The Bible Unplugged Podcast

Introduction • He was a general that commanded armies and led a campaign that defeated God’s chosen people, but he had a flaw… two flaws, actually. He suffered from a debilitating illness and debilitating pride. What God asked him to do to heal both afflictions was seemingly impossible, but easy. • I’m Brent, and this is episode 60 of The Bible Unplugged. We look at the story of Naaman, a powerful...

Introduction • She was far from home, enslaved in a strange land and culture. We don’t even know her name, but the only words we know she said changed the fate of nations. God can use even the least significant people in this world to redirect history. • I’m Brent, and this is episode 59 of The Bible Unplugged. We look at an event in the life of a Hebrew slave girl who, in spite of her captivity,...

Introduction • If you’ve been involved in church for more than a few years, you’ve likely heard the Prayer of Jabez. It’s been printed on coffee mugs, bumper stickers, and in books that promise material blessings if you repeat it fervently enough. But what if that’s not what Jabez prayed for at all? • In this episode, we will strip away the glossy interpretation and uncover what Jabez really asked...

Introduction • There were many events that had turned Peter’s life upside down. Jesus called him away from the fishing business, he denied knowing Jesus at a critical time, and Jesus forgave and reinstated Peter after the resurrection. But there was still one area of his life that God had not yet confronted. • What we learn from Peter’s experience can transform how we reach out to people who need...

Introduction • Sometimes the hardest person to convince isn’t the outsider—it’s the insider • In Acts 10, God prepared the heart of Cornelius, a Gentile Roman soldier, to receive the message of the gospel. He was ready, but there was a problem. Peter, one of the disciples Jesus commissioned to take the good news to the ends of the earth, did not want to change. • What we learn from the hard-headed...

Introduction • God can work in and through anyone. You don’t have to be an educated or experienced insider to change the direction of God’s people… you just have to be available. That’s the experience of Cornelius, a Roman centurion and a symbol of Jewish oppression. His actions defied his culture and motivated the early believers to fulfill the commission of Jesus: to carry the gospel to the ends...

Introduction • We find meaningful mountain top experiences throughout the Bible. From Noah’s ark on Mount Ararat to Jesus on the Mount of Olives before His crucifixion, God shows His grace and power in high places. But, for every mountain there is a valley. We tend to forget that after every significant event on a mountain, people in the Bible faced difficult times afterward. • I’m Brent, and this...

Introduction • Throughout the Old Testament, people stacked stones as a place of sacrifice to worship God and to consecrate a location where God showed His power. Building altars wasn’t exclusive to God’s faithful. Not every stack of stones honored God. Some were built to manipulate the pagan gods into fulfilling the will of the people. The difference now, as it was then, is the relationship betwe...

September 2, 2025 Introduction • I’m Brent, and this is The Bible Unplugged. I’m breaking with the usual format for this episode. Why? It’s Episode 52. That means we have been together for a year. • I am so thankful to you for listening. When God impressed on me the idea for The Bible Unplugged, I had no idea where this would lead. A year later, these episodes have been streamed, read, and downloa...

Subscribe to “The Bible Unplugged” on: • Spotify: https://bit.ly/4gULxkr • iHeartradio: https://ihr.fm/4lZg6Iz • Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3SeeCfN • PowerLoveandMiracles.com: https://bit.ly/TBU_34 Introduction • His day was much like any other: chores to be done, business to be conducted… But then, a heavenly vision disrupted his plans and life. Jesus, the ascended Savior, told him to go to hi...

Introduction • What if a modern incarnation of the Tower of Babel story isn’t a place on a map, or a digital domain, but within our own hearts and souls? This tower isn’t built with bricks and mortar, or on the internet. This Babel is built on ambition, fear, the sacrifice of attention, and the desire for people to prove their self-worth. • I’m Brent, and this is episode 50 of The Bible Unplugged...

Introduction • Imagine a world where everyone is connected. One global language. One algorithm. One system that knows what you want even before you ask. That’s not science fiction—that’s right now. But here’s the question: Are we building something divine… or just another Tower of Babel?” • I’m Brent, and this is episode 49 of The Bible Unplugged . We continue our 3-part series on the Tower of Bab...

Introduction • The Tower of Babel account, found in Genesis 11, is a strange story tucked in between the Flood and Abraham. The whole story happens in just 8 verses, but the meaning and impact of this account echoes throughout history and impacts us even today. • I’m Brent, and this is episode 48 of The Bible Unplugged . We start a 3-part series on the Tower of Babel account and examine how that s...

July 29, 2025 Introduction • She had lost everything: her husband died and now she had to bury her only son. In her culture, a childless widow depended on charity just to survive. Her world had come to an end… but then, everything changed. • The story of the widow of Nain, found in the Gospel of Luke, is only a few verses long, but we learn a lot about finding hope in a seemingly hopeless situatio...

Introduction • Martha sent word to Jesus that her brother, Lazarus, was dying. She hoped that Jesus would come quickly and heal her brother. Her hopes were dashed when Lazarus died of his illness. Even after the funeral, Jesus was nowhere to be found. Her grief compounded into disappointment and frustration. • If you’ve ever prayed and hoped for a miracle that didn’t come when you want it to, Mart...

Introduction • Hannah’s experience of grief comes from many years of infertility, rejection, and silent prayers to God. What comes from her painful experiences leads to one of the most profound acts of surrender in all of Scripture. • If you’ve ever waited, or cried out to God without words—Hannah’s story is a message of hope. • I’m Brent, and this is episode 45 of The Bible Unplugged . We continu...

Introduction • Have you ever experienced a loss to painful that you feel you have lost your direction and future? If you have, God has a message of hope for you. The pain of grief and loss can slowly transform into a sense of hope and the confidence that God is on your side. • I’m Brent, and this is episode 44 of The Bible Unplugged . We begin a 4-part series on people in the Bible who experienced...

Introduction • Have you ever felt invisible? Do you ever feel that you don’t matter to anyone and that nobody sees your struggles or your pain? That was the experience of Hagar, the slave to Sarai and Abram in Genesis. What she learned the hard way gives us hope for our difficulties today. • I’m Brent, and this is episode 43 of The Bible Unplugged . We take a look at the name Hagar gave to God fou...

Introduction • In the Beatitudes found in The Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus teaches us some of the qualities of life in the Kingdom of God. But what if those qualities aren’t just a list? What if they are a roadmap for spiritual growth? When we see the progression, purpose, and path of the Beatitudes we find a journey that begins with emptiness and brokenness and ends with and eternal purpose...

Introduction • In the Beatitudes found in The Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus teaches us the qualities and the blessings of being a Kingdom citizen. You might expect that living a life marked by mercy, purity, and peace would win you applause. But Jesus says something that still shocks us today: when you live like this, expect pushback. • I’m Brent, and this is episode 41 of The Bible Unplugged...

Introduction • Having right relationships with others begins with having a right relationship with God and yourself. In the Beatitudes found in The Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus starts off with how our internal reality should match what God wants for us. In the next part, Jesus tells us how those qualities should spill out into our relationships. • I’m Brent, and this is episode 40 of The Bib...

Introduction • Many people believe that success is the result of hard work, confidence, and a heavy dose of audacity. But what if the path to real success begins with collapse, not confidence. What if spiritual fulness begins with spiritual poverty? • I’m Brent, and this is episode 39 of The Bible Unplugged . We’re starting a new series, “Kingdom Attitudes: The Beatitudes of Jesus.” What we will l...

Introduction • It’s one of the most quoted passages in the Bible. We see it on mugs, T-shirts, and social media posts: • “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” • But what does that really mean? What kind of peace goes beyond understanding? And how do you experience it when your life is falling apart? • I’m Brent, and thi...

Introduction • From the garden arrest to the empty tomb, John’s Gospel presents the final days of Jesus not just as historical events – but as the climax of a much older story. • I'm Brent, and this is episode 37 of The Bible Unplugged . In this episode, we continue our Easter Unplugged series with a deep dive into how John chapters 18 through 21 are filled with Old Testament echoes, symbols, and...

Introduction • We first learn about Simon Peter when Jesus invited him to give up his fishing business to become a disciple. At the time, Peter was blustering, impetuous, and rough. After three years of being with Jesus, to be honest, Peter wasn’t much different. What happened to Peter at the arrest, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus changed his life, but there was another event that propelled...