Bite Size Seminary

In this video, JC Schroeder looks at the Greek text of the first Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3 and Luke 6:20).Works Cited:Rebekah Eklund, The Beatitudes through the Ages (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2021).Wesley G. Olmstead, Matthew 1-14: A Handbook on the Greek Text, Baylor Handbook on the Greek New Testament (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2019).Jonathan T. Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017).Charles L. Quarles, Matthew, Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2017).Time Stamps:0:00 Introduction0:38 "Blessed"5:21 "the poor in spirit"7:41 "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"10:56 "theirs"12:46 "kingdom of heaven"17:03 Comparison with Luke 6:20---------------

In this video, JC Schroeder describes how biblical Greek asks yes or no questions. Numbers 12:2 from the Septuagint (LXX) is a great example of both uses. Then he compares this with the Hebrew Masoretic Text of the verse. Works Cited: BDF §426-427CGCG §38.7-8HALOT s.v. רַק iv.Time Stamps:0:00 Introduction0:29 English Questions1:43 Greek Questions3:24 Numbers 12:2 LXX8:28 Numbers 12:2 MT11:53 Conclusion----------------

In this episode, JC Schroeder describes how the introduction and conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 is so important. The introduction and conclusion act as an interpretive lens for reading the Jesus' Sermon. Some of the connections Matthew makes are subtle, so he points these out from the Greek New Testament text. Works Cited:Richard B. Hays, Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2017), 144.Ulrich Luz, Matthew 1-7, Hermeneia (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007), 182.Scot McKnight, Sermon on the Mount, Story of God Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013), 24.Charles L. Quarles, Matthew, Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2017), 49.Time Stamps:0:00 Introduction1:06 Sermon on the Mount Introduction and Connections9:35 Sermon on the Mount Conclusion and Connections19:11 Implications - Why This is Important21:21 Conclusion-------

Psalm 146 describes why we should praise God and challenges our tendencies to praise other things. This sermon was originally preached at South Branch Bible Fellowship in NJ on 4/14/24. -----

We can get caught thinking that preaching or teaching is a burden, but really we should view it as a joy and privilege to share the Word of God.-----

Reading and applying the Bible can be hard. JC Schroeder shares three keys for studying and applying the Bible well. These keys act like ground rules to our interpretation. They will provide a richer and more productive reading and application of Scripture.⏰ Timestamps0:00 Introduction0:31 Key #1 3:56 Key #2 7:57 Key #3 10:34 Conclusion-----

In this video JC Schroeder reads and breaks down the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, in both Hebrew and Greek from the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Septuagint.

How much did a New Testament letter cost in the first century? JC Schroeder shows the surprising cost for Paul's letters in the New Testament.

You want to read the Bible in Hebrew, but you also want to do it really, really well...like a professor. Matthew Delany from  Hebrew Bible Insights joins JC Schroeder to talk about  why Christian's should learn Hebrew and how it affects the spiritual life. He also drops some awesome helps for learning Hebrew. Go check out Matthew's awesome YouTube channel and podcast Hebrew Bible Insights!

Since the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, there is naturally a linguistic gap between those languages and our own. Word studies is one helpful way to bridge that gap. But in order to do this we need to know what are the best tools for the task. In this episode, JC Schroeder shares his favorite books for doing biblical word studies.⏰ Timestamps0:00 Introduction1:06 Basic Resources4:11 Theological Dictionaries8:13 Technical Dictionaries13:01 Extra-Biblical Dictionaries14:22 Bonus Resources14:54 Conclusion-------

Paradoxically, seminary and Bible college can be places where your spiritual life can grow cold. But it doesn't have to be this way. JC Schroeder shares two practices to thrive spiritually while in school. ⏰ Timestamps0:00 Introduction1:11 Practice #15:36 Practice #29:37 Conclusion

In this episode JC Schroeder talks about how looking at the historical-cultural context of Scripture can help open up the Bible for us and our sermons. It helps us to see the connections and distinctions between the world of the Bible and the Bible itself. Having this material in our sermons can help to clarify the text and lead to greater love and transformation.

In this episode JC Schroeder talks with Dr. Max Botner about his new book Beyond the Greek New Testament: Advanced Readings for Students of Biblical Studies published by Baker Academic. They talk about theological education, how to communicate that with others, as well as some tips and tricks for learning and advancing in Greek.⏰ Timestamps0:00 Introduction0:55 Who is Dr. Max Botner?5:03 The Center for Bible Study and Online Theological Education11:33 Why Go Beyond the Greek New Testament and the Problem of Learning the Biblical Languages20:38 What Makes This Book Unique?29:27 Tips for Learning Greek39:22 Conclusion

There are two dangers we can fall into when studying the Bible. Depending on our personalities or backgrounds, we may be more prone to one or the other. We want more Bible, but if we don't read the Bible the way it's intended, that's when we get into trouble. So let's talk about these two dangers so we can hear the voice of God in Scripture.⏰ Timestamps0:00 Introduction0:33 Danger #14:27 Danger #28:35 ConclusionCheck out www.bitesizeseminary.com for more resources. 

Ever wished for a tool that could unlock the deep cultural context of the Bible for you? In order to read the Bible well and not import our own ideas into Scripture, we need to know about the world of the Bible or the historical-cultural context. In this episode, I share some of the best resources and tools to help us better understand the background to the Bible. 0:00 Introduction0:58 Study Bibles2:08 Background Commentaries3:59 Overviews6:50 Primary Source Reader7:23 Atlas8:11 ConclusionCheck out www.bitesizeseminary.com for more resources. 

It is nothing new that Christians disagree about theology and how to interpret Scripture. But why does this happen? If we don't assess our disagreements, our debates will only devolve. In this episode I review When Doctrine Divides the People of God: An Evangelical Approach to Theological Diversity by Rhyne Putman. It's published by Crossway in 2020. This book is a helpful guide for thinking through the causes of theological disagreements in the church and helps to chart a course toward understanding and productive relationship. If you're looking for a resource that will explain the factors that may contribute to these debates and how to move forward, this is a book definitely worth your time. 0:00 Introduction1:31 Overview9:09 Pros10:21 ConsWhen Doctrine Divides the People of God by Rhyne PutmanCheck out www.bitesizeseminary.com for more resources. 

If we stop reading, we stop learning. And if we stop learning, then we stop ministering effectively. If we're going to pour into others, we need to be poured into as well. Reading is an important tool toward fostering longevity in ministry and avoiding burnout. But reading is not just about reading more books but the right ones, good books. 0:00 - The Importance of Reading to Ministry3:37 - Types of Books to Read9:35 - ConclusionCheck out www.bitesizeseminary.com for more resources. 

Struggling to share your faith with others? Discover the seven C's for authentically  communicating your faith in this  episode. I discuss how to engage in genuine conversations without confrontation while keeping Christ at the center. I  explore how to be good neighbors and friends through honest and open dialogue while making Christianity intellectually and emotionally compelling. Our goal is to invite others into a relationship with Christ, not just win an argument. Evangelism is hard. But these seven C's make it a bit easier and more authentic.0:00 Introduction0:37 1 Conversation1:29 2 Curiosity2:30 3 Conviction3:38 4 Compassion5:39 5 Christ6:41 6 Candid8:32 7 Compelling9:23 ConclusionCheck out www.bitesizeseminary.com for more resources. 

Have you ever wanted to learn to read the New Testament in Greek but didn't know where to start? In this episode I share 4 reasons why my favorite is Reading Koine Greek by Rodney Decker along with 2 negatives about the book. The book's streamlined morphology and use of the "4 quad chart" helps unlock Greek morphology. So if you're looking to learn or review Greek, this episode has a book for you!0:00 Introduction0:36 Reason #1 - Streamlined Morphology2:45 Reason #2 - Up To Date3:43 Reason #3 - Thorough Explanations6:24 Reason #4 - Other Greek Texts7:01 Con #1 - Workbook7:49 Con #2 - Length8:37 Conclusion

God is very interested in our happiness and flourishing. Psalm 1 talks about how and where we can find the good life and true happiness.

The world is full of chaos and complexity. As we navigate life, we need the knowledge and skill to live well. We need wisdom. The book of Proverbs was written to fill that need. In it we'll find not only our need for wisdom but also where to find wisdom. So in this episode we're going to talk about how to read the book of Proverbs.

When we read of the biblical commands to praise God, is this because God is egotistical or a narcissist? How should we understand the praise psalms found in the book of Psalms? In this video I talk about God's character and the real function of praise. The Bible reveals a God who is not self-absorbed but one who is beautiful, loves, and serves.

Why are there four Gospels in the Bible? How do we read these together? I share two simple approaches to reading the Gospels that helps us to read them well.

Learning biblical Hebrew can be pretty hard at times, and sometimes you just need the right tools.  So I want to share 3 tools for learning biblical Hebrew that for me were life saving. And I think, they may be for you too. These help with Hebrew morphology and vocabulary.

There are approximately 31,102 verses in the Bible, and yet the shortest verse is perhaps one of the most profound and beautiful though often overlooked and misunderstood. It frequently acts for us more as a piece of trivia (it even has its own Wikipedia page!). But we don't give much thought to its meaning and significance. So in this video, I want to talk about the shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35, and why it really matters for us.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0WeRMcKEaVo

The book of Revelation is a hard book to understand. It's filled with striking and vivid imagery. It's also a book that has captured our attention more than most books in the New Testament. But with all this attention, we struggle to know how to read it and read it well. In this video, I have 4 tips for how to read Revelation well.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CBZZrAczkew⏰ Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction1:22 - Tip 1 - Don't Practice Newspaper Eschatology2:52 - Tip 2 - Don't Deny the Return of Christ3:48 - Tip 3 - Understand the Genre of Revelation5:13 - Prophecy7:12 - Letter9:15 - Apocalypse11:20 - Tip 4 - Focus On Communicative Intent12:42 - Conclusion

You want to improve your Biblical Hebrew, but you need help. These 6 books are great resources to help you level up your your Hebrew. Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oTeKxQ92qfECheck out www.bitesizeseminary.com for more resources.⏰ Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction0:22 - "A Workbook for Intermediate Hebrew" by Chisholm1:36 - "A Guide to Biblical Hebrew" by Arnold and Choi2:07 - "A Student's Vocabulary for Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic" by Mitchel3:02 - "Baylor Handbook on the Hebrew Bible" series3:47 - "Daily Scriptures" by Cerone and Fisher4:26 - "Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic" by NoonanNone of these books are sponsored, just my honest opinions! :)

You want to be a better person. You want to lead a successful, productive life. But what does that even mean or look like? And how should a Christian process this conversation? Let's talk about a Christian vision for a successful life.Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JgWfL-V6vG0⏰ Timestamps:0:26 - Introduction2:04 - Thesis2:59 - Success and Identity9:25 - Hustle Culture and the Church11:10 - The Story and Logic of the Gospel17:39 - Holy Ambition19:27 - What About Sin?21:32 - Reminder and Call to Faithfulness

At times it feels as if God is not present or is not concerned with us and our troubles. But he does care. Hebrews 2:16-18 shows the extent of his concern and care for us.Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y5vFrJyJBX0

In this episode I talk about the power and problem of habit (or spiritual disciples) in regards to our spiritual lives. And then at the end I talk about some practical thoughts on how to cultivate habit.Watch the podcast on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/_hM6dNLwVUo⏰ Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction1:33 - The Power of Habit12:29 - The Problem of Habit15:10 - Cultivating Habit18:21 - Conclusion

Can we talk about prayer for a minute? In this episode I talk about “are we devoted to prayer?” With that I want to talk about our attitude toward prayer as well as some actionable steps to help us with our prayer lives.⏰ Timestamps:0:33 - Attitude Toward Prayer4:51 - Actions for Prayer11:01 - Conclusion

In this episode, I talk about a verse that I think I've been misreading for years. That verse is Philippians 2:21 and it says, " For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." But what are the things of Christ Jesus?  I share  some thoughts that I have about this passage and new perspective on what this verse is talking about and really what are "the things of Christ."

Preachers have responsibilities in preaching Scripture. But what about the rest of us? Are we just off the hook and all the responsibility is on the preacher? In this episode, I turn the attention from the pulpit to the pew, and I discuss the ethics of listening to a sermon.

There are so many different things to pay attention to when studying the Bible, and one of the most important ones is the historical, cultural context. In this episode, we discuss what this even is, some differing approaches to it, why it's important, and how we understand it.

In today's episode, I talk about at a simple Bible reading strategy that can pay huge dividends in unlocking Scripture. That strategy is to focus in and focus out while reading Scripture. And then we'll illustrate that by looking at one particular passage, Mark 9:14-29.

In today's episode, I talk about some aspects of preaching that don't get discussed enough, the ethics of preaching. And I have 5 ethical issues in mind. Keeping these things in mind will help our preaching and teaching in terms of our practice and attitude.

In this episode I review Jeannine K. Brown's The Gospels as Stories: A Narrative Approach to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John published by Baker Academic. She teaches how to the read the Gospels as whole documents, how they were intended to be read. The approach advocated in this book unlocks so much in Scripture.

In this episode I review Rebekah Eklund's Practicing Lament published by Cascade Books. She argues that the whole Bible is filled with laments and yet it is a genre that the church has little familiarity with. But God has given the laments of Scripture as a path forward through pain and suffering in order for him to bring healing.

In this episode, Angie Baughman, from the Steady On podcast, joins me to talk about her beautiful testimony of God's transforming work in her life through some tragic events. Angie has so much to share and this is a wonderful conversation and was a real joy for me. Check out her podcast Steady On!

Do you want to learn Greek or Hebrew but don't know where to start? Then this episode is for you! It covers some of the best resources to consider when learning the biblical languages. Be sure to check out my YouTube channel Bite Size Greek & Hebrew for quick videos for learning the biblical languages.

Are we missing any books from the New Testament? Should the Gnostic gospels be included? In this episode JC Schroeder talks about what these texts are and why we have the New Testament the way we do.

Part 2! In today's episode we finish our discussion on the Old Testament canon. Here we deal with the extent and closing of the canon, as well as the question of the inclusion or exclusion of the Apocrypha. Be sure to check out part 1 about the Old Testament canon foundations as well with Episode 16.

In today's episode, we're going to talk about a page in the Bible that we don't really give much thought about, but it's actually super controversial. That page: the table of contents. Is this list at the front of the Bible, right? Are we missing anything? Do we have too much? In today's episode, we're going to talk about if we have the right books in the Bible. This episode today is going to be part one where we focus primarily on the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible.

Do you ever struggle with prayer? Or with your relationship with the Lord? Well, then you're going to really appreciate today's episode. Scott DeGroff joins JC Schroeder to talk about how to pray as well as the upcoming North American Week of Prayer. You are really going to love Scott's love, heart, and passion for the Lord and the church.

There are a lot of resources to help learn how to study the Bible. But which ones? In this episode JC Schroeder discusses his favorite books, from entry level to more detailed resources. He weighs their pros and cons as well as some honorable mentions.

The world of the New Testament, its values and structures shape the message of the New Testament. In this episode JC Schroeder discusses three cultural values in the Greco-Roman world that shapes the New Testament. God uses, reframes, and infuses these concepts with the gospel. By understanding the world of the New Testament better we better see the beauty of God's actions and message.

Are you frustrated by or confused about who the Pharisees or Sadducees were? You're not alone! JC Schroeder walks though how these different groups within first century Judaism shared a lot of core beliefs, but they also diverge in some significant ways. This episode looks at how these groups help us better understand Jesus and the Gospels.

What's going on in-between the Old and New Testaments? A whole lot! The events and culture of Second Temple Judaism richly shape the world that the New Testament enters. In this episode JC Schroeder looks at how these factors enhance our understanding of the message of the Bible.

How do we keep a heart in tune with the Lord? How do we keep our obedience from becoming a “to-do” list? In this episode JC Schroeder looks at the example of King Josiah's tender heart and gives some actionable steps to foster an obedient heart.

Most Christians know the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek. But many feel that actually learning these languages is impossible or only for the select few. Dr. Catherine McDowell joins JC Schroeder to talk about her new book The Rewards of Learning Greek and Hebrew and argues that you can and should learn the biblical languages. They also talk about some of the strategies and resources to do so as well as the spiritual help it can bring. ⏰ Timestamps:1:26 Introduction4:09 Why Learn the Biblical Languages?7:55 The Biblical Languages in Ministry and Spiritual Formation11:17 The Use of the Languages in Scripture15:16 Resources for Studying21:35 Routine to Adopt26:15 Outro

Special Christmas episode! JC Schroeder talks about how during the Christmas season we can reflect on Christ's humility. ⏰ Timestamps:0:44 Introduction1:16 Christ's Humility in Humanness3:49 Christ's Humility in Shame7:00 Christ's Humility in Nearness9:19 Outro