Explore every episode of the podcast The Bible Speaks to You: Think, Pray, Love like Jesus
Dive into the complete episode list for The Bible Speaks to You: Think, Pray, Love like Jesus. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
366 – The Transforming Power of Knowing Your Spiritual Identity
21 Apr 2026
00:50:38
366 – What is your spiritual identity?
How do you figure out what it is or what it even means? And why do Christians make such a big deal out of this?
In this week’s episode I’m talking with Clint Riggin about why understanding who you are spiritually is so important and the freedom it brings to your life. We talk about:
What it actually means to surrender your will to God's will
The only real way to discover your spiritual identity
What your relationship with God has to do with it
Why it's so hard to give up our own will
Why being alone with God helps you discover who you are
And so much more...
BONUS: At the end, Clint answers these three questions:
If you could talk to anyone in the Bible except for Jesus who would it be and what would you ask them?
Who do you identify with in the Bible?
What is Jesus's original message to us about how he wants us to live our lives?
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
365 – What will be the fate of today's corrupt leaders?
When will justice catch up with them?
Are the standards of integrity, honestly, and love for God and mankind out of date?
When will the moral and spiritual laws of God take their rightful place in the life of nations and the world?
In this week’s episode, we’re going to take a look at several leaders in the Bible who blatantly disregarded God’s laws.
The Bible gives us a preview of what could happen to corrupt leaders today, based on what happened to corrupt leaders back then. We look at:
Ahab, King of Israel, more evil than any of the kings before him
Nebuchadnezzar, who repented and was restored to his kingdom
The untimely death of Herod Agrippa I, who killed the Apostle James
Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector, who was influenced by Jesus to change his dishonest way of living
The religious authorities of Jesus's day
Never underestimate the power of your prayers to help bring evil and evil doers out of their hiding places to be brought to justice and to establish in the power of God’s law of truth, love, justice, and righteousness to take their rightful place in the world.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
356 – Freedom Begins When You Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
27 Feb 2026
00:07:53
FREEDOM FRIDAY
Are you hungry and thirsty for spiritual things?
Have you ever been really hungry or really thirsty?
Why does that happen? It’s because your body is telling you need to eat or drink something. Hunger and thirst tell us there’s something we need that we don’t have.
Jesus said we will be blessed when we hunger and thirst for righteousness, when we realize the need in our lives for things of the Spirit.
In this episode:
People, places, and things will never satisfy your real needs
Only God can fill the hunger in your heart
Eventually you'll have to admit your need for a spiritual dimension in your life
The world will always tell you material things will satisfy
But they never really can because the satisfaction they give is temporary
The more you're hungry and thirsty for God, the more you'll be filled
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
SHOW NOTES: Full transcript and Bible quote at thebiblespeakstoyou.com/356
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
266 – Are You Trying to Fit in But Don't Feel You Belong?
12 Nov 2024
00:25:20
266 – Have you ever wanted to be part of a group so bad you tried to fit in but you still felt left out?
It happens all the time. You want to be in a group or community or a church, but to feel part of things and be accepted you have to copy the attitudes and behaviors of the members of the group.
It's hard because you don't feel you can really be yourself, but being part of the group is important. So you sometimes end up compromising your own values and individuality to be in the group.
The Bible has some very encouraging things to say about this. And that's what this week's podcast is all about.
The Israelites demanded a king so they could be like the other nations. What were the long term consequences of this decision?
Why did certain Jewish leaders try to fit in with the Pharisees when they didn't want to admit publicly that they believed in Jesus?
How did Jesus help Zacchaeus see he belonged to the kingdom of heaven?
How can you help others realize they don't have to try to fit in to the world's way of thinking because they belong to God?
Take a moment for a little self-reflection. Are you trying to fit in to the way the world sees and does things?
Are you trying to fit in somewhere you don’t really belong. You don’t belong to the world. You don’t belong to sin or the past mistakes you’ve made.
You don’t belong to man-made theological dogma, doctrines, and traditions. And you don’t belong to the devil. You belong to God.
Show notes: Full transcript and Bible quotes – thebiblespeakstoyou.com/266
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
265 – Are you trusting God no matter what happens with the election?
Have you ever felt like your life goes from one challenge to another, or one crisis to another?
And just look at the national scene.
As soon as one political battle comes to an end another one starts. And what about the election!!!
How do you keep your peace in all these situations? It’s not always easy.
The question is: Do you trust God in the midst of all these problems?
That's what this week's episode is all about. I ask some pretty honest questions:
Do you only trust things will be okay if your candidate(s) win?
Do you only trust things will be okay if the policy you want gets implemented?
Can you trust God to work things out even if your candidate looses?
Do you trust people and politics more than God?
Regardless of the political outcome here in the United States, or whatever may be going on in the country where you live in, you can trust God to provide for you, protect you, guide you, and heal you.
Regardless of the outcome of any event, large or small, local, regional, federal, and even international, you can trust God in every situation for all your needs.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
264 – How do you find peace in the midst of political divisiveness?
Politics can be so divisive. And messy! It's so easy to get caught up in the drama, but at some point, we all need to get away from all the chaos and find a sense of peace.
Some folks think they will only get some peace when their candidate(s) win. But that kind of peace is pretty fragile, when it depends on people and situations to be just right.
True peace comes from God; it’s spiritual, and cannot be taken away from you. It’s about your relationship with God.
That's what this week's episode is all about:
True peace comes from God
We need to be in obedience to God to experience this peace completely
Shalom: so much more than just peace of mind or lack of animosity
The real reason people are so distressed by the political situation (it's not what you think)
Why Jesus could share his peace with the disciples just hours before he was crucified
Whose kingdom do you live in, man's or God's?
Jesus didn’t get involved in the politics of his day in order to make things better for people. He didn’t try to influence Roman politics. He didn’t try to influence the Sanhedrin. He simply went about his Father’s business, not man’s business.
No matter which political party you’re a member of, no matter who is elected President, or to Congress or any office, no political party’s policy can do for mankind what Jesus did. Don’t expect a human government to do what only God can do.
No matter who wins the election, the peace of God in your heart cannot be taken away. Jesus has given you this peace. Now it’s your turn to share it with others.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
263 – Paul Granger: Walking in the Footsteps Jesus as an Ambassador of Christ
22 Oct 2024
01:14:42
263 – Do you ever think of yourself as an ambassador of Christ?
What does that even mean?
Well, it starts with walking in the footsteps of Jesus and living the way he taught us to, loving like he did.
And most of all it means letting the light of Christ in your heart shine in the world so others can see this light and be drawn to it.
This week's episode is a conversation with Paul Granger, host of the Where Did You See God podcast.
We talk about what it means to be an ambassador of Christ. It's not just the missionary who goes to some foreign country. We all can and should be ambassadors of Christ in every day life.
Paul says: "You are an ambassador of Christ whether you’re preaching at church or when you’re at home with your kids, or walking down the street. It’s in the details of everyday life."
To be an ambassador of Christ, doesn't mean you have to make some giant effort. Paul says:
"You may not feel you can take a giant leap of faith. Just take a small toe-nudge forward, one inch at a time, one day at a time. Focus on the fact that you have been given the privilege and gift and blessing to step toward God today."
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Have you ever felt that because of things that happened to you in the past, either mistakes you made or things other people did to you, you haven’t been able to live your life the way you wanted to or be as successful as you could be?
Once in a while, it a can be a good idea to take a look at your past: mistakes you've made, things others have done that harm you, or situations that had a negative impact on your life.
If you're holding onto resentment for what others did, or the mistakes you made, or if you're still letting a some event from the past have a negative influence on the way you think and act today, it's time for some healing.
That's what this week's podcast episode is all about. I share some stories of people in the Bible who had to face the mistakes they made or the way they were treated unfairly, so they could go forward with God's purpose for them. I talk about
Jacob
His son Joseph
Joseph's 10 older brothers
God's forgiveness is so thorough, He will not even remember your sins
The real reason you can let go of the past and it's negative influence on your life
A prayer that brings healing to your past
You can't take any guilt or shame with you into heaven. You can’t take any memories of your mistakes or sins either. And you can’t take resentment over how someone or some circumstance may have harmed you.
Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This means you don’t have to wait to begin to experience being in the presence of heaven.
To the degree you are aware that heaven is at hand, you can let go of these things from the past right now.
The love and forgiveness of God can reach back into what you call the past, wash away then negative memories and influence, and bring redemption and healing.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
261 – What is your motive when you pray for healing?
Is there anything in your life right now that you’re praying about for healing?
Maybe you’re praying for healing for someone else. It could be a health issue, a relationship problem, finding a new job, financial struggles, or maybe an emotional challenge.
The Bible says that God "heals all your diseases." But have you ever not felt your prayer for healing was being answered the way you felt it should be? I sure have.
It's definitely good to pray for healing, but Jesus warns us that we need to look at our motives for prayer.
Sometimes we get so absorbed in the problem, we just want to get rid of it. Sometimes we want a healing for ourselves or someone else as a blessing.
But the best motive for a healing prayer is to glorify God.
In this week's episode I look at several times in the Bible when this bigger picture of glorifying God was the main reason for someone's prayer and how that was what brought healing or resolution to a problem.
Hezekiah's prayer when the King of Assyria was threatening him
Joshua's prayer of gratitude to God for being able to walk on dry river bed of the Jordan River
Daniel's prayer not just for forgiveness but for God's name and glory to be restored
Jesus's command to let our light shine so people would see our good deeds and glorify God
When your ultimate motive in prayer is to glorify God, you rise far above any self-centered or self-focused desires. It gives you a broader perspective of how God is working in the whole world, instead of how you want Him to work in your little world.
It is a righteous prayer for us to pray for healing or solutions so the whole world may know that God can and does heal today just as in Jesus’s day.
Whatever you’re doing, whatever you’re praying for, it’s always the perfect time to pray that God will be glorified.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
260 – Is it possible for you to bless people 100 years from now?
Have you ever wondered what impact your life might have on future generations? Will people remember you 100 or 200 years from now or will your life be forgotten by the world in general?
You just might have more influence on the future than you can imagine. Think of folks who lived hundreds of years ago who are a blessing to you: maybe an author or an artist, or some historical figure.
And of course, think of all the people in the Bible, who lived thousands of years ago, but their lives, and the lessons they learned, are still a blessing to us today.
If this can be true for them, then it can be true for you and me as well.
What will your spiritual legacy be for future generations? In this week's episode I talk about.
The best way to leave a spiritual legacy is to obey God's commandments
Teach your children and those around you to love God and all mankind
God told Abraham he and his descendants would be a blessing to the whole world. If it's true for Abraham, it is true for you too
Jesus knew he would be a blessing for the whole world for all time to come
As a follower of Jesus, your life can have a similar far-reaching effect
The choices you make today in obedience to God, the way you live your life in following Christ, the humility you express in being guided by the Holy Spirit, will have a lasting influence far into the future, more than you can imagine or will ever know.
Acknowledge this influence is possible. Accept it. And trust God with the spiritual legacy you’re giving to future generations.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
259 – Sandra Richter: Deborah, the Judge and Prophetess, Claiming Territory for the Kingdom of God
24 Sep 2024
00:53:18
259 – What does your church need to learn from Deborah?
Deborah, the Judge and Prophetess in the Old Testament, has a message for you and your church, and it's probably not what you'd expect.
Most Christians don't really know much about Deborah and how she broke the female stereotypes of her day as a Judge, a Prophet, and her role in a military victory.
This week's episode is a conversation with Sandra Richter, who has unlocked the lessons Deborah has for us today. Sandy sheds light on
The cycles of obedience and disobedience of the Israelites in the times of the Judges, and how that cycle relates to us today
How Deborah broke the expectations of what women could do
How Deborah kept Israel faithful to God and maintained peace for 40 years
How Barak depended on and requested her leadership
How the people accepted her God appointed role as Judge and Prophet
How Jael became a hero in a most unexpected way.
Sandy says the most important lesson we can learn from Deborah, both individually and as a church, is to work here on earth for God's kingdom. Listen to the episode now to see what she means and how we can do this.
Contest to win free copy of Sandy's book about Deborah
Listen to the episode
Share on Facebook before October 1
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__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
258 – What Does It Really Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus Christ?
17 Sep 2024
00:24:31
258 – If you had lived 2,000 years ago, would you have been a disciple of Jesus?
Imagine you lived in the time of Jesus and heard him preach. You saw him heal people. Would you decide to follow him? Would you want to be one of his disciples?
Would you have realized he was the Messiah? We would like to think we would, but it's hard to know for sure.
Jesus made some pretty strong demands on those who decided to follow him. Those expectations apply to you and me today.
What does it really mean to be a disciple, or follower, of Jesus?
This week's episode digs into what discipleship is all about and its "requirements"
Deny yourself and take up your cross
Be born again
Remain faithful to Jesus's sayings
Love Jesus and keep his commandments
Love Jesus more than even your closest family members
Actually love all other followers of Jesus
Bear much fruit
Give up all for Christ
Eat Jesus's flesh and drink his blood. (spoiler alert: it's a metaphor)
To truly be disciples of Jesus, we need to have the same love for God and all mankind that Jesus did. And of course, this goes hand in hand with our love for Jesus.
Without this love in our hearts, we’re more like robotic manikins, going through motions but with no real life in them.
With this love, we are the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today.
Show notes: To read the full transcript of this episode and all Bible quotes: go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/258
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
You've probably heard the phrase, “When someone shows you who they really are, believe them.”
I had a friend who used to say that all the time to remind herself that one person in particular she had been associated with in the past were not a good influence on her.
She had been fooled by his attractive personality and the smooth words he spoke. But his actions, the way he actually treated her, were harmful and even abusive.
It took her years to break away from the spell he had on her.
It's important to show people who you really are and not try to fool anyone.
Recently during my prayer time, God said to me: Show Me who you are.
My first response was, “God, You already know me. You already know who and what I am. Why do You need me to show You who I am?”
But God showed me what He was really asking.
In this week's episode, I talk about
God showing Moses all His goodness
God telling Moses to present himself to Him
God telling Job to stand before Him and show he was a man
The importance of acknowledging who you are as a child of God
Doing this in God's presence
You can ask God to show you who He is
And much more
When God asks you to show Him who you are, remember you are the salt of the earth, stand forth and let your light shine. The world will see that you belong to God and will see who you are by the way you live your life.
Show notes: Full transcript and Bible quotes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/257
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
355 – What Is God Teaching You and What Will You Do with It?
24 Feb 2026
00:20:21
355 – What is God teaching you?
When was the last time you felt like God taught you an important lesson? Was it when you did something really well and you felt God showed you how to navigate all the different things that had to happen for a good outcome?
Or did you make some mistakes and God taught you a better way to take care of the situation?
The real question is: What did you do next? What did you do with what God taught you?
Did you do apply those lessons to your life or just chalk it up to experience?.
In this episode, we’re going to talk about
God is always teaching us something
The importance of putting these ideas into practice in our daily lives
What happens when you don't
What to do when you don't understand or can't do what God is teaching you
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
246 – Do you feel lonely at times--or all the time?
Maybe you’ve lost someone you felt close to, or maybe there are lots of people in your life but there’s no one you can connect with, no one on the same wave length enough that you enjoy being in their presence?
Maybe at work or church, everyone is satisfied with the status quo, but you have some new ideas you think would make things better. But no one else feels that way. That's a pretty lonely feeling.
There are lots of reasons people feel lonely.
This is true for people in the Bible too. When they turned to God in desperation, He helped them.
In this week's episode I talk about:
How King David was lonely, even though there were lots of people around him
How David prayed when he felt lonely
How Elijah felt so lonely and saw himself as a failure he asked for God to take his life. But God showed him several reasons why he was not alone after all
A nameless young Jewish girl, who was captured by the enemy army and how she acted righteously even though she was separated from her country and family
How even Jesus felt lonely at times
Several ideas on how to overcome loneliness
Sometimes being alone is a blessing and God is protecting you from evil influences. Think about that!
Maybe you're not a lonely person. Then pray for an opportunity to help someone who is. Minister to them. Love them. Let them know you see their value.
Please share this with someone who would enjoy it.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
255 – The Only Thing that Will Completely Satisfy You
27 Aug 2024
00:23:20
255 – Is it really possible to find true satisfaction in life?
So many people today are looking for satisfaction in getting a new car or a new job, accomplishing their personal and career goals, or maybe it's getting lots of followers on social media. Or whatever!
But the satisfaction that comes from these sorts of things never lasts very long. And then you always want something else.
The only thing that can bring you complete satisfaction, on every level and dimension of your life, is knowing God and your relationship with Him, and then living your life full of God's love.
That's what this week's episode is all about. I talk about
What satisfied me as a kid, but didn't last long
What Chirpie, a baby mockingbird, taught me about satisfaction
What love has to do with satisfaction
Why material things will never satisfy your deeper spiritual needs
What only God can do that satisfies you like nothing else can
True satisfaction comes when you find your identity and your worth in God as His image and likeness, and then live your life accordingly.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
254 – Is it really true that God already knows what you need?
If that's the case, why do we need to ask God for anything? Why doesn't He just give it to us?
Well, sometimes He does, but usually it's important to ask because it reminds us that God is the source of all our blessings and we are not.
The question is: What do you really need?
Sometimes we get what we need mixed up with what we want and we end up praying for the wrong thing.
Based on what Jesus said and did, and knowing that he was giving people what they really needed, what does that tell us about what those needs were?
In this week's episode I go deep into what we really need based on what God sent Jesus to give us. We need:
The Messiah, to show us the Way and be the Way of salvation
To prioritize seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness
Healing and forgiveness
To know how to pray
To know how to love our neighbors and ourselves
The Holy Spirit
The Bible
And everything else Jesus gave us
How does the way God meets a particular need in a Bible story apply to you? Do you see any parallels?
The underlying needs of these folks thousands of years ago are pretty much what you and I need today.
God knows what you need. It may not be what you want or what you think you need. But God knows what you need, what you actually need, better than anyone else.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
252 – The Reason You Should not Follow Jesus and the Reason You Should
06 Aug 2024
00:25:00
252 – Are you following Jesus for the wrong reason?
Hey, it happens sometimes. Once in a while we get our priorities mixed up and our motives for following Jesus can get a little selfish.
You just want a blessing or a healing or a new job or whatever. Is that so bad? Well, there's nothing wrong with any of those things, but following Jesus just to get something is a bit self-focused.
The real reason to follow Jesus is because he's the Messiah, the Son of God. He gives us eternal life. He shows us our relationship with God.
This week's episode is a deep dive into Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. We talk about
Why so many people followed Jesus at one point
What Jesus said that confused them about following him
What Jesus said it really involves to follow him
Why so many people quit following Jesus
Why the 12 disciples continued to follow him
What you and I need to do to follow Jesus
Following Jesus for the right reason
Take an honest look at the reason you follow or want to follow Jesus? Is it just to get outward blessings, or is it to find God and His kingdom and experience your relationship with the Father through His Son, Jesus?
Jesus does expect a lot of us when we are his followers. But he never asks or expects anything of us that we’re not already capable of doing.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Have you ever been hesitant sharing your faith with someone who you thought probably wasn’t receptive or that you really didn’t even want to talk to?
What would you do if God told you to go directly to that person and tell them about Jesus and the difference he had made in your life?
Would you just automatically go at God’s command or would you try to explain to God why it might not be such a good idea?
Peter and Cornelius
This is sort of what happened to Peter when the Holy Spirit told him to go with three strangers to meet Cornelius the Roman Centurion.
This week's episode explores
Sharing your faith in unexpected ways
Having visions that don't make any sense until later
God asking us to let go of some traditionalized practices
Trusting God to prepare the way
How to overcome resistance to sharing your faith with people who are different
Have you ever felt God calling you to share your faith in an unexpected way, with someone you would never have chosen to talk to? Do you ever feel you wouldn’t be able to do what Peter did? Or do you prayerfully yearn for such an opportunity? Maybe you don’t feel qualified or worthy to do something similar.
Never underestimate how God will use you and the good you will do when you have this desire in your heart. Then you’ll see yourself in this verse from Isaiah,
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 NIV
Show notes Full transcript and Bible verses in this episode: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/251
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
250 – Joshua Tapp: Learning from People with a Different Faith than Yours
23 Jul 2024
00:50:05
250 – How often do you have a conversation with someone who has a different faith than you do?
I know some Christians who won't talk to anyone except people they agree with 100%. They live in a "safe" little bubble.
But over the years, I have learned so much from people in other faiths. In fact, it always ends up strengthening my own faith when I talk to someone I don't agree with on everything.
That's what this week's podcast is all about.
And to make things interesting, my guest, Joshua Tapp, interviews me for this milestone episode, Episode 250.
We talk about what it means to
Forgive when someone really hurt you.
Be a true follower of Jesus (spoiler alert: it may not be what you're thinking)
Put your faith into action instead of just believing what someone tells you
Be saved by grace and how to live that grace in your daily life
And, how to get out of a spiritual funk
In asking about why my faith is important to me, Josh uncovers one of the most pivotal moments in my faith journey.
Listen now and let me know what you think.
Contact info Check out Josh's podcast, The Lucky Titan To contact Josh, text him at 208-206-4652
Show notes Full transcript and Bible quotes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/250
Thank you for helping The Bible Speaks to You reach this milestone of 250 episodes.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
249 – What Keeps You from Finding Your Self-Worth?
16 Jul 2024
00:27:12
249 – What do you base your self-worth on?
Have you ever met someone who seemed to be full of confidence , but when you got to know them, you realized they based their self-worth on things like how much money they have, where they went to school, what job they have, or where they're from? Or maybe how good looking they are or how many followers they have on Social Media?
Unfortunately, when you define your worth based on these external factors, you'll never find your true self worth. In fact, this approach actually prevents you from seeing real spiritual self-worth as a child of God.
All these external things can be lost or taken away. But the fact you are God's child can never change.
In this week's episode, I talk about various folks in the Bible who didn't always have a good sense of self-worth. Sometimes they were worthy and didn't feel it. Sometimes they were basing their self-worth on the wrong things but didn't know it.
Jacob didn't feel worthy of all the blessings God had bestowed, partly because he had cheated his brother out of his birthright and blessing. And he was very sly in caring for Laban's flocks, choosing the best for himself.
Moses didn't think he was up for the task of talking to Pharaoh and bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt
Hannah didn't feel worthy because she didn't have any children
Nebuchadnezzar felt very worthy because he had built the kingdom of Babylon. But God took it all away. He had to find self-worth in glorifying God
John the Baptist didn't feel worthy to unlatch Jesus's sandals
The Centurion didn't feel worthy to have Jesus come into his house
Why is it so often the case that the ones who think they are not worthy – like Moses, Hannah, John the Baptist, and the Centurion – are actually very worthy?
How does this apply to you?
Listen now to discover how you can find what's keeping you from discovering your true self-worth.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
248 – Have you ever heard someone talk about Jesus in a way that just didn’t quite fit with what was in the Bible?
Or maybe you read a book or saw a movie or a play about Jesus that either fell short of capturing the true essence of Jesus or it kind of stretched the truth and over-exaggerated things?
Recently in Season 4 of "The Chosen," there was a scene where Jesus made no effort to heal Ramah, when Thomas asked him to and openly confessed his faith that Jesus could heal her.
There's nothing in the Bible that describes Jesus ever acting this way.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love The Chosen. I've been deeply inspired by the show, but when it depicts Jesus in a way that's inconsistent with what the Bible reveals about Jesus, I have a hard time swallowing the story line.
That's what this week's episode is all about:
Is God sometimes willing to heal but not other times?
Is God always able to heal or not?
Was Jesus unable or unwilling to heal on some occasions?
How does it affect the way you pray if you believe God might choose not to heal you or cannot heal you?
No matter what others say about who Jesus is or what he does, always come back to the Bible to find him. Don’t take The Chosen’s version of Jesus. Don’t accept a preacher’s version of Jesus. Don’t take the Church’s traditionalized view of Jesus without coming back to the Bible.
When you do find Jesus in the Bible, you will find the Jesus you can follow and believe in.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
247 – Have you ever felt like some folks are preaching man-made doctrines without even realizing it?
Have you ever felt intimidated by people insisting their doctrines are correct? And then someone with a different doctrine insists they are right and the other person is wrong?
How do we tell if a doctrine is man-made or a God-ordained truth?
This week's episode jumps into this and give some basic tools you can use to help determine if a doctrine is man-made or not.
We talk about:
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Is being a Christian based on doctrine or deeds?
Jesus's litmus test for what it means to be a true Christian
Lots of Christians believe things that don't really agree with what Jesus said
The one most important quality to have in your heart when thinking about whether you believe man-made doctrines or God's truth
I encourage you to take an honest look at your beliefs. Are they in line with what Jesus said and did? Do they express the love he lived?
The best way to find out is to pay careful attention to everything Jesus said and did and follow his example and obey his teachings. Do this until it’s totally natural to love your enemies and forgive those who have wronged you, among other things.
Then look through this practice and obedience to Jesus as a lens to evaluate your doctrines.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
246 – How to Make Your Faith Your Own Instead of Copying Someone Else
25 Jun 2024
00:23:12
246 – Is your faith based on what someone told you you're supposed to believe or on your relationship with God?
I've talked to several people lately who have recently realized they believe what they were taught without questioning it. They never really made their faith their own.
They have finally given themselves permission to ask questions, read the Bible for themselves, and focus on their relationship with God, instead of just believing and doing what other people tell them they should.
This week's episode is about making your faith your own. Jesus's disciples had to learn this same lesson. It wasn't enough to just repeat Jesus's words. They had to practice what he taught them.
How to make your faith your own:
Get spiritually curious and ask questions
Spend some time alone with God and ask questions
Read the Bible for yourself
Start with what resonates with you, like loving your neighbor as yourself
Always ask God to direct the next steps you need to take
Keep a record of how God has worked in your life
Don't be surprised if you find yourself surrendering to God to guide your life
Be an active part of a community of like-minded believers
The best way to make your faith your own is to practice the basic teachings of Jesus and see where that leads you.
If you just repeat what someone else says, or even the words of Jesus, without putting them into practice, it's like buying seeds and not planting them.
When you practice your faith, it will grow, just as seeds grow when they're planted.
Trust the process.
Show notes: Full transcript of this episode and Bible references--thebiblespeakstoyou.com/246
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
245 – What do you do when people or circumstances rob you of your joy?
Have you ever been on top of the world and full of joy when something terrible happens, your joy vanishes, and you feel like you're sinking into a pit of quicksand?
Is there a way to hold onto your joy when a challenging situation comes up?
That's what this week's episode is all about.
The Bible talks a lot about joy. But it's not the fleeting happiness that is like a weather vane, which shifts depending on which way the emotional winds are blowing.
True joy goes deeper than that:
Joy comes from within because of who we are as children of God
Joy is a result of knowing our relationship with God
True joy comes from being in God's presence
It comes from understanding your place in the kingdom of heaven
When you've lost your joy, the remedy is gratitude
The more you feel your deep spiritual connection with God, the less you’ll be influenced when terrible things happen or you get bad news.
Jesus says nothing can take away your true joy, your connection with God. (John 16:22)
There may be times when it feels like circumstances have robbed you of your joy. But your joy is actually still there, still part of who you are as a child of God.
Are you ready to discover your true spiritual joy? Listen now.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
244 – Raising Kids with Love and Faith with Jared Haley and Chris Wilson
11 Jun 2024
01:05:14
244 – Do you want to be a more effective dad, or know someone who does?
This week I talk with Jared Haley and Chris Wilson about what it means to be a good dad, to nurture your kids and support their spiritual growth.
Jared and Chris are both passionate about being good dads, spending quality time with their families, and guiding their kids spiritually as they grow up. But most important of all, loving and respecting them under all circumstances.
We talked about all kind of dad things. I asked each of them:
What's your favorite thing about being a dad?
Who is your favorite father figure in the Bible?
How do you help your kids hold onto their innocence and creativity?
What's your biggest challenge being a dad?
How do you guide your kids with healthy boundaries without stirring up resentment?
How do you quit repeating the patterns of temper or anger that you learned from your own parents?
What if we treated our children the way we would treat Jesus?
And of course, I asked my famous three last questions.
If you could talk to any Bible character other than Jesus, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Is there any Bible character you especially identify with?
This podcast is about getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus. How would you describe Jesus’s original message of how he wanted us to live our lives?
Listen now to hear the answers to these questions.
Show notes: To download a pdf transcript and to see all Bible quotes, check out the show notes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/244.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
243 – What's the best way to experience spiritual restoration?
Have you ever felt like you needed some spiritual restoration in your life? I sure have.
The key word here is "restoration." It means that God is restoring us to the original condition of how He made us in His image and likeness.
It's kind of like someone cleaning an old oil painting, removing all the dirt and varnish from so you can see the original intention of the artist in the original colors. Check out the video below.
Spiritual restoration
God removes from our hearts and minds everything that is not in keeping with His original intention for us: past hurts and fears, sins we’ve committed and bad choices we’ve made, pride or self-depreciation, to name a few.
The secret of spiritual restoration is the simple fact that God originally created you in all glory, beauty, purity, and wholeness. Whatever has covered that up is not part of God’s original intention for you, any more than layers of dirt on a painting are part of an artist’s original intention for a piece of art.
It's not that is not that God transforms you from a sinner into a saint. He removes the sin, the hurts, the fears, whatever it is that’s covered up God’s original creation, because these things are not part of the original way God created you.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
242 – Which is more important, the Great Commission or feeding the sheep of Jesus?
28 May 2024
00:24:05
242 – What is your priority at church, getting new members or taking care of the sheep you have?
I used to think my church should focus only on reaching out to the community, sharing the gospel, and getting more people to come to church.
But over the years I've realized it's equally important to nurture and care for the members we already have.
This week's podcast episode talks about the difference between the Great Commission and, what I call, the Great Shepherding of the flock.
Jesus knew his followers would need to be cared for and fed spiritually
He commissioned Peter (and all of us) to feed and care for all his lambs and sheep
If you just focus on getting new members and don't "feed" them, they'll leave sooner or later
If you only focus on taking care of your church members, you're missing out on the joy of sharing your faith with others.
Sharing your faith with others and caring for the sheep are both very important but they should not be mixed up. Each one has its place and each works together to enrich the other.
I encourage you to take an honest look at the way you as an individual, and your church (if you’re a member of one) fulfill or don’t fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Shepherding, sharing your faith and feeding the sheep of Jesus.
How can you get closer to the way Jesus preached and fed his sheep?
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
This week I talk with Keith Giles about the Gospel of Thomas. Keith explains why this ancient text is really important and how it helps us get a really deep insight into how to follow Jesus.
We dig into all the questions you have about the Gospel of Thomas:
How do we have this ancient text?
What did church politics have to do with the disappearance of The Gospel of Thomas?
When and where was it discovered and how was it found?
Why wasn't it included in the Bible?
How does it help us follow Jesus better?
Is it really written by Thomas?
What is the secret to understanding the Gospel of Thomas?
Should Christians be wary of the Gospel of Thomas? Is it dangerous to read?
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
240 – If Jesus was here today, would he get involved in politics?
Do you think he would be a member of your political party? Would he take sides at all? Or would he take a different approach to solving the problems people are facing today?
How would Jesus bring healing to the political divisions in today’s society? Would he go to Washington, D.C. and make a speech in congress? Would he meet with opposing political opponents and try to get them to agree on things? Or would he hold a political rally and campaign for one candidate over another?
I don’t think so.
In this week's episode:
The difference between your perspective and God's perspective
Trying to solve the problem on same level of the problem never works
If you want to heal like Jesus, you have to act, pray, and love like Jesus
To do that, you have to think like Jesus
What does the kingdom of heaven have to do with politics?
Jesus never got involved in the politics of his times. He never made it a priority to resolve the conflicts with the government of Rome, with its intrigues and powerful personalities. He never tried to resolve the disputes between the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Zealots, and the Essenes.
As we get closer and closer to the election this fall in the United States, and as you see the political scene do whatever the political scene will do, don’t be impressed or get absorbed in what’s going on. Don’t be alarmed or fearful. Don’t believe everything you hear. Don’t judge any situation by the outward appearance of things pro or con.
If you really want to bring healing to the political scene, start with yourself, surrender your personal opinions and perspectives and see everyone and everything from the perspective of what is true in heaven right now. This will bring healing to you, to others, and that can and will, in turn, bring healing on a larger scale, even to the political arena.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Maybe you've made some huge mistakes, or someone had done something that harmed you. But no matter what has happened in your life, God is always with you, even if you're not aware of it.
This week's episode digs deep into this idea that God is always with us, no matter what.
Highlights this week:
Psalm 139: Wherever you go, God is there
My parents story of losing their business, but feeling God's presence with them during the challenges
Romans 8:38, 39: Nothing can separate you from God's love
Modern day challenges and situations that cannot separate you from God's love
But whatever the situation is, even if it is a direct attempt to keep God out of things, it doesn’t mean God went away. No person, policy, or procedure has the power to make God disappear. Nothing can separate you from God. Nothing can separate God from you.
Under every circumstance, God is with us. Whatever tempts you to think you are separated from God, you cannot be deceived to believe that lie. God is always with you, no matter what.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
238 – Everything Jesus Did Proves How Much God Loves You
30 Apr 2024
00:21:14
238 – Have you ever wondered if there's a way to really know God loves you?
Does God's love ever seem far away? Or maybe you know theoretically that God loves you, but you just don't feel it?
Maybe you've made bad life choices that makes it hard to imagine God still loves you.
When I'm discouraged, it's been really helpful to remember that God sent Jesus because He loves us so much, all of us.
Jesus's whole life, everything he said and did, is an example of how God loves you and me, not just the people he talked to and healed 2,000 years ago.
In this week's episode I share some examples of how Jesus's life, and how he treated someone with love, is actually proof that God loves us just as much as He loves the people in Jesus's time.
Jesus chose a tax collector, Matthew, to be one of his disciples, even though Matthew was considered a sinner by the Jewish leaders
Jesus healed the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman, whom Jews wouldn't normally even talk to
In both these cases, Jesus loved these people because he could see God loving them, even though society had rejected them to some degree.
The ultimate "proof" in Jesus's life that God's love us is the crucifixion. Jesus won the victory over death, not just for himself but for you and me as well.
Nothing you do can ever make God stop loving you. Jesus proved this. No matter how terrible someone's life choices or circumstances were, Jesus treated them with compassion, love, and healing.
That gives us hope that God loves us, no matter what life mistakes we may have made.
Jesus wants us to love each other the way he loved his disciples. And you can do this.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
237 – Healing the Effects of Trauma and Abuse with Marina Carrier
23 Apr 2024
00:43:53
237 – Is it possible to find healing from the effects of trauma and abuse?
Have you or someone you know been in an abusive or traumatic situation or relationship? This episode is for you.
Marina Carrier shares how she overcame the residual effects of being an unwanted child and sexual abuse at the age of nine.
It was only through the power of the Holy Spirit, which brought her back to the church and the study of the Bible, which started her journey of healing.
Some important steps along the way were
The Prayer of Jabez to enlarge her territories
Learning French
Writing in her journal
Listening to God and to herself
Bringing her well-hidden pain out where she could acknowledge it and give it to God
Marina talks about how important it is to have a working relationship with God, but points out there's a difference between head-knowledge and heart-knowledge of God.
She loves when John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the Messiah. She can relate to what it's like to be in prison full of doubts. Her solution is always to keep turning to God and listening for His voice.
Don't close the door on God, on others, or yourself.
And if you haven't experienced abuse and trauma in your life, remember that those who have need your love and compassion. Don't try to fix them. Don't give them platitudes or quote Bible verses to them. Just love them. Just listen with your heart.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
236 – If the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to your church, what would he say?
First, imagine if you had lived back in the days of the early Christian Church. Paul may have come to your church to preach.
And you may have received a letter from him later with some helpful ideas, prayers, and reminders of what he told you when he was there.
Of course, he might also rebuke you for a couple of things your church was doing that wasn't faithful to Christ.
Now, think of your church today.
What would Paul say to your church?
In this week's episode, I create an imaginary church in Franklin, Tennessee in the United States. I talk about some of it's strengths and some of its challenges, in particular, a couple of members who are real sticklers for the letter of the law. Legalism is keeping this church from growing.
I write a letter to this church, in the style of Paul, just to give an idea of what he might have said.
All this is to get you to think about what Paul would have said to your church.
Do you want your church to grow?
Here's a prayer project for you and your whole church. Please choose one of Paul's letters to a church and read it as if he had written it to your church. What can you learn about how to follow Jesus collectively as a church from this?
Please contact me to let me know what you discover in this process.
Show notes: For a full transcript of this episode and all Bible quotes referred to, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/236.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
235 – What does it even mean to be filled with God's fullness?
In his letter to the Ephesians, at the end of Chapter 3, Paul prays that the church members would know the love of Christ and be filled with all the fullness of God.
But is that even possible?
Most Christians I talk to think that's the sort of thing that happens after they die and go to heaven. But Paul is praying for the Ephesians to experience here on earth.
In this week's episode, I talk about Paul's prayer (there's a lot more in there that applies to you and me as well). Fortunately Paul gives some really helpful guidance in chapters 4, 5, and 6, which helps prepare us to be able to receive the fullness of God.
You know this passage, (Ephesians 4:22-24) but think about it as a roadmap to experiencing the love of Christ and the fullness of God.
Put off your old sinful nature, which is corrupt and deceitful
Be renewed by the Spirit in your mind
Put on your new self, created to be like God, truly righteous and holy
How do we put off our sinful nature?
Paul makes it sound so simple. In this episode I share two key points that will help you let go of the sin mindset and embrace the mindset of holiness and righteousness.
Your sin does not define you
A previous episode mentioned this week has some great insights on how to get rid of your sinful nature, change your mindset, and accept your true identity as a child of God. Check out Episode 144: Finding Your Identity in the Bible with Keith Ferrin.
Show notes For a full transcript and all Bible verses mentioned in this episode, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/235
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
Right. Join the club. It's not easy to forgive yourself. But it's something we need to do. And we can.
This week I look at several Bible characters who, in one way or another, had to come to terms with the mistakes they made and their sins.
The Bible doesn't tell us what these folks were thinking and if they ever forgave themselves or if it was enough just to feel God's forgiveness.
Here are the people I talk about this week. Do you think they ever forgave themselves? If you had done what they did, would you be able to forgive yourself?
Samson: Did he forgive himself for being deceived by Delilah?
King David: Did he ever regret the choices he made with Bathsheba and Uriah?
Peter: Did he ever forgive himself for denying Jesus three times?
Paul: Did he forgive himself for persecuting Christians before he converted?
When you have a hard time forgiving yourself, what may be going on is that you haven’t felt worthy of, accepted, or experienced God’s forgiveness of your sin, perhaps because there’s someone you need to forgive.
When you forgive, you’ll be able to accept and experience God’s forgiveness. When God has washed away your sins, even the tiniest mistake, there is nothing left to forgive, no longer a need to forgive yourself.
Wherever you are on the path of forgiveness, whether of someone else or yourself, take a moment right now to take a humble look at any situation where you need to forgive someone else or yourself.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
233 – Are You Looking For Jesus in the Wrong Place?
26 Mar 2024
00:24:11
233 – Where are you looking for Jesus?
A lot of people are looking for Jesus these days, the real Jesus.
Unfortunately, a lot of people have become disillusioned by the difference between what they’re discovering about Jesus in the Bible and the way their churches have followed, or rather not followed, Jesus.
This week's episode is about where to look for Jesus and where not look for him. The Bible gives some pretty good insights on this.
Where NOT to look for Jesus:
Your preconceptions and opinions
Someone else's opinions
Theological debates and man-made doctrines
Asleep at the back of a boat
On the cross
In the tomb
Where TO look for Jesus:
The Bible
Jesus's teachings
Your obedience to Jesus's teachings
The way you help and heal people in need
In heaven at the right hand of God
But your motives in looking for Jesus are just as important as where you look for him.
Take a moment and ask yourself:
Where are you trying to find Christ?
And just as important: Why are you looking for Christ in the first place?
Is it for the loaves and fish?
Is it to be healed?
Is it because you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness?
The only real place to look for and find Jesus, the real Jesus, is in his pure spiritual dwelling place in heaven, the realm of God, the realm of Spirit.
The best way to find Jesus is to close your material eyes and open your spiritual eyes.
You will find Jesus when you look through the honest and sincere lens of your own heart: every time you follow and obey his teachings, every time you search for him in Scripture, every time you help others and heal in his name.
When you do these things, you can say with Stephen, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56 NIV)
Show notes: Full transcript of the episode and all Bible quotes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/233
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
232 – You Don’t Need Someone Else’s Permission to Do What God Has Called You to Do
19 Mar 2024
00:21:14
232 – Is anything keeping you from doing what God has called you to do?
Do you have a strong sense of purpose in your life but it seems things keep getting in the way of you doing what God has called you to do?
Or maybe you're still waiting to see what God wants you to do with your life.
Sometimes, even when we know what God's will is for our lives, we haven't really pursued it because somehow we're waiting to get permission and approval from someone else.
This week's episode is all about not waiting for someone to give you permission to do what God has called you to do.
There are lots of people in the Bible who didn't wait for someone else to give them the green light before they jumped in and did what God wanted them to. Here are the folks I talk about this week:
David: didn't ask permission to fight Goliath. He just did it
Jesus: didn't ask permission to preach, teach, heal, and forgive people
Jesus: didn't ask permission to say everything he wanted in the Sermon on the Mount
The Disciples: didn't get permission to speak in tongues on the day of Pentecost
Peter: didn't get permission to preach to the crowd on the day of Pentecost
Paul: did ask permission to speak to an angry crowd, but didn't ask permission for what to say
There are a few exceptions - listen to this episode to find out what they are
The bottom line is: when God calls you to do or say something, you don't need anyone's permission or approval.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
231 – Do you notice when God is trying to get your attention?
God talks to us in lots of ways. But how often do we notice?
Take a minute to think of all the ways God tries to get your attention.
Sometimes it might be because you're doing something you shouldn't. Sometimes it's because you're not doing something you should.
And sometimes it's because your doing exactly what God wants you to do and He's confirming that you're right where you need to be.
In this week's episode, I talk about how God got the attention of several Bible characters. And it wasn't always rainbows and butterflies. And how God used others to get their attention
Moses and the burning bush, but more importantly it's how God talked to him
Jonah: God had to get his attention lots of times (does that ever happen to you?)
The Israelites often didn't pay attention to how God tried to get their attention through the prophets. Guess what happened to them!
John the Baptist got people's attention and pointed to Jesus
Jesus really got people's attention and pointed them back to God, not just because of all the people he healed, but especially because of the crucifixion and resurrection
How does all this apply to you and me?
God is always trying to get your attention. Why? Because He loves you and He wants the very best for you.
Please take some time to look back on your life and ponder all the ways God has spoken to you, protected you, directed you, rebuked you, provided for you, healed you.
Every time these things happen, even if you don’t realize God is there doing it, God is calling out to you, saying, “I see you. Do you see Me? Look for Me everywhere in your life. Trust Me. Love Me. Lean on Me. Ask Me for what you need. I am here for you. Pay attention to Me and all the love I have for you."
How is God getting your attention today? Then... what will you do next?
Show notes: Full transcript of Episode 231 and Bible verses
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
230 – Why Do You Try to Lead When You're Dancing with God?
05 Mar 2024
00:21:34
230 – Has God ever asked you to dance with Him?
What does that even mean?
When God asks you to dance, it's a metaphor for God asking you to participate in life and follow where He leads.
Have you ever danced with someone who didn't know how to lead, or follow, depending on which role you were in? It can be confusing, awkward, and sometimes get pretty messy.
Things can get pretty confusing and messy when God asks us to dance with Him and we don't follow His lead, especially if we try to lead.
That's what this episode is all about. When God asks you to dance with him, do you
Accept and follow every lead
Accept and follow Him sometimes
Accept and try to lead Him
Decline the invitation to dance
In this Dance we call Life, I encourage you to accept the invitation to be God’s dance partner.
Let Him lead you to the dance floor, and embrace you. Look into His eyes and see His love for you. Follow His lead.
Pay attention to and learn the language of the many ways He directs you and shows you what steps to take. You don’t have to have everything figured out all the time.
You can trust God to lead you every time He asks you to dance.
Show notes: For full transcript and Bible quotes, go to thebiblespeakstoyou.com/230.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
229 – The Blood of Jesus, by Itself, Is not what Saves You
27 Feb 2024
00:24:45
229 – How often do you hear: "The blood of Jesus saves you from your sins," or something to that effect?
The more I have pondered and prayed about all the Bible has to say about God's forgiveness of sins, Jesus's crucifixion, and more specifically, the blood of Jesus, I've come to the conclusion that there's more to forgiveness than just the fact that Jesus's blood was shed.
Spoiler Alert: This may sound a little controversial at first, but when you listen to this episode, you'll understand what I'm talking about.
What really got me to thinking is something Paul says in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15, about the crucifixion, the resurrection, forgiveness of sins, and our faith.
Too many Christians pass over this crucial passage of Scripture and miss the bigger picture of what Paul is saying about salvation and forgiveness.
That's what this episode is all about,
Getting a bigger picture of how and why our sins are forgiven
The blood of Jesus and why it's not just about the literal blood that flowed through his veins 2,000 years ago
The deeper spiritual meaning of what the blood of Jesus represents
Why the crucifixion of Jesus, along with his blood, are not enough to free us from sin
Let me know your thoughts on this topic. I'd love to hear your thoughts, even if you disagree.
Show notes: For a full transcript and Bible quotes: go to Episode 229
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
228 – Nijay Gupta: Women Leaders in the New Testament
20 Feb 2024
00:59:51
228 – Did you ever realize how many women leaders there are in the New Testament?
More than you probably realized. There are some I didn't even realize were women? Why haven't we been told about these amazing women who risked their lives to share the Gospel in the early Christian Church?
This week I talk with Dr. Nijay Gupta about these women leaders in the early Christian church and how they set examples for how women can have leadership roles in the church today. He has written a book called: Tell Her Story (see below for link).
Here are the women we talked about. How many of them have you heard of?
Mary Magdalene
Junia
Joanna
Susanna
Phoebe
Tryphena and Tryphosa
Persis
Rufus's mother
Julia
Nereus's sister
Euodia and Syntyche
Priscilla
Most of them we know very little about but Paul mentions them and commends many of them for their work in sharing the Gospel.
Nijay and I also talked about the so-called submission and women-be-silent verses, but he points out the cultural contexts of these verses, how they seem to contradict the fact that Paul commended women for preaching and promoting the Gospel elsewhere.
And Nijay makes it clear we get into serious trouble when we create a theology around just two or three verses.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
227 – Have you ever wondered if God still loves you?
All too often we think of all the mistakes we've made or the things that have happened to us, and somehow decide God must not love us anymore, that we're not worthy of His love.
But no matter what you've done ( or not done that you should have), no matter what mistakes you've made, big or small, God still loves you. It's as simple as that.
Why do we make it so complicated?
In this week's episode, I share some of my personal journey to actually accepting and believing that God really does love me. I'm curious if you have gone through a similar process.
Here are some of the points along the way to accepting the fact that God still loves you.
Sometimes it begins with intellectually knowing that God loves you, even though you don't feel you deserve it
Getting over the belief that God loves you only when you do something right
Realizing that God sent Jesus to earth because He loves everyone – Gasp! that includes you
If you had been with Jesus as one of his followers or asking him to heal you, he would have loved you just as he loved all the folks he ministered to
If Jesus loves you, it's because he could see God love you (see John 5:19)
Talking to God and asking why He loves you
Listening to what God says
Believing what God says
A conversation with God: I also share a little conversation I had with God several years ago that helped me accept God's love for me.
God still loves you. He will never give up on you. No matter who you are, where you’re from, what you’ve done, what you haven’t done, whatever your circumstances are, God still loves you. He will do whatever it takes for you to accept and experience His love.
For a full transcript of this episode and Bible verses quoted, check out the show notes at: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/227
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
352 – You Have the Mind of Christ: It’s Time to Use it
13 Feb 2026
00:13:59
It's Freedom Friday
What if you could think and pray like Jesus did?
What if you could love the way Jesus did? Does that even seem possible? What keeps us from doing that?
Sometimes you might think there’s no way you could of be like Jesus and that it’s not even worth trying. Or maybe you’re afraid to love as much as he did. It’s just too much to commit to.
But Jesus wanted and expected everyone who believed in him to follow his example of living and loving.
In fact, Paul repeats this idea in a letter to the church in Corinth, “We have the mind of Christ.” (See I Corinthians 2:16)
In this episode of Freedom Friday, we’re going to talk about
What it means to have the mind of Christ
How you can begin to think, pray, and love more like Jesus.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
226 – What does it mean to be more than a conqueror through Christ?
With all the challenges in the world and in your own personal life, does it ever seem like there's just no end to the chaos?
In Chapter 8 of Romans, Paul lists a host of challenges that describes what a lot of people are dealing with today. But he also promises us that we can find answers, solutions, and healing through Christ.
In this week's episode, I talk about what it means to be more than just a conqueror:
We can never be separated from God's love
Once you have a victory over a problem, you're more than just a former slave to the problem
You're more than just someone who had overcome a problem
After you conquer a problem, you begin to discover you identity as a child of God
You are more than a conqueror. You are the beloved child of God and co-heir with Christ. This is your spiritual identity.
Give yourself permission to be what God has created you to be. It’s actually who you already are. You have inherited all the love and blessings God can give.
You have inherited His kingdom, with and through Christ. Accept your spiritual inheritance, right now, as an heir of God, and live your life from that perspective.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
225 – If you could ask Jesus a favor, what would it be?
If you had met Jesus 2,000 years ago while as he was traveling around healing and ministering to people, what would you ask him for? A healing? Deliverance from a problem? The answer to a burning question in your heart?
Lots of people came up to Jesus to ask him for all sorts of things. Sometimes he granted their requests and sometimes he didn't.
There's so much to learn from these folks who approached Jesus with a request.
In this week's episode I talk about why Jesus answered some requests and why he didn't answer others. Here's who is in the show:
Jairus
Various religious leaders asking about how to obtain eternal life
A man who wanted Jesus to get his brother to share the inheritance
More religious leaders who wanted Jesus to show them a miraculous sign
People who weren't sure if Jesus was the Messiah
James and John, who wanted to sit next to him in heavenly glory
A disciple who asked Jesus how to pray
Philip, who wanted Jesus to show God to him
The crux of the matter: what you want or what God wants
If you could talk to Jesus, would you ask for something you want really bad? Or would you ask him to show you what God's will is for you?
And how on earth do you figure out what God's is will for you? There are some helpful ideas to get you started, plus a previous episode I recommend (see below for link).
Who should you pray to, Jesus or the Father? Listen to find out...
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)
224 – Do you have to believe in the Nicene Creed to be a true Christian?
This is a pretty heavy duty topic. And people have been arguing over this for about 1,700 years. So this is not the final answer or discussion on the topic.
But is incredibly important to think about what it means to be a Christian. Is it based on what you believe or how you put into practice the teachings of Jesus?
Or is it a combination of the two?
This week, I share my thoughts on the Nicene Creed and some of the problems I have with it. And as always, you are free to disagree with me. And I'd love to hear your perspective, whether you agree or not with what I say. I'm always open to another perspective. We have so much to learn from each other.
Here are the two main reasons I cannot adhere to the Nicene Creed.
The way Athanasius and others who supported the Creed were ruthless and vindictive toward those who disagreed with them. They did not act in a Christ-like way
There is nothing in the Creed that talks about obeying God, following Jesus, loving your neighbor, being humble and loving.
Jesus says we are to judge a tree by its fruit. The "fruit" of those who supported the Nicene Creed, as well as the fruit of those who opposed it, prove to me they didn't really believe in the Jesus of the Bible. Otherwise they would have followed Jesus's approach and done the mighty works of healing he did.
If you believe in the Nicene Creed, I totally respect your choice to do so. But I think it's important to know the history of how this Creed came down through history. And be aware of what it does not include.
For me, my approach to having a creed is simple: I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that God is good and made us in His image and likeness. And I add to that my commitment to seek and do God's will, follow Christ the best I can, love my neighbor as myself, and be guided by the Holy Spirit.
__________________ James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.
Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person)