Meet Me in the Word: Bible Study with Pastor Tim

Send Tim a note What do you do with fear or doubt when it comes your way? Flee? Freeze? Fight?  Finding genuine courage and security in those times can be a game-changer but where do you look for that?  While we can look inside ourselves for a little "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" courage, Psalm 11 gives us another model to respond. Support the show For a reading plan and to learn...

Send Tim a note What are some of the ways that God has met your needs?  I’ve noticed that I don’t always recognize them in the moment but they become clear after time with reflection.  We’ll get to talk about that in Joshua 5:1-12.  Even though we can go through lengthy times that feel like the wilderness, new seasons of life and goodness do come. We’ll also take time to look at what it means to t...

Send Tim a note If you’ve ever struggled with working so hard to understand a Biblical text that you forgot to let it hit your heart, you’re not alone. Paul is seriously engaging our intellect in order in today's passage, I think, to help us get over ourselves a little.  We're called to do that deeper work and yet keep our hearts open and receptive (rather than defensive or just analytic...

Send Tim a note Why is this chapter even here?  Ever feel that way?  From a spiritual growth perspective there's another question that remains.  How does this help me to follow Jesus?  This episode lays out differently than most.  Rather than me doing my best to be brilliant and/or clever, I invite you to peek inside my own process whenever I come to a passage that is kind of a data deposit l...

Send Tim a note It's so good for us to sit and listen to the Good Teacher, Jesus.  In my own quiet time, I was struck by the importance of our substance and how that leads us into our purpose.  Time with the Lord is time well spent.  Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional.  Check out the website! https://meetmeintheword.com/ Want to support this ministry b...

Send Tim a note If you’ve ever felt like God was distant… or even like He wasn’t paying attention.  If you’ve ever been frustrated that people doing shady things don’t get what they deserve... this psalm probably resonates with you.  Life doesn’t always play out in ways that we deem to be fair or equitable and yet we can still see the justice and goodness of God.  Support the show For a reading pl...

Send Tim a note Joshua and the people of Israel had really clear directions about what to do as they entered the land of Canaan.  This part of the account is striking in the way it shows the nation  actually doing what God asks of them.  This passage invites us to think about our own lives and how we listen (or don't) to God's leading.   How do we know if we're doing something that&...

Send Tim a note How much weight do you put into other people's opinion of yourself?  While this passage talks about everyone's "favorite" subject, circumcision, the centerpiece of this is all about what happens in our hearts and  who  we want to affirm and applaud us.  Warning! Today requires honesty! Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional. ...

Send Tim a note Two important moments happen in Noah's life in chapter 9.  One is absolutely comforting and beautiful, the other is one of those train-wrecks that's hard to watch.  Important question:  How do we respond when we see someone in a vulnerable (or compromising) situation? Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional.  Check out the website! http...

Send Tim a note What is it that makes you happy? A legitimate way to understand "blessed" in this passage is "happy" - to be content and to know the goodness of God. The Jesus way isn't always intuitive to us but it  is  always good and produces richness in us.  Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional.  Check out the website! https://mee...

Send Tim a note In a world where injustice seems to be the norm, can we find genuine peace that withstands all of that?  David's world was as chaotic as anyone's and yet there was still a trust that God understood all of that.  Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional.  Check out the website! https://meetmeintheword.com/ Want to support this ministry bu...

Send Tim a note One of the best things we can do when we realize that God has done something important in our lives is to mark that moment with something to help us remember it in the future. What do you keep with you, or maybe have in your home, that prompts conversation about God's goodness in your life?  The people of Israel were instructed to build a simple but powerful reminder that God...

Send Tim a note Reflection isn't a passive exercise and in this case, it's pretty intense but desperately needed. Paul's challenge to the early Jewish followers of Jesus was pointed.  While our specific struggles are different today, the message still rings true, we're called to live with integrity.  Leave the hypocritical judgment behind and move back towards Christ.  Support...

Send Tim a note Can we talk about the gift of slowing down for a moment?  I had kind of expected that today’s meditation would feel just like a continuation of last Wednesday (Genesis 7). Funny how we do that to ourselves. And then I got to slow down and sit in it and there was so much richness for me.  You're invited to do the same. May the Lord meet you in the exact way you need. Support th...

Send Tim a note I might be living a good life but is Jesus calling me to something else? Something more?  I've been thinking lately that if the accounts of Jesus are true (and I believe they are) then that changes my life. My big move?  Say yes to him. Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional.  Check out the website! https://meetmeintheword.com/ Want to supp...

Send Tim a note Sometimes the best thing we can do is let ourselves get caught up in the greatness and majesty of God. We all have things to work out and work on but He's the one that can change us through the power of His presence.  Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional.  Check out the website! https://meetmeintheword.com/ Want to support this ministry b...

Send Tim a note People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.  Have you heard that before? I think it’s true… responsible (and successful) people make plans… but how does that work in the context of faith in God? What’s the balance between personal responsibility and trusting that God will provide? Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional.  Check out the website!...

Send Tim a note Becoming aware of our own blind spots is an important part of maturing in our faith. The believers in Rome needed to do it and so do we.  It isn't enough for us to read or know, we are called to actually respond to what God reveals in us. Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional.  Check out the website! https://meetmeintheword.com/ Want to su...

Send Tim a note Are we willing to say yes to God’s plan even if it’s uncomfortable and longer than we thought? We usually don’t know the length of a particular season in life, or the challenges it will bring, or what it will ultimately produce in and around us.  We may imagine we have a clue but it’s typically short-sighted on our part.  So... will we receive what God has for us? Support the show...

Send Tim a note Have you ever had that experience when you make a conscious choice to follow God’s leading and then when you did that thing, life got rough?  I think that's a very common human experience.  In fact, Jesus went through some very intense adversity and testing right after he was baptized.  We don't need to be afraid of the wilderness experience.  Keep going with Jesus... it&...

Send Tim a note Life is rarely easy for us and sometimes we have people that seem to be directly opposing us.  How do we respond to that?  Are we just supposed to be nice?  Jesus commands us to love our neighbors AND our enemies and yet, we don't need to stand in the way of true justice. Also - I get to use a $14 dollar word in this one! Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more a...

Send Tim a note [The Real Episode for Friday!].  :) Support the show For a reading plan and to learn more about this devotional.  Check out the website! https://meetmeintheword.com/ Want to support this ministry but don't want to do the monthly subscription?  Click the link below. https://buymeacoffee.com/timothysamuel

Send Tim a note Food for thought... what we believe matters.  There's really no getting around that part but there is so much more to living a life of faith. The condition of our hearts matters too - If we believe in Jesus but don’t follow him, don’t mimic Him, we find ourselves missing it in a huge way.  Are we willing to surrender our attitudes and actions to God? Support the show For a rea...

Send Tim a note Are you willing to trust God about things you don’t understand?  Not every part of life and faith makes perfect sense to us. I believe that's part of what it means to exercise our faith and live differently than we would otherwise. The world had totally lost its mind and Noah was asked to do things that I'm sure didn't make sense to him. Support the show For a readin...

Send Tim a note What are the solid, measurable steps you’ve taken in your walk with Jesus? Much of spiritual growth is all about character, which is harder to measure concretely and yet, we don’t grow in Jesus by accident. This is one of those short stories with big impact!  The joy and challenge of our faith is to model our lives after Christ. Sometimes it's as simple as doing what He did. S...