The Valley Bible Studies Podcast

This week, the VBS Podcast dives into the letter of James. There is perhaps no more practical book in the New Testament than James, and we hope that as you study along with us your faith is strengthened, as is your desire to act on that faith after the pattern of Christ.  We hope that this episode is a blessing to you, and that our written studies on James available at valleybiblestudies.com/bites...

Today the VBS Podcast dives into the letter to the Hebrews! Through a summary of the Old Testament, the Hebrews writer reminds us of the fact that Jesus is better, and we look forward to looking into that reminder with you.  We hope that this episode is a blessing to you, and that our written studies on Titus available at valleybiblestudies.com/bitesize-bible-study-series/ are helpful to you as we...

A mini-episode for a mini-letter! Today we take a quick look at Philemon, Paul's shortest and perhaps most personal letter. Hidden within this one chapter is an incredible story of forgiveness and peace, and we hope you'll join us in studying how that forgiveness and peace can be ours in Christ.  We hope that this episode is a blessing to you, and that our written studies on First Timoth...

This week, we are wrapping up the pastoral letters of Paul with a walkthrough of the letter to Titus! Like Timothy, Titus is a fellow worker with Paul and a located minister of the gospel, and Paul writes to him for the sake of his encouragement and training. Titus is called upon to bring the church together in purity and purpose, and it is these themes that we are excited to study about with you...

Today the VBS Podcast dives into Second Timothy! At the end of his life, Paul wrote one last letter to his friend and mentee, Timothy, about his fight for the gospel, the church, and the reward of Christ's appearing. It is our privilege to study this letter with you this week and learn from one of the church's greatest evangelists about why evangelism is a fight worth joining. We hope th...

We are thrilled this week to introduce to you another of the VBS Podcast's special guests and friends in the faith! John Croft is a faithful minister of the gospel in Radford, VA, as well as a skilled educator in the secular school system. We are excited to hear from him as we jump into Paul's first letter to Timothy, where an experienced minister and apostle teaches his son in the faith...

This week, the VBS Podcast dives into Paul's second letter to Thessalonica. Paul has much to say here about how to prepare for the return of Christ, and about how Christians should behave in the face of adversity and apathy as we anticipate the day of the Lord. Join us as we are taught, encouraged, and challenged by the book of Second Thessalonians! We hope that this episode is a blessing to...

In this episode, the VBS Podcast takes a look at Paul's first letter to the church at Thessalonica, focusing on the background of the Thessalonians (as described in Acts 17) and Paul's encouragement for them to remain holy and watchful for the Lord's return. Join us as we are taught, encouraged, and challenged by the book of First Thessalonians! We hope that this episode is a blessi...

In this episode, the VBS Podcast dives into Paul's letter to the Colossians, the last of the three "prison epistles" sent to a congregation of the Lord's church (there's one "prison epistle" to go - more on Philemon in a few weeks). Join us as we study this great book together and learn what it means to have a new life in the Spirit, centered around the work of C...

Surprise again! The only thing better than one special guest is TWO special guests! Neil Richey is a faithful Christian and minister of the church in Salem, VA, and we are excited that he will be joining us in discussing Paul's letter to the Philippians this week.  We hope that this episode is a blessing to you, and that our written studies on Philippians available at valleybiblestudies.com/b...

Surprise!!! In this episode we are joined by our very special guest, Rick McCurdy. Brother McCurdy is a faithful minister of the Lord's church in Christiansburg, VA, and we are excited to have him as part of our discussion of the Book of Ephesians. In this episode we cover: The nature of "predestination" according to Ephesians 1, and what that term really means according to the New...

Today we move forward in the New Testament but backwards in time to take a look at one of the first letters written by Paul, his letter to the Galatians (a.k.a. Romans Jr.). In this episode we cover: The importance of unity behind the gospel in chapters 1-2, and the lengths to which Paul goes to protect the singularity of the gospel of Christ. The Christian's freedom from the law as laid out...

Today the VBS Pod returns to where we left off in Paul's Corinthian Correspondence and takes a dive into his second letter to the church in Corinth. In this episode we cover: The "triumph of Christ" as described in chapter 2, and how the church declares Christ's triumph to the world.  The doctrine of sanctification from chapter 5, and what a new life marked by Christ's hol...

Today, the VBS Podcast dives into First Corinthians and unpacks Paul's jam-packed letter to the "problem child" among his letters' original audiences. In this episode we cover: Paul's appeal to be united behind Christ rather than men in chapters 1-4, and the ways in which this unity must be displayed by the Lord's church. The values of purity and marriage in chapters...

Today, the VBS Podcast begins our dive into the letters of Paul with the longest and most theologically sophisticated of the bunch, Paul's letter to the Romans. Incredibly, we actually get to cover the ENTIRE BOOK today(!), including: Why the letters of Paul should be studied differently than the Gospels and Acts, and some pointers on how to approach them. The need that all people have for th...

Today, the VBS Podcast turns the page and takes a look at the history of the early church, as told in the biblical book of Acts. In this episode we cover: The outline of the book that is found in Acts 1, and how Jesus's Great Commission sets the stage for the church's birth and growth. The events of the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, and what its conclusion means for Christians and potentia...

This week, the VBS Podcast takes its last dive into the life of Christ in studying the Gospel written by the apostle John. In this episode we cover: The differences between John and the other three Gospels, and how John's style complements that of the Synoptics.  Jesus's discussion with the Pharisees in John 8, and the implications of that discussion on judgment, truth, and freedom. Jesu...

Today, the VBS Podcast takes a look at Luke (the Gospel, not the goofus) and dives into the longest and perhaps most sophisticated account of Jesus's life. In this episode we discuss: The infinite love of God, and how that love is communicated by Jesus in His parables in Luke 10 and 15 Jesus's story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, and what it tells us about the afterlife from Chr...

Today, the VBS Podcast dives into the Gospel of Mark and its theme of Jesus as the Divine Servant. In this episode, we cover: Mark's dynamic presentation of Jesus's ministry, and the ways in which his presentation appeals to a more universal audience. Jesus's relationships with His disciples, and how they prefigure His relationship with the church today. Jesus's discussion of t...

Surprise! Turns out Matthew is super long (and we ramble quite a bit), so here's a bonus episode on some of the topics we couldn't get to in the main series. In this episode, we cover: - The Limited Commission of Matthew 10, and what it means for us today; - The parables of Matthew 13, and how they work together to tell an even bigger story; - Peter's confession in Matthew 16, and i...

The VBS Podcast takes its first look at the New Testament's first book, exploring some of the main themes and messages of the Gospel of Matthew. In this episode, we cover: - The Jewish style of Matthew's Gospel, and how it brings the entire Old Testament together. - The birth narrative of Christ, and His first fulfillment of His role as the Messiah. - The beginnings of Jesus's earth...

Welcome to the VBS Podcast! This episode will serve as an introduction to the pod, your wonderful, awesome, super-terrific co-hosts, and our 2024 book-by-book study of the New Testament.  Be sure to find us on our main website, valleybiblestudies.com, to sign up for a personal Bible study with friends across the country. Follow us on our socials (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) too!