221K
Downloads
323
Episodes
Following Jesus by Learning and Living the Bible
Episodes
Monday Dec 21, 2020
Monday Dec 21, 2020
When we arrive at Luke 2 and the Christmas story, the Jews have been waiting a long long time.
2000 years since Abraham
600 years since sent to exile and being under foreign rulers
300 yrs of greek culture
60 yrs of roman occupation
And heaven was silent… there were glimmers of hope - like the Maccabean revolt - only to be dashed against the rocks of reality.
It seemed they had been enduring a dark and long night from which they couldn’t escape and God wasn’t acting on their behalf.
And yet there were those passages in the poems and prophets of old …
Passages that made the faithful wait and wonder, "How long, O Lord?"
Bible verses used in this episode:
Luke 2:21-35
21 And when eight days were completed so that it was time for His circumcision, He was also named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young doves.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples:
32 A light for revelation for the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Romans 8:18-25
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Want to get more out of your Bible reading?
Free Resource: I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible:
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:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Here are some ways to connect with me:
▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you 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 Dec 14, 2020
Monday Dec 14, 2020
One of the most obvious things about God and His sovereignty is this: He doesn’t work the way we expect. And it’s easy to be disappointed. It’s easy to wonder where God is at and what he’s up to. In this episode, we pick up where we left off: The Jews have been carried off to Babylon and into exile Their nation destroyed Jerusalem and the temple a heap of rubble. And we trace the story between Malachi (the end of the Old Testament) and Matthew (the beginning of the New Testament). We learn through this story that waiting on God requires tenacious clinging to His promises even when God is silent and seems to be taking forever doing what He said He would do. Bible verses used in the episode: Lamentations 1 How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. 2 Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. 3 After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress. Lamentations 2 How the Lord has covered Daughter Zion with the cloud of his anger! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger. 2 Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has torn down the strongholds of Daughter Judah. He has brought her kingdom and its princes down to the ground in dishonor. Jeremiah 29 10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Lamentations 3 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great steadfast love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible: https://www.johnwhittaker.net 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: https://www.listenerscommentary.com Here are some ways to connect with me: ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you 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 Dec 07, 2020
Monday Dec 07, 2020
Waiting. I’m not good at it. Are you?
The weeks leading to Christmas is traditionally called Advent.
Advent is a season of waiting. The heart of that waiting is set to music in the Christmas classic:
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Waiting is part of walking by faith. Here's two things we learn as we ponder the story of Abraham and Israel:
1. God takes His time. He sovereignly goes at a long, slow pace.
2. Waiting on God includes moments of "what now?!"
In this episode we trace the story of God's promise to Abraham through it's initial fulfillment to its seeming failure when Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed and God's people are carried away into exile.
Want to get more out of your Bible reading?
Free Resource: I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible:
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:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Here are some ways to connect with me:
▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you 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 Nov 30, 2020
Monday Nov 30, 2020
The world says "I've gotta be true to myself" or "That's just who I am" or "it's right for me."
The Bible likewise calls us to live who we are, but it means something totally different ... it's talking about our new identity that God has given us in Christ and that we need to learn to live according to who God has made us.
Nowhere is this theme presented any more clearly than in Colossians 3.
This episode is from The Listener's Commentary on the New Testament. To listen to more visit:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Want to get more out of your Bible reading?
Free Resource: The Bible is meant to be a source of life. The problem? So few read it and when they do, they struggle to get much out of it. I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible:
Support this ministry:
Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
Here are some ways to connect with me:
▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram
▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Money. We all have to deal with it ... whether we have a lot or a little.
Wealth. Most of us would like more of it.
When it comes to handling money we hear about money management, wealth management, financial planning, among other things.
Every culture has certain assumptions and beliefs about money, and most of the time it's connected to having more. More money means more status, more fun, more happiness. It can mean you planned better, worked harder, or were just smarter than others.
But Jesus has a different set of beliefs and assumptions about money. Spoiler alert: it's not that money or wealth is bad. And if we are His disciples then we need to to learn about money from Him not from culture.
In this episode we explore 3 insights about money and wealth from Jesus and 3 practices that will help us live those insights out. And it's all very counter cultural.
Bible Verses
Matthew 6:19-24
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Want to get more out of your Bible reading?
Free Resource: The Bible is meant to be a source of life. The problem? So few read it and when they do, they struggle to get much out of it. I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible:
Support this ministry:
Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - Teaching through Bible books:
The Listener's Commentary on the New Testament is an audio commentary on each New Testament book, explaining its meaning in its original context so you can better understand what it means and live it out.
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Here are some ways to connect with me:
▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you 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 Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
One of the most distinctive things about human beings is our need for meaning. We need meaning to keep going in life. Viktor Frankl's classic, Man's Search for Meaning, even describes how having some meaning enable Jews to survive in Nazi concentration camps during World War 2.
Humans can't exist without meaning.
So how can you live a life that counts? A life with few regrets when you come to the end?
And how should that shape your life as a follower of Jesus?
This episode of the Bible in Life looks at the two examples the apostle Paul gives in Philippians 2:19-30 of what a life that counts looks like.
Philippians 2:19-30
19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly.
25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; 26 because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. 29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.
Want to get more out of your Bible reading?
Free Resource: The Bible is meant to be a source of life. The problem? So few read it and when they do, they struggle to get much out of it. I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible:
Support this ministry:
Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team?
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnwhittaker
World Family Mission: Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
Teaching through Bible books:
The Listener's Commentary on the New Testament is an audio commentary on each New Testament book, explaining its meaning in its original context so you can better understand what it means and live it out.
https://www.listenerscommentary.com/philippians
Here are some ways to connect with me:
▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you 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 Nov 09, 2020
Monday Nov 09, 2020
We like are "saviors" with power. We want them to kick butt and destroy the bad guys! The Jews in the first century like those kinds of saviors too, and that's what they expected the Messiah to be.
But Jesus is the wrong kind of Messiah. He didn't kick butt. He didn't vanquish the Romans.
He got killed.
And he calls us, His followers, to overcome evil the same way ... by laying down our life.
Mark 8:27-38
27 Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.”29 And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter *answered and *said to Him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And He warned them to tell no one about Him.
31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and *said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Revelation 12:10-12
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
Want to get more out of your Bible reading?
Free Resource: The Bible is meant to be a source of life. The problem? So few read it and when they do, they struggle to get much out of it. I’ve put together a free guide to help you immediately get more out of the Bible:
Support this ministry:
Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
Teaching through Bible books:
The Listener's Commentary on the New Testament is an audio commentary on each New Testament book, explaining its meaning in its original context so you can better understand what it means and live it out.
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Here are some ways to connect with me:
▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you 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 Nov 02, 2020
Monday Nov 02, 2020
Why is faithfulness so hard?
In Ephesians 6:10-17 (the well-known armor of God passage), the apostle Paul calls us to stand firm for Jesus. He reminds that standing firm is going to be hard because, as followers of Jesus, we have powerful enemies. Enemies way more powerful than if they were mere flesh and blood.
Yet, so many of us are surprised when following Jesus is hard. We get frustrated when bad things happen to us. We seem to want life in Christ to be a walk in the park. Intellectually we may know otherwise, but emotionally and pragmatically we expect life to be more of a playground than battleground.
And as a result we're unprepared to deal with the world as it actually is right now.
Want to deepen your walk with God?
Free Resource: The #1 key to becoming like Jesus is living our life attached to him. So I've got a gift for you on my website ... a free video series designed to teach you how to read the Bible in a way to deepens your attachment to God. Click the link below.
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/minicourse
Support this ministry:
Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
Teaching through Bible books:
The Listener's Commentary on the New Testament is an audio commentary on each New Testament book, explaining its meaning in its original context so you can better understand what it means and live it out.
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Here are some ways to connect with me:
▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you 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 Oct 26, 2020
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Suffering.
It's a reality. We all experience hardship in some way at some point in life.
And suffering has the power to rock our faith. Are you there God? Don't you care? Why are you letting this happen to me?
Where is God in the midst of our suffering?
In this episode, we explore how Psalm 23 and John 10 speak to this question.
Book:
The Bible and the Land, Gary Burge. Click to following link to check it out.
Bible Passages used in this episode:
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
John 10:11-15
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Want to deepen you connection with God?
Free Resource: The #1 key to becoming like Jesus is living our life attached to him. So I've got a gift for you on my website ... a free video series designed to teach you how to read the Bible in a way to deepens your attachment to God. Click the link below.
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/minicourse
Support this ministry:
Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
Teaching through Bible books:
The Listener's Commentary on the New Testament is an audio commentary on each New Testament book, explaining its meaning in its original context so you can better understand what it means and live it out.
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Here are some ways to connect with me:
▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you 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 Oct 19, 2020
Monday Oct 19, 2020
How do you discern the voice of God?
Does God speak to us today? If so, how does He speak to us? And how do you know it's his voice not just your own thoughts?
These are important questions that have powerful life implications. And there is a lot of unclear and unhelpful teaching on this topic. What does the Bible say about how to hear God's voice and what it means to be led by the Spirit.
Walking in the Spirit Book:
Click this link to buy the book on walking in the Spirit by Kenneth Berding: https://amzn.to/2HeQQz0
Bible Passages referenced in the episode:
Want to deepen you connection with God?
Free Resource: The #1 key to becoming like Jesus is living our life attached to him. So I've got a gift for you on my website ... a free video series designed to teach you how to read the Bible in a way to deepens your attachment to God. Click the link below.
https://www.johnwhittaker.net/minicourse
Support this ministry:
Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
Teaching through Bible books:
The Listener's Commentary on the New Testament is an audio commentary on each New Testament book, explaining its meaning in its original context so you can better understand what it means and live it out.
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Here are some ways to connect with me:
▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you 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.
*Note these notes contain affiliate links which mean I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.