Truth Be Told

While the answer to this question might seem obvious to many Christians on the surface, when we apply some critical thinking, common sense, and look deeper at the Scriptures, we might come to different conclusions. This episode won't teach you WHAT to think but, hopefully, it will give some guidance on HOW to think about this sensitive topic.   Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com Logo: Matt H...

When we read our Bibles, there is A LOT to remember. History, Language, Culture, Audience - ALL of this needs taken into consideration. At the risk of giving you one too many things to consider - we might also reflect on what TONE we're allowing to color our reading of the text. In this episode, we walk through one example where the tone I applied to the text actually affected my understanding of...

I am not usually one to comment on current events but this one has me a little confused so I thought I'd start the discussion. Recently, the CEO of #Astronomer #AndyByron was caught cheating on his wife at a #Coldplay concert. Since then, there has been a flood of jokes, parody scene recreations, and commentaries on the event as the public latched onto it as a source of entertainment. This episode...

In this episode we will connect ourselves to the plan of God. While it seems as if God has changed up what He has done, how He has worked, and what He has expected of humanity as it relates to His long-term goals, in reality, as Adam and Eve were commissioned, so are we. When we trace God's statements throughout history to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Israel, Isaiah, and the Church through Jesus,...

In the Gospels, there is a story about Jesus's life that we would NEVER in a million years account to Him as failure. Yet, when we find ourselves in very similar scenarios - we feel like failures ourselves. Christians, you are called to carry your cross daily, but the example of Jesus should show us that we do NOT have to carry it alone.   Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://...

How do we preach the Gospel to those who.... seem like they've already heard it? In the first century, when Jesus first commissioned His disciples, the majority of the world had never heard His name, what He had done, or any of the tenets of Christianity - sharing this information might have been persecuted, but it wasn't redundant. Often, Christians feel as if they should still be preaching the G...

In Isaiah Chapter 20, we see the, normally, mild-mannered Isaiah being asked to behave as eccentrically as some of the other prophets. For 3 years, he walks naked and barefoot. Why, you might ask? That's the kicker - until the 3 years is up, no explanation is given. Of course, God has His reasons for doing things the way He does. But the question this brought to my mind is - would I have faith lik...

In this episode we take a look at the story of Jacob and Rachel as they flee from Laban. If we overlay the Exodus story, we can't help but notice that they share many of the same plot points: -Jacob leaves the Promised Land to enter a foreign place -Jacob enters into hard service to claim his bride -Jacob is blessed by God and his household multiplies -Jacob asks to leave and is denied -Jacob flee...

We have been called by God to do a job.  How are we doing? We should be excited to be working for Him - not fearful.   Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube Logo: Matt Hernandez Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

The Bible....and Shrek. Probably not 2 things you thought you'd hear compared in your lifetime but, ACTUALLY, there are a lot of similarities between the two. When you sit down to watch Shrek, believe it or not, you have put in A LOT of preliminary groundwork in order to watch that movie with any enjoyment at all. Shrek is a story that CONTAINS other stories within it both in its thematic elements...

After reading 1 Corinthians 12, everyone wants to know - what's my spiritual gift? Super speed? Invisibility? LASER EYES?! Obviously, this is a joke, but it is actually close to how many feel about spiritual gifts - like they are hyper-spiritual abilities that make us stand out from the crowd. However, while they absolutely are blessings from God, attitudes like this about spiritual gifts are SPEC...

Watch this episode if you're interested in watching us make fun of each other for 2 hours while sprinkling in a few good thoughts about the Bible, the Church, podcasting, etc. Ryan and Brad are two of my best friends who I've known for most of my life. Every time we interact it's enjoyable (hopefully for those around us as well). It is a privilege to have been a subject for reaction on their chann...

Our view of God can, sometimes, be shaped by our view of authority. I hate being in trouble. Feelings of guilt and shame are always at my fingertips and it isn't uncommon for me to be debilitated by those feelings at times - unable to grow or learn from experiences, instead just beating myself up. This has been true for a lot of my life. When I was younger, I had a few unfortunately negative exper...

In Isaiah 9, we come across a really strange name for the Northern region of Israel - Galilee of the Gentiles. In modern English, it doesn't read in quite as foreboding language as it would have been in Isaiah, or even Jesus's time. I always knew that Jesus was often discredited based on where, and with whom, He decided to associate, but I never realized that Galilee was seen as SUCH a negative pl...

Is it possible that I am more like a Pharisee than I'd care to admit? Unfortunately.. yes. In Mark 7, we read about something the Pharisees did that Jesus wasn't terribly happy with. While, on the surface, we might think we don't do the same thing, the heart of our actions might be similar. Through an adopted practice known as "corban," (ceremonially dedicating material wealth and possessions to G...

There's a wild theory that the Apostle John is actually alive somewhere on the Earth waiting for Christ's return. The old fashioned, skeptic in me wants to scoff at this but I actually watched a REALLY interesting video about it and found it to be more reasonable than I expected. This theory comes from a verse found in the last chapter of the book of John and.. I THOUGHT I had the perfect explanat...

Sure, I can easily feel like I'm doing good work for God as long as I'm sharing the Gospel, serving people at church, or doing anything we'd label "spiritual." But doing EVERYTHING as unto God just seems like an impossible standard to live up to. In this episode we examine this verse in Colossians 3, gaining context from the surrounding section, and look at a few examples that, I believe, showcase...

Skeptics and critics of the Bible will often level accusations against Christians stating that they serve an "angry God." They look at verses in the Old Testament outlining God's judgment on people and don't like how it sits with their view of morality. To them, God just seems angry, harsh, and vengeful. Christians, sensing that God is under attack, are likely to come to His defense. They begin ex...

**This episode utilizes, and refers to, many different historical images and depictions of Jesus. As such, it might be beneficial to view it through the YouTube link in the description below to get the full experience.**   Jesus was not white. This shouldn't come as a major shock to anyone. He was born in Bethlehem in Judea, raised by a typical Israeli family, and was physically indistinguishable...

What can the widow's mite teach me about my own value? This is a biblical lesson that is 2,000 years in the making! Often when Christians consider how amazing God is, it can actually lead to some really problematic self-esteem issues. When we observe the perfection of God, it is a natural byproduct that we also observe our own imperfection. Some people look at this state of feeling lowly and consi...

Asking this one question might SERIOUSLY help your Bible Study - not because the answer is drastically important, but because it can change how your brain is interacting with the text. So often, people have a hard time shifting from simply READING Scripture to actually STUDYING it. They believe it must take some monumental effort to do good, effective study because they don't find that it comes na...

The Sons of Korah are fascinating figures throughout the Old Testament. Dissenters, rebels, and subjects of God's judgment, but somehow also righteous, contented, dutiful, obedient, and loyal to God. Though Korah and his sons don't have a unique book dedicated to their wild story, there are breadcrumbs for us to follow that paint an elaborate picture of this group of people starting in Numbers 16...

Ephesians 4:16 often gets rephrased as saying that the Church is, "joined and knit together by what every member supplies." But.. that's not what the verse says. In nearly every translation, and even in the original Greek, the word Paul uses is "joint." Maybe this doesn't seem like a big deal but "joints" and "members" are fundamentally different elements to a physical body and the same hold true...

Yes, I know. A biblical lesson from the Belchers in Bob's Burgers? Seems insane. But, honestly, if we are focused on God and meditating on His word regularly, we should be able to see evidence of Him and His truths everywhere! All truth and all good gifts are from Him - whether they come from observing creation, our interactions with others, or a simple TV show, we can learn about God from the tru...

In Genesis 9, God makes a covenant with, not just Noah but, the animals. In Genesis 1, God asks mankind to rule over animal kind as Ambassadors in His image with goodness and love. In Romans 8, Paul says that ALL of creation groans under the weight of the corruption its been subjected to as it longs for the revealing of the sons of God. In Mark 16, Jesus tells His disciples to preach the Gospel to...