The Bible Project Daily Podcast

Send us a text📖 Episode Summary:When someone begins to take the Bible seriously, they eventually confront a question that’s both theological and deeply personal: What is God’s future plan for Israel?In Romans 11:11–24, Paul gives one of the clearest, richest explanations of this mystery in all of Scripture. Using the powerful metaphor of an olive tree and ingrafted branches, he shows that Israel’s rejection of Jesus is not final—and that God’s plan for both Jews and Gentiles is unfolding in a way that magnifies His mercy and faithfulness.🔍 Key Themes:Israel's Fall Is Not Final: “Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!” (v.11)Salvation for the Gentiles: Their transgression opened the door for the nations (v.11–12).Jealousy Leading to Revival: The Gentiles’ inclusion is meant to provoke Israel to return (v.13–15).The Olive Tree Metaphor: Gentile believers are ingrafted branches; natural branches can be restored (v.17–24).God’s Character Revealed: The “kindness and sternness” of God are both on display (v.22).🧠 Theological Context:Throughout church history, two major positions have emerged:Premillennialism: God has a future plan for national Israel—Christ will return to establish a literal kingdom, fulfilling the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants.Amillennialism: The promises to Israel are now spiritually fulfilled in Christ and His church. There is no distinct future role for the nation of Israel.Paul steps above both camps and instead focuses on the unfolding mystery—that Israel's current rejection has brought salvation to the Gentiles, and that one day, Israel as a nation will return to God in faith.🪴 The Olive Tree: A Visual SummaryThe Root: God’s covenant promises to the patriarchs.Natural Branches: Israel—some broken off due to unbelief.Wild Shoots (Gentiles): Grafted in by faith.The Warning: Don’t be arrogant; you stand by grace.The Hope: God can—and will—graft the natural branches back in.✨ Practical Takeaways:God Keeps His Promises His covenant faithfulness endures—even when people are unfaithful.Stay Humble Gentile believers must not boast but tremble. Our place is by grace alone.Anticipate Redemption God’s plan isn’t finished. A greater glory is coming: the full inclusion of Israel and the renewal of all creation.Live with Expectation What God began in Abraham, He will finish in Christ. This is a story still unfolding.Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text📖 Episode SummaryIn this episode, we examine Paul’s response to one of the most pressing theological questions of his time—and ours: Has God rejected His people, Israel? Drawing on Romans 11:1–10, Paul answers with an emphatic “By no means!” and presents both himself and a preserved remnant as evidence of God's continued faithfulness.We explore how the apparent shift in salvation history—from Israel to the Gentiles—does not represent a change in God's character or His covenant promises. Rather, Paul shows how even in Israel’s rejection, God is working out His sovereign purpose through grace and election.🧭 Key ThemesGod’s Faithfulness to Israel: Paul declares that God has not rejected His people, citing his own Jewish identity and calling as proof.The Remnant: Just as in the days of Elijah, God has preserved a faithful remnant—chosen not by works but by grace.Grace vs. Works: Paul clarifies that salvation is entirely by grace. If it’s by grace, it can’t be by works—otherwise, grace ceases to be grace.Spiritual Hardening: Those who rejected Christ have been spiritually hardened. Paul quotes Isaiah and David to show that this outcome was foretold.The Tragedy of Missed Messiah: Despite possessing the Scriptures and promises, Israel as a whole missed their Messiah due to pride and mishandling of God’s Word.🔍 Scripture FocusRomans 11:1–2a – “Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite…”Romans 11:4 – “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”Romans 11:5–6 – A remnant chosen by grace, not works.Romans 11:7–10 – Israel’s hardening foretold through Isaiah and David.🧠 Reflective QuestionsWhat does Paul’s identity as a Jewish believer reveal about God's ongoing covenant faithfulness?How do the stories of Elijah and the remnant challenge our assumptions about God's activity in times of spiritual decline?In what ways can we be tempted to rely on works rather than grace in our own spiritual journey?How might spiritual hardening occur in a life, a church, or a nation?What warning—and what comfort—can we draw from God’s dealings with Israel?🕊️ Closing EncouragementGod’s promises do not fail, even when people do. The remnant reminds us that God always preserves a faithful people, not because of merit but because of grace. And if He has not abandoned Israel, we can be confident He will not abandon those who are in Christ.Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textWelcome:Welcome back to The Bible Project Daily Podcast. In today’s episode, we begin our journey through the Book of Judges with a reminder of how partial obedience to God’s Word can lead to long-term consequences. Join me as we explore how the tribes of Israel struggled to fully obey God's instructions and how that challenge still speaks to us today.Episode Notes:📖 Scripture Focus: Judges 1:1–2:5🧠 Theme: The danger of partial obedience and the cost of not following through on God's commands.🏌️‍♂️ Illustration: The importance of follow-through in golf becomes a metaphor for spiritual integrity.🗺️ Key Content:Historical background from Genesis to JoshuaHow the tribes of Israel partially obeyed God's command to drive out the CanaanitesThe consequences of compromise and rationalizationPractical and spiritual lessons for us today🙏 Reflection Question:Where in your life might you be settling for partial obedience when God is calling you to fully follow through?Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text📖 Episode SummaryAt first glance, the answer to the question “What does it take to be saved?” seems simple: “Believe in Jesus Christ.” But as we explore Romans 10:14–21, we uncover a profound chain of events that leads to salvation—one that begins not with human decision, but with God’s sovereign grace and a faithful proclamation of the gospel.In today’s episode, we unpack Paul’s reasoning as he walks us step-by-step, in reverse, through the process: from calling on the Lord → to believing → to hearing → to preaching → to being sent. This backwards logic highlights the cooperative interplay between divine initiative and human responsibility. And yet, Paul does not let Israel off the hook—despite having heard, they did not respond in faith. Their failure, Paul insists, was not for lack of revelation, but for lack of obedience to the gospel.Join me as we reflect on this text and consider the essential elements of salvation, the vital role of gospel messengers, and the challenge of truly responding to God’s Word in faith.📌 Key Themes & TakeawaysFaith Requires Knowledge: Belief in Christ cannot happen unless a person first hears about Him.God Sends, We Speak: Proclamation is a divine and human initiative—God sends messengers, and people must speak the gospel.Calling = Salvation: Salvation here refers not just to justification, but to the ongoing rescue from sin’s power through calling on the Lord.Israel’s Rejection: Despite having heard and understood the gospel, Israel largely rejected it—not due to a lack of access but a lack of faith.Faith Comes by Hearing: Faith isn’t a mystical experience—it’s a response to the heard Word of God. That’s where salvation begins.🧠 Questions for ReflectionWhy is it necessary for people to hear before they can believe?In what ways are we called to be part of the “sending” process today?How does this passage balance the themes of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility?Are there areas where, like Israel, we may be hearing but not truly responding in faith?📚 Scripture ReadingsRomans 10:13–21Isaiah 52:7 – “How beautiful are the feet…”Romans 9:32 – “They did not pursue it by faith...”Romans 5:9–10 – Distinction between justification and salvationMeditate on to this episode and deepen your understanding of salvation—not just as a moment of belief, but as a movement of God’s grace that invites a life of ongoing faith and transformation.Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textEpisode Notes: (See Yesterday)Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textWelcome to The Bible Project Daily Podcast, where we journey together through Scripture, verse by verse, seeking wisdom, grace, and truth. Today we reach a turning point in Paul’s letter to the Romans—a passage that reveals one of the most important yet commonly made spiritual errors: mistaking religious effort for saving faith. If Romans 9 showed us God’s sovereign mercy, Romans 10 brings it home with a powerful reminder of human responsibility. Join us as we unpack why people stumble over the simplicity of grace and how salvation is as near as your own heart and mouth.📘 Episode Summary:In this episode, we explore Paul’s urgent appeal in Romans 9:30–10:13, where he shifts from the mystery of divine election to the reality of human unbelief. Why did Israel, with all its religious privilege, miss the Messiah? And why do some people even today still fall into the trap of trying to earn God’s favour instead of receiving it by faith?Paul shows us that zeal without knowledge can be a deadly combination—and that the stumbling stone is not God’s judgment, but Christ Himself. We reflect on the distinction between justification and salvation, the three dimensions of being saved, and how the gospel confronts both legalism and unbelief with a message of grace: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”🔑 Key Themes:The error of works-based righteousnessThe stumbling stone of ChristThe difference between justification and salvationGod's sovereignty and human responsibilitySalvation as near and available to all who believe📖 Key Verse:“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textEpisode Notes: Main Theme:God’s sovereign choice is taught clearly in Scripture.Common objections arise — both about God's fairness and human free will.Key Objections Addressed:Is God unjust?Paul’s emphatic answer: Certainly not! (v.14)God’s mercy is a sovereign gift, not a human right.What about human free will?Paul reminds us: We are creatures, not the Creator. (v.20)Like clay in a potter’s hands — God has authority over His creation.Biblical Examples:Moses (Exodus 33:19):God's mercy is given according to His will, not human effort.Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16):Pharaoh hardened his own heart, then God judicially confirmed it.Through Pharaoh’s resistance, God's power and name were proclaimed.Key Doctrinal Points:Salvation depends on God’s mercy (v.16), not human will or striving.God has the right to both show mercy and harden hearts (v.18).God's sovereignty and human responsibility coexist, even if mysterious.Supporting Scriptures:Ephesians 1:“Good pleasure of His will” (v.5)“Mystery of His will” (v.9)“Counsel of His will” (v.11)Reflection:Wrestling with the doctrine of election is normal.A pivotal moment: acceptance of God's sovereign choice while reading Acts 13:48 — "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed."Deciding to let Scripture speak for itself and trust God's wisdom.Conclusion:God’s sovereignty is not injustice—it is righteousness.Even when His ways are mysterious, God's will is rooted in wisdom, justice, and love.Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textWelcome to The Bible Project Daily PodcastIn today’s episode, we dive deep into a sobering and important question: Is God losing the war for the world? With Christians making up only a minority of the global population, it’s easy to wonder if God’s promises are faltering. But Paul’s words in Romans 9:6–13 offer a bold and beautiful answer: “It is not as though the Word of God has failed.”Join us as we explore what it means to trust in God’s faithfulness, even when appearances suggest otherwise. We’ll unpack Paul’s use of Old Testament examples—from Isaac to Jacob—to show that God's promises are never dependent on human effort, ancestry, or advantage, but rest entirely on His sovereign grace.✍️ Episode Notes: Are We on the Losing Side? (Romans 9:6–13)Intro: In a world where Christians seem increasingly marginalized, Paul tackles the question of whether God’s promises have fallen short—especially in light of Israel’s rejection of Jesus. Through three powerful illustrations from Israel’s own history, Paul affirms that God's promises have not failed. Instead, they were always meant to be fulfilled not by physical descent, but by faith and sovereign election.Key Points:Not all Israel is true Israel: God's promises were never intended for every biological descendant, but for the faithful remnant.From Ishmael to Isaac: Salvation is not about ancestry or human effort, but divine promise.Jacob and Esau: Even before birth, God’s election was at work—not by works, but by Him who calls.Why it matters: This passage reassures us that God's purposes never fail. Though we may feel like a minority in the world today, God’s Word stands firm. His promises to those in Christ are secure—and rooted not in our strength or background, but in His unchanging grace.Reflection Questions:What does it mean to be a “child of the promise” today?In what ways can we trust God's faithfulness when the world seems to oppose Him?How does this passage shape your understanding of grace and election?Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textWelcome back to The Bible Project Daily Podcast, where we journey together through Scripture, one chapter at a time. In today’s episode, we begin a powerful and emotionally raw new section of Paul’s letter to the Romans—chapters 9 through 11—by exploring Paul’s Anguish Over Israel.Paul isn’t simply teaching doctrine here. He opens his heart, revealing deep grief and a holy burden for his fellow Israelites—those who, despite receiving incredible spiritual privileges, have largely rejected the Messiah.As we explore Romans 9:1–5, we’ll reflect on Paul’s sorrow, his longing for his people’s salvation, and what this reveals about the heart of God. We’ll also ask some difficult but essential questions: Has God abandoned His promises to Israel? And if not, what does that mean for us today?Join us as we sit with Paul’s tears and consider the faithfulness of God—a faithfulness that never fails.📖 Episode Notes Theme: God’s Covenant Faithfulness and Paul’s Heart for IsraelKey Topics:Theological and emotional transition from Romans 8 to Romans 9Paul’s personal grief and sacrificial love for the Jewish peopleHistorical and modern tensions around Israel and God's ongoing purposeThe implications of God’s faithfulness to Israel for Christian assuranceA call to holy grief and heartfelt intercession for the lostReflection Questions:Do you carry a burden for those in your life who don’t yet know Christ?How does Paul’s lament help you understand the heart of Christian mission?What does God's unwavering love for Israel say about His promises to you?Thanks for listening. If today’s episode resonated with you, consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Let’s keep walking through the Word—together.Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textFear Nothing – Part Two:📖 Scripture Romans 8:36–39🗣️ Summary:In this second half of our journey through Romans 8, we go deeper into the heart of one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture. Paul reminds us that suffering is not new to God’s people—it has always been part of the story. But even in suffering, we are not defeated. We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.In it comes his defiant, soul-assuring proclamation: nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.We look closely at every category Paul names—death and life, angels and rulers, time itself, powers and principalities, heights and depths—and find that not one of them has the power to cut us off from the unshakable, never-failing, always-pursuing love of Christ.This isn’t a sentimental love. It’s a victorious, suffering-tested, cross-proven love. A love that holds us when everything else gives way.🕊️ Key Themes:The enduring love of God in sufferingJewish and early Christian views on angels and spiritual powersAssurance in the face of trials, fear, and doubtInterpreting Paul’s poetic climax in Romans 8Why our confidence in Christ can hold, even when we feel like crawling across a frozen river🧠 Big Idea:God’s love is not changed by our circumstances. It is proven in suffering, present in every trial, and victorious over every power. If you are in Christ, nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate you from that love.💬 Final Word:No matter which way the wind blows in your life, God is love. And in Christ Jesus, that love will never let you go.Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com