The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

The goal of a debate or a discussion about the Faith should not be to win; the goal should be to share Christ. This involves more than just telling people what Scripture says, it involves listening to where they are coming from and then giving them an answer that meets the pain and angst that they are experiencing in their life. Today, Jeff gives you ten points on how to become a better listener to others so that you can touch people’s hearts and answer their questions with the message of the gospel.

How do you share your faith with someone who is opposing you or bombards you with question after question? Today Jeff shares three things to remember when sharing about the Catholic Faith. You have the opportunity to change someone’s life, so be prepared to give the world what you have!

Whether it’s a product, new food fad, or political view, you’re probably tired of being sold things. With all the noise in our culture, here is what we aren’t hearing. We aren’t hearing a lot of people bringing up Jesus Christ and the wisdom of God in everything going on around us. We can listen to all the news and keep up with the latest trends, but the bottom line is, are we really seeking God and not the world in every aspect of our lives?

Did Vincent Van Gogh really commit suicide, or is there more to the story than we think? In light of recent suicides (Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain) Jeff comes to you with a special episode on preventing and responding to suicides. Speaking from personal experience, he shares the signs that typically lead to someone wanting to take their life. He also shares ideas as to how you can respond, what the Church teaches, and practical things you can do if you or someone you know is feeling depressed.

We all have fallen into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. In an age of social media, constant comparison is hard to avoid and it leads to us feeling bad or anxious about our own lives compared to those of our 500+ closest online friends. Jeff explains the dangers of comparison and shows you how to look to God when you start down this path.

There are so many things vying for our attention these days. After making ends meet we maybe have an hour or two per day where we have the opportunity to participate in activities that we personally enjoy. Before you know it you are on YouTube learning about organic carrot farming or motorcycles and then those few precious moments are gone. Oftentimes, this is when we either win or lose the battle in our relationship with the Lord. Spiritual boredom doesn't happen overnight. You slide into it until you finally realize how much your relationship with the Lord has suffered. If you are thinking “wow this is me” and feel like you need a break from this slippery slope, then listen to Jeff’s three tips on how to avoid spiritual boredom. There is nothing more powerful and fruitful than a relationship with the Lord. Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

Listen as Jeff reflects on his recent trip to Israel...

Whether within our family, social, or professional lives, we all have made mistakes and failed the Lord. What should you do when you fall and become discouraged or disappointed? How do you get back up to where you were before? Today Jeff tells the story of Peter, who—after denying Jesus three times—fell into sadness and despair. In one of the most tender moments in the Bible though, Jesus lifts Peter up in kindness and mercy. Learn how our God is the God of second chances and how we too can be lifted back up. Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

There is something powerful about a name. Parents take great care in choosing a name for their children and as children grow, they become their name. The same is true for every name of God. They are not mere human inventions. Each name is a revelatory instrument given at a specific time, for a specific purpose, to reveal a specific aspect of his nature. In today’s episode, take a look at how God revealed himself throughout salvation history and what it means to you.

We make thousands of decisions a day, but it's the BIG decisions that we struggle with. Should I take that job? Where should I go to school? Is it best for my family to move out of state? Sometimes these questions can really weigh on us and when we don’t have criteria to aid us in making the decision, we hastily make a poor decision simply because we ran out of time and were forced to make a choice. Obviously we cannot make decisions for one another, but today Jeff shares seven points of guidance from the Bible that will help you make a wise decision for yourself, your family, and your eternal life. Stay tuned, now that’s a good decision!

They murdered his grandfather then labeled him a terrorist for being Catholic. His best friend’s dad was shot dead in front of his six children. This is Joe Mckeown’s story of growing up Catholic in the chaos of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Listen as he shares his journey to healing, peace, and ultimately forgiveness.

Today Jeff answers the important questions you have been asking. From Bibles to minimalism and the Jewish Kabbalah to Christian youth groups, Jeff dives deep into our faith. Every question is a good question, so if you have any that you would like Jeff to answer in a future episode, please feel free to email [email protected].

Do you feel alone at church? Perhaps your parish does not offer faith formation programs and while you want to start one, no one else seems to be interested. Perhaps your feel like the only parishioner who actively wants to deepen their faith. Today, Jeff offers you words of encouragement. God often works through the remnant (a small remaining quantity of something). He may be calling you to do something within your parish. God depends on the remnant to bring the gospel to the world. What can God do through you in your parish? Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

Do you remember the first word you said this morning? What do you do right before you go to bed? Many of us are guilty of spending those last few minutes or hours of the day on social media or watching late night television. This leads to us quickly falling asleep without a second thought about the day we just lived, or a game plan for the next. In this episode, Jeff introduces a new way for you to end the day. He explains how spending those last few moments of each day in prayer can dramatically improve your relationship with others and with the Lord. Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

Do you ever get caught up in a sin, only to have it come back like a tyrannical ruler dictating the rest of your day, bringing you down, and not letting you move forward? Sometimes sin, especially when we fall into the same sin repeatedly, causes us to think of ourselves as “damaged goods” that we can never be the same again. In this episode, Jeff encourages you to start looking at yourself through God’s eyes. As long as there is life, there is hope. Let go of your past and walk with God into your future. We’d Love to Hear from You Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

We all desperately need hope in our lives, especially when we feel alone. Today, Jeff defines true hope, explains how you can walk in this hope, and describes the surprising difference between using the words “hope” and “hopefully.” Learn to stand on the hope God gave you as a foundation for your life. Discover how the very thing causing you despair and pain can become a door of hope for you. We’d Love to Hear from You Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

Did Catholics make up the papacy? Some people sure think so. In today’s episode, Jeff shows how it’s not Catholics who created the papacy, but God himself. Learn how the Old Testament contains a hidden blueprint for the role of the pope—a blueprint that Jesus Christ follows when he says to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

Jeff shares his personal formula for creating a successful movement within your parish. You might be surprised when you hear his approach to ministry. He also shares the incredible story of Stephanie and how one sudden moment led her to forgiveness, love, and deepened faith.

Does it ever bother you when someone chews ice right next to you, breathes a little too loudly, or hogs all the cashews? Today you will learn how to strengthen your relationship with God by improving your relationship with other people. Become a better disciple and learn how to live and love in the midst of these everyday annoyances that can sometimes drive you crazy. Afterwards, ask yourself, “Is there someone I have a problem with that I can honor today?” We’d Love to Hear from You Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

Every single one of us is going to suffer at one time or another, but the questions is: how are we going to go through that suffering. Are we going to suffer well or are we going to suffer poorly? Whether you are currently in the midst of suffering or want to learn how to suffer well, Jeff’s fifteen ideas will completely change the way you approach suffering in your life. To find out more about the Fulfilled Bible Study recommended by Jeff in this episode go to Ascensionpress.com. We’d Love to Hear from You Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

“Where your treasure is there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)” In this episode, Jeff helps and challenges you to locate the treasure in your life. What is it that you pursue, protect, or are preoccupied with? If your heart is in your hobbies, property, or 401k then there is your treasure. But if your heart lies within the kingdom, your treasure will follow. While listening to this episode, take a look at your life right now to discover God’s will in it. There is no better way to invest in your spiritual wallet. We’d Love to Hear from You Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

While we don’t swear in a vulgar way (that is not who we are), we do swear in a heavenly language. This is exactly what the sacraments are all about. During antiquity, the Latin word “sacramentum” meant “to designate an oath” which was sworn in the making of a family covenant so as to bond two families together. Today, when we participate in the sacraments, we partake in a sacred encounter with God. We swear an oath to uphold the terms of the covenant and receive the benefits of God. In this episode, Jeff dives deep into the sacraments and explains how they bond us together with God.

Have you ever felt like David up against your own Goliaths in life? In today’s episode, Jeff takes some basic principles from the epic battle of David and Goliath and shows you how to use them for your battles. Take off the armor the world provides you, choose your most powerful weapon (hint: you can take it with you anywhere) and prepare to fight your battle through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Just as you can share a cup of coffee, so can you share the gospel with others. This sharing of the gospel is called kerygma. In this episode, Jeff breaks down kerygma so you can discover how simple it can be to share Christ with your family, co-workers, friends, neighbors, and more. 7 Parts/Messages of the Kerygma: 1) God loves you and has plan for your life. – Yes, God the Father loves you and seeks you. And that ache in your heart, that longing, that yearning, and that “never satisfied” quality in your desires all point to God and he has written his name in your heart. He wants to turn you away from a passing and unsatisfying world, towards him. He wants to save you and prepare you to live with him for all eternity. He wants to fill the God sized hole in your heart and its infinite longing with his infinite Love. (CCC 1). 2) Sin will destroy you. – Nothing is so destructive in your life and this world as sin. It is desire gone wrong, it is rooted in the lie that the creature rather than the Creator can help and save us. Cultivating sin will put you in bondage to desires gone mad that will not ultimately be satisfied. Satan is lying to you and saying that rebellion form the One who made will bring happiness to you. It will not. And you know this already don’t you? Sin and indulgence does not ultimately satisfy. The world cannot satisfy, for it is finite and your desire is infinite. Sin does not ultimately bring happiness, it brings bondage, addiction, dissatisfaction, and ultimately resentment and spiritual death. 3) Christ Jesus died to save you. – Into this mess of our wayward desires and our foolish grasping at worldly trinkets Jesus came. He met the woman at the well (who is us) and told her that every who drinks form this well (the world) will be thirsty again. In other words, the world cannot ultimately satisfy or save us. We must die to this world and rise to God. But our way to God was cut off by sin. Jesus came and reopened the way to the Father by dying to this world, to its lies and false claims. Rising and Ascending he has re-opened the way to the Father, our hearts true desire. Now we can be saved by being led back to the Father by the saving power of Jesus. And dying to this world, we can one day fully be satisfied by God. 4) Repent and believe the Gospel. – To repent means to come to a new mind, to come to understand and accept all that has been stated: that the Lord loves me, is calling me in my desires, and want to save me from the sinful drives that will destroy me. It is time for me to come to believe in this Love God has form me and accept the promise and salvation of his love: Jesus Christ and the saving truth he proclaims. 5) Be Baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. – And thus in Baptism our sins are washed away, we are incorporated into Christ, we become a member of his body. And having done so, the Holy Spirit, the life, love, serenity, joy and wisdom of God comes to dwell in me and begins a work of transforming me, that includes the other Sacraments as well. 6) Abide in Christ and his body the Church. – Grow in this relationship with Jesus and His Father in the Holy Spirit by living in the life of the Church, which is Jesus presence and Body in this world. Abide there, that is go on dwelling there. 7) Go make disciples. – And so the cycle repeats with the newly Evangelized and more deeply rooted Christian calling others.

Jeff Cavins worked with Mother Angelica for years, and he is often asked, “What was Mother Angelica like?” This week, Jeff shares some of his personal encounters with and stories about a nun who revolutionized media evangelization. More Great Resources from Jeff Find free blogs, videos, and resources about Scripture and the Catholic faith at http://biblestudyforcatholics.com/. Learn more about The Great Adventure Bible Timeline and preview any study for free. For an easy way to transform your approach to reading Scripture, check out Jeff’s Bible Timeline Chart. For an illustrated resource introducing God’s love story to children while helping them to understand how the Catholic Church is the body of Christ on Earth try The Great Adventure Storybook. We’d Love to Hear from You Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

Below are eight questions that can act as a guide in making a good New Year's resolution. Ask yourself the following questions: Will this resolution draw me toward Christ or away from Him? Sometimes our goals become self-centered and tend to draw us away from Christ and onto our own agenda. Keep a holy card or crucifix with you when you consider a New Year's resolution. Will this resolution enhance my vocation in life? In other words, will it help me as a parent, spouse, single person, priest, or religious? Starting with your vocation is a great place to determine future action. For example, if you are a father some of your decisions are already made. Becoming a better father is something that you know God wants you to do, even more than fitting into that pair of pants in your closet. Does this resolution have eternal impact on my life and those around me? The decisions that we make today have eternal impact, so it becomes important to budget your time and resources accordingly. Have I prayed about it and asked God to lead me in my decisions? James 4:15 says that our future decisions should keep in mind the phrase, “if it is the Lord's will.” We must always qualify our plans with this phrase as sometimes it may be the will of the Lord for us to accomplish a certain thing, but we may be off when it comes to the timing. Will this resolution take time and resources away from those around me who really depend upon me? We only have so many hours in a day and so many dollars in the bank, so it becomes very important to ask ourselves if the main things in our lives are being taken care of or neglected? If you have a family, it's a good idea to consult your spouse if you are about to allocate funds or time for your special project. Am I prepared to accompany my resolution with prayer and fortitude? The prophet Zechariah once said, “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” Simply making the resolution will not bring about the desired results. Rather, fortitude and a constant reliance upon the spirit of God is what brings about the victory in our lives. Ask yourself if you are prepared to soak this change in your life with daily prayer. Am I prepared to sacrifice and offer up that which is uncomfortable in order to attain my resolution? Whether it be in sports or in the spiritual life, becoming good at something does not come without practice and sacrifice. As “location” is the key to real estate, so practice is the key to the virtuous life. Change comes by habitually practicing the good. Does this resolution further your walk with Christ and glorify the Lord or does vanity compel you? It's a wonderful thing to be physically fit, but if being fit is for the purpose of getting noticed, then your heart is in the wrong place. Become fit so that you can be a more effective witness for Christ. Remember all those times you said, "I'm too tired to do (fill in the blank)?

During the Christmas season, we pause to think about the impact of one very special life—the life of Jesus—on the life of every single human being throughout history. It might be easy to see Christ's impact on the world, but do we ever pause to reflect on how precious and powerful every single human life is? Do you ever take time to think about how your life has powerfully impacted the world around you in ways you might not even know? Today's episode reflects on how every life carries great meaning in God's greater plan.

During the Christmas season, we pause to think about the impact of one very special life—the life of Jesus—on the life of every single human being throughout history. It might be easy to see Christ's impact on the world, but do we ever pause to reflect on how precious and powerful every single human life is? Do you ever take time to think about how your life has powerfully impacted the world around you in ways you might not even know? Today's episode reflects on how every life carries great meaning in God's greater plan. Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at [email protected]. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!

As Catholics, we're used to praying prayers that we find on holy cards. It's a beautiful tradition, but sometimes it can feel like the prayer we are praying is hard to fully make our own. In this episode, Jeff reminds us that we don't have to be saints to write our own carefully crafted prayers—prayers that help us enter more fully into the different seasons of our life. After listening, you might just want to write your own holy card.

Each and every day of the believer’s life should be lived with an understanding that God keeps a calendar. By following his calendar, we won't waste time and energy during the course of our life, because the calendar will keep us focused on God's will rather than our own. This week, Jeff Cavins discusses how the liturgical year helps us anchor our lives in God's life.

Jeff gives ten tips to help you live a spirit of gratitude in every season of your life.

Are you on the spiritual “bunny hill?” Have you practiced your faith enough to be able to handle harder challenges, or are you still operating in the faith of your childhood? In this episode, Jeff encourages you to commit to your faith in a serious way and mature in it every day.

Catholics are comfortable reciting prayers out loud, but that's not the only way we're instructed to pray. We're called to speak to God in the most natural way. Wouldn't you like to be able to talk to God out loud just as you would talk to a loved one sitting beside you? In this episode, Jeff Cavins gives you advice to help you start your own conversation with God—out loud.

Jeff Cavins has an announcement to make: He's done watching network news. In this episode, he reminds us that instead of passively consuming the "same old same old" from the news, we can use our time to grow in our relationship with God and with others.

Have you ever put down your smartphone only to realize an hour has gone by? Do certain apps tempt you to sin? Are you sometimes overwhelmed with a desire to have the latest and greatest technologies? Here are ten simple ways you can “baptize” your smartphone for the glory of God and for your spiritual growth, while becoming more a part of God’s family, the Church.

What's the difference between "believe-ism" and true Christian faith? In this episode, Jeff explains how to distinguish between the two, and he points out how we can more fully entrust ourselves to Christ and walk in faith, uncertain as life may be.

Catholicism is filled with beautiful complexities, but when it comes time to explain our Catholic faith to a friend, we often don't know where to begin. In this week's episode, Jeff gives tips to help us start the conversation, and he reminds us to remember the most important reason for sharing our faith- God's desire to be in relationship with each of his children.

Do you need some humility in your life? This week's episode of the Jeff Cavins Show is for you. Learn new ways to grow in humility starting today, and discover the fruits that will come from that growth.

If God were to design a test to help diagnose the root of any problems in a marriage, he might ask about three areas in a couple's life together. Have both spouses left their old ways behind them? Have both spouses cleaved to one another in difficult times? Has the couple truly become one in their core beliefs and vision for life? Jeff walks through these questions, helping couples troubleshoot their marriages and more fully embrace God's plan for their lives.

Forgiving isn't easy, but it's what we're called to do. In this episode, Jeff encourages us to show mercy to others just as Christ has shown mercy to us, and he suggests several concrete actions we can take to forgive those in our lives who have hurt us.

You might think you need to be well-versed in theology to be an evangelizer, but Jeff wants you to know that evangelizing is easier than you think. To demonstrate how opportunities for evangelization naturally present themselves in the midst of normal life, he shares a moving story from his most recent motorcycle trip through the mountains of Montana.

What's your instinct when you're discouraged? Are you tempted to sulk and to draw away from God? Today's show will uplift you and give you a powerful tool to help you resist that discouragement and dwell in hope, instead.

Are you distressed by today's political landscape? Jeff gives a scriptural perspective on the anger that is brewing across political spectrums. He reminds us that as Christians, we are not ultimately political creatures but children of a God who promises to redeem our fallen humanity.