The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Sin affects all of us, and the story of David in 2 Samuel proves that. Today, Jeff explains how praying with Psalm 51 can help us prepare our souls for confession, through the example of David. Snippet from the Show “There is no such thing as private sin, it affects all of us, all of mankind.” - Pope St. John Paul II Email us with comments or questions at tjcs@ascensionpress.com Text “jeffcavins”...

Struggling with anxiety, frustration, and depression during these covid lockdowns? Maybe all we need to do is change our perspective. Today, Jeff pulls some inspiration from St. Paul’s letters to the Philippians, Ephesians, and Colossians, to help us center our hearts in the Lord during these confusing times. Snippet from the Show “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work, for his plea...

If Jesus showed up at your front door today, what would you say? Today, Jeff lists 5 things you would never say to God out-loud, but might have thought once or twice. Snippet from the Show “He must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30 Email us with comments or questions at tjcs@ascensionpress.com Text “jeffcavins” to 33-777 to subscribe and get Jeff’s shownotes delivered straight to your em...

Happy Thanksgiving! Today, Jeff talks about how we can cultivate an attitude of thankfulness for everything we have, and how we can practice greater gratitude in our daily lives. Let’s start saying “thanks for everything” instead of “thanks for nothing!” Snippet from the Show “The secret to happiness is gratitude.” - GK Chesterton Email us with comments or questions at tjcs@ascensionpress.com Text...

We all have bucket lists for our lives, but have we ever asked what's on God's bucket list for us? Today, Jeff shares with us God's desires and plans for our lives revealed in Scripture. If we pause to ask God what he has in store for us, we will be surprised by God's marvelous dreams for us. Snippet from the Show If we pause to ask God what he has in store for us, we will be surprised by how God'...

Saying grace before meals is a common tradition in the Catholic faith. Today, Jeff delves into the biblical history of praying before meals and offers us two main ways to pray before meals so that however we pray, it may be a meaningful tradition in our homes. Snippet from the Show When we bless God before meals, we acknowledge that he is the giver of all good gifts. Email us with comments or ques...

In the battles of our life, it’s important to remembern that God is the reason we triumph and overcome! “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 Email us with comments or questions at tjcs@ascensionpress.com Text “jeffcavins” to 33-777 to subscribe and get Jeff’s shownotes delivered straight to your email! Or visit ascensionpress.com/theje...

How do we find peace in a world that is constantly changing? Today, Jeff offers us hope and wisdom in these unprecedented times from the document Gaudium et spes (GS) – Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. This Second Vatican Council document reminds us that the true stability we seek is only found in the One who never changes, Jesus Christ. Snippet from the Show “Jesus Christ...

In our walk with Christ, we have to learn to detect spiritual landmines- the sins that are destructive in our lives and separate us from God. Today, Jeff shares the story of Magawa, a rodent trained to detect deadly landmines in Cambodia to inspire us to also find our spiritual landmines that harm our relationship with the Lord. Snippet from the Show Sin is a spiritual landmine for the soul, and C...

What exactly does Scripture say about drinking? Today, Jeff dives into the Bible to explain what it teaches and breaks down both the benefits of drinking, and the dangers of drinking excessively. Snippet from the Show "Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps de...

It can be tempting to lose hope and optimism in a chaotic and divisive world. Today, Jeff offers us 10 practical ways to ignite our optimism and keep our gaze fixed on the victory of Jesus Christ. Snippet from the Show In dark times, let us keep our gaze fixed on the victory of Jesus Christ who has already won the battle and sits on the throne of glory. Email us with comments or questions at tjcs@...

Do you struggle to find time during the day to pray? Today, Jeff gives us five reasons why the morning is the best time to pray. No matter how unorganized or tired we may feel in the morning, speaking with God in the morning can change how we experience the day. Snippet from the Show “God’s mercy is fresh every morning.” Email us with comments or questions at tjcs@ascensionpress.com Text “jeffcavi...

There are times in our lives when we either hide from God or we feel like God is hiding from us. Today, Jeff uses Scripture to remind us that God is always searching for us no matter how much we try to hide from him. Sometimes it’s not so much about finding God, but rather it’s about letting ourselves be found by him. Snippet from the Show “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all y...

Do you find yourself just going through the motions in life and feeling empty? Today, Jeff explains the difference between making a living and making a life and shares practical ways to live a fulfilling and meaningful life. Snippet from the Show Making a living is temporal, while making a life is eternal. Email us with comments or questions at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com Text “jeffcavins...

Asking a father for the hand of his daughter can be a nerve racking experience. Today, Jeff explains the biblical roots of asking a father for the hand of his daughter, and shares tips to ace this exciting moment in the life of a man. Snippet from the Show When you ask a father for the hand of his daughter, let him know that you will love his daughter the way Christ loves his bride the Church. Ema...

There are over 10,000 saints canonized by the Catholic Church. Today, Jeff shares a number of inspiring saints children will love and invites us to pair our children with saints so they always have role models in heaven they can relate to and imitate. Snippet from the Show While the saints are not divine, they are perfected Christians who have finished the race and can inspire us to keep running t...

A name given to a baby in the womb says to the world that they are of great value. There’s a change in the relationship with a baby in the womb when we name him or her before birth because we recognize their personhood. Today, Jeff shares with us seven people in the bible who were named before birth, including Jesus! Snippet from the Show A name given to a baby in the womb says to the world that t...

Our physical bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which means that we are called to take care of them. Today, Jeff shares his approach to healthy eating and explains his most recent diet plan that brought him closer to the Lord in a surprising way. Please note that this episode is based on Jeff’s personal experience, be sure to consult a medical professional as you decide what eating habits are...

Confirmation can be a powerful turning point in our relationship with Christ. Today, Jeff and Colin MacIver from Ascension talk about the beauty of the sacrament of Confirmation and point us to a new resource- The Catechist’s Field Guide to Confirmation- that will prepare confirmation candidates for an impactful encounter with the Holy Spirit. Snippet from the Show The sacrament of Confirmation is...

As disciples of Christ, our speech matters. While the expression “holy crap” has become commonplace in our culture today, Jeff challenges us to re-evaluate the use of this expression by explaining the meaning of the word “holy” and the reverence we should have for it. Snippet from the Show Part of being a disciple of Christ is being able to clearly distinguish between that which is holy and that w...

What do you treasure most in your life? Today, Jeff challenges us to look within ourselves and examine whether our hearts are set on the Kingdom of God or some other worldly treasure. Each day of our lives, we have the opportunity to level up and make Jesus our most precious treasure. Snippet from the Show Did you know that you are a treasure to God? He gave up everything to obtain you. But will y...

In times of trial, our faith is often challenged and purified. Today, Jeff looks back at the Jesus Movement of the early 1970s and encourages us to use our current time of social unrest and uncertainty as an opportunity to proclaim Christ and reinvigorate our faith. Snippet from the Show “Raise Jesus up and proclaim him with boldness.” Email us with comments or questions at tjcs@ascensionpress.com...

Jeff interviews Dr. Andrew Swafford on his latest study, Hebrews: The New and Eternal Covenant. Dr. Swafford shows us that by understanding the roots of liturgical worship in the old testament, we can have a deeper appreciation for the eternal sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. In this episode, Jeff and Dr. Swafford dive into the letter to the Hebrews and offer us a renewed love for the Mass. Snippe...

Passing on the faith to your children in today’s culture is not easy. In this episode, Jeff draws from the Old Testament to share 4 opportunities to instruct your children in the faith, and to help them live out the Gospel in a world that often opposes it. Snippet from the Show Make the most of every opportunity, know what the will of the Lord is, and pass that on to you children. Email us with co...

As we celebrate July 4th this year in the midst of a pandemic and social unrest, let us remember that Jesus Christ has already paid the ransom for our freedom from sin. In this special episode, Jeff encourages us to live in the freedom and hope of Christ as we navigate these difficult times in our lives. If we cling to Christ and allow him to change us, we will experience true freedom and peace. S...