Sunday Daily Affirmations: I Enter This Week with Expectancy, Not Fear (Romans 15:13) Sunday is for looking ahead with God. Before the week begins, we pause and place what's coming into His hands. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a steady way to enter the week grounded, attentive, and trusting God to lead you one day at a time. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Sunday affirmations and Scripture I place this coming week in God's hands. Psalm 31:15 — "My times are in Your hands." I trust God to guide my steps. Psalm 37:23 — "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him." I enter this week with expectancy, not fear. Romans 15:13 — "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him." I invite God into every moment ahead. Proverbs 16:3 — "Commit to the Lord whatever you do." I trust God to order my priorities. Matthew 6:33 — "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." I receive God's wisdom for the days ahead. James 1:5 — "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God." I walk into this week anchored in truth. Psalm 119:105 — "Your word is a lamp to my feet." I trust God with what I cannot foresee. Isaiah 46:10 — "I make known the end from the beginning." I choose faith over anticipation of stress. Psalm 56:3 — "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." I rely on God's grace for each day. 2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you." I trust God's timing this week. Habakkuk 2:3 — "Though it linger, wait for it." I remain open to God's leading. Psalm 25:4 — "Show me Your ways, Lord." I step forward with humility and trust. Micah 6:8 — "What does the Lord require of you? To walk humbly with your God." I depend on God's strength, not my own. Psalm 68:35 — "God gives strength and power to His people." I trust God with every conversation and decision. Proverbs 20:24 — "A person's steps are directed by the Lord." I choose obedience over control. John 14:23 — "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching." I walk into this week aware of God's presence. Exodus 33:14 — "My Presence will go with you." I trust God to work through ordinary moments. Zechariah 4:10 — "Do not despise these small beginnings." I release anxiety about outcomes. Psalm 112:7 — "They will have no fear of bad news." I remain attentive to God's voice. John 10:27 — "My sheep listen to My voice." I trust God to meet my needs. Philippians 4:19 — "My God will meet all your needs." I step into this week with courage. Psalm 31:24 — "Be strong and take heart." I trust God to shape my character. Romans 8:29 — "To be conformed to the image of His Son." I begin this week grounded in hope. Hebrews 6:19 — "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul." I rest in God's faithfulness as I move forward. Psalm 33:4 — "The word of the Lord is right and true." Closing prayer God, as I step into this new week, I place everything ahead of me in Your care. Go before me, guide my steps, and help me stay attentive to You. I trust You with what's coming, one day at a time. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturday Daily Affirmations: I Release Regret (Psalm 32:5) Saturday is a good day to slow down and look back over your week with God. Not to replay everything or overthink it, but to notice where He met you, where He carried you, and where His grace showed up. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a gentle way to reflect with honesty and gratitude before the new week begins. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Saturday affirmations and Scripture I thank God for walking with me through this week. Psalm 143:10 — "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." I recognize God's faithfulness in both the seen and unseen moments. Psalm 77:11 — "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago." I release regret and receive God's grace. Psalm 32:5 — "Then I acknowledged my sin to You... and You forgave the guilt of my sin." I trust that God was at work even when I didn't notice. Ecclesiastes 3:11 — "He has made everything beautiful in its time." I give thanks for the strength God provided each day. Psalm 28:7 — "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me." I acknowledge where I grew this week. 2 Peter 3:18 — "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I notice where God invited me to trust Him more deeply. Psalm 37:5 — "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." I receive God's mercy for where I fell short. Micah 7:18 — "You delight in mercy." I choose gratitude over self-criticism. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — "Give thanks in all circumstances." I honor the work God has been doing in my heart. Philippians 1:6 — "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." I acknowledge God's presence in ordinary moments. Psalm 16:11 — "You make known to me the path of life." I release this week into God's care. Psalm 55:22 — "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." I trust God with what remains unfinished. Proverbs 16:9 — "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." I thank God for His patience with me. Psalm 103:8 — "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." I rest in the truth that God sees me fully. Hebrews 4:13 — "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." I choose to end this week with gratitude. Psalm 92:1 — "It is good to give thanks to the Lord." I release comparison and embrace contentment. Hebrews 13:5 — "Be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you.'" I acknowledge God's protection this week. Psalm 121:7 — "The Lord will keep you from all harm." I thank God for His provision. Matthew 6:31-32 — "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them." I recognize God's quiet guidance. Isaiah 30:21 — "This is the way; walk in it." I let go of striving and receive rest. Psalm 23:2 — "He leads me beside quiet waters." I honor the limits God has given me. Psalm 127:2 — "He grants sleep to those He loves." I trust God with what I do not understand. Romans 11:33 — "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God." I receive peace as I reflect with God. Psalm 4:7 — "You have filled my heart with greater joy." I end this week grounded in God's faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23 — "Great is Your faithfulness." Closing prayer God, thank You for walking with me through this week. Help me to see Your faithfulness clearly and to release what I need to let go of. I trust that You were present in ways I noticed and in ways I didn't. I place this week back into Your hands. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year around this time I get the same question. What do we do about Halloween? You'll hear everything from it's a free-for-all with no spiritual implication, to turn the lights off and hide in the house. My answer lands somewhere in the middle, and it starts here: I don't want to live in a way that hands the devil my days. Today we take on Halloween, and then a harder question about free will and the passages where God hardens a heart. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe How should Christians handle Halloween? I'm answering this as both a parent and a former children's pastor. I grew up in a conservative Christian environment and later served in a charismatic one, so I've watched different churches handle this very differently. Here's my baseline. As Christians we're called to take light into the darkness, not run from it. Most Christians would agree. But for some reason we treat Halloween as the one exception. I don't want to give the devil any of my days. If I'm on this earth a hundred years and I hide every Halloween, that's a hundred days I handed over out of fear. That said, I won't pretend there's nothing there. There are real spiritual implications around Halloween. So my answer isn't either extreme. What does a good alternative look like? When I was a children's pastor, we did a trunk or treat. We played music from Jump Start 3, a ministry that set Scripture to music kids actually liked, and gave away their CDs. We served a lot of low income families whose kids didn't get CDs bought for them. We used that same music in Sunday school because it got God's Word into kids in a way they remembered. We had rules for the trunks. Nothing evil, nothing scary, nothing representing the occult. We had a Candyland trunk and an apple harvest trunk. We ran contests and giveaways and made it a genuinely fun night, so families had somewhere good to go. If your church does something like that, it's a great option. When does a church alternative go wrong? I've also seen the other side of it. We took our youngest daughter to a trunk or treat at a local church. They'd advertised a fall harvest party, so we weren't expecting anything unusual. It turned out to be inside the building, and to get in you had to walk through a black tunnel with skeletons on the walls, stinky smoke, and fire. I thought maybe it was one of those heaven-or-hell presentations, which I'm not a fan of, but you couldn't turn around and you couldn't get out. When we came through, the gymnasium was covered in scary, creepy Halloween decorations. My husband and I looked at each other and we were out. Then we met the pastor and he told us they wanted to make it even scarier next year. That's losing the plot entirely. There's no reason to invite families into a church building and hand them a haunted house. What else can we do on Halloween? We're called to live in the world and not of it, so this has looked like different things for our family over the years. Sometimes when we went house to house, we gave something instead of taking something. Sometimes we'd make it an exchange and ask people if they needed prayer. Here's what I keep coming back to. Yes, there is evil happening that night. It's also a night when kids and families are out looking for something. They are literally going door to door asking. If you live in a neighborhood with kids, you could hand out Scripture music, or candy with a Bible verse attached. Or you could simply say, I love your costume, is there anything you need prayer for? This is one of the few nights a year when we have a natural reason to meet our neighbors. If we have the good news, why wouldn't we offer it on a night when people are at our door asking for something? Now, if you start handing out ghosts and goblins, you've missed the plot. But hiding with the lights off and pretending we're not home is literally hiding your light under a bushel. We all learned that song as kids. Halloween is a good chance to actually live it. What about my kids? If you're going to participate, it comes with a conversation, and it's still your responsibility to protect your children. Letting them dress up as a witch is not okay. But there are plenty of options. They can be a favorite character or dress up as popcorn. There's a lot of room between a witch costume and hiding in the house. While you're out, if a house looks evil, you skip it. Or maybe you pray for it. Or maybe you go up and offer to pray for those people. That depends on the age of your kids. If you have a four-year-old, I wouldn't. If you have a sixteen-year-old, maybe you should. If we take the mentality of hiding from evil, where does it stop? We're not called to hide. We're called to face it. What about "God hardened his heart" and free will? A listener wrote in accepting that God is sovereign while also believing we can choose to turn away, and wrestling with Romans 9 and the Pharaoh passages. You're not the first to sit with this. Scholars have discussed it for centuries. Start in the garden. God put the tree there and gave a real command with a real consequence. That means they had a choice, and that matters, because love that can't say no isn't love. It's control. That theme runs all the way through. Moses sets before Israel life and death and tells them to choose life. Joshua says choose this day whom you will serve. God calls people to respond, but He doesn't force it. So what about Pharaoh? Before the plagues begin, God tells Moses that Pharaoh's heart will be hardened. Read that alone and it's troubling. Read the whole story and something else emerges. Again and again, Pharaoh hardens his own heart. He sees God's power, experiences a plague, asks Moses to stop it, the plague is removed, then he changes his mind and hardens his heart again. Only later does Exodus say the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart. This isn't a willing heart that God forces into rebellion. Pharaoh is already resisting. God allows that resistance to solidify and uses it for His purpose. The Hebrew helps. One word is chazaq, meaning to strengthen or make firm. When I taught this to kids I compared it to Jell-O. The ingredients are all there, and eventually they set. Another is kabed, carrying the sense of making something heavy. The picture is God confirming Pharaoh in a direction he already chose. That connects to Romans 1, where three times Paul says God gave them over to the sin they had chosen. Sometimes God's judgment isn't forcing someone to do what they don't want. It's allowing them further down the road they keep insisting on. How should I read Romans 9? In context, which means reading 9, 10, and 11 together. Those chapter divisions were added centuries later by scribes. Paul doesn't open Romans 9 with a lecture on predestination. He opens by grieving, saying he has unceasing anguish because his own people have rejected Jesus. The question he's answering is whether God's promise to Israel failed. His answer is no. God's purposes have not failed, and He has always been free to choose how He accomplishes them. That's the context for I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. The point isn't that God randomly decides who gets saved. It's that He decides how He accomplishes His plan. Keep reading. In chapter 10, Paul says everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Everyone. Then that Israel can be grafted back in, and eventually that God has bound everyone over to disobedience so He may have mercy on them all. How do both things hold together? Scripture doesn't feel the need to pick one and throw out the other. At Pentecost, Peter says Jesus was handed over according to God's deliberate plan, and in the same breath tells the people they were responsible for His death. Paul says work out your salvation with fear and trembling, then adds that it is God who works in you. We also read difficult passages in light of clear ones. God wants all people to be saved. Jesus stood over Jerusalem and said how often He longed to gather her children, and they were not willing. So here's where I land. God is sovereign and nothing is outside His authority, and our choices are real. I don't believe God creates some people for salvation and others for hell. That isn't consistent with His character, and predestining someone to hell and then holding them responsible for a choice they were never free to make throws out free will entirely. He is powerful enough to accomplish His purposes even when people resist. Pharaoh said no and God didn't lose control. Mystery isn't the same thing as contradiction. When we want to know what God is like, we look at Jesus. Timestamps 00:00 Why we do Q&A episodes 01:40 The Halloween question 03:06 Taking light into the darkness 03:32 A hundred years, a hundred days 04:32 What our trunk or treat looked like 06:25 The trunk or treat that went wrong 07:51 When churches lose the plot 08:17 Giving instead of taking 08:47 They're already at your door asking 09:45 Hiding your light under a bushel 10:13 Talking with your kids about it 11:26 The free will question 14:22 What about Pharaoh? 16:31 Chazaq and kabed 18:37 Reading Romans 9 in context 26:36 Where I land on it 28:27 Mystery is not contradiction Frequently asked questions What is Jump Start 3? A music ministry that set Scripture to music kids enjoyed. We used it in Sunday school and gave the CDs away at our trunk or treat. How do I send in a question? Through the SpeakPipe link above. You can stay anonymous, or ask me to email you back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday Daily Affirmations: God's Grace Is Greater Than My Failures (Lamentations 3:22-23) End your week anchored in peace and presence. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to set down what you've been carrying and find rest in God's care. Today's affirmations are about releasing your burdens, letting go of striving, and remembering that God's strength, love, and renewal are available right where you are. It's time to stop striving and start resting in His goodness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin The week is ending, and as we step into the weekend, let's take a moment to breathe. Release your burdens and rest in God's presence. We're not meant to carry everything ourselves. God calls us to lay our worries at His feet and find renewal in Him. Friday affirmations and Scripture I release my worries and trust God to handle what I cannot. 1 Peter 5:7 God's peace fills my heart and I rest in His presence. Matthew 11:28 I am not defined by my mistakes. God's grace is greater than my failures. Lamentations 3:22-23 I let go of the need to control everything and surrender to God's perfect plan. Proverbs 3:5-6 I am deeply loved by God and nothing can separate me from His love. Romans 8:38-39 God refreshes my soul and renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will be fully present today, trusting that God holds tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 My body, mind, and spirit find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 I let go of striving and choose to rest in God's love. Zephaniah 3:17 I step into the weekend with joy, knowing that God is in control. Psalm 118:24 God's presence is my safe place. Psalm 91:1 I am fully known and fully loved by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I will not let stress steal my peace today. Philippians 4:6-7 God is my refuge and I am safe in His hands. Psalm 46:1 I do not need to have all the answers. I trust God. Romans 11:33 God is fighting my battles and I can rest in His victory. Exodus 14:14 I will not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:13 I am held together by God's love even when life feels overwhelming. Colossians 1:17 God's goodness and mercy follow me every day. Psalm 23:6 I will not carry burdens that God has already taken from me. Matthew 11:29-30 I am at peace because God is in control. Isaiah 26:3 I trust in God's timing even when I don't understand. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will lay down my burdens and take on God's. Psalm 4:8 I am never alone for God is always with me. Deuteronomy 31:6 No matter what happens today, God is still good. Nahum 1:7 Closing prayer Father, as this week comes to an end, I lay my burdens at Your feet. Help me to release my worries, rest in Your peace, and trust You with everything I cannot control. Refresh my heart and renew my spirit so I can step into the weekend with joy. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I know what a lot of you are thinking. The genealogy. Are we really going there? We are, and there's a reason. If God had wanted a clean family tree for His Son, He had the power to arrange one. Instead He built this one, out of the overlooked and the outsider and the people who were wronged. Today we're finishing Luke 3 by walking through the lineage of Jesus and the women hidden inside a list that never names them. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Why does Luke put the genealogy here? Matthew opens his gospel with a genealogy. Luke buries his at the end of chapter three, right after the baptism and right before the temptation. Luke is a details guy, so the placement is intentional. Look at what comes immediately before. The heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice says you are my beloved Son. Then Luke runs the family line all the way back to Adam, who he calls the son of God. And look at what comes right after. Next week we study the temptation, where the enemy says if you are the Son of God. So Luke sandwiches this family tree between heaven declaring the sonship of Jesus and the devil attacking it. In the ancient world, genealogies were identity documents. Why does it say Jesus was about thirty? Thirty was a meaningful number. The Levites entered temple service at thirty. David became king at thirty. Joseph entered Pharaoh's service at thirty. Ezekiel's visions began at thirty. It was the age a man was considered ready to carry the responsibility of ministry. Luke says about thirty because he's a careful historian. The point is that this is not a kid. He's ready. Why is Luke's genealogy different from Matthew's? Matthew starts with Abraham and walks down through David to Jesus. He's making a Jewish case, laying out the royal credentials. Luke flips it. He starts with Jesus and walks backward through David, past Abraham, all the way to Adam, and then one step further to God. That difference is intentional. Matthew stops at Abraham because his point is the covenant with Israel. Luke pushes past Abraham because his point is the entire human race. He's a Gentile writing to Gentiles, saying this is for everybody. Remember what Luke quoted from Isaiah a few verses earlier. All flesh will see the salvation of God. Matthew and Mark stop that quotation short. Luke carries it all the way through, and then he builds a family tree that backs it up. And think about the timing. John just told the crowd that having Abraham as their father wasn't enough. Then Luke shows that the family line of Jesus goes back further than Abraham anyway. Why do the two lists split after David? From Abraham to David, Matthew and Luke match. After David they diverge almost completely. Matthew traces the line through Solomon, the royal line. Luke traces it through Nathan, a different son of David. They also give different fathers for Joseph. Matthew says Jacob. Luke says Heli. Scholarship is divided. One explanation is that Luke is giving Mary's line, with Heli as her father and Joseph listed as son-in-law, since Jewish lists didn't name women. Another is that Matthew gives legal rights to the throne while Luke gives physical descent. They run through different members of the same families, so they aren't in conflict. Why does any of this matter? Here's what struck me. Most of these names appear nowhere else in Scripture. We know nothing about them. No recorded words. And they're in the line of Jesus. Dozens of people who lived and raised children and died without making a mark on history, except that they were part of the lineage of the Messiah. God was working through generations who never knew what they were part of. They died without ever seeing it. For a Jewish person, your genealogy was your identity. Wrapped up in it were land rights, your tribe, and sometimes your job. A priest had to prove descent from a priest in order to serve. And it was verifiable. Genealogies were part of the public archives, and Josephus talks about consulting them for his own work. When Luke published this list, people could go check it. Those records were destroyed when Rome leveled Jerusalem around AD 70. At the time Luke wrote, you could still look it up. Why does it end with Adam, the son of God? Luke is the only gospel writer who takes it all the way back. Paul later calls Jesus the last Adam in 1 Corinthians, and Luke is making that same connection here, using a list instead of an argument. The first Adam was tested in a garden where he had everything, and he failed. The very next thing we read in Luke is Jesus going into the wilderness, hungry for forty days, tested. And He doesn't fail. Where are the women in this list? There aren't any named. Matthew includes four. Luke includes none, because he's writing the way historians of that era wrote. But here's what I can't get past. Every name in this list required a woman. And if Luke is in fact tracing Mary's family, then this entire list is her family tree, recorded under the men's names. So let me point out a few of them. Eve, the wife of Adam. The very first promise of a rescuer in Scripture was given to her, not to Adam. God tells the serpent that her offspring will crush his head. This whole line Luke just traced is the working out of a promise spoken to a woman about her children. Adam named her Eve because she was the mother of all the living, and Luke traces Jesus back through all the living. Noah's wife. We don't know her name. We know she boarded the ark, survived the flood, and raised the sons the whole human race descends from, including Shem, who is in Luke's list. Everything after Genesis 8 runs through a woman nobody ever named. Sarah, attached to the son of Isaac. Twenty-five years waiting on a promise, into her nineties, past any reasonable hope. She laughed when she heard it. Gabriel later tells Mary that nothing is impossible with God, echoing Sarah's story to a young girl who knew it well. Leah, attached to the son of Judah. Jacob loved Rachel. Leah was the wife he didn't choose, and Genesis says plainly she wasn't loved. She names her first sons in a way that reflects that ache. Then the fourth son she names Judah, which means praise, saying this time I will praise the Lord. She stopped naming her children after the love she couldn't get and named one after the God who saw her. And Judah is the son the Messiah came through. The unloved wife is the great-grandmother of the royal line. Tamar, attached to the son of Perez. Widowed twice in Judah's family and left in limbo. Under the law she had a right to a husband from that family, and Judah withheld it. A woman with no power, denied what she was owed, who did the only thing available to keep her family line alive. Rahab, the mother of Boaz. A Canaanite living in Jericho under judgment, with a shameful job. She hid the Israelite spies because she had heard what their God had done and she believed it. Hebrews 11 lists her among the faithful. Her great-grandson was King David. Ruth, the mother of Obed. A Moabite, and Deuteronomy 23 restricted Moabites from the assembly of Israel. A widow with no children, which meant no security of any kind. She followed Naomi and Naomi's God, and gleaned leftover grain at the edges of fields, the provision the law made for the poor. Two generations in a row, the royal line runs through foreign women. Bathsheba, attached to the son of Nathan. According to 1 Chronicles 3, Nathan and Solomon had the same mother. Her story was not a clean one, and it was not one she chose. What do we do with that? Most of these women are invisible to us. Hundreds of years of women whose names we don't have, who carried babies and delivered them and fed them and taught them and buried them and kept going. All of them part of the story. And it wasn't only the respectable ones. There's a woman nobody wanted. A widow who had to fight for her place. A Canaanite with a shameful job. A foreigner from an excluded nation. A woman a king took advantage of. If God had wanted a clean family tree, He could have arranged one. He built this one instead. So if you feel unseen, or unchosen, or like your story is too messy to be useful, this list is for you. You're in good company, and the company is the family line of Jesus. My own family line is messy too. Praise God that He takes the mess and redeems it. Timestamps 00:00 Finishing Luke 3, and why we go slowly 01:28 Reading the genealogy 03:25 Prayer 04:25 Why we study genealogy at all 05:01 What comes right before and right after 06:52 Why thirty mattered 08:53 How Matthew and Luke differ 09:49 Why Luke pushes past Abraham 12:40 Two fathers for Joseph 15:57 The names we know nothing about 17:54 Verifiable in the public archives 19:19 The son of Adam, the son of God 19:49 The first Adam and the last Adam 21:07 Why there are no women in the list 22:42 Eve and the first promise 23:27 Noah's wife 23:55 Sarah and the impossible 25:49 Leah and the son named praise 26:54 Tamar 28:15 Rahab 30:24 Ruth 31:49 Bathsheba 33:37 The women we never see 34:45 If God had wanted a clean family tree Frequently asked questions Why do Matthew and Luke give different genealogies? Matthew traces the line through Solomon and Luke through Nathan, another son of David. Explanations include Luke tracing Mary's line, or Matthew giving legal throne rights while Luke gives physical descent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday Daily Affirmations: I Seek Wisdom, and God Gives It Freely (James 1:5) You were created on purpose, for a purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to walk into your day with intention, clarity, and wisdom. Whether you're questioning your calling or finding your footing in a new season, today's affirmations will help you trust God's plan, listen for His guidance, and move forward with boldness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it's based on. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin God created you for a reason. Your life is not an accident, and your steps are not random. He has a plan for you, a purpose that brings glory to Him and fulfillment to your heart. As you listen to these affirmations, let them remind you that God is leading, guiding, and equipping you for everything He has called you to do. Thursday affirmations and Scripture God has a purpose for my life and I walk in His plan. Jeremiah 29:11 I trust in the Lord to guide my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 I seek wisdom, and God gives it freely. James 1:5 God is directing my steps and I do not walk alone. Psalm 37:23 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 God has prepared good works for me to do today. Ephesians 2:10 I am equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will walk in faith, not in fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 God's Word lights my path. Psalm 119:105 I choose obedience, knowing God's ways are best. Deuteronomy 5:33 I live with purpose and do not waste my time. Ephesians 5:15-16 I am called to make an impact for God's Kingdom. Matthew 28:19-20 I have the mind of Christ and seek His wisdom daily. 1 Corinthians 2:16 I am a vessel for God's work. 2 Corinthians 4:7 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's purpose for me cannot be stopped. Job 42:2 I do everything for the glory of God. Colossians 3:23 God is using my life to accomplish His plan. Romans 8:28 I am bold in sharing the gospel. Romans 1:16 I walk in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 I remain steadfast in my calling. 1 Corinthians 15:58 God will finish the work He started in me. Philippians 1:6 I live with an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 I press forward in my faith, knowing my reward is in Heaven. Philippians 3:13-14 Closing prayer Father, thank You for calling me to a life of purpose. Help me to walk in wisdom today, seeking You in all I do. Give me clarity where I need direction, courage where I need boldness, and a heart that is always ready to serve You. Let my life bring You glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John says the Messiah is coming with a winnowing fork in His hand. Most of us read that as a threat. But a farmer doesn't go out to the threshing floor to destroy things. He goes out because he wants the grain. Today we're in Luke 3, talking about the different kinds of baptism, what the winnowing fork actually did, and why the chaff is not what most of us assume it is. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe What does the word baptism actually mean? The Greek is baptizo, and it means to dip, immerse, or plunge something fully into something else. Outside the Bible it was used for dyeing cloth and for sinking ships. So the picture we get is total immersion. I'm not saying anything bad about your baptism if you had a sprinkle. I'm saying the biblical image is immersion, and that matters for understanding what follows. Every baptism in Scripture answers two questions. Who is doing the dipping, and what are you being dipped into? Was baptism a new idea? Not at all. For the Jewish people, ritual washing was ordinary. They had stone pools for ceremonial cleansing, and archaeologists have found dozens of them around the temple. Remember the water jars Jesus turned into wine? Those were ceremonial cleansing jars. When a Gentile converted to Judaism, immersion was part of that conversion. Paul even looks back at the Exodus and calls it a baptism. In 1 Corinthians he says Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They went down into the water and came out a free people. That's a beautiful picture, because John is standing in the Jordan, the same river Israel crossed to enter the promised land. That water was always telling a baptism story. Why did John tell Jewish people to get in the water? This is the part that would have stung. These weren't Gentile outsiders converting. These were Jewish people, including religious leaders, the ones who had just been talking about being descendants of Abraham. And John is telling them to go into the water just like the converts do. That's why he says a few verses earlier not to begin saying they have Abraham for their father. Your family line won't save you. You need to get in the water for yourself. What could John's baptism not do? John could get people wet. He could call them to repent. But he could not forgive their sins and he could not put the Spirit of God inside anyone. He was calling them to repent because he was preparing the way for Jesus. That's why he says someone mightier is coming, and that he isn't worthy to untie His sandal strap, which was the job of the lowest servant in a household. So water baptism is something a person can do for you. Baptism of the Spirit is something only Jesus can do in you. What does baptism with fire mean? Fire runs two directions in Scripture, and both are present here. One is purifying. Malachi said the coming Lord would be like a refiner's fire, burning the dross out of gold and silver. At Pentecost in Acts 2, Luke tells us there appeared tongues of fire. Fire burns off what doesn't belong and sets people on fire for God. The other is judgment, and look at the context. Right before this, fruitless trees get thrown into the fire. Right after, the chaff burns with unquenchable fire. How did harvesting actually work? Everyone in that crowd knew this process, because they'd watched it every harvest. First the cutting. Workers cut the stalks and hauled them to the threshing floor, a flat piece of packed hard ground, usually on a hilltop or exposed ridge, because they needed the wind. Then the threshing. They drove oxen over the grain, sometimes dragging a heavy wooden sledge, to break the stalks apart and loosen the kernel from the dry husk around it. Now you have a pile of mixed material: good grain, broken husks, dust, straw. Then the winnowing. A wooden fork or broad shovel scooped up the pile and threw it into the air, usually in late afternoon when the breeze picked up. The kernels are heavier so they fall back down. The chaff is light and papery, so the wind carries it off the ridge. They repeated that until nothing was left but clean grain. The grain went into the barn. The chaff was swept up and burned. Why does it matter that it's chaff and not weeds? Here's the detail most of us miss. The chaff isn't a weed from another field. The chaff is the husk that grew around the kernel. They came up on the same stalk, out of the same soil. So the winnowing fork isn't separating one crop from a different crop. This isn't even the wheat and the tares. He's separating what's useless from what's valuable inside the very same harvest. John is standing in front of a crowd of Jewish people who all technically share Abraham as their father, saying the Messiah is going to sort out what's real from what only looks like it belongs. What does the wind have to do with the Spirit? The winnowing doesn't work without wind. You can toss grain in the air all day, and without wind nothing separates. In both Hebrew and Greek, the word for wind is the same word for spirit. Ruach. Pneuma. Now look at where this sits. Verse 16 says He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Verse 17 says His winnowing fork is in His hand. The same Spirit who fills and empowers is also the wind that separates. That's why John puts these two images side by side. That imagery is everywhere. Psalm 1 says the wicked are like chaff the wind drives away. In Jeremiah, God says He will winnow them with a winnowing fork. Hosea compares faithless Israel to chaff on the threshing floor. Malachi, the last prophet before the four hundred years of silence, says the day is coming burning like a furnace and the arrogant will be chaff. So when John picks up this language, he's finishing a sentence the prophets of Israel started four hundred years earlier. Two more things worth noticing. Boaz was winnowing barley at the threshing floor in Bethlehem the night Ruth came to him. And in 2 Samuel, David bought a threshing floor, and that very spot later became the site of the temple. Where grain gets separated from chaff is often where Israel meets God. Is this happening now or later? Now. He says His winnowing fork is in His hand. Present tense. Harvest time is here. So John is telling this crowd that their family heritage and their religious activity won't survive the wind. But notice why the farmer is out there. He isn't on that floor to destroy things. He's there to get the grain. All the tossing and the wind and eventually the fire has one purpose, and that's wheat in the barn. Winnowing is what you do because you want the crop. So when the wind blows through our lives, when things get stripped away and we feel tossed around, often that isn't Him discarding us. It's Him holding on to us. Sometimes He's separating us from chaff we've let grow up around us, the things that desensitize us and distract us and keep us from producing the fruit He wants. That process isn't always pleasant. And we always have a choice. I've stubbornly held on to things I knew the Lord was asking me to give up, and there was a cost, sometimes financial and sometimes relational. Why was Jesus baptized if He had no sin? This is where we see clearly that not all baptisms are the same. John's was a baptism of repentance. Jesus had nothing to repent of. So His baptism was something different. While He was praying, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice said you are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased. That dove was a sign God gave so people would recognize that Jesus was the one John had been announcing. We'll keep having this conversation as we move through Luke and into Acts. For now, I'd just ask you to loosen your grip on the idea that there's only one kind of baptism. This isn't the sprinkle versus dunk conversation. This is water baptism, the baptism of repentance, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and our baptism into Christ. You don't have to have it figured out today. Timestamps 00:00 The baptism conversation we usually have 00:53 What the word baptizo means 01:50 Two questions every baptism answers 02:00 Reading Luke 3:3-22 04:11 Prayer 05:37 Ritual washing was already normal 06:33 Paul calls the Exodus a baptism 06:59 Why John told Jewish people to get in 07:55 What John's baptism could not do 08:50 Fire as refining 09:46 Fire as judgment 10:13 How harvesting actually worked 11:17 The winnowing fork 12:16 The chaff grew on the same stalk 13:19 Winnowing doesn't work without wind 13:51 Ruach and pneuma 14:20 Chaff imagery across the prophets 15:20 Threshing floors where Israel met God 16:02 His fork is in His hand right now 16:53 The farmer wants the grain 17:39 What He's separating us from 19:46 Why Jesus was baptized 20:23 The dove, and what it signaled 22:15 Loosening our grip on one kind of baptism Frequently asked questions What does baptizo mean? To dip, immerse, or plunge fully into something. It was used outside Scripture for dyeing cloth and for sinking ships. What is a winnowing fork? A wooden fork or broad shovel used to toss threshed grain into the air so the wind could separate the light chaff from the heavier kernels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday Daily Affirmations: I Will Not Be Anxious, I Will Pray and Trust God (Philippians 4:6-7) Midweek is when the noise gets loudest. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to trade anxiety for peace and remember that God is still in control of what you can't see yet. Today's affirmations are about surrendering worry, resting in His presence, and trusting His timing even when the picture isn't clear. God's peace isn't just a feeling. It's a promise. I'll say each statement, then pause so you can repeat it after me, and then I'll share the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin Breathe in God's peace, and exhale your worries. This day is a gift, and no matter what's ahead, you can trust that God is in control. His love is steady. His plans for you are good. His presence goes before you. Let these affirmations remind you to trust Him today. Wednesday affirmations and Scripture I am ruled by God's peace today. Isaiah 26:3 I cast all my worries onto Jesus. He carries them for me. 1 Peter 5:7 I will not be anxious. I will pray and trust God. Philippians 4:6-7 God's plans for me are good, and I trust Him. Jeremiah 29:11 I do not need to worry about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 I will rest in God's presence today. Exodus 33:14 God is my refuge and strength. Psalm 46:1 I will not let my heart be troubled. I trust in God. John 14:27 The Lord directs my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 Even when I don't understand, I trust in God's wisdom. Romans 11:33 I do not have to be afraid because God is with me. Deuteronomy 31:8 God is fighting for me. Exodus 14:14 I am not alone. God walks with me. Isaiah 41:13 God is my rock and salvation. I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6 I find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 God's love never fails me. Lamentations 3:22-23 I have peace because I am in Christ. John 16:33 I wait on the Lord and He renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will trust in God, even when I don't see the whole picture. 2 Corinthians 5:7 God is working all things for my good. Romans 8:28 God's peace rules in my heart today. Colossians 3:15 I give my burdens to the Lord and He sustains me. Psalm 55:22 I will be still and know that He is God. Psalm 46:10 I trust God's timing and His ways. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will rejoice in the Lord always. Philippians 4:4 Closing prayer Father, I surrender my worries to You. I choose to rest in Your peace today, trusting that You are in control. Fill my heart with faith instead of fear, and let Your peace guard my mind. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I had a grape recently that was so good I dug through the flesh to save the seeds. Then on a walk down our road I tried some wild grapes growing by the side, and I spit them straight out. Same size. Same color. Vines that looked almost identical. That's the difference John is pressing on in Luke 3. He calls a crowd that walked miles into the desert a brood of vipers, and then tells them to bear fruit worthy of repentance. Today we're looking at what good fruit actually is, and why John switched metaphors from snakes to trees on purpose. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe What does "brood of vipers" actually mean? It literally means offspring of vipers, and in that region they would have pictured a very poisonous snake like the echidna. In Matthew, this line is aimed at the Sadducees and Pharisees. In Luke, John says it to the crowds. That matters, because these were people who had walked miles into the desert to be baptized. Some religious leaders were there, but so were ordinary people. Luke shows John addressing the whole mixed audience at once, because he doesn't want anyone in that group feeling like the scolding was for somebody else. And he's attacking something specific. Their confidence rested on bloodline. Don't begin to say to yourselves that you have Abraham as your father. By claiming that, they were saying they were inside the covenant and not like the pagans or the Gentiles. John pushes back on the whole family identity argument. You want to talk about your father? Look at your family resemblance. You don't look like Abraham's children, because Abraham's children didn't act like this. You look like snakes. Jesus uses the same approach later in John 8 when He tells the religious leaders they are of their father, the devil. This is a long thread in Scripture. The first time we meet a serpent is in the garden. So when John says brood of vipers, he's linking their sin all the way back to original sin. Why does he ask who warned them to flee? Because they were an agrarian society, and they knew exactly what that picture meant. When farmers burned off a field, the snakes would come pouring out ahead of the flames, running for safety. Read it again. You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. He's watching a crowd stream out into the desert to get in the water, and he's describing them as snakes scrambling out of a burning field. That fire imagery is everywhere in this passage. Two verses later he's talking about the axe at the root of the tree. By verse 17 it's the chaff burning. So there's an edge to his question. He isn't impressed that they showed up. He's asking whether they came to be changed or just to escape. Sometimes people call it fire insurance. Getting saved because you want out of the consequences, not because you want a relationship with God. Those aren't the same thing. Snakes running from a fire aren't repenting. They're relocating. They'll be the same snakes in a different field later. Why does he switch from snakes to trees? Because snakes don't produce fruit. They just produce more snakes. That's the point. Think about the snakes in your life. Are they producing fruit? No. They produce more chaos and more snakes. So John switches metaphors to point people in a different direction, and then he gets specific. Share your coat. Share your food. Stop overcharging. Stop extorting people. Stop accusing people falsely. Notice what every one of those has in common. They're all about how you treat other people, and three of them involve money. In Luke 3, good fruit is measured by what it does for your neighbor and whether you stopped using your position to take advantage of people. That's the contrast with the vipers. The problem with a snake is what it does to the people around it. It poisons them. Fruit does the opposite. Fruit feeds people. What does "worthy of repentance" mean? The Greek word is axios, and it has to do with weighing and balancing scales. Some translations say in keeping with repentance, others say worthy of repentance. Worthy is a little more accurate, because the idea is balance. The word for repentance is metanoia, from meta, meaning big change, and nous, meaning mind. A changed mind. Turn around and walk the other direction. So John is saying we're called to produce a life that weighs the same as the turn we claim to have made. If your mind really changed, something visible should balance out on the scale of your life. Isn't this harsh? John is intense, yes. But biblical prophets often used shocking language because comfortable language wasn't getting through. You may have heard the phrase tickling their ears. A lot of preaching comforts people instead of challenging them. That's not what people operating in the prophetic do. When you're talking to people claiming family legacy as their right to the kingdom, you have to make them face themselves and look at the fruit they're actually producing. What makes fruit good fruit? There's something in the Greek here worth catching. In verse nine the word for good is kalos. There's another word, agathos, which means morally good or useful. But kalos carries the sense of fine quality, beautiful, the kind of fruit you'd actually want to eat. The kind you'd save the seeds from. A tree can produce something that still isn't good fruit. Have you ever had a crab apple? Tiny, sour, and you'll get sick eating a handful. We have an old pear tree out back and every pear on it is small and wormy and useless. It's technically fruit. It's still useless. This calls back to Isaiah 5, where God describes planting a vineyard. He clears the stones, plants the best vines, builds a tower and a winepress. He expected good grapes and it produced worthless ones. The Hebrew word there means stinking or rotten, like the ones I spit out. Then God asks what more He could have done for His vineyard. That vineyard wasn't barren. It grew grapes. They just weren't the grapes He planted it for. That's exactly what John is confronting. They had some fruit. It wasn't good fruit. Is fruit the cause or the evidence? The evidence. You can't staple good fruit onto a dead tree. Fruit grows out of whatever the root is drawing from. So John isn't saying produce better behavior and you'll be fine. He's saying the fruit reveals what's happening at the root. The fruit doesn't make the tree. It shows you what the tree is. Those grapes on my road tasted bad because nobody had ever tended those plants. They're wild, doing their own thing. The ones I wanted to save the seeds from came from vines that had been cultivated with intention. A lot of us have fruit. We go to church, we listen to podcasts, we know what the Bible says, we might even post the verse. And what's coming out of us is still gross fruit. That crowd had activity. Walking into the desert and getting in that river took real effort. John looked at all of it and said it doesn't count. Show me something that weighs as much as what you say happened to you. Timestamps 00:00 Two kinds of grapes on the same road 01:54 Where we are in Luke 3 02:23 Reading Luke 3:7-17 04:15 Prayer 04:43 What brood of vipers means 05:43 Why Matthew and Luke aim it differently 06:52 The bloodline argument 09:41 A thread that runs back to the garden 10:13 Snakes fleeing a burning field 11:45 Did they come to change or to escape? 12:23 Repenting versus relocating 12:52 Why he switches to trees 13:21 What he tells them to actually do 14:12 Axios, and the balancing scales 14:39 Metanoia, a changed mind 16:40 Why prophets speak so bluntly 18:06 Kalos, and what good fruit means 19:47 Isaiah 5 and the vineyard 21:11 Good fruit is measured by your neighbor 22:26 Fruit is evidence, not cause 23:26 Having activity without good fruit Frequently asked questions What does axios mean? It's the Greek word behind worthy or in keeping with, carrying the idea of weighing and balancing scales. What's the difference between kalos and agathos? Both are translated good. Agathos leans toward morally good or useful. Kalos carries the sense of fine quality or beautiful. What's coming next? Tomorrow we're talking about the different kinds of baptism, and no, not sprinkle versus dunk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday Daily Affirmations: I Can Do All Things Through Christ (Philippians 4:13) Step into your week with boldness, peace, and purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to trade your own strength for God's before the day gets away from you. As the world demands more, God invites you to lean on Him. Today's affirmations are a reminder that you are never alone, never powerless, and never without purpose. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: ⁠Patreon⁠ Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at ⁠BibleStudyLive.org⁠ Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: ⁠SpeakPipe⁠ Before we begin Today's affirmations are for strength and confidence for the week ahead. Whatever this week holds, you are not facing it alone. God is with you, strengthening you, guiding you, and fighting for you. No matter what challenges you encounter, you can walk in faith knowing that God has already prepared the way for you. Tuesday affirmations and Scripture I am strong and courageous in Christ. Joshua 1:9 I do not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:10 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I am victorious through Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:57 I have the power of God working within me. Ephesians 3:20 I will not be shaken because God is my refuge. Psalm 62:6 I walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17 God fights my battles and I need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 I am not afraid because God has overcome the world. John 16:33 I have authority in Christ over every attack of the enemy. Luke 10:19 I am rooted and established in God's love. Ephesians 3:17 I have divine wisdom and strength for today. James 1:5 I am resilient and I will persevere through trials. Romans 5:3-4 I am filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's grace is sufficient for me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 I have peace that surpasses understanding. Philippians 4:7 I am never alone. God is always near. Deuteronomy 31:8 I am protected under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 God's Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 I stand firm in faith and do not waver. James 1:6 I am free from fear because God's perfect love casts it out. 1 John 4:18 I have a spirit of power, love, and sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 God is working all things for my good today. Romans 8:28 Closing prayer Lord, I surrender my fear to You. Fill me with boldness, courage, and confidence in You. No matter what today holds, I trust in Your strength. In Jesus' name, Amen. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us carry questions we've never said out loud. Does God see me in this. Did I hear Him wrong. Is something different about me? In Luke 3, the people were wondering in their hearts about John, and Luke tells us John answered them. Nobody asked anything out loud. Today we're talking about what prophecy actually is, how to tell a real word from a counterfeit, and what it means that God answers what we never say. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe What does prophecy actually mean? Most of us hear prophecy and think of foretelling. That's a piece of it, but a small one. In Scripture, most prophecy is reminding people of what God has already said. The Hebrew word is navi, meaning spokesman. We see it in Exodus 7, where God tells Moses that Aaron will be his prophet, meaning Aaron will say out loud what Moses gives him. The Greek word is prophetes, from pro, meaning forth or on behalf of, and phemi, to speak. A prophet speaks forth words that aren't his own. I say all the time that God's voice will never contradict God's word. The inverse is also true. Often God's word is God's voice. When the Holy Spirit brings a verse to mind, that's the same thing, and sometimes He asks you to share it. What did prophets actually do? They called people back to the covenant. Most Old Testament prophets weren't announcing new information. They reminded Israel of what God said at Sinai and showed them where they had drifted. They told the truth to powerful people. Nathan confronted David. Elijah confronted Ahab. John confronts Herod Antipas over his marriage, which is what lands him in prison. I'll be honest about that part. This gift is not always well received. I've lost relationships over it, lost business deals, left organizations because there was hidden sin I didn't want to be part of. I'm not talking about being hurtful. I mean speaking the truth in love. But people don't want to be confronted with their own sin, and neither do systems. And sometimes prophets acted out their message. Isaiah walked barefoot. Jeremiah wore a yoke. Ezekiel laid on his side for months. Hosea's whole marriage became the sermon. That's the callback to John. The camel hair and the wilderness weren't details that happened because he was an oddball. They were the message. How do you know if a word is really from God? The enemy has a counterfeit for everything. People go to tarot readings and psychics because it's often accurate. That knowledge comes from demons, and demons often know true things. So the test is not accuracy. A prophet from God will lead you to God. Even if a word is true, if it leads you somewhere other than God, it's a false prophet. Faithfulness to God is the standard. Earlier this year there was a news cycle about a charismatic preacher data farming on Facebook to gather information for his prophetic words. The words were true, because he lifted them off people's profiles. But they led people into pain and chaos, and God is not the author of chaos. He was accurate. Accuracy wasn't the standard. What do I do if I think I've received a word? Ask the Lord what to do with it. That's the step I hold as most sacred. If He gives you a word to share and you don't, you miss what He had for you and the person He was reaching misses it too. But if the word was insight for you to pray, or He wanted you to hold it until the right time, and you blurt it out, you can do real damage. All of us are capable of this. It's a spiritual gift, but every believer has the Spirit of God in them. Until the Lord tells me I can share, I don't. Sometimes it takes the confirmation of another believer. Sometimes it takes separate time in prayer. Why is John more than a prophet? Jesus says in Luke 7 that among those born of women there is no one greater than John. Every prophet before him pointed to a day that was coming. John pointed at a person standing in front of him. He's the only one who got to say, behold, the Lamb of God is here. That doesn't mean prophecy ended. In Acts, Peter says the Spirit was poured out so sons and daughters will prophesy. Anna called out who Jesus was. Philip had four daughters who prophesied. Paul says believers should desire this gift because it edifies. After Jesus, the shape changes. It becomes the gift that builds up the church. What is John doing with Isaiah? Exactly what we described. Reminding people of what God already said. He quotes Isaiah 40, which opens a section written to comfort people in exile. It begins with comfort, O comfort my people, words first given to a defeated nation far from home, with the promise that God Himself was coming to lead them back. In the ancient world, when a king announced a visit, crews went ahead to prepare the road. They filled washed-out ditches, cut back brush, cleared rocks, straightened switchbacks. A royal visit required a royal highway. Everyone listening understood that image. But this road isn't made of dirt. Verse three already told us what the construction work is: a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Repentance is the road work. The highway runs straight through their hearts. The King is coming, and not to the vicinity. Through your heart. Every ravine filled means the low places lifted, which meant something to people buried under Roman oppression. Every mountain brought low means pride, self-sufficiency, and family pedigree get leveled. The crooked made straight uses the Greek word skolios, where we get scoliosis. It means bent or twisted. Then the tax collectors ask what they should do. So do the soldiers. And John gives them practical answers. One line I don't want us to miss: all flesh will see the salvation of God. Matthew and Mark quote Isaiah here too, but they stop after the first line. Luke keeps going, because he's writing so people outside Israel, including you and me, would know this story is for them too. What does God know that you haven't said? Look at verse 15. The people were wondering in their hearts about John. And then John answered them all. Nobody said anything out loud. That's a callback to Simeon's prophecy in Luke 2, and it's a pattern you'll see all through this gospel. Jesus answers what nobody says out loud. John does it once here. Jesus does it continually. A lot of us carry questions we never say. Does God actually see me. Is this ever going to change. Did I hear Him wrong. Am I somehow different, and that's why He doesn't talk to me. God knows those thoughts. He knew them before you formed them, when they were still just feelings. There is not one thing you've thought or felt that God didn't know about. The things you're afraid to say out loud, He knows. The objections you think you shouldn't have, He knows. So be honest with Him. Tell Him how you feel. He already knows, and He wants to speak to the fear and the pain and the raw spot, so that He can heal it. That's part of making the rough way smooth. Timestamps 00:00 A woman at church, and a word she'd been trying to track down 01:25 Foretelling is the smallest piece of it 02:54 God's voice never contradicts God's word 04:17 Navi, and Aaron speaking for Moses 06:59 Reading Luke 3:3-16 10:48 Public word versus private word 12:40 Prophets called people back to the covenant 13:40 What telling the truth has cost me 17:26 When prophets acted out the message 19:51 Accuracy is not the standard 20:46 Why John is more than a prophet 24:05 John quoting Isaiah 40 26:48 Repentance is the road work 29:06 Why Luke quotes past where Matthew and Mark stop 30:37 They were wondering in their hearts 32:15 The questions we never say out loud 34:49 Prayer Frequently asked questions What does the word prophet mean? The Hebrew is navi, meaning spokesman. The Greek is prophetes, from words meaning to speak forth on behalf of someone. Is the gift of prophecy still for today? Yes. In Acts, Peter says the Spirit was poured out so sons and daughters would prophesy, and Paul encourages believers to desire the gift. Where can I get the free Bible Study 101 download? On the resources page of my website, including the color method chart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday Daily Affirmations: Fully Known and Fully Loved (Psalm 139:1-2) Start your Monday with confidence, peace, and purpose. These daily Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to realign your heart and mind with biblical truth before the week begins. Today's affirmations are all about identity: who God says you are, and what changes when you believe it. Speak life over your day, renew your faith, and step into God's promises with Scripture straight from His Word. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin Take a deep breath. This is a new day filled with God's grace and purpose. You are not defined by your past, or your mistakes, or the opinions of others. You are defined by the truth of God's Word. Let these affirmations fill your heart as you step into today. Monday affirmations and Scripture I am a child of God, chosen and loved. 1 John 3:1 I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 I am fully known and loved fully by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I have been chosen before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 I am created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 I am redeemed and made new in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I am set apart for God's purpose. 1 Peter 2:9 I am God's masterpiece, created for good works. Ephesians 2:10 I am loved with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 I am called by name and belong to God. Isaiah 43:1 I am not my past. I am a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:20 I'm seated in heavenly places with Christ. Ephesians 2:6 I am co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17 I am not rejected. I am accepted in Christ. Ephesians 1:6 I am never alone. God is always with me. Hebrews 13:5 I am valuable and precious in God's sight. Isaiah 43:4 I have been set free by the truth of Jesus. John 8:36 I am more than a conqueror through Christ. Romans 8:37 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 I am God's dwelling place. His Spirit lives within me. 1 Corinthians 3:16 I am forgiven and free from condemnation. Romans 8:1 I have a divine purpose and calling from God. Jeremiah 29:11 I am dearly loved and nothing can separate me from God's love. Romans 8:38-39 Closing prayer Father, thank You for reminding me who I am in You. Help me to walk in confidence today, knowing that I am chosen, loved, and called by You. No matter what comes my way, let my identity be rooted in Your truth. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunday Daily Affirmations: I Trust God to Guide My Steps (Psalm 37:23) Sunday is for looking ahead with God. Before the week begins, we pause and place what's coming into His hands. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a steady way to enter the week grounded, attentive, and trusting God to lead you one day at a time. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Sunday affirmations and Scripture I place this coming week in God's hands. Psalm 31:15 — "My times are in Your hands." I trust God to guide my steps. Psalm 37:23 — "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him." I enter this week with expectancy, not fear. Romans 15:13 — "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him." I invite God into every moment ahead. Proverbs 16:3 — "Commit to the Lord whatever you do." I trust God to order my priorities. Matthew 6:33 — "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." I receive God's wisdom for the days ahead. James 1:5 — "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God." I walk into this week anchored in truth. Psalm 119:105 — "Your word is a lamp to my feet." I trust God with what I cannot foresee. Isaiah 46:10 — "I make known the end from the beginning." I choose faith over anticipation of stress. Psalm 56:3 — "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." I rely on God's grace for each day. 2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you." I trust God's timing this week. Habakkuk 2:3 — "Though it linger, wait for it." I remain open to God's leading. Psalm 25:4 — "Show me Your ways, Lord." I step forward with humility and trust. Micah 6:8 — "What does the Lord require of you? To walk humbly with your God." I depend on God's strength, not my own. Psalm 68:35 — "God gives strength and power to His people." I trust God with every conversation and decision. Proverbs 20:24 — "A person's steps are directed by the Lord." I choose obedience over control. John 14:23 — "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching." I walk into this week aware of God's presence. Exodus 33:14 — "My Presence will go with you." I trust God to work through ordinary moments. Zechariah 4:10 — "Do not despise these small beginnings." I release anxiety about outcomes. Psalm 112:7 — "They will have no fear of bad news." I remain attentive to God's voice. John 10:27 — "My sheep listen to My voice." I trust God to meet my needs. Philippians 4:19 — "My God will meet all your needs." I step into this week with courage. Psalm 31:24 — "Be strong and take heart." I trust God to shape my character. Romans 8:29 — "To be conformed to the image of His Son." I begin this week grounded in hope. Hebrews 6:19 — "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul." I rest in God's faithfulness as I move forward. Psalm 33:4 — "The word of the Lord is right and true." Closing prayer God, as I step into this new week, I place everything ahead of me in Your care. Go before me, guide my steps, and help me stay attentive to You. I trust You with what's coming, one day at a time. Amen.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturday Daily Affirmations: I Recognize God's Faithfulness in Seen and Unseen Moments (Psalm 77:11) Saturday is a good day to slow down and look back over your week with God. Not to replay everything or overthink it, but to notice where He met you, where He carried you, and where His grace showed up. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a gentle way to reflect with honesty and gratitude before the new week begins. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Saturday affirmations and Scripture I thank God for walking with me through this week. Psalm 143:10 — "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." I recognize God's faithfulness in both the seen and unseen moments. Psalm 77:11 — "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago." I release regret and receive God's grace. Psalm 32:5 — "Then I acknowledged my sin to You... and You forgave the guilt of my sin." I trust that God was at work even when I didn't notice. Ecclesiastes 3:11 — "He has made everything beautiful in its time." I give thanks for the strength God provided each day. Psalm 28:7 — "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me." I acknowledge where I grew this week. 2 Peter 3:18 — "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I notice where God invited me to trust Him more deeply. Psalm 37:5 — "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." I receive God's mercy for where I fell short. Micah 7:18 — "You delight in mercy." I choose gratitude over self-criticism. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — "Give thanks in all circumstances." I honor the work God has been doing in my heart. Philippians 1:6 — "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." I acknowledge God's presence in ordinary moments. Psalm 16:11 — "You make known to me the path of life." I release this week into God's care. Psalm 55:22 — "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." I trust God with what remains unfinished. Proverbs 16:9 — "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." I thank God for His patience with me. Psalm 103:8 — "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." I rest in the truth that God sees me fully. Hebrews 4:13 — "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." I choose to end this week with gratitude. Psalm 92:1 — "It is good to give thanks to the Lord." I release comparison and embrace contentment. Hebrews 13:5 — "Be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you.'" I acknowledge God's protection this week. Psalm 121:7 — "The Lord will keep you from all harm." I thank God for His provision. Matthew 6:31-32 — "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them." I recognize God's quiet guidance. Isaiah 30:21 — "This is the way; walk in it." I let go of striving and receive rest. Psalm 23:2 — "He leads me beside quiet waters." I honor the limits God has given me. Psalm 127:2 — "He grants sleep to those He loves." I trust God with what I do not understand. Romans 11:33 — "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God." I receive peace as I reflect with God. Psalm 4:7 — "You have filled my heart with greater joy." I end this week grounded in God's faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23 — "Great is Your faithfulness." Closing prayer God, thank You for walking with me through this week. Help me to see Your faithfulness clearly and to release what I need to let go of. I trust that You were present in ways I noticed and in ways I didn't. I place this week back into Your hands. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

God Saw What Was Done to You: Listener Questions Today is one of our Q&A episodes, where we take a pause from the Bible study so you have time to catch up and I can work through questions that have come in. Two questions in this one. The first asks why people with religious roles so often fail to live obediently, which is a pattern running straight through Scripture. The second is harder and I want to handle it gently: why did God protect Cain after what he did, and why do some people lose their freedom because of somebody else's choices? Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Does being close to religion mean you're obedient to God? Sarah put it in a phrase I keep thinking about: religious proximity does not equal religious obedience. That's been a theme in Scripture from the very beginning. Adam and Eve were in perfect communion with God. They walked with Him daily. And still, because God gave us free will, proximity didn't produce obedience. There isn't a day that goes by without someone in a religious role falling into sin. We hear about it constantly. You may have experienced church hurt yourself at the hands of a leader or a pastor. That's the reality of the fall, and it's the story written all through the pages of Scripture. We've been watching it in Luke. The Roman political system had corrupted the religious leadership of the day, which is the whole backdrop behind the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the religious establishment Jesus keeps encountering. Having a religious role never meant being obedient to God. What it comes down to is the difference between going to church and knowing Jesus. Some people go to church and then go home and harm their families the rest of the week. Some go hoping it absolves them of what they're doing elsewhere. A great deal of harm has been done in the name of religion. Proximity is not an indication of where the heart is. And God's remedy for that, over and over in Scripture, is sending Jesus. We can know about Jesus without actually knowing Him, and those are two different things. My hope for this show, and for the books and the trips and everything else we do, is that you would know Him for yourself. That doesn't mean you'll always get it right. We aren't perfect, which is exactly why we need Him. But being disobedient, feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit, confessing, and being restored to right relationship through Jesus is the whole rhythm of the Christian life. Why did God protect Cain? This question came in from someone working through the Genesis series, and it's one a lot of people carry, usually in different forms. At the heart of it is often a wound. If you've ever been hurt by somebody else's choices, you know the ache in it. Why does the person who caused the harm seem to get mercy while the person who was hurt has no say at all? Let's look at what actually happens in Genesis 4. Cain kills his brother in a field. Then God comes to him and says, what have you done, your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Before God says one word about punishment, He makes it clear that He heard Abel. Abel never got a voice in that field. God gave him one. The first murder victim in Scripture is not forgotten. Then comes the sentence, and it has layers. Cain is driven from the land, the ground won't produce for him, and he becomes a restless wanderer. He panics and says whoever finds him will kill him. And God puts a mark on him so that no one will. Here's the detail worth knowing. The Hebrew word for mark is ot, which means sign. It's the same word used for the rainbow after the flood and for the blood on the doorposts at Passover. It isn't a brand of shame. It's a sign of protection. Why would God protect him? Two things are happening. In the ancient world there were no courts and no police. Justice was handled by family members, and it usually meant revenge. And revenge did not stop at one life. Entire families were wiped out in the name of it. You can watch it start just a few verses later with Lamech, Cain's descendant, who brags about killing a man for wounding him and says if Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven. That's what vengeance does when it's left in human hands. The seed of it grows. So God's protection of Cain puts a limit on the violence before it consumes the whole human family. And look what Jesus does with that number later. He takes Lamech's seventy-seven and turns it into how many times we forgive. The way of Jesus is forgiveness. There's still justice, but it belongs to God rather than to us. Protecting Cain is not the same as excusing Cain. He lived with real consequences the rest of his life. The ground didn't work for him, and at that time that was survival. But God also didn't give up on him. Remember, we're not reading these stories to study the people. We're reading them to see the character and nature of God. Here we see mercy and justice together. That's hard to hold at once, especially when you're the one who was hurt. Why do some people lose their freedom because of someone else's choices? God doesn't hand out free will to some and withhold it from others. Every person bears God's image and every person has a will. But we live in a broken world where our choices land on other people. Freedom means the choice to love, and it also means the choice to harm. When someone abuses or wounds or betrays another person, the one who was hurt didn't choose that. Their safety was taken. Their innocence was taken. God calls that evil. I struggled with this myself for a long time. Years ago in seminary I was working through some childhood trauma with my spiritual director. In my mind, I got saved at fifteen, so I had somehow concluded that anything that happened before that was my own fault for being sinful, or that God hadn't shown up in my life yet. What my spiritual director said to me then is what I've said to many of you since: the evil that was done to me grieved God too. He grieves what is done to us. That's part of why He sent His Son. There's a theological piece here worth naming. We live in what's called the already and the not yet. Jesus has already come, lived a sinless life, completed the work on the cross, defeated death, ascended, and sent the Holy Spirit. But this world is not yet fully redeemed. Until He returns, it isn't finished. So we live in a broken place, and those things break God's heart. Where is God in what happened? Scripture keeps showing us a God who moves toward the one who was harmed. Think of Hagar. She was used and mistreated and left alone in the desert, and she named God El Roi, the God who sees me. One of my favorite verses to share with people who are hurting is Psalm 34:18, that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. He knows you will experience heartbreak. This is not the world He designed, and it's why He sent Jesus to redeem and restore it. We're just not there yet. He also promises justice. Romans 12 tells us vengeance belongs to the Lord, which means nothing done in the dark is overlooked. And then there's Hebrews 12, which says the blood of Jesus speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Abel's blood cried out for justice. The blood of Jesus speaks healing and forgiveness and restoration. Jesus was the innocent one harmed by other people's choices, and He allowed it so that nothing done to you would be the end of your story. If you're carrying something that was done to you, I want you to know that God saw it. He grieves it. And He has not stopped working toward your healing. Timestamps 00:00 Why we do Q&A episodes, and what SpeakPipe is for 01:20 Sarah's question on religious proximity 02:07 Why proximity never guaranteed obedience 03:32 What we've seen in Luke about corrupted leadership 04:01 Going to church versus knowing Jesus 04:30 Knowing about Jesus is not knowing Jesus 06:15 A question from the Genesis series 07:13 The ache underneath the question 07:44 God heard Abel first 08:31 What the word for mark actually means 08:58 Why revenge could not be left to people 09:46 Lamech, and what Jesus does with that number 10:16 Protection is not the same as excuse 11:21 Everyone has free will, and choices land on others 12:20 What my spiritual director told me 13:08 God grieves what was done to you 13:32 The already and the not yet 14:29 Hagar and the God who sees 15:30 Vengeance belongs to the Lord 15:36 A better word than the blood of Abel 16:25 He saw it, and He is still working 16:47 Prayer Frequently asked questions What is SpeakPipe for? Prayer requests and questions about the show or past episodes. It isn't a place for complaints or for counseling. What does the mark on Cain mean? The Hebrew word is ot, meaning sign. It's the same word used for the rainbow and the Passover blood, and here it functions as protection rather than shame. Do I need to listen to the series in order? No. The content is evergreen and people listen in whatever order works for them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday Daily Affirmations: God's Peace Fills My Heart and I Rest in His Presence (Matthew 11:28) End your week anchored in peace and presence. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to set down what you've been carrying and find rest in God's care. Today's affirmations are about releasing your burdens, letting go of striving, and remembering that God's strength, love, and renewal are available right where you are. It's time to stop striving and start resting in His goodness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin The week is ending, and as we step into the weekend, let's take a moment to breathe. Release your burdens and rest in God's presence. We're not meant to carry everything ourselves. God calls us to lay our worries at His feet and find renewal in Him. Friday affirmations and Scripture I release my worries and trust God to handle what I cannot. 1 Peter 5:7 God's peace fills my heart and I rest in His presence. Matthew 11:28 I am not defined by my mistakes. God's grace is greater than my failures. Lamentations 3:22-23 I let go of the need to control everything and surrender to God's perfect plan. Proverbs 3:5-6 I am deeply loved by God and nothing can separate me from His love. Romans 8:38-39 God refreshes my soul and renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will be fully present today, trusting that God holds tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 My body, mind, and spirit find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 I let go of striving and choose to rest in God's love. Zephaniah 3:17 I step into the weekend with joy, knowing that God is in control. Psalm 118:24 God's presence is my safe place. Psalm 91:1 I am fully known and fully loved by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I will not let stress steal my peace today. Philippians 4:6-7 God is my refuge and I am safe in His hands. Psalm 46:1 I do not need to have all the answers. I trust God. Romans 11:33 God is fighting my battles and I can rest in His victory. Exodus 14:14 I will not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:13 I am held together by God's love even when life feels overwhelming. Colossians 1:17 God's goodness and mercy follow me every day. Psalm 23:6 I will not carry burdens that God has already taken from me. Matthew 11:29-30 I am at peace because God is in control. Isaiah 26:3 I trust in God's timing even when I don't understand. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will lay down my burdens and take on God's. Psalm 4:8 I am never alone for God is always with me. Deuteronomy 31:6 No matter what happens today, God is still good. Nahum 1:7 Closing prayer Father, as this week comes to an end, I lay my burdens at Your feet. Help me to release my worries, rest in Your peace, and trust You with everything I cannot control. Refresh my heart and renew my spirit so I can step into the weekend with joy. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John the Baptist could have served in the temple. He was the son of a priest, and by birthright that door was open to him. Instead he lived in the desert, and that's where the word of God found him. Today we slow down on one phrase in verse two and ask what the wilderness actually was, why John chose it over the temple, and why God so often separates people before He uses them. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at ⁠BibleStudyLive.org⁠ Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: ⁠SpeakPipe⁠ Why was John in the wilderness? Luke told us back in chapter one, verse eighty, that the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. So the wilderness is essentially where John grew up. The practical reason may be simple. Zechariah and Elizabeth were both advanced in years when he was born, so it's reasonable to think they died while he was still young. Scripture doesn't say, but something moved him out of the village and into the desert early. There's also the calling. Gabriel said he would drink no wine or liquor and would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb, which sounds a great deal like the Nazirite vow from Numbers 6. Normally a person chose that vow. John was set apart from conception, the way Samson and Samuel were. That word anointing means set apart. Someone with that kind of calling was never going to live an ordinary village life. Mark fills in the picture. John was clothed with camel's hair, wore a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. Locusts were permitted food under the law, so he was eating what God provided in the desert. The clothing is not an accident either. Elijah is described in 2 Kings as a hairy man with a leather belt around his waist, and Gabriel said John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah. John was dressing the part. He didn't have to. It was a physical way of showing people who he was and what he had come to do. Why does it matter that he chose this? Because he had another option. John was the son of Zechariah, a priest. By birth he had the right to serve in the temple. He could have spent those years in the temple courts waiting for Jesus to begin His ministry, and it would have been far more comfortable. The temple was the center of Israel's worship, the place where God's presence dwelt with His people, the most sacred address in the entire nation. John went the opposite direction. What was that wilderness actually like? When we hear desert we picture sand dunes. This was not that. This was rocky hills, deep ravines, scrub brush, and almost no water. The area sits in the shadow of the mountains of Judea, so storms drop their rain on the Jerusalem side and very little makes it over. Jericho gets only a few inches a year. In spring a thin grass comes up and shepherds bring flocks through, but the rest of the year it is dry and very hot, especially as you drop toward the Dead Sea, which sits about 1,400 feet below sea level, the lowest place on dry land anywhere on earth. The Hebrew word for this region is midbar, and it doesn't mean dead. It means uncultivated. Open country where you might drive flocks at certain times of year, but land nobody could farm and nobody owned. This is the land David knew. He shepherded here as a boy and hid here from Saul. When he wrote in Psalm 63 about seeking God in a dry and weary land where there is no water, he wasn't only being poetic. He was describing what he could see. How did people at that time think about the wilderness? They held two feelings about it at once. First, it was dangerous, physically and spiritually. No water, extreme heat, wild animals, even rumors of lions, and bandits. The road from Jerusalem down to Jericho ran through here, which is the road in the story of the Good Samaritan. People understood that story because they knew that road. Beyond the physical, they believed evil was out there. On the Day of Atonement they drove a goat carrying the sins of Israel out into the wilderness, which we read in Leviticus. Isaiah 34 describes ruined desert places haunted by wild creatures. Jesus Himself later says an unclean spirit passes through waterless places. Keep that in mind, because in Luke 4 Jesus goes into this same wilderness for forty days. Second, and at the same time, it was holy ground. Many would have remembered the wilderness as the place where God courted Israel. In Jeremiah 2, God says He remembers the devotion of her youth, the love of her betrothals, her following after Him in the wilderness. It was almost their honeymoon, the time before they had anything, when they simply followed Him. This is where Israel became a people. They came out of Egypt and spent forty years in the desert. They received the law at Sinai. They ate manna. They learned to depend on God for water. This was the place where they had nothing but Him. In Hosea 2, God says He will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her. When God wanted to win back the hearts of His people, He brought them here. Why baptize in the Jordan? There's one exception to all that barrenness. The Jordan River valley runs through it like a green ribbon, thick with brush and trees. Scripture calls it the thickets of the Jordan, dense enough that wild animals lived there. So picture John standing at the meeting point of two worlds. Behind him, miles of empty rock and heat. In front of him, a muddy winding river with green growing along both sides. In the middle of all that nothing, he is preaching about life and water. They could see that. We can't, but they could. Practically, he needed water, and the Jordan was the travel route, so the crowds were already there. But the river also carried history. This is where Israel crossed into the promised land. So when people walked out to be baptized, they were stepping into the same water their ancestors crossed in Joshua 3. It was like a national do-over, a chance to start over. And notice what the trip itself required. To be baptized by John you had to leave Jerusalem, walk away from the temple courts, and travel out toward the desert. That journey was part of the message. The system had grown so corrupt that the high priesthood was political and controlled by one family. John's location was essentially saying, come out here, we're going to start over. Was this politically dangerous? Yes. Josephus, the Jewish historian writing in that same era, describes several men who claimed to be deliverers, gathering followers out in the wilderness near the Jordan and promising signs of freedom. Rome crushed every one of them. In Acts 21 a Roman officer asks Paul whether he's the Egyptian who led four thousand men into the wilderness. So when crowds started streaming out of Jerusalem to hear a man in camel's hair eating locusts, it looked like the start of something. That's why the religious leaders sent a delegation to ask who he thought he was, and it's part of why Herod Antipas eventually arrests him. What does this mean for us? John could have been in the temple. But the word of God didn't come to the temple. It came to a man in the desert who was ready to prepare the way. And here's the part I keep sitting with. John was out there a long time before any of this happened. Alone. That's a pattern. Moses met God at the burning bush after tending someone else's sheep for forty years. Elijah heard the still small voice after running for his life, in a cave. David wrote some of his best psalms while hiding. Years ago at a women's retreat, they had us write a letter to ourselves from God. What came out was this: in this next season, you're going to have to separate to elevate. At the time I thought it just sounded like a sermon title. Then the Lord began pulling me away from relationships that had been fine in the season before, out of the orphan care ministry and the global missions role I loved, into heavy research for books and Bible studies and eventually into podcasting full time. I had to be separated before that season started, and it felt lonely. When we're separated, we tend to think those seasons are empty and God isn't there. But the wilderness is often where He forms the people He's about to use, because there is nothing out there competing for your attention. It's just you and Him. John spent decades in that silence before he said a word publicly. When he finally spoke, the whole nation came out to listen. If you're in a separated season, I know it's lonely. Let it be the season that drives you to your knees and teaches you to recognize His voice, so that when the thing He's preparing you for arrives, you come to it having already spent time alone with Him. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and where we are in Luke 3 00:47 Reading Luke 3:1-9 02:09 Prayer 02:29 Picking up where we left off 03:20 Why our picture of wilderness is wrong 04:19 What Luke told us in chapter one 05:13 Set apart from birth, and the Nazirite vow 06:25 Camel's hair, locusts, and Elijah 08:17 He could have served in the temple 08:55 What that wilderness was actually like 09:52 Midbar, and what the word means 10:50 The land David knew 11:38 Why they saw it as dangerous 12:35 The scapegoat and the demons of the desert 13:33 The Jordan, a green ribbon through the dry 14:55 Why John baptized where he did 16:38 Leaving the temple to get there 17:06 The wilderness as holy ground 17:58 Where Israel became a people 19:32 Isaiah 40 and the road through the desert 20:31 Why this was politically charged 22:18 The word didn't come to the temple 23:14 Separated on purpose 24:07 Separate to elevate 26:07 What God forms in the silence 26:36 Prayer Learn more about your ad choices. 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Thursday Daily Affirmations: I Trust in the Lord to Guide My Steps (Proverbs 3:5-6) You were created on purpose, for a purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to walk into your day with intention, clarity, and wisdom. Whether you're questioning your calling or finding your footing in a new season, today's affirmations will help you trust God's plan, listen for His guidance, and move forward with boldness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it's based on. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin God created you for a reason. Your life is not an accident, and your steps are not random. He has a plan for you, a purpose that brings glory to Him and fulfillment to your heart. As you listen to these affirmations, let them remind you that God is leading, guiding, and equipping you for everything He has called you to do. Thursday affirmations and Scripture God has a purpose for my life and I walk in His plan. Jeremiah 29:11 I trust in the Lord to guide my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 I seek wisdom, and God gives it freely. James 1:5 God is directing my steps and I do not walk alone. Psalm 37:23 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 God has prepared good works for me to do today. Ephesians 2:10 I am equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will walk in faith, not in fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 God's Word lights my path. Psalm 119:105 I choose obedience, knowing God's ways are best. Deuteronomy 5:33 I live with purpose and do not waste my time. Ephesians 5:15-16 I am called to make an impact for God's Kingdom. Matthew 28:19-20 I have the mind of Christ and seek His wisdom daily. 1 Corinthians 2:16 I am a vessel for God's work. 2 Corinthians 4:7 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's purpose for me cannot be stopped. Job 42:2 I do everything for the glory of God. Colossians 3:23 God is using my life to accomplish His plan. Romans 8:28 I am bold in sharing the gospel. Romans 1:16 I walk in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 I remain steadfast in my calling. 1 Corinthians 15:58 God will finish the work He started in me. Philippians 1:6 I live with an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 I press forward in my faith, knowing my reward is in Heaven. Philippians 3:13-14 Closing prayer Father, thank You for calling me to a life of purpose. Help me to walk in wisdom today, seeking You in all I do. Give me clarity where I need direction, courage where I need boldness, and a heart that is always ready to serve You. Let my life bring You glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke opens chapter three with a list of names most of us skip. An emperor, a governor, three regional rulers, two high priests. Every one of them had access, money, and a platform. And the word of God went past all of them to a man in the wilderness. Today we slow down and work through who these people actually were, why Luke includes them, and what it means that God chose the one person on that page nobody would have picked. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at ⁠BibleStudyLive.org⁠ Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: ⁠SpeakPipe⁠ Why does Luke open with a list of names? For years I skipped this part. It felt like Roman background I didn't need. But when we slow down to actually study the word, we find that everything is there on purpose. Luke wrote this, but these words are God breathed, which means the Holy Spirit decided what went in and what stayed out. Luke is doing two things. First, he's dating the story like a historian. That's how the ancient world marked time, by naming who held power. He's writing to Gentiles, so he's saying these were real rulers and this really happened, and you can go check it. Second, he's setting up a contrast that lands in verse two. Who was Tiberius Caesar? The emperor of Rome, and the stepson of Caesar Augustus, the one we talked about in the Christmas story. Augustus adopted him as his heir. That detail tells us how much time has passed. Augustus ruled from 27 BC to AD 14. Tiberius ruled from AD 14 to 37, so his fifteenth year puts us around AD 28 or 29, which is when John started preaching. It lines up with verse 23, where Jesus is about thirty. Last we saw Him, He was twelve in the temple. One thing worth knowing: after Julius Caesar, Caesar stopped being a family name and became a title, basically another word for emperor. Every Roman ruler after him took it, which is part of why this gets confusing. Tiberius was not a popular leader. He was suspicious of people and harsh with anyone he saw as a threat, and he eventually withdrew from Rome entirely to the island of Capri while the empire mostly ran without him. Who was Pontius Pilate? The Roman governor of Judea from about AD 26 to 36. His official title was prefect, and we know that for certain because in 1961 archaeologists digging in Caesarea found a stone slab with his name and title carved into it. It's called the Pilate Stone. Jewish writers from that time describe him as stubborn and cruel. He brought Roman military standards into Jerusalem knowing it would offend Jewish law. He took money from the temple treasury to build an aqueduct. Luke 13 mentions Galileans he had killed while they were offering sacrifices. He's eventually the man who hands Jesus over to be crucified. Which Herod is this one? This is where a lot of us get lost, so let's slow down. The Herod in the Christmas story was Herod the Great, and he is not the same Herod you meet later. He died around 4 BC. He had about ten wives and a lot of children, and he was so paranoid about losing his throne that he killed three of his own sons. A Roman writer said it was safer to be Herod's pig than his son. When he died, Rome split his kingdom three ways among his surviving sons. None of them became king. The word tetrarch means ruler of a fourth. A family that once held all the power was now fractured into pieces. Archelaus got the largest share, including Judea. He was brutal, and after about ten years both the Jews and the Samaritans, who agreed on almost nothing, complained to Rome and Augustus removed him. That's how Judea ended up under direct Roman governors like Pilate. He shows up in the Christmas story too. When Joseph came back from Egypt and heard Archelaus was ruling Judea, he was afraid to go there and settled in Nazareth instead, which we read in Matthew 2. Philip ruled the northeastern territories and built Caesarea Philippi, the city where Peter later confessed that Jesus was the Christ. Of all the Herods, he had the best reputation. Herod Antipas is the one named here. He ruled Galilee, where Jesus grew up and did most of His ministry. He's the one who arrests John the Baptist and eventually has him beheaded. Jesus calls him that fox in Luke 13, and Pilate sends Jesus to him during the trial. There's a fourth son we hear little about, usually called Herod II. He never ruled anything, but he was the first husband of Herodias. Antipas took her from him, and that's the marriage John the Baptist called out publicly. That is eventually what costs John his freedom and his life. Later there's Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, who kills the apostle James in Acts 12. This family line runs from the birth of Jesus all the way through Acts. Who was Lysanias? An obscure ruler, not related to the Herods at all, who ruled a small region called Abilene near Damascus. Some people have questioned why Luke bothers to include him. He's there for the same reason as everyone else. Luke is sketching the political map from the top down. The emperor, the governor of Judea, the Herod sons in Galilee and the northeast, and then one more regional ruler further north. Luke is a details guy, and he's saying in exact terms who was in charge of every piece of this world, and what year it was, so you can go verify it. Why are there two high priests? Israel was only supposed to have one, and he was supposed to serve for life. Here we have two. Annas served as high priest from about AD 6 to 15, and then Rome removed him. But Rome could take away the office without taking away the power. Five of his sons served as high priest at different times, and so did his son-in-law Caiaphas, who holds the title during the ministry of Jesus. When Jesus was arrested, they brought Him to Annas first, which we saw back in John 18. Acts 4 still calls Annas the high priest. Caiaphas held the office. Annas was calling the shots. Luke names both because both were running things, and it shows how far the priesthood had fallen. The holiest office in Israel had become a political appointment by Rome. Even the religious establishment was under Roman control. Why does Luke write like an Old Testament prophet? Think about how Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea open their books. They date the writing by naming the kings in power, and then comes the line: the word of the Lord came to them. That's exactly the formula here. Luke names the rulers, and then verse two says the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. We have just come out of four hundred years with no prophet in Israel. Luke picks up the old formula because the prophet is back. It isn't silent anymore. And what did the Old Testament prophets do? They foretold Jesus. That's exactly what John is here to do. Who did God actually speak to? Look at that list again. Every powerful person in it had access. They had money. They had influence. They had platform. None of them got the word from the Lord. Instead the word came to a man in the wilderness, a miracle baby whose parents had waited their whole lives for him, a man who ate locusts and honey and dressed in fur and struck people as an oddball. That gives me so much comfort. There are seasons in my own life where I feel like I'm out in the wilderness and I'm the oddball, and the Lord still speaks. I would much rather be a person in the wilderness in communication with God than somebody in power who isn't. So the next time you're tempted to think God won't use you because you're just some weirdo in the wilderness, remember that is exactly who He uses. He always has. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and where we are in the Luke study 01:16 Reading Luke 3:1-9 03:42 Why I used to skip this part 04:31 The two things Luke is doing 05:48 Tiberius Caesar and the timeline 07:26 Why every emperor was called Caesar 08:25 Pontius Pilate and the Pilate Stone 09:36 What kind of ruler Pilate was 10:04 Sorting out the Herods 10:58 A kingdom split three ways 11:34 Archelaus, and why Joseph settled in Nazareth 12:41 Philip and Caesarea Philippi 12:55 Herod Antipas, the one named here 13:39 Herod II, Herodias, and what it cost John 14:25 Herod Agrippa and Acts 12 14:53 Lysanias of Abilene 16:17 Why two high priests? 17:43 Annas in power, Caiaphas in title 18:14 How far the priesthood had fallen 18:43 Luke writes like an Old Testament prophet 19:43 The prophet is back 20:22 Real people, real history, go check it 21:21 Look at who God actually spoke to 22:31 The oddball in the wilderness 24:23 Prayer Frequently asked questions What does tetrarch mean? Ruler of a fourth. It was used loosely by this point, but it indicates a ruler over part of a kingdom rather than a king. What is the Pilate Stone? A stone slab found by archaeologists in Caesarea in 1961 bearing Pontius Pilate's name and his title as prefect. Which Herod is named in Luke 3? Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee and later had John the Baptist beheaded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday Daily Affirmations: I Cast All My Worries Onto Jesus (1 Peter 5:7) Midweek is when the noise gets loudest. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to trade anxiety for peace and remember that God is still in control of what you can't see yet. Today's affirmations are about surrendering worry, resting in His presence, and trusting His timing even when the picture isn't clear. God's peace isn't just a feeling. It's a promise. I'll say each statement, then pause so you can repeat it after me, and then I'll share the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin Breathe in God's peace, and exhale your worries. This day is a gift, and no matter what's ahead, you can trust that God is in control. His love is steady. His plans for you are good. His presence goes before you. Let these affirmations remind you to trust Him today. Wednesday affirmations and Scripture I am ruled by God's peace today. Isaiah 26:3 I cast all my worries onto Jesus. He carries them for me. 1 Peter 5:7 I will not be anxious. I will pray and trust God. Philippians 4:6-7 God's plans for me are good, and I trust Him. Jeremiah 29:11 I do not need to worry about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 I will rest in God's presence today. Exodus 33:14 God is my refuge and strength. Psalm 46:1 I will not let my heart be troubled. I trust in God. John 14:27 The Lord directs my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 Even when I don't understand, I trust in God's wisdom. Romans 11:33 I do not have to be afraid because God is with me. Deuteronomy 31:8 God is fighting for me. Exodus 14:14 I am not alone. God walks with me. Isaiah 41:13 God is my rock and salvation. I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6 I find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 God's love never fails me. Lamentations 3:22-23 I have peace because I am in Christ. John 16:33 I wait on the Lord and He renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will trust in God, even when I don't see the whole picture. 2 Corinthians 5:7 God is working all things for my good. Romans 8:28 God's peace rules in my heart today. Colossians 3:15 I give my burdens to the Lord and He sustains me. Psalm 55:22 I will be still and know that He is God. Psalm 46:10 I trust God's timing and His ways. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will rejoice in the Lord always. Philippians 4:4 Closing prayer Father, I surrender my worries to You. I choose to rest in Your peace today, trusting that You are in control. Fill my heart with faith instead of fear, and let Your peace guard my mind. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary knew exactly who her son was. She had the angel, the virgin conception, the shepherds, and Simeon's prophecy. And when her twelve-year-old said he had to be in his Father's house, Scripture tells us plainly that she did not understand what he said to her. Today we're finishing Luke 2 with Jesus at twelve in the temple. This passage gets taught incorrectly a lot, so we're going to slow down and ask some questions of the text. We'll look at what Passover actually meant to this family, what Jesus was really doing among the teachers, and the difference between knowing something and understanding it. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS What was the Feast of Passover? It goes back to Exodus 12, the night God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt. Each family killed a lamb without defect and put its blood on the doorposts, and when God's judgment moved through Egypt that night, He passed over the homes marked with the blood. That same night Pharaoh finally let God's people go. God told them to keep that meal every year forever. Roasted lamb, bread without yeast because there hadn't been time to let it rise, and bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of slavery. The feast ran eight days, one for Passover itself and seven for the Feast of Unleavened Bread right after, which is why Luke says they stayed until the days were over. It fell in late March or April, right around when we observe Easter. Deuteronomy 16 required all the men to appear before the Lord three times a year, at Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Technically only Joseph had to go. Mary went anyway, which was common for devoted families but not universal. We see the same thing with Hannah going up year after year in 1 Samuel. Luke is telling us this was a faithful household. There was a lot of hard in their lives, and they kept showing up. Why did it take a day to notice Jesus was missing? Because nobody traveled alone. Nazareth was about eighty to ninety miles from Jerusalem by road, which was a three to five day walk, and families traveled together in large groups with relatives and neighbors for safety. Luke tells us exactly that in verse 44. So when Mary and Joseph couldn't find Jesus, it was because they assumed he was with the caravan, somewhere among thirty cousins. A whole day could pass before anyone noticed a twelve-year-old was gone. What was Jerusalem like during Passover? Packed. Scholars think Jerusalem normally held somewhere in the tens of thousands, and during Passover it swelled well beyond that. Josephus, the ancient Jewish historian, wrote about numbers in the millions. Many scholars think that's heavily exaggerated, or that he simply meant there were people everywhere. People camped on the hillsides and in surrounding villages because there was nowhere to stay in the city. The temple courts would have been loud and crowded, with lambs being sacrificed and the Levitical priests singing psalms. For a boy from a small village, this would have been one of the biggest things he saw all year. Why did Passover matter so much to them? For us it reads like a history lesson. For them it was how Israel remembered who they were and where they came from. God built the teaching right into it. Exodus 12 says that when your children ask what this rite means, you tell them the story again. So every year the children asked and the parents retold it. That's part of how the faith got handed down, because most people couldn't read. It was an oral history carried by ritual. And remember where they were standing. Israel was under Roman occupation. A feast week about God breaking the power of an empire and setting His people free meant something. During Passover, they were reminded of hope. Rome knew it too, which is why the Roman governor came up from the coast with extra soldiers during the feast to prevent a riot. What is being foreshadowed here? Think about what's happening. A twelve-year-old boy travels to Jerusalem for a feast about a lamb whose blood saved people from death, and he sits in the temple courts asking questions. About twenty years later he comes back to that same city, at that same feast, at that same time of year, and becomes the Lamb himself. Paul says it in 1 Corinthians: Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. There's one more thing I hadn't noticed until this time studying it. Mary and Joseph searched three days before they found him. Later, at Passover, three days would pass before Jesus was found again. That pricked my heart about how strategic God was in the timing. Was Jesus teaching or learning in the temple? This is where the passage often gets taught incorrectly. Verse 46 says he was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Sitting, listening, asking. Those are the actions of a student. Then verse 47 says all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. Here's what ties them together: Jewish teaching worked by question and answer. A student asked a question, the teacher often answered with a question back, and the way you answered was how they measured whether you really understood. So we have a twelve-year-old sitting among the teachers, asking, listening, and answering. That's learning. But the depth of his answers was teaching them at the same time. He wasn't correcting them or taking over. The Greek word for understanding is sunesis, the ability to put things together and see how the pieces connect. They weren't amazed that he had memorized a lot of Scripture. Plenty of Jewish boys had. They were amazed at how he understood what it meant. This matters theologically. Jesus was fully God and fully human, and his human mind grew the way yours and mine does. He learned his Scripture. It wasn't just automatically installed. He sat under teachers. I think we need to give ourselves some grace there. People sometimes assume I have the whole Bible memorized. I don't. I know how to read it and study it. I know a lot more than I did five years ago, and that came from studying, listening, and asking questions. What's the difference between knowing and understanding? Verse 50 says his parents did not understand the saying he spoke to them. He had said he must be in his Father's house. Why didn't they understand? Mary knew he was God's Son. She knew she was a virgin when she conceived. She knew it. She didn't understand it yet. She had a twelve-year-old who had scraped his knees and run and played and laughed like any child. She knew, and she was still growing into understanding. So when we don't understand something right away, we tend to look down on ourselves as though something is wrong with us. This is Mary. This is Jesus. There's a difference between knowing and understanding, and we grow into it. Scripture says she treasured these things in her heart. Sometimes God reveals something and you know that you know it was Him, and you still have no idea what it means. Sometimes that clears up quickly. Sometimes you sit with it for years. When God first showed me Bible Study Live, I was standing at the villa in Italy and He showed me an image of myself teaching a Bible study. I knew it was revelation from the Lord. I had no idea what it meant. I was working at a church and leading mission trips at the time, so I assumed it was connected to that somehow. It took six years before I understood. For some of us it takes a lifetime. For some of us, it may be on the other side of heaven. What happened after they went home? Verse 51 says he continued in subjection to them. The Son of God went home to Nazareth and spent the next eighteen years obeying a young mom and a carpenter. The next time we see him, he's about thirty. Verse 52 says Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. The Greek word for increasing is prokopto, and it carries the picture of cutting a path forward through brush. Slow, steady progress. Notice there are four areas. Wisdom, stature, favor with God, favor with people. Mind, body, spirit, and relationships. He grew in all of them, which means he started in one place and moved to another. If that was true for Him, it's certainly true for you and me. Timestamps 00:00 Finishing Luke 2 with a slow read 00:27 Reading Luke 2:41-52 01:25 Prayer 02:22 Why this passage gets taught incorrectly 03:16 Where Passover comes from 04:13 The eight days and the three pilgrim festivals 05:11 Mary didn't have to go, and she went anyway 05:37 The walk from Nazareth 06:8 Traveling in family groups 06:34 How a whole day passed unnoticed 07:2 How crowded Jerusalem was 07:58 Passover under Roman occupation 09:27 Why Rome sent extra soldiers 09:54 The Lamb who would become the Lamb 10:52 Three days, and then three days again 11:23 Was Jesus teaching or learning? 12:23 How question and answer teaching worked 13:20 What sunesis means 14:28 Jesus learned the way we learn 15:47 Knowing versus understanding 16:42 Mary knew, and she didn't understand yet 17:40 Six years before I understood 18:33 Eighteen quiet years in Nazareth 19:14 Prokopto, and the four areas of growth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday Daily Affirmations: I Do Not Fear Because God Is With Me (Isaiah 41:10) Step into your week with boldness, peace, and purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to trade your own strength for God's before the day gets away from you. As the world demands more, God invites you to lean on Him. Today's affirmations are a reminder that you are never alone, never powerless, and never without purpose. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin Today's affirmations are for strength and confidence for the week ahead. Whatever this week holds, you are not facing it alone. God is with you, strengthening you, guiding you, and fighting for you. No matter what challenges you encounter, you can walk in faith knowing that God has already prepared the way for you. Tuesday affirmations and Scripture I am strong and courageous in Christ. Joshua 1:9 I do not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:10 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I am victorious through Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:57 I have the power of God working within me. Ephesians 3:20 I will not be shaken because God is my refuge. Psalm 62:6 I walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17 God fights my battles and I need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 I am not afraid because God has overcome the world. John 16:33 I have authority in Christ over every attack of the enemy. Luke 10:19 I am rooted and established in God's love. Ephesians 3:17 I have divine wisdom and strength for today. James 1:5 I am resilient and I will persevere through trials. Romans 5:3-4 I am filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's grace is sufficient for me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 I have peace that surpasses understanding. Philippians 4:7 I am never alone. God is always near. Deuteronomy 31:8 I am protected under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 God's Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 I stand firm in faith and do not waver. James 1:6 I am free from fear because God's perfect love casts it out. 1 John 4:18 I have a spirit of power, love, and sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 God is working all things for my good today. Romans 8:28 Closing prayer Lord, I surrender my fear to You. Fill me with boldness, courage, and confidence in You. No matter what today holds, I trust in Your strength. In Jesus' name, Amen. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two people recognize the Messiah on the same day, in the same temple. God gives one of them a private word and the other a public one. That difference has a lot to say about how God works through you when He starts giving you spiritual insight. Today we're in Luke 2:22-40 with Simeon and Anna. We'll talk about why Mary needed purification, what the two birds tell us about this family, how the Holy Spirit worked before Pentecost, and what Simeon meant when he said the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed. Links Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Greece 2027 is full, but Rome and Maui are open. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS Why did Mary need to be purified? Jesus had no sin, so why would His mother need cleansing? This wasn't about sin. It had to do with the blood of childbirth, going back to Leviticus 12. That law said a mother waited forty days after having a son before returning to worship at the temple, and eighty after a daughter. Then she brought offerings to the priest. Being unclean didn't mean she'd done something wrong. It meant she wasn't ready to come near holy things yet. Leviticus 15 says any bodily discharge made a person ceremonially unclean, and Numbers 19 says touching a dead body made you unclean for a week. If Joseph helped Mary deliver, he would have been unclean too. This was ritual cleansing, not a sin offering. Why did they bring two birds instead of a lamb? Leviticus 12 called for a lamb and a bird, but if you couldn't afford a lamb you were permitted to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead. They brought two birds. That tells us they couldn't afford a lamb. The Son of God was born into a family living in poverty. And think about this. She didn't need one. She was holding the Lamb. Years later Jesus would become the final sacrifice, which is why you and I don't have to bring a perfect lamb as an offering. Birds were plentiful in that region and nested in the clefts of the rock walls there. They were considered clean, simple, and harmless, which is why they fit as a sacrificial animal. Keep an eye on the doves as we move through Luke. Why does Scripture say "up to Jerusalem"? Because people literally had to go up. Jerusalem sat on a ridge higher than the surrounding area, so you climbed to reach it from almost any direction. The Psalms of Ascent were the songs people sang on that journey up the hill. How do the regions fit together? Galilee was the north, green and fertile with trade routes running through, which meant many non-Jewish people settled there. Isaiah calls it Galilee of the Gentiles. Southerners looked down on Galileans and could pick out their accent immediately. That's where Jesus grew up. Samaria was the middle. There was real bad blood between Samaritans and Jews over where to worship and which Scriptures to accept, and Jewish travelers would cross the Jordan and back just to avoid passing through. That's what makes it so striking later when Jesus had to go through Samaria to meet the woman at the well. Judea was the south, the heartland, with Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The name comes from Judah, which is also where we get the word Jew. Nazareth was a small village in Galilee, the kind of place that prompted Nathanael to ask whether anything good could come from there. Bethlehem was a small town in Judea about six miles south of Jerusalem, and its name means house of bread. It was David's hometown and the setting of Ruth and Boaz. Here's what used to confuse me. City of David usually means Jerusalem in the Old Testament. But Luke gives that title to Bethlehem, because that's where David was born and tended sheep. It's a reversal his readers would have caught. The King of kings comes from a small town, not the royal capital. Put the travel together: Nazareth in the north, ninety miles south to Bethlehem for the census, then six miles up to Jerusalem to present Him at the temple. How did the Holy Spirit work before Pentecost? Luke says the Spirit was upon Simeon and led him into the temple on the exact day Jesus was brought in. But Pentecost hasn't happened yet, so what is this? All through the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon specific people for a specific assignment or season. We saw it with Zechariah and Elizabeth. David spoke of it and begged God not to take it from him. It was real, and it was temporary. The Spirit came on and off people. At Pentecost that changes. Peter quotes Joel, that God will pour out His Spirit on all mankind and sons and daughters will prophesy. Not just prophets and kings. You and me. And it becomes permanent, made possible by the finished work of Jesus. So if you have come to faith in Jesus, you already have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. There's also the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which works more like what we see here, coming on someone for a specific purpose. We'll get to that later in the series. What does "the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed" mean? This line is easy to brush past. The word for revealed is apokalypto, where we get apocalypse. It means unveiling. It does not mean disaster. The word for thoughts is dialogismoi, where we get dialogue. It describes internal reasoning, the back and forth you have with yourself in your own head. So Simeon is talking about the private objections and doubts people carry about Jesus without ever saying them out loud. We see it again when Jesus asks the Pharisees why they are reasoning in their hearts, and after the resurrection when He asks why doubts arise in their hearts. He knows. Jesus is going to pull the cover off what people actually think about Him. That can bring peace, and it can also feel like chaos. I'm not saying God is the author of chaos. But when He brings truth into the light, whatever has been hiding in the dark scatters. In some places I've worked, you flip a light on and the cockroaches run. He exposes things because He wants to heal them. Why does Simeon speak privately and Anna publicly? Simeon waited a long time, and when the fulfillment came, he kept his word private. He gave it to one couple, specifically to Mary, and it was hard. A sword will pierce your own soul. Anna does the opposite. She declares her word publicly to everyone waiting for the redemption of Israel. Jewish law required two witnesses to establish something, going back to Deuteronomy, and Luke keeps giving us pairs. Zechariah and Mary. Elizabeth and Mary. Now Simeon and Anna. Luke calls Anna a prophetess with no hesitation. She was a woman, a widow, and at least eighty-four. Some translations suggest she'd been a widow for eighty-four years, which would put her past a hundred. Widows were among the outcasts of that culture, and her tribe, Asher, had been scattered generations earlier. She was part of the faithful remnant God preserved. Two people, same room, same day, two assignments. One private, one public. That's what I want you to carry. When God gives you a word, not everything is for everyone. If He's growing you in spiritual insight, recognize that, especially when the word is hard. Hard words are usually meant for private. Knowing the difference is part of spiritual maturity. Featured quote "Not everything is for everyone." Scripture referenced Luke 2:22-40 (ESV), Leviticus 12, Leviticus 15, Numbers 19, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Joel, Acts 2 Timestamps 00:00 Where we are and why we go slowly 01:22 Reading Luke 2:22-40 03:17 Prayer 04:11 Why did Mary need purification? 06:11 Two birds instead of a lamb 07:03 She was holding the Lamb 08:25 Why Scripture says up to Jerusalem 10:57 Galilee, Samaria, and Judea 13:37 Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem 15:45 Why Luke calls Bethlehem the city of David 17:40 The Holy Spirit before Pentecost 19:02 What changes at Pentecost 21:18 The thoughts of many hearts revealed 23:27 Why Jesus brings things into the light 24:38 Simeon's private word 25:28 Anna's public word 26:34 Who Anna was 27:25 Not everything is for everyone 28:23 Prayer Frequently asked questions Was Mary being cleansed from sin? No. This was ritual purification after childbirth under Leviticus 12. How far did Mary and Joseph travel? About ninety miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, then six miles up to Jerusalem. How old was Anna? At least eighty-four, and possibly over a hundred depending on the translation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday Daily Affirmations: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:14) Start your Monday with confidence, peace, and purpose. These daily Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to realign your heart and mind with biblical truth before the week begins. Today's affirmations are all about identity: who God says you are, and what changes when you believe it. Speak life over your day, renew your faith, and step into God's promises with Scripture straight from His Word. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin Take a deep breath. This is a new day filled with God's grace and purpose. You are not defined by your past, or your mistakes, or the opinions of others. You are defined by the truth of God's Word. Let these affirmations fill your heart as you step into today. Monday affirmations and Scripture I am a child of God, chosen and loved. 1 John 3:1 I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 I am fully known and loved fully by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I have been chosen before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 I am created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 I am redeemed and made new in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I am set apart for God's purpose. 1 Peter 2:9 I am God's masterpiece, created for good works. Ephesians 2:10 I am loved with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 I am called by name and belong to God. Isaiah 43:1 I am not my past. I am a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:20 I'm seated in heavenly places with Christ. Ephesians 2:6 I am co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17 I am not rejected. I am accepted in Christ. Ephesians 1:6 I am never alone. God is always with me. Hebrews 13:5 I am valuable and precious in God's sight. Isaiah 43:4 I have been set free by the truth of Jesus. John 8:36 I am more than a conqueror through Christ. Romans 8:37 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 I am God's dwelling place. His Spirit lives within me. 1 Corinthians 3:16 I am forgiven and free from condemnation. Romans 8:1 I have a divine purpose and calling from God. Jeremiah 29:11 I am dearly loved and nothing can separate me from God's love. Romans 8:38-39 Closing prayer Father, thank You for reminding me who I am in You. Help me to walk in confidence today, knowing that I am chosen, loved, and called by You. No matter what comes my way, let my identity be rooted in Your truth. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunday Daily Affirmations: I Place This Coming Week in God's Hands (Psalm 31:15) Sunday is for looking ahead with God. Before the week begins, we pause and place what's coming into His hands. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a steady way to enter the week grounded, attentive, and trusting God to lead you one day at a time. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Sunday affirmations and Scripture I place this coming week in God's hands. Psalm 31:15 — "My times are in Your hands." I trust God to guide my steps. Psalm 37:23 — "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him." I enter this week with expectancy, not fear. Romans 15:13 — "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him." I invite God into every moment ahead. Proverbs 16:3 — "Commit to the Lord whatever you do." I trust God to order my priorities. Matthew 6:33 — "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." I receive God's wisdom for the days ahead. James 1:5 — "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God." I walk into this week anchored in truth. Psalm 119:105 — "Your word is a lamp to my feet." I trust God with what I cannot foresee. Isaiah 46:10 — "I make known the end from the beginning." I choose faith over anticipation of stress. Psalm 56:3 — "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." I rely on God's grace for each day. 2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you." I trust God's timing this week. Habakkuk 2:3 — "Though it linger, wait for it." I remain open to God's leading. Psalm 25:4 — "Show me Your ways, Lord." I step forward with humility and trust. Micah 6:8 — "What does the Lord require of you? To walk humbly with your God." I depend on God's strength, not my own. Psalm 68:35 — "God gives strength and power to His people." I trust God with every conversation and decision. Proverbs 20:24 — "A person's steps are directed by the Lord." I choose obedience over control. John 14:23 — "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching." I walk into this week aware of God's presence. Exodus 33:14 — "My Presence will go with you." I trust God to work through ordinary moments. Zechariah 4:10 — "Do not despise these small beginnings." I release anxiety about outcomes. Psalm 112:7 — "They will have no fear of bad news." I remain attentive to God's voice. John 10:27 — "My sheep listen to My voice." I trust God to meet my needs. Philippians 4:19 — "My God will meet all your needs." I step into this week with courage. Psalm 31:24 — "Be strong and take heart." I trust God to shape my character. Romans 8:29 — "To be conformed to the image of His Son." I begin this week grounded in hope. Hebrews 6:19 — "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul." I rest in God's faithfulness as I move forward. Psalm 33:4 — "The word of the Lord is right and true." Closing prayer God, as I step into this new week, I place everything ahead of me in Your care. Go before me, guide my steps, and help me stay attentive to You. I trust You with what's coming, one day at a time. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturday Daily Affirmations: I Thank God for Walking with Me Through This Week (Psalm 143:10) Saturday is a good day to slow down and look back over your week with God. Not to replay everything or overthink it, but to notice where He met you, where He carried you, and where His grace showed up. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a gentle way to reflect with honesty and gratitude before the new week begins. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Saturday affirmations and Scripture I thank God for walking with me through this week. Psalm 143:10 — "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." I recognize God's faithfulness in both the seen and unseen moments. Psalm 77:11 — "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago." I release regret and receive God's grace. Psalm 32:5 — "Then I acknowledged my sin to You... and You forgave the guilt of my sin." I trust that God was at work even when I didn't notice. Ecclesiastes 3:11 — "He has made everything beautiful in its time." I give thanks for the strength God provided each day. Psalm 28:7 — "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me." I acknowledge where I grew this week. 2 Peter 3:18 — "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I notice where God invited me to trust Him more deeply. Psalm 37:5 — "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." I receive God's mercy for where I fell short. Micah 7:18 — "You delight in mercy." I choose gratitude over self-criticism. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — "Give thanks in all circumstances." I honor the work God has been doing in my heart. Philippians 1:6 — "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." I acknowledge God's presence in ordinary moments. Psalm 16:11 — "You make known to me the path of life." I release this week into God's care. Psalm 55:22 — "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." I trust God with what remains unfinished. Proverbs 16:9 — "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." I thank God for His patience with me. Psalm 103:8 — "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." I rest in the truth that God sees me fully. Hebrews 4:13 — "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." I choose to end this week with gratitude. Psalm 92:1 — "It is good to give thanks to the Lord." I release comparison and embrace contentment. Hebrews 13:5 — "Be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you.'" I acknowledge God's protection this week. Psalm 121:7 — "The Lord will keep you from all harm." I thank God for His provision. Matthew 6:31-32 — "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them." I recognize God's quiet guidance. Isaiah 30:21 — "This is the way; walk in it." I let go of striving and receive rest. Psalm 23:2 — "He leads me beside quiet waters." I honor the limits God has given me. Psalm 127:2 — "He grants sleep to those He loves." I trust God with what I do not understand. Romans 11:33 — "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God." I receive peace as I reflect with God. Psalm 4:7 — "You have filled my heart with greater joy." I end this week grounded in God's faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23 — "Great is Your faithfulness." Closing prayer God, thank You for walking with me through this week. Help me to see Your faithfulness clearly and to release what I need to let go of. I trust that You were present in ways I noticed and in ways I didn't. I place this week back into Your hands. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're pressing pause on the Bible study so you have time to catch up. The color method takes real work, and not everyone can listen every day. A couple of times a month I'll stop, let you get caught up, and do a separate teaching that still connects to where we are. Two parts today. First, your questions from SpeakPipe, including a correction I owe you, a great catch about the bread and the fish in John 6, and a long answer about the Ethiopian Bible and the so-called lost books. Then a teaching on the sacred echo, and the one thing God has repeated to me all week: He knows exactly where you are, and He is the one who comes looking. Links Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Greece 2027 is full, so add your name to the waitlist. Rome and Maui are open. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Ad-free episodes and the full organized library of past series start at $5 a month: Patreon My new book Never Unseen is available for pre-order now. SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS A correction about the New World Translation I answered a question about translations recently and didn't catch that the caller mentioned the New World Translation. A listener pointed it out, and I'm grateful. I do not endorse it. That's the Watchtower Bible, used by Jehovah's Witnesses, and there is a great deal in it that is problematic from an evangelical Christian perspective. My answer was about the standard Christian translations, and I apologize for not catching the reference sooner. Why doesn't John mention the fish in the leftovers? Great catch, and it shows how intentional each gospel writer was. These were four different people with different purposes in what they chose to include. In John 6:13 the disciples fill twelve baskets with pieces of the five barley loaves, and the fish aren't named. But John isn't the odd one out. Matthew and Luke also describe the leftovers as broken pieces without naming the fish. Mark is the only one that says bread and fish. So why do three out of four focus on the bread? Bread carries real theological weight in John, because right after this Jesus gives the I am the bread of life teaching. John's attention lands there because he's setting up what's coming. Bread also echoes the manna God provided in the wilderness, and the crowd would have been thinking about Moses. The fish didn't carry that same weight. It may also be how people told stories. Bread was often shorthand for a whole meal. I've seen that serving overseas, where someone says they made bread and they mean bread and stew and fruit and everything else. It's like telling your family there's leftover pizza when there's also salad and breadsticks. The fish weren't forgotten. They just weren't the detail John wanted to highlight. Notice what you notice This is the whole reason I teach the color method. It slows your brain down enough to actually comprehend what you're reading. A lot of us trained ourselves into short attention spans. What the Lord draws your attention to may be different from what He draws mine to, because He is a personal God. We each have a personal calling and a personal relationship with Him. The more you do this, the more you'll see how He reveals things to you specifically. What about the Ethiopian Bible and the lost books? This comes up constantly, and I have some passionate feelings about it. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has a Bible with 81 books. Ours has 66. The extra ones include titles like Enoch and Jubilees, plus some you've probably never heard of. First thing to understand: these books are not lost in the sense that anyone is hiding them from you. They've been around the whole time, part of the Ethiopian church from very early on, while the rest of the church settled into a different set. Take Enoch. It was written centuries after the real Enoch could have lived, and it's full of speculative material you don't find anywhere else in Scripture. It was attributed to him to give it credibility. Yes, Jude quotes a line from it, but quoting a true statement is not the same as calling the whole book inspired. Paul does something similar when he quotes pagan Greek poets in Acts. He's using a reference his audience knows, not endorsing it as Scripture. Jubilees is a later retelling of Genesis and Exodus that adds things the original text never says, like an angel dictating everything to Moses. The Meqabyan books sound like Maccabees, which we talked about in the 400 years of silence episode, but they're completely different. Nobody really knows where they came from, and they've never been used anywhere in church history outside Ethiopia. Catholic Bibles include several additional books, like Tobit and Judith. Those are a different case, because they have genuine historical value. I've read a number of them, Judith especially, while researching women in the early church for my new book. But they were written in Greek rather than Hebrew, which means they were never part of the Hebrew Bible that Jesus and the apostles used. Neither the Jewish community nor the early church recognized them as Scripture. Historical value, not scriptural value. Even in the Ethiopian church, some of those books, like the Shepherd of Hermas, are considered valuable but not inspired. So even they don't treat all 81 the same way. Here's the pattern. Most were written later than they claim, far removed from the original timeline, and credited to someone famous for credibility when that person had nothing to do with them. That's dishonest on its face, and it's worth asking what agenda was behind it. From an evangelical view, the 66 books we have are the ones God intended us to have, and that canon has been settled a very long time because those are the books that were verified. My honest advice: unless you're in seminary studying why these books were excluded, I wouldn't spend your time there. So many people I talk to don't yet know what their actual Bible says. Bankers don't study counterfeit money. They study the real thing until they know the feel and texture of it, so they recognize a fake immediately. Study the authentic Scriptures, and when someone hands you a sensational claim about hidden books, you'll be able to stop right there. If you want new revelation, go study the Old Testament. God is not trying to hide Himself from you. He wants you to know Him. What is a sacred echo? It's what happens when God keeps saying the same thing to you through different means until you catch it. Here's how mine went this week. On Sunday I woke up with the name Zebedee on my heart, the father of James and John. I went back to Scripture to see whether I was forgetting something, and I wasn't. There's very little about him. What we know is that he was a fisherman with multiple boats, which in that time meant he was a businessman with money enough to buy a second one. He had influence and likely some affluence. We don't really know him for himself. We know him as the father of those boys. Zebedee was doing what he was called to do. He was faithfully fishing. And that put his sons in the exact place they needed to be when Jesus came walking by. As a parent, that got me. My greatest aim is children who love and serve the Lord, far more than podcasts or books or anything else I do. There was a reason Zebedee was on the Sea of Galilee doing what he was doing, because God was getting ready to use his sons, and his ordinary faithfulness positioned them for it. I carried that into church still praying about it. During communion, our pastor's wife said we were doing something different. Instead of coming forward, they would bring it to us. As they served us where we sat, the Holy Spirit said: I know where you are. I can come to you. That was the Zebedee connection. God knew where he was, and He had positioned him there on purpose. Then this week we got to Luke 2 and the shepherds, and the same thing happened. They were out in the field doing a job many considered beneath them, and God sent an angel to announce that the Messiah had come. God located them. Where does that leave us? God can locate you. He knows exactly where you are, and much of the time He placed you there on purpose, in His timing. We talked about Zechariah this week, and how his past didn't prevent his future. The same is true for you. Your past does not prevent your future. Often it becomes one of the things the Lord uses to redeem and restore and prepare you for what He's calling you to. He seeks us out. He finds us. That's the pattern all through Scripture, and I'm so thankful for it. Featured quote "He is the God that locates us." Scripture referenced John 6, Luke 2, Acts, Jude Timestamps 00:00 Why we're pausing the Bible study 07:20 A correction about the New World Translation 08:36 Why John doesn't mention the fish 12:29 Notice what you notice 14:14 The Ethiopian Bible and the lost books 16:20 What's going on with Enoch 18:12 Jubilees and the Meqabyan books 19:38 Catholic Bibles and historical value 22:18 Why to study the real thing first 24:39 Waking up with Zebedee on my heart 27:23 What happened during communion 28:19 The shepherds, and the same echo again 29:07 God locates us 30:06 Prayer Frequently asked questions What is SpeakPipe for? Prayer requests and genuine questions about the series we're in. It isn't a place for counseling or complaints. How many books are in the Ethiopian Bible? Eighty-one, compared with the sixty-six in an evangelical Protestant Bible. When does the Luke study pick back up? Next episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday Daily Affirmations: I Release My Worries and Trust God (1 Peter 5:7) End your week anchored in peace and presence. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to set down what you've been carrying and find rest in God's care. Today's affirmations are about releasing your burdens, letting go of striving, and remembering that God's strength, love, and renewal are available right where you are. It's time to stop striving and start resting in His goodness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin The week is ending, and as we step into the weekend, let's take a moment to breathe. Release your burdens and rest in God's presence. We're not meant to carry everything ourselves. God calls us to lay our worries at His feet and find renewal in Him. Friday affirmations and Scripture I release my worries and trust God to handle what I cannot. 1 Peter 5:7 God's peace fills my heart and I rest in His presence. Matthew 11:28 I am not defined by my mistakes. God's grace is greater than my failures. Lamentations 3:22-23 I let go of the need to control everything and surrender to God's perfect plan. Proverbs 3:5-6 I am deeply loved by God and nothing can separate me from His love. Romans 8:38-39 God refreshes my soul and renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will be fully present today, trusting that God holds tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 My body, mind, and spirit find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 I let go of striving and choose to rest in God's love. Zephaniah 3:17 I step into the weekend with joy, knowing that God is in control. Psalm 118:24 God's presence is my safe place. Psalm 91:1 I am fully known and fully loved by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I will not let stress steal my peace today. Philippians 4:6-7 God is my refuge and I am safe in His hands. Psalm 46:1 I do not need to have all the answers. I trust God. Romans 11:33 God is fighting my battles and I can rest in His victory. Exodus 14:14 I will not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:13 I am held together by God's love even when life feels overwhelming. Colossians 1:17 God's goodness and mercy follow me every day. Psalm 23:6 I will not carry burdens that God has already taken from me. Matthew 11:29-30 I am at peace because God is in control. Isaiah 26:3 I trust in God's timing even when I don't understand. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will lay down my burdens and take on God's. Psalm 4:8 I am never alone for God is always with me. Deuteronomy 31:6 No matter what happens today, God is still good. Nahum 1:7 Closing prayer Father, as this week ends, I lay my burdens at Your feet. Help me to release my worries, rest in Your peace, and trust You with everything I cannot control. Refresh my heart and renew my spirit so I can step into the weekend with joy. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So many of us read Luke chapter 2 as the Christmas story, but we don't recognize how strategic God was in the timing of it. Politically and spiritually, we see God's perfect timing and intention reveals His heart for humanity. In today's episode, we take a look at what it means for us and how we can know Him and make Him known. Links Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the Luke series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS What is a decree, and who was Caesar Augustus? A decree is an official order from someone in power. It's not a request or a suggestion. It carries the force of law, and people could not ignore it. The Greek word here is dogma, which is where we get our English word, though here it means a legal ruling rather than a religious teaching. Caesar Augustus was the first emperor of Rome, ruling from about 27 BC to AD 14. Before that his name was Octavian, and he was the great nephew of Julius Caesar. When Julius was murdered, his will named Octavian as his adopted son and heir. He was only eighteen. He fought his way into power, and the Roman Senate eventually gave him a new name, Augustus, meaning the revered one or the majestic one. Why does Luke mention Caesar at all? Because of the contrast, and it's sharper than most of us realize. When Julius Caesar died, the Roman Senate declared him a god. That meant Augustus, as his adopted son, could call himself Divi Filius, Latin for son of the deified one. Son of a god. He put that title on coins and monuments across the empire. He picked up other titles too. People called him Savior, because his rule brought a long stretch of peace known as the Pax Romana. One inscription from Egypt during his reign calls him a great heavenly savior. So by the time Jesus was born, Rome already had its own son of a god, its own savior, and its own version of peace. All of it came from a human ruler. All of it was political propaganda. Luke wants you to see that the real Son of God and the real Savior was about to be born, not in a palace, but in a stable. The enemy always offers a counterfeit. What was the census actually for? Taxes. Augustus was counting his empire so he could tax it. Here's what he had no idea about. While he thought this was all his doing, God used that decree to move a pregnant teenager from Nazareth to Bethlehem, exactly where the prophet said the Messiah would be born. Augustus was helping fulfill a promise hundreds of years old and never knew it. Did women have to register for the census? Yes. Since the census was about taxes, most women were counted, and in the Roman province of Syria, which included Judea, women paid the poll tax too. Records show taxation started as early as twelve or fourteen and ran to age sixty-five. So Mary would have been on the tax rolls, though whether she had to appear in person is a separate question given how risky travel would have been. We actually have surviving census records from that world. The papyrus and leather used in Judea rotted away over the centuries, but in the dry climate of Egypt hundreds of census forms survived. And among documents found near the Dead Sea are the personal papers of a Jewish woman named Babatha, including her own census declaration listing land she owned. That's roughly a century after Mary's trip, and it's real evidence of a Jewish woman taking part in a Roman census. Was Jesus really born in a stable? Most scholars think the inn wasn't an inn at all. It was a house, and the space they stayed in was the area where the family brought their animals inside at night. That may sound strange in an American context, but I've served in missions around the world and seen homes with a section in the back where the cows are kept, so they don't get stolen or wander off. The point is the contrast. Caesar, the political son of a god, would have been born in a palace. The actual Son of God was born in a crowded house in the space reserved for animals, with no special room set aside and a feeding trough for a bed because it was the softest place available. God came right into the middle of normal and messy and crowded, on purpose. Why did God tell the shepherds? Shepherds were near the bottom of society. They worked outdoors constantly and often smelled like their animals, which meant they couldn't always keep the religious washing rules. Shepherding was work a lot of Jewish fathers wouldn't even teach their sons. They'd hire it out or give it to their daughters. And like women, a shepherd's testimony wasn't trusted as a witness in court. These were the people God chose to tell first. There's something beautiful in the location too. This was Bethlehem, David's hometown, and David was a shepherd boy before he was king. God describes Himself as the shepherd of His people in Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34, and He promised a shepherd king from David's line. So God announces the birth of the great Shepherd King to ordinary shepherds working the same hills David once worked. One more thing worth considering. All through the Old Testament, it's often young people and women tending flocks. Rachel in Genesis 29 was a shepherdess. So were Zipporah and her sisters in Exodus. Watching sheep was often given to the youngest in the family, which is why David was almost overlooked when Samuel came. The word Luke uses is plural and masculine, but it's the kind of word that can describe a mixed group. We don't know for certain who was out there. What we do know is how society saw them. Why does it say "heavenly host" instead of angels? This is one of my favorite details. The word for host is stratia, and it means army. It connects to the Old Testament title Lord of hosts, meaning the Lord of armies, the commander of heaven's forces. So verse 13 is telling us a whole army of heaven showed up. And they didn't come to declare war. They came to announce peace. Remember Caesar and the Pax Romana, peace brought to the empire through armies. Now heaven's army appears and announces a completely different kind of peace, one that comes through a baby laid in a manger. This was the rescue plan, and it was always a spiritual battle. Where do we see "know Him and make Him known" in this passage? Right here, in the first twenty verses after Jesus is born. Verse 8 tells us the shepherds were out in the field keeping watch by night. They were working. It was an ordinary night on an ordinary shift, and God found them right there. Verse 10 has the angel bringing good news of great joy. That phrase is the Greek word we get evangelize from. The first person to share the good news of the gospel was an angel, and he shared it with shepherds in a field. God takes the first step and comes to where we are. Verse 15 has the shepherds saying let's go and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. God isn't afraid of us verifying. He invites it. He wants us to seek Him out for ourselves. Then verse 17 says they made known what had been told to them. It's the same Greek word used in verse 15. God made Himself known to them, and after they experienced Him, they made Him known to everyone else. That's the whole pattern. God reveals Himself, you go see for yourself, and then you tell somebody. What does "those with whom he is pleased" mean? Verse 14 says peace among those with whom He is pleased, and I've wondered before how a person becomes someone God is pleased with. The Greek word is eudokia, made of two parts meaning good and to think or decide. It's God's good pleasure, His kind intention, His good decision. The focus isn't on how good the people are. It's on God's pleasure resting on them. It works a lot like the favor we talked about earlier in this series. It starts with God, not with us. Featured quote "Jesus is God's rescue plan. It was strategic. He thought through it. Everything was on purpose, on time, in time." Scripture referenced Luke 2:1-21 (ESV), Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, Genesis 29, Exodus Timestamps 00:00 Starting Luke 2, and why I'm not re-teaching the prophecies 01:30 Reading Luke 2:1-21 03:33 Prayer 04:30 What a decree actually is 05:22 Who Caesar Augustus was 06:48 Son of the deified one 07:47 Rome's savior and the Pax Romana 08:47 A census for taxes 09:28 What Augustus didn't know he was doing 10:21 Did women have to register? 11:11 Taxation from twelve to sixty-five 12:00 Do the census records still exist? 13:05 Babatha's papers 13:58 The inn that wasn't an inn 15:02 A palace versus a feeding trough 15:58 Who the shepherds really were 17:02 Washing rules and untrusted testimony 17:31 David's hometown and David's hills 18:28 Were they young? Were they women? 20:20 Why it says heavenly host 21:06 An army that declares peace 22:34 Pax Romana and the counterfeit 23:36 Know Him and make Him known, right here 24:41 God finds you in the ordinary 25:10 The angel evangelizes first 26:06 Go and see for yourselves 27:10 They made known what was made known to them 28:19 What "those with whom he is pleased" means 32:32 Prayer Frequently asked questions When did Caesar Augustus rule? From roughly 27 BC to AD 14. He was the first emperor of Rome. What does the word dogma mean here? It's the Greek word behind decree, meaning a binding legal ruling rather than a religious teaching. Who was Babatha? A Jewish woman whose personal papers, including her own census declaration, were found near the Dead Sea. They date to about a century after Mary's trip to Bethlehem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday Daily Affirmations: God Has a Purpose for My Life (Jeremiah 29:11) You were created on purpose, for a purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to walk into your day with intention, clarity, and wisdom. Whether you're questioning your calling or finding your footing in a new season, today's affirmations will help you trust God's plan, listen for His guidance, and move forward with boldness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it's based on. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin God created you for a reason. Your life is not an accident, and your steps are not random. He has a plan for you, a purpose that brings glory to Him and fulfillment to your heart. As you listen to these affirmations, let them remind you that God is leading, guiding, and equipping you for everything He has called you to do. Thursday affirmations and Scripture God has a purpose for my life and I walk in His plan. Jeremiah 29:11 I trust in the Lord to guide my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 I seek wisdom, and God gives it freely. James 1:5 God is directing my steps and I do not walk alone. Psalm 37:23 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 God has prepared good works for me to do today. Ephesians 2:10 I am equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will walk in faith, not in fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 God's Word lights my path. Psalm 119:105 I choose obedience, knowing God's ways are best. Deuteronomy 5:33 I live with purpose and do not waste my time. Ephesians 5:15-16 I am called to make an impact for God's Kingdom. Matthew 28:19-20 I have the mind of Christ and seek His wisdom daily. 1 Corinthians 2:16 I am a vessel for God's work. 2 Corinthians 4:7 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's purpose for me cannot be stopped. Job 42:2 I do everything for the glory of God. Colossians 3:23 God is using my life to accomplish His plan. Romans 8:28 I am bold in sharing the gospel. Romans 1:16 I walk in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 I remain steadfast in my calling. 1 Corinthians 15:58 God will finish the work He started in me. Philippians 1:6 I live with an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 I press forward in my faith, knowing my reward is in Heaven. Philippians 3:13-14 Closing prayer Father, thank You for calling me to a life of purpose. Help me to walk in wisdom today, seeking You in all I do. Give me clarity where I need direction, courage where I need boldness, and a heart that is always ready to serve You. Let my life bring You glory. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your Past Doesn't Disqualify You, It Prepares You: Luke 1:67-80 For nine months, Zechariah couldn't say a word. The man whose entire job was to speak on behalf of God to the people of God lost his voice because fear got louder than God's. And the very first thing he does when that voice comes back is prophesy. Today we finish Luke 1 with Zechariah's prophecy. We'll talk about what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, what prophecy actually is, what the horn of salvation means, and how the area where Zechariah failed became the very place God used him. If you've been quietly disqualifying yourself because of your past, this one's for you. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the Luke series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Luke tells us Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied. That's the same language he used for Elizabeth, and you're going to see it over and over in Luke and in Acts. The most famous example is Pentecost in Acts 2, but Luke uses it for Peter, for Stephen, and for Paul at key moments too. And almost every time Luke says someone was filled with the Holy Spirit, a prophetic word follows. It's his signature way of telling us that what comes next isn't coming from that person's own thinking or feelings. It's coming from God through them. I love that God keeps using people in the story of Jesus. Does He have to? No. But He does, because we were created to be in relationship with Him, to know Him, to make Him known, and to be known by Him. What is prophecy, really? A lot of people hear the word prophecy and think of predicting the future. Sometimes it means that. More often, prophecy is God's people speaking on His behalf, reminding others what God has already said, what He's already done, or what He's promised to do. It's forthtelling more often than foretelling. And prophecy isn't weird. It's all through your Bible. Entire books of the Old Testament are the words of the prophets. The silent years were called silent because there were no prophets in Israel. Now that Jesus is on the scene, we see the Holy Spirit and prophecy come roaring back. Here's what's interesting. Zechariah was a priest by training and by vocation. Prophecy wasn't technically his job. But after nine months of silence, the first thing he does with his restored voice is step into a prophetic role, and God uses him in it. What is Zechariah looking back on? His prophecy has two halves. If you're doing the color method and marking timing words, you may have caught it. The first half looks back, and the second half looks forward. In the first half, he praises God for keeping His covenant promises and raising up a Savior from David's line. He reminds the people what God already said through the prophets of old: that He would save them from their enemies and show the mercy He promised to Abraham. What do holiness and righteousness actually mean? Verse 75 talks about serving God in holiness and righteousness, and I think a lot of us check out when we see those words. We figure we could never measure up. I usually fall off the wagon by breakfast. But in the biblical sense, holiness is about spiritual wholeness, being dedicated to God and made whole because we're in right relationship with Him. Righteousness is very similar. It's being in right relationship with God. How do we get there? Through belief in Jesus. Before Jesus, that relationship was maintained through animal sacrifice under the old covenant. Jesus becomes the new covenant. He's the final sacrificial lamb. What is the horn of salvation? This is a Hebrew idiom that Zechariah's world would have understood immediately, but it's easy for us to miss. The image comes from an animal's horn, like a bull or a ram. The horn was that animal's main source of strength and its primary weapon for defense. So calling something a horn meant it was a source of real, effective power. In Psalm 18, God is called the horn of my salvation. In Psalm 132, God promises to make a horn sprout for David. When Zechariah says God has raised up a horn of salvation in the house of David, he's saying God has raised up a powerful deliverer from the promised royal line. This isn't the gentle, comforting side of God. It's His strength, the kind that actually acts on your behalf. What is Zechariah looking forward to? In the second half, he turns to the future and speaks over his son. John will prepare the way for the Lord by giving people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, so that when Jesus offers salvation, they're ready. Then he speaks about Jesus, the sunrise from on high who gives light to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and guides our feet into the way of peace. The word for peace here carries the idea of shalom, and shalom is so much more than the absence of conflict. It means complete wholeness, things being set right. Ever since Eden, people have been trying to get back to that wholeness. It's impossible without Christ. Because of Jesus, we can finally be whole and restored to God. That's the good news. Jesus is the good news. Why does "serve him without fear" matter so much? Go back to verse 74. Zechariah prophesies that God's people will be delivered from their enemies so they can serve Him without fear. Think about who's saying this. Nine months earlier, fear fell on this man in the temple, and his fear-driven demand for proof cost him his voice and possibly his hearing. Now, filled with the Holy Spirit, he's prophesying that the whole point of salvation is to produce people who can serve God without fear. It's the exact opposite of where his story started. How does God use our past? Why do you think God took Zechariah's voice so seriously? Because his voice was going to become his area of spiritual gifting. As a priest, his entire role was to speak for God to God's people. Fear overcame him and he doubted, and there was a consequence and discipline. But that discipline led him right into his gifting. The enemy attacks in infancy what he fears in maturity. My mouth has been getting me in trouble my whole life. In first grade, my desk was literally put in the hallway because I would not stop talking. And my whole life is now dedicated to serving God with my voice. Your past does not prevent you. It prepares you, as long as you surrender it to Him. Some of us have disqualified ourselves from what God wants to do because of where we've been. But when you lay that down at the foot of the cross and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and use you, He can take those dark seasons and step you right into your calling. Featured quote "Your past does not prevent you from God's plan. It prepares you for God's plan. But you have to surrender it." Scripture referenced Luke 1:67-80 (ESV), Psalm 18, Psalm 132, Acts 2 Timestamps 00:00 Finishing Luke 1, and why we're going slowly 00:56 Don't compare what you see to what I see 01:22 Reading Luke 1:67-80 02:47 Prayer 03:17 Zechariah's voice returns 04:00 Filled with the Holy Spirit 04:54 Luke's signature pattern: filled, then prophesied 05:47 Prophecy isn't weird. Do you read your Bible? 06:46 Forthtelling, not just foretelling 07:45 A priest steps into a prophetic role 08:15 Two halves: looking back and looking forward 09:14 What holiness and righteousness actually mean 11:27 The horn of salvation 12:52 Psalm 18 and Psalm 132 14:12 John will prepare the way 15:00 The way of peace and the meaning of shalom 16:17 Back to Eden 17:28 Serving Him without fear 18:38 Why God took Zechariah's voice so seriously 19:31 Your past doesn't prevent you, it prepares you 19:54 My desk in the hallway 20:25 The enemy attacks in infancy what he fears in maturity 21:15 Don't disqualify yourself 22:07 Prayer 23:29 Maui and the longing for Eden Frequently asked questions What is Zechariah's song called? It's traditionally called the Benedictus, from the first word of the Latin version, meaning blessed. Where did John grow up? Verse 80 tells us he grew and became strong in spirit and lived in the wilderness until his public appearance to Israel. When do we start Luke 2? Next episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday Daily Affirmations: I Am Ruled by God's Peace Today (Isaiah 26:3) Midweek is when the noise gets loudest. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to trade anxiety for peace and remember that God is still in control of what you can't see yet. Today's affirmations are about surrendering worry, resting in His presence, and trusting His timing even when the picture isn't clear. God's peace isn't just a feeling. It's a promise. I'll say each statement, then pause so you can repeat it after me, and then I'll share the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin Breathe in God's peace, and exhale your worries. This day is a gift, and no matter what's ahead, you can trust that God is in control. His love is steady. His plans for you are good. His presence goes before you. Let these affirmations remind you to trust Him today. Wednesday affirmations and Scripture I am ruled by God's peace today. Isaiah 26:3 I cast all my worries onto Jesus. He carries them for me. 1 Peter 5:7 I will not be anxious. I will pray and trust God. Philippians 4:6-7 God's plans for me are good, and I trust Him. Jeremiah 29:11 I do not need to worry about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 I will rest in God's presence today. Exodus 33:14 God is my refuge and strength. Psalm 46:1 I will not let my heart be troubled. I trust in God. John 14:27 The Lord directs my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 Even when I don't understand, I trust in God's wisdom. Romans 11:33 I do not have to be afraid because God is with me. Deuteronomy 31:8 God is fighting for me. Exodus 14:14 I am not alone. God walks with me. Isaiah 41:13 God is my rock and salvation. I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6 I find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 God's love never fails me. Lamentations 3:22-23 I have peace because I am in Christ. John 16:33 I wait on the Lord and He renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will trust in God, even when I don't see the whole picture. 2 Corinthians 5:7 God is working all things for my good. Romans 8:28 God's peace rules in my heart today. Colossians 3:15 I give my burdens to the Lord and He sustains me. Psalm 55:22 I will be still and know that He is God. Psalm 46:10 I trust God's timing and His ways. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will rejoice in the Lord always. Philippians 4:4 Closing prayer Father, I surrender my worries to You. I choose to rest in Your peace today, trusting that You are in control. Fill my heart with faith instead of fear, and let Your peace guard my mind. In Jesus' name, Amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allowing God's Voice to Be the Loudest | Luke 1:57-66 Sometimes the hardest voices to push past aren't the critics. They're the people who love you. In today's passage, Elizabeth finally gives birth, and the neighbors and relatives who had been celebrating God's mercy right alongside her show up with a plan for what to name the baby. They mean well. They're also wrong. And Elizabeth, who has experienced God for herself, says no. Today we're in Luke 1:57-66, the birth and naming of John. We'll talk about why everyone was making signs to Zechariah, why a name carried so much weight in that culture, and what it looks like to let God's voice be louder than even the well-meaning people in your life. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Our 2027 trips are open, Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the Luke series or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS Why were they making signs to Zechariah? This one always confused me. Gabriel told Zechariah he would be unable to speak until everything came to pass. So if he was mute, he could still hear, right? Why is everyone gesturing at him? The word Luke uses for Zechariah's condition is kophos, which carries the idea of being blunted. In that time it could mean deaf, it could mean mute, and sometimes it meant both. So the signs are a clue that Zechariah may not have been able to hear either. Think about what that means. If that's what was happening, he spent this entire pregnancy in silence, in a place where he could only really communicate with God. That's worth noticing. Who were the neighbors and relatives? Scripture tells us they heard the Lord had shown great mercy to Elizabeth, and they rejoiced with her. These weren't strangers or critics. They were people who loved this family, who could see the evidence of God working in her life, and who came to celebrate it. That's what makes the next part so striking. Why did they go over Elizabeth's head? On the eighth day they gathered to circumcise the baby, and they were ready to name him Zechariah after his father. Elizabeth said no, his name is John. And instead of listening to her, the living, breathing miracle standing right in front of them, they went to Zechariah. The man who was still mute, possibly deaf, and still carrying the consequence of not believing God. I don't think they had bad intentions. I think they just hadn't experienced God the way Elizabeth had. She had felt that baby leap when Mary walked in. She had been filled with the Holy Spirit. She knew that she knew. And Zechariah, in a very different way, knew too. He had spent months living with the consequence of his doubt. Why did the name matter so much? In our culture, naming a baby after family is mostly sentiment. In theirs, it meant much more. A name carried identity and calling. People believed you became what was spoken over you. That's why we see names changed in Scripture to reflect who God made someone to be, and why Jesus renamed Simon to Peter. Naming this baby Zechariah would have meant he'd follow in his father's footsteps as another priest from the line of Abijah, carrying the family's God-given role into the next generation. And this wasn't a quiet conversation at home. A circumcision was a public ceremony, and the whole community was there to witness the naming. So when Elizabeth said his name is John, she was announcing publicly that this child would not be what everyone expected. Gabriel had already said John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. His calling was prophetic, not priestly. The name was the first public sign that his life was going to look nothing like his father's. What happened when Zechariah wrote, "His name is John"? He asked for a writing tablet and wrote it out, and immediately his mouth was opened and he spoke, blessing God. I believe his freedom was tied to his obedience. Some people read this and see a harsh God. I see a loving one. As a parent, I discipline my kids because I know things they don't, because I love them, and because I want them in right relationship with God and with our family. Discipline motivated by love teaches us to obey. Zechariah came out of that season, obeyed, and was set free. What does this mean for us? People can love you, praise God with you, have your best interests at heart, and still lead you away from what God has said. That doesn't make them bad people. Sometimes the call of God on your life just doesn't make sense to anyone else. That's the whole reason I do what I do. You have to know God for yourself. Elizabeth and Zechariah could stand firm because they had heard His voice for themselves. His voice has to be the loudest voice in your life, even louder than the people who love you most. And sometimes we're the ones on the other side, doubting what God has said to someone else. That's worth sitting with too. Featured quote "The voice of God has to be the loudest voice in your life." Scripture referenced Luke 1:57-66 (ESV) Timestamps 00:00 Welcome, and how the kids show fits with the Luke study 01:25 The Bible I'm using for this series 02:55 Reading Luke 1:57-66 03:56 Questions this passage raises 04:25 Why were they making signs to Zechariah? 05:19 Kophos: deaf, mute, or both 06:42 A season of silence with God alone 07:09 Marking the supernatural with the color method 08:08 Neighbors and relatives who rejoiced with her 09:05 Going over Elizabeth's head 10:01 Elizabeth knew that she knew 10:57 His mouth was opened 11:27 Discipline motivated by love 12:56 Naming in our culture 14:53 Naming in their culture: you became what you were named 15:50 Why naming him Zechariah meant a priestly future 16:46 A public ceremony and a public announcement 17:38 A prophetic calling, not a priestly one 19:00 Well-meaning people can still lead us the wrong way 19:43 Why you have to know God for yourself 20:54 Prayer 22:44 Bible Study Live 2027 update Frequently asked questions Was Zechariah deaf as well as mute? Possibly. Luke uses a word that could mean deaf, mute, or both, and the fact that people made signs to him suggests he may not have been able to hear. Why did the relatives want to name the baby Zechariah? In that culture a name carried identity and calling. Naming him after his father would have marked him as the next priest in the family line. Why was the name John so significant? It publicly declared that this child had a different calling. John would be a prophet preparing the way for the Lord, not a priest carrying on the family role. Why could Zechariah speak again? Immediately after he obeyed and wrote "His name is John," his mouth was opened and he spoke, blessing God. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday Daily Affirmations: Strong and Courageous in Christ (Joshua 1:9) Step into your week with boldness, peace, and purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to trade your own strength for God's before the day gets away from you. As the world demands more, God invites you to lean on Him. Today's affirmations are a reminder that you are never alone, never powerless, and never without purpose. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin Today's affirmations are for strength and confidence for the week ahead. Whatever this week holds, you are not facing it alone. God is with you, strengthening you, guiding you, and fighting for you. No matter what challenges you encounter, you can walk in faith knowing that God has already prepared the way for you. Tuesday affirmations and Scripture I am strong and courageous in Christ. Joshua 1:9 I do not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:10 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I am victorious through Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:57 I have the power of God working within me. Ephesians 3:20 I will not be shaken because God is my refuge. Psalm 62:6 I walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17 God fights my battles and I need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 I am not afraid because God has overcome the world. John 16:33 I have authority in Christ over every attack of the enemy. Luke 10:19 I am rooted and established in God's love. Ephesians 3:17 I have divine wisdom and strength for today. James 1:5 I am resilient and I will persevere through trials. Romans 5:3-4 I am filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's grace is sufficient for me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 I have peace that surpasses understanding. Philippians 4:7 I am never alone. God is always near. Deuteronomy 31:8 I am protected under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 God's Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 I stand firm in faith and do not waver. James 1:6 I am free from fear because God's perfect love casts it out. 1 John 4:18 I have a spirit of power, love, and sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 God is working all things for my good today. Romans 8:28 Closing prayer Lord, I surrender my fear to You. Fill me with boldness, courage, and confidence in You. No matter what today holds, I trust in Your strength. In Jesus' name, Amen. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday Daily Affirmations: A Child of God, Chosen and Loved (1 John 3:1) Start your Monday with confidence, peace, and purpose. These daily Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to realign your heart and mind with biblical truth before the week begins. Today's affirmations are all about identity: who God says you are, and what changes when you believe it. Speak life over your day, renew your faith, and step into God's promises with Scripture straight from His Word. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin Take a deep breath. This is a new day filled with God's grace and purpose. You are not defined by your past, or your mistakes, or the opinions of others. You are defined by the truth of God's Word. Let these affirmations fill your heart as you step into today. Monday affirmations and Scripture I am a child of God, chosen and loved. 1 John 3:1 I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 I am fully known and loved fully by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I have been chosen before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 I am created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 I am redeemed and made new in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I am set apart for God's purpose. 1 Peter 2:9 I am God's masterpiece, created for good works. Ephesians 2:10 I am loved with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 I am called by name and belong to God. Isaiah 43:1 I am not my past. I am a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:20 I'm seated in heavenly places with Christ. Ephesians 2:6 I am co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17 I am not rejected. I am accepted in Christ. Ephesians 1:6 I am never alone. God is always with me. Hebrews 13:5 I am valuable and precious in God's sight. Isaiah 43:4 I have been set free by the truth of Jesus. John 8:36 I am more than a conqueror through Christ. Romans 8:37 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 I am God's dwelling place. His Spirit lives within me. 1 Corinthians 3:16 I am forgiven and free from condemnation. Romans 8:1 I have a divine purpose and calling from God. Jeremiah 29:11 I am dearly loved and nothing can separate me from God's love. Romans 8:38-39 Closing prayer Father, thank You for reminding me who I am in You. Help me to walk in confidence today, knowing that I am chosen, loved, and called by You. No matter what comes my way, let my identity be rooted in Your truth. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the Mother of Jesus Needed a Savior, You Do Too | Luke 1:39-56 Mary's song is one of the most beautiful things in all of Scripture, and I don't want us to rush past what she says in the second line. She calls God her Savior. The young woman God chose to carry His Son understood that she needed rescuing just like the rest of us, and she said it out loud in the middle of her own worship. That tells us something about her, and it tells us something about us too. Today we're in Luke 1:39-56, where Mary travels to see Elizabeth and two miraculous pregnancies end up in the same room. We'll talk about why John leaped in the womb, why Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, what the Magnificat actually is, and what it tells us that a poor teenage girl from Nazareth could weave twelve Old Testament references into a song she made up on the spot. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question or a prayer request? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS Why did Mary go to see Elizabeth right away? Look at the timing here, because it matters. Gabriel has just delivered his message, and the very next thing we read is that Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country. She left right away. Based on the locations Luke names, scholars think that journey was about fifty to seventy miles. She was likely traveling alone, and it probably took her three to five days. That's not running over to a relative's house for the afternoon. That's a serious trip for a young girl carrying news that nobody was going to believe. Why did the baby leap in Elizabeth's womb? Because in Scripture, leaping is an expression of joy. We see it in Malachi, and we see David leaping and dancing before the Lord in 2 Samuel. So when Luke tells us the baby leaped, he's telling us John responded with joy. Which means John is already doing the very thing he was created to do. His role was to be the forerunner, the witness to Christ. And he's bearing witness to Jesus before either one of them has even been born. Why was Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit? Notice the order of what happens. The baby witnesses to Jesus, and that witness leads the way for the Holy Spirit to fill Elizabeth. This detail is worth slowing down for. We already know who Elizabeth was. She and Zechariah came from the priestly line, Scripture calls them righteous, and it says they walked blamelessly before the Lord. They already believed in God. They were already serving Him. And still, when the presence of Jesus comes into the room, Elizabeth gets filled with the Holy Spirit. Scripture teaches that there is an indwelling and there is a filling, and we're seeing evidence of that right here. Notice too what the filling produces. It's the prophetic gift. Remember, we have just come out of four hundred years with no prophets in Israel. Now that Jesus is on the scene, that spirit of prophecy is showing up again. What is the Magnificat? It's the song Mary sings in verses 46 through 55, and it gets its name from the first word of the Latin version. The word carries the idea of enlarging or magnifying. One translation puts that opening line as telling out the greatness of the Lord, which I think is a beautiful way to describe what she's doing. She is overflowing with the greatness of God. The song walks through the mighty acts of God, not only what He's done for Mary but what He's done for His people, and eventually that includes you and me. And running all the way through it is this theme of joy and rejoicing at the arrival of God's salvation. Watch for that, because it comes up again and again in Luke. How did a teenage girl know this much Scripture? This is the part that gets me every time. Go through the Magnificat and count the Old Testament references. There are twelve. Scholars believe Mary was around fourteen. She was from Nazareth, a rural town nobody paid much attention to. She describes herself as being of humble estate, which is another way of saying she was poor. And she was likely not well educated at all. She also had three to five days alone on that road to think. We learned in the last episode that Mary was a deep thinker, the kind of person who pondered things in her heart and kept turning them over. So this young woman had days to sit with what God had just told her and trace it back through the Scriptures she already knew. What comes out of her is her own theological song, naming what God has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. That puts her right alongside worship leaders like Hannah and Miriam. And it means something else too. In that culture, the early theological training of children was the mother's responsibility. So at some point, Mary was teaching the Hebrew Scriptures to the Son of God. Now, I know some of you want to push back and say He knew things only God could have taught Him, and that's absolutely true. But Scripture also says He grew in wisdom, and growing in wisdom means learning. Mary was part of how He learned. Why does Mary call God her Savior? Because she needed one. Verse 47 is Mary's own testimony about herself. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. By her own admission, in her own words, she is recognizing her need for rescue. She understood that she was a sinner who needed a Savior, the same as anyone else who has ever lived. I want to be clear here, even at the risk of stepping on toes. Jesus is the only person who has ever lived without sin, past, present, or future. The teaching that Mary was conceived free from original sin is not found anywhere in Scripture. That's a tradition of man, not the word of God, and Mary herself tells us otherwise in her own song. And here's why that matters so much for you. If the woman God chose to carry Jesus needed a Savior, then you need one. So do I. What does "those who fear Him" mean? Verse 50 says His mercy is for those who fear Him, from generation to generation. That can be confusing coming right off the last episode, where we watched fear become the thing that paralyzed Zechariah and drowned out the voice of God. Different word, different meaning. Here it's talking about reverence, awe, honoring God the way He deserves to be honored. It's what happens when you're standing in front of something so much bigger than you are that you find yourself leaning in instead of backing away. What is the upside-down kingdom? Mary's song describes a kingdom that runs on reversal. The proud get scattered. The humble get lifted. The hungry get filled and the rich get sent away empty. What that does is redefine whose life actually counts as significant. What man elevates, God humbles. What man overlooks, God promotes. We see that all through Scripture, and we're seeing it here. Then she takes her own pregnancy and ties it directly to the covenant God made with Abraham. She isn't just excited that God picked her. She understands that she is part of a story that has been centuries in the making. Friend, so are you. It is not by accident that you're listening to this. You are part of a much larger story, and there's an invitation inside of that. Featured quote "If Mary, the mother of Jesus, needed a Savior, you and I need a Savior." Scripture referenced Luke 1:39-56 (ESV), 2 Samuel, Malachi, 1 Samuel (Hannah) Timestamps 00:00 Where we are in the Luke study, and going at your own pace 00:49 The Bible I'm using for this series 01:50 Reading Luke 1:39-56 03:30 Prayer 04:00 Two pregnant women in one room 04:30 Asking why, and what the color method slows down 05:25 With haste: fifty to seventy miles, alone 06:20 Why leaping means joy 06:40 John is already doing what he was created for 07:00 Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit 07:30 Righteous and blameless, and still filled 08:25 Indwelling and filling 08:55 Four hundred years of silence, and prophecy returning 09:45 What the Magnificat is and what the word means 10:40 Joy as a theme in Luke 11:25 Twelve Old Testament references 11:55 Who Mary actually was 12:25 Three to five days alone to think 12:55 Alongside Hannah and Miriam 13:50 God my Savior 14:55 Why Mary was not without sin 15:45 Mary knew the word and taught the word to the Son of God 17:15 Two kinds of fear in one chapter 18:25 Standing over the Great Rift Valley 19:25 Power and mercy together 19:55 The kingdom that runs on reversal 20:50 Mary ties her pregnancy to the covenant 21:50 You are part of a much larger story 22:45 The invitation 23:45 Prayer 26:30 My own story at fifteen 28:45 None of us is promised tomorrow Frequently asked questions Did Mary need a savior? By her own words, yes. In Luke 1:47 she calls God her Savior, recognizing her own need for rescue. Why did the baby leap in Elizabeth's womb? Leaping is a biblical expression of joy. John was bearing witness to Jesus before either child was born. How old was Mary? Scholars generally place her around fourteen. What does the word Magnificat mean? It comes from the first word of the Latin version of the song and carries the idea of magnifying or enlarging. Mary is telling out the greatness of the Lord. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunday Daily Affirmations: Inviting God Into Every Moment | Preparation and Trust Sunday is for looking ahead with God. Before the week begins, we pause and place what's coming into His hands. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a steady way to enter the week grounded, attentive, and trusting God to lead you one day at a time. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Sunday affirmations and Scripture I place this coming week in God's hands. Psalm 31:15 — "My times are in Your hands." I trust God to guide my steps. Psalm 37:23 — "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him." I enter this week with expectancy, not fear. Romans 15:13 — "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him." I invite God into every moment ahead. Proverbs 16:3 — "Commit to the Lord whatever you do." I trust God to order my priorities. Matthew 6:33 — "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." I receive God's wisdom for the days ahead. James 1:5 — "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God." I walk into this week anchored in truth. Psalm 119:105 — "Your word is a lamp to my feet." I trust God with what I cannot foresee. Isaiah 46:10 — "I make known the end from the beginning." I choose faith over anticipation of stress. Psalm 56:3 — "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." I rely on God's grace for each day. 2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you." I trust God's timing this week. Habakkuk 2:3 — "Though it linger, wait for it." I remain open to God's leading. Psalm 25:4 — "Show me Your ways, Lord." I step forward with humility and trust. Micah 6:8 — "What does the Lord require of you? To walk humbly with your God." I depend on God's strength, not my own. Psalm 68:35 — "God gives strength and power to His people." I trust God with every conversation and decision. Proverbs 20:24 — "A person's steps are directed by the Lord." I choose obedience over control. John 14:23 — "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching." I walk into this week aware of God's presence. Exodus 33:14 — "My Presence will go with you." I trust God to work through ordinary moments. Zechariah 4:10 — "Do not despise these small beginnings." I release anxiety about outcomes. Psalm 112:7 — "They will have no fear of bad news." I remain attentive to God's voice. John 10:27 — "My sheep listen to My voice." I trust God to meet my needs. Philippians 4:19 — "My God will meet all your needs." I step into this week with courage. Psalm 31:24 — "Be strong and take heart." I trust God to shape my character. Romans 8:29 — "To be conformed to the image of His Son." I begin this week grounded in hope. Hebrews 6:19 — "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul." I rest in God's faithfulness as I move forward. Psalm 33:4 — "The word of the Lord is right and true." Closing prayer God, as I step into this new week, I place everything ahead of me in Your care. Go before me, guide my steps, and help me stay attentive to You. I trust You with what's coming, one day at a time. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturday Daily Affirmations: Looking Back with God | Reflection and Gratitude Saturday is a good day to slow down and look back over your week with God. Not to replay everything or overthink it, but to notice where He met you, where He carried you, and where His grace showed up. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a gentle way to reflect with honesty and gratitude before the new week begins. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then read the Bible verse it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Saturday affirmations and Scripture I thank God for walking with me through this week. Psalm 143:10 — "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." I recognize God's faithfulness in both the seen and unseen moments. Psalm 77:11 — "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago." I release regret and receive God's grace. Psalm 32:5 — "Then I acknowledged my sin to You... and You forgave the guilt of my sin." I trust that God was at work even when I didn't notice. Ecclesiastes 3:11 — "He has made everything beautiful in its time." I give thanks for the strength God provided each day. Psalm 28:7 — "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me." I acknowledge where I grew this week. 2 Peter 3:18 — "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I notice where God invited me to trust Him more deeply. Psalm 37:5 — "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." I receive God's mercy for where I fell short. Micah 7:18 — "You delight in mercy." I choose gratitude over self-criticism. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — "Give thanks in all circumstances." I honor the work God has been doing in my heart. Philippians 1:6 — "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." I acknowledge God's presence in ordinary moments. Psalm 16:11 — "You make known to me the path of life." I release this week into God's care. Psalm 55:22 — "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." I trust God with what remains unfinished. Proverbs 16:9 — "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." I thank God for His patience with me. Psalm 103:8 — "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." I rest in the truth that God sees me fully. Hebrews 4:13 — "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." I choose to end this week with gratitude. Psalm 92:1 — "It is good to give thanks to the Lord." I release comparison and embrace contentment. Hebrews 13:5 — "Be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you.'" I acknowledge God's protection this week. Psalm 121:7 — "The Lord will keep you from all harm." I thank God for His provision. Matthew 6:31-32 — "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them." I recognize God's quiet guidance. Isaiah 30:21 — "This is the way; walk in it." I let go of striving and receive rest. Psalm 23:2 — "He leads me beside quiet waters." I honor the limits God has given me. Psalm 127:2 — "He grants sleep to those He loves." I trust God with what I do not understand. Romans 11:33 — "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God." I receive peace as I reflect with God. Psalm 4:7 — "You have filled my heart with greater joy." I end this week grounded in God's faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23 — "Great is Your faithfulness." Closing prayer God, thank You for walking with me through this week. Help me to see Your faithfulness clearly and to release what I need to let go of. I trust that You were present in ways I noticed and in ways I didn't. I place this week back into Your hands. Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is Rachael and How Did the Hearing Jesus Podcast Start? This bonus Friday episode is an introduction to Rachael and the Hearing Jesus podcast for all our new listeners. Rachael explains what listeners can expect each week, why the show is structured the way it is, and how her own story shaped the heart of the podcast. She also shares her testimony, the origins of the show, and the vision behind Bible Study Live and the wider Hearing Jesus community. Send Rachael a voicemail with any questions at her ⁠⁠SpeakPipe here⁠⁠ Go on a trip with Rachael: ⁠⁠Bible Study Live⁠⁠ Get Ad-Free Episodes, Bonus Content, and more here: ⁠⁠patreon.com/HearingJesus⁠⁠ Chapters 00:00 - What this bonus Friday episode is about 01:01 - Why the podcast had extra bonus content this week 01:49 - The normal weekly rhythm of affirmations and Bible study 03:11 - Why interviews became more selective 05:05 - Final call for unclaimed giveaway winners 06:48 - Rachel’s calling to help people hear God’s voice 08:03 - Early life, marriage, divorce, and healing 09:25 - Ministry training, education, and early church work 10:55 - Leaving the daycare and stepping into church leadership 12:07 - From children’s ministry to outreach and justice work 13:02 - Starting Sidewalk Sunday School in hard parts of town 14:27 - The first empty bus and learning to keep going 15:24 - Why outreach grew beyond kids into food, housing, and care 16:23 - Missions work around the world 17:16 - Pushback over preaching Jesus in the housing community 18:30 - One conversation that changed everything 19:27 - Fighting back and regaining gospel access 19:56 - Writing Go and speaking about outreach ministry 20:48 - The message that became She Hears 22:37 - Starting the podcast during COVID 23:33 - Asking whether the podcast was worth the work 24:25 - Treating the podcast like the church 26:48 - Full-time missions work and global ministry 28:29 - Why immersive Bible study trips became the next step 29:28 - How Bible Study Live began with Rome 31:42 - Adding Maui and planning Greece 32:35 - The heart behind immersive Bible study 33:31 - Finding older episodes and sending questions 34:52 - Organizing the episode library through Patreon 35:52 - SpeakPipe questions and prayer requests 36:21 - Encouragement for listeners facing discouragement 37:16 - Closing resources and final thoughts Notable quotes “The call of God on my life was not instant.” “God’s word does not come back void.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Favored Is Not the Same Thing as Favorite (Luke 1:26-38) Have you ever wondered why, if you are really favored by God, life still feels this hard? A lot of us quietly carry that question. We hear that God favors His people, and then we look at our circumstances and feel confused, overlooked, or unqualified. The story of Mary clears up something we have gotten mixed up for a long time. In this episode we slow down in Luke 1:26-38, the moment the angel Gabriel visits Mary, and we sit with one word that changes everything: favored. Being favored by God is not the same thing as being His favorite, and once you see the difference, it changes how you read your own life. This is the second stop in our slow read through the Gospel of Luke. "And coming in, he said to her, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.'" (Luke 1:28, NASB) Links Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at https://biblestudylive.org Leave me a voicemail with your question for the series: SpeakPipe Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today: plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS APP What does "favored" actually mean in Luke 1:28? The word behind favored comes from the Greek word for grace. It describes someone who has been given grace, not someone who earned a gold star. When Gabriel calls Mary the favored one, he is not saying she out-performed every other woman alive. He is saying God freely poured out grace on her. Favor starts with God's character, not our performance. Is being favored the same as being God's favorite? This is where so many of us get tripped up. A favorite is earned. Think of the favorite student or the favorite child, the one who won the spot by their grades or their effort. Favored is the opposite. It is a free gift, and in Scripture it is tied to being given a purpose, not to comfort or ease. Mary was favored, and it led straight into a hard, costly assignment. Why would God favor a girl from Nazareth? Nazareth was a small, overlooked town with no reputation. Later in John's Gospel, someone asks whether anything good could come from there. That is the point. Out of every place and every person God could have chosen, He chose the girl nobody would have picked, because His favor has never been about status or standing. What did being favored cost Mary? Betrothal was far more than a modern engagement. It was a legally binding contract, essentially marriage in every way except living together. A pregnancy that was not her husband's could expose Mary to public disgrace and real danger. Her favor came wrapped in risk. That is the piece we miss when we treat favor like a reward for good behavior. Why did Gabriel respond to Mary so differently than to Zechariah? When Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, fear fell on him and he asked for proof. Mary was troubled too, but her response was to ponder, to turn the words over and work through them. Zechariah was older, credentialed, and established. Mary was young with no title or standing. Yet she is the one who trusted. God's favor and His ability to use us have nothing to do with our credentials. What does favor look like when you say "let it be"? Mary's words, let it be, came before she knew how any of it would work out. She still had to face Joseph, her town, and the math everyone would do on her pregnancy. Being favored did not remove the cost. It gave her the grace to trust God inside the cost. That is the invitation for us too, to trust Him so deeply that even when it does not make sense, we can say, let it be. Common Questions What passage does this episode cover? Luke 1:26-38, Gabriel's visit to Mary. It is the second teaching episode in the slow read through the Gospel of Luke. What Bible translation does Rachael use? Rachael reads from the ESV while using the color method and studies and teaches from the NASB, so you may hear small wording differences during the teaching. What is the color method? A simple Bible study approach Rachael teaches in the Bible Study 101 series for marking and noticing patterns in a passage as you read slowly. How can I send a question for the Luke series? Leave a voicemail through the SpeakPipe link above or email Rachael. Some questions get answered in future Q and A episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday Daily Affirmations: Fully Known by God | Rest, Renewal, and Surrender End your week anchored in peace and presence. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to set down what you've been carrying and find rest in God's care. Today's affirmations are about releasing your burdens, letting go of striving, and remembering that God's strength, love, and renewal are available right where you are. It's time to stop striving and start resting in His goodness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it comes from. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin The week is ending, and as we step into the weekend, let's take a moment to breathe. Release your burdens and rest in God's presence. We're not meant to carry everything ourselves. God calls us to lay our worries at His feet and find renewal in Him. Friday affirmations and Scripture I release my worries and trust God to handle what I cannot. 1 Peter 5:7 God's peace fills my heart and I rest in His presence. Matthew 11:28 I am not defined by my mistakes. God's grace is greater than my failures. Lamentations 3:22-23 I let go of the need to control everything and surrender to God's perfect plan. Proverbs 3:5-6 I am deeply loved by God and nothing can separate me from His love. Romans 8:38-39 God refreshes my soul and renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31 I will be fully present today, trusting that God holds tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 My body, mind, and spirit find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1 I let go of striving and choose to rest in God's love. Zephaniah 3:17 I step into the weekend with joy, knowing that God is in control. Psalm 118:24 God's presence is my safe place. Psalm 91:1 I am fully known and fully loved by God. Psalm 139:1-2 I will not let stress steal my peace today. Philippians 4:6-7 God is my refuge and I am safe in His hands. Psalm 46:1 I do not need to have all the answers. I trust God. Romans 11:33 God is fighting my battles and I can rest in His victory. Exodus 14:14 I will not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:13 I am held together by God's love even when life feels overwhelming. Colossians 1:17 God's goodness and mercy follow me every day. Psalm 23:6 I will not carry burdens that God has already taken from me. Matthew 11:29-30 I am at peace because God is in control. Isaiah 26:3 I trust in God's timing even when I don't understand. Ecclesiastes 3:11 I will lay down my burdens and take on God's. Psalm 4:8 I am never alone for God is always with me. Deuteronomy 31:6 No matter what happens today, God is still good. Nahum 1:7 Closing prayer Father, as this week comes to an end, I lay my burdens at Your feet. Help me to release my worries, rest in Your peace, and trust You with everything I cannot control. Refresh my heart and renew my spirit so I can step into the weekend with joy. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Fear Drowns Out God's Voice: Zechariah and Elizabeth: Luke 1:5-25 There are things that keep us from hearing God, and fear is one of the loudest. Not because God stops speaking, but because fear gets between us and what He is saying. Zechariah is a hard case to dismiss. He came from a priestly family, Scripture calls him righteous, and it says he walked blamelessly. He was literally in the middle of serving God when God spoke to him. And he still couldn't hear it, because he had waited and prayed so many years that the fear of another disappointment had gotten louder than the voice in the room. Today we slow down in Luke 1 and look at what fear actually cost him, and what it did not cost him. Links Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. We visit Luke's house in Rome every November, and Greece is coming next spring. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the Luke series? Leave me a voicemail and I'll answer them as we go: SpeakPipe SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS Who was Herod, and why does Luke mention him first? Because Luke is anchoring this in real history. Herod the Great ruled Judea for Rome from roughly 37 to 4 BC. This is not once upon a time in a land far away. Luke is telling you when this happened so you can go and check it. There's also a contrast being set up in that very first sentence. On one side, a paranoid and violent king who was terrified of losing his power, and everyone was watching him. On the other side, God quietly setting the arrival of the real King in motion through an ordinary priest in a small town, while nobody important was paying attention. What is the division of Abijah? Long before this, King David divided the priests into twenty-four family groups so each one got a fair turn serving in the temple. You can read about it in 1 Chronicles 24. Abijah's group was eighth in line, and each group served about a week at a time, twice a year, plus festivals when everyone served together. Luke includes this detail for the same reason he named Herod. It tells you which family Zechariah belonged to and narrows down when this happened. This is a real man in a real place at a checkable moment in time. What does "daughters of Aaron" mean? Aaron was Moses' brother and the first priest of Israel. So this tells us Elizabeth also came from a priestly family. In that culture, a priest marrying a woman from a priestly line was considered an excellent match. Both of them came from the most respected religious families in the country. Which makes the years of childlessness harder, not easier. In that time, the assumption was that being without children meant you had done something wrong. That was never what God said, but it was what the culture said, and people still say versions of it today. Luke is showing us the opposite. These two had done everything right. Why couldn't John drink wine or strong drink? Gabriel is pointing to something like a Nazirite vow, described in Numbers. That was a promise a person made to set themselves completely apart for God, and abstaining from alcohol was part of it. Normally an adult made that vow for themselves. Here, John receives the calling before he is even born, the way Samson did in Judges 13. It's God's way of saying this child belongs to Him completely. There's a practical dimension too. John's assignment was to prepare the way for the Messiah, and God wanted no obstacles and no grounds for dismissing him. When someone carries a word from the Lord, anything that gives listeners a reason to doubt the source can undermine the message. Even Jesus and the disciples were accused of being drunk. What does "the spirit and power of Elijah" mean? Centuries earlier, Malachi said God would send someone with Elijah's spirit to prepare people before the Messiah arrived. Elijah was bold and direct, never afraid to call people back to God even when it cost him. Gabriel is not saying John is Elijah returned. He's giving a job description. John will carry that same boldness into the same role. Why does it matter that the angel is Gabriel? Because Gabriel is named only a handful of times in all of Scripture. Twice in Daniel, and twice in Luke. In Daniel, he explains a vision and lays out a countdown to the arrival of the Messiah. Now the same messenger who told Daniel to watch for Him has come back to say it's happening. Luke is the details man. That detail is not decoration. How does fear keep us from hearing God? Most of us have heard this taught as a mouth problem. He spoke doubt, and he was silenced. That's true as far as it goes. But what comes out of our mouths does not start in our mouths. It starts in the heart. Back up to verse twelve. Zechariah was troubled, and fear fell on him. The angel recognizes it immediately and speaks directly to that fear, and then rattles off roughly a dozen promises, one after another. Your prayer has been heard. You will have a son. You will call him John. You will have joy and gladness. Many will rejoice. He will be great before the Lord. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. He will turn many back to God. He will go in the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children. He will turn the disobedient toward wisdom. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord. A dozen supernatural promises, and Zechariah doesn't seem to hear past the first one. He's still standing in his fear. That's what fear does. It doesn't stop God from speaking. It makes His voice harder to receive. After all those years of waiting and praying, the waiting had almost become his identity, and the fear of it never happening spoke louder than the voice of God standing right in front of him. What did fear actually cost him? Here's the part worth sitting with. Look at verse twenty-four. After these days, Elizabeth conceived. She conceived anyway. Gabriel had said it would be fulfilled in its time, and it was. Zechariah's fear did not stop God from doing what God was going to do. What it stopped was his participation in it. A multitude of people were waiting outside for him, the very people he was called to lead and had served faithfully his whole life. He walked out with the greatest news of his life and could not say a word. He still got to see what God did. He just didn't get to tell anyone. He was doing all the right things on the outside and still let fear rob him on the inside. Our doubt will not stop God's plan. But it can silence our testimony of it. What's the invitation today? Sit with this one honestly. Where might God be authoring something in your life that you are too afraid to see? Where is fear the thing drowning out His voice? Maybe you've been holding a promise for a long time. Maybe you're afraid to hope, because hoping and being disappointed again feels worse than not hoping at all. Fear can keep you from recognizing the miracle standing directly in front of you. It won't stop God. It may stop you from being part of it. Featured quote "Our doubt won't stop God's plan. But it may stop your testimony of it." Scripture referenced Luke 1:5-25 (ESV), 1 Chronicles 24, Numbers, Judges 13, Malachi 4, Daniel Timestamps 00:00 Picking back up in the Luke and Acts study 00:30 Reading Luke 1:5-25 04:28 Prayer 04:56 The way this passage usually gets taught, and what gets missed 06:46 Who was Herod, and why Luke starts there 08:27 The contrast between a paranoid king and the real King 08:57 The division of Abijah, and how David organized the priests 11:10 The daughters of Aaron, and what it meant to be barren then 12:49 The Nazirite vow, and why John was set apart from the womb 15:50 The spirit and power of Elijah 17:13 Why Gabriel by name matters 19:20 Righteous, blameless, and still waiting 21:22 It started in his heart, not his mouth 22:11 Fear fell upon him 23:06 The dozen promises Zechariah didn't hear 25:21 When waiting becomes your identity 27:23 Elizabeth conceived anyway 29:16 God will do what God is going to do 31:41 The multitude waiting outside 32:47 Doing all the right things and still bound by fear 32:58 Your homework for today 35:00 Prayer against the spirit of fear 36:47 Why we go to Rome 38:23 Coming tomorrow: Mary Frequently asked questions Is fear a barrier to hearing God's voice? Yes, and Zechariah is one of the clearest examples in Scripture. God was speaking audibly through a messenger standing in front of him, and fear still kept him from receiving it. Why was Zechariah struck mute? Gabriel says it plainly: because he did not believe the words that would be fulfilled in their time. The deeper issue was the fear underneath the unbelief. Did Zechariah's unbelief stop the promise? No. Elizabeth conceived exactly as Gabriel said. What his fear cost him was the ability to speak about it, not the miracle itself. Were Zechariah and Elizabeth being punished with barrenness? No. Luke goes out of his way to tell us both were righteous and walked blamelessly. The assumption that childlessness signaled wrongdoing was cultural, not biblical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday Daily Affirmations: I Have the Mind of Christ | Walking in Purpose You were created on purpose, for a purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short, steady way to walk into your day with intention, clarity, and wisdom. Whether you're questioning your calling or finding your footing in a new season, today's affirmations will help you trust God's plan, listen for His guidance, and move forward with boldness. I'll say each affirmation, pause so you can repeat it after me, and then share the Scripture it's based on. Links AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin God created you for a reason. Your life is not an accident, and your steps are not random. He has a plan for you, a purpose that brings glory to Him and fulfillment to your heart. As you listen to these affirmations, let them remind you that God is leading, guiding, and equipping you for everything He has called you to do. Thursday affirmations and Scripture God has a purpose for my life and I walk in His plan. Jeremiah 29:11 I trust in the Lord to guide my steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 I seek wisdom, and God gives it freely. James 1:5 God is directing my steps and I do not walk alone. Psalm 37:23 I am a light in this world, shining for Christ. Matthew 5:14 God has prepared good works for me to do today. Ephesians 2:10 I am equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will walk in faith, not in fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 God's Word lights my path. Psalm 119:105 I choose obedience, knowing God's ways are best. Deuteronomy 5:33 I live with purpose and do not waste my time. Ephesians 5:15-16 I am called to make an impact for God's Kingdom. Matthew 28:19-20 I have the mind of Christ and seek His wisdom daily. 1 Corinthians 2:16 I am a vessel for God's work. 2 Corinthians 4:7 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's purpose for me cannot be stopped. Job 42:2 I do everything for the glory of God. Colossians 3:23 God is using my life to accomplish His plan. Romans 8:28 I am bold in sharing the gospel. Romans 1:16 I walk in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 I remain steadfast in my calling. 1 Corinthians 15:58 God will finish the work He started in me. Philippians 1:6 I live with an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 I press forward in my faith, knowing my reward is in Heaven. Philippians 3:13-14 Closing prayer Father, thank You for calling me to a life of purpose. Help me to walk in wisdom today, seeking You in all I do. Give me clarity where I need direction, courage where I need boldness, and a heart that is always ready to serve You. Let my life bring You glory. In Jesus' name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening. Your full Bible study episode is coming up next. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke Was Not a Disciple: An Introduction to the Gospel of Luke We're starting our fall study of the Gospel of Luke, and before we open the text, it's worth knowing who wrote this book and why. Luke was a physician, a careful historian, and the only non-Jewish author in all of Scripture. He wasn't one of the twelve. He never met Jesus. And he wrote for someone who had already heard the stories but needed something solid underneath them.If you have ever felt like an outsider in church, or found that your own faith has gotten a little shakier than you'd like to admit, this is your gospel. LinksJoin me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. We visit Luke's house in Rome, and our 2027 dates include Greece, Maui, and Rome. Payment plans are interest free. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question about the series? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS Why are we studying Luke and Acts together? Because that's how they were written. Luke was originally the first of two books, with Acts as the second. Treating them as one continuous work is the way they were meant to be read, and together they make up roughly a quarter of the New Testament. Luke gives us the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Acts picks up with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the formation of the early church, and the work of the apostles. Who wrote the Gospel of Luke? The book itself doesn't name its author, but the consensus is unanimous and uncontested. Early Christian tradition, along with the writing style and structure, all point to Luke. This isn't one of the books scholars argue about.Here's what surprises most people: Luke was not one of the disciples. He never knew Jesus personally. He was a Gentile who later became a follower of Jesus, which makes him the only non-Jewish author of any book in the Bible. Paul calls him a dear friend and tells us he was a physician. He was educated, careful as a historian, and a theologian. Who was Theophilus? The name means one who loves God, which has led some to read it as a title for any believer. That's a fair application, but it's probably not what it meant originally. Luke calls him most excellent, and that same phrase is used elsewhere in Scripture for Roman officials. Most scholars land on Theophilus being a Roman official or at least a man of real wealth and status, quite possibly Luke's sponsor, the person who funded the writing and distribution. Either way, this was a letter written to a specific man for a specific reason. Why did Luke write a fourth gospel? Because there was a gap. Matthew wrote for a Jewish audience. Mark wrote a short account for the church in Rome. But Greek-speaking Gentiles had only oral accounts and brief written summaries. They had no complete story of Jesus from a perspective that made sense to them. Luke saw the need, and the Lord led him to fill it. Most of his research was likely done while Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea, and he probably finished soon after arriving in Rome.You can see that Gentile focus in the text itself. Matthew traces the genealogy of Jesus back to Abraham, which is what a Jewish audience would want. Luke traces it all the way back to Adam, because his readers needed to know that Jesus came for all of humanity, not one nation. What makes Luke different from the other gospels? Luke's writing (Luke and Acts together) is the longest book in the New Testament and the most comprehensive account of the life of Jesus. It has the most polished Greek. It's the only gospel that shows us Jesus as a young boy. It gives us a large body of teaching and parables found nowhere else, most of it delivered on the road to Jerusalem.Luke also keeps his eye on particular people: the poor, women, widows, children, the sick, the social outcasts. He was a doctor, and he notices things the others don't. He pays close attention to the prayer life of Jesus, to joy, and to the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus and in the lives of His followers. The title he uses most is Son of Man, which holds together that Jesus was fully God and fully man. What does "exact truth" actually mean in Luke 1:4? This is the heart of it. Luke states his purpose plainly: so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. The Greek word behind exact truth shares a root with our English word asphalt, and it carries the sense of something firm and solid, a stable foundation, something that will not let you slip.That's what Luke was after. He wrote so that a man who had already been taught would have something concrete under his feet when life got hard. Why does that matter for us? Because a lot of people are walking around with a faith more fragile than they would ever say out loud. You can attend every Sunday and know all the right words, and still find that a hard season, a painful loss, or a stack of unanswered questions has softened the ground underneath you.That's exactly who Luke wrote for. And it's why this gospel is so accessible now. Luke wrote for outsiders, for people with no background and no context, starting from the beginning. The poor, the Gentile, the tax collector, the Samaritan woman, the leper, the sinner, all of them get placed at the center of his story.If you have ever felt too far outside to be included in what God is doing, this is your gospel. And if you haven't felt that way, someone near you has. Featured quote: "Luke is saying, I wrote this for you so that you would have something firm and stable to stand on." Scripture referenced: Luke 1:1-4 (NASB) Timestamps 00:00 Where we've been, and why the Bible Study 101 episodes matter 00:55 Why we skipped Luke last year, and why we're doing Luke and Acts together 01:48 Reading Luke 1:1-4 02:25 Who was Theophilus, and what "most excellent" tells us 03:41 Who wrote this gospel, and why there's no real debate 04:30 Luke was not a disciple, and he was not Jewish 05:26 What Luke and Acts cover together 06:36 What Paul tells us about Luke 07:29 The gap Luke was filling for the Gentile church 08:26 Abraham or Adam: how audience shapes a genealogy 09:22 What's inside Luke, and what's found nowhere else 10:19 The longest, most literate, most comprehensive gospel 10:49 The marginalized, prayer, joy, and the Holy Spirit 11:26 Why the big picture of Scripture changes how you read 13:18 Luke is the gospel for people who feel like outsiders 14:14 Rachael's own story of walking in with no context 15:14 The faith that's more fragile than we admit 16:39 Asphalēs: something firm to stand on 17:39 Why Luke is a better starting point than most people are told 18:32 What to expect this fall 18:47 Prayer 20:26 Standing in Luke's house in Rome Frequently asked questions Was Luke one of the twelve disciples? No. Luke never met Jesus and was not one of the twelve. He came to faith later and built his account on eyewitness testimony and careful research. Was Luke Jewish? No. Luke was a Gentile, which makes him the only non-Jewish author of any book in the Bible. Should I read Luke or John first if I'm new to the Bible? There's no bad place to start. But Luke explains things in a way that assumes no background, which makes it an especially good entry point if church language feels unfamiliar. Why study Luke and Acts as one book? Because Luke wrote them that way, as volume one and volume two of a single work addressed to the same man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday Daily Affirmations: Jesus Carries My Worries In today’s Wednesday Affirmations episode, Rachael leads listeners through declarations of peace, trust, and confidence grounded in Scripture. As the world feels overwhelming, these affirmations anchor the listener in God’s promises. From surrendering anxiety to trusting God’s timing, each statement is followed by a full Bible verse designed to renew faith and calm the heart. This episode is a gentle reminder that God’s peace isn’t just a feeling—it’s a promise.   AD-FREE Daily Affirmations can be found on my Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/c/HearingJesus     Today’s daily affirmations are for peace and trust in God’s plan. I will say the statement, then pause so you can repeat it after me. Then I’ll share the Scripture reference where it comes from. Breathe in God’s peace… and exhale your worries. This day is a gift, and no matter what’s ahead, you can trust that God is in control. His love is steady. His plans for you are good. His presence goes before you. Let these affirmations remind you to trust Him today. Affirmations and Scriptures:   I am ruled by God’s peace today. Isaiah 26:3   I cast all my worries onto Jesus—He carries them for me. 1 Peter 5:7   I will not be anxious. I will pray and trust God. Philippians 4:6–7   God’s plans for me are good, and I trust Him. Jeremiah 29:11   I do not need to worry about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34   I will rest in God’s presence today. Exodus 33:14   God is my refuge and strength. Psalm 46:1   I will not let my heart be troubled. I trust in God. John 14:27   The Lord directs my steps. Proverbs 3:5–6   Even when I don’t understand, I trust in God’s wisdom. Romans 11:33   I do not have to be afraid because God is with me. Deuteronomy 31:8   God is fighting for me. Exodus 14:14   I am not alone. God walks with me. Isaiah 41:13   God is my rock and salvation. I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6   I find rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1   God’s love never fails me. Lamentations 3:22–23   I have peace because I am in Christ. John 16:33   I wait on the Lord and He renews my strength. Isaiah 40:31   I will trust in God, even when I don’t see the whole picture. 2 Corinthians 5:7   God is working all things for my good. Romans 8:28   God’s peace rules in my heart today. Colossians 3:15   I give my burdens to the Lord and He sustains me. Psalm 55:22   I will be still and know that He is God. Psalm 46:10   I trust God’s timing and His ways. Ecclesiastes 3:11   I will rejoice in the Lord always. Philippians 4:4   Closing Prayer: Father, I surrender my worries to You. I choose to rest in Your peace today, trusting that You are in control. Fill my heart with faith instead of fear, and let Your peace guard my mind. In Jesus’ name, amen. I hope these affirmations spoke to your heart today. If you want to go deeper, just keep listening—your full Bible study episode is coming up next.   Listen daily and start your morning with God’s truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence.   #ChristianPodcast #DailyAffirmations #FaithOverFear #BiblicalTruth #MorningDevotions #RenewYourMind #HearingJesusPodcast   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learning His Voice Jen shares a deeply personal story of meeting Jesus as a young girl, walking through fear, grief, anger, and surrender, and eventually discovering what it means to live in an ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit.In this conversation, Jen and Silvia explore the difference between simply knowing about Jesus and wholeheartedly yielding a life to Him. Jen talks about learning to recognize God’s voice through Scripture, prayer, relationship, and time—and why anything we believe we are hearing from God must align with His Word and His character. Her story is an invitation to come as you are, keep pursuing Jesus, and discover the Helper He promised. Check out more from the Echoes of Eden Podcast IN THIS EPISODE • Jen’s salvation at age twelve and the later moment she surrendered her whole life to Jesus • How Christian families and mentors showed her what a life filled with Jesus could look like • Moving from anger and hurt toward a new way of living • Why sharing our testimonies can help others recognize Christ • What it means to be Spirit-filled and continually yielded to Jesus • Learning to recognize God’s voice through Scripture, prayer, and relationship • Experiencing God’s presence through grief, suffering, healing, and seasons of darkness SCRIPTURE & BIBLICAL THEMES John 10 — Jesus’ sheep know Him, hear His voice, and follow Him. Colossians 3 — Putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love as part of a transformed life in Christ.The conversation also explores the Holy Spirit as the Helper Jesus promised—the One who teaches, leads, convicts, directs, and empowers believers. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Meet Jen 03:50 — Meeting Jesus at Twelve 09:45 — The Night Jen Surrendered Everything 17:00 — A New Heart & a New Way of Living 24:05 — What Does It Mean to Be Spirit-Filled? 30:35 — Learning God’s Voice Through His Word 42:50 — The Holy Spirit, Pain & God’s PresenceWhether you have followed Jesus for years, are learning to recognize His voice, or are simply wondering whether there is a place for you in His story, Jen’s testimony offers a simple invitation: come as you are. Spend time in His Word. Talk with Him. Ask questions. Keep pursuing Him. Pull up a chair. There’s a place for you here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holy Audacity: Stepping Into the Water Before It Parts | Joshua 3 and 4 Sometimes God clears the path before you take a step. And sometimes He asks you to walk into the water while it's still standing there. If you're in a season where obedience feels reckless, where you keep asking who you think you are to be doing this, this conversation is for you. Rachael sits down with her friend Silvia, who she met on the Bible Study Live trip to Italy, to talk about what God did on their recent trip to Maui. Silvia opens up about the insecurity that hit right as she was preparing to launch something God had clearly called her to, the moment another woman spoke truth over her, and how God fought that battle in the space of a few hours. Then Rachael teaches through Joshua 3 and 4, the crossing of the Jordan, and the twelve stones that were meant to mark what God had done. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. We're returning to Maui in 2027. Learn more at⁠ BibleStudyLive.org⁠ Listen to Sylvia's new podcast, Echoes of Eden, available now wherever you get your podcasts. Have a question about the series? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe What is holy audacity? It's the phrase that came out of a moment on the Maui trip when Rachael found herself asking how she had the audacity to think she should be doing this at all, and the Lord answered that He was the one who told her to do it. Holy audacity is the nerve to obey something bigger than you, not because you feel qualified, but because God said so. It's a prayer worth praying: Lord, give me some holy audacity moments. Challenge me with big obedience so I can see You show up in a big way. Why does the enemy attack right before you step out? Because the initial obedience usually isn't where we get stuck. Most of us say yes. It's the middle of the road where self-doubt, comparison, and insecurity start talking. As Rachael puts it, the enemy attacks in infancy what he fears in maturity. Silvia was being called Lady Wisdom by the other women on the trip at the very moment she was internally convinced she had no business doing what God had asked of her. Both things were happening in the same room on the same day. What's the difference between the Red Sea and the Jordan River? This is the heart of the teaching. In Exodus 14, God parted the sea first and the people of Israel walked across on dry ground. A generation later in Joshua 3, they face another body of water, and this time the instruction is different. The priests carrying the ark are told to step into the Jordan while the water is still flowing. The waters don't part until their feet are already wet.It's one thing to trust that God will hold back the water while you're standing on dry ground. It's another thing entirely to step in while the water is still there. The miracle still came and the result was the same, but the method changed, and that change required a different kind of obedience. Why would God change His method? Because we have a tendency to chase the miracle instead of the miracle worker. When we've seen God move a certain way before, we start expecting the pattern instead of the Person. Changing the method reorients our hearts back toward Him. Notice too what went first into the Jordan: the ark, the presence of God. His presence goes ahead and makes the way, and then the rest of the people cross.What do the twelve stones in Joshua 4 mean?After the crossing, God tells Joshua to have twelve men take twelve stones from the very place where the priests' feet had stood, and set them down where they camped that night. They were markers, so that when future generations asked what these stones meant, the story would get told again.That's what a marker moment is. A place you can look back to and say, if He did it then, He can do it now. When you're standing at the edge of water that hasn't parted yet, your stones are what you have. It made no sense then either, and He was still faithful. So the question worth sitting with: where are your river stones? Featured quote: "It's one thing to trust that He's going to hold back the water when I'm standing on dry ground. It is another thing to step in when there's still water." Scripture referenced: Exodus 14:21-22 Joshua 3:8-13 Joshua 4:1-9 Joshua 4:20-24 Psalm 66:16 Chapters: 00:00 Welcome, and how Rachael and Silvia met on the Italy trip 01:28 Deciding to go to Maui, and the tension that came after the yes 03:17 Taking the decision to prayer 05:06 Why these trips grow out of seasons of healing 08:03 What was happening in Silvia's heart on the trip 09:32 Self-sabotage, and the lie that she wasn't qualified 10:01 Bring it to the Lord before you bring it to me 10:31 The woman who grabbed her hand and spoke truth 12:20 Why obedience gets attacked in the middle, not at the start 13:49 Lady Wisdom, and what everyone else was seeing 15:32 The shame the enemy kept returning to 17:33 The dependence that only comes with a heavy lift 19:23 Holy audacity 21:10 Announcing the Echoes of Eden podcast 23:00 Psalm 66:16, and the simplicity of the assignment 26:45 The word marker, and the stones 28:00 Exodus 14 and the dry ground 29:30 Joshua 3, and the call to step into the water 32:15 Why wet feet require a different obedience 32:45 Joshua 4 and the twelve stones 34:10 Chasing the miracle worker, not the miracle 34:30 Why Rachael laid down podcast coaching 35:25 The ark goes first 40:20 Where are your river stones? 41:30 What Echoes of Eden is and who it's for 45:30 Closing prayer Frequently asked questions Why did God part the Red Sea before they crossed, but not the Jordan? The outcome was the same, but the method changed. At the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark had to step into the water before it was cut off. That shift required trust in God Himself rather than in a repeated pattern. What did the twelve stones represent? They were a memorial. Each tribe carried one stone from the riverbed so future generations would ask what they meant and hear the story of what God had done. Who is Silvia and what is Echoes of Eden? Silvia is a friend Rachael met on the Bible Study Live trip to Italy. Her new interview podcast, Echoes of Eden, gives women space to tell their stories and share where God met them. It's anchored in Psalm 66:16. When is the next Maui trip? We're going back in 2027. Details are at BibleStudyLive.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before we open the Gospel of Luke, there's a question worth answering: what exactly is a gospel? Most of us have read these four books without ever stopping to ask what kind of writing they are, and that one gap changes everything about how we read them. Gospel is a genre. These are ancient biographies of Jesus, written by four different men to four different audiences, and they were never meant to be read the way we read a modern news report. This episode covers why there are four, why they don't always line up, why we can trust them, and how to actually read them well. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org  Have a question about the series? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. SEEDS What does the word gospel actually mean? Gospel is a genre, and genre simply means the kind of writing a work is. The Bible contains poetry, letters, prophecy, law, and historical narrative, and each one asks to be read differently. The four gospels sit together at the front of the New Testament, and they are essentially biographies of the life of Jesus. Knowing that changes your expectations before you read a single verse. Why are there four gospels instead of one? Think about walking into a library and looking for a biography of Abraham Lincoln. A search on Amazon turns up more than ten thousand books about him. Some cover his presidency, some his politics, some his character, some only his childhood, some his views on the Bible, some his war years. Every one of those historians chose what to emphasize. Ancient historians worked the same way. They wrote with clear moral, political, and theological purposes, and readers were expected to draw lessons from the work. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each had a lens, and a different audience in mind. Can we trust the gospels? Yes, and the reasons are worth knowing. These books were written while eyewitnesses were still alive and still holding positions of authority in the church, which means the oral tradition could be checked by people who had been there. They were written within the first two generations, while the teachings of Jesus were still fresh. And the culture itself was built for careful preservation. Students learned their teachers' sayings rigorously, taking notes and memorizing, with some repeating the previous day's lecture before getting out of bed. The disciples of Jesus treated His words that way, and many of them became the teachers passing those words on. Why don't the gospels always match up? This is where a lot of readers get stuck, and it usually comes from applying modern expectations to ancient writing. Three things help. First, no one in that culture expected teachings to appear in chronological sequence. Teaching was situational, the way a grandmother's saying comes back to you in the moment it fits rather than in the order she said it. Second, word-for-word repetition was not the standard. Most people could not read, so teaching passed down orally, and paraphrasing was a normal and accepted practice. On top of that, Jesus often spoke Aramaic while the gospels were written in Greek, so His words were being translated. Third, ancient biographers had genuine freedom to arrange their material. When critics point to an event appearing earlier in Matthew and later in Luke, they are holding the text to a standard nobody in the first century used. The heart of the message is what carries. Why only these four, and not the other gospels people mention? By the time Luke wrote, other accounts of Jesus were already circulating, and Luke tells us so. Mark was already in use, and many scholars believe Matthew, Luke, and possibly Mark drew on a common written source. The four that the church preserved were kept for reliability, access to eyewitnesses, and accuracy. The apocryphal gospels came much later and read more like novels, drawing from oral tradition that had drifted over generations. The Gnostic collections attributed sayings to Jesus, but the earliest of them date to roughly 120 years after His public ministry, far too late to verify. The early church knew what it was doing. What is the best way to read a gospel? Read one all the way through before moving to another. There is a method called a harmony of the gospels that weaves all four together story by story, and it has its place, but it is hard to follow and it is not how these books were meant to be read. Each gospel was written separately, to different readers, with its own flow of thought. Reading one at a time lets you catch what makes that writer distinct. Luke was a doctor, so when you stay inside his gospel you start noticing what he noticed: the women, the healings, the people on the margins. Those details are easy to miss when you are jumping between books. What should I be looking for as I read? A few things to carry into the series. Ancient biographies had morals to their stories, setting characters up as positive or negative examples, so ask what the story is showing you about the character and nature of God. Learn to tell the difference between what Scripture describes and what it prescribes, because someone's story appearing in the Bible does not mean we are meant to copy them. And remember this one: Scripture was written for us, but it was not originally written to us. It went first to an ancient audience in a particular culture. Most of them heard it read aloud rather than reading it themselves, which is why it helps to think of them as an audience instead of readers. Before we can understand how the teachings of Jesus apply to our lives, we have to understand what they meant to the people who heard them first. Featured quote "Scripture was written for us, but it was not originally written to us. It was written to an original audience that lived a long time ago." Terms explained in this episode Genre, synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke overlap significantly, while John is distinct), harmony of the gospels, descriptive versus prescriptive, apocryphal and Gnostic gospels. Timestamps (approximate) 00:00 What is a gospel, and why start here 01:00 Gospel as a genre, and what that changes 02:00 Why the gospels are not chronological 03:20 The Abraham Lincoln analogy: ten thousand biographies, ten thousand angles 04:50 Who were these writers, and why trust them 06:40 How sayings were preserved in an oral culture 09:00 Why sequence was never the point 11:00 Word for word, Aramaic, and Greek 15:00 The freedom ancient biographers had with their material 17:30 Why only four gospels survived 19:50 How to read a gospel, and why not to jump around 21:20 Descriptive versus prescriptive 22:30 Reading versus hearing, and the original audience 25:00 Synoptic gospels explained 26:20 We learn by teaching Frequently asked questions What does the word gospel mean? It refers both to the good news about Jesus and to a genre of ancient writing. In this episode we're focused on the genre, meaning the kind of literature Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John belong to. What are the synoptic gospels? Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which overlap heavily in content and often tell the same events. John stands apart with a different structure and emphasis. Should I read the gospels in chronological order? Not for this study. We'll read Luke straight through so we can follow his particular flow of thought and notice the details that are uniquely his. When does the Luke study begin? Right after this episode. We'll start with an introduction to who Luke was and why his account matters, then move through the text at a spirit-led pace, with Luke and Acts studied together as one work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday Daily Affirmations: Strength for Today | Courage When You Feel Weak Step into your week with boldness, peace, and purpose. These Scripture-based Christian affirmations are a short but powerful way to trade your own strength for God's before the day gets away from you. As the world demands more, God invites you to lean on Him. Today's affirmations are a reminder that you are never alone, never powerless, and never without purpose. I'll read each phrase, you repeat it, and then I'll tell you the Scripture it comes from. AD-FREE Daily Affirmations are on my Patreon: Patreon Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at BibleStudyLive.org Have a question? Leave me a voicemail: SpeakPipe Before we begin Today's affirmations are for strength and confidence for the week ahead. Whatever this week holds, you are not facing it alone. God is with you, strengthening you, guiding you, and fighting for you. No matter what challenges you encounter, you can walk in faith knowing that God has already prepared the way for you. Tuesday affirmations and Scripture I am strong and courageous in Christ. Joshua 1:9 I do not fear because God is with me. Isaiah 41:10 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I am victorious through Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:57 I have the power of God working within me. Ephesians 3:20 I will not be shaken because God is my refuge. Psalm 62:6 I walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17 God fights my battles and I need only to be still. Exodus 14:14 I am not afraid because God has overcome the world. John 16:33 I have authority in Christ over every attack of the enemy. Luke 10:19 I am rooted and established in God's love. Ephesians 3:17 I have divine wisdom and strength for today. James 1:5 I am resilient and I will persevere through trials. Romans 5:3-4 I am filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 I will not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 God's grace is sufficient for me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 I have peace that surpasses understanding. Philippians 4:7 I am never alone. God is always near. Deuteronomy 31:8 I am protected under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 God's Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 I stand firm in faith and do not waver. James 1:6 I am free from fear because God's perfect love casts it out. 1 John 4:18 I have a spirit of power, love, and sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 God is working all things for my good today. Romans 8:28 Closing prayer Lord, I surrender my fear to You. Fill me with boldness, courage, and confidence in You. No matter what today holds, I trust in Your strength. In Jesus' name, amen. Listen daily and start your morning with God's truth so you can walk in faith, clarity, and confidence.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Silent Years: What God Was Doing in the 400 Years Between the Old and New Testaments There are about 400 years between the last page of the Old Testament and the first page of the New. Most of us turn that page without ever noticing. Scholars call it the intertestamental period, but most people know it as the silent years, because there was no prophet speaking in Israel and no Scripture being written. And yet when you look at what was actually happening in that stretch of history, you find something that will change how you think about the silent seasons of your own life. God was not absent. He was setting a stage. Join me on an immersive Bible Study Experience. Learn more at ⁠BibleStudyLive.org⁠ Have a question about the series? Leave me a voicemail: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/HearingJesusPodcast⁠ SEEDS: Download the free SEEDS app and take one small step today. Plant your first seed and see what God can grow. ⁠https://apps.apple.com/us/app/seeds-by-orchard/id6759892006⁠ Why do they call it the silent years? The name comes from what was missing. There were no prophets in Israel during this period, and no books of the Bible were being written. After Malachi, the prophetic voice that had guided Israel for centuries goes quiet. But silence is not the same thing as absence. Some of the most important groundwork in redemptive history was laid in exactly this window, which is why the episode lands where it does: sometimes when God is silent, He is doing some of His best work. If no Scripture was written, how do we know what happened? We know a great deal, because plenty was being written even though none of it entered the canon of the evangelical Bible. The books of the Apocrypha, including Maccabees, Tobit, and 1 Esdras, are read in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions and give us a real window into the period. The historian Josephus records much of it. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered rolled in jars in caves along the Dead Sea and first found by a young shepherd boy, were largely written during this time. And the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, was produced in this era. How did God prepare the world for Jesus during the silence? This is where it gets remarkable. Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire and spread Greek language and Hellenistic culture across the known world, which meant that by the time Jesus came, a common language existed for the gospel to travel in. Meanwhile, rabbis rose to prominence as teachers alongside the priests, and local synagogues became places of worship, prayer, and hearing the Torah. Scripture that had once been accessible only to the elite was now within reach of ordinary people. Luke tells us Jesus went to the synagogue regularly, an institution that did not exist in the Old Testament. None of that was accidental. What was the Maccabean revolt, and where does Hanukkah come from? After Alexander died in 323 BC, his empire was divided among his generals. Under Antiochus, the Jews suffered badly. He banned core Jewish practices, seized the temple, and ordered pigs sacrificed on the altar. An elderly priest and his sons refused to comply, and their zeal sparked the Maccabean revolt beginning in 167 BC. By 164 BC the Maccabees had retaken and cleansed the temple. The eight-day celebration that followed became Hanukkah, and the Gospel of John records Jesus Himself in Jerusalem for that festival. What happened after the Maccabees won? Here is the sobering turn. The Maccabean family formed the Hasmonean dynasty, and over time the very Hellenistic influence they had been repulsed by became something they embraced. That drift sparked opposition groups like the Pharisees and the Essenes, all wrestling with the same question of how to be faithful in a Greek world. Rome eventually ended the dynasty when Pompey took Jerusalem in 63 BC. Herod the Great was named king of the Jews, ruled cruelly, and rebuilt the temple complex into the largest temple to a single deity in the world. He died in 4 BC, and scholars believe Jesus was born not far from Herod's own burial grounds. The Zealots later revolted, and the temple was destroyed in AD 70. What does this mean for my own silent season? These years were anything but silent. The political, cultural, and spiritual climate all had to be primed before Jesus walked onto the scene, and God was doing that work the entire time no one could hear Him. The question to sit with is this one: where in your own life has God been working in ways you could not see or hear? He may not have been silent at all. He may have been setting the stage. Featured quote "Sometimes when God is silent, He's doing some of His best work. Just because God is silent doesn't mean He isn't moving and acting." Scripture and sources referenced John 10:22-23 (Jesus at the Feast of Dedication), Luke 4:16 (Jesus in the synagogue), Malachi as the close of the Old Testament. Extra-biblical sources discussed include 1 and 2 Maccabees, Tobit, 1 Esdras, Josephus, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Septuagint. Timestamps (approximate) 00:00 Welcome and what's ahead in the fall Luke series 01:24 Why we're covering the gospel genre before opening the text 01:51 How the study will run, and why Luke and Acts belong together 03:05 The teaching begins: the 400 years between the testaments 04:30 Why they're called the silent years 05:00 Where our information comes from: Maccabees, Josephus, the Dead Sea Scrolls 06:20 The Septuagint and the rise of Greek 07:15 Rabbis, synagogues, and Scripture made accessible 08:30 Alexander the Great and Hellenization 09:45 Antiochus, the desecrated temple, and the Maccabean revolt 11:00 The origin of Hanukkah 12:15 The Hasmonean drift back toward Greek culture 13:30 Rome, Pompey, and Herod the Great 15:00 The Zealots and the destruction of the temple in AD 70 16:00 These years were anything but silent 1 7:20 Where has God been working in your silence? Frequently asked questions What is the intertestamental period? It's the roughly 400-year span between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, commonly dated 400 BC to 1 BC. You may also hear it called the Second Temple period in academic settings. Are the books of the Apocrypha part of the Bible? They're included in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles but not in the evangelical Protestant canon. They aren't treated as Scripture here, but they are useful historical sources for understanding the period. When does the Luke series start? Right after this week's two review episodes. We'll begin with an introduction to who Luke was, then work through the text at a spirit-led pace, with Luke and Acts studied together as one work. Expect the series to run through the end of the year. How do I ask a question about the series? There's a SpeakPipe link in the show notes where you can leave a voicemail, or you can always reach out by email. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices