Bible Basics

We stop treating Bible reading like a box to check and learn three simple ways to slow down and understand a passage. We test each method on Philippians 4:6-7 so you can choose what fits your season and actually helps you pray and grow.  • Why slowing down turns reading into real study  • Three approaches that work for beginners and longtime readers  • Following a Bible person to learn who they ar...

We get practical about Bible study tools that clarify confusing words, places, and customs without replacing slow, prayerful reading. We share a simple rhythm for using study Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and digital apps in a way that keeps Scripture at the center. • why we get stuck when the Bible feels far from modern life • using the Bible itself first by reading context and tracing repe...

We take one of the most quoted Bible verses and show how it changes when you read the lines around it. We break down four simple context questions that help us understand Scripture more clearly and apply it the way it was meant to be lived.  • Philippians 4:13 as contentment in hardship, not a promise of winning  • Scriptural context by reading the sentences, paragraph, and chapter around a verse ...

We show how one small shift in approach makes the Bible easier to understand: start by identifying genre and then read the passage the way it was written. We also walk through the Bible’s major types of writing so you can stop forcing meanings and start hearing what the authors are actually saying.  • why genre changes meaning the way a simple text does  • a simple rule for Bible interpretation: r...

We break down why there are dozens of English Bible translations and why that variety does not mean the Bible keeps changing. We explain what translators actually do, where differences come from, and how to pick a Bible version that helps you read with confidence.  • the Bible’s original languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek  • why every English Bible is a translation  • how manuscript choices sha...

We answer the question behind a lot of private doubt: who decided what belongs in the Bible and how those writings became one book. We explain why Christians say the canon was recognized over time across diverse churches rather than chosen by a single person.  • defining “canon” as the official collection of Scripture  • why recognition differs from selection and what Christians mean by authority ...

We pull back the curtain on how the Bible comes to us through real human writers across centuries and cultures, without losing its claim to be God’s Word. We explain what “God-breathed” means, why the Bible still sounds deeply human, and how that should change the way we read. • the Bible written by many human authors across time and place  • the range of authors and genres shaping Scripture’s voi...

We step back and trace the Bible as one unified story rather than 66 disconnected books. We walk through five key movements that make Scripture easier to read and help us see how God restores what was broken.  • why the Bible can feel overwhelming and how a single storyline brings clarity  • creation in Genesis and what it means to bear God’s image  • the fall in Genesis 3 as a trust breakdown tha...

We tackle the awkward moment when someone calls out a Bible verse and you’re not sure where to turn, then we show a simple system that makes every reference findable. We break down the Bible’s layout, explain chapters and verses, and give you a short practice plan to build real confidence. • the Bible as a collection of 66 books and how the table of contents helps • Old Testament and New Testament...

We reset the pace and rebuild our foundation for reading Scripture with clarity and confidence. We explain why the Bible matters, what it is, how it was written, and how its many books tell one unified story. • reasons Christians read the Bible as God’s word • the Bible as a library of sixty-six books • authors, time span, and original languages • inspiration as God-breathed through human voices •...

We explore why much of the New Testament feels like reading someone else’s mail and show how that lens unlocks clarity, context, and comfort. Real letters from pastors and apostles become living guidance for modern believers when we read them as whole conversations. • definition of an epistle as a letter • why letters change how we read the New Testament • who wrote the letters and who received th...

We trace Acts 13–28 from Antioch to Rome, watching the Spirit send ordinary people into extraordinary moments as the gospel crosses cultures, faces resistance, and still advances. Paul’s journeys, the Jerusalem Council, and the clashes in cities like Ephesus show how grace shapes a global church. • Acts’ structure and the pivot from Peter to Paul  • Antioch as a sending center shaped by prayer  •...

In this episode of the Bible Basics Podcast, host Jacqueline Adewole delves into the early chapters of the Book of Acts, exploring the challenges faced by the early church as they spread the message of Jesus amidst increasing pressure and opposition. She reflects on a conversation about the struggles of faith, emphasizing that true growth often occurs in discomfort. The discussion highlights key e...

This episode begins a three-part series on the book of Acts, the story of how the early church began. We explore how the story of Jesus continues after the Gospels, not ending with His resurrection or ascension. Learn why Acts is often called the bridge between the life of Jesus and the growth of the early church. Discover what Jesus meant when He told His followers they would be His witnesses. Wa...

We trade guilt for grace and show a simple way to build a Bible-in-a-year rhythm that fits real life. Fifteen minutes, a right-fit plan, and a friend for accountability turn a fragile intention into a steady habit rooted in purpose. • New year expectations versus real-life rhythms • Why plans fail and how to rethink success • Find a clear personal why that endures • Build a 15-minute daily framewo...

We trace John’s purpose for writing and follow the arc from signs to the cross and the empty tomb, showing how belief shifts from ideas to personal trust. Stories of Nicodemus, the healed, and Thomas show how curiosity grows into a living faith that begins now. • why John wrote his gospel and what belief means • Nicodemus and the new birth by the Spirit • seven signs pointing to Jesus’ identity an...

We explore thankfulness as a God-centered posture, not a reaction to circumstances, and share habits that help gratitude endure through changing seasons. Ola joins to reflect on faith, marriage, and three practical nuggets for practicing thanksgiving today. • faith as the anchor for gratitude • give thanks in all circumstances explained • why things and feelings cannot hold joy • simple habits to...

We explore the seven “I Am” statements in John to show how Jesus reveals his identity and meets our deepest needs with clarity, care, and power. From hunger to hope, darkness to direction, despair to resurrection, each image invites a personal response. • the divine echo of “I Am” from Exodus • bread of life and the end of restless hunger • light of the world and guidance through confusion • the g...

We walk the big picture of John’s Gospel, from the cosmic prologue to breakfast by the sea, to show how Jesus reveals God’s heart up close. Signs, I Am statements, the cross, the Spirit, and restoration form one story that invites belief and brings life. • how John differs from the Synoptics  • who wrote John and why that matters  • the prologue’s claims about the Word  • seven signs that reveal i...

We explore Luke’s Gospel as a careful, compassionate portrait of Jesus—fully God, fully human—who brings salvation “today” and welcomes outsiders to the table. From certainty and song to meals, prayer, and the Spirit’s power, we trace why Luke still speaks to weary hearts. • Luke’s purpose of clarity and certainty • Salvation as forgiveness, welcome, and healing now • The theme of “today” in Luke’...

The Gospel of Mark offers a breathless, urgent account of Jesus' life that captures his identity as the Son of God and extends his invitation to follow him today. • Mark is the shortest gospel at 16 chapters—readable in about 90 minutes • Written around 55-65 AD, likely the earliest written account of Jesus' life • Tradition says it was written by John Mark, capturing Peter's eyewit...

Matthew's Gospel serves as a bridge connecting Old Testament promises to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, deliberately placed first in the New Testament to show continuity in God's redemptive plan. • The word "gospel" means "good news" - the four gospels each present Jesus from different perspectives • Matthew, a former tax collector called by Jesus, wrote primarily...

The Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - form the foundation of Christian belief, each offering unique perspectives on Jesus Christ's life and teachings. These four complementary accounts provide a comprehensive portrait of Jesus as King, Servant, Son of Man, and Son of God. • Matthew, a former tax collector turned disciple, presents Jesus as King and connects His life to Old Testament p...

The blank page between Malachi and Matthew represents 400 years of crucial history that set the stage for Jesus' arrival in what the Bible calls "the fullness of time." Reverend Sandra Glenn explains how this period, while called the "silent years" because of no prophetic messages, was actually filled with God's behind-the-scenes work preparing the world for Christ. •...

In this tribute episode, we honor Reverend Allison Johnson, a beloved friend and supporter of the podcast who recently passed away, by resharing a powerful interview about developing consistent Bible reading habits. • Augustine said the Bible is "so shallow a baby can wade in it and so deep an elephant will drown in it" • The importance of reading Scripture for yourself rather than relyi...