Your Jesus Journey Daily Bible Podcast with Pastor Thad

What does a sincere "thank you" from an Apostle have to do with your motivation today? 🤝 We wrap up 3 John by exploring the power of encouragement and endorsement in verses 12-15. Learn why the Apostle John—a living link to Jesus—goes out of his way to praise Demetrius and stand up against the church bully Diotrephes. This final section offers two vital lessons: how to build a reputation that has...

Do you know God calls believers to two fundamentally different kinds of generosity? 🎁 In 3 John 5-11, we find a powerful distinction that can revolutionize your giving! We explore the "two sides of Christian giving": general charity (loving everyone) versus strategic partnership (enabling the work of the Gospel). Discover the model of Gaius, who was praised for his hospitality to traveling missio...

Do you feel like your Christian faith is a solo mission? 🏝️ In today's isolated world, it's easy to feel like you're going it alone, but 3 John 1-4 reminds us that Christian faith was never meant to be a single-player game. We dive into the life of Gaius, a man whose hospitality and practical support for traveling teachers was essential to building the early church. Discover John's profound joy in...

Here's a shocking truth: Most Christians today have no idea what a true biblical disciple actually is. Are you stuck in a faith that feels like taking notes instead of living a transformed life? In this vital Word of the Week episode, we unlock the powerful Hebrew concept of Talmid (disciple/apprentice). We'll expose how the Western model of education has hindered our spiritual growth and explore...

Why is it that sometimes the deepest hurt comes from the people inside the church? 💔 The problem of the "jerk in the church" is as old as Christianity itself! Today, we introduce the book of 3 John, a powerful, personal letter where the Apostle John deals directly with a toxic church leader named Diotrephes who was spreading lies and kicking people out. This short book offers profound wisdom for...

What does a bar of soap have to do with preaching the Gospel? 🧼 Many Christians believe in Jesus, but struggle with living it out. Today, we dive into 2 John 4-6, where the Apostle John shows us how to build a faith that truly sticks by linking truth and love to obedience. This isn't just theory! We share an incredible, real-life story of our partners in Kenya Prisons ministry, where simple acts...

Is the biblical idea of "The Elect" an exclusive club or a profound call to mission? 🤔 Navigating the modern Christian world is tough—everyone claims to have the truth! Today, we dive into the first three verses of 2 John to find out who "The Elect Lady" really is and what it means to be "chosen" by God. This episode clarifies the often-confusing concept of election and predestination, moving bey...

Is your desire to be a "nice" Christian making you spiritually naive? In a world full of smooth-talking online gurus and conflicting ideas about faith, it's tough to know who to trust. Today, we're kicking off our study of 2 John, a powerful, short letter from the Apostle John that serves as a direct, no-nonsense warning. Learn how to balance Christian love with absolute truth without being a "suc...

Is there a sin too serious for a Christian to pray about? 🤯 You want your faith to be certain and your prayers to count. But what does the Bible say about who not to pray for? In this deep-dive wrap-up of 1 John 5:13-21, we’re getting to the meat of the passage, tackling two massive topics: Intercessory Prayer and the meaning of the "sin that leads to death." We’ll explore the relationship betwee...

Let's face it, some of the most important things Christians should know are also the hardest to talk about. Most awkward conversations about faith happen because we're just not ready. Think about it: we train and practice for so many other things in life. Got a new product at work? We learn all its benefits and practice what to say. Looking into investing or retirement? We do our homework, ask exp...

Ever feel like being a Christian is just a never-ending list of rules, or maybe you're not even sure what it really means to be "born again"? You're not alone. Lots of folks get tangled up in what they think Christianity should be, missing out on the simple, powerful truth of what it is. Today, we're cracking open 1 John 5:1-11 to cut through the noise and get straight to the heart of what it mean...

Are you feeling like your faith journey is more about checking off boxes than truly experiencing God's presence? Maybe you work hard and play hard, trying your best to do what's right, but God sometimes feels distant. You hear about God's love, but it's hard to reconcile that with the tough breaks life throws your way or even your struggles loving people who rub you the wrong way. If you've ever w...

Back in John's day, figuring out who was a real teacher in the Christian crowd was a bit simpler. Think about it: no fancy church buildings, just folks meeting up in homes, courtyards, or down at the public square. If someone wanted to teach or share, they had to actually show up, stand up, and put in the work right there in front of everyone.   But even then, some bad apples snuck in. They weren'...

Have you ever watched the show "Pawn Stars"? In every episode, you'll see people bringing in different items they want to sell or pawn for money. Inevitably, there is a story behind the item and a claim of authenticity. Predictably, the guys behind the counter will banter over the value and try and talk the seller down. Eventually, they decide that they'll need to call in an expert to see if the i...

Ever feel like you’re waiting for Jesus to come back, but deep down, you're not so sure you're ready? Maybe you’re thinking, “Man, I’ve still got a lot of stuff to clean up before then!” You're not alone. A lot of us Christians wrestle with that feeling – like we’re on a spiritual to-do list that just keeps getting longer, and the deadline is looming.   Think about little kids when their dad pulls...

Don't Fall for the Antichrist Hype: Why the Bible's "Last Hour" Matters More Than Predicting a Villain   If you've spent any time watching Christian movies, reading end-times novels, or even listening to some pastors, you've probably heard a lot about "the Antichrist." It's often portrayed as one big, bad guy, a single person we need to be constantly watching out for, whose arrival will signal tha...

Life throws a lot at you. You work hard, you put in the hours, you get your hands dirty. But what about your faith? Does your spiritual life feel like another endless shift, a never-ending treadmill where no matter how much ground you cover, you just can't seem to get to where you're going?   Maybe it's more like a yo-yo: one day you're feeling on top of the world, close to God and clear-headed; t...

The daily grind and endless chase for more stuff, recognition, or whatever the world tells you is important can leave you feeling empty. You might see what everyone else has—the new truck, bigger house, or fancy vacation—and think, "I need that." But deep down, there's a nagging feeling that something's missing, that life has to be more than just chasing the next big thing.   Get our FREE in-Depth...

#535 - In the bustling, often chaotic world of the late first century, the early Christian communities faced a unique set of challenges. They were a diverse group, made up of former pagans, devout Jews, and everything in between, all trying to navigate what it meant to follow Christ in a world that often misunderstood, and sometimes persecuted, them. Imagine living in a society where your beliefs...

#534 John, when he wrote this letter, had a couple of jobs he was tackling at once. First off, he was calling out the folks who’d walked away from the Christian faith, mixing it up with all sorts of crazy ideas and lies. These guys were trying to sneak back into church, pushing weird notions like your body being no good or that you needed some secret handshake knowledge to get saved. But at the sa...

#533 Ever run into a guy who's always got a story, seems like he's done it all, and can't stop bragging? You know the type. When someone's that over-the-top, it's usually pretty easy to spot the fake – you just know they're full of it.   But sometimes, it's not so obvious. Especially when you're talking about faith. Some folks just sound like they really know their stuff. They'll drop big words, t...

#532 This isn't some fancy, complicated religious talk; it’s a straightforward message about who Jesus really is and why that matters to us, right here, right now. When you read these verses, you’ll see that John, the guy who wrote this, isn’t messing around. He’s telling us straight up that Jesus wasn’t just some made-up story or a ghost floating around. He was a real person, God in the flesh, an...

Ever feel like when you're trying to figure out faith, there's just a lot of confusing noise out there? Like everyone's got an opinion, but nobody's giving you the straight facts on what's true and what's just talk? Well, if you're looking to cut through the static and get down to what's real, you're in the right spot. Today, we're diving into the Bible book of 1 John. This old letter is surprisin...