The Chara Project Podcast

Are you a Bible Study leader? This episode is for you. Leading a Bible study has it's challenges, but leading with people who don’t share your beliefs can be even trickier. So, what is the key to being a good Bible study leader?  With years of experience, The Chara Project has learned the pitfalls but also the tips and tricks on how to create a safe and loving environment around the Bible. Jo...

Meet the husbands of the Chara Project team. They have been not only supporting their wives behind the scenes of many years, but are both passionate about the Bible and have been actively engaged in doing Bible study with their neighbors. Join this laughter-filled episode as the couples share their experience around engaging neighbors, what they've learned along the way, and how they would en...

Meet Val Dowland, a long-time friend of the Chara Project team, who comes from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Join us as she shares her experience of entering Bible study for the first time, what she's learned along the way, and the tips she would suggest for those just starting to engage your neighbor. This is an episode you won't want to miss, as we get to hear a real...

Want to know how to engage your neighbor in Bible Study? Entering into faith conversations and Bible study with people who don’t share your beliefs should be handled with care - but it's possible.  For 10 remarkable years, God has graciously opened the Chara Project team’s hearts and homes to many new friends from a variety of backgrounds. They’ve experienced the pitfalls, and learned what it...

There are people interested in exploring the Bible who don’t share your beliefs - whether faith background, political views, or lifestyle. We call these people our neighbors. And believe that we should meet our neighbors where they are at and explore the Bible together. Yet entering into faith conversations and Bible study with people who don’t share your beliefs should be handled with care. For 1...

At The Chara Project, it's our mission to help build confidence in studying the Bible on your own and with your neighbor. But why? What's the story behind how we came to start a non-profit ministry? Find out as The Chara Project team goes down memory lane to share their story. You'll learn all the amazing details of what has drawn them into learning how to study the Bible, engage th...

Have you ever wondered what does faith look like? Unravel the essence of faith as the Chara Project team studies Hebrews 11:1, which says, “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Using CHARA in Action learn what faith can look like, how we can have assurance in our faith, and what hope we can expect to experience through it all. This podcast is also r...

John 3:16 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible and says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” But why do so many people focus on this verse? What does "begotten" mean? Do we really only have to believe? Join the Chara Project team as they take CHARA into Action to uncover a deep...

We’re on Day 12 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 12 Hope Has Come card focused on the Wise Men in Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical o...

We’re on Day 11 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 11 Hope Has Come card focused on Jesus at the Temple in Luke 2:21-30. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical o...

We’re on Day 10 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 10 Hope Has Come card focused on the Shepherds in Luke 2:15-20. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical or enco...

We’re on Day 9 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 9 Hope Has Come card focused on Peace on Earth in Luke 2:8-14. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical or encour...

We’re on Day 8 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 8 Hope Has Come card focused on Bethlehem in Luke 2:1-7. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical or encouraging...

We’re on Day 7 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 7 Hope Has Come card focused on Mary's Song in Luke 1:46-55. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical or enc...

We’re on Day 6 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 6 Hope Has Come card focused on Elizabeth in Luke 1:39-45, 56. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical or encour...

We’re on Day 5 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 5 Hope Has Come card focused on Immanuel in Matthew 1:21-25. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical or encourag...

We’re on Day 4 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 4 Hope Has Come card focused on Joseph in Matthew 1:18-20. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical or encouragin...

We’re on Day 3 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 3 Hope Has Come card focused on Mary as a Servant in Luke 1:34-38. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical or en...

We’re on Day 2 of our of 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 2 Hope Has Come card focused on Mary in Luke 1:26-33. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historical or encouraging ins...

We’re kicking off a series of the 12 Day Journey through the Christmas story. Giving you small bite-size episodes that coincide with our Hope Has Come Cards available to download on the Chara website. IN THIS EPISODE: we discuss the Day 1 Hope Has Come card focused on John the Baptist in Luke 1:8-17. Join the Chara team as they discuss this passage from the Christmas story, provide a key historica...

Why can we rejoice in suffering? In 1 Peter 1:6-7, we see the Bible talk about rejoicing in suffering when it says, "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glor...

What does 1 Peter 2:18 mean? Join the Chara Project team as they take CHARA into Action to understand what this verse is talking about. This podcast is also released as a video podcast on YouTube here. Also, enjoy the Bible study guide with questions that go with this episode so you can study this passage alongside of us, or on your own. Available at https://www.thecharaproject.com/chara-study-gui...

What's the Biblical relationship between faith and works? James 2 says that "faith without works is dead" but Paul's letters seem to emphasize that it's "not by works" that we are saved. So which is it? Join the Chara Project team as they take CHARA into Action and discover what James is communicating in his letter, and how we should think about faith and works....

When can we expect wisdom from God? Well in James 1:5, it says, "if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him." So does that mean that every time we go to God and ask for wisdom, He'll give it? Join the Chara Project team as they take CHARA into Action as they discover what this verse is talking about. This po...

Why were there animal sacrifices in the Bible? Why was bloodshed needed for the forgiveness of sins? Hebrews 9:22 tells us that, "the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." But there's more to the story... in fact, this concept is a theme we see throughout the story of the Bible. Join the Chara team as...