How to Study the Bible - Bible Study Made Simple
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How to Fight Fear: The Third Secret of the Good Life
16 januari 2023 · 23 min
Have you ever wondered how your fear overlaps with other people’s fears? I think we’d find we are far more fearful that we realize. Lees meer
There is healthy fear, and unhealthy fear. One of the roles of Christianity is a new way to understand what fear is and how God helps us be confident even in the most trying circumstances. Today, we’re going to look at what God has given us to fight the fear in our lives.
In a 2022 survey of Americans, almost 9 out of 10 reported daily anxiety about inflation, with over 60% reporting daily anxiety over everything from health to relationships to global events.
Our recent history as a culture is full of trials that tempt us toward fear, whether it presents itself as a low rumble of worry always operating in the background of our mind, or a crippling anxiety that controls our every decision. When it comes to fear, the Bible has good news and bad news for us. First, the bad news: fear is as present a reality today as it was when the Bible was written, and there is no promise that circumstances will improve in a way that would give us reason not to fear.
But the good news? What God promises us is not deliverance from fearful circumstances, but deliverance from a fearful heart. In Genesis 50, Joseph’s first words for his brothers were “do not be afraid.” The good news Joseph gave to his brothers pales in comparison to the good news we find in Jesus, who repeatedly affirms that we do not need to be afraid. In Christ, we can live in uncertainty and still have peace.
(For the 19-30% of Americans with an anxiety disorder, simply “trusting God” is not the answer to a complicated illness. If your anxiety interferes with your ability to lead a normal life, there are treatments that can help alongside of your spiritual practices).
The secret of the good life is NOT that suffering won’t happen, but that we can be different people, people without fear, because of Christ.
Verses This Week:
John 14: 26-27: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom t…
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Confess and Receive: The Second Secret of the Good Life (A Bible Study on Psalm 51)
9 januari 2023 · 22 min
Today, we’re going to be working through Psalm 51, and we’re going to work through it as a devotional using the Alive Method. I encourage you to get out your bible and journal as you listen. Lees meer
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
Notice what you notice. Write down what stands out to you – that is God speaking to you through his Word. That alone is a beginning of a conversation with the Spirit.
In Psalm 51:
David acknowledges specific sin
He longs for restoration, asking for it (“grant me a willing spirit”)
A willingness to talk about your sin to testify to the grace of God
WHAT IS THE BACKSTORY?
This is the psalm David wrote after his sin with Bathsheba (listen to our episode on this story).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
We cannot move into a place of joy and peace if we have unconfessed sin or thought patterns that do not align with the glory of God and the truth of his Word and promises to us.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
1. Do you have a practice of regular confession? If you feel blocked or dull in your study of God’s Word, consider what you need to confess to God. What places do you live in fear, anxiety, self-pity, or self-hatred? Are you able to say, “This thought pattern in me, does not represent the glory of God.” (If you have a clinical thought pattern problem, you might need outside therapies! Or you may not have a clinical crisis but still carry stuck thought patterns).
2. After confession, we draw on God’s righteousness: A huge part of our faith is understanding that we throw ourselves onto the goodness of God, that we claim his character and his actions as the way we live and move (completely counter-cultural to the messages of today). I don’t have to claim to be righteous, I’m drawing on God’s righteousness. I need to own up to my mistakes and faulty and self-focused thinking.
Two verses to memorize:
Psalm 71:2: In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me.
1 John 1:9: if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our…
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The First Secret of the Good Life: Consider God
2 januari 2023 · 26 min
At the start of the year, I like to get back to the basics. What does the good life look like, according to Jesus? We have an opportunity to be a winsome follower of Jesus. If people were to see that hope in me and ask me about it, what would I say? How would I describe what the good news of Jesus is and the true, full life he offers us? Lees meer
The spiritual questions of this generation are centered on personal and societal pains, and how to choose joy, purpose and selflessness for the good of others. In this series, we’ll tackle these ideas and show how Jesus gives us the answers to our pressing questions about ourselves and the world.
The first secret to a good life in our faith is to cultivate the posture of considering. To consider means a thoughtful engagement. It requires us to focus and pay attention. Psalm 8 – “When I consider the work of your hands.” We need to create space to be intentional about thinking.
Most of us don’t make space to intentionally think, because when we do, it brings up negative feelings – anxiety, un-dealt with emotions, and places where we feel grief or loss or out of control.
But when we disconnect from bad feelings, we disconnect from the good feelings of joy, hope, and love. To feel the fullness of joy, we also have to engage with the things that are difficult. Considering, then, is the first step to a more joyful life.
What might this look like in our lives? Well, first, it might look like a 5-10 minute quiet walk or spending time to explore something outside of yourself and away from technological distractions.
What our culture tends to do is look inside ourselves to find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. This “Gospel according to Oprah” sounds so good but it doesn’t work.
John 4:24 tells us a better way. “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” This is objective truth. Do you believe this?
Your Practice For This Week: Consider – Who Is God?
1. Read how God reveals himself in creation: Job …
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A Bible Study on Mary: Surprised By Joy
26 december 2022 · 18 min
WHAT DOES IT SAY? Lees meer
Luke 1
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
What do we know about Mary:
-she knew some scripture
-she was faithful
-she was among the believers [not venerated, but in community]Acts 1:14
14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
Mary had no qualifications for being chosen.
This beginning also mirrors our beginning when it comes to receiving the good news.
All of the good news is contained here:
You who are highly favored.
In the context of the world, she is not highly favored. When we think of what makes someone highly favored, we tend to think of the examples we have in the world. But that wasn’t Mary at all.
You have found favor with God.
[favor=charis=grace]
-Not dependent on anything that she (or us) can do.
The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers. (Deuteronomy 7:6–8)
What was given through the Israelites is now passed to everyone:
Galatians 3:14
14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
The Lord is with you.
Matthew 1:23
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
You aren’t alone. You aren’t isolated. God knows you.
*Emmanuel
B…
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A Bible Study on Bathsheba: How to Wait with Joy
19 december 2022 · 19 min
Get Your FREE Gift from Nicole! Lees meer
Nicole has written a free Christmas Eve liturgy for you and your family: https://www.nicoleunice.com/christmas
When you sign up for Nicole’s newsletter, you’ll also be entered to win Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers!
TODAY’S PASSAGE: 1 Kings 1:28-31:
28 Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So, she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.
29 The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 30 I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”
31 Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
- Bathsheba is a key person in David’s kingdom
- Lineage passing
WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
- Run down your study notes in 2 Samuel 12
- Trouble in the kingdom, sons ready to kill for the throne
- Backstory of the pain and renewal of David and Bathsheba - a whole new lifeWHAT DOES IT MEAN?
- So why is Bathsheba mentioned in Matthew 1? (And she’s named Uriah’s wife)
- Advent: as we wait, we can trust in the renewal of all things that is promised through Christ and in Christ’s ultimate return:Titus 3: 4-6:
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
God’s plan is uncomfortable- if we didn’t know it before with Tamar and Rahab, Ruth are we getting it by now?
Do not count yourself out -- you are not your own judge.
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. - 1 Samuel 16:7
FOLLOW NIC…
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Faith Over Fear: Having The Courage to Process Past Traumas
15 december 2022 · 38 min
We live in a broken world filled with broken people. Because of this, everyone experiences some level of trauma. Unfortunately, past trauma experiences can greatly impact our lives, perceptions, and interactions in the present. This special bonus episode (from the podcast Faith Over Fear) sheds a light on this topic and offers valuable resources you can use in your life to gain courage. Lees meer
To hear more episodes of Faith Over Fear, please check out the links below!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-over-fear/id1500408829
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GCj0NnLVrkEqeSraSxJYx
LifeAudio: https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear
Nicole will be back on Monday with a brand new episode of How to Study the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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A Bible Study on Ruth: God is in the Business of Renewal
12 december 2022 · 19 min
**Giveaway! Enter to Win Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers by signing up for Nicole’s newsletter at: https://nicoleunice.com/christmas/ Lees meer
Today’s Passage: Ruth 1:15-18:
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
Ruth makes an incredible declaration of loyalty, commitment, and acceptance of God.
WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
Ruth is Moabite: why is that significant?
Corners of fields were historically left for the poor to glean.
Themes in the book of Ruth include emptiness/fullness; God’s sovereignty and also human responsibility/courage
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The story of Ruth closes with genealogy: a little micro-story of the goodness to come in Matthew 1. God’s sovereignty is on the move from generation to generation. During hard, evil times, God is at work.
God’s extension of grace to outsiders is a theme throughout the Bible and through the line of Jesus. He is in the business of renewal, moving us from emptiness to fullness.
God rewards faith, tenacity, and audacity – we see this in Ruth.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
What do you need to hear in this story today?
Be encouraged - God’s not done even with your story.
FOLLOW NICOLE:
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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A Bible Study on Rahab: Have Faith in God’s Plan for You (God of Our Mothers, Pt 2)
5 december 2022 · 14 min
Get Your FREE Gift From Nicole! Lees meer
Nicole has written a free Christmas Eve liturgy for you and your family:
https://www.nicoleunice.com/christmasWHAT DOES IT SAY?
This week, we’re looking at Joshua 2 and Joshua 6
The stories of the God of the Israelites have spread to the cities surrounding them and have gotten to Rahab. She decides to go all-in based on what she has heard about God.
WHAT IS THE CONTEXT?Matthew 1: Genealogies are put in place because the people matter to the story
What stories continue to be told about Rahab? She comes up in Hebrews and in James: “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Faith without deeds is dead. Faith does not exist as just an idea in your mind. It is only faith when it’s put into action.WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
Even if you feel like you have no options, like the doors are closed – you can still be righteous. You can still have faith that God has a plan and a purpose for you, even if it feels like a dark season in your life.FOLLOW NICOLE:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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A Bible Study on Tamar: You Are Not Defined by Your Past (God of Our Mothers, Part 1)
28 november 2022 · 21 min
We are kicking off a new Advent series! We are going to be looking at the women in Jesus’ lineage in a ‘God of Our Mothers’ series. In Matthew 1, we get a genealogy of Jesus’ family. Genealogies are put in place because the people matter to the story, and there are several women named in his family line. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look closely at the women in Jesus’ lineage and what they have to teach us about the God who loves us and came to rescue us. Lees meer
This week, we’re looking at the story of Tamar.
FREE Gift from Nicole!
Nicole has written a free Christmas Eve liturgy for you and your family:
https://www.nicoleunice.com/christmas*WHAT DOES IT SAY?*
Matthew 1:1-3:
“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar…”Genesis 38 – Who Is Tamar?
1. She is not an Israelite
2. She is unwanted
3. She is mistreated
4. She is seeking justice
5. She is shrewd(Don’t forget how Judah’s mom came to have him--also veiled and in disguise)
Genesis 38:26 is the turning point in the story. Judah confesses his unrighteousness, and we see that Tamar is brought into his family and one of her twin sons becomes part of the lineage that leads to Jesus (Perez).
*WHAT IS THE BACKSTORY*
After Joseph is sold into slavery, we get this graphic story in Genesis 38. We see the wickedness of Judah as a foil to Joseph’s righteousness. But eventually, we’ll see Judah take a righteous turn. First, though, he marries a Canaanite, and they have three sons. One of these sons marries Tamar.
*WHAT DOES IT MEAN?*
1. God colors outside the lines.
2. We are never defined by our past.
3. God sees the marginalized.*WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?*
How do we define ourselves? Are we righteous on our own, or sinners on our own? Can we relate to Tamar? If we can relate, we can receive. “I have come …
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How to Be “Seasoned with Salt” toward Outsiders (A Bible Study on Colossians 4:5-6)
21 november 2022 · 20 min
WHAT DOES IT SAY? Lees meer
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
This is Paul’s last final instructions for us in this letter. 4 big points:
1. Be wise in your way
2. Make the most of every opportunity
3. Shape our conversation
4. Know how to answer outsidersWHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
A. On outsiders and opportunities:
People are being added to the church every day – God is not just the God of the Jewish people but of everyone. The gospel of Jesus Christ is about being saved through grace by faith. Paul is saying, “you have to engage with those outside the faith.”
Ephesians 5:15-16 states “Be careful then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…”
B. On conversation:
1 Peter 3:15: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” This verse assumes you are living hopeful. Amid your sufferings, you have a hope that makes people want to ask you, “Why are you the way you are?” Are you living hopeful? Are you living joyful, despite your troubles?
C. On being seasoned with salt:
Salt is used to season food, to make it palatable and enrich the flavor. But salt is also a “symbol of lasting concord,” and the Arabic expression “There is salt between us” implies eating together and developing a friendship. Speech seasoned with salt can mean several things:
1. Salt, as a seasoning, makes speech more intriguing and enticing to the listener. Paul was known to speak this way, as with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Athens. Salt, as a symbol of friendship, implies that believers were not to “preach” to their non-believing neighbors, but to be in relationship and friendship with them, letting their actions and conduct join with their “seasoned” words in sharing the gospel.
2. Salt has also been associated with wit and is …
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How to Practice Radical Forgiveness with Carley Marcouillier (A Bible Study on Colossians 3:12-17)
14 november 2022 · 24 min
FOLLOW NICOLE FOR THE FREE COLOSSIANS READING PLAN! Lees meer
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Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/howtostudythebiblepod/
Email Newsletter: https://nicoleunice.com/realtalk/FIND MORE FROM CARLEY:
Listen to Carley's Podcast Therapy + Theology:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/therapy-theology-with-carley-marcouillier/id1565826125
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1q70A94yQ8lT5tUPKgN9R1
LifeAudio: https://www.lifeaudio.com/therapy-theology-with-carley-marcouillier/
FOLLOW T+T on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/therapyandtheologypodcast/FOLLOW CARLEY:
Website: https://www.carleymarcouillier.com/WHAT DOES IT SAY:
12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
OBSERVATIONS:
- Where we start from: we are God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved. That is our identity.- Clothing yourselves with these character traits is a daily, intentional practice
- Forgiveness practices: it’s NOT sweeping things under the rug. It’s going to the person and explaining the hurt. It’s countercultural, it’s not in our nature outside of Christ. The new nature that we are able to put on enables us to practice forgiveness.
WHAT’S THE BACKS…
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Jesus Has Authority Over All (A Bible Study on Colossians 2:1-5)
7 november 2022 · 20 min
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. Lees meer
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
- Paul’s goal: that the church would be encouraged in heart and united in love--that’s the vehicle for how we know Christ.
- All wisdom is in Christ
- Deception is real!WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
- Paul is writing to a church he helped to start. Usually, these Pauline letters are a response to a conflict or question in the church.
- Use your cross-references to build your own bible study. For example, in this chapter, our cross reference points us to 1 Peter, where we see there are things within the church that are deceptive: 1 Peter 5 and Ephesians 6WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
- To stand firm and discern wisely, I need to be finding my wisdom in Christ by remaining in him.
- John 15:4: Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
Stop/Start/Continue -
- What do I need to stop? Start? What do I need to continue in order to be walking in the way of Jesus?WANT MORE?
Check out Nicole’s book Help! My Bible Is Alive: 30 Days of Learning to Love and Understand God’s Word - https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216
FOLLOW NICOLE:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
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Jesus Is Enough for All (A Bible Study on Colossians 1:15-20)
31 oktober 2022 · 19 min
Last week, we covered the big idea of Colossians, be sure to check that out if you haven’t:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3U6gRAC
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3TSodIa Lees meerGrab the FREE Colossians reading plan:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/howtostudythebiblepod/
Email Newsletter: https://nicoleunice.com/realtalk/WHAT DOES IT SAY:
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.Look for repetition – in this section of scripture, the word “All”:
- Over all creation
- All things were created
- All things were created
- Before all things
- All things hold togetherWHAT’S THE BACKSTORY:
He existed before his earthly life (before all things) – he is supremeWHAT DOES IT MEAN?
v 18 - “so that” – cues us in to the reason Paul is explaining this to the Colossiansv 19-20 - Jesus is God, and He is a reconciling agent (bringing back into proper order)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
There is nothing in life that is untouched by Christ--either now or later. Either you choose to have Christ’s reconciling work bring you to communion with the Father, or ultimately that will happen later. I choose to be friends with God now.Revelation 21
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water… -
NEW SERIES! A Vision for All (A Bible Study on Colossians 1:3-7)
24 oktober 2022 · 19 min
Our new series starts today!! Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be in the book of Colossians. Lees meer
FOLLOW NICOLE FOR THE FREE COLOSSIANS READING PLAN!
Starting 10/31 we will have a reading plan as we cover the book of Colossians. You can receive that by following me in one of a few places:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/howtostudythebiblepod/
Email Newsletter: https://nicoleunice.com/realtalk/INTRO TO COLOSSIANS:
Colossians is an early letter in Christian history, about 30 years after Christ’s death and resurrection, written by Paul (with help from Timothy).
Why are the New Testament letters usually written? Because conflict in the church is happening, and Paul (the planter of churches) is writing to address those issues help them through those conflicts.
THEME OF COLOSSIANS:
The overarching theme of this book is how Christ is in all things, and the ramifications of that for us.Most commentators agree that perhaps someone in the church was teaching different rituals and superstitions for a “different level” of faith, a “Jesus plus ‘this ritual’” – and Paul is returning the church to this true doctrine, that Jesus is ALL. There is nothing else we must add to our faith. Jesus is ALL.
LET’S READ TOGETHER:
Colossians 1:3-7 -
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
WANT MORE?
Check out Nicole’s book Help! My Bible Is Alive: 30 Days of Learning to Love and Understand God’s Word - https://www.amazon.c…
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Jacob: Wrestling for the Truth (A Bible Study on Genesis 32:22-32)
17 oktober 2022 · 16 min
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
Jacob Wrestles with God Lees meer22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.
WHAT IS THE BACKSTORY?
It’s really important in the Old Testament to zoom out and figure out where the story you are reading is placed within the larger story surrounding it. If we cut Genesis into fractions, we’ll miss out on its meaning.
Let’s first look back at Jacob’s life -
Jacob is a twin, who struggled inside his mother’s womb. His life is marked by struggle, an ongoing theme throughout his life. He steals his brother’s blessing and birthright, and then leaves home.
Jacob prays to God in Genesis 32:9-12. He is fearful and trying to control the situation he finds himself in (about to meet Esau).
After the dream – Esau is a picture of grace. He runs to Jacob, kissing him.
During the dream encounter – s…
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Jacob: God Is Committed to Dwelling with Us (A Bible Study on Genesis 28:10-22)
10 oktober 2022 · 22 min
We are part of a very big story. Every single one of us who calls on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is a living stone. Every single one of us has a precious and important part to play in creating this spiritual house, this place where God dwells. I am living my life out as a piece of the dwelling place of God! I take my little piece everywhere I go. Lees meer
Everywhere you go, you bring a dwelling place of God with you.
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
Jacob’s Dream at Bethel - Genesis 28:10-22:
10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it[a] stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[b] 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
18 Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel,[c] though the city used to be called Luz.
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food…
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Do You Believe the Lord Will Bring You into a Spacious Place? (A Bible Study on Genesis 26:22-26)
3 oktober 2022 · 19 min
God calls himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, over and over in Scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments. God is establishing his covenant through these families; God’s chosen people is created – these families become the Israelites. And we, through Christ, are the new Israel as believers. As Galatians 3:18 tells us, “we are all one through Christ Jesus.” Lees meer
*WHAT DOES IT SAY?*
Genesis 26:22-25
He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”
25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.
-- There is so much humanness playing out in these verses - arguments, playing favorites, lying! Humanity makes mistakes, even God’s chosen people. Isaac lied about his wife just like Abraham did.
-- Just because you are struggling or in conflict, doesn’t mean you are outside of God’s favor.
*WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?*
-- There is a famine in the land, but God tells Isaac to stay in the land and promises blessing.
-- Both Abraham and Isaac fall prey to being scared about their wives’ beauty and lies about them – a pattern of lying for self-protection (and not trusting God).
-- God’s chosen people are not perfect. Isaac and Rebekah, and their children, lie and manipulate. Human family disfunction is playing out.
*WHAT DOES IT MEAN?*
-- “The Lord has given us room.” This phrase points to the idea of “a spacious place” told to us in scripture, such as in Psalm 118:5. “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.” We are most likely to sin any time we get into a scarcity mi…
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Isaac: Saved by Grace (A Bible Study on Genesis 22:11-14)
26 september 2022 · 18 min
Why does it matter that we study these Old Testament stories? When we’re able to zoom way out and see what God has been stepping in to help the generations before us, we’re able to place our own sufferings and struggles in context. The God of our Fathers is our God, too. The covenants God has made with our forefathers are for us, too. Lees meer
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” - Genesis 22:11-14
God appeared to Abraham and told him to sacrifice Isaac. We have to remember; this is a different time and day. Abraham trusts God and obeys. As he moves toward the action of sacrifice, God intervenes. God calls out personally to Abraham, and he provides an alternative. He doesn’t just cancel the plan, he provides a substitute sacrifice.
WHAT IS THE BACKSTORY?
If you’ve been reading Genesis, you know a few weeks ago that God made a covenant with Abraham through his descendants, promising him that he will in fact have children. Sarah does in fact get pregnant even though she’s ninety years old.
Then the bizarre happens: God tells Abraham to sacrifice this son, who is the fulfillment of the covenant. What is going on here?
This is another chapter in a long life with a faithful God. Many commentators believe that Abraham might have thought even if he killed Isaac, God could bring him back to life.
God tests us to show us what’s already there. He tests us to show us the strength of our faith that is already present. When we go th…
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Understanding the Abrahamic Covenant (A Bible Study on Genesis 15:1-6)
19 september 2022 · 24 min
This episode is the second in a series we are calling God of Our Fathers. Find all of our episodes here: https://www.lifeaudio.com/how-to-study-the-bible/ Lees meer
1. WHAT DOES IT SAY?
Notice how God is personal and relational. “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
2. WHAT IS THE BACKSTORY?
Abram is childless but knows God’s promise to make a nation from his.
In Genesis 14, he’s just been tempted to gain power by making a treaty with another king and resists that temptation. His faithfulness has been tested.Covenant ceremony: You cut the animal and walk between in as a sign. “Let me be like these dead animals if I don’t keep my promise.”
3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Covenant is an incredibly important part of our faith.
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. – This is incredibly important! It is his faith, not his work, that God counts his righteousness.
Faith is belief in action.
This idea carries us into our relationship with a Christ, who made a new covenant--he cut a new deal, or more importantly, a “fulfilled” deal, Hebrews 7:22 “Jesus is the guarantor of a better covenant…”
No longer under the law as a sign of our citizenship and acceptance as God’s people--we are under the covenant, an inward reality.
Old Covenant required a series of laws and birthright to be God’s chosen people.
Old Covenant required sacrifices made over and over.
Old Covenant required a priest to mediate between the people and God, not direct access.New Covenant calls all people by faith.
New Covenant means Christ is the ultimate sacrifice made for all our sins.
New Covenant means Jesus is our great high priest, mediating on our behalf so we have access, full communion with God through him.4. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
Because of our acceptance, our worth comes from what’s been done for us, not what we do for God.
Our response, our obedience to God comes from love an…
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We’re Back! God of Our Fathers: Abraham (A Bible Study on Genesis 12:1-3)
12 september 2022 · 23 min
WHAT DOES IT SAY? Lees meer
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
We see “blessed” 5 times in the text – the central message of this passage is blessing!
WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
Genesis 3-11: A dumpster fire of what happens when sin separates people from God
Genesis 11: Terah (Abram’s dad) is going to Canaan, but settles in Haran. Abram is going to be told to go to the place his father never made it to.
“I will bless you so you will be a blessing” – this is the purpose of blessings, to bless others.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Questions to consider –
What does it mean to be a representative?
What does it mean to bless?
What does it mean that Abram is a blessing?
What does it look like to move blessing on?WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
God always has a plan. He pursues blessing for his people despite our failings.
Abraham’s part to play was obedience.Everything in your life is part of a bigger plan. God is constantly working his plan out in the world, and you a part of that plan.
WANT MORE?
Check out Nicole’s book Help! My Bible Is Alive: 30 Days of Learning to Love and Understand God’s Word - https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216
FOLLOW NICOLE:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Finding Strength in God's Joy (Re-Air)
27 juni 2022 · 12 min
RESOURCES:
Help, My Bible Is Alive!: https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216 Lees meerSubscribe to Nicole’s weekly podcast, Let's Be Real: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-be-real-with-nicole-unice/id1505817001
FOLLOW NICOLE:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Introducing: The Happy Rant Podcast
23 juni 2022 · 38 min
In this episode of the Happy Rant, Ted Kluck, Ronnie Martin, and Barnabas Piper wander to and fro through a variety of topics: Lees meer
1. Who we are, a brief introduction for new listeners
2. What we love about podcasting together
3. How we would describe our show: The Seinfeld of podcasts, a Piper family dinner party, and a description to aspirational college studentsSubscribe to Happy Rant:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happy-rant/id878250651
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iIwABQZ3mTsFtOx6hOafXListen on LifeAudio: https://www.lifeaudio.com/the-happy-rant/episodes
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Finding Security Despite Uncertainty (Re-Air)
20 juni 2022 · 12 min
This month we are re-airing Nicole’s 2020, 4-part miniseries called "Comfort in God’s Promises." We'll be using what we learned through the Alive Method of Bible Study in order to apply God’s never-changing truth to the ever-changing circumstances of our lives. Lees meer
“When the things we have found our comfort and security in are failing, it is at that point Jesus invites us to go deeper with him.” - Nicole Unice
In this episode, Nicole walks us through Luke 5:4-11 using the Alive Method of Bible Study, guiding us to our true source of security when life is uncertain.
RESOURCES:
Help, My Bible Is Alive!: https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216Subscribe to Nicole’s weekly podcast, Let's Be Real: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-be-real-with-nicole-unice/id1505817001
FOLLOW NICOLE:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Finding Peace in Anxiety (Re-Air)
14 juni 2022 · 14 min
This month we are re-airing Nicole’s 2020, 4-part miniseries called "Comfort in God’s Promises." We'll be using what we learned through the Alive Method of Bible Study in order to apply God’s never-changing truth to the ever-changing circumstances of our lives. Lees meer
“As a people of God, we are called to bold and courageous action. But when our lives get smaller and smaller because of the fear of what we think might happen, we actually are out of accord with God’s purpose and design for our lives.”
Fear is real, and it’s because we do have real things to be afraid of. But sometimes, our survival instincts, like fear, can begin to work overtime and unnecessarily become anxiety. In today’s episode, Nicole unpacks what to do when our fears become anxieties that begin to impact how we make decisions. If you struggle with anxiety, this is a must-listen episode.
This is episode #2 in Nicole's 4-part series "Finding Comfort in the Promises of God." You can listen to part one here: Finding Hope in Stressful Times
RESOURCES:
Help, My Bible Is Alive!: https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216Subscribe to Nicole’s weekly podcast, Let's Be Real: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-be-real-with-nicole-unice/id1505817001
FOLLOW NICOLE:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Finding Hope in Stressful Times
6 juni 2022 · 14 min
This month we are re-airing Nicole’s 2020, 4-part miniseries called "Comfort in God’s Promises." We'll be using what we learned through the Alive Method of Bible Study in order to apply God’s never-changing truth to the ever-changing circumstances of our lives. Lees meer
In this episode, Nicole unpacks how to go to Scripture to find hope in stressful times. Learn what it looks like to "go back to home base” whenever you feel discouraged or confused.
Scripture References:
Matthew 13:44; Matthew 6:19-21; Ecclesiastes 2; Philippians 4:19RESOURCES:
Help, My Bible Is Alive!: https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216Subscribe to Nicole’s weekly podcast, Let's Be Real: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-be-real-with-nicole-unice/id1505817001
FOLLOW NICOLE:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Stories Jesus Told: The Prodigal Son, Part 2 (A Bible Study on Luke 15)
31 mei 2022 · 21 min
If you’ve been in the church or faith for a while, the temptation to believe “God, aren’t I good enough to get the best from you?” When we say that, we really mean what seems best to us. This is an easy but dangerous mindset for the “good person” to slip into.
In this last session in our Stories Jesus Told series, we are looking once again at the Prodigal of the Lost Son. But this week, we’ll be looking at the older son, the second half of this parable. Lees meer**1. WHAT DOES IT SAY?**
What a cliffhanger ending! A courageous conversation from the father, and we do not know if the older son accepts and receives this word from the father.
In the older brother’s heart is resentment and a refusal to go into the celebration. The younger son went far away in his heart and body. The older son went away in his heart and is now physically outside. The father goes to both, but the reactions of the sons are different.
The father’s posture toward both sons is continual generosity.
**2. WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?**
The older son always gets a double portion, which is not touched by the younger son. The anger, animosity and resentment are not because the younger brother swindled him.
**3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?**
It is by grace we are saved. For the younger brother, the sin is obvious and so are the consequences of that sin. What’s less obvious is how sin interrupts the older brother’s life, but the consequences are there, too.
Who’s outside the party now?
The older brother fails to realize that “anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him” (1 John 2:9-11).
**4. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?**
In this story, the child closest to home is the one who has allowed sin to blind him from his own reality, from his own need for lavish grace.…
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Stories Jesus Told: The Prodigal Son, Part 1 (A Bible Study on Luke 15)
23 mei 2022 · 18 min
“We will find ourselves far from home all throughout life, because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The question is, when we find ourselves there, what will we do with grace?” Lees meer
This is perhaps the most famous parable Jesus told. This week, we are looking at this story from the eyes of the father, and the eyes of the younger son.
Check out: Rembrandt’s ‘Return of the Prodigal Son’ - https://bit.ly/3PCQmkL
1. WHAT DOES IT SAY?
- The younger son says he wants his inheritance. This is egregious- who asks for their inheritance before the parent dies? But the father doesn’t protest – he gives the son his share of the inheritance.
- He leaves for a distant country and squanders it all. Then the country experiences a famine, and unprepared, he finds himself with nothing. He goes to feed pigs – an unclean animal to the Jews. He’s so hungry he wants to eat the food of the pigs. No one is there for him.
- Decides to go back to his father and beg to become his servant.
- The father sees the son, runs to him, kisses him, clothes him, and celebrates his return.
2. WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
Jesus is telling stories of things people lose – and the final story is about an actual person who is lost.
3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Our Heavenly Father is waiting for our return, scanning the horizon. He runs to us, full of compassion.
4. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
What piece of this story can you relate to?
Are you trying to will yourself back to the good path?
Can you recognize yourself in the younger son? What will you do with the astounding level of grace and love God has for you?
We reap what we sow – what are we reaping in this life?***
Check out Nicole’s book on this topic: Help! My Bible Is Alive: 30 Days of Learning to Love and Understand God’s Word - https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleuni… -
Stories Jesus Told: The Great Banquet (A Bible Study on Luke 14)
16 mei 2022 · 19 min
A reminder: A parable is a story that tells us a spiritual truth. Lees meer
The blessings of the kingdom are available to all who will come to Christ by faith. We have a part in accepting that invitation.
1. WHAT DOES IT SAY?
The question asked of Jesus: What does it mean to be righteous? What behaviors make you righteous? Jesus shocked them with a different way to see the kingdom.
The man preparing the banquet – God. This is God’s story.
Think about the excuses that were given – are they “good excuses”?
Jesus makes it clear that the kingdom of heaven is open for people who would not normally get an invitation.
2. WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
Who was “one of those” – a prominent Pharisee
Where was the table? – the Pharisee’s house3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
It’s not about what you have to get invited, it’s about whether you say yes. The only ones left out are the ones who choose to be left out. The blessings of the kingdom are available by faith.
The inclusion of the Gentiles is a fulfillment of Hosea 2:23, “I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
4. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
We need to realize that as we become comfortable in our faith, as we are more and more surrounded by those who are also Christians, the edge of self-righteousness can creep in. Let’s not lose the spirit of the invitation!
God is seeking people intentionally and intensely seeking people for his kingdom. The people in Jesus’ time who wanted to put restrictions around who was invited were the ones Jesus directed these parables to.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER THIS WEEK:Are we inadvertently putting up barriers between ourselves and other people, to say someone is in or out of the kingdom?
Am I more concerned with naming behaviors that help me know who is in or out of the ki…
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Stories Jesus Told: Asking God for Good Things (A Bible Study on Luke 11:5-13)
9 mei 2022 · 17 min
“We do not become less needy and less dependent when we pray, we become more needy, more dependent, that is to say, more human.” - Eugene Peterson Lees meer
God invites us into a relationship where we are more dependent on him, not less and less.
1. WHAT IT SAYS
One friend is needy and dependent on another. What makes the other friend finally get up? The persistent, shameless knocking.2. WHAT’S THE BACKSTORY?
This whole passage comes right after Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Now Jesus is telling a parable centered around one friend asking another friend for food.3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
God wants to meet us in the human stuff of life. He wants to meet our real needs. Above all, he gives the Holy Spirit.When we ask for good things, he will not give us bad things. The best thing he can give us is the Holy Spirit.
4. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?
Do we come to God more and more dependent? God is inviting us to become more and more dependent on him, not less. He is inviting us to become more aware of our need for him.QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER THIS WEEK:
Have you found yourself no longer asking God for things in prayer? Have you stopped being shamelessly audacious? Are your dreams smaller and smaller? Are you less dependent and open to receiving from the Lord?
Perhaps God is knocking on the door of your heart to allow Him to give you good things. Be honest about your daily needs. And be confident that he meets those needs with a filling of the Holy Spirit.
***
Check out Nicole’s book on this topic: Help! My Bible Is Alive: 30 Days of Learning to Love and Understand God’s Word - https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at…
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Stories Jesus Told: Two Debtors (A Bible Study on Luke 7 & Matthew 18)
2 mei 2022 · 20 min
This week, we’re looking at two different stories about debts owed, Jesus’ response to those debts, and our experience with forgiveness. Lees meer
Forgiveness does not necessarily always mean the restoration of a relationship. If someone hurts you repeatedly, it does not mean you should put yourself in a position to be hurt again and again. But what God does call us to is forgiveness, because it is good for our souls.
When we are not forgiven, we are bound up, and when we are bound up, we are not receiving the mercy of God for ourselves. We’re not receiving the love of God for our deep debt.
--1. What Does It Say?--
In both stories, we have –
Two debtors: one who owes a little, and one who owes a lot.
A merciful king, willing to relieve the debt
A different way of receiving the forgiveness that is happening--2. What Does It Mean?--
Forgiveness for us and to us is not optional in the Kingdom of God. Our relationship to forgiveness will be in direct proportion to our ability to love.
God gives two options in Matthew 18 – do you want justice or mercy?
--3. What Does It Mean for Me?--
God has called you to forgive because it is good for your souls, and because he wants you to receive forgiveness.
--Questions to consider this week:--
What would it look like for me to live with a heart of mercy?
Are there any places in my heart where I am harboring unforgiveness and hurt?
Do you want to live with your Father who is merciful, or your Father who is just?***
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Stories Jesus Told: The Good Samaritan (A Bible Study on Luke 10:25-37)
25 april 2022 · 19 min
Parable means “to throw alongside” – Jesus uses everyday stories to teach spiritual truths. Lees meer
- 1. - What does it say:
This story is so familiar that even those outside of Christianity know and use the phrase “the good Samaritan.”
Who are the characters?
The lawyer – this was a religious leader whose job it was to interpret the Law for the people, to explain how to live righteously.
People groups called out – Jesus uses different people groups that would have a known context to his listeners and to provoke thought and engagement
- 2. - What’s the backstory:
Usually, the person in authority would ask the questions of the teacher, but immediately Jesus turns it on its head and asks the lawyer to answer the question.
To deal with anything “left half-dead” would make you unclean. The uncleanliness of helping a half-dead man would leave the religious leaders unable to perform their religious duties.
- 3. - What does it mean:
Both ‘neighbor’ and ‘love’ are redefined by Jesus in this parable. The expert correctly links the love of God and love of neighbor to each other, but Jesus redefines who was a neighbor, therefore expanding the love of God.
He is showing that religious duties are not as important as offering mercy to the people in your path.
- 4. - What does it mean for me?
The right question is not “who is my neighbor?” The right question is “who is being a good neighbor?” How can we “go and do likewise”?
Am I being a neighbor? Perhaps in big things, it would be easy, but what about in little things?
Neighbor is no longer defined by the other person, it’s defined by my action.
***
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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The Parable of the Sower (A Bible Study on Luke 8:4-15)
18 april 2022 · 15 min
We are kicking off a new series this week! Stories Jesus Told: A Series on Parables. Lees meer
Today, we’re looking at the parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-15. In light of Jesus’ resurrection, let’s look back at the way of his teaching and the relevancy of his lessons for us today.
“A parable is not to tell us something new, but to remind us of something we’ve overlooked.” - Eugene Peterson
- 1. What does it say? -
Questions we might ask:
Who are the characters in this story?
Where does the seed land?
What happens to the seeds in the various places they land?
What is the text -not- saying? (We will use scripture to interpret scripture)- 2. What is the background context? -
Parables use a story that would make sense to the listeners at the time--and Jesus then uses that story to lay down a spiritual truth. Parables are for those who are willing to receive: so we start today with this parable of “hearing.’
- 3. What does it mean? -
This parable is explained for us by Jesus, so we don’t have to reach far to find the explanation!
- 4. What does it mean for me? -
What kind of hearer of the Word are you? In this season of life, how does the Word land for you, when you hear it or read it? How can you receive the Word with joy today?
***
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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How to Pray, Week 6: Deliver Us from The Evil One
11 april 2022 · 19 min
Every single day you face temptation. And every single day, you have tools to remember who you are and who you belong to. You my friend, are a child of God. Lees meer
FIRST - What’s the backstory?
Remember, at this point in our reading, we will have questions! Here are a few of mine:
Does God lead us to temptation, or to sin?
How does God deliver us? Who is the evil one?For answers, let’s look to Scripture:
James 1:13-14: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.Matthew 4:1-11: look at how Jesus was tempted….
SECOND - What does it mean?
How does the enemy work?
1. With subtle, powerful lies:
When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
Coaching work/struggle is real is about bringing out lies into the light—
What kind of lies are you likely to believe?2. By masquerading as light:
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.3. Using questions to lead us to temptation:
Designed to confuse, confound, discourage and ultimately to take us toward independence from God and suspicion toward others:THIRD - What does it mean for me?
We will have fights to face in this world, but we don’t face them alone.This is a daily and intentional practice from beginning to end. The fullness of what it looks like to be in relationship with God is captured in this prayer.
***
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian po…
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How to Pray, Week 5: Forgive Us Our Debts
4 april 2022 · 25 min
1. What Does It Say? Lees meer
“Forgive/Forgiven”, “Debts/Debtors” – We are asking God for forgiveness. We also forgive our debtors. What is going on when we forgive someone?
2. What Is the Backstory?
Jesus is preaching in the Sermon on the Mount – a primer to a completely different way of life in the Kingdom of God.
This verse has a legal background – Deuteronomy 15:2. Debt must be address. We are in a deficit. And the Lord’s release has been proclaimed.
3. What Does It Mean?
This prayer is all about connecting with God – and prayer, confession and forgiveness is part of that connection. God’s holiness cannot endorse our sinfulness – we must address our sin.
God’s abundance makes stringent economic pressure on others inappropriate.
4. What Does It Mean for Me?
Do we live with a sense of superiority over others? This is fundamentally unwise. If you can’t forgive others, you have not experienced forgiveness.
(Drew also explains what forgiveness is *not*)
***
Want to go deeper than the podcast? This series includes access to a private Facebook group: you can join here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodwithnicoleuniceIf you want access to exclusive content (interviews, bonus teaching and a 28-day prayer plan), you can pay for premium here: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/
Subscribe to Nicole’s mailing list and get a weekly companion guide for each episode, with journal prompts and reflection questions: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/
***
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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How to Pray, Week 4: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
28 maart 2022 · 28 min
1. What does it say? Lees meer
“Give” – We need something outside of us to supply sustenance. How much do we believe that we are the source of love and life for ourselves and others?
“Us Our” – This prayer for all of God’s children, for a community of people. This is communal prayer. We are praying for ourselves, but also for a community of people to be provided for, by God.
“This Day Our Daily” – This isn’t tomorrow’s bread or retirement bread. It’s today’s bread. Are you anxious for provision months away? This prayer challenges us to focus our prayers for today’s needs and come back to him daily.
“Bread” – Our most basic, daily needs are food and water, and God wants us to ask for our daily needs.
2. What is the backstory?
In Matthew’s gospel, this verse comes in the middle of the Lord’s prayer. This verse comes right after the part of the prayer that is totally focused on God and what he has done. This is the shift in the prayer that focuses on us and what we need.
Further out context – this is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This prayer comes amid teaching about the Kingdom of God and how to live life in the Kingdom.
3. What does it mean?
Whole-bible context: God provided manna in the desert during the Exodus. It was literally a daily provision of food from God to his people. God provides for our needs. Are you grateful and aware of his daily provision?
Jesus’ miraculous abilities are shown through providing food – think of the thousands he fed, and The Last Supper. Bread is a symbol of community, and a symbol of his body, broken for us.
4. What does it mean for you and for me?
God provides in all seasons of life – in hard and good seasons, through neighbors or friends – if I accept my neediness, then I will be able to accept God’s provision in my life through these various means. Life becomes a gift to receive, not a trial to endure.
***
Want to go deeper than the podcast? This series includes access to a private Facebook group: you can join here: https://… -
How to Pray, Week 3: Thy Kingdom Come
21 maart 2022 · 18 min
Jesus is always using stories to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. He uses imagery to help us humans - who are not yet in heaven – understand a little bit of what heaven is like. Lees meer
Week 3 Scripture: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6:10
This week, we’re looking at three specific things in this verse – “your/thy,” “kingdom,” and “will.”
Reflection Questions:
1. What does the Bible say about the kingdom of God?
2. What does the Bible say about His will?***
Want to go deeper than the podcast? This series includes access to a private Facebook group: you can join here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodwithnicoleuniceIf you want access to exclusive content (interviews, bonus teaching and a 28-day prayer plan), you can pay for premium here: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/
Subscribe to Nicole’s mailing list and get a weekly companion guide for each episode, with journal prompts and reflection questions: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/
***
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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How to Pray, Week 2: Our Father in Heaven
14 maart 2022 · 18 min
We have a Father in Heaven and are invited into a relationship and purpose with him! Today we are diving into the first verse in the Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:9. Lees meer
Listen to Week 1 of the How to Pray Series: https://apple.co/46R7bkO / https://sptfy.com/Opwv
What does Matthew 6:9 say?
1. “our” father – we are immediately placed in community. This is not an individual prayer.
2. “father” – we all have emotional underpinning to this word. If I say the word father, what is the first word that comes to your mind? Check out Romans 8:15 and think about what it means that God is your Abba Father. We have a framework here for how we can approach our Father in Heaven – with freedom and confidence.
3. “hallowed be your name” – God is not only our intimate father, but also to be revered as set apart and holy. God wants to be intimately a part of your life, but not as a genie, but as God of all creation. Lord -help us to know you and set you apart the way you are meant to be known and set apart***
Reflect:
1. Do we need to ask our Father in Heaven – “Lord, what does it mean that you are my Father?”
2. We have a shared Father in heaven, we want to know him and for him to be known as holy.“God the Father is ours, and we are his.” - Dale Bruner
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Want to go deeper than the podcast? This series includes access to a private Facebook group: you can join here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodwithnicoleuniceIf you want access to exclusive content (interviews, bonus teaching and a 28-day prayer plan), you can pay for premium here: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/
Subscribe to Nicole’s mailing list and get a weekly companion guide for each episode, with journal prompts and reflection questions: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/
***
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcast…
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How to Pray: Prerequisites to Prayer
7 maart 2022 · 18 min
Want to go deeper than the podcast? This series includes access to a private Facebook group: you can join here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodwithnicoleunice Lees meer
If you want access to exclusive content (interviews, bonus teaching and a 28-day prayer plan), you can pay for premium here: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/
Subscribe to Nicole’s mailing list and get a weekly companion guide for each episode, with journal prompts and reflection questions: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/
In this first episode, we’re going to talk about the little passage that leads into The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:5-9.
A. What does it say?
3 Praying People in These Verses:
1. The hypocrites – what do they do? They love to be seen in prayer, and they already have their reward.
2. The righteous – they pray private prayers (at least in this context), and God rewards them later on.
3. The pagans – they babble on with many words, thinking they will be heard – do not be like them.This passage is not a formula for prayer. If we take this too literally, we will miss the principles, the general framework, that we can grab from this passage.
B. What is the backstory?
Hypocrites were known to pray as performance, and Jesus was addressing that during the Sermon on the Mount – his sermon introducing his upside-down kingdom and what is required of those who choose to follow him.
C. What Does it Mean?
Prayer should not be performance, but personal.
Jesus is setting up a framework that says, there is a way you can pray that helps you connect to a Father who knows you and loves you.
Notice: Jesus does not say “here is ‘what’ to pray.” But rather, “here is ‘how’ to pray.”
D. What Does it Mean for Me?
Am I making space for private, personal prayer? Or am I praying to be seen? Don’t pray for others’ affirmation.
These next few weeks is an invitation to create a place of intimacy and connection with your heavenly father. If you have felt like you are missing something …
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Release Fear to Experience Fierce Love (A Bible Study on 1 John 4)
28 februari 2022 · 24 min
When there is more love, there will inevitably be less fear. The more we believe and accept God’s love for us, the more we trust him. And the more we trust him, the less we will fear, even when life is not going the way that we want. Lees meer
1. Context and backstory:
Division within the church, with people in the church teaching something other than the gospel. John returns again and again to the fruit of people’s actions, specifically how we love our Christian brothers and sisters.2. What do these verses say:
More love = less fear. Fierce love requires an ongoing acknowledgment and release of fear.3. What does it mean for me?
A. God calls us to fellowship locally with believers. Are you in fellowship with believers in a face-to-face way?B. When you are in a pattern of fear, name the things that only God can handle in your life. For example: your identity can only be entrusted to God. Also: your soul, your calling, your future.
C. If our identity and calling are secure in the Lord, we can begin to love others with God’s love as the source. We don’t want to give love in order to get love.
D. “Keep yourselves from idols” What does John mean by that? We must keep our spiritual house in order. Anything that takes top priority in our hearts, when we begin to link our identity and the way that we decide if life is worth living to those things, our spiritual house is chaotic and messy.
Isaiah 42:8 says it this way: “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” God is very inclusive in his invitation to find life in him, BUT he is very exclusive about his positioning in our hearts. He demands priority in our hearts, not for his good, but for our good.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodromans/
**Don’t Miss Our How to Pray Series!** Starting in March, we will be walking through Lent with a special series: How to Pray. We will be looking closely at th…
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Make Space for God to Speak to You (A Bible Study on 1 John 3)
22 februari 2022 · 20 min
Have you made space (silence) in your life to hear from the Holy Spirit? This week, Nicole helps us understand the connection between making space in our lives for the Spirit and the spiritual freedom we want but don’t know how to get. Lees meer
A. Principle in this Passage:
1. God loves us as his children (1 John 3:1). Can you take a moment today and imagine God’s love for you. Imagine the most loving parent you have ever known. God loves you even more perfectly and completely than that. Allow his love to meet you today.
2. If you can’t believe the feeling of God’s love, believe the fact of his love: Jesus Christ laid down his life for you. (1 John 3:16)
B. What Is The Backstory?
John was correcting divisions in the church. The way they could know who was living in the love of Christ: how they loved others.C. What This Means for Me:
Obedience in Action (v. 18) – If you experience this love of God, out of that overflow of love there will be an immediate and recognizable change in how you treat believers.
Confidence in Discernment (v. 20-21) – God hears everything and hears your prayers. If you’re feeling less than or have regret, confess to God and he is faithful to forgive – have confidence before God. If your heart feels clear, good! You’ll want to do what pleases him.
Know God Lives in You by the Way You Are Led by the Spirit (v. 24) – make space in your life this week. 5 or 10 minutes to start. Be quiet. Say, “search me or know me. Engage with me, help me know how to engage in this world.”
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodromans/
**Don’t Miss Our How to Pray Series!** Starting in March, we will be walking through Lent with a special series: How to Pray. We will be looking closely at the Lord’s Prayer together. Find out more at: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagr… -
What It’s Like to Really Know Jesus (A Bible Study on 1 John 2)
14 februari 2022 · 21 min
In this passage, John gives us a series of tests for our faith – not tests like the kind we take in school that you can pass or fail, but tests that reveal to us the genuineness of our faith – so that we can have full assurance of our salvation and so that we can recognize true believers. Lees meer
Test 1: Obedience Out of Love
Test 2: Live as Jesus Lived
Test 3: Having Love for Brothers and SistersPrinciple in this Passage:
1. I know him
2. I love him
3. I love others because I love himWhat does it mean for me?
1. Apply: What is the motivation of my obedience?
2. Apply: What does increasing love look like for my brothers and sisters in faith?Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodromans/
**Don’t Miss Our Lent Series!** Starting in March, we will be walking through Lent with a special series: How to Pray. We will be looking closely at the Lord’s Prayer together. Find out more at: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Fierce Faith (A Bible Study on 1 John 1)
7 februari 2022 · 19 min
This short letter is rich, deep, and will challenge how we have looked at Bible study so far. This pastoral letter, written by an older Christian, encourages us toward assurance and confidence in our faith. Lees meer
As we begin to open this letter, remember that this letter has a tone of fellowship, joy, and blessing.
Big Overview of the Letter:
Circular themes of true doctrine, obedient living, fervent devotionWalking through 1 John 1 with the Alive Method:
1. What does it say?
Themes of light/darkness, cleansing, sin2. What’s the back story?
Connection back to the gospel of John
Circular themes--keep a list of questions3. What does it mean?
There is a process to forgiveness
There is a path to our righteousness4. What does it mean for me?
The practice of confessionResources Mentioned in This Episode:
Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodromans/
**Don’t Miss Our Lent Series!** Starting in March, we will be walking through Lent with a special series: How to Pray. We will be looking closely at the Lord’s Prayer together. Find out more at: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/
Follow Nicole:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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(Rebroadcast) Making It Personal – What Does It Mean for Me?
31 januari 2022 · 20 min
Nicole will be back next week! Until then, we are re-airing her first episodes on the basics of Bible study. If you didn't catch these episodes when they first aired, be sure to listen. These episodes lay the foundation for Nicole's simple but powerful approach to Bible study.
**** Lees meerLet’s review the first three questions you ask of Scripture:
1. What does it say? Can I restate what the passage says?
2. What’s the backstory? What’s our context and history in the time it was written?
3. What does it mean? What is the principle at play, what is it teaching me about God and our interaction with him?Today, we’ll unpack question four – What does this mean for me? All of our work in studying and understanding the Bible is all meant to move us to this place: where our lives are transformed by who and what we know.
What can Scripture give us?
1. Encouragement and priorities for the hard or mundane seasons of life.
2. Conviction leading to repentance when we sin (2 Corinthians 7:8-13).
3. Worship as a response to what we now know about who God is and what he has done!For more, check out:
Take the 30-Day 'Help, My Bible Is Alive' Challenge: https://nicoleunice.com/help-my-bible-is-alive/You can find more from Nicole at https://nicoleunice.com/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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(Rebroadcast) What to Do When You Get Stuck
24 januari 2022 · 19 min
While Nicole is taking a much-needed break, we are re-airing her first episodes on the basics of Bible study. If you didn't catch these episodes when they first aired, be sure to listen. These episodes lay the foundation for Nicole's simple but powerful approach to Bible study. Lees meer
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In this episode, we’ll look at the three most common issues that can derail our Bible study and how we can overcome them:
Problem 1 - These passages contradict! How can I possibly find the meaning?
Questions to ask yourself: What else happens in Scripture related to this topic, beyond this verse? Is it bound in a cultural time or is it a timeless principle?
Problem 2 - It seems like the God of the Old Testament and the New Testament disagree.
Questions to ask yourself: What if I’m wrong? Have I read both the Old and New Testament in their entirety? Have I explored the backstory?
Problem 3 – The Old Testament doesn't seem relevant in my life.
Questions to ask yourself: Have you read large passages (several chapters or even an entire book) of the Old Testament at once? Can you read it for the larger story and not only read at the verse level?
Resources Mentioned:
The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight: http://urlme.cc/Ll8qFor more, check out:
Take the 30-Day 'Help, My Bible Is Alive' Challenge: http://urlme.cc/vzQpYou can find more from Nicole at https://nicoleunice.com/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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(Rebroadcast) Unpacking Principles and Finding Meaning
17 januari 2022 · 17 min
While Nicole is taking a much-needed break, we are re-airing her first episodes on the basics of Bible study. If you didn't catch these episodes when they first aired, be sure to listen. These episodes lay the foundation for Nicole's simple but powerful approach to Bible study.
**** Lees meer“The minute you have asked ‘why?’ – you have become a theologian.” – Carolyn Custis James
First, the bad news: you might be a little uncomfortable with this part, at least a first. But the good news (and it really is good news!) is that as you know more, it more it becomes easier to pull the principle out of Scripture.
In this episode, Nicole talks about the five filters we use to understand what a passage is teaching us about God, ourselves, and the world we live in:
1. Is the principle or theory reflected in the passage?
2. Is the principle timeless?
3. Does the principle transcend culture, gender, age, status, etc.?
4. Is the principle harmonious with the rest of Scripture?
5. Is this principle relevant then and relevant now?For more, check out:
Take the 30-Day 'Help, My Bible Is Alive' Challenge: https://nicoleunice.com/help-my-bible-is-alive/Grasping God’s Word by Duvall and Hays: https://amzn.to/3rn2gE9
You can find more from Nicole at https://nicoleunice.com/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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(Rebroadcast) Digging Deeper - What’s the Backstory?
10 januari 2022 · 19 min
While Nicole is taking a much-needed break, we are re-airing her first episodes on the basics of Bible study. If you didn't catch these episodes when they first aired, be sure to listen. These episodes lay the foundation for Nicole's simple but powerful approach to Bible study. Lees meer
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If you’ve ever gone to a play, you’ll have been handed a playbill before the program began. This playbill gives you some important information like the characters, the setting, and the scenes you’ll see when the lights dim. The backstory helps us engage with what’s in front of us.When we read the Bible, we also need a backstory. The problem is, we often want it to ignore the backstory and apply the Word immediately to our lives instead of asking what it meant to the original audience. But when we do this, we misapply Scripture.
Join Nicole in this episode as she unpacks how we can understand what’s going on behind the scenes of the passages we read.
Nicole’s Favorite Study Bible: The NIV Study Bible - https://www.amazon.com/NIV-Study-Bible-Hardcover-Letter/dp/0310438926/
Check out Nicole’s book on this topic: Help! My Bible Is Alive: 30 Days of Learning to Love and Understand God’s Word: https://amzn.to/3A7Yy5j
You can find more from Nicole at https://nicoleunice.com/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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(Rebroadcast) The Basics of Bible Study
3 januari 2022 · 17 min
While Nicole is taking a much-needed break, we are re-airing her first episodes on the basics of Bible study. If you didn't catch these episodes when they first aired, be sure to listen. These episodes lay the foundation for Nicole's simple but powerful approach to Bible study. Lees meer
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Here’s a secret of the universe: there are always basics of everything. If you want to be physically fit, you have to do cardio and strength training. If you want to be a good cook, you have to learn how to chop, mix spices and know how flavors complement one another. And if you want to be good at reading and understanding the Bible, there are basic skills you need to learn as well.In this episode, we’ll unpack just what those fundamental skills are, through Nicole’s 'Alive Method,' by asking four basic questions of every passage of Scripture.
Check out Nicole’s book on this topic: Help! My Bible Is Alive: 30 Days of Learning to Love and Understand God’s Word - http://urlme.cc/OroK
You can find more from Nicole at https://nicoleunice.com/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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(Rebroadcast) Three Common Obstacles to Understanding the Bible
27 december 2021 · 17 min
While Nicole is taking a much-needed break, we are re-airing her first episodes on the basics of Bible study. If you didn't catch these episodes when they first aired, be sure to listen. These episodes lay the foundation for Nicole's simple but powerful approach to Bible study. Lees meer
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Most of us want to hear from God, but when we actually go to the Bible, it feels irrelevant, archaic or just plain confusing. In this episode, Nicole addresses three of the common obstacles we face in spending time in the Bible and how to get past those into a vibrant relationship with God through His Word.Check out Nicole’s book on this topic: Help! My Bible Is Alive: 30 Days of Learning to Love and Understand God’s Word - http://urlme.cc/OroK
Follow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Tetiana5
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Wrapping It All Up (Romans Bible Study Chapter 16)
20 december 2021 · 23 min
Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: Lees meer
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?What does it say?
Over the past 16 weeks, we have learned the truth about sin, the power of faith, and the fulfillment of the law with love.
In closing this book, Paul encourages us to be wise about others and wise about the way we love and create unity within the body of Christ.
What does it mean for me?
Be able to tell someone what the book of Romans is about! What would you say if someone is curious? What would you say to them that would inspire them to read the book for themselves?
Nicole’s Wrap-Up of Romans:
“The book of Romans: the truth about sin, the power of faith, alive in Christ, released from the law, free in the spirit, suffering for a reason, more than conquerors in this world! Mercy always reigns -- for Israel and for us. Now we are transformed! So, at home and at work, whether weak or strong, we fulfill the law with love! We need each other, and everyone matters. But let’s be wise --seek unity and love, not division or strife.”
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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For the Glory of God (Romans Bible Study Chapter 15)
13 december 2021 · 25 min
Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on Romans
Click here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook group Lees meerQuestions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:
1. What do the verses say?
2. What's the backstory? What's the context?
3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?What does it say?
All the practical matters that Paul has been teaching lead to bringing praise and glory to God.
What’s the backstory?
In the New Testament, it is very clear that the Old Testament matters. There are several connections to the Old Testament that cross reference what we read in the New Testament.
It is not only important to the encouragement it gives us, but the endurance that it gives our mind.
What does it mean?
Three principles:
1.Our purpose is God’s glory.
2.Not only in this passage does God give us our purpose, but He provides his Word and himself for our endurance and encouragement in our purpose.
3.Our purpose is to live in harmony and hospitality with believers because that glorifies God.What does it mean for me?
The way we experience hospitality with others brings God glory. Hospitality is a state of mind which leads to action.
Resources:
Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole:
Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.