The Great Men of the Bible Series

In this final installment of the Great Men of the Bible series, Joe Stopulos welcomes Fr. PJ McManus back to the show for a thoughtful and spirited reflection on the New Testament, the Gospel writers, and the many men who shaped the early Church. Together they discuss: 1.The audiences and purposes behind Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John 2.Why the Gospel of John feels so different from the Synoptics 3...

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen Man Up! with Joe Stopulos Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith The...

1.Paul’s dramatic conversion in Acts 9 2.His role in spreading Christianity throughout the Roman world 3.Why St. Paul resonates with Catholic men today 4.His teachings on suffering, work, discipline, and perseverance 5.Favorite passages and practical ways to begin reading Paul’s letters 6.How Paul balances strength with humility This conversation offers a powerful look at what it means to “fight t...

Iowa Catholic Radio Network Shows: Be Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce Riebe Be Not Afraid in Spanish with Fr. Fabian Moncada Catholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie Nelson Making It Personal with Bishop William Joensen Man Up! with Joe Stopulos Sunday Dive with Katie Patrizio The Catholic Morning Show with Dr. Bo Bonner The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick Smith The...

· Introduction to Mike Aquilina and his work in Catholic history · Why Saint Peter is one of the most important and relatable figures in the Bible · Peter’s transformation: from fisherman to leader of the early Church · Key Gospel moments: walking on water, denial of Christ, and reconciliation · The dramatic shift after Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit · Peter as a model of repentance,...

What can modern Catholic men learn from St. Joseph? In this powerful episode of the Great Men of the Bible series, Joe Stopulos welcomes author and speaker Devin Schadt, founder of the Fathers of St. Joseph, to discuss the hidden greatness of the foster father of Jesus. Devin shares how a life-changing pilgrimage led him to discover St. Joseph not as a passive figure in stained glass windows, but...

In this episode of Great Men of the Bible, Joe Stopulos welcomes Brother John Barker, Franciscan friar and professor of Old Testament Studies, to discuss the life and mission of St. John the Baptist. As one of the most important figures in all four Gospels, John stands at the crossroads of salvation history — the final great prophet of the Old Testament and the one chosen to prepare the way for Je...

In this episode of Great Men of the Bible, Joe Stopulos welcomes Dr. Leroy Huizenga from the University of Mary to discuss the incredible story of Judas Maccabeus and the Maccabean Revolt. Set during one of the darkest periods in Jewish history, this conversation dives into the rise of Greek oppression under Antiochus IV, the desecration of the Temple, and the courageous stand taken by faithful Je...

After decades in exile, the people of Israel return to Jerusalem to rebuild what had been lost. In this episode of Great Men of the Bible, Joe Stopulos and Fr. PJ McManus discuss Ezra and Nehemiah, the restoration of the Temple, the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, and the rediscovery of right worship and faithful living. The conversation explores the historical context of the Babylonian exile, th...

In this episode of the Great Men of the Bible series, host Joe Stopulos sits down with Katie Patrizio, Director of Faith Formation at St. St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, to examine the life and message of the prophet Daniel. Set during the Babylonian exile, the Book of Daniel reveals how God’s faithful people remained steadfast even when far from the Temple and surrounded by a foreign cultu...

Guest: Dr. Andrew Swafford — Professor of Sacred Scripture at Benedictine College Host: Joe Stopulos In this episode, you’ll learn: Where Ezekiel fits in salvation history and the Babylonian exile Why Ezekiel prophesied from outside Israel The meaning behind Ezekiel’s throne vision and the departure of God’s glory How the destruction of Jerusalem shaped his message The importance of the “Oracles A...

In this episode of the Great Men of the Bible series, host Joe Stopulos welcomes Dr. Andrew Swafford, Associate Professor of Sacred Scripture at Benedictine College and Senior Fellow at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, to examine the life and ministry of the prophet Jeremiah. Set against the backdrop of the divided kingdom and the spiritual collapse of Judah, Jeremiah’s prophetic ministr...

In this episode of the Great Men of the Bible series, host Joe Stopulos welcomes back Mark Hart, Executive Vice President of Life Teen International, to examine the life of King Josiah as recorded in Second Kings and Second Chronicles. Josiah ascends the throne of Judah at just eight years old, inheriting a kingdom steeped in idolatry, corruption, and spiritual decay caused by generations of unfai...

In this episode of the Great Men of the Bible series, host Joe Stopulos welcomes back Katie Patrizio, Director of Faith Formation at St. Cecilia Parish in Ames, to examine the life of King Solomon as found in First Kings and Second Chronicles. Together, they walk through Solomon’s rise to the throne as the son of David, his anointing as king, and the extraordinary gift of wisdom he receives from G...

In this episode of the Great Men of the Bible series, host Joe Scopulus welcomes Mark Hart, Chief Innovation Officer at Life Teen International, to examine the life of King David, one of the most complex and influential figures in Scripture. Together, they walk through David’s journey from humble shepherd in Bethlehem to anointed king of Israel. The conversation explores David’s heart for God, his...

In this episode of the Great Men of the Bible series, Joe Stopulus sits down with Fr. Chris Reising, pastor of St. Patrick’s in Perry, to walk through the life of Samuel in First Samuel. Together, they explore Hannah’s powerful prayer and faith, Samuel’s call in a time when the word of the Lord was rare, and his role as the final judge of Israel. The conversation highlights Samuel’s leadership, hi...

Guest: Fr. PJ McManus, Pastor of Christ the King Catholic Church in Des Moines Overview of the Book of Joshua: Joshua as successor to Moses and bearer of the name “Jesus” “Be strong and courageous” as a call rooted in trust in God The liturgical nature of Jericho and the crossing of the Jordan Total commitment to God and rejection of idols Overview of the Book of Judges: The repeating cycle of sin...

Host: Joe Stopulos Guest: Mark Giszczak – Biblical scholar and theologian Scripture Focus: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Topics Discussed: The ten plagues as God’s victory over the false gods of Egypt The Passover and its fulfillment in the Catholic Mass The crossing of the Red Sea as salvation and spiritual warfare Moses as prophet, covenant mediator, leader, and foreshadowing of Christ...

In this episode, Joe Stopulos welcomes Dr. Mark Giszczak, professor at the Augustine Institute, scholar of Scripture, and author at CatholicBibleStudent.com. This conversation covers: What You’ll Learn The dramatic backdrop of Israel’s enslavement under a new Pharaoh Parallels between Moses and Noah in Scripture How Moses’ early life formed him: privilege, identity, and interior conflict Moses’ st...

Guest: Dr. Matthew Umbarger — Assistant Professor of Theology at Newman University; PhD in Hebrew Bible; former missionary in Israel; expert in Jewish origins of Christianity. Key Topics Covered: Jacob and Esau: What the birthright really meant in ancient Israel Why Esau “despised” his birthright and the spiritual implications Jacob’s deception and the cultural perspective of ancient audiences The...

Guest: Dr. Matthew Umbarger — professor of theology at Newman University, PhD in Hebrew Bible, former missionary in Israel. Dr. Umbarger discusses: His personal faith journey, mission work in Israel, and conversion to Catholicism Isaac as the hinge figure between Abraham and Jacob Jewish interpretations of the near-sacrifice on Mount Moriah (the Akedah) Parallels between Isaac’s willingness and Ch...

Guest: Dr. Bud Marr — Director, National Institute for Newman Studies; theologian; former philosophy professor at Mercy College; co-host of The Uncommon Good . Abraham as the first major covenantal figure in salvation history The gap between Adam and Abraham: generations, wickedness, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel Why Abraham’s calling represents a decisive shift in God’s plan Abraham's immedia...

Guest: Dr. Allen Hunt Nationally known speaker Bestselling author of Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor Master of Divinity from Emory University Doctorate in New Testament and Ancient Christian Origins from Yale University Topics Covered: Why God chose Noah and what it meant to be “blameless in his generation” Humanity’s corruption and God’s heartbreak prior to the flood Noah’s radical obedience,...

Guest: Katie Patrizio – Theologian and Scripture scholar with degrees from Franciscan University of Steubenville and John Paul the Great Catholic University. Topics covered: The creation and fall as historical and theological realities Understanding the “threefold temptation” — lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life How Adam’s fall parallels Christ’s victory in the desert Cain and Abel...

Introduction to the Great Men of the Bible series. Jeff Cavins explains the structure of the Bible and why understanding the narrative is crucial. Discussion of the fourteen narrative books that guide the overarching story. Tips for reading Scripture with context and clarity. How the Great Adventure Bible Timeline helps uncover the story of salvation history. Encouragement to live in the Bible, ta...