Outloud Bible Project Podcast

Following Jesus today can be dangerous and unpopular, much like it was during his final days in Matthew's Gospel.• Looking at Judas, we see how misplaced expectations can lead us to betray Jesus when he doesn't act how we want• Judas was a real follower who saw miracles and heard teachings, yet abandoned Jesus when his expectations weren't met• The sleeping disciples in Gethsemane mirror our tendency to disengage when faith becomes uncomfortable • Faith should put us in positions where we "contend" - entering the ring, taking punches, and staying engaged• Peter's denial reminds us that it's easy to follow Jesus when it's popular, but much harder when it becomes dangerous• When people accuse and attack Christians, the most important audience is often the silent bystanders watching• Like the Roman centurion who witnessed Jesus' crucifixion, quiet observers notice the contrast between love and hate• As culture becomes less accepting of Christianity, we must decide where we'll stand in relation to JesusDownload our free Echo Discipleship Guides at outloudbible.com on the resources page to dig deeper into these discussions with another person.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.

The book of Matthew concludes with Jesus's crucifixion, resurrection, and the Great Commission that gives every Christian their true calling regardless of profession or circumstance.• Mike celebrates the podcast reaching 25,000 downloads, with listeners in all 50 states and 80 countries worldwide• Matthew's gospel strategically highlights fulfilled prophecies pointing to Jesus as the Messiah• Judas returns the 30 silver coins before taking his own life, fulfilling ancient prophecy• Jesus remains silent before Pilate and the religious leaders, refusing to defend himself• The crucifixion is accompanied by supernatural signs including darkness and an earthquake• Women discover the empty tomb and become the first witnesses of the resurrection• Religious leaders bribe guards to spread the story that disciples stole Jesus's body• Jesus meets his disciples on a mountain in Galilee where some worship and some doubt• The Great Commission calls all believers to make disciples, baptize, and teach obedience• Jesus promises his presence "to the end of the age" as followers carry out this missionDownload our Echo Discipleship Guide "Not Just Another Sermon" at outloudbible.com to put Jesus's teachings into action through daily challenges that will take you slightly outside your comfort zone.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.

We explore Matthew chapter 26, one of the most dramatic narratives in the Bible that depicts the pivotal events leading to Jesus' crucifixion. This powerful chapter captures betrayal, intrigue, lies, and vicious attacks against Jesus who, with utmost humility, willingly embraces it all as God's will.• The religious leaders plotting to arrest and kill Jesus• A woman anointing Jesus with expensive perfume, preparing him for burial• Judas agreeing to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins• Jesus sharing the Last Supper with his disciples, instituting communion• Jesus predicting Peter's denial despite his protests of loyalty• Jesus praying in anguish at Gethsemane while disciples sleep• Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss, leading to his arrest• Jesus standing trial before the high priest and facing false accusations• Peter denying Jesus three times before weeping bitterlyJesus forgave those who executed him because they didn't know what they were doing, but what about us who do know him? We're called to examine whether we're truly willing to follow Jesus even to the point of death or if we'll abandon him in times of need. Let's pray that he helps us remain faithful, unlike the disciples who failed him when it mattered most.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.

We explore how Jesus's teachings in Matthew 22-25 challenge us to focus less on predicting His return and more on loving others in His name while we wait.• Jesus warns against trying to predict the date of His return (Matthew 24:42)• The danger of rapture date predictions is causing new believers to fall away when dates pass• True readiness for Christ's return isn't about knowing when, but faithfully serving while we wait• Urgency in evangelism should come from people's mortality, not speculation about the rapture• Jesus bookends His teachings with the greatest commandment and the sheep and goats parable• We demonstrate love for God by how we love and serve others• Beware of self-serving Christianity that focuses on personal spirituality at others' expense• When Christ returns, He wants to find us actively loving others in His name• Reading the Bible on paper rather than digitally can help minimize distractions• Our "faith journey" should be less about ourselves and more about who we're loving in Jesus's nameDon't let this podcast be your only interaction with Scripture this week. Reach out through outloudbible.com to share what God is teaching you!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 warns his disciples about the destruction of the temple and signs preceding the end times, emphasizing that no one knows when he will return except the Father. Through powerful parables about ten virgins, talents, and separating sheep from goats, he teaches the importance of staying alert, using our gifts wisely, and caring for "the least of these" as we would care for him directly.• The disciples admire the temple buildings, but Jesus predicts their complete destruction• Wars, famines, earthquakes, and false prophets will precede the end times• No one knows the day or hour of Christ's return, not even the angels• The parable of ten virgins teaches readiness for the bridegroom's unexpected arrival• The parable of talents shows we must use what God has given us, not hide it in fear• In the final judgment, how we treat "the least of these" is how we treat Jesus himself• A wise person contemplates death to gain perspective on what matters most in life"Have you given thought to your death? Have you given thought to what happens after you die, and are you making decisions now that will stand the test of the end times?"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 directly challenges religious hypocrisy in Matthew 22-23, revealing the disconnect between outward religious practice and inner spiritual reality. This passage invites us to examine our own lives and let Scripture be a mirror that reveals our true spiritual condition.• Jesus tells the parable of the wedding banquet, showing how many reject God's invitation while others attend without true transformation• Religious leaders attempt to trap Jesus with questions about taxes, resurrection, and the greatest commandment• Jesus masterfully answers each challenge, silencing his critics with wisdom• In chapter 23, Jesus pronounces multiple "woes" against religious leaders for their hypocrisy• Jesus condemns focusing on outward appearances while neglecting inner spiritual health• We're challenged to let Scripture examine us rather than just applying it to others• The passage encourages authentic faith rather than religious performanceAre you willing to hear God say "woe" if it means you can be made more like Jesus?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.

Forgiveness and conflict resolution are at the core of genuine Christian community, yet these practices often get sidelined in favor of avoidance and resentment. • Coming down from spiritual mountaintop experiences into real-life relationship challenges• Jesus' practical, step-by-step conflict resolution model in Matthew 18• The damage caused when offended parties skip direct conversation and spread grievances• Forgiving others "seventy times seven" after receiving God's immeasurable forgiveness• How unforgiveness becomes self-torture that affects all relationships• Christ's example of humble service as the foundation for healthy Christian community• The freedom found in releasing others from what we feel they're "owed"Go talk to that person you've been avoiding. Forgive them on the way, and you'll find a new freedom as you follow Christ in this way.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 Jesus's teachings don't align with our expectations of comfort and fairness? Matthew chapters 20-21 confront us with this very tension, revealing a kingdom that operates contrary to our natural instincts.Jesus delivers a string of teachings and parables that systematically dismantle our human-centered perspective. The parable of the vineyard workers challenges our sense of fairness when those hired last receive the same wage as those who worked all day. When the disciples argue about position and status, Jesus flips the script: "Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant." As he enters Jerusalem to shouts of "Hosanna," the religious establishment questions his authority, unable to recognize God's work before their eyes.Throughout these passages, a profound truth emerges—the more extreme Jesus's words sound to us, the greater the gap between our willingness to obey and what he's calling us to. Following Jesus means acknowledging that he doesn't owe us anything for our obedience. Rather, we owe him everything because he first gave us life. As he reminds us, obedience isn't just saying "yes," it's doing "yes." And while Jesus is good and just, he isn't fair—thank God for that! If he were truly fair, none of us would receive the grace we so desperately need.Ready to embrace the upside-down values of Jesus's kingdom? Join us as we wrestle with these challenging passages and discover what it truly means to follow Christ with our whole lives.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.

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.