Bible Geeks Podcast

Praise God for His Spiritual BlessingsWhen do you struggle to remember God’s rich blessings? Do you understand predestination, the Holy Spirit’s work, and what it means to be “in Christ”? Here in session two of Talking Through Ephesians, we discuss the spiritual blessings Paul praises God for in chapter one. After Finding Jesus described as “the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6), we explore what it means “to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Eph. 1:10). We also talk about finding a place to belong at God’s family table, how that table IS and ISN’T exclusive, and how Jesus’ victory is like David slaying Goliath. Go to biblegeeks.fm/ephesians to find the study guide, video, and all the other info for this study.The Big Idea: Jesus brings us together into a new spiritual family who lives to honor God for his incredible salvation.This Week's Challenge: Ask a friend what spiritual blessings they're most grateful for.Show NotesTalking Through Ephesians Study Guide - Session 2 (PDF)"Gatorade Shower" (CONVERSATION STARTER)Finding Jesus: Ephesians 1:3-14 (VERSE)Talking Through Ephesians Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

See the Big PictureHow would your life change if you could — like Elisha’s servant — see into the unseen realm? And what does Ephesians tell us about the meaning of life, the universe, and everything? This week we launch our new guided study, Talking Through Ephesians, with an introduction to this “mind-blowing” letter. Somehow, we also talk about Steve Jobs and Jesse Owens, about what it really takes to make a scratch apple pie, and the idea of being watched by loved ones in heaven. Finding Jesus in Ephesians, we discuss why Paul emphasizes the title Christ and what it means to see Jesus as the church’s husband. Then, Flying Through Ephesians, we go from the debate over the recipients, to insights from each section, to the main theme of the book. We’re super excited to get ok into this book and invite you to find a friend or group to talk through the book with as well! Go to biblegeeks.fm/ephesians each week to find the videos and guides.The Big Idea: Your choices are central to God's eternal purpose for everything.This Week's Challenge: Invite someone to talk through Ephesians with you over the next few months.Show NotesTalking Through Ephesians Study Guide - Session 1 (PDF)"Zooming Out" (CONVERSATION STARTER)Finding Jesus: Ephesians 1-6 (VERSE)Talking Through Ephesians Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Focus on Jesus’ PowerHow can Peter say, both “look at us” and “stop staring at us” in the same story (Acts 3)? And for that matter, how does Jesus tell us to both, “let people see your good works” and NOT to do them “to be seen” in the same sermon (Matt. 5-7)? How do we practically pivot to Jesus from ourselves? We get into a lot of challenging questions this week in a Do You Understand segment drawn from the lame man’s healing at the temple gate. It takes us from the purpose of miracles to setting our spiritual GPS to the right destination. We hope you find it encouraging and helpful!Show Notes“Stop Staring” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Like the Teacher: Acts 3:4-6 (VERSE)Support the Show

Find Strength and Hope in HymnsIt’s Acapeldridge week at the Bible Geeks! We’re excited to welcome our dear friend, Michael Eldridge, to this conversation all about spiritual songs and how they impact us. If you’re not familiar with Michael’s singing and hymn writing (@acapeldridge on YouTube) you’re missing out on some beautiful and edifying music. So we enlisted his help building an A-Team of beloved hymns. And along the way we talk about our secret un-favorite songs of the church and some stories about how spiritual music weaves into every part of our lives.The Big Idea: Spiritual songs are life-bringing treasures worth spending time with each day.This Week's Challenge: Sing!Show NotesLike the Teacher: Hebrews 2:11-12 (VERSE)Acapeldridge (WEBSITE)Acapeldridge on YouTube (YOUTUBE)Timeless Psalter (WEBSITE)“It Is Well With My Soul” (HYMN)“El Elyon” (HYMN)“In Christ Alone” (HYMN)“Abide With Me” (HYMN)“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand” (HYMN)“On Zion’s Glorious Summit” (HYMN)“My Soul Waits” - “Timeless: Ancient Psalms for the Church Today” (HYMN)“My Soul Waits” - “Timeless: Ancient Psalms for the Church Today” (HYMN)“The New Song” (HYMN)“Soldiers of Christ Arise” (HYMN)Support the Show

Build Community Around JesusWhat traditions help you build connection with others? What did people mean when they said Jesus was a “friend of sinners”? It’s our second week in a row of the Bible Geeks AV Club, as we work our way into episode two of The Chosen. We kick things off with a conversation about which of these Sabbath meals we would probably find ourselves in, then we dive into a Like the Teacher discussion based on Matthew 11:19. At the heart of this episode is the statement of Mary, “I was one way, and now I am completely different.” Any disciple of Christ could surely say the same, and we explore the way the Lord touches each of these lives differently in a segment we call Deep Thoughts. You can find The Chosen on most streaming services or for free on The Chosen app (see link in the notes below). Looking ahead, don’t miss next week’s conversation about great hymns with special guest, Michael Eldridge, of Acapeldridge.The Big Idea: No one is forgotten by Jesus, the friend of outcasts and savior of sinners.This Week's Challenge: Connect with someone over a meal.Show NotesThe Chosen (WEBSITE)Like the Teacher: Matthew 11:19 (VERSE)Watch the Chosen (WEBSITE)Where to Stream the Chosen (WEBSITE)The Chosen - S1E2 - “Shabbat” (WIKI)Support the Show

Talk About JesusThe next two weeks, we’re kicking off the Bible Geeks A.V. Club — our chance to watch films and shows and talk about them — with a conversation about the first two episodes of The Chosen. If (somehow) you haven’t heard of it, The Chosen is a historical drama about Jesus’ life that has caught people’s attention in a big way, with reportedly over 100 million viewers generating lots of conversations about — our favorite subject — Jesus. So this week we go Finding Jesus in a passage quoted throughout this episode, Isaiah 43:1. And after recapping the story, we share a few of our Favorite Things and discuss the place of media like this in our modern religious landscape. If you haven’t watched the show, you can check it out on the free The Chosen app, or almost any major streaming platform (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Peacock).The Big Idea: When Jesus becomes part of our story, he changes us.This Week's Challenge: Find a way to start a conversation about Jesus.Show NotesThe Chosen (WEBSITE)Finding Jesus: Isaiah 43:1 (VERSE)Watch the Chosen (WEBSITE)Where to Stream the Chosen (WEBSITE)The Chosen - S1E1 - “I Have Called You By Name” (WIKI)The Chosen - S1E2 - “Shabbat” (WIKI)Support the Show

Let God's Word Interrupt Your ThoughtsHow can God’s word interrupt our internal dialogue and focus us on what matters? And what’s better than a “360 degree turnaround”? This week we complete the Talking to Yourself guided study. First we discuss what Jesus Said in his six “But I say to you” statements in Matthew 5. Then we dive into the parable of the Rich Fool in a Here’s the Story that leads us to reexamine our lives in light of eternity. From Swifties to monkeys, basketball blocks to the Emperor’s Groove, we cover a lot of ground but the focus is on the way Jesus’ teaching redirects our thinking. Go to biblegeeks.fm/talkingtoyourself for all the videos and guides for this study.The Big Idea: The best thing that can happen to our inner dialogue is to bring God into the conversation.This Week's Challenge: Write a helpful memory verse on a slip of paper and repeat it to yourself throughout the week.Show NotesTalking to Yourself - Session 3 - Study Guide(PDF)Talking to Yourself - Session 3 - Conversation Starter (VIDEO)Talking to Yourself Guided Study (WEBSITE)Jesus Said: Matt. 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44 (VERSE)Here’s the Story: The Rich Fool (VERSE)Support the Show

Point Yourself Toward GodWhat’s the problem with advice that starts with, “All you have to do is just ...”? How are our struggles like epic beetle battles? And how do we find our special hiding place in God? In this week’s Jesus Said, we draw encouragement from the Lord’s words to Peter as he sank into the sea. And we set Poetry in Motion with two psalms that repeat the refrain, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” (Ps. 42 & 43). Then in our Reach Out segment, we talk about the quicksand in our own lives, from obsessing over sickness and death to spiraling in our doubts and relationship struggles. The big theme of the episode is God’s faithfulness and strength to deliver, and it’s a message worth returning to again and again. Find the study guide and videos for this series at biblegeeks.fm/talkingtoyourself.The Big Idea: God can calm our fears, anxieties, and crippling uncertainties.This Week's Challenge: Lift someone up by offering them an encouraging word.Show NotesTalking to Yourself - Session 2 - Study Guide(PDF)Talking to Yourself - Session 2 - Conversation Starter (VIDEO)Talking to Yourself Guided Study (WEBSITE)Jesus Said: Matt. 14:31 (VERSE)Poetry in Motion: Psalm 42 (VERSE)Poetry in Motion: Psalm 43 (VERSE)Support the Show

Tell Yourself the TruthThis week we're starting a new 3-session Guided Study called "Talking to Yourself," where we probe the depths of our thoughts. Caution: things get "really real" as we start to tell ourselves the truth! What do we learn from Jesus' teaching style about eyes and ears that don't work correctly? How does this simple phrase, "Do not be deceived," pop up throughout the Scriptures? And what are we not seeing clearly in our own lives? And as a bonus, don't miss Ryan's true feelings toward beets and Bryan's thoughts on the combination of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream. Find this Guided Study at biblegeeks.fm/talkingtoyourself!The Big Idea: We get to choose which inner voice we obey.This Week's Challenge: Acknowledge any falsehood in your heart and ask God to forgive you.Show NotesTalking to Yourself - Session 1 - Study Guide(PDF)Talking to Yourself - Session 1 - Conversation Starter (VIDEO)Talking to Yourself Guided Study (WEBSITE)Like the Teacher: Matt. 13:13-15 (VERSE)Support the Show

Pay Attention to Your ThoughtsHow are our thoughts like looping commercials? And how is your heart like a fish tank? We’re thinking about thinking again this week as we kick off a new guided study called Talking to Yourself, all about what we say in our hearts. We kick it off with what Jesus Said about the source of evil. Then we share some Deep Thoughts about what people in Scripture say to themselves. Look for five short videos in this series to break next week on our YouTube channel, Facebook page, and website. And then follow along with the whole series of studies at biblegeeks.fm/talkingtoyourself.The Big Idea: What we tell ourselves can impact us in ways we don’t even realize.This Week's Challenge: Catch a conversation with yourself in progress and notice if it’s edifying or unproductive.Show NotesJesus Said: Mark 7:21-23 (VERSE)“No!” (WEEKLY EPISODE)I Love Lucy and the Chocolate Factory (YOUTUBE)Support the Show

Appreciate Biblical People of FaithAnd we have a winner! This week we wrap up our 2023 Bible Bracket, surveying the life and writings of Paul the Apostle, who voters identified as a Favorite Figure of Faith (biblegeeks.fm/bracket). We’re also excited to have Jeff O’Rear join us on this week’s episode. Jeff is an evangelist with the Judson Road church of Christ in Longview, Texas, and seemed like the perfect guest co-host for a review of the Bible Bracket. Together, we talk about our biggest upsets (Barnbabas!!!), why we appreciate Paul, and who else has impacted us by their example in Scripture. We hope you find the conversation encouraging!The Big Idea: God preserved the stories of the faithful so we can reflect on them and learn.This Week's Challenge: Ask someone about their favorite figure of faith.Show NotesThe Bible Bracket: Favorite Figures (WEBSITE)“From A to Z” (EPISODE)Working with the Word (PODCAST)Judson Road YouTube (YOUTUBE)Finding Jesus:1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1 Support the Show

Practice Spiritual DisciplinesWhy’s it so hard to simplify our lives? How could unanswered prayers instruct us? Did the early church practice fasting? And what’s wrong with needing to see results in our service? Last week we kicked off our Bible Geeks Book Club by Flying Through a book called Celebration of Discipline, by Richard J. Foster. Here in part 2 of that discussion, we each identify our Favorite Things from the book and where we need to grow, bringing some of these disciplines into our lives more.The Big Idea: We can become more like Jesus by imitating his habits.This Week's Challenge: Choose a spiritual discipline to practice this week.Show Notes“No Sir! Uh-uh!” (WEEKLY EPISODE)The Bible Bracket: Favorite Figures (WEBSITE)Executable Outlines on Fasting (WEBSITE)Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster (BOOK)Celebration of Discipline Resource Guide (PDF)Support the Show

Understand Spiritual DisciplinesIntroducing the Bible Geeks book club! This week we reflect on spiritual disciplines like Bible meditation, prayer, fasting, confession, and service, as we discuss Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline. We start by anchoring the discussion in our imitation of Christ, as his disciples. Then we go Flyin’ Through the Book, touching briefly on all twelve disciplines Foster encourages. It’s a conversation that raises topics from simplifying our possessions to what happens when we worship together. As the author says in closing, “The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life beckon us to the Himalayas of the Spirit. Now we stand at timber line awed by the snowy peaks before us. We step out in confidence with our Guide who has blazed the trail and conquered the highest summit.” Let’s start climbing!The Big Idea: We can become more like Jesus by imitating his habits.This Week's Challenge: Spend some time reading and reflecting on the spiritual disciplines.Show NotesLiving Water - The Bride by Ryan Joy (YOUTUBE)The Bible Bracket: Favorite Figures (WEBSITE)Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster (BOOK)Celebration of Discipline Resource Guide (PDF)Support the Show

Appreciate Biblical People of FaithWho’s your favorite figure of faith? This week we build an A-Team of Biblical royals and prophets, priests and disciples, all for an event we call the Bible Bracket. Don’t worry if your March Madness bracket’s busted, we have something better than basketball (at least for a Bible geek)! And after listening to us build the bracket, you can vote for the first round of match-ups at biblegeeks.fm/bracket or on our Facebook page. We hope the bracket leads to some fun and edifying conversations about these encouraging examples!The Big Idea: God preserved the stories of the faithful so we can reflect on them and learn.This Week's Challenge: Vote for your favorite figures of faith in our upcoming Bible Bracket.Show NotesThe Bible Bracket: Favorite Figures (WEBSITE)Finding Jesus: Hebrews 11:32-40 (VERSE)Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster (BOOK)Support the Show

Search the Scriptures for AnswersWe ended last week’s Ask the Geeks episode with a “to be continued,” and this week we pick it right back up with our final two listener questions. We start with a big one … what does Jesus say about divorce and remarriage? Then we consider what it means to “visit orphans and widows” today. They’re heavy issues worthy of serious thought and prayer. We’re grateful for the listener questions and we hope the discussion contributes to your understanding of these topics.The Big Idea: The Bible doesn’t answer every question, but it does hold the answers to life’s most important questions.This Week's Challenge: Identify any Bible questions you have and search God’s word for their answer.Show NotesCube Rule for Food Identification (Website)Finding Jesus: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (VERSE)Grace to Growth by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanly (BOOK)Sacred Selections (WEBSITE)Bible Geeks Contact Form (WEBSITE)Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. FosterSupport the Show

Search the Scriptures for AnswersIs it insincere to pray without action? What’s the key to preaching without notes? And most importantly, is a hot dog a kind of taco? In our first ever “Ask the Geeks” episode, we discuss listener questions. In these episodes we’ll discuss questions about prayer, preaching, divorce, and how we “visit” orphans and widows today. As usual, we kick things off with an icebreaker and then go Finding Jesus in a classic text about Biblical inspiration. If you have a question for a future episode, we’d love to hear it! Drop it to us at biblegeeks.fm/contact.The Big Idea: The Bible doesn’t answer every question, but it does hold the answers to life’s most important questions.This Week's Challenge: Identify any Bible questions you have and search God’s word for their answer.Show NotesCube Rule for Food Identification (Website)Finding Jesus: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (VERSE)Grace to Growth by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley (BOOK)Bible Geeks Contact Form (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Draw Closer in Your Relationship to JesusIt’s been four years since we started the podcast, so this week we decided to press pause on the upcoming guided studies to step back and take a look at where we are, where we’ve come from, and where we want to go next. We start with what Jesus Said about how we’re drawn to him, and end with a Reach Out question about areas of the show we hope draw listeners closer to The Lord. We also invite you to help us shape the future of the show — what would you like to hear about? Do you have any Bible questions we could help answer? What subject would you love to have a study guide on? We’re grateful for the input! And whether you’ve just discovered the show or have been with us since the start, thanks for listening! May the Lord grow and develop us all as we follow him!The Big Idea: Spiritual conversations with close friends are an incubator for our development in Christ.This Week's Challenge: Let us know where you’d like to see the show go next.Show NotesJesus Said: John 12:32 (VERSE)What’s Good Study Guide (PDF)Series & Recurring Segments (WEBSITE)Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. FosterGuided Studies (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Fill Your Heart With All the Best ThingsWell, we’ve come to the end of the What’s Good study, and we hope it’s highlighted some of the many reasons we have to praise and thank our God. He has filled our world and our lives with his excellence. May we notice and appreciate it every day! This week’s conversation focuses on “whatever is pure” (Phil. 4:8). We start with what Jesus Said about the pure in heart (Matt. 5:8) then dive into a classic example of purity, in a segment we call, “Hello, My Name Is … Daniel.” Along the way we talk about how we can practice purity in quiet simplicity, how sin is like a virus attacking your system software, and how purity is like a password for entry into God’s presence. Find a PDF of the full 13-session What’s Good study guide and all the videos and resources at biblegeeks.fm/good.The Big Idea: Filling our hearts and minds with goodness leaves no room for the filth of sin.This Week's Challenge: Take time to be holy this week.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 13 (PDF)"Snow in November" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said: Matthew 5:8 (VERSE)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)What’s Good Study Guide (PDF)Support the Show

Lower Yourself to Lift Up OthersIs it possible to be proud of something … in a good way? And what does it mean to be “a servant of all”? This week we meditate on the praiseworthy virtue of humility. We go Finding Jesus in the Servant Song in Isaiah 42, making sense of the “broken reed” he won’t break and the challenge of wielding power justly. And in a Psalm 34 edition of Poetry in Motion, we consider David’s invitation to “taste and see” the Lord’s goodness for ourselves. As we prepare to conclude the What’s Good guided study next week, remember you can find all the videos and study guides at biblegeeks.fm/good.The Big Idea: When we lift ourselves above others, we forget that our King lowered himself for us.This Week's Challenge: Put someone's interest before yours by doing something they want to do.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 12 (PDF)"Happy Debtors" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)“The Bonds of Brotherhood” by Ryan Joy (SERMON)Finding Jesus: Isaiah 42:1-9 (VERSE)Poetry in Motion: Psalm 34 (VERSE)Humility by Andrew Murray (BOOK)"Snow in November" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Feel the Freedom of TruthfulnessWhat are your roadblocks to truthfulness, sincerity, and integrity? How do we hold onto both love and truth when talking to each other about important issues? And what does honesty have to do with Chris Paul, gas lines, and life guards? This week’s Scripture du Jour is Ephesians 4, a power-packed passage full of guidance in how to “speak the truth in love.” Taking a cue from Paul there, Bryan compares us to kids in a riptide, as we recognize both the dangers of deception and the security we find growing in Christ. We also spend time unpacking what Jesus Said in John 8:32, learning to abide in the truth and live free. It’s session 11 in the What’s Good guided study — all about honesty — and you can find all the goods to have these conversations with your own group at biblegeeks.fm/good.The Big Idea: We love truthful words because they’re the language our God uses to speak to us.This Week's Challenge: Notice someone's sincerity and acknowledge it.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 11 (PDF)"World’s Best Cup of Coffee" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said: John 8:32 (VERSE)Scripture du Jour: Ephesians 4 (VERSE)"Happy Debtors" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)“Who Is Your Daddy?“ (WEEKLY EPISODE #142)Conviction Versus Mercy by Gardner Hall (BOOK)Support the Show

Fill Your Heart With God's LoveThis week we encourage everyone to “be nice!” Actually, we aim to show how the Biblical virtue of “kindness” is much more than politeness and niceties. Our discussion quickly moves from our favorite unkind fictional characters to several Biblical figures who showed kindness — David with Mephibosheth and Abigail with David. We go Finding Jesus in that example of David with Jonathan’s son. And then — in a fun but challenging Here’s the Story segment — we go back to that moment in David’s life when his men needed food and one woman’s care and wisdom made all the difference. We also notice how kids can teach us the power of simple kindnesses, as getting over our selfishness to “be kind” is the central, early ethic we try to instill. And we close with a challenge to be “an undercover agent.” Have a listen and you’ll see what we mean! This is session 10 of the What’s Good study, and you can find the videos and guides for the series at biblegeeks.fm/good.The Big Idea: God teaches us to appreciate kindness by pouring his unimaginable love and mercy into our lives.This Week's Challenge: Be an undercover agent of kindness for someone this week.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 10 (PDF)"The Magic Word" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Finding Jesus: 2 Sam. 9 (VERSE)"World’s Best Cup of Coffee" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Push Forward to Be More ChristlikeWhat advice might “Younger You” have for you today? What’s the difference between a typical January resolution and an effective goal? And how can sharing a commitment with a brother or sister give you a rocket boost toward success? Here, in session 9 of the What’s Good guided study, we take a hard look at the difference between satisfaction and striving. Or to put it another way, between plateauing and pursuing excellence. Something Jesus Said shows us how the church is a City of Excellence where everyone tries to “be excellent to each other.” And we spend some time with arete — the Heavy Word the New Testament often translates as “excellence.” We both left this conversation challenged to press on to “higher ground,” and we think you will too! Find the guide for this conversation and all the other resources for this series at biblegeeks.fm/good.The Big Idea: Though we're not perfect, we glorify God by stretching daily to be better and do better.This Week's Challenge: Share a short-term goal with a friend and ask them to check in with you soon.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 9 (PDF)"Cheese Doodles" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said: Matthew 5:14-16 (VERSE)Young Folks (EPISODE SERIES)"The Magic Word" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Strengthen the Bonds of FriendshipWhat’s the difference between valuing someone and having a friendship with them? How does humor lighten our load? And what does the old metaphor of “investing” in someone like a bank account teach us about the “brother born for adversity”? We go Finding Jesus in third John and also find how much that short book tells us about good friends. And from communicating without a word to late night conversations, we count down some of our Favorite Things about friendship. It’s session 8 of What’s Good, and all the resources are at Bible geeks.fm/good.The Big Idea: Through consistent acts of loyal love, we stockpile trust that friends draw on for a lifetime.This Week's Challenge: Make a list of a few friends you're thankful for and pray for them.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 8 (PDF)"An Odd Couple" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Starter (VERSE)"Cheese Doodles" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Feel the Fulfillment of a Fruitful FamilyHow does God provide for us through our loved ones? What does Ruth teach us about prayer? And how do our familial roles change as we get older? This week, in session 7 of our What’s Good study, we appreciate God’s gift of family, from blessings like our moms and kids to our brothers and sisters in Christ. What Jesus Said about honoring parents in Matthew 15:3-6 leaves us thinking about the false dichotomies and how serving God leads us to serve our families. Flying Through the book of Ruth, we see a picture of family lost and restored as folks find the kindness of family in surprising places. You can find the video and study guide for this conversation (and lots more) at biblegeeks.fm/good.The Big Idea: Family bonds can give us love and acceptance that reflects our Heavenly Father's.This Week's Challenge: Share with a family member how they've blessed your life.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 7 (PDF)"Grandma Nine-Pies" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said: Matthew 15:3-6 (VERSE)Flying Through the Book: Ruth (VERSE)"An Odd Couple" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)“Turned Tables” by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)XKCD — False Dichotomy (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Acknowledge Life's Good Things With JoyIs “dill pickle” Christianity God’s way? Does he want us permanently somber and stoic, embracing asceticism and austerity? Or is there a place in God’s will for enjoying his blessings? This week, we challenge these ideas with a look at celebration in Scripture. We start with what Jesus Said about the joy in heaven over the return of a sinner, learning to smile at what makes God happy, and to be there for each other in happy times. Then it’s time for some Deeeep Thoughts on enjoyment. Along the way, we learn that the Christian life is both a festival and an adventure. We hope you find it encouraging as you “go on your way rejoicing” (cf. Acts 8:39). Go to biblegeeks.fm/good for all the guides, videos, and other resources for this series.The Big Idea: It pleases and glorifies God when we gratefully enjoy his blessings together.This Week's Challenge: Get together with a friend to share a meal.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 6 (PDF)"Party Planning" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said: Luke 15:3-10 (VERSE)"Grandma Nine-Pies" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Rock Springs Cafe (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Open Your Heart to Sing PraisesHow have hymns shaped your thinking? What songs have gotten you through tough times? This week’s conversation is a celebration of singing! First, we look to an example of Jesus singing a hymn before his betrayal, imagining what it was like in that upper room. Then we bring back one of our favorite segments, as each of us drafts an A-Team of praise songs in Scripture. What an amazing gift God gave us in music! And what a difference spiritual songs make in the life of his church! Find the starter video, the guide, and all the resources at biblegeeks.fm/good.The Big Idea: Singing expresses what's inside us — what we believe, feel, and decide.This Week's Challenge: Ask a friend to sing a meaningful song with you this week.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 5 (PDF)"Bursting Into Song" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Like the Teacher: Mark 14:26 (VERSE)"Party Planning" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Appreciate Your Unique AbilitiesHave you ever thought about how many blessings you enjoy because of the God-given talents of others? Or about the strange and wonderful mix of different abilities and interests people have? This week we continue our What’s Good guided study with a discussion of God’s gifts of talents. We go finding Jesus in the Bible’s “body” passages, noticing how often we fail to appreciate other people’s gifts — and our own! Then we dive into a character study of two inspired craftsmen who built masterworks for God. Find the study guide and all the videos and resources for this 13-session study at biblegeeks.fm/good.The Big Idea: God manifests his wisdom and glory in the diversity he has filled his good world with.This Week's Challenge: Mention someone’s unique talent to them, and thank them.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 4 (PDF)"Teenage Talents on Tape" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Finding Jesus: Rom. 12:3-8 (VERSE)Finding Jesus: 1 Cor. 12:12-26 (VERSE)"Bursting Into Song" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)“Sudden Skill” by Bryan Schiele (SERMON)Support the Show

Stop and Enjoy RestWe know biblical rest means more than taking a break, but what’s it really about? What would a weekly Sabbath communicate to a bunch of former Egyptian slaves? And What’s The Deal with God resting on the seventh day of creation? This week we continue the What’s Good guided study, pausing to appreciate God’s gift of rest. We learn to get away from it all Like the Teacher, Jesus, did in Mark 6:30-32. And we share what keeps us from relaxing, realizing we’re still learning how to rest. Go to biblegeeks.fm/good for the guides, videos, and all the What’s Good resources.The Big Idea: Work is good, but God also created us to enjoy the sweetness of rest.This Week's Challenge: Give someone you love a break.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 3 (PDF)"Stop!" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Like the Teacher: Mark 6:30-32 (VERSE)"Teenage Talents on Tape" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Embrace the Opportunity to Do Good WorkWho’s the boss in your life? Who really signs your paychecks? And is work a curse or a gift? This week, we take on session 2 of the What’s Good guided study, celebrating God’s gift of work - both ours, and the work of others. We count down our Top 4 Proverbs on work and discover a surprising “destroyer.” And after Finding Jesus in a commandment to slaves, our Reach Out question looks at the source of our work ethic. From the tasks you secretly love to those frustrating aspects of your job, Scripture gives a lot of direction and leaves no doubt that work is a blessing from our loving God! Go to biblegeeks.fm/good to find the study guide and all the resources for this What’s Good study.The Big Idea: The chance to do good work and appreciate the work of others is worth celebrating.This Week's Challenge: Identify and do a task at work specifically for God.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 2 (PDF)"Off to Work I Go" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Finding Jesus: Col. 3:22-24 (VERSE)"Stop!" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Wonder at God's Work in NatureWhat do creepy bugs, bubbling paint pots, and acorn woodpeckers have in common? They’re all part of God’s created world, and all part of this week’s episode. Here in session one of our new “What’s Good” series, we start exploring God’s good gifts with a discussion of the natural world He’s made for us to enjoy. What Jesus Said in Matthew 6:28-30 gets us thinking about bird watching and all that we can learn by looking around. Then we set Poetry in Motion, moving through Psalm 148 and wondering at the idea of angels, “dragons,” and inanimate objects praising the Lord. We hope that after this episode you — like us — can’t wait to step outside and take in God’s amazing creation, meditating on the unimaginable power, wisdom, and love of the One who made us all.The Big Idea: When we don't take in the natural world, we miss a window into the wonder of God's goodness and greatness.This Week's Challenge: Go on a nature walk and meditate on God's wondrous works.Show NotesWhat’s Good Study Guide - Session 1 (PDF)"Samurai Squirrels" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said: Matt. 6:28-30 (VERSE)Poetry in Motion: Psalm 148 (VERSE)"Off to Work I Go" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Dwell on God's Praiseworthy Gifts and VirtuesIt’s been awhile, but we’re excited to be back to our normal recording schedule, starting this week. And we’re introducing our next big, thirteen-session Guided Study, called “What’s Good.” Our goal with the series is to direct our attention to some of the “pure ... lovely ... commendable” things we should “think on” (Phil. 4:8). Because in the midst of “this present darkness” (Eph. 6:12), can’t we all use some help focusing on the light? So on Monday, we’ll start three weeks of Daily Download videos — fifteen short videos on good things worth dwelling on. Then we hope you’ll join us for our regular, weekly episodes each Thursday over the next quarter, as we talk about God’s good gifts and some virtues worthy of reflection. In this episode, we kick the series off with what Jesus said about healthy eyes and then a dive into Philippians 4:8, our Scripture du Jour. Thanks everyone for your patience and for coming back as we start up this encouraging, new series!The Big Idea: The Lord doesn't just want us to do good things, he also wants us to think about good things.This Week's Challenge: Change your environment to support praiseworthy thinking.Show NotesGamechanger: Dwell on the Good (SERMON)Training Wheels Guided Study (PDF)What’s Good Guided Study (WEBSITE)Steve Jobs’ iPhone Keynote (VIDEO)Support the Show

Rejoice When Your Children Follow the LordCompleting our parenting series the week of Mother's Day, it seems appropriate to acknowledge all of the work godly moms devote to training their kids! And isn't it fitting to spend this episode talking about the honor kids give to parents — and the honor parents give to kids? So this week, we close Training Wheels by looking forward to the "one shining moment" when our Lord becomes our child's Lord. Like Paul, we want to say, "what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?" (1 Thess. 2:19). Along the way, we discuss our best Father's Day presents, how our relationships change as kids get older, and why Jesus calls obedient believers his "brother and sister and mother" (Matt. 12:50). We define and apply a Heavy Word, learning that "honor" is about giving weight and worth. And we close the series with a prayer for our kids to have a "heart of wisdom" (Prov. 10:1). We plan to take a brief hiatus after this episode, but we pray that this series blesses your parenting, and we look forward to the next guided study.The Big Idea: What a gift it is to call your child a "brother" or "sister" in Christ.This Week's Challenge: Give encouragement to a young person who has honored their parents by their faithfulness.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 13 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 13 (B&W PDF)"The Greatest Gift" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said ... Matt. 12:46-50 (VERSE)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Dale Schiele’s Memorial PageSupport the Show

Prepare Your Child for a Life of Service to GodHow do we teach our kids to ask, "How do I want to serve when I grow up?" This week we look at two different parents that Scripture places side-by-side as a "Do This" and "Don't Do That" contrast. We notice Jesus in two songs of mothers-to-be, reflecting on how God turns the tables on the lowly and the proud. Then, in a segment we call "Hello, My Name Is," we dive into a character study of Hannah. What change does Hannah undergo when she believes the Lord has heard her prayer? How is she the ultimate lender? And how does her faith set the tone for her son's life? We close with a discussion of becoming "empty nesters" someday, and then a weekly challenge and a prayer. With only one more session after this, we're rounding third base and heading home in our Training Wheels series, aiming to complete these conversations with an emphasis on the lasting direction we want to give our kids. Find the whole series at biblegeeks.fm/trainingwheels.The Big Idea: Our kids were created for his glory, not ours.This Week's Challenge: Check in with a young person about how they want to serve God when they grow up.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 12 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 12 (B&W PDF)"Mona Lisa Smile" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Finding Jesus: 1 Sam. 2:1-10 (VERSE)"The Greatest Gift" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Guide Your Kids Through Life's DifficultiesWhat is "lawnmower parenting" and is failure really "not an option"? This week, as we talk about guiding our kids through their troubles, Jesus shows us the perfect parental prayer in John 17:12-19, particularly demonstrating what NOT to ask of the Lord. We also learn how Bryan almost blew up his house as a child — a story worth tuning in for all by itself! And we return to one of our favorite segments, Here's the Story, following the prodigal son down his tragic spiral. It gives us a chance to observe the incredible love of his father, drawing some surprising lessons from the parable's depiction of God's parenting. May we all learn from our Heavenly Father's patient restraint, and his gracious readiness to receive his repentant children!The Big Idea: As we send our children into the world, we can't protect them from every danger.This Week's Challenge: Make a plan with your spouse about how you'll handle your own "prodigal moments," before they happen.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 11 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 11 (B&W PDF)"Bubble Wrap" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said ... John 17:12-19 (VERSE)"Mona Lisa Smile" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Be Purposeful With Your CommunicationHow is understanding our kids like collecting clues to a mystery our children haven't solved themselves? And how do we "answer a fool according to his folly" (Prov. 26:5) while also heeding the instruction to "answer NOT a fool according to his folly" (Prov. 26:4)? This week's conversation is all about how we speak and how we listen, particularly in parenting. Our Top 4 Proverbs on Communication challenge us to consider if our words are "graceful garlands" around our kids' heads and if we ever answer before we hear. And learning to act more Like the Teacher in John 10:3-4, we pick up a golden rule of speaking. What does all this have to do with closed captions, Shaquille O'Neil, and peanut butter / maple syrup sandwiches? We invite you to have a listen and find out!The Big Idea: You can talk at your child and make a lot of noise, or you can talk to them and get through.This Week's Challenge: Go on a "date night" with your child and ask them about their interests.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 10 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 10 (B&W PDF)"Eloquent Orations" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Like the Teacher: John 10:3-4 (VERSE)"Bubble Wrap" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Reflect God's Grace in Your ParentingOne thing every Christian parent seems to have in common is extremely high expectations — for ourselves and our kids. So this week we get to the heart of the gospel, because even in a parenting series we can't go far without relying on God's grace. We draft our A-Team of merciful and gracious people, we talk about the power of an apology, and we wonder, "Which is harder to deal with, your mistakes or your kids'?" Finding Jesus in 2 Corinthians 12, we're reminded that Christ is with us in our pain and his grace is enough! So we hope you find encouragement and hope as we celebrate the "the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).The Big Idea: The gospel of grace gives us a new lens to see ourselves, our kids, and our parenting.This Week's Challenge: Share a personal struggle or shortcoming you've had with someone.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 9 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 9 (B&W PDF)"Practically Perfect" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)The Emotionally Healthy Church by Warren Bird (BOOK)Finding Jesus: 2 Cor. 12:7-10 (VERSE)"Eloquent Orations" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Seize Each Day's Teaching MomentsWhat do self-driving cars and spiky hair have to do with purposeful parenting? This week we talk about seizing the moments when our kids are most ready to learn, asking: What wisdom does Moses give for parents answering big, spiritual questions? And what can we do to create the conversations that can help our kids work through what's really going on in their hearts? We also offer four of our favorite teaching moments, share the kinds of kid questions that stump us, and try to figure out how to keep our instruction relevant as our kids grow older. Find the study guide for this and the rest of the Training Wheels guided study at biblegeeks.fm/trainingwheels.The Big Idea: The world is your child's classroom, whether you're teaching them or not.This Week's Challenge: Pause the TV to start a spiritual discussion with your family.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 8 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 8 (B&W PDF)"Why?" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Finding Jesus: Deut. 6 (VERSE)"Practically Perfect" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Take Responsibility for What You Can ControlWhat's your goal in parenting, and is it possible we've directed our attention to the wrong person's behavior? This week, we distinguish our responsibilities from our kids' responsibilities in session 7 of our Training Wheels guided study. What Jesus Said at the end of the Sermon on the Mount shows us we aren't building additions on our parents houses and we don't have the remote control on other people. We ask, "Do You Understand?" what God wants us to take from Ezekiel 18, realizing we need to keep our "eyes on the ball" and skip the blame shifting. We also share our parenting regrets, times our kids made us want to hide in embarrassment, and our prayer for parents and kids all over.The Big Idea: Good parenting is a daily choice you make, not the result of your child's choices.This Week's Challenge: Thank a parent for their work with their children.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 7 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 7 (B&W PDF)"The Mouth of Babes" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said ... Matt. 7:12-27 (VERSE)Do You Understand? Ezekiel 18 (VERSE)"Why?" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Show Your Children What Life Is All AboutWhat's the difference between being a shepherd, and being a good shepherd? And how does Jesus "level up" our parenting game? This week we throwback to an old segment, with a Scripture du Jour, drawing insight from Jesus' words in John 10. We talk about the challenge of shepherding different kids without juggling or splitting our focus, and the difficulty of adapting to new challenges as our kids — and the world — keep changing! The conversation starts with some tough questions — like "are you comfortable telling your kids to walk like you?" — and never gets easier. But we hope that you're blessed by the journey as we try to tackle them head on! Check out the study guide for this conversation (session 6 of Training Wheels) and watch for the complete booklet this Spring.The Big Idea: Your life speaks volumes to those following behind you.This Week's Challenge: Choose an activity to do with your child that Christ did with his disciples.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 6 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 6 (B&W PDF)"Jesus’ Twelve Kids" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Like the Teacher: John 1:35-51 (VERSE)Scripture du Jour: John 10:7-18 (VERSE)"The Mouth of Babes" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Parent Like Your Heavenly FatherHow are parenting principles like keys, sunglasses, and the mail? What's better than saying "I love you" to our kids? And what do you learn when your "birthing plan" goes out the window? This week, we praise God for the way he leads us as parents. What Jesus Said about God's fatherly provision illuminates a sobering truth about ourselves. And some Deep Thoughts from Numbers and Hosea encourage us to grow in patience. It's session five of our Training Wheels guided study, and you can find the guide, videos, and all the other sessions at biblegeeks.fm/trainingwheels.The Big Idea: We can find our way in our parenting dilemmas by looking up.This Week's Challenge: Explore a quality of God's parenting with a new or expecting parent.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 5 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 5 (B&W PDF)"We Were Experts" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said ... Matt. 7:7-11 (VERSE)"Jesus’ Twelve Kids" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Train With Wisdom, Patience, and LoveHave you ever wondered what to do with the command not to "provoke your children to wrath"? This week we try to discern when godly discipline becomes discouraging, applying the commands of Colossians 3:21 and Ephesians 6:1-4. We start out looking for direction from Christ's example in Matthew 11:25-30, wondering, "When is a burden not a burden?" and "How do we avoid carrying our authority like the Pharisees?" It's a frank conversation that takes us from times we've wanted to give up to the times we've needed to keep our cool as dads. It's session four of the Training Wheels guided study — got to biblegeeks.fm/trainingwheels to get the study guide for this conversation and all the others in the series!The Big Idea: When discipline demoralizes our kids, we do more harm than good.This Week's Challenge: Hug your kids and tell them what you appreciate about their character.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 4 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 4 (B&W PDF)"Build to Bend" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Like the Teacher: Matt. 11:25-30 (VERSE)"We Were Experts" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Reflect God's Discipline and Consistency at HomeWhen is it hardest to stay consistent with our kids? What virtue gives us our compass? And what does the Bible say to do to bless our children? This week we continue our guided study on parenting with a discussion of integrity, followthrough, and consistency. What Jesus Said in Luke 16:10-13 reminds us that trust is built in small acts, and 4 Proverbs on Integrity teach us that our actions are on full display for our kids. The conversation leads us from our failures to God's wisdom, stopping to talk about Captain Hook, I Love Lucy, family bake-offs, and whining children. Whether you're a parent or not, we hope you find some encouragement to keep your commitments, tell the truth, and live faithfully.The Big Idea: Integrity reinforces our kids' structural support system.This Week's Challenge: Sit down with your spouse and evaluate your consistency, discipline, and followthrough.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 3 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 3 (B&W PDF)"Structural Integrity" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said ... Luke 16:10-13 (VERSE)“Looking Through You” (DAILY DOWNLOAD)"Built to Bend" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Deepen Your Devotion to God as a FamilyWhat are the "No Matter What's" in your home? And how do we keep worship from becoming just another thing we "have to do"? We're in session two of our guided study on parenting, focusing on our devotion to God as a family. In a Poetry In Motion double-header, we take on Psalm 127 and 128, talking about dusting, road trips, comparing families, and the difference between the home the Lord builds and the house of futility. We also learn from Jesus' upbringing, celebrate family singing, and discuss different kinds of prosperity in a home. We hope you'll check out the downloadable study guide and accompanying video, and consider sharing this study with your friends who are "in the trenches" of parenting right now!The Big Idea: Worship isn't just what we do as a family, it's who we are.This Week's Challenge: Sing a song of praise to God as a family.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 2 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 2 (B&W PDF)"Almost Ancient" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Finding Jesus ... Luke 1-2 (VERSE)Poetry in Motion: Psalm 127-128 (VERSE)"Structural Integrity" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Solidify Your Marital FoundationHow important is it for couples to stay on the same page? What's God's recipe for marriage? And just how serious are covenants made before God? This week's conversation follows the study guide for session one of Training Wheels. We take on the Heavy Word "covenant" and learn that faithful love for our spouses starts in our spirits. We start with what Jesus Said about becoming "one flesh" and end by sharing how we've dealt with disagreements in our marriages through the years. We hope you find the new format helpful and encourage you to take a look at our downloadable study guide!The Big Idea: The marriage covenant is God's foundation for a stable family.This Week's Challenge: Ask your spouse where you need to get on the same page, and talk through whatever issues you both see.Show NotesTraining Wheels Study Guide - Session 1 (Color PDF)Training Wheels Study Guide - Session 1 (B&W PDF)"Like Riding a Bike" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)"Sinkhole Alley" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Jesus Said ... Matt. 19:6-9 (VERSE)"Almost Ancient" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Training Wheels Guided Study (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Support, Shepherd, and Send Out Our KidsWhat does it really mean to "train up" a child, and what does that have to do with Hanukkah, NASA shuttle launches, and kids getting their way? This week we aim to set the trajectory for our kids and give them momentum, as we introduce our first Guided Study. It's a thirteen-session dive into biblical parenting we call "Training Wheels," and we can't wait to get started! As we prepare for session one, we look at two famous parenting passages (Eph. 6:1-4 and Prov. 22:6). Watch for Daily Download videos starting next week, and if you know any parents that you think might enjoy a series like this, please spread the word!The Big Idea: Children tend to keep going in the direction that their training points them.This Week's Challenge: Say a prayer for parents trying to raise the next generation.Show NotesGuided Study: Training Wheels (WEBSITE)Finding Jesus: Eph. 6:1-4 (VERSE)Scripture du Jour: Prov. 22:6 (VERSE)"Introducing Bible Geeks Guided Studies" (VIDEO)Bible Geeks Guided Studies (WEBSITE)Support the Show

Programming Note: This week, we're replaying one of our favorite episodes from the past. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode.This week we’re all about habits! How do you get a good habit to stick, why is a sin habit so hard to shake, and what kind of habits did Jesus have? We’ve had habits on the brain lately as we both have been reading James Clear’s new book, so we’re examining our own habits and diving into God’s wisdom on this practical subject. Plus Bryan reacts to Jesus’ words on God filling us up to overflowing from Luke 6:38, and Ryan shares why his son can’t seem to shake the thumb-sucking habit. Join us for a listen!Weekly Challenge: Identify a small habit that supports your bigger spiritual goals and incorporate into your daily routine.Show NotesJesus Said … Luke 6:38Atomic Habits by James Clear (BOOK)The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg (BOOK)The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (BOOK)Marginal Gains: This Coach Improved Every Tiny Thing by 1 Percent (BLOG)Start Tiny (BLOG)Bullet Journal (SITE)Productive habits & daily goals tracker (APP)Ryan’s 50 Challenges (SERMON)Ryan’s Habits Presentation (SLIDES)

Transition to the New Year With GratitudeWhat kind of year has it been? What do you hope for in 2022? This week we throw back to an old, favorite segment, celebrating the "new wine" Christ brings and aiming to fit it with a "new wineskin" (Luke 5:33-39). We also share our Favorite Things about last year's Cross Training — like thinking holistically about discipleship and finding a conversational "sweet spot" with other Christians. Then we close the episode explaining what we have planned for the future of Bible Geeks. We're so grateful for those of you who spend time with us each week in these conversations, and we hope you're encouraged and blessed by this year's new batch of podcasts and videos. (And maybe even find some new ways to use them!) May you grow in his grace.The Big Idea: Christ wants to make everything new — including your thinking, affections, behavior, and relationships.This Week's Challenge: Take note of a few of your favorite things from this year of learning and growth, and give God glory and thanks for them!Show NotesJesus Said ... Luke 5:33-39 (VERSE)Cross Training (WEBSITE)"Introducing Bible Geeks Guided Studies" (VIDEO)Bible Geeks Guided Studies (WEBSITE)Wholeheartedness (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Spiritual Awareness (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Zeal (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Burden Bearing (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Shepherding (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Support the Show

Open Yourself to Wise AdvisorsWe made it! It's our final Cross Training episode and our last episode of another crazy year! Thank you for being part of this journey — we hope it has blessed you and your spiritual growth. This week we learn when "more is more," why Bob Evans' restaurants should have whiteboards, and how Google makes a dangerous doctor! It all ties in (somehow!?!) with the Scriptural directive to seek out good advice and choose carefully who we let influence us. We start by returning to Christ's childhood as a model of growing in wisdom by getting interested in the things of God, surrounding yourself with studied counselors, asking questions, and listening! Then we dive into the story of Rehoboam listening to the wrong advice, and end by sharing how good advisors have impacted each of our lives.The Big Idea: You can affect the counsel you receive by the relationships you invest in, the questions and topics you raise, and the care you put into listening.Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges here.Show NotesCross Training - "Different Voices" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 52Like the Teacher: Luke 2:40-52 (VERSE)Here’s the Story: Rehoboam’s Foolish Advisors (VERSE)“Prone to Hyperbole” (WEEKLY EPISODE)The Bible Geeks Facebook Group (FACEBOOK)Support the Show

Check Yourself Before You Wreck YourselfWhy do we tend to think we’re alone in our struggles, and how do we reconnect? If God knows me better than I know myself, and he also loves me more than I love myself — how do those truths change my commitments? And where do we find joy when it isn’t close at hand? This week we set Poetry in Motion with David’s extraordinary, intimate prayer in Psalm 139, learning to live as an open book before God. And in our opening discussion of Matthew 7:1-5, Bryan throws back to a nosy neighbor from TV’s Golden era while Ryan draws some observations from early dot com culture. The lessons from these passages bring us back to ourselves and the challenging task of seeing ourselves clearly and getting to work.The Big Idea: God’s work in us requires our honesty with him.Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges here.Show NotesCross Training - "Regular Checkup" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 51Like the Teacher: Matthew 7:1-5 (VERSE)Poetry in Motion: Psalm 139 (VERSE)Gladys Kravitz (VIDEO)I Want It Now (VIDEO)The Bible Geeks Facebook Group (FACEBOOK)Support the Show

Desire and Seek God’s GoodnessMake sure you eat before this week's episode or you might get hungry! Our discussion of hungering and thirsting for righteousness brought on a lot of food talk! We go from Michael Phelps' diet to Elf's Clause-o-meter, as 4 Proverbs encourage us to align our desires with God's, burn lots of spiritual calories, and stay hungry! We learn how to savor God's goodness and even to find the good in the bitter things of life. And some Through the Week challenges whet our appetite and lead us to some self-reflection about what these year has left us "hungry" for. It's a smorgasbord of Bible flavors, so get your plate and dive in!The Big Idea: The more we taste God’s goodness, the more hungry we are for more. And the greater our hunger, the more we find.Weekly Challenges: Find this week’s Through the Week challenges here.Show NotesCross Training - "Gasping for Air" (DAILY DOWNLOAD)Cross Training - Through the Week Challenges - Week 50Like the Teacher: Matthew 5:3-12 (VERSE)Michael Phelps’ 10,000 Calorie Diet (ARTICLE)The Bible Geeks Facebook Group (FACEBOOK)