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Following Jesus by Learning and Living the Bible
Episodes
Monday May 17, 2021
Monday May 17, 2021
Prayer.
If we're honest, prayer is a mixed bag. Sometimes wonderful ... incredible connection with God and God's goodness is poured out. Other times it's confusing, even frustrating. Where is God? Why doesn't He listen to me?
Miracles.
It seems like they're all over the place in the Bible, but not any more. Why not? What happened?
These two topics can be very discouraging and troubling, so let's explore these together.
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.
Monday May 10, 2021
Monday May 10, 2021
The Bible is central to the christian faith. Can we actually trust it?
Isn't the Bible full of errors and mistakes?
Has the Bible been edited and changed from when it was originally written?
Isn't the Bible written by imperfect men... so how can it be trustworthy?
Can I really I trust a book that thousands of years old?
These are some of the questions we explore on this episode of the Bible in Life.
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.
Monday May 03, 2021
Monday May 03, 2021
Can I actually trust the Bible?
That's a fair and honest question. The bible is an old book. At times it can be an odd book. Or at least a foreign book. And there are things in it that don’t make sense.
So is it really trustworthy?
Some of the reasons often expressed for doubting that the Bible is trustworthy are:
- Why should I trust a book that thousands of years old?
- It’s full of contradictions.
- It’s been changed and rewritten so many times.
- It’s full of errors and mistakes.
- it teaches hurtful, hateful things…
In this episode, I encourage to focus on Jesus and thus explore if the witnesses to Jesus can be trusted. Next week, we'll get into some of the other questions.
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Monday Apr 26, 2021
If God is real and is who the Bible says He is, why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?
Often times this question arises when we’re experiencing some sort of pain or suffering … and it feels like we should curse the world as stupid rather than trust in God. This can be especially painful if we’re a praying person and we’ve prayed and prayed and the pain and suffering still persists.
If there really is a god and he really did care, then he’d never let this happen to me.
This question has also gained force as the global community has gotten smaller and we now know what’s happening all around the world all the time. And since the news feeds off the negative, we are constantly made aware of the pain and suffering all around the world. And the enormity at times seems overwhelming.
So how could God, especially the supposedly loving and powerful God of the Bible, really exist?!
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Does God really exist or is He just a fairy tale?
In this episode, I look some of the reasons I think it's reasonable to believe God exists. There are actually a good number of reasons and there's no way I could cover them all in this one short podcast. But I do cover some of the key ones and provide a framework for how to approach the question.
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.
Monday Apr 12, 2021
Monday Apr 12, 2021
What is the goal of facing our doubts? Why does that matter?
If we're someone else deal with their doubts, what should our approach be like?
Is faith blind?
What is truth?
How does faith relate to truth?
These are some of the questions I address in this episode.
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.
Monday Apr 05, 2021
Monday Apr 05, 2021
Faith. Doubt.
The apostle Paul reminds us that "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). And sometimes walking by faith is hard. Sometimes it's confusing. Sometimes we have questions that nag at our confidence in God or Jesus of the Bible.
In this episode, I begin a new series on questions of doubt by telling my own story of doubt, a time when I really struggled to know for sure whether I believed the story of Jesus or not.
Got a question of doubt you'd like me to address? Email me at john@johnwhittaker.net
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.
Monday Mar 29, 2021
Monday Mar 29, 2021
When asked about why he teaches in parables, Jesus says that He teaches in parables "so that while seeing they may see, and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear, and not understand, otherwise they might return and it would be forgiven them." - Mark 4:12.
Doesn't Jesus want people to understand his teaching? Doesn't he want them to be forgiven?
In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, we explore Mark 4, its connection to Isaiah 6, and why Jesus taught in parables.
Mark 4:10-12
10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve disciples, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but for those who are outside, everything comes in parables, 12 so that while seeing they may see, and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear, and not understand, otherwise they might return and it would be forgiven them.”
Isaiah 6:8-10
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
9 And He said, “Go, and tell this people:
‘Keep on listening, but do not understand;
And keep on looking, but do not gain knowledge.’
10 Make the hearts of this people insensitive,
Their ears dull,
And their eyes blind,
So that they will not see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their hearts,
And return and be healed.”
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.
Monday Mar 22, 2021
Monday Mar 22, 2021
Love one another. Love your enemies. Love your neighbor. Are Christians supposed to love everyone? What about people who are very different than them? What about people who go against the teaching of Jesus and his apostles?
Why does Jesus commend a widow who gives away everything she has to live on? Are we supposed to give away everything? That doesn't seem responsible. What's Jesus' point?
Mark 12:41-44
41 And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large amounts.42 And a poor widow came and put in two lepta coins, which amount to a quadrans.43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
Book mentioned in this episode*:
People to Be Loved, Preston Sprinkle
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.
Monday Mar 15, 2021
Monday Mar 15, 2021
What did Jesus mean by...? pt. 5
In this episode, we explore two very different teachings of Jesus that challenge us to examine about the proper posture of our lives in relation to ourselves and others and Jesus and God.
In Matthew 23:9-10, Jesus says don't call anyone on earth father or teacher. But we all do that. Are we doing something wrong? Why shouldn't we call anyone father? Is using titles like Dr. so and so wrong?
And in Mark 10:17-18, Jesus seems to reject being called good because only God is good. Is it wrong to allow someone to call us good? And isn't Jesus God anyhow, so isn't fine if someone calls him good?
Texts used in this episode:
Matthew 23:1-11
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. 4 And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. 5 And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, 7 and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people. 8 But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 But the greatest of you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Mark 10:17-18
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. ”
Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways
Support this ministry:
Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with me:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.