Stories of a Faithful God: Deep Dive Bible Stories

Jesus confronts the difference between looking righteous and actually living with a transformed heart. In this episode, the sermon on the mount begins with a radical picture of kingdom life—one where humility, mercy, purity, peacemaking, and even persecution become signs of blessing. This teaching flips the world’s values upside down. The people Jesus calls “blessed” are not the ones who look stro...

Jesus’ arrival changes everything: it exposes the time we’re living in, calls for repentance, and reveals the true King who brings both salvation and judgment. In this episode, the message of repentance and the kingdom of heaven runs all the way from John the Baptist to Jesus in the wilderness and into the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. We also see why understanding the time matters so much....

Hope can seem like a fragile thing - very precious but easily broken. When the faithful God gives hope, though, it never disappoints. As Matthew opens his historical account of Jesus' life. he shows how, time and time again, God's promises in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the arrival of Jesus Christ. Join Dave as he explores Matthew 1-2, and discover the true hope that can never be destroyed....

Do ever feel like sin can not be overcome? As we read the beginning of Genesis, it can certainly feel like that. Even Noah and his family, the fresh hope of the world after the flood, can't escape its clutches. Things come to a head in the establishment of a great city in opposition to God - Babel. God makes a promise, however, that changes the course of world history. It ultimately leads to salva...

How serious is sin? To many people, the idea of sin and its consequences are laughable. To God, though, they are deadly serious. As the early world became more and more evil, God was grieved that he had made humans. He would not wait any longer to bring justice on the people who'd turned against their creator. And yet how will he display his love of salvation at the same time, and what will that u...

Independence is usually seen as a good thing, but what happens when we try to be independent of the God who gave us life? In this episode focusing on Genesis 3-5, we consider how the world moved from a perfect creation to a place of pain and suffering, and the astounding hope God offers despite our rejection of him. Find out more about Dave and the show at faithfulgod.net . Show your thanks and su...

Do you want to know who you are, why you're valuable, and what your purpose is? Those questions can only be understood be understanding the God who made humans in his image. In this episode, Dave explores the wonderful account of God creating the world in Genesis 1 and 2, and the specific dignity and role he gives to humanity. Explore how these events are a shadow pointing us to an even more wonde...

How do we understand the first few chapters of Genesis? What are the principles we should use to listen carefully to a part of the Bible that many Christians disagree on? Is the Bible really giving a starkly different account of the beginning of the world to the one generally accepted by Western culture? In this episode, Dave asks these questions and more in preparation for the upcoming series on...

Do you ever find yourself forgetting God when you're angry, or tired or content? We are often quick to forget what is not right in front of our eyes. In this episode, the Israelites see the power and majesty of their God at Mt Sinai, but are still so quick to forget him. They have a great mediator to help them in Moses, but ultimately they need a better mediator. Amazingly, we discover that Christ...

How do you respond when things seem desperate? In this episode, we return to the book of Exodus to follow the Israelites after their escape from Exodus. You would think that, with everything they have seen from God, trusting him would be easy. When things get tough, though, there is a lot more fear than faith. It seems that, despite everything, they still do not really know their God. God has not...

Andy Martin and Priscilla Colgan invite listeners to consider supporting Dave's podcasting ministry, which focuses on sharing stories of a faithful God, especially for children. They emphasize the unique and beneficial nature of Dave's podcasts, which not only delve into scripture but also present it in an engaging and relatable manner. Both Andy and Priscilla reflect on their personal experiences...

Dave Whittingham dives into the complexities of justice and leadership in today's exploration of 1 Samuel. He highlights the Israelites' longing for a king who embodies both wisdom and strength, ultimately leading to their choice of Saul—a decision that proves fraught with consequences. As the narrative unfolds, Dave illustrates how Saul's failure to heed God's commands leads to his rejection as k...

In this bonus episode, we meet Kate Morris - Kate is a writer, speaker, and educator who supports families with neurodivergent children. She has served in children’s ministry as a cross-cultural worker in France, and now lives in Sydney with her husband and three children, including two who are neurodivergent. Kate combines her background in education and biblical studies with further study in neu...

What do you hope for? That’s the big question we’re diving into today! In this episode, we chat about the nature of hope—how it can lift us up or leave us feeling pretty dashed when things don’t go as planned. We explore the Israelites' hope in King Saul and how that hope quickly crumbles under pressure, revealing that sometimes our expectations can lead us astray. But don’t worry, it’s not all do...

What do you want from a leader? For Israel, they wanted to move towards having a human king, just like the nations around them. By making that request, they were rejecting their one true king, the Lord God. God could just abandon them, but instead, he shows his love yet again by establishing a kingship that will leads to both their salvation and the salvation of the world. Join Dave as he explores...

Do you ever try to manipulate God? He holds the greatest power in the universe, and we often want it used for our own plans. In today's story, we explore how the Israelites try to weaponise the power of God by taking the ark with them into battle. They are going to learn, though, that God is not a tool to be wielded whenever they want, but the king of the universe. Only through true worship can th...

Have you ever been disappointed by unmet expectations? Have you ever felt like God has let you down? In this episode, we explore how God so often does what is not expected. This isn't bad, though, as what he does is so much better than what people expect of him. The episode is the start of a new series in 1 Samuel. We see how God brings hope and joy out of one woman's suffering. The hope and joy i...

We all face the profound experience of grief and death. It robs us of relationships, hopes and dreams. We share this experience no matter where or when we live. After Jesus' death, all the hopes of those who trusted him were shattered. The thought of him, coming back to life was unbelievable. Though what they saw and heard, though, their skepticism was overcome. The episode delves into the profoun...

Uncertainty. Fear. Lack of control. These are things almost everyone feels on the first Good Friday. Remarkably, the only one who appears calm and in control is the man who is about to be crucified. Jesus is abandoned, denied, unjustly accused and executed, and yet he endures it all because of his unshakeable faithful love. Join Dave as he explores John 18-19 and the astounding events of the first...

If you follow Jesus there will be trouble you have to face because of it. In Jesus' final words to his disciples he prepares them and us for those troubles. He shows how we will have great joy and be secure if we remain in him. He will not leave us alone, but will give us everything we need to stand firm because he has overcome the world. Join Dave as he explores these encouraging words from Jesus...

How do you live as a follower of Jesus if Jesus isn't here? On the night before Jesus died, he sat down with his disciples to prepare them for that moment. They were scared, confused and frustrated, but Jesus knew what he was doing. The words he spoke on that night not only shaped their lives, but the lives of all who have followed Jesus since. Join Dave as he explores these profound words in John...

The central moment in all of history has arrived. Even as he is hailed as king, Jesus prepares for death. How people respond to Jesus is a matter of life or death. Jesus understands the time he's in, but will everyone else. Join Dave as he explores John chapter 12 and discover the urgency of the moment we live in. . Find out more about Dave and the show at faithfulgod.net . Show your thanks and su...

In this episode, Dave explores the transformative journey of Naomi in the Book of Ruth. From feelings of hopelessness and despair, Naomi experiences a rekindling of hope and blessings through her daughter-in-law Ruth and the noble Boaz. Discover how God's faithful plan brings light into their lives, culminating in the birth of Obed, the grandfather of King David, and ultimately pointing to the gre...

Naomi believes that God has forsaken her. She returns to her home town and asks her friends to call her "Bitter". She doesn't realise, though, that God has already started to faithfully provide for her in remarkable ways. Join Dave as he explores Ruth 1-2 and discover how, even when everything seems darkest, God has not stopped being faithful. . Find out more about Dave and the show at faithfulgod...

Jesus is different to every other king and ruler. His arrival came amidst a background of lots of promises about what sort of king he would be. In this episode, Dave looks at three of those promises that came in the time of three different kings in the Old Testament. He explores how Christ's kingship is so much better than anything else in the world. . Find out more about Dave and the show at fait...