Live the Bible with Wayne Stiles

Last year, 106 countries downloaded 142,000 podcasts from Live the Bible . The Word of God is powerful!  This week we're looking at #4 in the top 5 countdown from 2023, and it's no surprise that this episode on facing your fears ranked so high. After all, the most common command in the Bible is.. . drum roll... "Fear not." Easy to say, right? But tough work to do. Truthfully, s...

It's been a great year for hearing God's Word. In fact, the Live the Bible podcast ranked in the top 5% of more than 100,000 podcasts in 106 countries. Amazing! We're starting 2024 by highlighting the top 5 podcasts of 2023. This episode of Live the Bible ranked #5 and teaches us how to respond to the overwhelming favor God has lavished on us. We learn from the book of Leviticus how...

What’s your motive? That simple question can help reboot your mind each day. Here’s why. In this episode of Live the Bible , we listen to Jesus' words in Mark 9 as He challenges us to preview our actions through the filter of our motives. This one question—more than any—can help reframe our thinking and set us on a path of success each morning. Support the show

We sing the same carols over and over. We hear the same Christmas story again and again. Our "Ho, ho, ho," becomes, "Ho hum"—if we're not careful. Christmas can become sort of boring. In this special episode of Live the Bible , we're taking a look at Christmas from the apostle Paul's perspective in the book of Philippians. Repeated exposure to truth is one of the...

Have you seen the carrot and stick method? It’s how you get a mule to keep moving by dangling a carrot two inches from his nose. Always moving, but never getting the carrot. Sounds like us sometimes, doesn’t it? In this week's episode of Live the Bible , we look at Mark 8–9 where Jesus helps His disciples make sense of what they’re chasing by giving them a literal mountaintop experience of ho...

There is always a next step in your relationship with Jesus Christ. But how do you know what step to take? Thankfully, Jesus tells us. In this episode of Live the Bible , Jesus reveals that no matter how well we know Him, He still has much to teach us about Himself—including how He wants us to grow.  Episode Scripture: Mark 8:1-33 Support the show

Why do you do what you do? Our motives are the fuel in our tanks. That’s why, when some in Jesus’ day did things with bad motives, He warned them of the dangers of hypocrisy. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’ll look at two questions in Mark 7 that can help us avoid the dangers of hypocrisy in our personal lives— and help us have motives that honor God. Support the show

Your Christian life isn’t hard. It’s impossible. So impossible, in fact, you cannot do it on your own. But that’s okay. In this episode of Live the Bible , Jesus gave His disciples some impossible commands in Mark 7, and then He taught them how to do them with His help. One of the miracles Jesus performs is the ONLY miracle included in all four gospels, except for the resurrection. Its application...

God’s grace makes it safe to see ourselves as we really are.  That's because we know that regardless of what we see, God will never reject us. That kind of security allows us to listen to God. To truly hear Him...  In this episode of Live the Bible , we look at Mark 6 and several conversations Jesus has in Galilee. We'll discover how to hear from God, which depends most on how we choose...

If you ever wonder why God seems to work in everyone else's life (except yours), the Bible has good news.  Here's the truth: Jesus hasn’t forgotten you. How do we know? This episode of Live the Bible introduces us to three people in Mark 5 who interacted with Jesus, and one of them will speak directly to whatever you’re struggling with today.  Support the show

I don’t know much about your life. But then again, I do. You and I both struggle to trust God for something that feels urgent. And often, we find ourselves feeling swamped. Stuck in a raging storm. In this episode of Live the Bible , we'll look at Mark 4:35-41 where Jesus shows us what to do in the storm of trust— how to find a calm we never knew existed. Support the show

Let’s be honest.  Sometimes it seems like the wheels are coming off—both in the world and in our lives. What is God thinking? In this episode of Live the Bible , we'll look at Mark 4:21–34, where Jesus tells us what God is doing when nothing is happening. (Frankly, it’s great to know when God plants potatoes, potatoes will grow. I explain that more in the podcast.)  God’s plan hasn’t skipped...

With God, your life can make an amazing difference. That’s right, YOUR life . In this episode of Live the Bible , we'll look at the book of Mark where Jesus shows us that no matter where you are or what you've done, you can always come to God and start fresh—and bear fruit for Him.  Support the show

Sometimes those closest to us don’t understand us. Or worse, they don’t accept us at all. In this episode of Live the Bible , Jesus models what to do when we’re misunderstood—and even rejected—by the very people we had hoped would accept us.  Christ’s gracious way of responding with truth shows us how God would have us respond, as well as redirects our hopes to a place that ultimately never fails...

Ever wonder why God isn’t working in your life as He is in other lives? It’s a common question, but the reality may be far more different than you realize. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re going to be talking about how God uses whom He chooses. Without exception. In fact, God using you has less to do with your giftedness than it does with your willingness.  Support the show

Funny how our expectations are seldom met. Actually, it isn't funny. It can be terribly confusing and discouraging. In this episode of Live the Bible , Jesus helps us understand what to do when you come to a place when life (or even God) has let you down. When that has happened, one of two things is happening. And the solution? It's good news.  Support the show

Have you ever been around bad company? I don’t mean house guests. I’m referring to those people we choose to hang around—and more importantly why we hang around them. Jesus surprised many in His day by spending time with “bad company.” But His reasons were stellar. In this episode of Live the Bible , we see how Christ’s example gives us the freedom to engage others. Support the show

I received an odd prescription from the pharmacy.  It was funny, in fact. (I share the story in the opening minutes of this week’s podcast.) Truth be told, God gives what seem like odd prescriptions sometimes when His words make no sense in the real world. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’ll discover what happened when Jesus did that one day, and the essential lesson it teaches us about our...

Who’s on first? The question may make us think of a classic comedy routine. But the question goes deeper when we consider the most important priorities we can chase in life. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re going to look at “How to Keep First Things First,” and we have Jesus as our model. His example in Mark chapter 1 gives us at least two practical principles for how to choose among the...

Whether you’re dealing with personal discouragement, needing relief from guilt, or looking for encouragement and hope for eternity, you’ll hear words to help you truly live the Bible. This episode introduces us to Jesus’ ministry in the gospel of Mark and Christ's wonderful example for us how to live the life God has for us. If you’ve ever felt like God’s plan for you has gone off-course, or...

When your life has question marks, God's Word has answers. In this special episode of Live the Bible , we continue a special Q&A session on various topics. These questions range from the afterlife to God's promises and how to discover the truth in the pages of Scripture—and much more. I know you’ll find both the questions and the biblical answers compelling and practical—and encourag...

Good questions need biblical answers. Learning about the Bible is great, but there's something about having your specific questions answered that's even better. It allows you to develop a deeper understanding of a topic that may have been confusing. In this special Q&A episode of Live the Bible , I'm discussing some questions about topics like election and discouragement and mor...

The Lord’s Supper isn’t fast food. And yet, how often we hurriedly tag it to the end of the worship service without really understanding what Communion means. The Lord means for this ordinance to be a very significant experience for you personally. We'll discover how in today’s episode of Live the Bible . Support the show

Your baptism was more than a momentary splash. In fact, the ripple effects are still impacting your life today. In this episode of Live the Bible , we're taking a deep dive, as it were, into the ordinance of baptism. Now, before you jump out of the pool and dry off, I know baptism seems like a yawner of a topic—but you’ll be surprised at how relevant it is for your life right now. Support the...

Is Jesus really the only way to heaven? Imagine asking that question on the evening news! Although everyone has an opinion, it's God's answer that matters. In fact, the Bible has a question that is far more basic—and it’s the better place to begin. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’ll answer these important questions and why the answer is really good news. Support the show