Bible in Life

Loving Jesus and Keeping His Commands | John 14:18-21

Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." So what does that mean when we fail to keep his commands? What about someone who loves Jesus and desires to remain in Him, but doesn't always keep His commands? Do that person actually love Jesus? 

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, we explore the relationship between loving Jesus, obedience, and God's grace...

Cultivating Virtue  

There are two main components to growing in Christlikeness - putting off vice and putting on virtue. You see this all throughout the New Testament. 

For example, Colossians 3:5-9 concerns behaviors to be eliminated and 3:12-17 lists virtues to cultivate. 

You find this same pattern all throughout the New Testament. 

And in every place, we have are called to act. In other words, cultivating virtue doesn't happen...

Letting the Bible Shape our Parenting 

In this episode I share two big truths about kids from the Bible that shapes the way we relate to our kids and parent our kids. 

Proverbs 22:15

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

Mark 10:13-16

13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He w...

John 1:14 and the Tabernacle - A Christmas Reflection

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

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What does it mean to be "God fearing"?

It used to be common to describe someone who was particularly devout as "God fearing," but that phrase is rarely used any more. But the Bible does call God's people to fear the Lord and promises good blessings for those who are God fearing. So what does it mean to fear God in the Bible? 

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The Kingdom of God and the Gospel  

Why does Jesus say that he preaches the gospel of the kingdom of God? 

The way the gospel is talked about by Christians today usually has little if anything to do with the kingdom of God. Usually Christians describe the gospel as being about Jesus' death and resurrection and how people can be saved. 

So what exactly is the gospel and how does it relate to the kingdom of God? 

Note: this episode...

How is God going to work out his plans if humans are so disloyal to Him even though they have the Holy Spirit? 

I saw this question recently: It doesn't seem as if God's plans are working out too well. Humans are loyal to him; only Jesus has been. The Holy Spirit doesn't seem to be making much of a difference. So how is God going to have loyal human partners and work out his plans? 

But this question misunderstands the entire story...

5 Things I'm Learning about Life and Ministry from 2 Corinthians, pt. 2  

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, I share the more lessons I am learning about faithfully serving God from Paul's example in 2 Corinthians. The full list of five things we reflect on in this two-part series are:

1. the connection between God's faithfulness and our integrity

2. embodying the cross 

3. celebrating our weaknesses

4. confidence in God...

5 Things I'm Learning about Life and Ministry from 2 Corinthians, pt. 1  

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, I share the first 2 and half lessons I am learning about faithfully serving God from Paul's example in 2 Corinthians. We reflect on:

-the connection between God's faithfulness and our integrity

-embodying the cross 

-celebrating our weaknesses

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:...

Now that we're saved, how should we relate to unbelievers? 

Once we start following Jesus, we don't stop living public lives in which we interact with people who don't follow Jesus. So how should we relate to unbelievers in our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and online? And how does our salvation affect our interactions with unbelievers? 

Titus 3:1-7  

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ...

What difference does grace make?

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John reflects on Titus 2:11-14, considering four key differences the grace of God makes in our life.

Titus 2:11-14  

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hop...

Making the Teaching about Jesus Beautiful

According to the apostles of Jesus, the best way for Christians to fight slander against them and their beliefs is to live in such a way that the criticisms don't stick, especially with those who actually know them and live next to them and work with them. In fact, in Titus 2:1-10, Paul repeats this refrain three times, ending with the idea that by our way of life we should make the teachi...

Sound Teaching Leads to Sound Living

What are some indicators of unsound teachers in the church? Why does sound teach matter so much? In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John reflects on Titus 1:10-16 to answer these questions. 

Titus 1:10-16

10 For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole f...

God's People Need Good Shepherds

Shepherding is greater than leadership. 

The consistent image for leaders in the Bible is shepherds. And shepherds are among the sheep. Shepherds know the sheep and the sheep know them. 

Shepherds provide for and protect the sheep. 

This is why churches must have good shepherds - leaders, elders, overseers who embody godly character and serve the sheep as shepherds. 

Titus 1:5-9

5 Fo...

Four Fundamentals of a Solid Christian Life | Titus 1:1-4  

We never outgrow the fundamentals. This is true in sports or music or an everyday activity like driving. And it's also true in our Christian life. 

In fact, when life seems overwhelming or confusing or uncertain, one of the best practices is to return to the fundamentals. As Paul opens his letter to his colleague Titus, he reminds him of 4 fundamentals of the Christian lif...