Explore every episode of the podcast The Bible Study Hour

Joshua 8:30-35

The heart of the Book of Deuteronomy is the principle of the curses and the blessings. Moses gave instructions on how that principle was to be demonstrated when the people reached the Promised Land, and the time had now come for Joshua to enact that word picture for the Israelites. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he takes us through the significance of the staging of this drama and an even more important principle therein.

Joshua 8:1-29

With their first attempt to capture Ai thwarted by the Lord, the Israelite army is told to attack again. Discouraged and fearful after their first defeat, Joshua will have no miraculous intervention at Ai. The walls will not fall down, but—nevertheless--they must go up and fight a second time. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he shares the lessons learned at Ai.

Joshua 3:1-17

The Ark of the Covenant has always been an object of fascination, but this mysterious box is far more than a sought-after archeological relic. The Ark is symbolic of the presence, judgement, and mercy of the Living God. On The Bible Study Hour, Dr. James Boice discusses the Ark and the unchangeable nature of God.

Joshua 2:1-24

Can a heroine emerge from a brothel in a vile, pagan city? Rahab the prostitute had absolutely nothing going for her... except enough faith in the True God to stand alone against her entire culture! On The Bible Study Hour, Dr. James Boice tells the story of "Rahab Contra Mundum," meaning "Rahab Against the World."

Joshua 1:10-18

No time is wasted from the time of Joshua’s commissioning to the time he assumes command and prepares for the invasion of the Promised Land. From a human standpoint he had much to fear, yet the Lord warned against such fear with the command to not be terrified but to be strong and courageous. Dr. James Boice reveals the secret to Joshua’s complete trust in the face of overwhelming odds in a strange and hostile land.

Joshua 1:1-9

Can you name the president who followed Lincoln or the Prime Minister who followed Churchill?  Remembering those names may take some thought but not the name of the man who followed Moses. Join Dr. James Boice as he traces the life of an extraordinary leader whose badge of honor was his obedience to the Lord.

3 John 1-15

The book of 3rd John is a study of personalities—about three men with very different personalities, Diotrephes, Demetrius and Gaius.  And in these men we see a picture of the church, both then and now.  Dr. James Boice contrasts these three men and directs us in the characteristics of the ones that we should follow.

2 John 1-13

While 2nd and 3rd John are the shortest books in the New Testament, these two letters introduce us to such distinctively Christian ideas that the letters themselves become transformed and elevated so that they have great significance.  Dr. James Boice discusses those elements and how they relate to the body of modern believers.

2 John & 3 John

Second and Third John comprise the two shortest books in the New Testament, but we shouldn’t assume that the brevity of these letters renders them insignificant! Dr. James Boice examines some very practical issues of the early church and John’s direction on how to address them.

1 John 5:18-21

There are things in the Christian faith on which we can and must be dogmatic, despite the world’s constant pressure to maintain an open mind. Two of those things are the recognition of Who it is that we follow and the signs that accompany our faith. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he reiterates John’s affirmations of what it looks like to be a follower of Christ.

1 John 5:14-17

The Apostle John concludes his first letter with what seems to be a mere postscript, but his parting thoughts may be the most significant part of his epistle. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he concludes our study of I John with John’s instructions on prayer.

2 Corinthians 9:15

Have you ever received such a wonderful gift that you found it hard to describe? In truth, all human gifts are describable and just because we lack the words to describe them doesn’t make them “indescribable.” Dr. James Boice compares human gifts with the indescribable gift we received from our Heavenly Father at Christmas on The Bible Study Hour.

Revelation 21:3-4

There was the old paradise, Eden…and one day there will be a new paradise, the New Jerusalem. But must we wait for that utopia?  We find ourselves caught between the two.  Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he answers the question, “What’s a believer to do while he waits for Christ’s return and the restoration of paradise lost?”

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

As our Savior hung on the cross, it looked as though His enemies had won, but in defeating Him, not only were His adversaries defeated, but death itself was crushed. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he takes us through the ploys of Christ’s enemies and their elaborate plot that, from the beginning, was doomed to failure.

Joshua 7:1-8:29

There’s only a short step between victory and defeat. One moment we can be on a spiritual high from great success and the next we’re plunged into the valley of spiritual failure. Such was the experience of Joshua and the Israelites as they left the victory at Jericho and suffered the humiliating defeat at Ai. Dr. James Boice studies the repercussions of having “sin in the camp” when we walk with the Lord.

Joshua 6:24-27

Perhaps the most often-asked question concerning the Christian faith is why a loving God permits the tragedy we see around us. Or, even more to the point, why a loving God not only allowed, but ordered men, women and children to be put to the sword as the Israelites entered the Promised Land. Listen as Dr. James Boice redirects the question and approaches the issue from God’s perspective.

Joshua 6:1-27

As the Israelites approached Jericho, they faced a walled city with proportions that could not be overcome by human means. A different approach was necessary and as Joshua pondered the situation, a divine messenger appeared with the solution to his problem. Dr. James Boice reveals the secret to tearing down strongholds.

Joshua 5:13-15

The Jordan had been crossed and the people consecrated. The conquest of Jericho and the Promised Land lay ahead, but before that, Joshua, the leader of God’s people has a divine encounter with an armed commander of another army. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he explains the significance of that angelic encounter.

Joshua 5:1-12

Joshua's army was poised for the immediate invasion of Jericho. Their enemies were filled with terror and dread. But at the last moment, the invaders pause, not for military strategy or a call to arms, but to be circumcised and observe the Passover. On The Bible Study Hour, Dr. James Boice explains the sacraments - both old and new.

Joshua 4:1-24

Pyramids, obelisks, sculptures and gravestones all serve to focus our memories on a person or event from the past. We need memorials. They help us remember important things in our history. On The Bible Study Hour, Dr. James Boice talks about memorials to the power of God - memorials we can see right now.