Bible in Life – Details, episodes & analysis

The Messiness of Spiritual Formation

This is part 1 of my conversation with Kyle Strobel. One of the major themes of this episode is the messiness of prayer and the messiness of spiritual formation. We explore why this is and that the remedy is NOT just adding spiritual disciplines to your life. 

Kyle Strobel is a systematic theologian who teaches spiritual theology for Talbot’s Institute for Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Formation Focus programs. His areas of interest include systematic theology, Jonathan Edwards, spiritual formation and prayer. He writes both popular and academic books and articles, and is on the preaching team at Redeemer Church, La Mirada.

Book: Where Prayer Becomes Real

https://amzn.to/3Wd2uOo 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time 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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

*Book link is an affiliate link

A With-God Life   

The heart of living as a disciple of Jesus is living a with-God life. This is fundamentally what it means to "walk by or with the Spirit" in Galatians 5:16. This is what Jesus taught us when he said "abide in me" (John 15:1-11). 

This is the remedy for  our deepest problems.

Book: Where Prayer Becomes Real

https://amzn.to/3Wd2uOo

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time 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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

*Book link is an affiliate link

Is it Wrong to Hope for a Reward from God? | Rewards, pt. 1 

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John and Steven introduce the topic of rewards in heaven and explore if it's in some way less honorable to seek God for a good reward. 

Bible Passages mentioned:

Hebrews 11

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. 

9 By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country which they left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.  

C. S. Lewis Quote:

If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from [Immanuel] Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak.

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time 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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

In this episode we reflect on what it looks like to perfect holiness in the fear of God.

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

Episode webpage:

https://podcast.johnwhittaker.net/e/perfecting-holiness-2-corinthians-71/

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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

There are so many Bible translations out there. Which translation is a good one? How should you use translations for Bible study? And what are some good study Bibles? 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Study Bibles:

ESV Study Bible - https://amzn.to/3U8FpcA

Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible - https://amzn.to/3DAZCAL

Archaeology Study Bible - https://amzn.to/3FMsjNY

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

Episode webpage: https://podcast.johnwhittaker.net/e/what-bible-translation-should-you-use/

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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

*some links are affiliate links which means this ministry receives a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Sometimes a verse becomes so familiar, we can actually miss its meaning. Or miss some of its meaning. 

I think that's the case with 2 Corinthians 5:21: 

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

We assume we know what this is talking about, and we think it's talking about how God declared us righteous through Jesus' death.

But it actually means more than that. So tune in, and let's explore this verse together. 

Philippians article:

https://renew.org/summary-of-philippians/

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

Episode webpage:

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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

When Paul writes Philippians, he's in custody in Rome. He hasn't been able to travel and preach for nearly 4 years. Yet Philippians is known as the epistle of joy. Why is that? 

It has to do with what mattered most to Paul... with where he found his life and joy. 

He models this for us in both the letter to the Philippians and in Acts 16 when he started the church in Philippi. 

Overview of Philippians article:

https://renew.org/summary-of-philippians/

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

Episode webpage:

https://podcast.johnwhittaker.net/e/how-can-paul-have-joy-while-in-roman-custody-philippians/

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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10, Paul models for us the power of an eternal perspective. 

Life isn't easy. There's hardships, disappointments, sickness, pain, and death. 

As Christ's apostle, Paul experienced all the normal hardships of life plus suffering that came for the sake of Jesus. But Paul says he didn't lose heart; instead he was of good courage. 

How so?

He had an eternal perspective!

And we must have one too. We must fan into flame our hope so we don't lose heart. 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

Episode webpage:

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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

This episode of the Bible in Life reflects on 2 Corinthians 3:18:

"But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

-2 Corinthians 3:18

What's the significance of "unveiled faces"? What does it have to do with transformation? And how does all of this fit into the context of 2 Corinthians 3? 

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time 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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Praying.

It's important. I admire people who are good at it. But I struggle with it... and I've met many people who also struggle with it. 

In this episode, I reflect on my own struggles with prayer and with lies at the heart praying faithfully. 

Matthew 7:7-11

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Support this ministry:

Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time 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 John:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.