 Samuel. Kelly calls 1 Samuel a “hinge book” between the time of the judges and the establishment of the kingship in Israel. Topics include: The prayer of Hannah that extends beyond what has been revealed and provides a table of contents for the book The problem with Israel’s desire for a king David’s speeches in the Da...
Mar 18, 2021•38 min•Ep. 130
In this two-part episode, Nancy talked with Ryan Kelly , pastor for preaching at Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he taught through the book of 1 Samuel. Kelly calls 1 Samuel a “hinge book” between the time of the judges and the establishment of the kingship in Israel. Topics include: The prayer of Hannah that extends beyond what has been revealed and provides a table of contents for the book The problem with Israel’s desire for a king David’s speeches in the David and Gol...
Mar 04, 2021•55 min•Ep. 129
On this episode, Nancy Guthrie talked with Mike Bullmore about what may be one of the least-studied books in the Bible. The book of 2 Chronicles is rich in story and encouragement to trust God to be faithful to his promises. Bullmore is senior pastor of CrossWay Community Church in Bristol, Wisconsin, and author of The Gospel and Scripture: How to Read the Bible (Crossway, 2011). Topics include: Why study 2 Chronicles? How do we prepare people to understand the two histories of 2 Chronicles? Wha...
Feb 18, 2021•55 min•Ep. 128
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy talked about the book of Hebrews with Sam Storms, lead pastor for preaching and vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, and founder of Enjoying God Ministries . They discussed the many challenging aspects of teaching this book so steeped in the Old Testament, as well as the deep encouragement that comes from it. Topics include: the aim of the writer of Hebrews the wealth of the first four verses the humanity of Jesus the Sabbath theme in He...
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 127
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy talked with one of her favorite Scottish preachers, Colin Smith, about how the book of Jonah reveals the steadfast love and mercy of God. Smith is senior pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and teacher on Unlocking the Bible . Topics in this episode include: ways the book of Jonah is taught inadequately reasons Jonah would not have wanted to go to Nineveh the pagan sailors’ response to the offer of a sac...
Jan 21, 2021•54 min•Ep. 126
To teach us how to teach the book of James, Nancy Guthrie talked with Dan Doriani, vice president of strategic academic initiatives and professor of theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Doriani is the author of Getting the Message: A Plan for Interpreting and Applying the Bible , a book that is essential reading for every Bible teacher, as well as numerous commentaries. He also wrote the introduction and notes on the book of James in the Gospel Transformation Bible . Topics in...
Jan 07, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 125
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy talks with David Helm, pastor of the Hyde Park Congregation of Holy Trinity Church and chairman of The Charles Simeon Trust . The book of Daniel is often mined for the stories in its first half while the apocalyptic visions of the second half are avoided. David is the author of a new book Daniel for You (The Good Book Company, 2015) and is also author of the acclaimed Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today , One to One Bible Readi...
Dec 24, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 124
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy talks with Michael Lawrence, senior pastor of Hinson Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon, or “the ends of the earth” as Lawrence calls it in context of the book of Acts. In this episode you'll not only hear the sounds of a church office building under construction, you'll also hear about how God is going about building his church as recorded in the book of Acts. Topics include: epic moments in redemptive history in Acts Acts as part two of Luke's...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 123
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , Nancy sits down with Dale Ralph Davis at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, where, in his “retirement” he serves as minister in residence or, as senior pastor Derek Thomas calls him, “the preacher of the night.” Davis is a long-time pastor and former professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Davis's book, No Falling Words , has long been a must-have commentary on Joshua. We sat down with h...
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 122
On this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , I spoke with Bryan Chapell, senior pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois, and the former president of Covenant Theological Seminary about how to teach through the book of Ephesians. Chapell’s books include Holiness by Grace: Delighting in the Joy That Is Our Strength and Christ-Centered Preaching . In Ephesians, Paul presents us with so much essential teaching for understanding what Christ has done and how we are to live as those who...
Nov 12, 2020•59 min•Ep. 121
In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible, I talked with Mark Futato, the Robert L. Maclellan professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, where he teaches core classes on Hebrew and Old Testament books. Futato has written a number of books on Psalms that flow out not only from his study but also his love for and his living with the Psalms. Topics in the discussion include: whether or not we should make the Psalms “about me”; allowing the organization of Psal...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 120
Recommended Audio Resources Hans Bayer on context, outline, and thought flow in Philippians Dick Lucas sermons on Philippians John Piper sermons on Philippians Recommended Print Resources: Philippians: A 12-Week Study by Ryan Kelly Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel by R. Kent Hughes Let's Study Philippians by Sinclair B. Ferguson Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians by D. A. Carson Message of Philippians: Jesus Our Joy by Alec Motyer...
Oct 15, 2020•33 min•Ep. 119
In this inaugural episode of Help Me Teach the Bible , I talked with John Piper, founder and teacher of Desiring God and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary , where he taught through the book of Philippians. He called this teaching a “dream come true.” Topics in this interview include: allowing those you teach to discover what the book is about; Paul's love expressed in this personal letter; connecting propositions in Paul's arguments; and the better by far of being with Christ at dea...
Oct 01, 2020•45 min•Ep. 118
When I began recording interviews for Help Me Teach the Bible in the fall of 2014, I didn’t have a grand plan. At that point I wouldn't have said that I had the goal of recording an episode on every book of the Bible because that would have seemed like an overwhelming task and too much of a commitment. But I just kept doing interviews, and people kept finding the podcast and listening. I kept being stretched and informed and inspired by getting to have these conversations with a lot of people I ...
Sep 17, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 117
It’s the shortest book in the Old Testament—only twenty-one verses—and I don’t think I’ve heard it preached or taught. According to my guest, Jonathan Gibson, associate professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary, the message of this short book is “the realization of the Lord’s sovereignty and the role reversal of Edom and Judah on the day of the Lord.” Essential to understanding and teaching the book is its connection to the narrative of Jacob and Esau as Obadiah applies even...
Sep 03, 2020•54 min•Ep. 116
Leviticus is the place where the best of intentions to read through the Bible often stall out. But it is a book that Jay Sklar, professor of Old Testament and vice president of academics at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, MO, has studied and written about prolifically. Sklar's doctoral studies focused on the theology of sin, impurity, sacrifice, and atonement in the Old Testament sacrificial system. He contributed to the study notes of Leviticus for the ESV Study Bible, the introduction and note...
Aug 20, 2020•52 min•Ep. 115
In the years I’ve spent in the church listening to sermons and teaching, I can think of very few times that I have heard direct applications from the text made to the sin of racism or the sin of apathy toward injustice. Maybe I just didn’t have the ears to hear it. In my own teaching, I may have mentioned racism in a list of sins, or mentioned it as one of the things that will be “no more” in the new heaven and new earth, but I don’t think I’ve ever used an opportunity teaching in a passage to c...
Aug 06, 2020•52 min•Ep. 114
Few teachers are rushing to teach the book of 1 Chronicles. Perhaps that's because they have already taught through 1–2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings and so much from these earlier books is repeated in 1–2 Chronicles. But according to Richard Pratt, president and co-founder of Third Millennium Ministries and author of the volume on 1–2 Chronicles in the Mentor Commentary series, to not study these books because of repeated material would be similar to a person not studying Mark or Luke because they’ve al...
Jul 23, 2020•55 min•Ep. 113
What are the essentials to good Bible study materials? And what makes a small group Bible study work well? Are we going to take prayer requests? Will there be homework or no homework? What makes the difference between good questions in curriculum and questions that frustrate the group? These are the kinds of questions I talked through with Lydia Brownback who has just embarked on creating a new series of Bible study resources called the Flourish Bible Study series for which she plans to create t...
Jun 25, 2020•52 min•Ep. 111
All of us who dare to stand up and teach the Bible are teachers in progress. We all have ways we can get better. Recently I got to sit down with Mark Meynell who, in his role as director of Europe and the Caribbean for Langham Preaching , spends most of his time traveling to different parts of the world to help teachers and preachers get better at handing the Bible. According to Meynell, Bible teachers all over the world lament the same thing—a lack of time to do the kind of study they want to d...
Jun 11, 2020•46 min•Ep. 110
