Live the Bible with Wayne Stiles

"Judge not, that ye not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). That might be the most popular verse in the Bible—and it’s definitely the topic of our 4th-most-popular episode of Live the Bible !  Everybody knows these words from Jesus, and a lot of us like to quote them. But what does that verse really mean?  Jesus gives us the answer and how we can apply it immediately. Support the show

What fear are you carrying with you today? Maybe it’s fear of the unknown or the future, fear about your health or finances or country. Whatever it is, God offers help to face it head on. In our 5th-most-popular episode of Live the Bible , we’re turning to 2 Chronicles for help overcoming our greatest fears. God’s Word is better than all the world’s self-help books combined! Support the show

Who—or what—is your idol? We’re counting down our Top Ten episodes of Live the Bible , and #6 on our list takes us to 1 Thessalonians to address a topic you may never have taken personally: Idolatry. Who struggles idolatry today?   Well—I do. We all do.  It’s a serious problem we don’t even realize we have. But the good news is God’s Word has the fix, and the fix works! Support the show

Think of the turning points in your life. Some are obvious—weddings, children, new jobs. Others are subtle—small decisions, quick conversations, chance encounters. We might chalk these moments up to coincidence, but Scripture shows us otherwise. In our 7th-most-popular episode of Live the Bible , we’re turning to the book of Ruth to glean the assuring truth about how our God guides our lives. Supp...

What’s the hardest part of a marathon? You may be surprised.  The beginning, when your adrenaline’s pumping and the crowd’s cheering, is easy. And the sight of the finish line gives you another boost at the end. But the middle’s hard—REALLY hard. (Ask me how I know.)  The same is true in our Christian lives. In our 8th-most-popular episode of Live the Bible , we’re looking to 1 Thessalonians for t...

The Judgment Seat of Christ. Can you think of a bigger sounding test? Me neither! But take a deep breath. First and Second Corinthians assure us this day will be a wonderful day for all believers in Christ. In our 9th-most-popular episode of Live the Bible , we’ll find out exactly what that means—and how we can be ready to stand before Jesus. Relax—it’s good news.  Support the show

What do you do when God doesn’t meet your expectations? In this episode of Live the Bible , we’ll turn to the book of Mark to answer that tough question. We all have an idea about what life will be like when we say yes to following Jesus. The first disciples certainly had their expectations too! And Jesus disappointed them. But why does God let us experience the hurt, disappointment, and anger of...

Who could be a better life coach than Jesus? We see in our Lord not only the type of person we want to be—but we see the path toward that goal. Jesus is the perfect example of intentional growth and balance in all areas of life.  In this episode of Live the   Bible , we’re turning to one verse in Luke 2 to see how He grew spiritually and socially—and how we can do the same. Support the show

What do you want out of life? We don’t simply drift into the lives we want; we have to steer ourselves there. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re opening God’s Word to the book of Luke to find the best model for growth: (big surprise, it’s) Jesus! Following His example in four key areas is the key to steering toward the life we want. Support the show

Let’s be honest. We all deal with doubt on some level. Feelings and circumstances tempt doubt to creep in on even the most seasoned Christians—even doubt about the basics of our faith. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re turning to Matthew 11 to find out how we can deal with our doubts—and become stronger because of them. Doubt can turn into a benefit if we let it. Support the show

Do you ever feel like God is kicking you when you’re down? Whatever our situation is, we want Him to intervene. It would be SO easy for Him to step in and change what we can’t—and yet, He doesn’t. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re turning to the book of John where two people pled with Jesus to come and heal their brother—but Jesus showed up too late.  What happened next in their story reve...

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood . . .” Does that take you back to sophomore English class? It does me too, but it also makes me think of another bit of poetry that presents two roads to the reader—and a choice that makes all the difference. Our choice.  I’m talking about Psalm 1—and in this episode of Live the Bible , we’re turning there for some clear direction on how to walk the road that l...

Kick off your shoes, find a comfy spot, and grab a blanket. It’s story time! Don’t worry. This is still Live the Bible , and our story for this episode is not only biblical—it’s ALL Bible! It’s God’s story of the world, as told in His Word from Genesis all the way to Revelation. You’ve never heard it told quite this way—and you won’t want to miss it. Support the show

When’s the last time you received a gift that you didn’t open? Probably never! We can’t wait to unwrap gifts that our loved ones have picked out just for us. But often, that’s exactly what we do with one of God’s greatest gifts. It’s a gift George Bailey received in It’s a Wonderful Life —and one Ruth and Naomi received in real life—in the Bible. In today’s episode of Live the Bible , we’re turnin...

Think of the surprising turning points in your life. I’m talking about those random conversations, chance encounters, and off-the-cuff decisions that seemed insignificant but ended up changing the course of your life. We might chalk these moments up to coincidence, but Scripture shows us otherwise. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re turning to the book of Ruth to glean the truth about how G...

Sometimes it feels like God isn’t doing anything in your life—or worse, like He’s forgotten you. If life has ever crumbled around you, in spite of how hard you prayed, you know the feeling I’m talking about. God is the One we’re supposed to turn to with our disappointments. But where do you turn when God is the One who has disappointed you? In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re turning to the...

What book of the Bible most intimidates you? For a long time, my answer was Revelation. But when I finally studied Revelation the way you’re supposed to study any book of the Bible—interpreting Scripture with Scripture—it quickly became one of my favorites! Revelation not only reveals what wonderful things lie ahead for those who believe in Christ, it also calls us to action here and now in a prac...

You’re a contender. Or at least Scripture says you should be. And so should I. Jude starts his letter of the New Testament urging us to “contend earnestly” for the faith. Why? Because our walks with God are worth fighting for. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re digging into Jude’s letter to find out two key steps we can apply today. Support the show

Who in your life has set a bad example? Perhaps you had a parent who disciplined out of anger. Or a pastor who wielded his Bible like a club. Or a boss who abused his or her power. It’s easy to dismiss such lousy leadership as incompetency. But Scripture says we can learn a lot from a bad example! In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re turning to the book of 3 John to find out what those lesson...

Ever wonder what heaven will be like? This episode of Live the Bible will tell us. Movies, best-selling books, and paintings have too often (mis)shaped our ideas of heaven. But God’s Word, in the book of Revelation, tells us the facts about what’s waiting for us when we die. The truth about the hereafter holds the hope we need for here and now. Support the show

We’re all familiar with the Christmas story—Jesus comes to earth as a baby, born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem. But that was the first coming of Christ. His SECOND Coming is still future—and when the world meets Jesus again, it will be nothing like the first time! In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re flipping between the Old Testament and the book of Revelation for the future event’s incredi...

Will the world really end? Yes! We don’t know when it will happen, but Scripture tells us how . The end is coming—and God is setting the stage for it right now. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re turning to the books of Matthew and Revelation to learn what the end-times look like. Listen to the podcast now to find out how to prepare. Support the show

What God says will happen always does.  From crystal balls to horoscopes and board games, people have spent a fortune on trying to foretell the future. Yet, all methods fail, except one—and it’s completely free: biblical prophecy. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re looking in the books of John, 1 Thessalonians, and 1 Corinthians for the next big event on God’s prophetic calendar. It could h...

We’ve all heard the Beatles croon, “All you need is love.” And that sounds good to most of us. But—what is love? And what does it mean to love your neighbor? There’s where the disagreements begin! In this episode of Live the Bible , we’ll examine the seldom-seen book of 2 John, where God tells us exactly what love is—and why it must be joined with truth. Love and truth. The combination can change...

There’s something inside us that hungers for resolution. We crave songs with the perfect last note and movies with the right ending. We need loose ends tied and conflicts resolved. And yet, we live in a world that’s unresolved. In this episode of Live the Bible , we’re looking to the book of 1 John for how to deal with that tension. It’s a simple—but powerful—solution that will bring lasting peace...