Bible in a Year (The Story) Podcast

1. Day 190: Even If I Die in the Fire, I’m Yours God.

Today we read Jeremiah 22-3 and Daniel 1-3.Resources:Daniel I. Block. (1998). The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48. Eerdmans. https://bemadiscipleship.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/BEMA+062+Daniel+Son+of+Man.pdf https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/62 CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 22,2023 33:36

2. Day 189: A Heart Enslaved Chooses Death. A Heart Surrendered is Fireproof.

Today we read Jeremiah 18-21 and Ezekiel 48. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 21,2023 30:48

3. Day 188: Reminders to Rest and What’s Really Important

Today we read Jeremiah 16-17 and Ezekiel 45-47. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 20,2023 24:06

4. Day 187: Come Back: Anguish and a New Way Forward.

Today we read Jeremiah 13-15 and Ezekiel 44-45.Resources:Daniel I. Block. (1998). The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48. Eerdmans. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 19,2023 27:02

5. Day 186: In Betrayal, God Wants Justice and Jeremiah Wants Vengeance… Now

Today we read Jeremiah 11-12, and Ezekiel 40-43.Resources:Daniel I. Block. (1998). The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48. Eerdmans. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 18,2023 32:16

6. Day 185: God’s Deliverance from Internal Threats

Today we read Jeremiah 9-10, and Ezekiel 37-39. Today we read in Ezekiel about God’s deliverance, even from internal threats. We also read about God’s grace and restoration of the God-nation-land, again. Resources:Daniel I. Block. (1998). The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48. Eerdmans. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 15,2023 28:56

7. Day 184: Dry Bones and Dragons

Today we read Jeremiah 7-8, and Ezekiel 37-39.Resources:Daniel I. Block. (1998). The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48. Eerdmans. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 14,2023 29:58

8. Day 183: Foreign ”gods” and Foreign ”lands”

Today we read Jeremiah 5-6, Ezekiel 30-33. We are reminded that choosing foreign "gods" leads to defective ways (e.g., oppression) and ultimately to foreign lands and foreign people. God cannot allow evil to endure, especially if the people are claiming to bear His name in live in His land. The people are reminded of the risk they run in not listening to the watchman, the prophet, danger is coming. The story tells us, that the warnings are rejected and the people are given over the the Babylonia

Sep 13,2023 29:25

9. Day 182: Return, Faithless People. I Will Choose You.

Today we read Jeremiah 3-4, Ezekiel 27-29.Resources:Daniel I. Block. (1998). The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 25-48. Eerdmans. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 12,2023 23:54

10. Day 181: A Hard Message to Deliver: Justice and Grace

Today we read Jeremiah 1-2, and Ezekiel 24-26. Resources:Daniel I. Block. (1997). The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1–24. Eerdmans. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 11,2023 24:34

11. Day 180: Come Home. I Will Forgive You.

Today we read Isaiah 64-66, and Ezekiel 22-23 Resources:Daniel I. Block. (1997). The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1–24. Eerdmans. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 08,2023 31:26

12. Week 35: Review and Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Sep 09,2023 00:54

13. Day 179: Arraignments, Apostates, and Avenging Swords

Today we read Isaiah 61-63, and Ezekiel 20-21. God is acting in accordance with His character, He cannot let evil endure, the cup of iniquity is full, and He will act for the sake of His reputation and His purposes. Ezekiel is making it known that Israel is one of many and their sins took root in Egypt and He will respond to infidelity and apostasy, it cannot be allowed and He can use human enemies to avenge the sacred corruption and spurning of His grace. Resources:Daniel I. Block. (1997). The

Sep 07,2023 27:02

14. Day 178: Teshuva is the Pre-Op to God’s Heart Surgery on His People

Today we read Isaiah 59-60, and Ezekiel 17-19. In this story, we are reminded that repentance and returning to God are intrinsically linked in the Hebrew language "shuva" return, and "teshuva," repent. The root in both words is to return. This seems to be the described pre-operative steps toward God's gift of a new heart and a new soul, to live. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 06,2023 30:56

15. Day 177: Dark Allegory to Convey a Drifted Heart and the Dark Consequences of Covenantal Defection

Today we read Isaiah 57-58, and Ezekiel 14-16. Adult theme warning. We read a parabolic marriage metaphor with a dark allegorical twist (e.g. graphic storytelling imagery) - the marriage goes south with adultery (e.g. for pleasure) which is more frequently described as prostitution (e.g., for profit, gain, numbness). Then this story becomes different from the other similar parables we have read such as the Hosea story or even the Sodom and Gomorra story where Lot's daughters are spared and Hosea

Sep 05,2023 38:04

16. Day 176: The Right Response and the Wong Use of Imagination

Today we read Isaiah 54-56, and Ezekiel 12-13. We are being reminded of the two responses to Jesus "the Servant." The first is to be humble and repent to receive God's blessing and become a transformed heart, a servant, a seed for the Messianic Kingdom. The second is to reject both "the Servant" and the servants of "the Servant." We also learn that "whitewashing" God's truth or prophesying with our imagination in a way that is drifted and not anchored in God's story, God's message, will ensnare

Sep 04,2023 23:46

17. Day 175: God Promises a Spirit and Heart Surgery to Israel

Today is Isaiah 50-53 and Ezekiel 10-11. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Sep 01,2023 21:32

18. Day 174: God will Be Our Sanctuary When We Are Refined in the Fires of Affliction

Today we read Isaiah 47-49 and Ezekiel 8-9. We are being told to lift up our eyes, to remember that God can take us from the warriors that hold us captive or the idols that have our hearts. And Yes, God can take us, who have become plunder for the adversary, tested in the furnace of affliction, and retrieve us. We are reminded that God is the first and the last. He created it all and it all works together for Him. His glory will not, cannot be denied. We are reminded to come near and listen to t

Aug 31,2023 26:16

19. Day 173: God Declares Who He Is and That His Purpose Stands

Today we read Isaiah 44-46 and Ezekiel 6-7. In this story, God is making clear, turn to me (Yahweh), listen to me, remember me. I (Yahweh) am God, there is no other. There is none like me. In the Lord alone is deliverance and strength. God says I have made you. I will carry you. I will sustain you (even in your old age). I will rescue you. He brings His righteousness near, even though we are far away from His righteousness and are stubborn-hearted. There is this sense of pursuit and urgency. In

Aug 31,2023 22:26

20. Day 172: Not Forsaken, But For Our Sake and His Sake

Today we read Isaiah 41-43, and Ezekiel 4-5. We are reading about judgment, deliverance, and atonement. God is doing something, working to make the whole world, Israel, new and renewed. God’s judgment is not neglect or harm, the judgment is for their sake. I think back to the Garden of Eden, we cannot be close to Him, doing His full work, with Him forever without judgment, deliverance, and atonement. This story reminds us that He will not forsake us. He will overcome evil for our sake. And for H

Aug 29,2023 25:38

21. Day 171: What Do You Need in Exile? Hazak. Hazak. Strength of God and Community.

Today we read Isaiah 39-40 and Ezekiel 1-3. We are reading in Ezekiel how God is and can give strength through His word, His message and in this story Ezekiel is being commissioned more or less on his 30th birthday as a prophet to Israel while sitting by an irrigation canal in a refugee camp in Babylon. This was a sharp change from his plans to become a priest in Jerusalem. We learn about God’s presence in a vision to Ezekiel and the last toll of warning, a second wave of Israelites will be take

Aug 29,2023 25:58

22. Day 170: Two Truths We Hold in Tandem: God is Slow to Anger and God will Not Allow Evil To Endure

Today we read Isaiah 34-38. A paradox is two seemingly contrasting ideas that are both true a the same time. That is something to reflect on in this part of the story. God is slow to anger and abounding in love AND God will not allow evil to endure. Evil not only exists "out there" but inside our human hearts. The story uses words like shake, purge, and other things to create imagery of transformation. I think back to the beginning of the story in Genesis 1 where God hovered over the deep abyss

Aug 26,2023 21:46

23. Day 169: Don’t Put Your Trust in the Empire

Today we read Isaiah 29-33. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Aug 24,2023 22:40

24. Day 168: A Tale of Two Cities

Today we read Isaiah 24-28CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Aug 23,2023 20:22

25. Day 167: To Repent is to Return to God

Today we read Isaiah 22-23 and Zephaniah 1-3. We read that repentance is not just saying, "I'm sorry," and moving forward. We read about two important concepts of justice for God's character and people. These are important to the concept of repentance and returning to God. This is an act of returning to who we really are to our real home our truest design. Some might think of themselves as broken and Christian history often gives a distorted at worst or incomplete more charitably version of who

Aug 22,2023 22:38

26. Day 166: The Moment We Are In Does not Change the Mission We Are On

Today we read Isaiah 20-21 and Habakkuk 1-3. Today we learn more from a prophet of God in the Babylonian exile, Habakkuk who initially brings a complaint to God regarding what seemed to him like injustice. God responds but Habakkuk didn't accept the answer so he told God he would wait in the watch tower at the rampart. Bold. God responds again in a lengthy treatise which seems to capture the line of judgment against both Babylon and the Israelites in their empire-building idolatrous and unjust w

Aug 21,2023 22:53

27. Day 165: Downfall of the Empire Kingdom and the Refuge of the Remnant Shalom Kingdom

Today we read Isaiah 18-19, Nahum 1-3, and Proverbs 10:25-32.CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Aug 18,2023 21:38

28. Day 164: Render Your Heart Not Your Clothes

Today we read Isaiah 16-17, Joel 1-3, and Proverbs 10:21-24.CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Aug 17,2023 21:40

29. Day 163: The Office of the Prophet and a Prophetic Lawsuit

Today we read Isaiah 10-15 and Proverbs 10:13-20.CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Aug 16,2023 26:32

30. Day 162: The First Mention of the Messiah Coming as a Baby and as the Son of God

Today we read Isaiah 5-9, and Proverbs 10:1-12. We read more warnings through powerful rhetoric that conjures imagery and analogy which is strengthened by an understanding of the context. The prophet Isaiah speaks about the child, the son, the one called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The one who will establish justice and righteousness now and forever. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Ala

Aug 15,2023 21:13

31. Day 161: Stand Up or Stand Down Israel

Today we read Isaiah 1-4 and Proverbs 9:7-18. We started what New Testament figures describe as the most influential prophet. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Aug 14,2023 21:54

32. Day 160: The Warning and the Reckoning

Today we read 2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 35-36, Proverbs 8:22-36, and Proverbs 9:1-6. This is the end of the story of the two kingdoms of Israel. Now the southern kingdom, like the northern kingdom is exiled. It is time for a reckoning. Resources:Dr. Tim Mackie (2017) 6. Israel's Exile: Hitting Bottom - Eat This Book. Tim Mackie Archives: https://youtu.be/EXGKgnv_RYUCreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwor

Aug 11,2023 26:04

33. Day 159: The Defection of Heart Drifts the Soul and Deforms Behavior

Today we read 2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 33-24, and Proverbs 7, 8:1-21. In this story, we are reminded of God's grace and His justice. The leaders and people of the Southern Kingdom idolized other gods, places, and practices, adulterating their hearts. This defect led to a soul drift that deformed their behaviors away from the commands and covenant with their God, our God. Yes, even with the evil king Manasseh, God showed mercy to him when he repented and humbled himself in his own exile. God r

Aug 10,2023 27:02

34. Day 158: Love the Gift Giver - God; Then Treasure, Do Not Love, the Gifts

Today we read 2 Kings 20-21, 2 Chronicles 31-32, and Psalm 143-144. We read about a God who hears prayers and sees tears. We read about a people who are blessed because they are God's people, not for any other reason. We also read that the blessings, like in this story where God gives riches to King Hezekiah and God blessing him with an extension to his life, these things may have given him or drawn out his pride. We are also reminded that God sees our hearts. He knows whether we love Him with o

Aug 09,2023 26:44

35. Day 157: God Will Give His Remnant New Roots to Flourish

Today we read 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 29-30, and Psalm 141-142. In this story, we read about King Hezekiah being faithful and listening to the messengers of God, the prophets. He restores worship to Yahweh and takes down the places to worship false gods. He invites all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to worship the Lord, while many ridicule and refuse some come from the various tribes, even foreigners to worship in Jerusalem and it reads that God gave the people unity, one mind. Many of th

Aug 08,2023 29:00

36. Day 156: Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God

Today we read 2 Kings 17, Micah 5-7, and Psalm 140. Like the story from Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve are exiled from the garden of Eden for their moral defection, and later in Genesis where Jacob's sons and their descendants are sent into exile in Egypt, in this story, the Northern Kingdom of Israel is exiled for their unfaithfulness. We also know the Southern Kingdom of Judah will also be exiled for their unfaithfulness. Yet, in all those stories, there is a glimmer of hope, God-given promises

Aug 07,2023 22:39

37. Week 30: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Aug 05,2023 00:54

38. Day 155: God will Shepard the Remnant Through Exile and Restore Them

Today we read 2 Kings 16, Micah 1-43, and Psalm 139. This is a story that captures and summarized 500 years of rebellion. God is removing His protection. Yet, God is still promising to Shepard the remnant, those willing to repent, and Shema. The Bible Project describes the Jewish word Shema to mean we allow the words of God in Scripture to sink in, providing us with understanding, and generating a response that turns into action. God will Shepard His people through exile, through the storm, walk

Aug 04,2023 19:35

39. Day 154: God is Slow to Anger and Abounding in Love

Today we read 2 Kings 15, Jonah 1-4, and Psalm 138. In the first part of the story, we continue to read the tale of the Northern Kingdoms drifting from faithfulness with leader after leader failing, like the first, and being the cause of Israel's downfall. We also read this incredible story by the prophet Jonah of God's mercy and pursuit of a powerful mercenary people the Assyrian empire in Nineveh. Jonah was angry and didn't want to bring this message because he knew God was slow to anger and a

Aug 03,2023 21:27

40. Day 153: Action, Our Response May Be Most Important

Today we read 2 Kings 13-14, Amos 8-9, Psalm 124. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Aug 02,2023 20:52

41. Day 152: True Worship is Transformative - Heart and Behavior

Today we read 2 Kings 11-12, Amos 4-7, Psalm 122. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Aug 01,2023 27:18

42. Day 151: Worship Hypocrisy

Today we read 2 Kings 10, Amos 1-3, Psalm 110. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 31,2023 24:24

43. Day 150: When Our Wayward Hearts Meet A Maker That Will Not Give Us Up

Today we read 2 Kings 9, Hosea 11-14, Psalm 109. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 28,2023 19:24

44. Day 149: Idolatry, Adulatory, Consequence, and Mercy

Today we read 2 Kings 8, Hosea 18-10, and Psalm 108. It's a story of the continued drift of the Northern Kingdom and God's faithfulness through Elisha to people like the woman who used her blessings to bless the prophet, Elisha. We also read about a God of mercy who allows His people to be idolatrous, although it stirs His jealousy and anger. Their drift leads to the inevitable serious consequences of loving things in creation and not the Creator. The suffering stirs God's compassion and He is l

Jul 27,2023 22:51

45. Day 148: Knowing God vs. Knowing of God

Today we read 2 Kings 6-7, and Hosea 4-7, and Psalm 103.In this story we read 2 Kings 6-7, Hosea 4-7, and Psalm 103. In this story we read about how God responds to a besieged city like our besieged heart and our cry for help, what’s particularly notable is God’s grace and mercy despite the evidence of a repentant heart that wants to seek the Lord in this story. We also read about the difference between knowing God through a personal transformative relationship and knowing of God. CreditsPodca

Jul 26,2023 26:18

46. Day 147: God Pursues Us. Why? Love, Compassion, and Faithfulness.

Today we read 2 Kings 5, Hosea 1-3, and Psalm 101. We read a story about God pursuing Assyrian Captain Naaman, an enemy of Israel, through leprosy, an Israeli slave girl, kings, a prophet - Elisha, and the Jordan River. It wasn't the prophet or the river that healed Naaman, it was Yahweh God and it was a conversion moment for Naaman. Even though he would return to his pagan country, Naaman declared there is no other God but Yahweh, took dirt to remind him of this story and to build his altar to

Jul 25,2023 23:28

47. Day 146: God’s Sovereignty in Unstable Times

Today we read 2 Kings 4, 2 Chronicles 28, and Psalm 127. In this story, we learn about Elisha's work as God's messenger and bringer of blessing in restoration and healing.CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 24,2023 20:28

48. Day 145: Cloudbursts And A Reminder, “No One is Above God’s Law”

Today we read 2 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 26-27, and Psalm 72.CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 21,2023 21:48

49. Day 144: The Heart Risk in Victory, Guard Yourself

Today we read 2 Kings 1-2, 2 Chronicles 24-25, and Psalm 69-70. In this story, we start 2nd Kings and read the transition from the prophet Elijah to the prophet Elisha whose request is to have a double portion of spirit and his influence will be a touch less fiery but the author will write about twice as many miracles that Elisha performed as the successor of Elijah. We also read about a king whom God delivers a victory and instead of being grateful and faithful to God, he turns and worships the

Jul 20,2023 24:38

50. Day 143: Prophets and Kings

Today we read 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 23, and Song of Songs 8. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 19,2023 20:08

51. Day 142: Despite Leadership Corruption, God Prevails

Today we read 1 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 21-22, and Song of Songs 7. CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 18,2023 16:34

52. Day 141: God Encourages the Discouraged

Today we read 1 Kings 9-20, 2 Chronicles 20, and Song of Songs 6.CreditsPodcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 18,2023 23:32

53. Day 140: Fiery Faith

Today we read 1 Kings 17-18, 2 Chronicles 18-19, and Song of Songs 6. In this story, we are introduced to the fiery prophet, Elijah. He reminds us of the drought that would often befall seasons of unfaithfulness in the Torah and how God would provide for His people in these seasons. Then, when God calls an end to the drought, and tasks Elijah with telling King Ahab, Elijah creates an elaborate contest to remind the Northern tribes of Israel who had drifted to Baal and Asherah worship under King

Jul 14,2023 25:20

54. Day 139: Commitment, Best Friend Feelings, and Desire

1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 16-17, and Song of Songs 4. Like the judges in the book of Judges where the leaders became progressively less faithful to God, here the kings of the North, Israel gets progressively less faithful and leads the tribes of the North away from the Lord. The Southern kings struggle where some start faithful and fall away, are somewhat faithful sometimes, but Yahweh still seems to remain somewhat central in their world. We also discuss three Hebrew words for love being descri

Jul 13,2023 27:06

55. Day 138: Faithless and Faithful Leadership

1 Kings 14, 2 Chronicles 14-15, and Song of Songs 3. This story tells more of the progression of the divided kingdom with the northern king being faithless and leading Israel into faithlessness. The consequences are made clear. The southern king of Judah and Benjamin also became faithless and led some into faithlessness. Yet, his son Asa became a faithful king and led the two tribes in the south into faithfulness. Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Pod

Jul 12,2023 19:44

56. Day 137: God’s Voice and God’s Way

Today we read 1 Kings 13, 2 Chronicles 12-13, and Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) 2. Today the story reminds us of the importance of listening to God’s word and direction over our life and not allowing, even reputable people, to turn our steps away from the directions God gave us. This story reminds us of God’s grace and the cycles of redemption. We’re reminded by the prophet of the power and importance of intercession for the rebellious. How God remains faithful and we struggle with faithfulnes

Jul 11,2023 17:46

57. Day 136: A Divided Kingdom and Two Leadership Lessons

Today we read 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10-11, and Song of Solomon 1. In this story, we’ve gone back to the narrative of Israel as a kingdom that was united under David and then Solomon, but now, the story is going to turn; as was promised as a result of Solomon’s heart change and failure to follow God. We are now headed for a divided kingdom story. Divided between themselves and largely pulling away from God. The northern kingdom often called Israel with 10 of the tribes and their capital in Sa

Jul 10,2023 21:25

58. Day 135: Will We Choose Faith or Fear?

Today we read Mark 15-16, and Psalm 22. This story ends the gospel according to Mark. We’re reminded that Mark’s audience were the Romans and biblical scholars see this telling of Jesus’s crucifixion as a description of the nine steps to become an emperor, a king. Except the initial intent seems to be a mockery, until the end, when the Roman centurion acknowledged that Jesus is the Messiah. Shalom instead of empire is the way. The story ends with a question, will the Roman’s choose faith or fear

Jul 07,2023 13:30

59. Day 134: One Day You Will Stand Before Me

Today we read Mark 13-14, Psalm 68. Today is a story about the New Passover and Jesus most directly states that He is the Messiah and while He is standing before the leaders of the empire on that day (for rescue mission redemptive purposes), they will stand before Him, one day soon. Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 06,2023 23:40

60. Day 133: Anger and Action, Jesus and Me

Today we read Mark 11-12, and Psalm 67. In this story we continue to read about Jesus asserting His authority as the high priest, the Messiah, the king. In this story, Jesus is asserting His authority over the Temple. We explore anger, justice, and righteousness, our role and Jesus’s role in it.Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 05,2023 14:46

61. Day 132: Jesus Asserts His Authority

Today we read Mark 9-10, and Psalm 29.Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jul 04,2023 23:19

62. Day 131: What does it mean for Jesus to be the Messiah?

Today we read Mark 5-8, Psalm 21, and 23. It’s a set of stories about Jesus meant to help explain to the Romans who Jesus is in terms they understand related to Him as an amazing teacher and healer. This story also introduces to all how Jesus is the Messiah, the one the Old Testament pointed to and the Israelites had been waiting for, but not in the way many expected - not as a military victor but as a sacrificial servant who yielded it all to save us, to redeem us.Credits:Podcast music by Stock

Jul 03,2023 31:02

63. Day 130: The Euangelion: Everything is About to Change

Today we read Mark 1-4, Psalms 11, and 20. We take another Messianic checkpoint as Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins call it in the Gospel according to Mark. Many biblical scholars view this story as a collection of Peter’s stories because Mark and Peter were friends, Peter went to Rome to tell the Romans about Jesus, and Mark in this book is talking to the Romans in a Hellenistic culture which valued education, healthcare, entertainment, and sports. This Western culture was different from the an

Jul 01,2023 28:40

64. Day 129: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Expectations

Today we read 1 Kings 11, Ecclesiastes 9-12, and Psalm 9. We end the story of Solomon with clarity on how his obedience was not complete and his disobedience, although warnings were given against the accumulation of horses, wealth, and wives, Solomon allowed his wives who worshiped over gods to turn his heart from the one and only God, the God above all others. Ugh. This will lead to the Israelite kingdom being divided. We also read about our potential divine disconnection in Ecclesiastes regard

Jun 30,2023 23:22

65. Day 128: God’s Name Over the Party

Today we read 1 Kings 10, Ecclesiastes 6-8, and Psalm 8. The chapter in 1st Kings connects with the account of Solomon’s encounter with Queen Sheba in 2nd Chronicles. We read about the blessings and name God have to Solomon and Israel and we also see hints of crisis with Solomon’s accumulation of chariots and horses, even those imported from Egypt. We also explore the meaning and wisdom of living our every day lives as representative leaders, name bearers of God in the world in the story of Eccl

Jun 29,2023 19:50

66. Day 127: The Meaning Of It All; It Doesn’t Make Sense Without Him

Today we read 1 Kings 8-9, Ecclesiastes 4-5, and Psalm 6-7. We are reminded that Solomons’ wisdom in creating alliances through marriage is not the same as obeying God to reserve marriage as a one-flesh relationship in a convent reflecting, in a way, the one-God with no other idols relationship He wants with His people. We’re reminded that wisdom and knowledge is not the same as obedience. Then, in Ecclesiastes we are reading about Hevel, a Hebrew word that is more closely associated with vapor

Jun 28,2023 27:56

67. Day 126: The Meaning of Life Is Not In the Win

Today we read 1 Kings 7, Ecclesiastes 1-3, and Psalm 4-5. We continue to read in 1st Kings about Solomon building the temple and his palace with a different perspective yet similar details to the account of 2nd Chronicles. We are also introduced to Ecclesiastes, one of the wisdom books of the Bible, and at first, it might seem confusing and you might ask, how is this about wisdom, it seems to be a sad take on the meaningless of life? Yet, Hevel, in Hebrew may be something like meaninglessness bu

Jun 27,2023 28:28

68. Day 125: One For God and One For Me (Uh-Oh)

Today we read 1 Kings 6, 2 Chronicles 9, and Psalm 66. The 1st Kings part of the story continues the Solomon saga where he is obeying God in a great way, but also disobeying and struggling with a lust for empire. The tension is building. We read how Solomon built God for the Lord’s Name and for the people to sacrifice a strong and magnificent temple. And, Solomon is also building himself a palace in the forest of Lebanon, with a lot of gold shields for display because gold is soft and heavy, so

Jun 26,2023 19:04

69. Day 124: God Says “My”

Today we read 1 Kings 5, 2 Chronicles 7-8, Psalm 64-65. It’s a story of obedience, dedication, and blessing with just a little red flag reminder that Solomon is representing what God and his father asked him to do as it relates to the temple, but Shema and Shalom in his whole heart and life? Hm, there’s another hint in this story of Solomon breaking from Deuteronomy 17:17 and Genesis 2 expectations. In this story God speaks to Solomon and he says ‘’my” over 18 times. The pattern and the emphasis

Jun 24,2023 17:23

70. Day 123: Discerning and Applying Knowledge

Today we read 1 Kings 4, 2 Chronicles 4-6, Psalm 62. This story comes after Solomon’s display of wisdom and obedience to God. In this story, God blessed Solomon and Israel. We read about the temple and the people - too many to be numbered. We hear Solomon's intercessory prayer to God on behalf of the people, remembering the story of God through his father David. Sometimes when we talk about wisdom, I think we assume it's a quality someone has or doesn't and the opposite is foolishness, but this

Jun 23,2023 24:14

71. Day 122: A Closer Look at Wisdom

1 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 2-3, Psalms 42-43. Like the tree of life and the tree of knowledge, wisdom can be from God or ourselves. Earthly intellectual wisdom is not the same and will not always be aligned with God’s wisdom. Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jun 22,2023 16:08

72. Day 121: Wisdom is Different From Obedience

1 Kings 1-2, 2 Chronicles 1, and Psalms 40-41. Today we read about a rocky transition of leadership from David to Solomon. We take note of Bathsheba who God chose as the Queen Mother of Israel. We learn about David’s last acts and words, learning more leadership lessons. We take note of Solomon’s request for wisdom and his use of that wisdom to disobey what God disallowed of kings in Deuteronomy 17. Remember, collecting horses, wealth, wives, chariots, and counting fighting men are all kingdom e

Jun 21,2023 29:28

73. Day 120: Do The Work, Wholeheartedly

1 Chronicles 23-29, and Psalm 39. Today we read the end of 1st Chronicles. There are echoes of the past and details about what's to come in preparation for the temple. Resources:Dr. Mackie 1&2 Chronicles, Old Testament Overviews (6 minutes and 29 seconds) https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/chronicles/Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jun 20,2023 31:28

74. Day 119: Humble & Hopeful

Today we read 2 Samuel 21-24, Psalms 30 and 38. It's the end of 2nd Samuel and we review the story of David becoming king after Saul. We are reminded of David's vulnerability and dependency as well as the direction David pointed to himself, and that was forward to the future hope, promised in the covenant of a messiah king. Resources:Dr. Mackie Books of Samuel https://bibleproject.com/guides/books-of-samuel/ Dr. Mackie 1&2 Chronicles, Old Testament Overviews (6 minutes and 29 seconds) https://bi

Jun 19,2023 24:32

75. Day 118: Triumph and Tears

Today we read 2 Samuel 19-20, 1 Chronicles 21-22, Psalm 3 and 36. This is a story about triumph and tears and consideration for the heart posture of clemency vs. redemption.Resources:Who Was Joab? Got Questions Organization. https://www.gotquestions.org/Joab-in-the-Bible.html Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jun 17,2023 25:30

76. Day 117: A Kingdom. A House. A Throne.

Today we read 1 Chronicles 15-20, Psalm 14 and 15. Leadership and purpose are explained in this story, particularly 1 Chronicles 17. Resources:Matt Whitman (Jan 19, 2023) Bible 13 - 1 Chronicles, The Ten Minute Bible Hour https://.com/us/podcast/bible13-1-chronicles/id1031363405?i=1000595355023 Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jun 16,2023 27:50

77. Day 116: Be Wary Of Chariot Temptations

Today we read 2 Samuel 15-18, Psalm 31 and 35. Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Jun 15,2023 28:00

78. Day 115: To See. To Want. To Take. (Part II - A Single Prince)

Today we read 2 Samuel 13-14, 1 Chronicles 13-14, Psalm 28 and 60. Today we read almost a parallel story to yesterday’s story, when we read about David’s actions against God, his family, his neighbor’s family. Except today we read about David’s children between wives. David’s 2nd wife, Ahinoam of Jezreel who is the mother of Amnon, first son and heir apparent to the throne. And, Maacah, daughter of Tallis, King of Geshur whose children in this story include Absalom and Tamar. The name Maacah in

Jun 14,2023 22:50

79. Day 114: To See. To Want. To Take. (Part I -A Married King)

Summary. In this story we might find ourselves both uncomfortable with the egregiousness of David’s moral defection and at the same time the depths of God’s grace. Every human king, even David, is not capable of fulfilling a role only ever meant for the Lord, Jesus Christ. Even David, did what Eve and Adam did in Genesis. They saw. They wanted. They took. The details of this story are important and often misunderstood. It’s worth a close look, a self-reflection, and a careful consideration for h

Jun 13,2023 33:32

80. Day 113: Have Faith & Take Heart

Today we read 2 Samuel 9-10, 1 Chronicles 9-10, Psalm 27, and Psalm 89. Our story in Psalm 89 may often reflect our hearts where we both sing of God's wonders and sometimes question whether God can or will deliver on His promises. We can sometimes struggle with this tension and yet this Psalm and the larger story is revealing the answer is faith in the relationship, in God himself, not clarity on all the details of if, how, when, and why. It’s belief in what we already know of God and His faithf

Jun 12,2023 23:20

81. Day 112: Hallow the Name

Today we read 2 Samuel 7-8, 1 Chronicles 7-8, and Psalm 26. In this story we read about Nathan and David’s desire for a temple in Jerusalem, a permanent house or place for God in the center of Israel’s permanent central land and in the central city of that central land, if we recall Marty Solomon and Brent Billings referring to the promised land as central economically and politically to the ancient world connecting the North, South, East, and West. If you look at a map, it’s pretty cool because

Jun 09,2023 23:36

82. Day 111: We Are Your Bone and Flesh.

Today we read 2 Samuel 5-6, 1 Chronicles 5-6, and Psalm 25. This story seems to point to following Jesus Christ as king and the people being a part of the body of Christ, really cool. It is reflected in the story of the people of Israel stating they are the bone and flesh and David is the King of Israel in 1 Samuel 5 verse 1. This verse is essentially repeated in 1 Chronicles 11:1 and later in Ephesians 5:30 among other places. David is unifying Israel and pointing to God as first and central, D

Jun 08,2023 28:02

83. Day 110: Mourning Enemies and Enemies as Friends

Today we read 2 Samuel 3-4 and 1 Chronicles 3-4, and Psalm 24. This story teaches us something important about David that the author seems to want us to know based on the pattern and the two stories back to back regarding the response to enemies. There is wisdom in wanting to make our enemies friends and mourning our enemies, not celebrating their demise. The point is not about giving trust to someone who is not worthy, but to keep or allow a door to be open for the “if” or “when” an enemy may w

Jun 07,2023 25:32

84. Day 109: A Glimmer of Hope. Anticipation Rising.

Today we read 2 Samuel 1-2, 1 Chronicles 1-2, and Psalm 13. We start two new books, enriching our understanding of “the” story. We recap where we are in the larger story and learn about King David’s response to King Saul’s death. David goes to God for what to do first as the anointed king, and he is called to Hebron, the place where Abraham is from. We learn that not everyone views David as the next king of Israel, yet. We also read about the genealogies that lead to the messianic king in 1 Chro

Jun 06,2023 29:00

85. Day 108: God is Raising Up And Giving Over

Today we read 1 Samuel 29-31 and Psalm 18. This is a story about God raising up David as he walks by faith and giving Saul over to the adversary he desires over God himself. This is the end of 1st Samuel. The prophecy is fulfilled, and Saul is killed in battle. It’s a story reminder to walk by faith and not by sight. What might look like weakness or defeat, may in fact be micro-actions of God towards His architecture of victory. This story also reminds us to remember and obey, wholeheartedly pur

Jun 05,2023 19:18

86. Day 107: What is Our Relationship to God in Desperation? Surrender or Self-Determination

Today we read 1 Samuel 27-28 and Psalms 23, 56, and 63. Today we read about Saul's desperation to hear God, but His desperation is for his own self-preservation and reputation, not God's reputation or purpose. This story begged the question of me, how do I respond to God in desperation? Is it surrender or is it self-determination? Do I yield on my knees to God, surrendering my sin for His atonement and yielding my portion of power and authority to represent Him as the King of my heart and life O

Jun 02,2023 14:57

87. Day 106: Faithfulness in the Slow Start

Today we read 1 Samuel 24-26 and Psalms 54 and 57. This story is about David’s many adventures before becoming king. It’s about David waiting for God and asking God what to do when conflict and danger arise instead of taking the opportunity to kill Saul. Even though David was appointed king several chapters ago, we see David’s faithfulness to wait on the Lord’s timing and method, even if or when David may not see the when or how he will become king. Resources:Nancy Guthrie Interviews Dr./Pasto R

Jun 01,2023 21:48

88. Day 105: You Will Be King and I Will Be Second To You

Today we read 1 Samuel 21–23 and Psalms 52 and 142. This is a story with a message where Saul acts as the adversary, jealous of King David who is representative of Jesus; Jesus being the true and high priest-king. In this story, Jonathan represents us, as God’s children, who yield our portion of power and authority to the true king and take up our position as His representatives, to stand with Him as second, not first. This is a good time to review the entire connected story of the Bible and rem

May 31,2023 22:48

89. Day 104: Friendship Born in Purpose, Souls Knitted Together

Today we read 1 Samuel 18–20 and Psalms 12 and 59. The first part of this story is about the friendship of David and Jonathan, born out of a shared purpose to be Yahweh’s representative leaders. They are one in spirit and Jonathan loved David as he loved himself. Although Jonathan is the son of King Saul and would be the next to inherit the throne, instead, Jonathan gives his gear to David, signifying his surrender of power and identification of David as God’s intended king. We also see King Sau

May 30,2023 21:48

90. Day 103: The Maker, A Monster, and Me

Today we read 1 Samuel 15–17 and Psalm 61. Today we read the famous story of David and Goliath, but first, we read about Saul’s disqualification from being the king for much longer. He’s being let go for continuing to be unaware, disobedient, defiant, and when called to task, he cares more about his reputation than his heart’s alignment with God Himself. Saul is being let go and David, the 8th son of Jesse from the Tribe of Judah, a young shepherd who plays the lyre will be the next king. David

May 29,2023 24:58

91. Day 102: The Struggle

Today we read 1 Samuel 13–14 and Psalm 58. This story continues the struggle of a king to lead in his way or follow God’s way. It’s a prophecy of succession change. Yet, we are introduced to King Saul’s son, Jonathan who has a similar heart to the boy David, who will be king next, and will be Jonathan’s best friend. This story also challenges reflection on the motivation and purpose behind our decisions as leaders.Resources: Father Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins (2023). Day 108: Saul's Vanity. htt

May 26,2023 19:28

92. Day 101: Are Our Hearts Willful or Willing

Today we read 1 Samuel 11–12 and Psalm 55. We read the messy truth in this story. The people wanted and asked for a human king when they had always gone to God in the past. Yet, God allowed them to have a king as long as the king and the people followed God. The first king, Saul, is a complex character who does not quite follow or always reject God’s will. He evokes sympathy, confusion, and self-reflection. Are we like that? Is our heart willful, desiring what we want the way we want it when we

May 25,2023 15:55

93. Day 100: A King and a Powerful Message from God

Today we read 1 Samuel 9-10 and Proverbs 6:23-35. In the first part of this episode we review the unified story of the Bible, thus far from Genesis to 1 Samuel 7. Then we dive into the story of the 1st human king of Israel, the donkey herder from the tribe of Benjamin who was tall and looked the part. Yet we are introduced to him in a scene where he lost his herd of donkeys and we end with him hiding in the supplies when called upon to be the 1st human king of Israel. Even though there is metaph

May 24,2023 18:54

94. Day 99: The Revolution Begins

Today we read John 19 to 21 and Proverbs 6:16-22. This is a story of Jesus giving His life for us and returning from the dead. His death and resurrection marks a new beginning, a revolution. We also review the gospel of John as a whole before we end it. This book is referred to as the seven signs, the book of hours, the book of glory, and well known for its water imagery, divinity of Jesus, and the relationship of God to logos. Resources:Dr. Tim Mackie. New Testament Book Overviews John 13-21.

May 23,2023 21:36

95. Day 98: Yielding Power For God

Today we read John 16 to 18 and Proverbs 6:12-15. In this story, Jesus is saying now is the time. Jesus is revealing His divine power as He yields it, by giving up His life for us. Jesus's power comes from God and He used it for God. In a similar but different way, God gave humans a portion of His power and authority as representative agents here on Earth in Genesis 1:26-28 and He is asking us to yield it to Him, with Him, for Him as we use this blessing to bless others and all creation as we be

May 22,2023 20:46

96. Day 97: The Spirit Empowers and Advocates

Today is John 13-15 and Proverbs 6:6-11. Today we read about the spirit and how Jesus is a man who is going away and can only be in one place at a time but the spirit, the advocate, is His divine presence and can be in all places at all times. So now we see the ONE God in father, son and spirit that consists of a loving relationship which draws us in and as Dr. Mackie says it is Jesus’s disciples who abide in God’s love where He is the vine and we are the branches. We see to that this is just th

May 19,2023 18:40

97. Day 96: Jeapordy and Love

Today we read John 10-12 and Proverbs 6:1-5. Today we are reminded that the book of John is an invitation to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that through Him alone can we find “life.” We have learned that Jesus is the new temple and He is where Heaven and Earth meet. We are reminded that the miracles and claims of Jesus lead others to ultimately make a choice, believe or don’t. We read about Lazarus, the man Jesus put himself in jeopardy to raise him from the dead, all because Jesus loved

May 18,2023 22:48

98. Day 95: Jesus Brings Truth, Justice, and Righteousness

Today we read John 7-9 and Proverbs 5:15-23. Today we read several stories about what Jesus was doing, despite the Jewish leaders trying to ruin Jesus’s reputation and worse, calling for His death. We read about a plot to catch Jesus not knowing or implementing Moses’s law, but instead Jesus demonstrates His knowledge and fulfillment of that law. In the process, Jesus brought justice and righteousness to a woman who, yes, missed the mark (sinned), but Jesus offered His atonement and grace, He ga

May 17,2023 23:49

99. Day 94: The Well, The “I Am,” and the Eucharist

Today we read John 4-6 and Proverbs 5:1-14. Today we read about the first person Jesus disclosed His divinity to, a Samaritan woman at a well. She also was the first missionary, going to tell people about Jesus. We also read in this story about the eucharist or communion and how different sources read John 5 verse 54 and 55 differently - transubstantiation, consubstantiation, or symbolic. We also read about the first “I Am” statement where Jesus reveals He is the bread of life and the “I Am” sta

May 16,2023 26:28

100. Day 93: Desiring a King, a Messianic Checkpoint

Today we read 1 Samuel 7-8, John 1-3, and Psalm 86. In the story of Samuel we read about Samuel’s leadership of Israel and their desire for a king. And like Deuteronomy, God tells Samuel this is dangerous and to warn the Israelites. The truth is, Yahweh God wants to reign and He is sending His son, Jesus as the messianic priest king. Because so much of what we have been reading points to Jesus, we are taking only a short sneak peek into the New Testament. We will read the gospel of John this wee

May 15,2023 25:26

101. Day 92: Here I Am Lord

Today we read 1 Samuel 1-6, and Psalm 150. This story is about a woman who loves God and family, she wants a child. Hannah calls out to God and promises to give her firstborn son back to God and Yahweh blesses her with a son, Samuel. He is trained by the priest. At the same time the Israelites try to fight the Philistines, but instead of going to God, they try to use God i.e., the ark of the covenant to lead their victory. God allows Israel to fail and the Philistines to take the ark of the cove

May 12,2023 24:10

102. Day 91: A Redemptive Love Story with Missional Implications

Today we read Ruth 1-4, and Psalm 149 which is in the same days as the judges ruled, it’s during the cycle of sin. Marty Solomon and Brent Billings from the Bema project refer to this as a story about the immigrant, the widow, and the future king. Dr. Mackie describes the book of Ruth as a BIG message in a SHORT story. He describes it as a story about God and how Yahweh restores those who look to Him with hope. This story also describes the great-grandparents of King David, a story that is comin

May 11,2023 17:34

103. Day 90: Total Corruption

Warning, this story has adult themes. Today we read Joshua 17-21 and Psalm 148. The Israelites hit rock bottom, this is the pinnacle of tragedy. This is the end of the book of Judges, the story is pointing to the need for a different way and we know this story is followed by Samuel a story that leads to King David and beyond, it points to the need and hope of a messianic king, Jesus. The story of Judges is disturbing and should be, it points to the corruption of the Israelites, the people God ch

May 10,2023 27:17

104. Day 89: When We Use Leadership and God’s Gifts for Ourselves

Today we read Judges 13-16 and Psalm 146 and 147. This is not a child’s tale, while I used to think so when I recall what I learned about Samson. We learn about a man who is given a unique role in Israel and the gift of strength, but instead of using this strength to lead, he uses it for pleasure and revenge. The book of Judges is a tragedy yet it has Messianic hope, delivered time and time again, when God raised up a deliverer at His people’s cry for help. This story reminds us of the cycle of

May 09,2023 21:18

105. Day 88: Bad Representative Leadership

Today we clearly read about a bad judge, Jephthah, Dr. Mackie describes him as a mafia tribal chiefdom from the hills, who the elders of Israel went to for deliverance and while Jephthah was a good warrior he was entirely unfamiliar with the God of Israel and treated God more like a Canaanite god by making an oath to sacrifice the first thing or person that came through the door - note there is a total lack of Yahweh’s response to this oath - and the first person to walk through his door was his

May 08,2023 22:54

106. Day 87: Ambiguous Representative Leadership

Today we read Judges 6-9 and Psalm 130. The story of Gideon, amongst other stories of grabs for leadership, we get this confusing mix of God selecting a representative leader to deliver Israel from the adversary, but that leader seems to lack faith and knowledge in Yahweh God - not to mention lacking obedience to God’s commands. This is a story of God’s faithfulness to His people, even in cycles of rebellion. The book of Judges is presenting judges in a spiral, as Dr. Mackie describes from prett

May 05,2023 30:02

107. Day 86: God’s Presence in Cycles of Rebellion

Today we read Judges 1-5 and Psalm 129. This story falls on the heels of the story of Joshua. Another generation, but this one had forgotten the story and Yahweh God, they had integrated into their neighboring Canaanite ways of worshiping other gods in morally depraved ways including child sacrifice. When God calls His people to be in the world to bless the world, but not of it, remembering and obeying God’s commands are critically important - this wasn't it. In response, God gave the people of

May 04,2023 26:20

108. Day 85: At the Center of the World

Today we read Joshua 18-24 and Psalm 128. This is a story that focuses on the geographic location of the promised land and what it means. The prpromisedand is the beginning, it comes with missional purpose and it’s located, as Marty Solomon says, at the crossroads of earth. It was at the center of the ancient world, particularly for trade and travel. God’s people were to put Him on display and be accessible and a blessing to all the world.Resources:Marty Solomon and Brent Billings (2017). The Ha

May 03,2023 32:04

109. Day 84: Inheritance and Standing Stones

Today we read Joshua 13-17 and Psalm 126. This is a story of God fulfilling the promise He made to Abraham in Genesis. The tribes of Israel are being given the promised land, an inheritance. We also read snippets of Canaanites still controlling some areas and still living in close proximity to some of the tribes. This might be a hint of what might happen next in the story. We also reflect back to Joshua 4 and 5 in the commentary to discuss what a standing stone means and to reflect on the standi

May 02,2023 22:48

110. Day 83: The Wall and War

Today we read Joshua 6-12 and Psalm 125. This story is long and hard, don’t give up. Stay with me. This is a story of God’s justice but also a remembrance that God is merciful. He will bring order to chaos. But we also remember from the story so far that God is slow to anger, abounds in love, is quick to forgive, and loves 1000 generations, yet holds 3 generations accountable. This is a story of war, but is it hyperbole? What is the theological truth that is rising to the surface? Is it that God

May 01,2023 38:48

111. Weekend 16: Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Apr 29,2023 00:54

112. Day 82: God’s Battle Orientation for Israel

Today we read Joshua 1-5 and Psalm 123. This story picks up as the second generation from Exodus prepares to cross the Jordan River to participate in God’s battle. In Joshua 2:22 we get this sense when the spies say their enemies are afraid of them and that this is a fight between Israel and Canaan. Then when Joshua himself in verse 5:13 says to what is described as a man with a drawn sword in his hand, “are you for us or our enemies?” And in air quotes, this man says “neither.” The man says, “b

Apr 28,2023 18:28

113. Day 81: Succession, What Happens Next?

Today we read Numbers 35-36, Deuteronomy 34, and Psalm 121. This is the end of the story of the Torah, the end of Numbers and Deuteronomy. We read that God is the giver of inheritance and Israel cannot pass the inheritance to those outside the tribe. Moses was given the greatest compliment by the author that reported his death, Moses was referred to as a servant of the Lord. That’s not just servant leadership, but God-centered servant leadership. We are reminded that even the best humans and lea

Apr 27,2023 18:22

114. Day 80: God will Prevail

Today we read Numbers 34, Deuteronomy 33, and Psalm 120. This story is about inheritance in the form of land and the land is always described as something God gives. We revisit and add to our understanding of “cities of refuge” in this story. We read the blessings Moses gave to the tribes of Israel and we wrestle with the tension of these two stories Numbers and Deuteronomy, coming to an end without an end. We are told of Israel's future drift, even in full view of the promised land. We are also

Apr 26,2023 12:43

115. Day 79: Better Together with God at the Helm

Today we read Numbers 33, Deuteronomy 32, and Psalm 118. The story comes towards the end of the Torah, Moses and Yahweh God are reminding the people of “the story” in the unified story of the Bible. The peoples endless struggle with rebellion and God’s relentless grace and mercy. Today we talk about how our lives are our offering to God today and that we all have talents and together, the people of God are stronger to keep focused and safeguard against drift. Resources:Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A

Apr 25,2023 22:15

116. Day 78: Be Strong and Courageous

Today we read Numbers 32, Deuteronomy 31, and Psalm 117. This story is interesting. It’s a story about two and a half of the twelve tribes who want to settle outside the Promised Land, but are willing to help in the mission for the Promised Land. Biblical scholars debate whether this request was accommodated for by God or allowed by God, as in respecting the choice of these tribes to self-exile. Most biblical scholars view it as an accommodation based on the agreement between Moses and the tribe

Apr 24,2023 15:40

117. Weekend 15: Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Apr 22,2023 00:54

118. Day 77: Choose Life

Today we read Numbers 31, Deuteronomy 30, and Psalm 116. We read about God’s victory against adversaries that tempt the people of God into worshiping other gods. Remember, God already dealt with the Israelites who defected. This story is also about Moses passionately asking the people of God to choose life with the one who is your life, a choice must be made in response to God’s intervention. Resources:Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospel

Apr 21,2023 13:58

119. Day 76: God will Circumcise Your Heart

Today we read Numbers 29-30, Deuteronomy 29, and Psalm 113. This story is a reminder of the importance of God’s rhythm and practice of remembrance, The need for atonement, and the importance of gratitude, humility, and generosity. We also learn from this part of the story that tension is mounting and Israel/we cannot change our own hearts regardless of the model or process, God will circumcise our hearts so that we can love the Lord God. Lastly, the story offers Israel some edits to representa

Apr 20,2023 19:11

120. Day 75: Right Relationship With God

Today we read Numbers 27-28, Deuteronomy 28, and Psalm 112. In this story, there are two accounts of right relationship with God. First the daughters of Zelophehad who were “right” in their request for the inheritance God promised and Joshua, or in Hebrew, Y'shua (Hebrew: ישוע), the next leader of Israel who was filled with the spirit. This story describes his relationship with God in the Hebrew word 'urim’ which means to be or give light, to shine. The word is connected to truth and receiving G

Apr 19,2023 21:20

121. Day 74: The Next Generation and the Call to Obey, Today

Today we read Numbers 26, Deuteronomy 27, and Psalm 111. In this story, we read about the start of the next generation, the children of the Exodus generation who were freed from slavery in Egypt, and rescued by God. We start their story and discuss something important about generations, being grateful for the one before us and empowering, preparing the succession to the generation after us. Then we read about decision time, blessings, and what is present in the absence of blessing. Wandering lea

Apr 18,2023 19:06

122. Day 73: The Need and Prophecy of a King

Today we read Numbers 24-25, Deuteronomy 26, and Psalm 107. We continued the story of the sorcerer Balaam which reveals two important things, God is sovereign and the lure of other gods leads Israel to break the first commandment. This leads to devastating outcomes. This story also included a prophecy of a king that would come from the line of Judah, it would be God’s king, and we know this will be Jesus. In the second story, we are reminded of our greatest defense: listening, wholeheartedly obe

Apr 17,2023 19:03

123. Weekend 14: Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Apr 15,2023 00:54

124. Day 72: God is Editing Israel’s Economy and Social Laws

Today we read Numbers 23, Deuteronomy 24-25, and Psalm 106. This is a story that reminds us that God is sovereign over all, even nefarious oracles such as Balaam. We learn more about God’s character and His desire for how we live as edits are made to economic and social laws.Resources:Dr. Mackie, Tim and Collins, Jon (2019) Law Q&R. Podcast. Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/podcast/law-qr/ Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoaliti

Apr 14,2023 18:16

125. Day 71: Forbidden and Forgiven; Refuge, Prevention, and Provision

Today we read Numbers 22, Deuteronomy 23, and Psalm 105. This is a story about those who are forbidden and forgiven, of adversaries and God’s sovereignty, of refuge, prevention, and provision. Resources:Dr. Mackie, Tim and Collins, Jon (2019) Law Q&R. Podcast. Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/podcast/law-qr/ Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/Adrian Reynolds (2023) A Numbers Commentary, The Gosp

Apr 13,2023 15:26

126. Day 70: God is Editing Israel’s Laws on Adultery, Seduction, and Rape

Today we read Numbers 21, Deuteronomy 21-22, and Psalm 102. The Bible contains adult themes, particularly in today’s reading. Parental discretion is advised. Today we read about how seizing leads to death and seducing leads to cost and commitment. We read about God editing the laws of Israel related to non-Israelite women captured in war, a husband who dislikes his wife, a promiscuous wife, a man who rapes a woman, and a man who seduces an unmarried woman. Israel is being differentiated from the

Apr 12,2023 33:24

127. Day 69: God Continues to Make a Way

Today we read Numbers 19-20, Deuteronomy 19-20, and Psalm 101. This is a story where we remember and see a specific application of atonement with sacrificial blood, a waiting period when a person is unclean, which is different from sinfulness, but rather a closeness with death, and the remedy is time and the bathing of water. We read about Miriam and Aaron’s death. We read about Moses and Aaron not having enough trust to honor God’s way in response to providing for the people of Israel. This res

Apr 11,2023 21:15

128. Day 68: Levitical Division of Power: Priests and Protectors

Today we read Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 18, and Psalm 100. This story is about Yahweh dividing and clarifying power, provision, and process; clarifying ways to be more just with checks and balances. In this story, we zoom into the Levites with a distinction made between Aaron and his sons and descendants as priests and the other Levites as guardians and protectors of the priesthood and between the priesthood and the people. We read that the Levite's inheritance is not land but God himself. We look

Apr 10,2023 18:07

129. Week 13: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Apr 08,2023 00:54

130. Day 67: Power, Priests, Kings, and The Things That Turn Hearts

Today we read Numbers 17, Deuteronomy 17, and Psalm 99. It starts with a story in Numbers of God showing signs of wonder in response to the jealousy of the tribal chiefs. God makes it clear that Aaron and his sons from the tribe of Levi are the priests. This is not a shared role with other forms of leadership. In Deuteronomy, a politically charged scroll, we read about Yahweh claiming the highest role of leadership, with the law acting as a constitution in the sense that every other leader is ac

Apr 07,2023 16:58

131. Day 66: Eucharisteo - Remember and Give Thanks

Today we read Numbers 16, Deuteronomy 16, and Psalm 98. It starts with another story of rebellions followed by intercession and God’s justice and mercy. We are reminded of the strategies to avoid drift and the hardening of our hearts; follow God’s rhythm, remember, keep the story close to your heart and soul, use our strength to practice gratitude for all God has done, is doing, and promises to do, for the blessing and role He has given us, joy brings strength to our hearts and souls, it brings

Apr 06,2023 21:28

132. Day 65: Dealing with Sin and the Rhythms of a Covenantal Life

Today we read Numbers 15, Deuteronomy 15, and Psalm 97. This is a story of cost and the way God makes to restore and redeem. It is also a story that echoes creation and expands on the commands given in Exodus and Leviticus. Here in this story, we are getting a reminder that to sin will happen at the individual and corporate community level. There is a cost to sin and the only way to atonement is through God’s design. There is also a sin where the heart is hard and there is an adversarial intent,

Apr 05,2023 16:42

133. Day 64: Rebellion, Remembering, and Distinctiveness

Today we read Numbers 14, Deuteronomy 14, and Psalm 96. Today we read about more rebellion and the importance of remembering to mitigate to protect against a heart dislocation that leads to rebellion and the subsequent cost - alienation. We also read about the importance of distinctiveness in putting God on display in the context of society where other religions and the people that follow them are watching and comparing their ways to Yahweh God and how you or we put Him on display. Resources:Dr

Apr 04,2023 17:08

134. Day 63: The Place God Will Choose

Today we read Numbers 12-13, Deuteronomy 12-3, and Psalm 95. Numbers 12 is an important reminder to use a position God gave to serve and not complain. Numbers 12 is also an important reminder to intercede when someone is suffering. Numbers 12 is also a reminder that God is just, but He also offers grace and restoration. Numbers 13 hold suspension as the Israelites are sent on an exploration to return with samples and a report of the promised land. Yet, when they return they tell a story of fear

Apr 03,2023 21:12

135. Week 12: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Apr 01,2023 00:54

136. Day 62: Grateful or Grumbly; His Way or Ours

Today we read Numbers 11, Deuteronomy 11, and Psalm 94. This story captures the first generation leaving Mount Sinai and at the first micro-discomfort, they complain and desire the advisary over Yahweh God who rescued them. They want to eat from and at the hand of the advisary than from God, the creator and deliver of food, redemption, and the promised land. Even Moses and Joshua struggle with complaining. Then in Deuteronomy, Moses is reminding the second generation of the importance of Shema -

Mar 31,2023 18:56

137. Day 61: A Decisive Heart Change

Today we read Numbers 10, Deuteronomy 10, and Psalm 93. This story is about a circumcision of the heart. The word “love” is used more here in the book of Deuteronomy than any other book in the Old Testament. We are reminded that transformation will require God’s relentless grace and our present choice to undergo revision through God’s redemptive restoration mission. Is the next generation of Israelites ready? Will they hold steadfast? God is in full pursuit, promise and blessing in-tact, forewar

Mar 30,2023 15:46

138. Day 60: ”Shema” Love the Lord Your God with Your Heart, Soul, and Strength

Today we read Numbers 8-9, Deuteronomy 8-9, and Psalm 92. In this story, we discuss how Deuteronomy uses the word “love” the most in the Old Testament and the second most frequent in the entire Bible. The book of John in the New Testament used the word “love” the most overall. We discuss how the Hebrew term Shema introduced in Deuteronomy 6:4 and discussed again here means to love the Lord your God with all your heart, souls, and strength. We discuss what that means and now it relates to when Je

Mar 29,2023 23:10

139. Day 59: God is the Architect of Victory

Today we read Numbers 7, Deuteronomy 7, and Psalms 91. We read about leadership giving what is asked and more and God speaking to Moses. We read about the pattern of God architecting the victory in the rescue mission and that we are not only expected to listen, but respond appropriately. Yet, we are warned in this story about two temptations of our hearts towards the belief that God’s goodness is not enough so we need to take and the belief that God himself is not enough so we are a better optio

Mar 28,2023 25:02

140. Day 58: A Vow, Love, and a Blessing

Today we read Numbers 6, Deuteronomy 6, and Psalm 90. This story is about taking vows, a reminder of God’s promises and what it means to listen and lean into the way to not only be blessed but be a blessing to others. Numbers 6 reminds me of what the story is all about, our role and purpose, to give God the best of us, to yield to Him in becoming a kingdom of priests for the purpose of becoming a living representative blessing to others by bearing God’s name. Deuteronomy reminds us that leadersh

Mar 27,2023 16:46

141. Week 11: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Mar 25,2023 00:54

142. Day 57: Jealousy and Justice

Today we read Numbers 5, Deuteronomy 5, and Psalm 89. We are reminded in this story of God’s holiness and our need for restitution. We are given a story about a jealous husband and God’s way of bringing justice before Him as the judge. We also read about God’s jealousy and we are reminded of the covenant and his message on how we are to live, will we listen and obey? Will we live into our God-given purpose and blessing?Resources:Dr. Sandra Richter and Dr. Scott Rae. (August, 2020). Sexual Violen

Mar 24,2023 18:10

143. Day 56: The Story in The Story

Today we read Numbers 4, Deuteronomy 4, and Psalm 88. This is a story about the story. We talk about Moses and Joshua. The Garden of Eden, Mount Sinai, and the Promised Land. There is a cost and there is a total crushing victory that must take place. What if a peace that passes all understanding is actually letting go of understanding? What if self-control means to actually let go of our control and trusting in God? There is a difference between control and influence. There is a difference betwe

Mar 23,2023 26:36

144. Day 55: God Fights For You

Today we read Numbers 3, Deuteronomy 3, and Psalm 87. The story in Numbers is a continuation of the organization of the encampment where the Levitical tribe will surround the tabernacle in the center and be in charge of its care. This story is tethered to the last part of Exodus where the law and preparations are still being given and Mount Sinai to the people in preparation for their trip to and entrance into the promised land. It’s interesting to note that Yahweh is accepting the tribe of Levi

Mar 22,2023 18:36

145. Day 54: The God Factor, Even in the Wilderness

Today we read Numbers 2, Deuteronomy 2, and Psalm 86. This is a story of wilderness where the people take a step towards God as He calls and then two steps back and then a step forward, and so on. It is also a story of organization and leadership with God at the center. Yet, God is still allowing and responding to the portion of power and authority God gave mankind to self-organize and rule. However, He still wants the ultimate authority to rest in the relationship, in our trust in Him. God not

Mar 21,2023 18:28

146. Day 53: Census and Centering Us to God

Today we read Numbers 1, Deuteronomy 1, and Psalm 85. We start two new, but connected stories: Numbers and Deuteronomy. These are the last two books of the Torah. The Torah (law) is the Jewish way of describing the first 5 scrolls of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Many Christian and Catholic scholars refer to these same first 5 scrolls of the Hebrew Scripture as the Pentateuch. Many believe these were written or were mostly written and master edited by Moses. Ho

Mar 20,2023 23:16

147. Week 10: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Mar 18,2023 00:54

148. Day 52: God’s Visible Presence Fills and Guides

Today we read Exodus 39-40, Leviticus 27, and Psalm 84. We concluded the two part saga of Exodus where first Moses was delivered and commissioned and then the Hebrew people were delivered and commissioned. We zoomed in on God’s visible presence which fills and guides His people. All of the rescue, redemption, and restoration with socio-cultural guardrails are for the purpose of God coming physically close to us in a sacred space. This echoes back to creation! In summary, the story of Exodus, the

Mar 17,2023 24:58

149. Day 51: Deliver God’s ”Ask” and Discover God’s Stirring on Your Heart

Today we read Exodus 37-38, Leviticus 26, and Psalm 83. It’s a story about developing our followership and responding well to being voluntold by a God we love what we need to do and at the same time also developing our leadership and volunteering muscles to respond to our hearts stirring to give our physical resources, our talent, and expertise to God’s Kingdom purposes. There is a charitable adventure that awaits, but at the same time, there is a required first-mile sacrifice. Delivery and disc

Mar 16,2023 23:22

150. Day 50: God’s Resolving Alienation and Offering Guardrails

Today we read Exodus 35-36, Leviticus 25, and Psalm 82. In this part of the story, Exodus 35 to 40 is about God resolving alienation. The people are all participating, fulfilling, and implementing the plan, not innovating or picking their own adventure. There is a redeeming sort of action going on with redirection of creative energy from golden calf to creating the Tabernacle. Where the people broke the commands in the last story and broke the command in the Garden of Eden which led to the break

Mar 15,2023 25:14

151. Day 49: Pursue the Presence of God

Today we read Exodus 33-34, Leviticus 24, and Psalm 81. In this story, we read about a state of jeopardy. We read how Moses interceded between God and Israel. We read how God will maintain His promises but we also read how the perpetual, immediate betrayals affect our relationship with Him. We read about God’s immutable characters in Exodus 34:6-7, one of the most cited passages in the entire Bible. We make a distinction between mercy, which is NOT niceness and justice, which is NOT aggression.

Mar 14,2023 23:42

152. Day 48: Uncertainty and Unraveling, Gold or God

Today we read Exodus 32, Leviticus 23, and Psalm 80. This is the famous story of the golden calf. As Father Mike Schmitz says, it starts with uncertainty. Dr. Brene Brown describes how some see faith and reason as natural enemies when certainty is the enemy of both. When we want certainty we cannot reason well, we are more likely to seek to support whatever outcome we are hoping for, in the academic world we often refer to this as a confirmation bias - where you search only for the answers that

Mar 13,2023 25:54

153. Week 9: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Mar 11,2023 00:54

154. Day 47: Set Apart, God-First

Today we read Exodus 30-31, Leviticus 22, and Psalm 115. This story in Exodus is the end of the Lord’s 7 speeches to Moses with echoes to creation, ending with the vital importance of honoring the Sabbath. There is mention in this story of how God can fill with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all kinds of skills to make artistic designs for the purpose of setting apart, making holy. In the story of Leviticus we are also ending the part of the story that discusses holiness, how God creates

Mar 10,2023 16:36

155. Day 46: Chosen, Becoming a Priest, Foreshadowing Jesus

Today we read Exodus 29, Leviticus 21, and Psalm 119:89-176. This story is about being chosen for something without earning or deserving it. This story is about foreshadowing the chosen one, Jesus. This is a story about the holiness and the holy one in contrast to the gap, the alienation and dislocation we have from God without a God-designed sacrifice, atonement, and intercession of epic proportions. This is a story about process and guidelines, a threshold where God gives the holiest of sacri

Mar 09,2023 29:02

156. Day 45: A Portable Garden of Eden

Today we read Exodus 27-28, Leviticus 20, and Psalms 119:1-88. This story is a part of the Exodus 25-31 story which is filled with echoes of creation, Dr. Tim Mackie describes it like a portable Garden of Eden with a tabernacle, a tent, priestly garments and specific processes. There is both simplicity and royalty in this story. There is the ascribing of a tribe without primogeniture or experience (Levitical priests) and the recruitment of skilled craftsmen - both the novice and the skilled are

Mar 08,2023 27:45

157. Day 44: Echoes of Creation in a Post-Rescue State

Today we read Exodus 25-26, Leviticus 19, and Psalms 79. This story echoes the creation story with numerous connections between the Garden of Eden (Gen 2) and the Tabernacle of the Temple (Exodus 25-31). It’s a post-rescue “get faith fit challenge,” a story of the people of Israel's restoration call to action. God acts in faith towards us and hints towards the faith for us He will provide in the placement of the two tablets. God does not destroy or deconstruct all of their cultures with the laws

Mar 07,2023 26:56

158. Day 43: Ratification and Radical Contrast

Today we read Exodus 24, Leviticus 17-18, and Psalms 78. This story is about new beginnings, a transformation story, a personal and intimate “I do,” and a radical shift in behavior that puts God on display and is in sharp contrast to neighboring cultures and past experiences.Resources:Dr. Carmen Imes, Exodus Class - Exodus 1-40, (14 hours) Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/classroom/overview/exodus-overview/ Spoken Gospel (Leviticus 17-18)| Blood and Sex| Bible Study (Feb 20, 2020). https:

Mar 06,2023 25:16

159. Week 8: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Mar 04,2023 00:54

160. Day 42: Day of Atonement

Today we read Exodus 23, Leviticus 16, and Psalms 77. This story is about justice and grace.Resources:Dr. Carmen Imes, Exodus Class - Exodus 1-40, (14 hours) Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/classroom/overview/exodus-overview/ Dr. Tim Mackie and John Collins. Bible Project Podcast Episode 6. What is the Day of Atonement? https://bibleproject.com/podcast/what-day-atonement/ Credits:Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling

Mar 03,2023 18:24

161. Day 41: Guidelines and Gaps

Today we read Exodus 21-22, Leviticus 15, and Psalms 76. This is a story about God’s guidelines towards more justice and care to represent Him well and flourish as individuals and in community. This is a story about the gap between where we have drifted to post-Genesis 2 and what is necessary to be a place where a holy God can dwell with us. Post-Genesis 2, God has responded to our alienation, dislocation, and drift into darkness with a flood, dispersion, fire, a family covenant and circumcision

Mar 02,2023 26:01

162. Day 40: Boundaries and Bearing God’s Name

Today we read Exodus 20, Leviticus 14, and Psalms 75. This part of Exodus is a story about boundaries that come after commitment. The law was given to the people of Israel after God had rescued them and commissioned them. The law also gives the people instructions on what it means to bear God’s name and represent Him well in the flourishing of their lives and the way others can see who God is in how they live their lives. This part of Leviticus continues to highlight our mortality and the risk o

Mar 01,2023 25:42

163. Day 39: Commissioned: A Personal Treasury of a King

Today we read Exodus 19, Leviticus 13, and Psalm 74. This is a story about being commissioned as a nation of Israel to God. It is the end of the wilderness and God calling the nation into a covenant. God is acknowledging that the whole earth is His, but that this nation is being called for Him to be a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation. A new identity and vocation, the one that closely reflects Genesis 2 is now being given to the Hebrew people, who are now the nation of Israel. The verse that

Feb 28,2023 20:24

164. Day 38: Liminality and Leadership

Today we read Exodus 17-18, Leviticus 12, and Psalms 73. This is a story about the time and space between something we left and somewhere or something we are becoming. The wilderness can be a place of growth or a place of rebellion and ingratitude. It is meaningful to note that God’s response to the people’s lack of trust and ungratefulness is reassurance and provision. There are contrasts being made between their work for Pharaoh and their cycle of work and rest where God provides instead of us

Feb 27,2023 25:12

165. Week 7: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Feb 25,2023 00:54

166. Day 37: The Song of the Sea

Today we read Exodus 15-16, Leviticus, 11, and Psalm 71. This story takes us to that liminal space between going and coming into something new. This is a story of God fighting for us. This is a story about a brother, Moses, and a sister, Miriam, leading the Israelites in a song, a song about the sea. It is a story just after a rescue where freedom is made complete when God ends the imminent threat of re-enslavement by the Egyptians. We read about God’s victory, justice, reputation, creation, and

Feb 24,2023 28:20

167. Day 36: Military Units and the Crossing

Today we read Exodus 13-14, Leviticus 10, and Psalms 53. In this story, we read about the actual Exodus. The journey out of Egypt through the “Sea of Reeds.” We discuss a lot of the details of this story such as the meaning of the word glory, the symmetry in a heavy plague and a heavy heart, and the number of people in the new nation of Israel, and we begin to see the importance of how to follow God in the way He designed in a consistent and cohesive way.Resources:Marty Solomon and Brent Billing

Feb 23,2023 24:52

168. Day 35: Rescued, Redeemed, and Recruited

Today we read Exodus 12, Leviticus 9, and Psalms 114. This is a messy story that is confronting, it requires a choice that has a cost. God is claiming all the first borns and the choice is to allow the Lord to pay the debt or pay the debt in full - death. This story forces the decision, do we cling to our idols and or ways or do we surrender to the rescuer and allow God to redeem and restore us in His recruitment of us back into the story as a kingdom of priests to put God on display, reflect Hi

Feb 22,2023 24:12

169. Day 34: Freed From and Freed For

Today we read Exodus 10-11, Leviticus 8, and Psalms 50. The first story we read today in Exodus 10 and 11 is best understood in context and comparison. I think it’s important to draw a sharp contrast between what Pharaoh did - killed Hebrew babies for coming into existence vs God not retaliating in vengeance but displaying His power beyond Pharaoh yet offering mercy, offering a way for no one to die and then offering individual families a way to allow a sacrifice to cover over their house and av

Feb 21,2023 21:24

170. Day 33: Decisions, Debts, and a Way Forward

Today we read Exodus 9, Leviticus 7, and Psalms 49. The story of Exodus and Leviticus seem to incrementally feel more uncomfortable and seem strange. But, it’s important not to give up on these very important parts of “the story” that is unfolding. Dr. Tim Mackie describes Exodus as a foundation story which is really important for the storyline in the Bible where we are being drawn into our need for a Savior in a clearer way than ever before. When we compare the Exodus story to the Noah’s Ark st

Feb 20,2023 20:23

171. Week 6: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Feb 18,2023 00:54

172. Day 32: The Sun Can Melt Wax or Harden Clay

Today we read Exodus 8, Leviticus 6, and Psalm 48. This story is God beginning His response to the groins of suffering from Israel. God introduces and reminds Egypt and Israel that He is God, the one and only. Some biblical scholars think that each plague is a direct counter-expression of power against an Egyptian god and others see it more as a general sovereignty over Egyptian gods that is conveyed. The story also has many of us wondering about the three mentions of a hard heart. Hebrew adds s

Feb 17,2023 17:26

173. Day 31: Letting Go and the Purpose of Confrontation

Today we read Exodus 6-7, Leviticus 5, and Psalms 47. In this story, we read how God uses symbols, like a staff and snake, that convey important messages and meaning in that culture. In other words, God speaks to us in our language to help us understand. We also learn that the purpose of confrontation is not to just be freed from or make a point, it is to be free for our real purpose, to worship God, to be a blessing to others as God’s Image and Name Bearers in the world. Our work and the way we

Feb 16,2023 16:46

174. Day 30: God Equips the Called

Today we read Exodus 4-5, Leviticus 4, and Psalms 46. In this story, we learn how God is going to equip Moses with his Shepherd's staff and his brother, Aaron on this rescue mission. We also try to unpack the enigmatic story about a bridegroom of blood in Exodus, chapter 4 with Dr. Carmen Imes. Like a foreigner in a foreign land, we visit Leviticus, a culture far different than our own and consider what we can learn about atonement. For me, it brought to light how casual and nonchalant we, or I

Feb 15,2023 22:08

175. Day 29: Commissioning Clarifies Identity

Today we read Exodus 3, Leviticus 2-3, and Psalms 45. This story describes God’s commissioning of Moses into a rescue mission. This time the rescue mission is not for one person or one family, but an entire community of people, descendants of the 12 tribes of Jacob - Israel, that would become the nation of Israel. It is the story of how Moses’s identity is clarified and tied up, or intertwined with God’s identity. We are given a name for God, Yahweh. When Moses asks, who am I? God answers, I wil

Feb 14,2023 19:28

176. Day 28: Rescuing the Rescuer and the Identity Crisis of Dislocation

Today we read Exodus 1-2, Leviticus 1, and Psalms 44. We introduce two more stories that are connected to the first, in Genesis. Exodus is a two-part story. The first story is focused on an individual, Moses, and starts with a story about the women who rescued him and how Moses was commissioned by God to be a rescuer for his people. Moses' story is inverse to Joseph’s from the last part of Genesis we just finished. In this story, Moses is raised by Egyptians, but he is Hebrew and struggles with

Feb 13,2023 32:35

177. Week 5: Weekend Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Feb 11,2023 00:54

178. Day 27: A Crown and Thorns on a Threshing Floor

Today we read Genesis 49-50, Job 41-42, and Psalms 17. This ends our story of Genesis and Job, but the story of Israel is just beginning. Rabbi Fohrman makes comparisons between the story of Joseph and the story of Esther. He also concludes the story of Genesis with a really cool possibility regarding the dispossessed children of Ham (the Canaanites) and Abraham (Ishmaelites) seeing Joseph (another disposed child) laying his crown on Jacob’s coffin at the threshing floor at Atad and choosing res

Feb 10,2023 22:54

179. Day 26: When Who is More Important than Why

Today we read Genesis 47-48, Job 39-40, and Psalms 16. Jacob uses his blessing to bless Pharaoh (and by extension all of Egypt), Joseph, and Joseph’s sons. But again, we see in this story how God chose Jacob’s younger son as the one who will be greater, which continues to upend what Joseph and the reader would expect in a culture that places the highest value on the firstborn male. The story sets us up with curiosity regarding who Joseph will ultimately pick as his family, will it be Israel or w

Feb 09,2023 19:54

180. Day 25: It’s God’s Story

Today we read Genesis 45-46, Job 37-38, and Proverbs 4:20-27. This story reminds us that Scripture is telling us God’s story and how we are a part of it. We’re learning in this story how prodigal love and trust for God and others is the uncomfortable road in the direction toward His restoration and redemption to blessing in order to become more of a blessing in His name. From the story of Job, we also learn through his friend Elihu that God does not oppress. The question, therefore, is, can we t

Feb 08,2023 22:54

181. Day 24: A Prodigal Response to Undeserved Hurt and Hardship

Today we read Genesis 43-44, Job 35-36, and Proverbs 4:10-19. In this story, Judah confronts head on the terrible truth that started it all, his father loved Rachel more than he loved his mother and he loved her children more than he loved him. His father’s soul seemed bound to Benjamin’s and Judah accepted it. He was not battling against that anymore out of hurt and jealousy. Judah offered himself in the place of Benjamin as a slave, asking Joseph (who he did not recognize as the other favored

Feb 07,2023 20:35

182. Day 23: Reversing the Exile and a Challenging Friend

Today we read Genesis 41-42, Job 33-34, and Proverbs 4:1-9. In this story we examine two different types of exile experienced by Joseph and we also see how God reverses Joseph’s exile from his family and employer (or should I say, owner). Yet the story leaves us in suspense regarding the restoration or redemption of Joseph’s own family. We pin our hope for this to happen in future installations of the story. In the story of Job, we learn more from Elihu’s insights about who God is and where Job

Feb 06,2023 27:44

183. Week 4: Weekend Review and Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Feb 04,2023 00:54

184. Day 22: Maturing in Maddening Situations

Today we read Genesis 39-40, Job 31-32, and Proverbs 3:33-35. This is the story of Joseph maturing through maddening situations. Job is also going to be challenged to mature in his maddening situation. We are introduced to a fourth, perhaps more mysterious friend of Job’s named Elihu, who is going to challenge both Job's and his three friends' views of themselves and God's immutable character and wisdom. Elihu is going to focus on Job's understandable, but perhaps a bit arrogant and sinful, rea

Feb 03,2023 17:12

185. Day 21: The Plot Thickens

Today we read Genesis 38, Job 29-30, and Proverbs 3:28-32. This passage may seem disruptive and confusing as we might expect the Joseph story to continue here, yet, this passage has a specific place in the unified story of the Bible with connections in repetition of motif and Hebrew word choices. This passage answers the question, which of the sons of Jacob will take over the right of primogeniture and step into the line of blessing coming down from Abraham after Isaac and Jacob? We might expect

Feb 02,2023 17:56

186. Day 20: Betrayal, Exile, and an Empty Well

Today we read Genesis 37, Job 27-28, and Proverbs 3:25-27. We start the Joseph story. I introduce some sources and perspectives from the Jewish tradition that I had not learned before, which I thought was interesting and I hope you think so too. It’s a story about a teenager, favoritism, sibling jealousy, and then the conflict - kidnapping, human trafficking, and a cover-up. Yet, I believe there is a telling in this story about betrayal, exile, and an empty well that lays an expectation to the u

Feb 01,2023 17:32

187. Day 19: Faith Grows and Fear Grasps

Today we read Genesis 35-36, Job 25-26, and Proverbs 3:19-24. Today we read about Jacob’s maturity in his faith and He responds to God with less wrestling. We read about Rachel dying as she gives birth to the 12th son of Jacob, Benjamin. We also learn about Jacob’s eldest son, Reuben and a new generation of wrestling begins as Reuben takes and violates Rachel’s handmaiden, Bilhah, for reasons we do not know, but we explore some options. Then we read about Esau’s descendants and continue to read

Jan 31,2023 19:06

188. Day 18: Reconciliation, Violation, and Vengeance

Today we read Genesis 33-34, Job 23-24, and Proverbs 3:13-18. It’s a rollercoaster reading today that starts with a high and ends with dark low. This reading contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children and it pertains to sexual violence. The story starts with the reconciliation of Esau and Jacob. This is something special to savor. Then it takes a startling turn away from forgiveness and reconciliation to a neighboring prince taking and violating Jacob and Leah’s daughter, Dinah.

Jan 30,2023 23:16

189. Week 3: Weekend Review and Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Jan 28,2023 00:54

190. Day 17: Change and Wrestling

Today we read Genesis 31 and 31, Job 21 and 22, and Proverbs 3:9-12. This is a story about the chosen family of God’s transition home and their struggle to let go as well as their fear of what comes next. Change is hard. There can be fear and frustration with staying and fear and a thin spark of hope in leaving or going home. It’s the story of God responding to all of Jacob’s wrestling with and for the blessing God had already promised would be his. God wrestles Jacob in this story and in woundi

Jan 27,2023 21:05

191. Day 16: Wanting and Weakness

Today we read Genesis 29 and 30, Job 19 and 20, and Proverbs 3:5-8. This is another story about a marriage that starts at a well, but there are some rough patches. In this marriage, there is less calling out to God and there continues to be a pattern of deception. Jacob wants Rachel. Laban wants Leah married first. Jacob doesn’t want Leah. Jacob still wants Rachel. Leah bears 6 of the sons which leads to 6 of the 12 tribes of Judah. Rachel wants to conceive, Leah wants to be loved by Jacob. Jaco

Jan 26,2023 21:28

192. Day 15: Taking, Running, and Revelation

Today we read Genesis 27 and 28, Job 17 and 18, and Proverbs 3:1-4. As I’m reading it, I’m seeing a story that starts with a lot of “taking.” There is a family of people focused on taking from someone, taking away something, and being consumed with the desire to take or get back something. Even Rebekah tries to take at the same time she is trying to give and Isaac gives but is deceived, and unlike Dr. Timothy Keller’s portrayal of the father in the prodigal son story, Isaac runs out of the “give

Jan 25,2023 19:35

193. Day 14: Rivalry and Tension

Today we read Genesis 25 and 26, Job 15 and 16, Proverbs 2:2-22. There is real and experienced tension in this story and the tension is with Jesus’s statement from Matthew 19: 30 . . “many who are first shall be last and many who are last shall be first. This is a very different socio-cultural model of structuring family and organizing a mission, in this case, God’s rescue mission. There is a natural and social rivalry in this story. There is also another struggle with conceiving in this story.

Jan 24,2023 25:32

194. Day 13: Brides, Grooms, and Wells

Today we read Genesis 24, Job 13 and 14, Proverbs 2:16-19. This is the first account of a husband “loving” his wife and not just “knowing” her. Yet, this is more than the Isaac and Rebekah story, this is a story that points to Jesus and His rescue mission that leads to redemption. Genesis 24 is the longest chapter in the book of Genesis and there are some really interesting connections between this story of a bride and groom at a well. There are other stories in the Bible about a bride and a gro

Jan 23,2023 25:15

195. Week 2: Weekend Review and Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to

Jan 21,2023 00:54

196. Day 12: Surrender and Trust

Today we read Genesis 22 and 23, Job 11 and 12, and Proverbs 2:9-15. For me, the theme of the passage today is “I surrender all.” Hebrew scholars such as Dr. Carissa Quinn and Dr. Tim Mackie, Dr. Krayer, and Father Mike Schmitz help to clarify and connect this passage to the unified story of the Bible. There is clarification on what “wild donkey” means and a reflection on how God can bless both the chosen and not-chosen. There is also considerable clarification on the imagery and activation impa

Jan 20,2023 21:49

197. Day 11: Selfishness, Sacrifice, and Suffering

Today we read Genesis 20 and 21, Job 9 and 10, and Proverbs 2:6-8. Abraham and Sarah revert back to fear, self-preservation, and selfishness as they deceive King Abimelech and cast out Hagar, the slave immigrant from Egypt, and her son, Ishmael. We learn about the immutable character of God who works to protect and care for those His people sinned against. We discuss how some believe Abraham’s son Ishmael is the descendant of Mohammad who becomes the prophet of Islam. Also note, when God called

Jan 19,2023 20:30

198. Day 10: Fire, Faith, and Another Rescue Mission

Today we read Genesis 18 and 19, Job 7 and 8, and Proverbs 2:1-5. This is a hard story and it also contains adult scenarios that may not be appropriate for children. But it starts on a positive note, with the nearness of God and Isaac being promised to Abraham and Sarah a son is promised to them within a year. Sarah, being 90 years old, struggles with the faith to believe it and then tries to hide her doubt from God. Then there are these three men, but we really don’t have a lot of clarity on th

Jan 18,2023 24:53

199. Day 9: An Immigrant, Circumcision, And A Covenant

Today we read Genesis 16 and 17, Job 5 and 6, and Proverbs 1:20-33. We have learned about Adam and Eve, Noah and his family, and now Abram and Sarai who became Abraham and Sarah. These were all families elected by God to be blessed and to be a blessing to all creation as God’s image bearers. These were all families who had faith but also struggled to keep the faith. We learn in this story today how hard it can be to wait on God’s timing and how hard it can be to lean into our relationship with G

Jan 17,2023 20:45

200. Day 8: A Rescue, A Priest King, and Wisdom in Suffering

Today we read Genesis 14 and 15, Job 3 and 4, and Proverbs 1:8-19. We learn about a rescue mission that Abram went on to save his nephew Lot and his family from the coalition of kings who had taken them as captives alongside their plunder in conquering Sodom and Gomorrah. Then we are introduced to a really cool character, Melchizedek, who was both a priest and a king who blesses Abram and to whom Abram gives a tenth of everything he owns. An expectation is set in the story and a parallel is late

Jan 16,2023 24:36

All Episodes (200) From new to old From new to old From old to new

All Episodes (200)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new