Outloud Bible Project Podcast

Following Jesus often feels so messy? In this thought-provoking episode, we dive into Matthew 17-19 where Jesus consistently challenges conventional wisdom and turns our expectations upside down.The heart of our discussion centers on a radical proposition: what if we actually took Jesus literally? When he says to cut off a hand that causes sin, to forgive seventy-seven times, or to follow his specific process for conflict resolution – what if we stopped softening these commands and simply obeyed them? We explore how our selective obedience often creates the very messiness we complain about in discipleship.Don't follow Jesus on your own. Download our Echo seven-day discipleship guide based on the sermons of Jesus at outloudbible.com and journey through these challenging teachings with someone else. Let's take Jesus at his word together!Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Mike and Kelsey discuss the recurring themes from Matthew 12-16 that reveal Jesus' priorities and challenge our modern understanding of discipleship.Reading large portions of scripture reveals overarching themes we miss when focusing on isolated storiesJesus defines family as "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven"The kingdom parables illustrate that God's kingdom is worth sacrificing everything to obtainAmerican Christianity often markets Jesus as a life-enhancer rather than teaching His actual call to die to selfThe true gospel isn't about improved circumstances but about Jesus absorbing God's wrath on our behalfWe should reassess what we're living for and align our priorities with Jesus' valuesContact us at outloudbible.com if you'd like to respond to anything in today's episode.Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Jesus seems to be really bad at making the idea of following him look attractive... if he doesn't try to sugarcoat it, why do we?Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Jesus teaches the crowds about what the Kingdom is really like, but he does so in a way that alienates a lot of people. This is not the way to build a large following. Maybe he has something else in mind?Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

What happens when we move beyond merely knowing what the Bible says to radically living it out? Mike and his wife Kelsey introduce a powerful new weekly segment called "Living Outloud," designed to bridge the gap between biblical knowledge and biblical obedience.This heartfelt conversation challenges the comfortable Christianity many of us have settled for. While reading scripture and gaining knowledge is valuable, James reminds us not to be "hearers of the word only, but doers of the word." The hosts explore the subtle but crucial distinction between "applying" scripture (which feels optional) and "obeying" scripture (which reflects true discipleship).Whether you're just beginning your faith journey or have been following Jesus for decades, this conversation will challenge you to examine where you might be hearing without obeying, knowing without living. Join us every Friday as we explore what it truly means to live scripture out loud in practical, transformative ways.Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Matthew 5-7 is what Jesus said.Matthew 8-9 is what Jesus did.Matthew 10-11 is what we do--or should do.So are we willing to do it?Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Thank you for walking on this journey through the Bible, now 300 episodes long! What better way to celebrate than to read about Jesus living the "good shepherd" life in Matthew 8-9.Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

A few years ago, we decided to take Jesus at his word, especially his promise to provide in Matthew 6:33. This bonus episode, I'll share the story about God's faithfulness in the craziest season of our life.Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Jesus' first and most famous message, the Sermon on the Mount. Let's allow ourselves to be struck with the plain practicality of his words, and consider how much we're truly willing to do what he says.We've compiled all of Jesus' messages from the gospel of Matthew into one live experience called "Not Just Another Sermon." This Outloud Bible Experience is free for churches. Learn more at outloudbible.com.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Jesus enters the scene just as the prophecies foretold. A new kingdom is approaching. In fact... it's nearer to you than you think.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Daniel's prayers activate a buzz of activity in the spiritual realm. What does that mean for your prayers today?Plus, a glimpse ahead at the coming kingdom, and how this podcast will follow.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Daniel is given visions of what the end times will look like--symbols of very real things still ahead of us. What can we learn from this visions for today, and what should be our response?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Daniel's faith was so predictable, it would put his life at risk.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Daniel and his friends are willing to put God's reputation and glory on the line, because it never comes up short.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Ezekiel has a vision of a new temple, and flowing out of the temple is a river of life that turns dead water alive! What could this mean for us today?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Remember when God's glory left the temple in Ezekiel 10? Well, He's coming back. What causes this full-circle moment?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Ezekiel downloads the plans and dimensions for a new temple that had not--and still has not--been built. Why all the details, and why hasn't it been built yet?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God proves his willingness and ability to breathe life into the most dead, dry, hopeless situations.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

People are still going about their life unaware of the death that is coming as a result of their sins. God has given you a special responsibility. How will you hold your position?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Egypt cannot provide Israel with what they need, and Israel's time of running to Egypt instead of him is over. God will make sure Egypt never again becomes a world superpower.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Israel's most wealthy and influential neighbors are nearing their end. Why? So Israel will know that God is God.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God asks Ezekiel to do something that I, frankly, could not do. Let's read today about an extreme length God's spokesman must go to, and what we can learn from it.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Ezekiel 23 is a bit rough. So much so, in fact, that we'll skip it. But Ezekiel 22 reveals a desire of God's that we can step up to answer. Will you?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God's people should have seen this coming. This punishment is not reckless or unwarranted. It shouldn't be a surprise. It's not unjust. In fact, it's a miracle God waited this long...Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God is not interested in punishing kids for their parents' sins, or parents for their kids' sins. He's interested in everyone making an individual choice to seek him and pursue righteousness.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God has strong words about what he thinks about his people's unfaithfulness. It's actually a sad story that helps us empathize with God and his point of view. The real question is: where do we find ourselves in the story?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God's purpose for all of these disasters is clear. He only says it like two dozen times...Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God takes Ezekiel on a tour of the temple to show him why he's packing his bags. What does God see in the temple of your heart?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Ezekiel is pushed to his physical limits in order to demonstrate the length of punishment each kingdom of Israel must endure. And a crude haircut demonstrates their fates. Ezekiel's "yeses" result in some tough lessons, all to reveal God's heart.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Like Isaiah and Jeremiah, Ezekiel is commissioned by God to warn God's people about the impending consequences of their idolatry. But Ezekiel is going to be a witness (and participant) in some very weird lessons...Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

In this second half of the poem of Lamentations, we get a glimpse of how we can "dare to hope", even in the midst of the lowest valleys of life.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Lamentations is not a fun read in a hammock on a sunny day, but not every day is a party, is it? Lamentations gives an honest, poetic response to pain and suffering and feeling like God isn't being fair. How do we manage that? What does it look like before hope for anything to improve?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

What God says will happen, will happen. He does what he says he will do. Let's read the conclusion of the matter from the book of Jeremiah. God is the only one left standing, but he will not let his people be destroyed. A sovereign display of justice, discipline, and mercy.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Israel's neighbors have been watching everything that's been going down, and they think they are avoiding the carnage. God makes it very clear that he sees them, and he doesn't like what he sees. Justice will prevail.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God told the Jewish remnant to stay in Judah, and not try to find safety in Egypt. They felt like their idols and gods and choices were working fairly well for them... God has a different opinion.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

You'll look for safety and protection somewhere. Money? Relationships? When things get scary, what do you run to?A remnant of Israel has a choice to make...Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Not everyone responds to God's word with an open heart. Here we see a few different responses to God's word, and learn an important lesson about how we (and others) respond to truth.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God has more promise of restoration for Israel and Judah, but he wants to make an example of a surprising clan of people, and has a special promise for them, too...Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God is laying all his cards on the table. He will not be defined by wrath. He will be defined by faithfulness, love, and restoration. He slathers on thick his promise of healing for Israel. This is a refreshing wind in the book of Jeremiah.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

You probably know it. Jeremiah 29:11:  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." But this can leave us with a sense of aimlessness in the meantime. What can we do in light of this heart of God rooted in this promise? We need to read the context. Let's read it like it makes a difference...Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God shows Jeremiah two baskets of figs. God shows justice to both baskets, with very different results. The difference is the state of the figs. Let's see what we learn about God's heart in today's reading.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

A line of stubborn and rebellious kings will drive Judah to God's wrath, but God has a plan for a new King who will reign rightly.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God teaches Jeremiah and his people a couple lessons from pottery. What can you learn from this object lesson for today?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

God is willing to move in such a way as to redefine how you think about him! Jeremiah has a word for Judah that reveals God's heart for us to learn from today.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

At this point for Jeremiah, being ignored would be better than this--being threatened with death over his message! Jeremiah complains to God.Are you willing to complain to God? Let's see how God responds and continues to work with, and through, Jeremiah.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and learn how to join the Patreon community in support of Outloud Bible Project. Want to jump straight to the Patreon page? Support the Bible being read out loud at https://www.patreon.com/outloudbible

Jeremiah struggles with delivering a message that everyone needs to hear, but everyone is ignoring. He dares to get real honest with God about the futility of his  mission.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and learn how to join the Patreon community in support of Outloud Bible Project. Want to jump straight to the Patreon page? Support the Bible being read out loud at https://www.patreon.com/outloudbible

This is a bonus episode of Outloud Bible Project Podcast. At the time of this episode's release, we're celebrating Easter. I put together an Outloud Bible Experience, a dramatized reading of Passion Week, from the book of John.If you're interested in hosting a dramatized reading of a book of the Bible, or a portion of a book, for your church or organization, please reach out to me at outloudbible.com. I'd love to see how we can work together and serve your people this way.Today's episode is the conclusion to that Passion Week Presentation, reading John chapter 20, which is the resurrection of Jesus. Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and learn how to join the Patreon community in support of Outloud Bible Project. Want to jump straight to the Patreon page? Support the Bible being read out loud at https://www.patreon.com/outloudbible

Jeremiah gave this message at the temple, the house of worship, in front of the people who were going about their religious lives. What would this sound like today, if Jeremiah stood in front of your church? Are we willing to hear it?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and learn how to join the Patreon community in support of Outloud Bible Project. Want to jump straight to the Patreon page? Support the Bible being read out loud at https://www.patreon.com/outloudbible

Enjoy today's reading from the New Living Translation, as we zoom in on one chapter of Jeremiah. Again we find ourselves in the place of God's people, at a crossroads. What can we learn about our own crossroads moments?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and learn how to join the Patreon community in support of Outloud Bible Project. Want to jump straight to the Patreon page? Support the Bible being read out loud at https://www.patreon.com/outloudbible

This is a bonus episode of Outloud Bible Project Podcast. At the time of this episode's release, we're approaching Easter. I put together an Outloud Bible Experience, a dramatized reading of Passion Week, from the book of John.If you're interested in hosting a dramatized reading of a book of the Bible, or a portion of a book, for your church or organization, please reach out to me at outloudbible.com. I'd love to see how we can work together and serve your people this way.This episode, in preparation for Easter, I'll read from John chapter 11, the start of Passion week. Passion Week is the name for Jesus' last week before he died, and Jesus' actions in today's story thew gasoline on the fire of tensions between Jesus and the religious leaders. Things unraveled quickly after this moment. Here is a familiar story, told perhaps in a new way, from the New Living Translation. This is John chapter 11.Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and learn how to join the Patreon community in support of Outloud Bible Project. Want to jump straight to the Patreon page? Support the Bible being read out loud at https://www.patreon.com/outloudbible

God sees Israel and Judah as rebellious children who refuse to listen to him. What choice does he have but to do what he's going to do next...?Send Mike a quick message! Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and learn how to join the Patreon community in support of Outloud Bible Project. Want to jump straight to the Patreon page? Support the Bible being read out loud at https://www.patreon.com/outloudbible