The Jesus Storybook Bible Podcast

Dawn Barton—speaker and author of Midlife Battle Cry—felt invisible and forgotten when she faced the unseen challenges of midlife. After a journey of rediscovering who she was and the potential God gave her and taking a leap of faith, Dawn found a new love for herself and discovered there is goodness in every season of life.    Quotes "I'm so glad I took that initial leap of faith. A leap of faith...

Social media influencer Anh Lin grew up in the throes of chaos and trauma–and it would take years before she realized the depth of what she faced. But when she started to work through her experiences with a counselor, it expanded her knowledge of who God was and opened the door to healing. Now she helps others find healing through creating beautiful and peaceful spaces in their homes.   Quotes "Th...

Did you know that there is a psalm all about trees? Trees are miraculous. They look after their tree children. They communicate with each other. Sally's new book is a paraphrase of Psalm 1 and today she shares her love of trees and reads from her new children's book "Strong" (illustrated by Jago!), which reminds little ones that it is God who makes them strong and that being close to God is a good...

Professor, author, and podcaster Heather Thompson Day shares what she's learned through mentoring students, growing an online community, and her interactions with coworkers and family and imparts some simple ways we can show up for other people and exemplify God's love for those who need it most.    Quotes "I really am concerned that we have raised an entire generation to think that if things don'...

Writer and speaker Lisa Harper's story is a testament to the unexpected twists and divine surprises that shape our lives. From the heart-wrenching experience of her father's abandonment to the miraculous adoption of her daughter, Lisa shares about God's limitless love and reveals how she discovered strength through Scripture.    Quotes "Our God is so good. He's so kind. I love that verb at the end...

In this beautiful world where we're all made so differently, with unique gifts and strengths, we have a remarkable opportunity to appreciate one another's creativity in whatever form it may take. David Chang unexpectedly found the art form of calligraphy, and after spending time in a church attic studying, developing, and perfecting his craft, realized that he could use his art as a form of spirit...

Peter Harris is a dedicated advocate for conservation, and shares his journey of working with A Rocha, a Christian conservation organization he co-founded over four decades ago. Peter shares how his faith-driven approach has helped him develop practical responses, and fostered connections between love for God, care for creation, and environmental stewardship.   Quotes "It's quite clear that we are...

Ministry partners Brittany Maher and Cassandra Speer went through the tough process of untangling the self-image they had of themselves after leaving the beauty and fitness industries, and realized for how long they'd felt not good enough. By creating Her True Worth, an online ministry, they're helping people connect and have open, honest conversations about how they feel about themselves and how...

When news anchor Linsey Davis learned about the Human Genome Project and started digging, she discovered an astonishing fact: humans are only 0.1% different from one another. 99.9% of our DNA is alike—and by appreciating both the commonalities and the things that set us apart, we can learn to appreciate exactly who God created us to be, and we can realize that we need no one's approval but God's....

In celebration of the Savior's birth, author Sally Lloyd-Jones is reading four special Christmas stories from Song of the Stars and The Jesus Storybook Bible, perfect to listen to with your little ones during the excitement of the season. Merry Christmas!    Quotes "Advent means arrival or coming. I'm going to read you stories that are all about the One who is coming and what we're waiting for." -...

When striving for true, deep, everlasting change in your life, the road can be a rocky one—and it can often be filled with turmoil and pain. Growing up, therapist Jason VanRuler struggled to find stability in his life, leading him to bad habits that he desperately wanted to break. Jason opens up about how something as simple as asking for help from God and from mentors made the difference in turni...

Kelly Minter had big dreams for her life—everything from basketball to a professional career in music. But fame, money, and fans became her idols, and when things didn't go according to plan, Kelly felt lost and heartbroken. It was a chance encounter that led her to a purpose and a calling she never expected as a Bible study author and teacher, which helped her understand that when we lay down our...

The weeks leading up to Christmas are known as the season of Advent, of joyful expectation and waiting for our Savior to come. Author Sally Lloyd-Jones shares a couple stories from the Jesus Storybook Bible that prepare our hearts for the brave hero to rescue us.    Quotes "My hope is that as your family follows the readings and games and adds ornaments to the tree, you'll be able to trace God's h...

Australian singer/songwriter Nathan Tasker shares how his family practices gratitude throughout the year, especially at Thanksgiving, how he's been touched by profound friendships in his life, and what he's learned about honesty in the way we present ourselves to God.   Quotes "I realized that I'd been given this platform for whatever reason, and I had this urge and sense of responsibility to use...

Melina Luna Smith believes that art is a powerful tool that can open the door to the heart and allow kids to connect with stories from the Bible in a fun and engaging way. She has dedicated her creative skills to interactively recreating Bible stories for children through her company, Storymakers. Melina shares with us some of her imaginative ways to retell God's stories and connect with our kids...

Curtis Chang is a non-profit director and the author of The Anxiety Opportunity, who vulnerably shares how he's grappled with anxiety throughout his life. Curtis found that walking through his anxiety led him to deeper levels of self-awareness, and ultimately strengthened his relationship with God when he began to view it as an opportunity, rather than a burden.   Quotes "There just wasn't much sp...

Master pianist, composer, and world-renowned performer Eric Genuis launched Concerts for Hope in 2016 to bring beauty to the marginalized. The concerts quickly proved to be a gift to many among the broken and hurting audiences, and Eric found himself transformed by the hope reflected in their eyes. Now, after countless prison concerts, Eric has learned the true definition of charity and that givin...

You might've seen SuperChef Darnell Ferguson on Food Network, hosting, guest starring, and even cooking in the Beijing Olympics, dazzling people with his culinary abilities. But Darnell didn't always know he wanted to be a chef, in fact it wasn't until a teacher spoke life into him and he found an unexpected home in the church, that he realized God had given him this "superpower" to be a force for...

In Jeremiah 29:11, God reminds us that He has extraordinary plans for each and every one of us. Often, it can be easy to get anxious when we think about the future and the unknown, but it's important for us to trust God—His timing and plans are greater than we can imagine. Singer and songwriter Melanie Penn opens up about insecurities she has faced throughout her career and how staying rooted in h...

Rich Villodas is a pastor in a Queens, NYC neighborhood that National Geographic calls "the most diverse zip code in the world." As he leads others who have a variety of experiences, Rich has seen that if we lead with love and go out of our way to see every single person as beautiful, no matter their differences, we will begin to see wholeness and beauty like never before.   Quotes "My identity is...

If we're not careful, our busy, modern lives can blind us from the opportunities around us to connect and serve our neighbors. Elizabeth Passarella, a writer based in New York City, writes and edits for women's magazines such as InStyle and Vogue—along with writing her own two books. With her gift for storytelling, Elizabeth weaves a tapestry of everyday experiences, unveiling the parts of life th...

In the Bible, the story of Jacob is a good reminder that God can and will use you despite your flaws and struggles, whatever they may be. Max Lucado, a prolific author and pastor from Texas, shares his story of redemption and how, like Jacob, he has what he calls a "tilted halo." Max sees in Jacob a kindred spirit, a reminder that God's grace is for all of us and that God always has our backs, no...

Often when we talk about worship, it is common to focus on the emotional side of it, but we tend to forget there's a physical element of worship, too. Theologian and professor David Taylor's perspective is that our bodies are a wonderful gift from God, and it's up to us to honor Him with them in the way we worship and move in the world.   Quotes "Our bodies are a gift. They're a gift and a grace a...

Anxiety is one of the leading mental health struggles for children and adolescents, but working through it as a family can help immensely. Author, counselor, and speaker Sissy Goff has been working with children and their parents at her practice for thirty years on these very topics and has helped countless families cope and navigate anxiety together—even in the wake of The Covenant School shootin...

Do you ever stand under the stars and feel like you have more questions than answers? Dr. Deborah Haarsma, an astronomer and president of BioLogos, shares her experience of grappling with the tension between science and the Bible. By reading the works of Christians who have studied these disciplines, she came to understand that the Bible's main points about God's creative power and the goodness of...