Discover the Word Podcast

The word “trees” shows up more than 200 times in the Bible. Discover why it may not just be “the heavens that declare the glory of God” but also trees.Receive The Bible mentions trees more than 200 times throughout the Old and New Testament. From Genesis to Psalms to Matthew and into Revelation, it seems as though many significant theological events in the Bible are marked by a tree. As we consider the significance behind many of the trees included throughout Scripture, may we discover that not only do the heavens declare the glory of God, but...

The Bible is filled with feasts and tables set for God’s people. Discover the significance of these meals and gatherings and why they still matter today.Receive God delights in setting a table for His people. From the last supper Jesus shared with His disciples before His sacrificial death to the meals He shared with His disciples after His glorious resurrection, there are various lovely moments of fellowship between Jesus and His followers recorded for us in Scripture. The early church also knew the importance of breaking bread together. As we consider the mea...

Whether it’s in the Garden of Eden, Egypt, the wilderness, or a mountainside near the Sea of Galilee, God knows how to provide for His people. Let’s learn about the tables and meals in Scripture.Receive How lovely that the story of God happens around tables. From the farm-to-table picnic of lavish eating in the Garden of Eden, to the “fast food,” rushed meal during the first Passover, to God’s provision in the wilderness of heavenly food, on into the New Testament servings of a simple lunch to feed thousands, God delights in providin...

Discover the Jewish writings between the Testaments, known as the Apocrypha, and why they still matter for Christians today. Receive The books in the Apocrypha may be a mystery to us, but when we consider that they played a role in shaping Judaism during Jesus’ time and the apostle Paul’s life and that they would have influenced the early church, it may be worth learning about these ancient texts. Perhaps by being familiar with these writings, we’ll get a better understanding of the culture and teachings of the devout Jews who wrote them during...

 What are you conquering—or being conquered by? Explore how God’s surprising plan for His people to both conquer and be conquered is revealed throughout the Bible! Receive The word “conqueror” may make you feel uncomfortable for various reasons. But what if the Bible’s idea of conquest is better than we could ever imagine? As we ponder what it means for us to be more than conquerors through Him who loves us, let’s look to Jesus’ example of what it means to overcome. And let’s remember that His story isn’t over. May we be enco...

Conquerors can be scary—but God’s power is different. Discover from Genesis to Revelation how He makes us more than conquerors!Receive The word “conqueror” can stir up many mixed feelings and rightfully so. But the idea of conquest is found in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. What if instead of avoiding the complicated topic, we pondered how the Bible points to a better idea of conquering? As we ask God to help us overcome various trials and obstacles in our life, we can take courage knowing that we are more than conquerors though Hi...

 Overwhelmed by life’s headlines? 1 Corinthians 15 points to the news that truly matters: Jesus is risen! Receive Even though we live in an information-saturated world, we don’t have to be overwhelmed and distracted by all the news and headlines fighting for our attention. The apostle Paul wanted to remind the Corinthian church not to lose sight of what truly matters in life. The greatest good news of Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection is “Of First Importance”! No matter what time of the year it is, it’s always a good time to ponder and rejoice that J...

Come along with us as we continue tracing Jesus’ final steps in Scripture toward the crucifixion. Remember what He did for you by exploring where He stopped to speak with women and criminals, where He cared for His mother, died on the cross, and was buried. Follow our Savior’s journey to save us—and embrace how this can impact our lives today.Receive Christians once retraced Jesus’ final steps, pausing at “stations” to remember His sacrifice. In “Cross Stations,” we follow that path through Scripture. In part two, linger at the cross and the tomb as we re...

Have you ever traced Jesus’ final steps in Scripture toward the crucifixion? Come along with us as we explore where Jesus prayed alone, was betrayed and arrested, tried and condemned, mocked, and carried His cross with Simon’s help. Let these moments in the Bible help you experience our Savior’s journey to save us.Receive Early Christian pilgrims once walked the path Jesus took to the cross, stopping at “stations” to remember His suffering and love. In “Cross Stations,” we slow down with Scripture and reflect on those moments together. In part one, follow Jesus from Geth...

Friendships are an essential part of our lives but many of us struggle to build healthy ones. Rediscover how friendships can be nurtured by exploring Jesus’ friendship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.ReceiveJesus demonstrated the importance of friendship throughout the Gospels. His relationship with the Bethany siblings—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus—provides a great example of how much we need friends in our own lives, and how much we need to be a friend. Engaging in healthy communication, being dependable, growing with each other, and sharing celebrations can help our friendships flourish!Reflec...

The battle for contentment is one of life’s biggest challenges—even for followers of Christ. And that battle for contentment runs headlong into how we view money. What we use to purchase things. The phrase “silver and gold” appears in the scriptures no less than 58 times and we want this week to examine a handful of those texts to try and get some wisdom about money in general and silver and gold in particular. Receive Money touches so much of our daily lives, but the Bible helps us see it in the right perspecti...

Several times in the Bible, we read that what is impossible for man is possible for God. What does this mean in various settings? Is making the impossible possible a matter of faith? Character? God’s power? What might be dangerous about the possibility for humans? How can we understand and fully live within the boundaries of the possible while stretching to experience God’s power in the impossible?Receive When life feels uncertain, it helps to remember who God truly is and that the Bible says repeatedly that nothing is too hard for God. But...

Being afraid of something doesn’t sound preferable, but throughout the Bible we see benefits from fearing the Lord. Find out what that can look like for us today and what we’ll experience when we do!Receive The fear of the Lord is the starting place for wisdom and it leads to a never-ending friendship with a loving God. Scripture reveals that fearing the Lord is intended to comfort us not to scare us. Because the more we understand God’s character, the more we are compelled to revere Him. God’s Word guides us to exp...

What happens when people “fear the Lord” in a healthy way? Explore how this can lead to wisdom and relationship with God!Receive The Bible’s wisdom books remind us again and again that the fear of the Lord is where real wisdom begins—and that’s the kind of wisdom we need for everyday life. From big decisions to ordinary moments, we all need God’s perspective to help us navigate what’s in front of us. Proverbs offers that wisdom with a hopeful, “glass half-full” lens, giving practical guidance for daily choices. Ecclesiaste...

We want to live wisely, but that can seem impossible at times. Discover what the Bible means when it says that wisdom begins with “the fear of the Lord.”Receive What does it look like for you to grow in wisdom? Scripture invites you to begin by fearing the Lord—by learning to revere Him for who He truly is and letting that reverence shape your daily choices.  Reflect Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you?  Isaiah 10:13  Psalm 107:27 ...

The Bible is a book of invitations, and in this series, we will explore such invitations in the form of "let us" statements inviting us to join in some aspect of the life of the Christ follower. From worship to purity to endurance to love, these invitations welcome us to live with and for our Lord. Receive After exploring some Let Us invitation in the letter to the Hebrews in our last study, is it possible there are other Let Us invitations in other parts of the Bible? Step into five more biblical invitations, outside o...

Have you ever noticed that the phrase “let us...” appears thirteen times in the book of Hebrews? Join us as we explore why this phrase was important to the author and how it invites us to walk with Jesus! Receive Join together with other believers and walk with Jesus through a series of five “let us” invitations from the book of Hebrews: let us hold fast to our faith, let us approach God in prayer, let us grow spiritually mature, let us draw near to God, and let us run our race. Refle...

What happens when God’s people worship other things? Find out as we continue exploring the wayward tribe of Jacob’s son Dan with archaeologist Dr. Jonathan Greer. Receive The Danites focus on God but they distort their worship of Him. By subordinating Him to other things, establishing their own version of religion, and lacking justice, they actually keep themselves from God. While their story reveals some important cautions for us today, we can also be encouraged by God’s promise to restore all things.   Reflect Read the verses conn...

While some Bible stories surprise us, they all help us understand more about God and His plan! Discover how God was faithful to redeem the tribe of Dan and all of Israel with special guest and archaeologist Dr. Jonathan Greer.  Receive So much of Dan’s story leaves us saying “That's not the way it's supposed to be.” From his troubling conception to the Danites forced migration, this tribe does things their own way, mixing legitimate devotion to God with misguided methods of worshipping and serving Him. But ultimately, Dan, his family, and his city set...

When you hear the word "seek," what comes to mind? Hide and seek? Explorers? Searching for something you lost? Well, Matthew 6:33 is one of the best-known scriptures in our Bible. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” What does this summation mid-way through the Sermon on the Mount actually mean and how can following its guidance impact our lives?WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:📱On our website: https://www.discovertheword.org🎧Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3x2Swlq🎧Spotify: https://go.odb.org/dt...