Guide Through the Bible

How do we respond when God says "no" to our prayers? We're joined by Trulan Martin one final time as we close out Part 2 of our Acts series. Trulan unpacks the historical background of Acts 12, studying who Herod was and how his rule threatened the early church. We look at James' execution, Peter's miraculous escape from prison, and the believers' startled response when t...

In this episode, host Anthony High welcomes Bible teacher Trulan Martin to share his findings on Acts 10–11. The focus returns to Peter, who has several experiences that guide him to understand that the Gospel is for the Gentiles as well as the Jews. The Jews had many strict laws regarding cleanliness that created a clear divide between themselves and the Gentiles, but God was about to break down...

As we continue our study in Acts, a new influential figure emerges: Saul, later known as Paul. In this episode, Trulan Martin and host Anthony walk us through the remarkable event of Saul's conversion. Once a persecutor of the church, Saul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. He went from hunting down Followers of the Way to becoming a pivotal voice in proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God...

How does the Gospel break down walls? Joined by guest Trulan Martin, we begin Part 2 of Acts, looking at Acts 8. We see how the persecution led by Saul scattered the early church and propelled the gospel beyond Jerusalem. They follow Philip the evangelist as he preaches the Gospel in Samaria and to an Ethiopian official. Along the way, we dig into the history of the Samaritans, examine the strange...

Why was Stephen rejected and stoned? In this episode, Anthony High steps into the role of Bible teacher, switching seats with Arlin, who hosts the conversation. They examine Acts 7, which shows the life of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He was rejected for boldly proclaiming the truth before the Sanhedrin. In his speech, Stephen confronts the sins of the culture and exposes patterns of rebel...

Where does your true loyalty lie? In this episode, Tony High and guest teacher Jeremy Sensenig step into the tension and “messiness” of Acts 5–6. They explore a challenging truth: our primary loyalty shapes our integrity—and that loyalty is ultimately driven by our deepest fear. From the sobering account of Ananias and Sapphira to the apostles’ bold stand before the council, this conversation wres...

The Church is unstoppable when empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our guest teacher, Serge Penner, along with host Anthony, studies Acts 3–4 and examines how the Holy Spirit’s power radiates through the early Church. In these chapters, we see God’s Spirit shape a community that learns to expect—to see God at work, to speak about Jesus and His Kingdom, and to show up together in faithful, public witness...

One of the most profound moments in history is Pentecost: when God poured out His Spirit onto his people. In this episode, Arlin, our guest Bible teacher, joins host Anthony to explore Acts 2, where this amazing event occurred. They unpack the significance of the Holy Spirit's coming at the Feast of Pentecost, the signs that accompanied His arrival, and how our lives are changed by His presenc...

The Book of Acts begins with Jesus’ final moments on earth. In this episode, Arlin and Anthony explore Acts 1, where Jesus does two key things before His ascension—He gives convincing proofs of His resurrection and teaches about the kingdom of God. He also gives His followers three important promises: the coming of the Holy Spirit, the power they will receive to be His witnesses, and His return at...

Acts is usually called the Acts of the Apostles, but it could be called the Acts of Jesus. In this episode, Arlin joins our podcast host, Anthony, to introduce this exciting new series and outline what we will be learning together on the podcast. In Acts, we see the continuation of Jesus' work through the church that turns the world upside down. Arlin outlines the major themes we will focus on...

Do you need to see to believe? In this final episode studying Mark 10, Anthony and J. Mark reflect on the healing of Blind Bartimaeus. Though a blind beggar, Bartimaeus recognized Jesus as the Messiah when many around him did not. His persistent faith led to his healing—his sight restored through the compassion of Christ. Join us as we explore this passage and discover the depth of Jesus’ aboundin...

What is the path to greatness according to Jesus? On today’s episode, J. Mark and Anthony walk through Mark 10:32-45, where Jesus predicts his death for the 3rd time and redefines what true greatness looks like in the Kingdom of God. They outline three steps that help us to be great in the Kingdom of God—ascending into suffering, correcting our misunderstandings about greatness and suffering, and...

How does a person obtain eternal life? In this episode, J. Mark and Tony examine Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31. This man brought up the universal question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” In this discussion, we highlight the insufficient righteousness of humans, and the danger of relying on wealth or good works to enter God’s kingdom. Explore this passage wi...

In this week’s episode, J. Mark and Tony explore Jesus’ countercultural view of children. In Mark 10:13–16, Jesus tells His disciples to “let the children come,” a radical statement in a culture where rabbis often overlooked children. Through this act, Jesus shows the value He places on them. He also teaches that entering the kingdom of God requires childlike faith. This episode highlights three e...

Divorce is a common end to many marriages today. What is Jesus’ response to the issue of divorce? In today’s episode, Anthony, our host, and J. Mark, our Bible teacher, tackle this controversial and difficult discussion as they study Mark 10:1-12. The Pharisees are testing Jesus on the subject of divorce, and they confront him with the question, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus...

What is essential in Jesus’ Kingdom? On this episode, Anthony is joined by our Bible teacher, J. Mark, to explore Mark 9:30-50, where Jesus shows what is valued in his kingdom. Between His predictions of the cross, Jesus withdraws to teach his disciples privately, showing the importance of anonymity. He corrects their pride by demonstrating humility and expands their vision of the kingdom of God t...

In this episode, our Bible teachers discuss the four kinds of faith revealed in Mark 9:14–29. This section of Scripture guides believers in understanding and strengthening their faith by showing examples of different kinds of faith coupled with the power of God. Jesus invites us to place our faith in Him, but sometimes our faith is weak. The father of the demon-possessed boy in Mark 9:24 pleads, “...

What is the meaning of the transfiguration? In this episode, we explore Mark 9:1-13 and examine the disciples' experience on the mount with Jesus. Jesus was transformed—his clothes became radiant, and he broke through the limitations of his humanity, revealing the Glory of Christ. This moment confirms Jesus’ identity as the Son of God—a reality that demands our reverence and obedience. In this pas...

Do you have spiritual blindness? As we examine Mark 8 in this episode, we encounter different levels of spiritual blindness—the willful blindness of the Pharisees and the partial blindness of the disciples. Jesus illustrates this blindness in his unique way of healing a blind man. He then reveals that true sight comes not through seeking glory, but through understanding his path to the cross. In t...

In this episode exploring Mark 7:31–37, we see how Jesus truly “does all things well.” In Gentile territory, Jesus encounters a deaf man with a speech impediment and responds to the faith of his friends. Jesus takes the man aside and heals him in a personal and incarnational way. He shows respect for his dignity rather than seeking public attention or glory. Through this story, we gain a deeper un...

In this week’s study of Mark 7:14–30, Jesus teaches that true defilement doesn’t come from what’s outside of us, but from what’s within. At the end of the chapter, a Canaanite mother’s faith illustrates this truth, showing that it’s not outward rituals that make us clean, but a humble, persistent faith that seeks God’s mercy. A woman the Pharisees would have called “unclean” displays a heart purer...

Traditions are a part of every culture, but they can be misused. In this episode, we dive back into our series on Mark and examine Mark 7:1-13. We see the Pharisees condemning Jesus for not following tradition. Jesus responds to them in a way that can guide us in how we should hold tradition. While traditions are essential for cultural continuity and often arise from sincere efforts to please God,...

In this final episode in the Book of Jonah, we explore how this book points to our own hearts. At the end of the book, God challenges Jonah’s perspective, reminding him that His concern extends beyond a single plant to an entire city of people who don’t know their right from their left and even to the animals. We don’t know how Jonah responded, but we do know that God’s heart remains full of compa...

In this week’s episode, we encounter a fuming, furious prophet and a forbearing, forgiving God. In Jonah 4:2, Jonah accuses God of being gracious, merciful, and loving. As we continue through the rest of Jonah 4, we see God demonstrate exactly those qualities. Jonah is angered that God would show mercy to the Ninevites, people who had committed great evil, yet he fails to recognize that he himself...

In Jonah 3:1-10, we see Jonah finally obey God and deliver His message to the people of Nineveh. The Ninevites respond to his message with actions that show genuine repentance. In this episode, we explore how their response gives us a powerful example of how we should approach God. They believed, humbled themselves, cried out to Him, and turned from their evil ways. God responded to their true rep...