The Read Think Pray Podcast

In this episode, we find a New Testament connection to the rise and fall of King Uzziah in Jesus's letter to the Church in Laodicea. We read and think through Revelation 3:15-17 and confront the reality that while we may say one thing, the Lord knows what's really going on. He knows what and who we sound like, and we consider asking him before he tells us. Also in this episode, we read fro...

When King Uzziah grew strong, pride became his downfall. In this reflection on 2 Chronicles 26, we examine how pride can lead to destruction and how humility can prevent it. Will we humble ourselves—or will the Lord have to step in and humble us? Also in this episode, I briefly discussed this book: Humility by Andrew Murray And here is the series schedule if you'd like to read ahead or along:...

We continue our Rise and Fall of Kings series by reading the start of King Uzziah’s reign. His rise wasn’t self-made though. In this episode, we explore how Uzziah’s strength and success came from seeking God—and how true prosperity still begins the same way: with God, not ourselves. He is the one who makes us prosper. And here is the series schedule if you'd like to read ahead or along: Ep. 1...

In this episode, we continue our series,  The Rise and Fall of Kings, by exploring the connection of King Amaziah in 2 Chronicles 25 to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. Do the Scriptures teach neutrality? Can we love the Lord and the things of this world? What might be the danger in not loving our God with a whole heart? These are some of the questions we wrestle through. And here is t...

In this episode of The Read Think Pray Podcast , we continue our series,  The Rise and Fall of Kings, by exploring the fall of King Amaziah in 2 Chronicles 25. His story raises some questions - what is normal in our lives that ought not to be? How much of the world has crept in? And in which way will we reign? If you'd like to read more of the book mentioned by Paul House in this episode, you...

In this episode of The Read Think Pray Podcast , we continue our series The Rise and Fall of Kings by exploring the reign of King Amaziah in 2 Chronicles 25. We’ll see how his rise began with killing sin and learning to lead with less. Check out the book mentioned in this episode, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. Here is the series schedule if you'd like to read ahead or along: Ep. 1 - 2...

In this episode of The Read Think Pray Podcast, we continue our series The Rise and Fall of Kings by connecting King Joash’s story in 2 Chronicles 24 with Jesus’ words in Matthew 23. How do we respond when God sends correction, because whether we receive it or reject it might determine if we rise or fall. Here is the series schedule if you'd like to read ahead or along: Ep. 1 - 2 Chronicles 24...

We read from 2 Chronicles 24:15-27 in the second episode of The Rise & Fall of Kings. And the story of Joash’s reign takes a sobering turn, inviting us to think through our forgetfulness, our forsakenness, and how God responds to both our faithfulness and our UNfaithfulness. Here is the series schedule if you'd like to read ahead or along: Ep. 1 - 2 Chronicles 24:1-15 Ep. 2 - 2 Chronicles...

We read from 2 Chronicles 24:1-15 in this first episode of The Rise & Fall of Kings , where we meet King Joash—a boy king who rose to greatness through the guidance of his spiritual sponsor, Jehoiada the priest. Discover the formula for King Joash's rise; how obedience, worship, and spiritual sponsorship led to his success—and the subtle clue that foreshadows his eventual fall. Here is the...

Join us as we launch a 10-part series, “The Rise and Fall of Kings,” exploring the lives of Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah from 2 Chronicles. Each king’s story reveals a powerful journey of promise, faith, and failure, pointing us ultimately to Jesus as the great example and perfect King to follow and finish well. Here is the series schedule if you'd like to read ahead or along: Ep. 1 - 2 Chronicl...

In this episode, we read from A.W. Pink’s The Sovereignty of God and wrestle with a challenging question: Who’s really in charge of the world—God or the Devil? Pink urges us to look beyond what we see and walk by faith, letting Scripture—not sight—shape our understanding of God’s rule in the world today. Purchase The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink. -- Find the podcast on Instagram @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theread...

John the Baptist waited decades in the wilderness, and his parents waited a lifetime for a child; and we are still waiting for all kinds of things, including the return of Christ. In this episode, we reflect on how waiting is deeply woven into the life of faith—and how it might be exactly where God is shaping us most. The devotional mentioned in this episode is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Jonathan...

In this episode, we reflect on John Calvin’s powerful words: “Paul rested, for he found wonder.” Through deep theology, Scripture, and personal questions of restlessness, we explore how wonder—not answers—can become our place of peace before God. Purchase Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin on ⁠Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or directly from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the publisher⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- You can reach out to the...

After nine months of silence, Zechariah finally speaks—and what comes out isn’t bitterness, but blessing. In this episode, we reflect on Zechariah’s prophecy in Luke 1:67–79 and ask ourselves if, through suffering and discipline, we'll become better or bitter? -- Find the podcast on Instagram @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠thereadthinkpraypodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Reach out to the podcast by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact...

In this episode of The Read Think Pray Podcast , we reflect (again) on Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1:57–66. Where in your life have there been “would haves” and “should haves”? Has the Lord been faithful every time? These are just a few of the questions we think through together. -- Find the podcast on Instagram @ ⁠⁠⁠thereadthinkpraypodcast⁠⁠⁠ Reach out to the podcast by emailing ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode, we read from " Remaking the World " by Andrew Wilson, reflecting on just how weird our lives really are. From education to electricity, freedom to faith, we’ve been shaped. But do we know it? Are we aware? Purchase Remaking the World by Andrew J. Wilson on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or directly from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the publisher .⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- You can reach out to the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode, we read and reflect on Mary's Song of Praise, also known as The Magnificat. It's clear that Mary had in her an "inner Bible." Do we? Do you? When we praise God, do we use his language? Do we sound like the Bible? Just as Elizabeth served as a model in Luke 1:39–45 for the Spirit-filled life, here Mary shows us what it sounds like to have an "inner Bible." -- Find the podcast on In...

In this episode of The Read Think Pray Podcast , we return to Luke 1 and reflect on the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth. We explore Elizabeth being “filled with the Holy Spirit” and, with insight from theologian Amos Yong, consider how she models a Spirit-filled life—marked by joy, encouragement, and deep faith. We read from Renewing Christian Theology by Amos Yong which you purchase on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week on the Read Think Pray Podcast, we explore Early Christian Readings of Genesis One by Craig D. Allert. In the opening of his book, he shares with us a challenge he got himself- "Stop thinking like a Protestant!" Can we, though? Can we stop thinking like the thing that we are? Can we think like others? I think we can, but it takes hard work and some deep introspective thought. Join us for...

In this episode, we reflect on a powerful excerpt from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. Focusing on character over technique, we explore how who we are shouts louder than what we say—and why authenticity matters. Purchase The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or directly from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the publisher.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ -- You can reach out to the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

The podcast is taking a brief week or two break but in the meantime, please reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠contact@readthinkpray.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . I've love to hear how the Lent series went; favorite episode, themes you picked up, general thoughts, and any ideas for books to read from on the podcast. Also, check us out at Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereadthinkpraypodcast/) B...

In this final episode of our Lent series, we reflect on Joby Martin’s book Anything is Possible and how it encourages us to make room for the secret disciples. That carrying our cross for Christ might be a witness, or an invitation, to it. Purchase Anything Is Possible by Joby Martin on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠ or directly from ⁠⁠⁠⁠ the publisher.⁠⁠⁠ -- You can reach out to the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In today’s episode, we read and reflect on a powerful section from What If It’s True? by Charles Martin. And, as our Lent series nears its end, a theme has emerged—one that Martin captures well: following Jesus always leads to the cross. Every follower of Jesus will eventually face it—not necessarily through martyrdom, but through the daily choice to die to self. Jesus considered the cross—and he...

In this episode, we explore a powerful image of the cross as a raft drawn from James K.A. Smith’s On the Road with Saint Augustine . We reflect on how God doesn’t send us a battleship or a cruise liner to cross the ocean between where we are and where we long to be—but a rough, wooden raft in the shape of a cross. It’s uncomfortable, vulnerable, and splintered—but it keeps our eyes fixed on home....

In this episode, we explore a powerful idea from John Piper’s Providence that the cross of Christ doesn’t just secure our future salvation—it fuels our present sanctification. Through Scripture and reflection, we consider how the law of Christ is written on our hearts, shaping our desires, obedience, and transformation even now. Purchase Providence by John Piper on ⁠ Amazon ⁠ or directly from ⁠the...