Driven By The Bible

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”‭‭John‬ ‭15:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬Jesus and the writers of the New Testament talk a lot about fruit. It’s a metaphor for a life energized by the Holy Spirit. What is this fruit? And what do we do when we don’t see it in our lives?Let’s talk about it!

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬In a world that tells us to be proud, confident, ambitious, strong, and aggressive, Christ gives us an example to follow that is loving, kind, meek, gentle, and tenderhearted. It’s the example of being like a child. Let’s talk about it!

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬What do Mr. Rogers and Les Miserables have to do wit you today’s “verse of the day?” I guess you’ll have to listen to today’s podcast to find out! Let’s talk about it!

“...for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬One of my favorite stories in the Bible is that of Paul and Timothy. It’s such a beautiful example of how we are to think about the Kingdom of God. Our standing before the Almighty isn’t based on whether we are Jew or Gentile or neither - but upon the grace and mercy of our loving Father. Let’s talk about it!

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬The Christian life is a life of suffering. It’s something that can’t be ignored. But standing firm in our faith in God and our understanding of who we are in relation to Him, helps us persevere through this suffering. Let’s talk about it!

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬If you think that salvation is simply a transaction whereby you are released from and eternity in Hell and welcomed into an eternity in Heaven, you have missed the essence of the Gospel. The Gospel is about experiencing the reason you were created: to be with God. And the only way to experience that is through Jesus Christ. Let’s talk about it!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”‭‭John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭ESV‬‬The type of peace that Jesus promises is not peace that comes as a result of everything in our lives falling into perfect place. It’s quite different than that. It is a peace that endures in spite of the chaos in the world around us. And it only comes through obedience to Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s talk about it!

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬Praise. Kindness. Prayer. Thanksgiving. Faith in God’s overwhelming love. These are the steps to an unexplainable, incomprehensible, illogical peace. If you are feeling worry, hurt, fear, anxiety, or stress, this episode is for you. Let’s talk about it!

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬What does it mean to have our minds “stayed” on the Lord? Let’s talk about it!

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:6-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬We live in a temporary state. We are given new a new life - focused on the enteral realm. But we live in a corrupt, fallen temporary physical realm. When we forget that, we inevitably fall short and disobey God Let’s talk about it!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”‭‭James‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬What do you do, when you don’t know what to do? That’s what today’s verse of the day is all about. Let’s talk about it!

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬Satan attacks us today, in the same way he attacked Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: pride and control. The Apostle Peter warned the early Church to be on guard against these attacks. Let’s talk about it!

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬ In Galatians 5, Paul compares and contrasts the lives of those who walk according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, versus those who walk according to their freshly desires. It's a sharp contrast. Let's talk about it!

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:114‬ ‭ESV‬‬When God inspired King David to write Psalms 119, He led him to divide it into sections of the Hebrew alphabet. The section for today’s verse, is labeled with the Hebrew letter “samekh.” It is a letter that symbolizes the protection and authority of the Almighty God. Let’s talk about it!

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19‬ ‭ESV‬‬The Great Commission is so familiar on Evangelical Christianity, that it has lost some of its power. What if we understood it the same way the disciples of Jesus did? Let’s talk about it!

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬Why do we exist? What were we created for? Understanding this changes everything. And it's what this verse is pointing toward. Let's talk about it!

“...but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭ESV‬‬Have you ever faced a time in your life when God seemed so distant that questioned whether He was even real? As a nation, Israel did. What does God have to say to us when we feel this way?Let’s talk about it!

“...fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬Why do we see this emphasis in Scripture on the “right hand of God?” What is so important about it, and why should we focus on it?Let’s talk about it!

“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬Many today will pick up the phone and talk to their dad or go to lunch with them to wish them happy Father’s Day. But for others, that may not be a possibility. But we have a Father is Heaven who is listening to us and loves us. Let’s talk about it!

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:33‬ ‭ESV‬‬Paul teaches that all have equal standing before God - both Jew and Gentile. So does this mean that God is finished with his plan for the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?Let’s talk about it!