When you read the Gospels, the Pharisees play a prominent role. So, when you hear the word "Pharisee," what do you think of? The dictionary defines a Pharisee as "a self-righteous person; a hypocrite." But were all Pharisees self-righteous hypocrites? Did all Pharisees reject Jesus? Or is it possible that how we think about the Pharisees is more of a stereotype? Of course, there are good reasons for the stereotype, but does the stereotype ever break down? Join the group as they lean into a...

When you read the Gospels, the Pharisees play a prominent role. So, when you hear the word "Pharisee," what do you think of? The dictionary defines a Pharisee as "a self-righteous person; a hypocrite." But were all Pharisees self-righteous hypocrites? Did all Pharisees reject Jesus? Or is it possible that how we think about the Pharisees is more of a stereotype? Of course, there are good reasons for the stereotype, but does the stereotype ever break down? Join the group as they lean into a...

The Bible uses many metaphors to teach us about God, and one of the most common of those metaphors is "shepherd." But of course, metaphors only work when you're familiar with the cultural details. Dr. Tim Laniak joins the group to take them on a fascinating journey into the world of shepherds and Biblical passages about them. Drawing on his research living with Bedouin shepherds who lead their flocks in the same regions where Abraham and David once did, Tim explores how shepherds and sheep...

For most Christ-followers arguably the most familiar use of the word amazing is in the hymn “Amazing Grace.” And rightly so. God’s grace is truly amazing. But recently the Discover the Word group had a series of conversations about how amazing Jesus himself was to the people who encountered him in the first century. We saw nine times in Mark’s gospel when people were described as “amazed” at something Jesus said or did. This week, we want to move that conversation forward, by seeing five...

Apparently entering Jerusalem as part of the preparations for the Passover celebration, Simon of Cyrene finds himself caught up in a story that would involve the sacrifice the true Passover Lamb—and change the world as well as changing Simon’s own family.   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our website: https://www.discovertheword.org 🎧Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3x2Swlq 🎧Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3mk8ra1 🎧Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3D9Tttv 🎧Google Podcasts:...

Author and New Testament scholar Dr. Lynn Cohick joins the Discover the Word group for a week-long walk through the New Testament letter to the Ephesians. What were the social realities in Ephesus that led Paul to address some of the most immense theological ideas of any part of Scripture? Things like the Trinity, salvation by faith, prayer, marriage, slavery and racism? Come to a better understanding of God's redemption plan by studying Ephesians with our guest Lynn Cohick this week on...

Small word--big concept. This week Rasool Berry guides the group through some conversations about... hope, and discovers that the Bible teaches that hope shines the brightest when it seems to be needed the most. But there are a lot of things that can challenge our ability to hope, so pull your chair up to the table and be part of the group for this study called "Hopefully..."   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our website: https://www.discovertheword.org 🎧Apple Podcasts:...

John the Baptist lived a life that pointed to Jesus. From the womb to the tomb, John understood and embraced his multiple roles in the mission of God including a chosen child, a unique man, a forerunner of the Messiah, baptizer, prophet, witness, attendant, questioner, martyr and then ultimately being labeled a “great one” by Jesus Himself. What made this man so great? As we understand more about John, we can understand more about how our own lives can point others to Jesus.   WAYS TO...

John the Baptist lived a life that pointed to Jesus. From the womb to the tomb, John understood and embraced his multiple roles in the mission of God including a chosen child, a unique man, a forerunner of the Messiah, baptizer, prophet, witness, attendant, questioner, martyr and then ultimately being labeled a “great one” by Jesus Himself. What made this man so great? As we understand more about John, we can understand more about how our own lives can point others to Jesus.   WAYS TO...

There is a section of scripture in the Old Testament that most of us rarely turn to—the Minor Prophets. These prophets have come to be known as the minor prophets, not because they are of minor importance, but because of their shorter length in contrast to the major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel). We’ll take several weeks to get an overview of these important, yet often overlooked, twelve Old Testament books.   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our website:...

There is a section of scripture in the Old Testament that most of us rarely turn to—the Minor Prophets. These prophets have come to be known as the minor prophets, not because they are of minor importance, but because of their shorter length in contrast to the major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel). We’ll take several weeks to get an overview of these important, yet often overlooked, twelve Old Testament books.   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our website:...

There is a section of scripture in the Old Testament that most of us rarely turn to—the Minor Prophets. These prophets have come to be known as the minor prophets, not because they are of minor importance, but because of their shorter length in contrast to the major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel). We’ll take several weeks to get an overview of these important, yet often overlooked, twelve Old Testament books.   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our website:...

“Lord, have mercy.” It’s the most prayed prayer in the Bible. In this series of 10 conversations, pastor and author Robert Gelinas joins Mart DeHaan and Elisa Morgan at the table to explore what happens when the Bible’s most prayed prayer becomes our most prayed prayer. The Mercy Prayer—learn how it is the one prayer God always answers.   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our website: https://www.discovertheword.org 🎧Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3x2Swlq 🎧Spotify:...

“Lord, have mercy.” It’s the most prayed prayer in the Bible. In this series of 10 conversations, pastor and author Robert Gelinas joins Mart DeHaan and Elisa Morgan at the table to explore what happens when the Bible’s most prayed prayer becomes our most prayed prayer. The Mercy Prayer—learn how it is the one prayer God always answers.   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our website: https://www.discovertheword.org 🎧Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3x2Swlq 🎧Spotify:...

There are so many stories we read in the Gospels where we wish we had more details. Jesus tells parables that we wish had more of an explanation. Jesus often uses complicated metaphors that we wish came with more questions and answers. Basically, we often wish we had more context to understand what Jesus is driving at. Well for the next two weeks, we are going to focus on one of the stories in the Gospels that comes with soooooo many details, context, questions, responses, parables, and...

There are so many stories we read in the Gospels where we wish we had more details. Jesus tells parables that we wish had more of an explanation. Jesus often uses complicated metaphors that we wish came with more questions and answers. Basically, we often wish we had more context to understand what Jesus is driving at. Well for the next two weeks, we are going to focus on one of the stories in the Gospels that comes with soooooo many details, context, questions, responses, parables, and...

In this series we’ll look at five sentences that describe Mary of Bethany and the progressive relationship she had with Jesus. We’ll consider what Mary’s encounters with Jesus meant to her, how they layered to form a powerful relationship and how we too can enjoy such a relationship. How might these same sentences describe our journey to Jesus – and the difference He makes in our lives?   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our website: https://www.discovertheword.org 🎧Apple Podcasts:...

End 2023 with a collection of episodes from the past 12 months and beyond in this "Best of Discover the Word" week. Start with some classic Christmas conversations Haddon Robinson and Alice Mathews had with Dr. Kenneth Bailey. Will they wreck many things about Christmas for you, or will they enhance your understanding of Christmas? Then flash back to some memorable conversations the group had with guests Jack Beck and Randy Richards in 2023. And close the week, and the year, reflecting back...

When the angel, Gabriel, informed the teenage virgin, Mary, that she would become pregnant with the Messiah, she responded with a firm “yes!” And then she offered up what Luke calls a song of praise. Because she began her words with attributing majesty to God, her song was named “The Magnificat” in Latin. What did her melody to God mean for her in her day? And how can it sing truths we need to hear and absorb, and perhaps voice ourselves today?   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our...

In this series of conversations, the group goes in-depth on a word we talk about a lot on Discover the Word. It's the Hebrew word hesed. It's one of the primary ways God introduces himself to the world, and implies perhaps the biggest promise God made to people. So what does that word hesed mean? And what is the promise? Explore how hesed dominates how God is described throughout the Bible, and how that provides a lens for looking at how we see God at work in the world.   WAYS TO LISTEN...

I think we can agree that we live in an amazing world filled with amazing things and people. But there are also amazing things to ponder in the spiritual realm. Most notably, when we consider the story of the scriptures we should be amazed continually. This was so front of mind for the gospel writer Mark that no less than nine times in his account of the story of Jesus, he describes the people who interacted with Jesus as being amazed. May we join in the wonder of our Lord as we consider...

I think we can agree that we live in an amazing world filled with amazing things and people. But there are also amazing things to ponder in the spiritual realm. Most notably, when we consider the story of the scriptures we should be amazed continually. This was so front of mind for the gospel writer Mark that no less than nine times in his account of the story of Jesus, he describes the people who interacted with Jesus as being amazed. May we join in the wonder of our Lord as we consider...

Is Hebrews 4:12 referring to the Bible when it says, “The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword?” Pastor, author, and longtime seminary professor Sid Buzzell leads the group in a study of Hebrews 4:12-16. The book of Hebrews is, from beginning to end, about Jesus and so explore with Mart DeHaan, Elisa Morgan, and Sid Buzzell the difference a proper understanding of Jesus as the Word of God in this passage can make.   WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: 📱On our...

Spend four weeks studying through Paul's letter to the Philippians with Bill and Elisa and Daniel and Rasool. They'll each take turns leading a chapter as they discover how it's possible to have joy in the struggles of life; how we can find joy in serving; and in what sense we can "do all things." It's another study through a book of the Bible that will inform how you read the Scriptures and challenge you as you live as a follower of Christ. Study Philippians with the Discover the Word group...

Spend four weeks studying through Paul's letter to the Philippians with Bill and Elisa and Daniel and Rasool. They'll each take turns leading a chapter as they discover how it's possible to have joy in the struggles of life; how we can find joy in serving; and in what sense we can "do all things." It's another study through a book of the Bible that will inform how you read the Scriptures and challenge you as you live as a follower of Christ. Study Philippians with the Discover the Word group...