Clearly with Jimmy & Kelly Needham

Christmas rom-coms, alternative universes, and Nicolas Cage — yes, somehow they all make it into this episode. We walk through Kelly’s Christmas message on Luke 2, exploring why God’s answer to our deepest brokenness wasn’t a strategy, a checklist, or a five-step plan… but a person. A baby. The most unexpected rescue operation of all time.In this teaching, Kelly shares why the arrival of Jesus is far more than a sweet nativity scene: it’s the moment God sits down at the desk, takes our exam for us, hands us His perfect score, and then delights — truly delights — to give it away. We talk about how salvation is more than debt-forgiveness, how righteousness is a gift earned on our behalf, and why God is far more eager to be with us than to simply fix our circumstances.Whether you’re in a season that feels heavy, hopeful, confusing, or all of the above, this message is a reminder that God didn’t send us a plan to execute — He sent us Himself. Emmanuel. God with us. And that changes everything.

It’s that time of year when people start panic-Googling “gift ideas that don’t feel like I bought them in the checkout line.” So we decided to help — Clearly style. Which means: we gave ourselves permission to talk about our favorite things, roast each other, confess our competitive board-game issues, and accidentally pitch half a dozen companies who did not ask for our endorsement but probably should.In this episode, we walk through the books, tools, gadgets, apps, candles, pens, games, and wonderfully analog objects that make our daily lives happier, smoother, or at least less chaotic. From Bibles to board games, from Greek notebooks to Suno AI bangers, from Kelly’s beloved Remarkable to Jimmy’s Micron pen obsession — it’s all here.If you want gift ideas, want to feel better about your own quirks, or just want to laugh your way through our most unserious episode of the year… welcome. These are a few of our favorite things — clearly.🎁 Favorite Things — Linked ResourcesBibles & Study ToolsNew Inductive Study Bible — Amazon LinkGreek New Testament Notebooks — Amazon LinkAnalog & Digital ToolsAnalog To-Do List (Uggmonk) — Product PageRemarkable Tablet — Amazon LinkAn Exercise in Proactive RepentanceLifestyle & HomeJackson Vaughn Candles — Official SitePortable Charger — Amazon LinkMusic / CreativitySuno — suno.comBoard Games & Family FunHouse Rules Board Game Shop — Official SiteTicket to Ride — Amazon LinkTelestrations — Amazon Link

We are sponsored by America World Adoption Agency. Join us in moving God’s kingdom forward in supporting adoption by signing up for their emails here.We love our kids. We really do. We just don’t always love the sticky floors, the endless questions, the “surprise” tantrums in the Target parking lot, or the way someone always needs a snack the literal second we sit down. But somewhere along the way, our culture decided that children themselves are the burden — and that’s where we draw the line.In this episode, we push back on the modern “kids = life-ruiners” narrative and look at what Scripture actually says (spoiler: only blessings, zero curses). We explore why children are image bearers, sanctifiers, future world-changers, and, yes, occasional free labor and potential retirement plans.If you’re a tired parent, a hesitant soon-to-be parent, or just someone who’s accidentally internalized the cultural eye-roll toward kids, come laugh, rethink, and get recalibrated with us — clearly.📚 Additional ResourcesWho Should a Church Help (and Not Help)?Your Child Is Your Neighbor — The Gospel CoalitionA Jesus Heart for Children (Part 1)Children: Burden or Blessing?The Sanctity of Unwanted Life

We are sponsored by America World Adoption Agency. Join us in moving God’s kingdom forward in supporting adoption by signing up for their emails here.We love worship, and we also love ruining bad ideas about worship. Today we are looking at five myths every church musician has probably heard at some point — like that we usher people into God’s presence (spoiler: that’s Jesus’ job), or that the Spirit’s main gig is “changing atmospheres”. We even talk about why “spontaneous” doesn’t automatically mean “spiritual.”So if you’ve ever led worship, attended worship, or just judged someone’s worship from the back row, this one’s for you. Grab your coffee, retire your skinny jeans, and join us as we bust a few myths — clearly.Recommended Book: You are What You Love by KA Smith

We are sponsored by America World Adoption Agency. Join us in moving God’s kingdom forward in supporting adoption by signing up for their emails here.Second Corinthians is Paul at his most personal, most pastoral... and most sarcastic. In this episode, Jimmy and Kelly unpack a letter full of tension: comfort and affliction, strength and weakness, ministry and mockery (hello, “super apostles”). Kelly’s got a full highlight reel of favorite verses, Jimmy tries to make “ratchet” happen, and together they explore why this book is a lifeline for anyone in ministry—or anyone just barely hanging on.From Paul’s theology of suffering to his defense of real, gritty, unimpressive faithfulness, 2 Corinthians will wreck you and rebuild you. Also, we may or may not suggest a graphic novel version.So pull out your Bible, your one-pager (get them here), and maybe a thorn in the flesh or two. Let’s go.

This episode is sponsored by America World Adoption Agency. Join us in moving God’s kingdom forward in supporting adoption by signing up for their emails here.What do Gaza, foreskins, and your spouse’s eschatology have in common? This episode. In classic Q&A fashion, we jump from current events to covenant signs to the real-life challenge of disagreeing theologically with someone you love.Jimmy and Kelly talk through how Christians should respond to cultural chaos (spoiler: read your Bible and love your neighbor), why God chose circumcision as the sign of His covenant with Abraham (yes, including “sensitivity”), and what to do when you and your spouse land in different places theologically or church-wise.Come for the clarity, stay for the circumcision jokes. This one’s classic Q&A Lane — curious, biblical, and just the right amount of unhinged.Resources:Give them Grace

🧡 If You Don’t Who Will?It is easy to think someone else is going to step up but we NEED YOU! Help us continue to make episodes and we are dreaming big for 2026! Just a few perks:Our Growing Catalog of one pagers for every book of the BibleHang out with us during our Live Recordings (and ask questions!)Access to our team ChatYou get celebrated during our Partner appreciation month👉 Become a Patreon Partner🎙️ Clearly – Ghosts: What’s Actually in the Bible?In this Halloween-week special, Jimmy and Kelly finally go where all good theologians fear to tread: ghosts. Like, actual spirits of the dead. Is that a thing? Or are we just reading into spooky campfire stories?Turns out—the Bible has some stuff to say.They dive into:The shockingly real ghost of Samuel in 1 Samuel 28Moses (ghost?) and Elijah on the mount of transfigurationWhy the disciples thought Jesus was a ghostAnd why Jesus didn’t say “ghosts aren’t real”—he said they don’t have bones 👀Also covered: ☠️ Necromancers, mediums, and why “never necro” should be a t-shirt 👻 Why ghosts (if real) don’t act like movie ghosts 🧠 Why demons are way more common than ghosts 🚫 And why you should absolutely not try to talk to eitherThey unpack everything with biblical grounding, lots of side-laughs, and a giant fake reaper looming over the episode. Literally.So whether you’re wondering if haunted houses are real, or just looking for a better theology of the supernatural—this episode will give you a lot to think about (and maybe stop you from buying that Ouija board at the garage sale).

Dive into the often awkward and frustrating world of prayer. Explore why aiming too high can stifle your spiritual practice. Discover how chaotic moments can spark deeper connections with God. They discuss the truth behind not wanting to pray and the need for honesty in communication with the Almighty. Understand the real barriers like cynicism and self-reliance that hinder sincerity. Get practical tips on how to start small and approach prayer as genuine conversations, not guilt trips. It's all about being your true self with God.

Explore the fascinating interplay between AI and spiritual life. The discussion dives into how tools like ChatGPT can assist in Bible study but may risk overwhelming personal reflection. Discover why relying on AI for sermon prep could shortcut your spiritual journey. The hosts highlight the importance of community and lingering over Scripture, warning against the dangers of confirmation bias. With humor and practical insights, they explore responsible ways to integrate AI into church ministries while preserving the essence of discipleship.

It is Partner Month. Join us in Equipping the Saints for the Work of Ministry: PatreonGet you 1 Corinthians One-Pager here!We’re heading to Corinth, y’all—and not just for the ruins. In this episode, Jimmy and Kelly crack open Paul’s (technically second!) letter to the Corinthians and uncover why it’s still wildly relevant today. From church drama and spiritual gifts to communion faux pas and resurrection mic drops, 1 Corinthians is a loaded letter to a messy, relatable church.We’re talking about why Paul calls these hot mess believers “saints,” what makes this book a gift to the ADHD brain, and how a deep dive into resurrection theology becomes one of the most compelling historical cases for Christianity.If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the modern church, wrestled with tricky Bible passages, or just want to know how to see Jesus clearly through Paul’s letters—this episode is for you. And yes, we’re giving you that Clearly One-Pager to help you dig in for yourself.🔗 Resources mentioned:Explore ancient biblical manuscripts at csntm.orgWatch their manuscript walk-through on YouTube