Renewal Bible in a Year Podcast

This week we cover SIX minor prophets from the captivating story of Jonah to the desperate cries of Habakkuk. In the midst of that, we also see Obadiah's promise of justice on Edom, Micah's calling for people to walk with the Lord and love mercy, Nahum's judgement on Nineveh, Zephaniah's promises of the Day of the Lord and final restoration. We end with a question regarding the practice of praying to the saints.

Reading plan can be...

We finish up Ezekiel with a final picture of a restored temple and read three minor prophets this week: Hosea, Joel, Amos. Hosea is called to enter into a marriage with an unconventional wife as a picture of God's relationship with His people. We then look at Joel and the invasion of locusts he sees. Finally, we look at Amos and explore his deep concern for the poor and vulnerable. Finally, we discuss a question on the very long Ps...

This week's reading is packed with visions and prophecies at the time of Jerusalem's fall and thereafter. We look at God's judgment on Jerusalem and its eventual fall and why Ezekiel isn't allowed to publicly mourn when his wife dies. We see the Lord's response to the nations rejoicing in Judah's downfall. We dive into the Lord's condemnation of Israel's shepherds and His promise to gather His sheep. We break down the prophecies of...

This week we finish up Jeremiah and move onto our third major prophet, Ezekiel. In Ezekiel, we see an aspiring priest become God's prophet in exile. We look at Ezekiel's powerful visions of the Lord on his cherubim throne and the judgment coming to Jerusalem for idolatry (including an amazing mark place on people's foreheads). We also see Ezekiel act out signs for the people including shaving his hair, laying on his side for over a...

This week we just about finish up the book of Jeremiah. We follow the opposition to Jeremiah's ministry through his beatings, imprisonment, and even some time spent in mud. We look at Jeremiah's letter to the exiles telling them to live their lives and invest in their exiled home. We explore the failure of Israel to uphold the covenant and God's promise to create a new one. We also see God's faithfulness to his promises to Israel a...

This week we dive into Jeremiah who comes in the latter days of the kingdom of Judah. He proclaims God's impending judgment and tries to get the people to repent, but no one will listen. In fact, most people try to imprison or hurt him for speaking this way. In exploring Jeremiah's words, we see the depravity of Judah and Jerusalem, we reflect on false prophets who tell us what we want to hear, and we see Jeremiah's own struggle wi...

We finish out the prophet Isaiah, and oh boy do we have some beautiful passages to unpack! We begin by talking about God's promise of the Persian king Cyrus's defeat of Babylon over 150 years before it happened. We explore Isaiah's 3 final "servant songs" promising a servant of the Lord who will glory God and remove the people's iniquity through suffering. We also see a powerful reoccurring image of light, pointing to a number of t...

We continue our reading through Isaiah as we explore more prophesies, covering both judgments on other nations (like Egypt), God's people, and even the whole earth! In doing so, we also see a picture of a final feast and restoration for all who trust in the Lord! We revisit some events from the reign of Hezekiah and end with a preview of someone special, Cyrus! Finally, we answer a question regarding a Babylonian prophesy that is f...

In part 2 of this week's readings, we move into our first prophet! We discuss how to understand and read the prophets as a whole and look at the first chapters of Isaiah. We explore the judgment against other nations AND against Judah, Isaiah's call to ministry, and a plethora of promises regarding the Day of the Lord, Immanuel, a righteous branch, a great light, and the Mountain of the Lord. Finally, we respond to a question regar...

We're splitting this week up into 2 podcasts! In this episode, we look at the end of the kingdom of Judah with Hezekiah who FINALLY removes those pesky high places, Manasseh who leads Judah into more sin that even the Canaanites had done, and Josiah who is the last good king. We end the book of 2 Kings and this era for the people of God by seeing the promised judgment come upon them in the form of the Babylonians who siege Jerusale...

We're firmly in the 2-kingdom era, but by the end of this week, only one kingdom will remain standing. We explore the great prophets Elijah and Elisha, look at lots of kings like Ahab, Jehu, and the boy, Joash. All throughout this tumultuous period in Israel and Judah's history, we see the great working of God even amongst sinful and rebellious people, and ultimately we see his promise of punishment come upon Israel when they turn ...

In this week's reading, David is reestablished as king, he wrongly calls for a census (with a nudging from God?), and he dies. His son takes over and is blessed with great wisdom and riches and builds a temple for the Lord, but he eventually is led astray into idolatry, paving the way for the kingdom to split in his son's reign. Then we look at the beginnings of the two kingdom era in Israel and Judah. Finally, we discuss a questio...

We close out the chapter of Saul with his continued sinning and eventual death. After some more fighting, David eventually becomes king of all of Israel. Along the way, we see his mercy towards others, including his enemies, and we get a great promise from God to establish his house forever. Then David sins greatly by committing adultery and doubling down on it with murder. Finally, the consequences of that sin result in violence a...

This week we move into a new era of Israel's history. We meet Samuel, the answer to his desperate mother's prayer, the last judge of Israel, and a very godly man. But when it's time for the next leader, the people demand a king "like all the other nations." They get what they asked for in Saul who is rich, tall, and handsome. Things start off well but then turn sideways, paving the way for a new anointed one, David, whose heart is ...

In one of the darkest chapters in the history of Israel, we wade through the mess that comes during the period of judges. We explore the people's idolatry in worshiping other gods and fall into the hands of neighboring nations. But every time they turn back to the Lord, he raises up a judge to save them. However, they never stay on the right path, and the people spiral downwards into horrendous acts and a civil war. Then we move in...

This week, we close the book on Moses's time with Israel as we wrap up the Pentateuch. Then we follow the Lord's leading of Joshua and the people into the promised land and marvel at the fulfillment of promises made hundreds of years prior. In doing so, we look at several significant parallels, dates, and symbolisms happening in the promised land. We see people grafted into the people of God via faith and move into the book of Judg...

It's almost time for the people to head on into the promised land, but first, God has some more instructions and reminders. These are meant to shape a certain kind of people, a people who look out for one another, care for the vulnerable, live justly, and love the Lord who brought them here. We explore laws pertaining to everything from how to atone for an unsolved murder, what to do if someone is pulling people away from the Lord,...

This week we're setting aside some time to wrap our brains around God commanding the Israelites to carry out violence against others. We also start getting a look at the boundaries of the promised land and how 2 1/2 tribes decide to settle outside of it. We explore the meaning and purpose of "cities of refuge" and "avengers of blood" and look at the contrast God lays out between blessing and curse. Finally, we respond to a question...

This week's readings feature a number of rough points for the people of God as they move through the wilderness. We discuss their continued grumblings, the lack of faith and forfeiture of the promised land, multiple rebellions against God and his appointed authorities, and a story about a prophet and his donkey who speaks to him. Plus we discuss how Christians should regard faith evidence compared to the Israelites who saw the grea...