The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

If we are focusing on the world, who is focusing on our family? We’re often distracted by the big picture of the world, but our attention is most needed at home. Jeff points to Scripture verses from Luke, 1 Timothy, and Matthew to show how we can emulate the good Samaritan and become a blessing to our families and local communities. Snippet from the Show “If you are focusing on the world, who is f...

Growing in faith is difficult in our fast-paced, distraction-heavy lives. Jeff Cavins slows things down to help us focus on prayer and Jesus. Snippet from the Show “The pace of a disciple is not hurried. As we look at the saints, we see people who spent a lot of time with Jesus.” Ways We Can Slow Down Our Lives Prayer Read the Bible and learn about the Story of Salvation Read the Catechism of the...

Developing a strong relationship with Jesus is so important to the spiritual life, and bringing children to Jesus is the main goal of Catholic parents. Jeff connects Scripture passages from Genesis, Deuteronomy, and Proverbs that deal with parenting and setting a good example for our kids, and give practical advice on how to bring children to Jesus. _Snippet from the Show “Parents have such a sign...

Jeff Cavins and Fr. Josh Johnson are in Poland! From Auschwitz to Pope St. John Paul II’s house, they discuss the places they have seen in connection with great Polish saints like St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Faustina, as well as some amazing glory stories that reveal the mercy, truth, and suffering of these saints. Snippet from the Show “Blessed Jerzy, St. John Paul II, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St....

Jeff continues to unpack what happens to us when we are too preoccupied with worldly things and neglect to keep our eyes on heaven. He uses the metaphor of filling up on chips and salsa to illustrate this point, and draws on multiple biblical examples to go ever deeper. Snippet from the Show “I am defined by Jesus Christ, I am defined by my heavenly Father, and I am defined by truth. And Jesus is...

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and filled up on an appetizer (like chips and salsa) and then didn’t have any room left for the more nutritious main course? Jeff uses this illustration to explain how good things can become a problem when they replace God. Using Scripture passages from Genesis, St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and the Gospel of John, Jeff shows us why moderation is extremely...

A troubled heart can happen at any stage of life. From work-related anxiety to stressful relationships to unexpected changes, at some point we find ourselves feeding worry in our hearts instead of offering it up to Jesus. Jeff shares Scripture passages that tell us how to handle a troubled heart, bring our worries to the Lord, and find peace. Snippet from the Show “The peace we get from the world...

Jeff shares exciting news about three upcoming Great Adventure events, recounts his incredible two-week long motorcycle trip with a group of Catholic men, and shares a brief reflection about his visit to the Shrine of the North American Martyrs.

God is the one who separates the wheat from the chaff, but we can be tempted to take this task on ourselves, especially when it comes to our parish. Jeff talks about the Parable of the Sower to explain why we shouldn’t take it upon ourselves to pull up what we may see as weeds at our parish. Snippet from the Show There are people who feel that they have a responsibility to pull up the weeds and de...

Founder of The Coming Home Network, and host of The Journey Home program on EWTN, Marcus Grodi stops in to chat with Jeff Cavins. They talk about sola scriptura , how Marcus went from a Presbyterian minister to a Catholic, the thousands of people who have found their way back to the Catholic Church through The Coming Home Network, and some of the challenges that converts face. Snippet from the Sho...

If the greatest commandment is to love God, how do we know if we’re actually doing it, or if we’re just falling in “like” with Jesus? To answer this question, Jeff uses Scripture passages on what it means to truly love God. He unpacks what this means for us as disciples who not only SAY they love Jesus, but ACT like they love Jesus. Check out Jeff’s episode, Created for Love, Settling for Likes ,...

Jeff Cavins digs into scriptures on restoration in the Gospel of John and compares Peter’s journey to Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. At some point, both run away from their responsibilities, but eventually turn around and embrace transformative relationships. Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Email Jeff at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com . You may hear your question or...

We are created to be loved, and to love others. But it’s easy to settle for likes. We feel a boost of ego when someone leaves a flattering comment or shares our post, and it’s satisfying … to a point. But deep inside we all want to be loved, not just liked. Jeff brings up Scripture passages on what it means to be created for love and talks about the things that hold us back from pursuing authentic...

Ministry programs and apologetics are great, but there’s one area that parishes can often neglect: evangelization. Christians have a mandate to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” But so many Catholics seem to opt out of this and prefer to build programs that service the inner circle instead of welcoming...

If social media existed when the Scriptures were written, what would they say about it? Jeff revises verses from the Bible about speech to answer this question. Snippet from the Show “Rash tweets are like sword thrusts, but the tweet of the wise brings healing.” Check out today's shownotes (including every scripture verse from this episode) at ascensionpress.com/thejeffcavinsshow or email us at th...

A go-to response to insomnia typically involves a snack and TV remote, but there are better ways to get real rest and wake up feeling refreshed. Jeff has some advice for those who have difficulty sleeping, and it all comes from Scripture! The topic of sleep is a recurring theme in the Bible, and each verse in this episode provides an instruction about how to quiet the mind and get the rest we crav...

Jeff shares the feelings of shame and isolation he faced as a kid struggling with bedwetting. Even if you never wet the bed, experiencing embarrassment and even self-loathing because of a perceived flaw is something we can all relate to. Jeff shares tips on how to react to someone experiencing these feelings, and points out that we’re not defined by those imperfections. We’re defined by our relati...

If you are a parent, grandparent, godparent, or spiritual parent, one of the best gifts you can give is a Bible. But not just any Bible, your Bible. The one where you’ve underlined verses, written notes in the margins, and added your prayers in the open spaces. Start writing in your Bible with the specific intention of giving it to your son or daughter. It’s a beautiful way to share your spiritual...

Looking for peace and simplicity? Get rid of the factors that complicate your life. Jeff zeroes in on the things that disrupt our peace and rupture our relationships. He explains how each of these things affects us and what we can do to overcome these disruptions and find our inner calm. Snippet from the Show “When we choose to sin, it complicates our lives in powerful ways ... we lose the integra...

Jeff continues the discussion on how the seven deadly sins can show up in our lives. This week he covers envy, gluttony, avarice, and sloth and all the ways we can participate in these vices, often without realizing it. Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com . You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming...

We’re familiar with the seven deadly sins, but these vices have offshoots that can be harder to identify. For example, you may not think you have a problem with pride, but if you struggle with disobedience, boastfulness, or stubbornness, you’re grappling with a “child” of pride. Jeff goes through the offspring of pride, anger, and lust in today’s episode, and will cover the rest of the seven deadl...

Did you know God likes certain aromas and smells? It’s not the literal smell that finds favor with God, but the meaning behind the smell. For example, the smell of incense represents prayer going up to heaven, which God loves. Jeff breaks down the four favorite aromas of God in today’s episode: prayer, repentance, kerygma, and loving sacrifice. He also reads out some feedback and answers questions...

Jeff sits down with Mike “Gomer” Gormley and Dave VanVickle, hosts of Every Knee Shall Bow , a podcast about how Catholics can evangelize and share the faith. Mike and Dave are both very active in evangelization at their parishes and in their personal lives. We talk about the assumptions we make about other Catholics, tracks (pamphlets that preach the gospel), and what to say to people who don’t c...

Just as we need to eat to nourish the body, there are certain things we need to do to nourish the soul. Jeff shares 7 ways to truly feed our souls. For more episodes, check out this podcast at ascensionpress.com/thejeffcavinsshow SHOWNOTES The Eucharist: The body, blood, soul and divinity. Pure life. It contains the grace you need. Scripture. Prayer. Confession. Focused reading. Rub shoulders with...