The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Founder of The Coming Home Network, and host of The Journey Home program on EWTN, Marcus Grodi stops in to chat with Jeff Cavins. They talk about sola scriptura, how Marcus went from a Presbyterian minister to a Catholic, the thousands of people who have found their way back to the Catholic Church through The Coming Home Network, and some of the challenges that converts face. Snippet from the Show “Most people say the Bible is the pillar and bulwark of truth. But what does the Bible say the pillar and bulwark of truth is? 1 Timothy 3:15 points out that the pillar and bulwark of truth is the Church.” SHOWNOTES 1 Timothy 3:15 - “If I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.” Resources Newman’s Apologia Pro Vita Sua The Coming Home Network Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

If the greatest commandment is to love God, how do we know if we’re actually doing it, or if we’re just falling in “like” with Jesus? To answer this question, Jeff uses Scripture passages on what it means to truly love God. He unpacks what this means for us as disciples who not only SAY they love Jesus, but ACT like they love Jesus. Check out Jeff’s episode, Created for Love, Settling for Likes, for even more Scripture on this topic. Snippet from the Show “We can only obey what we know. If we want to be obedient to God, we have to have some plan to get to know what’s expected of us. That’s what Bible study is about.” SHOWNOTES Matthew 20:20-28 - “Then the mother of the sons of Zeb′edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’ And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Matthew 22:36-40 - “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.” John 14:15 - “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Romans 1:5 - “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations” John 1:6 - “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth” Luke 6:46 - “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 16:13 - “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” John 8:29 - “And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” Want the shownotes sent directly to your inbox? Email Jeff at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Jeff Cavins digs into scriptures on restoration in the Gospel of John and compares Peter’s journey to Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. At some point, both run away from their responsibilities, but eventually turn around and embrace transformative relationships. Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Email Jeff at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “Whatever you’ve done, the Lord is able to restore you, and it doesn’t take a fanfare, it oftentimes is a very simple thing.” SHOWNOTES John 18:15-18, Peter Denies Jesus - “Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. As this disciple was known to the high priest, he entered the court of the high priest along with Jesus, while Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept the door, and brought Peter in. The maid who kept the door said to Peter, “Are not you also one of this man’s disciples?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves; Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. John 18:19-24, The High Priest Questions Jesus - The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I have said nothing secretly. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Ca′iaphas the high priest. John 18:25-27, Peter Denies Jesus Again - Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “Are not you also one of his disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it; and at once the cock crowed.” John 21:1-14, Jesus Appears to Disciples by the Sea of Tiberias - “After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe′ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan′a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb′edee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.” John 21:15-19, Peter Is Given a Command - “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

We are created to be loved, and to love others. But it’s easy to settle for likes. We feel a boost of ego when someone leaves a flattering comment or shares our post, and it’s satisfying … to a point. But deep inside we all want to be loved, not just liked. Jeff brings up Scripture passages on what it means to be created for love and talks about the things that hold us back from pursuing authentic love. Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Snippet from the Show “We are created for love, but we settle for likes because of fear, anger, hurt, woundedness, ego, inconvenience, love of money—all of these things can stop us.” SHOWNOTES John 15:13 “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” CCC 545 “Jesus invites sinners to the table of the kingdom: ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’ He invites them to that conversion without which one cannot enter the kingdom, but shows them in word and deed his Father's boundless mercy for them and the vast ‘joy in heaven over one sinner who repents’. The supreme proof of his love will be the sacrifice of his own life ‘for the forgiveness of sins". John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 17:26 “I made known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 14:21 “He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her” John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.” What stops the love of God? Fear – fear of opening up your heart Anger – unresolved conflict in our hearts Hurt – go to confession and profess your desire to grow closer to God Woundedness – wounds from our lives that stop us from receiving the love of God Jealousy, Envy, and Inconvenience Ego – believing that we can do it all on our own Love of Money and Career - are our careers keeping us from loving those around us?Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Ministry programs and apologetics are great, but there’s one area that parishes can often neglect: evangelization. Christians have a mandate to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” But so many Catholics seem to opt out of this and prefer to build programs that service the inner circle instead of welcoming in the larger community. We’re hitting the target, but not the bullseye. Jeff references Scripture passages and the seven parts of the kerygma to inspire outreach and evangelization in your parish and greater community. Snippet from the Show “We have a mandate to go and make disciples … but do the people in our parish know what the RCIA program even is?” To get the shownotes, email Jeff at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com or visit the website at ascensionpress.com/thejeffcavinsshowSupport The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

If social media existed when the Scriptures were written, what would they say about it? Jeff revises verses from the Bible about speech to answer this question. Snippet from the Show “Rash tweets are like sword thrusts, but the tweet of the wise brings healing.” Check out today's shownotes (including every scripture verse from this episode) at ascensionpress.com/thejeffcavinsshow or email us at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.comSupport The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

A go-to response to insomnia typically involves a snack and TV remote, but there are better ways to get real rest and wake up feeling refreshed. Jeff has some advice for those who have difficulty sleeping, and it all comes from Scripture! The topic of sleep is a recurring theme in the Bible, and each verse in this episode provides an instruction about how to quiet the mind and get the rest we crave. Snippet from the Show Worry is where you pay today for something that could possibly happen tomorrow. It keeps us up at night. But Matthew 26:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” SHOWNOTES Daniel 2:1 - In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnez′zar, Nebuchadnez′zar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Psalm 121:3-4 - He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Matthew 8:23-24 - And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. Proverbs 6:9-11 - How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond, and want like an armed man. Proverbs 20:13 - Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. Psalm 127:2 - It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 36:4 - He plots mischief while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good Proverbs 4:14-16 - Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made some one stumble. Matthew 6:25-27 - “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?” Matthew 26:32-33 - For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Proverbs 3:24-26 - If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Philippians 4:6-7 - Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Psalm 91:1-5 - He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, The Lord sustains you Psalm 3:5 - I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me. Psalm 4:8 - In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for thou alone, O Lord, makest me dwell in safety. Honest day’s work Ecclesiastes 5:12 - Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let him sleep. Psalm 119:62 - At midnight I rise to praise thee, because of thy righteous ordinances. Psalm 23 - The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Matthew 11:28-30 - “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Go to ascensionpress.com/thjeffcavinsshow for resources, shownotes, and more!Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Jeff shares the feelings of shame and isolation he faced as a kid struggling with bedwetting. Even if you never wet the bed, experiencing embarrassment and even self-loathing because of a perceived flaw is something we can all relate to. Jeff shares tips on how to react to someone experiencing these feelings, and points out that we’re not defined by those imperfections. We’re defined by our relationship with Jesus, and he will always look on us with love. Snippet from the Show “What we perceive as some kind of stigma or impediment does not define us. We’re defined by the blood of the lamb and the relationship we have with Jesus.” SHOWNOTES Tips for dealing with bedwetting: Be Patient - This is not something you can’t cope with. Realize that they may think their self-identity is in the balance, and that struggle is more important than your convenience. Love and affirm them as sons and daughters of God. Make sure they know they are not defined by this. Offer up your inconvenience to the Lord. 1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. John 9:1 - As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Silo′am” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. Colossians 1:24 - “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” Resources in this Episode Sign up to be alerted when the new Bible study on Romans is available! The Great Adventure Bible - the #1 Bible on Amazon! Jeff Cavins Pilgrimages Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

If you are a parent, grandparent, godparent, or spiritual parent, one of the best gifts you can give is a Bible. But not just any Bible, your Bible. The one where you’ve underlined verses, written notes in the margins, and added your prayers in the open spaces. Start writing in your Bible with the specific intention of giving it to your son or daughter. It’s a beautiful way to share your spiritual life with your children and they will cherish it for life. Jeff goes over some practical tips on how to mark up your Bible - check out this episode for more. Snippet from the Show “How will we pass on the Faith to the next generation? … Get a brand new Bible and take notes in it with your son, daughter, grandson, or niece in mind and give it to them as a record of your prayers, intentions, and hopes for them.” SHOWNOTES 2 Peter 1:12-15 - “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to arouse you by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. And I will see to it that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Color Coding Yellow - wisdom passages Green - encouraging passages Red - What to do in a crisis Blue - Promises in the Bible Resources in this Episode The Great Adventure Catholic Bible Kergyma Card Activated Disciple Jeff Cavins Pilgrimages Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)

Looking for peace and simplicity? Get rid of the factors that complicate your life. Jeff zeroes in on the things that disrupt our peace and rupture our relationships. He explains how each of these things affects us and what we can do to overcome these disruptions and find our inner calm. Snippet from the Show “When we choose to sin, it complicates our lives in powerful ways ... we lose the integration between soul and body.” Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode! Check out the shownotes for this episode at ascensionpress.com/thejeffcavinsshow or email us at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com and we'll send them straight to your inbox!Support The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast)