Day 151 of the Holy Bible One Year Challenge. In an action-packed finish to 1 Samuel, David plays double agent, dodges a bullet with the Philistines, and goes full Rambo, rescuing his kidnapped family and friends, before mourning the death of Saul, proving he's got a heart as big as his warrior spirit. In John, in an intense twist of events, Jesus takes a quick drink, kicks the bucket, then beats death in a stunning comeback, leaving a pair of puzzled apostles and a tomb that's lighter by one bo...
May 31, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 151
Day 150 of the Holy Bible One Year Challenge. David plays 'Hide and Seek' champ twice with Saul's gear, an old lady summons the grumpy spirit of Samuel at a late-night séance, and Saul gets a 'spoiler alert' for a really bad next day. In John, Jesus dons a cruel, prickly crown for a royal makeover, Pilate washes his hands off the whole messy affair, and amidst the chaos, Jesus ensures his mum's got a new son to take care of her.Support the show at Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/storymasterFind...
May 30, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 150
Day 149 of the Holy Bible One Year Challenge. David plays 'catch and release' with Saul in a cave and then throws the ultimate desert dinner party for the feisty Abigail after her grumpy husband, Nabal, RSVPs 'no'. In John, Peter plays 'Not It' during the rooster's morning crow, while Jesus and Pilate engage in a deep existential chat about truth and kingship, landing Jesus in the 'to be released' category.Support the show at Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/storymasterFind us at https://www.one...
May 29, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 149
Day 148 of the Holy Bible One Year Challenge. Dodging King Saul's tantrums, David goes on a thrilling ‘hide-and-seek’ spree, showing off his survival skills, winning battles, and becoming the 'Robin Hood' of his time. In John, in another game of hide-and-seek, Jesus is caught by the bad guys, faces the world's worst interrogators and redefines the 'turn the other cheek' principle when he receives an uninvited slap.Support the show at Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/storymasterFind us at https:/...
May 28, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 148
Day 147 of the Holy Bible One Year Challenge. Saul plays a deadly game of 'darts' with David, who becomes a medieval fugitive with Jonathan's help, setting off a buddy-cop escapade filled with secret signals, archery and plenty of field-running. In John, Jesus, the divine team captain, gives the biggest, most heartwarming pep talk in history, praying for unity among his disciples and all believers – 'One team, one dream, folks.Support the show at Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/storymasterFind ...
May 27, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 147
Day 146 of the Holy Bible One Year Challenge. David, the underdog shepherd boy, suits up in King Saul's ill-fitting armor, decides 'Nah, not for me', then proceeds to defeat giant Goliath with just a sling and stone, scoring immediate bromance with Prince Jonathan and an unasked-for fan club in King Saul's court. In John, Jesus, acting like the world's best life coach, gives his disciples some real-talk about hardships they'll face, promises the arrival of the Spirit of truth as a helper, and ta...
May 26, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 146
Samuel anoints David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the future king of Israel, guided by God's direction. Meanwhile, the Israelites face the Philistines, and Goliath, a giant warrior, challenges them to send a champion for single combat. Young David volunteers to fight Goliath despite his brothers' doubt and King Saul's hesitation—will this shepherd boy triumph over the mighty giant?Jesus speaks to His disciples about abiding in Him, the true vine, and bearing fruit through love and obedience. H...
May 25, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 145
King Saul imposes a strict fast on his troops, which nearly leads to disaster when his son Jonathan unknowingly breaks it and gains victory over the Philistines. Saul's impulsive vow almost costs Jonathan his life, but the troops intervene, saving him. Later, Saul disobeys God's command by sparing the Amalekite king and the best livestock, leading to God's rejection of Saul as king. Will Saul's disobedience lead to the downfall of his kingdom? Jesus comforts His disciples, promising them a place...
May 24, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 144
King Saul disobeys God's command by offering a burnt sacrifice himself instead of waiting for Samuel, leading to God's rejection of him as king. Meanwhile, Jonathan, Saul's son, bravely attacks a Philistine outpost with his armor-bearer, sparking panic and confusion among the Philistine army. Will Saul's disobedience cost Israel its victory, or can Jonathan's faith and courage turn the tide? Will Saul's disobedience cost Israel its victory, or can Jonathan's faith and courage turn the tide? Duri...
May 23, 2025•18 min•Season 5Ep. 143
As Saul is anointed king, God changes his heart, and he prophesies among the prophets, amazing those who knew him. Despite some skepticism, Saul is publicly chosen by lot and confirmed by Samuel as king, leading to initial victories and growing support. However, Samuel warns the people to obey the Lord and stay faithful, or both they and their king will face consequences. Will Saul remain faithful to God and lead Israel to prosperity, or will he falter and bring calamity upon his people? Despite...
May 22, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 142
The Israelites, discontent with their judges, demand a king to rule over them, like other nations. Despite Samuel's warnings about the burdens a king would impose, God instructs Samuel to anoint Saul, a humble man from the tribe of Benjamin. As Saul searches for his father's lost donkeys, Samuel reveals his destiny to become the first king of Israel. Will Saul accept this daunting role and lead Israel to glory?Jesus enters Jerusalem to a hero's welcome, with crowds waving palm branches and shout...
May 21, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 141
The Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant and place it in the temple of their god Dagon, but calamity befalls them as their idol falls and they suffer from plagues. Terrified, they return the Ark to Israel, where it brings blessings to those who treat it with reverence. Will the Israelites recognize the power of the Ark and follow God's commands faithfully? After Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, many believe in Him, but the Pharisees plot to kill Jesus to stop His growing influence. Six...
May 20, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 140
A man of God warns Eli, the high priest, about the impending judgment on his household due to the sins of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. God declares that both sons will die on the same day, and a faithful priest will be raised in Eli's place. Despite the warning, Eli's sons continue their wicked ways, leading to the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines and the death of Eli and his sons. Will the Israelites recover the Ark of the Covenant and restore their faith in God's protect...
May 19, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 139
Hannah, deeply distressed by her inability to have children, fervently prays to God for a son and promises to dedicate him to the Lord's service. God hears her prayer, and she gives birth to Samuel, whom she brings to the temple to serve under Eli the priest. As Samuel grows in wisdom and favor, Eli's sons' wickedness brings judgment upon Eli's house. Will Samuel's faithful service to God change the course of Israel's future? During the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, Jesus walks in Solomon's ...
May 18, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 138
Ruth, following Naomi's advice, visits Boaz at the threshing floor to seek his protection as a kinsman-redeemer. Boaz, impressed by Ruth's loyalty, agrees to marry her if a closer kinsman declines. Will Boaz overcome this obstacle and marry Ruth, ensuring her and Naomi's future? Will Boaz overcome this obstacle and marry Ruth, ensuring her and Naomi's future? Jesus finds the man he healed of blindness and reveals Himself as the Son of Man, leading to the man's belief and worship. Jesus then cont...
May 17, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 137
Naomi, a widow, and her daughter-in-law Ruth, also widowed, leave Moab to return to Bethlehem. Ruth, determined to support Naomi, gleans in the fields of Boaz, a kind and wealthy relative. Will Boaz recognize Ruth's loyalty and kindness, leading to a brighter future for them both? Jesus encounters a man born blind and heals him by making mud with his saliva and placing it on the man's eyes. The man washes in the Pool of Siloam and gains his sight, astonishing the Pharisees who investigate the mi...
May 16, 2025•23 min•Season 5Ep. 136
In Judges 20-21, the Israelites unite in outrage against the tribe of Benjamin due to a grievous crime committed in Gibeah, leading to a brutal civil war. After fierce battles that decimate the Benjamites, Israel mourns their near extinction and devises unconventional means to find wives for the surviving Benjamin men, ensuring the tribe's continuation. As Israel struggles with internal conflict and moral decay, will they find a way to restore peace and righteousness in their midst? In John 8:31...
May 15, 2025•25 min•Season 5Ep. 135
In Judges 18, the tribe of Dan seeks a new homeland and steals idols and a priest from Micah’s house, setting up their own place of worship. Judges 19 tells a harrowing story where a Levite and his concubine face grave inhospitality in the Benjamite city of Gibeah, leading to the concubine's tragic death. This brutal act sparks a civil war within Israel. Will the tribe of Benjamin survive the ensuing conflict from their own brethren? In John 8:12-30, Jesus declares Himself the Light of the World...
May 14, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 134
In Judges 16, Samson falls in love with Delilah, who is bribed by the Philistines to discover the secret of his strength. Through deceit, she learns that his power lies in his uncut hair, leads to its cutting, and Samson is captured, blinded, and imprisoned by the Philistines. However, during a public spectacle, his strength returns as his hair regrows, allowing him to bring down the temple on the Philistines and himself. Judges 17 tells of Micah, who creates an idol from stolen silver that his ...
May 13, 2025•18 min•Season 5Ep. 133
In Judges 14-15, Samson's journey intertwines with personal revenge and divine destiny. After his marriage to a Philistine woman goes awry, he vows vengeance against her people, using supernatural strength to outwit and overpower them. His exploits, from killing a lion with his bare hands to catching 300 foxes and using them to set the Philistines' fields on fire, escalate tensions. As Samson continues on his path of destruction, will his uncontrollable rage lead to his downfall, or will it serv...
May 12, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 132
In Judges 12, the conflict between the Ephraimites and Jephthah escalates after the Ephraimites criticize Jephthah for not calling them to fight the Ammonites. Jephthah responds by fiercely defending his actions and engaging in a brutal battle with them, using a password trick at the river crossing to distinguish and slay fleeing Ephraimites. Moving to Judges 13, an angel appears to Manoah's wife, promising that despite being barren, she will bear a son who must be dedicated to God from birth as...
May 11, 2025•16 min•Season 5Ep. 131
In Judges 10-11, Israel is oppressed by the Ammonites, leading them to repent for forsaking God. Jephthah, a fierce but outcast warrior, is chosen by the elders of Gilead to lead the fight against Ammon. After vowing disastrously to sacrifice whatever first comes out of his house if he wins, Jephthah is victorious, but his only daughter greets him upon his return—will he fulfill his tragic vow? In John 6:25-59, Jesus feeds 5,000 people with just five loaves and two fish, and later declares Himse...
May 10, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 130
In Judges 9, Abimelech, a son of Gideon through his concubine, conspires to become king by brutally killing his seventy half-brothers, except for the youngest, Jotham, who escapes. Abimelech rules over Israel for three turbulent years, facing rebellion and ultimately meeting his demise when a woman drops a millstone on his head during the siege of Thebez, prompting him to ask his armor-bearer to kill him to avoid the disgrace of being killed by a woman. As his life ends, will Abimelech's violent...
May 09, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 129
In Judges 7:8-8, Gideon and his tiny army of 300 men, armed with trumpets and jars with torches inside, surround the Midianite camp at night. Following Gideon's lead, they break the jars, sound the trumpets, and shout, causing chaos and fear among the Midianites who turn on each other in the darkness. Gideon's unconventional tactics lead to a significant victory, but can he maintain control and peace after such an unexpected triumph?In John 5:31-47, Jesus speaks to the Pharisees about the witnes...
May 08, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 128
In Judges 6-7, the Israelites are oppressed by the Midianites, leading them to cry out to the Lord for help. God chooses Gideon, a humble farmer, to save Israel and gives him signs of assurance, including the famous fleece test. Armed with a small army chosen by God, Gideon prepares to face the vast Midianite forces. Will Gideon's tiny band of 300 men be enough to overcome the enemy?In John 5:16-30, Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, inciting anger from the Jewish leaders because he not only brok...
May 07, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 127
In Judges 4-5, Deborah, a prophetess and leader of Israel, teams up with Barak to face the formidable Canaanite army led by Sisera. Despite overwhelming odds, they trust in God's promise of victory. The Canaanites are routed, and Sisera meets his end at the hands of Jael, who drives a tent peg through his skull while he sleeps. Can Deborah and Barak's small force survive and triumph over the might of Sisera's well-equipped army? In John 4:43-5:15, Jesus returns to Galilee and performs a miraculo...
May 06, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 126
In Judges 2:6-3, after Joshua's death, the Israelites fail to fully drive out the Canaanites, leading them to coexist and eventually adopt their pagan practices, which angers God. As a result, God decides not to assist Israel against their enemies, instead using these nations to test Israel's faithfulness. Amidst the turmoil, God raises judges as leaders to save Israel from oppression, but the cycle of sin and deliverance repeats. Will the Israelites break the cycle and fully return to God, or w...
May 05, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 125
In Judges 1-2:1-5, after Joshua's death, the Israelites inquire of God who should lead them into battle against the Canaanites. The tribe of Judah is chosen, and together with Simeon, they achieve several military victories, but struggle to completely drive out the inhabitants due to their chariots of iron. Despite these victories, an angel rebukes Israel at Bochim for not fully obeying God's commands to break down pagan altars, leading to future conflicts. Will the Israelites overcome these obs...
May 04, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 124
In Joshua chapters 23 and 24, Joshua, nearing the end of his life, gathers all the tribes of Israel to deliver a poignant farewell address. He recounts the mighty deeds God performed for Israel, from delivering them from Egypt to granting them victory over their enemies and possession of the Promised Land. Joshua challenges the people to remain faithful to God, reject foreign gods, and choose whom they will serve, prompting his famous declaration, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord....
May 03, 2025•21 min•Season 4Ep. 123
In Joshua 21:20-22, the tribes of Israel receive their allotments of land, fulfilling God's promises made to their ancestors. The Levites, dedicated to religious duties, are granted cities and pasturelands throughout the tribal territories. As the Israelites settle into their new homes, Joshua calls the eastern tribes—Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh—to remind them of their promise to serve God faithfully. Will these tribes keep their promise and maintain unity with their brethren acr...
May 02, 2025•21 min•Season 4Ep. 122
