The Bible For Busy People

Do you know what this Sunday is? A week away from Easter means it's Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is where we remember the day Jesus entered Jerusalem humbly on a donkey, and celebrated as King. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/42bi0MR  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com  We would love to he...

Honestly, I almost passed on this story, because it's hard.  From going through a more legalistic view of God to embracing grace, it's hard for me to process God's Old Testament style discipline. It's hard to reconcile that to who I've come to know God as being. However, God is the same. God feels like we feel. God felt impatient and frustrated. God has boundaries. God is holy and righteous. And G...

Raise your hand if you're a perfectionist! How about when it comes to your faith? I was the perfect storm - perfectionist, people pleaser, and in a close-knit community where doing the right thing was highly praised. To me it led me to believe that God was the same way - He approved and applauded when I was perfect, and not responding so well when I messed up. The verse today shifted my perspectiv...

Ever have a "mic drop" moment where someone just said something absolutely astounding, that leaves no room for further questions or interpretation? Jesus had a total mic drop moment like that, even though he was centuries away from a microphone, in Luke chapter 4... Let's dig into this. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Ycx4Zr  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the W...

As we approach Easter, I'm thinking about all the ways Jesus came to fulfill prophecies made hundreds of years before He arrived. This episode is about knowing that we can trust that God keeps promises,  we can be confident in the Word of God, and that our Creator does things in unusual ways that point to divine power and glory as shown to us throughout His Word. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3EaK4Ig...

We're exploring the concept of "cringe" today, as it relates to a story in John where Jesus confronts the Pharisees with a woman caught in adultery. It showcases Jesus' wisdom and compassion as He challenges those without sin to cast the first stone. This weekend, think about the plot twists in your life - the unexpected grace, the miracles, the rescue... God works in unexpected ways. Show Notes:...

This week we've been talking about Bible stories with pretty dramatic plot twists. Today, we're visiting a wedding that was particularly memorable, and not just because it was a week long celebration... This was a wedding where Jesus turned water into wine. Have you heard this story? Let's get started and dig into the details.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3DStZqA  ---------------- We’d love to enco...

We're talking about patience today, and how God can use others to communicate wtih us. We'll be camping out in Numbers 22, where Balaam, a prophet for hire, is asked by King Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites. This story highlights themes of obedience, divine will, and the consequences of pushing against God's guidance. Buckle up! Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3FDtqBz  ---------------- We’d love t...

Have you ever played would you rather? We played the other night, and my middle child got this question: Would you rather...walk on hot coals or walk on a bed of nails? Ouch. Neither. How about walking into fire? We're spending time in Daniel today! Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4l70y56  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The...

This week we're diving into stories in the Bible with unexpected plot twists, and the complexities of God's commands and the moral dilemmas they sometimes present.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4j2YQ2I  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com  We would love to hear from you! E-mail us at...

One of my dad's biggest frustrations growing up was that we would constantly leave the lights on when we left the house. He'd say the classic line, "What do you think, I work for the electric company?" And yes, friend, he actually did at that point. You can probably feel my teenage eye roll even from here. Luckily our Heavenly Father is okay with us keeping the lights on! Show Notes: https://bit.l...

Are you more of a sweet or salty snack kind of person? I usually lean more toward salty. You already know I'm a fan of sour cream and onion Pringles, and can't really do sweets anymore. Today we're adding to our Beatitudes series with a bit more from the Sermon on the Mount. Here's a hint: Matthew 5:13 - "“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty...

We've been through nearly all of the Beatitudes, which are statements of Jesus that are blessings for certain characteristics God develops in our hearts. But today's is a little different as it's about being persecuted. Let's spend time in Matthew 5:10-12 to dig into this deeper. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4iYIuYM  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Fi...

I was once obsessed with the 1970s, embracing the music, fashion, and culture. I wore tie-dye, decorated my notebooks with peace-themed stickers, and even had a 70s-themed birthday party. My ideal of peace was shaped by a nostalgic view of that decade, influenced by messages like "give peace a chance." Today, we're studying what God thinks of peace and being Peacemakers.  Show Notes: https://bit.l...

Today's episode is for the person who has always felt the need to do the right thing and look good doing it. We all wear masks. Growing up and going to church, my mask was to do the right thing, and be praised for it. For example, having the right answers and the right questions, volunteering, saying yes, telling on everyone else... At the forefront of my mind was proving I was a good kid and bein...

The beatitudes are ways that God allows us to see the truth of our spiritual state before Him. Today we're focusing on being merciful. When did you experience unexpected mercy or grace? Deciding to be merciful is not really about us - It's about knowing you've received mercy, and being generous with it the way it was given generously to you. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/41VTznO  ---------------- We’...

What do you reach for when you're hungry? How about when spiritually hungry? It's important to seek deeper, fulfilling spiritual nourishment by staying in the Word. Build that as a daily habit and it will fuel you and keep you spiritually strong. Let's dig in! Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4ij7eem  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past epis...

If Jesus is gentle and humble (meek) - does that mean He's any less powerful?  The Greek word for meek is "praus," meaning gentle, quiet, or humble. This concept is strength under control. True power in God's kingdom is not about being loud or domineering but about serving others and embodying humility. Reflect on how you can demonstrate strength under control in your daily life. Show Notes: https...

Friend, it's okay to be a crier. The beatitude we're focusing on today is mourning and the "gift of tears." I'm learning that it really is a blessing to be able to let the tears go and to be able to find healing. Mourning is a divine gift, a way to express our pain, lament, and to trust in God's promise of comfort and goodness. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43E1XcT  ---------------- We’d love to enco...

We're beginning a new series on the Beatitudes! The Beatitudes are a series of statements made by Jesus at the start of the Sermon on the Mount. We'll explore these teachings in a fresh context for the next two weeks, and kicking it off today with the poor in spirit. Let's get started! Show Notes: https://bit.ly/41DCayT  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Wo...

This week we've been talking about 40 days with God, whether it was in the wilderness through a rainstorm. So many things happened over the course of 40 days in the Bible. Today we'll talk about how even the Son of God went through a wilderness season. Let's begin in Matthew chapter 3. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Dgcnop  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Wo...

Today we are talking about one of my favorite people, the prophet Elijah, and he's one of my favorite people. We'll find him today in 1 Kings chapter 18 and chapter 19. Those two passages feel very different in terms of the person we see, but he's still super relatable in both. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Dm4Y76  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find...

What causes you to shine or make you come alive? Today we're going to talk about someone in the scriptures who shined. You might already know who I'm talking about, and we're going to find him in Exodus. An amazing man of radiant faith. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4i13UV8  ---------------- We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Bu...

What inspires you to be brave? My acts of courage are varied: I'm an introvert so sometimes making phone calls is hard; having a conversation that needs to be had; going to the doctor and getting tests done;  interviewing for the job... Numbers 13 talks about the Israelites who were called to do something brave, and that's what we're digging into today. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43rrqWS  --------...

What can happen in 40 days? Actually quite a bit. This week we're going over 40 days with God, what that looked like at different times for different people in the Bible. The number 40 is so significant right now because it's the traditional season of Lent, a time of preparing our hearts to remember Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection. Let's get started.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3QMjKaf ...