The results are in and the votes counted. This year’s Bible Bracket has gone from a field of 64 beloved Bible stories down to one. On this episode we walk through some lessons learned from our Final Four and celebrate the life-changing power of Scripture’s many rich stories. We also share our own personal favorites and upsets and discuss what Jesus Said about his parables. A big thank you to all who shared, commented, and participated in this year’s tournament. Go to biblegeeks.fm/bracket to...

What happens when you expect a friend to never let you down or have a fault? How do we stay steady and reliable in our love for others? Here, in session four of our Two By Two study, we get to the heart of friendship. We work through how we look out for each other — from demonstrating mercy to friends to saying “I love you” without making it weird. We’re breaking out some of Scripture’s greatest hits — like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and Paul’s great Love Chapter (1 Corinthians 13) —...

How do our fears, anxieties, and differences get in the way of forming new and deeper relationships? In session three of our “Two By Two” study of friendship, we face the fact that sometimes making friends isn’t easy. We share some Deep Thoughts about Paul’s great ode to humility in Philippians 2:1-11. We also look to the example of Jesus and his diverse collection of followers and share our own struggles with growing close to different groups of people. Go to biblegeeks.fm/twobytwo for the...

Spring is in the air, March Madness is on TV, and you know what that means over here at the Bible Geeks: It’s Bible Bracket time! This year’s bracket focuses on “Favorite Bible Stories,” celebrating the greatest hits of the world’s greatest book with four “regionals”: Profound Parables, Ancient Heroes, Sunday School Classics, and Jesus in Action. On this episode of the podcast, we draft the 64 stories that we’ll encourage everyone to vote on in the bracket. In a few weeks, we’ll have another...

Is it just us, or is it hard to find room for all the friendships you want to maintain? Sometimes we feel guilt over not being close to everyone in the church, and other times we wonder how we’ll make the time to connect with anyone at a substantive level! So here, in session 2 of our Two by Two guided study, we notice how Jesus tended to friendships and take a Closer Look at Paul’s band of close partners. We discuss some particular challenges each of us has run into and learn to make what...

We’re back and excited to start a new guided study on friendship called “Two By Two.” This first study comes from the Bible’s encouragement to value and invest in building these bonds. Four Proverbs on Friends remind us to choose our companions carefully and value quality over quantity. We learn from how Jesus sent the disciples out that he wants us to team up, and we ask, “What gets in the way of the kind of close friendships we want?” We pray this series enriches your relationships as you...

Today — as this drops — it’s the fifth anniversary of our first show’s release. And since it’s also our 200th episode, we took some time to look back and share our Favorite Things about doing Bible Geeks (including a few favorite clips!). We kick it off with a “meta” Finding Jesus, talking about why we always start with Christ. Then we get into why we’re still here and don’t plan to stop anytime soon. To anyone who has ever listened, engaged with us, or supported us, we want to offer a HUGE...

“If the Messiah is here, the Romans don’t matter—anything is possible now!” The AV Club is back with a Chosen episode that challenges us to hold onto our faith when life’s problems overwhelm us and we don’t understand God’s commands. From all-nighters to Matthew’s unique outlook, the episode sparked a lot of questions and a few Deep Thoughts. Simon Peter’s story is so relatable, with his bold personality, his doubts and fears, and his powerful conversion. We hope you walk away from this talk...

Ever wanted a straightforward process for learning from your past and planning some growth and goals for the future? Well, “take a look! It’s in a book!” The Bible Geeks Book Club is back with part 2 of our discussion of Michael Hyatt’s Your Best Year Ever. This week we share a few of our Favorite Things, highlighting Scriptural principles like grace, clarity, and order — as they relate to this goal-setting process. We also share some themes that have begun to show up in our own planning for...

If your past year were a movie, what genre would it be? And what do gratitude and belief have to do with setting goals? This week we look backward and forward with the help of a book fit for a new year, as the Bible Geeks Book Club returns. Michael Hyatt’s Your Best Year Ever, a resource Ryan had used for years, leads us through a process for “catching up” with the past and planning the year ahead. We consider what Jesus and the book of Proverbs teach us about planning. Then we go Flyin’...

What does Jesus' work have to do with his desire to "let the little children come" to him (Matt. 19:14)? The Bible Geeks A.V. Club is back to discuss season 1, episode 3 of The Chosen! After a brief recap of the story, we take a Closer Look at the Scriptural background for the episode's plot. We learn from two moments in Mark 9 and 10 when Jesus engaged with children (Mark 9:35-37; 10:13-16) and examine our engagement with kids in light of the Savior's example. There's more to think about on...

How should a Christian dress? After several weeks off, we’re back with a special guest to talk about modest apparel. Ryan’s wife, Adrienne, joins the show to help answer a question submitted to us by a young woman who listens to the show. We take a Closer Look at two key passages and the Bible words used there. Then we get into some practical questions every disciple faces when choosing what to wear.

Peace, Love, Grace, and Faith. As we wrap up this 13-session study of Ephesians, Paul’s closing blessing (6:21-24) points us to these four Heavy Words. We can’t help but wax poetic a little when we reflect on God’s overflowing goodness — talk of waterfalls, oceans, and mountains abound. But we also reflect on the lasting impression and practical takeaways this study has left us with. We hope Talking Through Ephesians has strengthened you as well! The full 13-session study guide and lots of...

How can we stand in temptation and trial? This week we dive into Paul’s great text on spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-20. Introducing a new segment, we take A Closer Look at each part of the “armor of God.” The study reminds us of our true enemy and our superior firepower. We end with a Reach Out discussion of the gaps in our armor that highlight our need for hope, knowledge, and trust. As Bryan likes to say, this is our PENULTIMATE session in this guided study of Ephesians, so catch us...

How do we apply church-like submission and Christ-like headship in our marriages? And what should Christians take from the servant / master commandments (and do those commandments mean that Christianity is pro-slavery)? This week we ask a lot of big questions in a Do You Understand segment focused on the Household instructions in Ephesians 5:22-6:9. Here in session 11 of Talking Through Ephesians, we ask, “WWYDFJ?” (that’s “What would you do for Jesus?”) and discover a secret strength like...

This week we discuss replacing old habits with a new way to walk, including some specific changes. What is “proper” behavior for a Christian? And practically speaking, how do we get filled with the Spirit? It’s a conversation about wise choices and discerning the light through “evil days.” We get into the difference between applying Scripture’s principles and commands versus making up our own rules. And we find that life without Christ is sleep-walking and conversion is like waking up. You...

We’re Talking Through Ephesians 4:17-32, a pragmatic look at how we put off the old and put on a new way of life. We take on some big questions, like: What’s the deal with grieving the Holy Spirit? And what does not letting "the sun go down on" our anger have to do with giving opportunity to the devil (4:26-27)? We figure out how to speak as fits the occasion and what it means to be tenderhearted. Yes, we somehow get into some gross illustrations, but we hope you still find the conversation...

We're in Session 8 of our Talking Through Ephesians Guided Study, getting super-practical with Eph. 4:1-16. We examine our role in a superhero team and the importance of unity and working together in the church. We share our Top Four Proverbs on responding gently to conflict and how we both struggle with humility and patience. And we encourage you to build unity within the Lord's church today, becoming like "Glue Guy" — sticking brothers and sisters together with long-lasting bonds. Find this...

What gets in the way of us comprehending Christ’s love? Here in session 7 of Talking Through Ephesians, we discuss the difference between worth and worthiness and what marriage has taught us about God’s love. We reflect on Paul’s inspiring prayer for insight and power in Ephesians 3:14-21, but we also look to our other favorite passages and hymns about love, turning to some of Scripture’s greatest hits. We believe that meditating on Christ’s love for you is one of the most empowering...

What should we take from Paul's positivity in prison? How do we connect our circumstances to our story and — through the eyes of faith — see that we're a part of God's great story? In our sixth episode Talking Through Ephesians, we celebrate the mystery now revealed in Christ, as Paul proclaims access to God for all the nations. Finding Jesus in this week's text, we imagine swimming in riches like Scrooge McDuck and enjoy our "freedom of speech" before God. And as fantasy football draft...

What threatens church unity today? What do East Berlin and airline amenities have to do with the temple veil? And how does life in God’s presence change us? This week in session 5 of Talking Through Ephesians we explore the last half of chapter two. We walk through the story of the temple, from the garden to the tabernacle; and from Solomon to the church and the New Jerusalem. We find Jesus in the doorway, the corner, the mortar, and everywhere else in the house, and discuss what it means...

How are we created FOR good works but not saved as a result of works (Eph. 2:9-10)? And how are people like zombies wandering around malls? This week we talk through Ephesians 2:1-10, finding good reason for humility and joy in God’s love and grace! We imagine the view, looking out from an open tomb and celebrate the truth that we now sit with Christ in the heavenly places. And we begin the discussion of our “walk” — a conversation that we’ll consider through the remainder of the book. It’s...

This week we unfog the privacy glass to see with hope and power. We’re Talking Through Ephesians with a conversation about the last half of chapter one, a prayer to let the light in. We define Heavy Words like enlightened, inheritance, and the heavenly places, learning why Christians aren't rogue individuals and what kind of treasure awaits us. In our Reach Out question, we explore why informed hope is so important in a dire, dysfunctional world. And we find out where Jesus’ feet stand, what...

When do you struggle to remember God’s rich blessings? Do you understand predestination, the Holy Spirit’s work, and what it means to be “in Christ”? Here in session two of Talking Through Ephesians, we discuss the spiritual blessings Paul praises God for in chapter one. After Finding Jesus described as “the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6), we explore what it means “to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Eph. 1:10). We also talk about finding a place to belong at God’s family...