Clearly with Jimmy & Kelly Needham

Hey our sponsor for today is the Robert Lewis Sermons Podcast. If you want a timeless perspective rooted in God’s word, click here to check out his sermons.So in order to show that the book of Ruth (oh look a helpful onepager here) isn’t just for women’s Bible Studies we wrote a trailer. If enough people ask for it, we will have Jimmy read the voice over:NARRATOR (in a deep, gravelly voice)In a world where redemption is a forgotten dream...NARRATOROne woman will rise...[Sound of a huge crash, dust erupts.]...and shatter expectations forever.NARRATOR (voice rising in intensity)She’s about to uncover the greatest secret in history...[Sudden silence. Cut to Ruth alone in a darkened field, the ground beneath her glowing with an ethereal light.]...God’s hand moves not in the thunder...NARRATOR...but in the most ordinary moments...[Ruth kneels, grabbing handfuls of grain like a warrior preparing for battle.]NARRATOR (whispering)Her journey will change everything.[Cut to Boaz standing tall in front of an ancient stone wall, a flash of lightning illuminating his face. The wind howls.]NARRATORBoaz: The Redeemer.[Boom! The camera zooms in on Boaz’s strong hands gripping a sword, his eyes glowing with determination.]NARRATOR (intense)He has the power...[Cut to Boaz stepping into a darkened room, his footsteps echoing.]...but will he wield it to save the one who dares to trust him?NARRATORTheir love will spark a revolution...[Explosions. Boaz and Ruth fight side by side.]...a battle for redemption that will echo through eternity...[Slow-motion shot of Ruth walking through the city gate, a crowd roaring in the background. Fire and sparks fly all around her.]NARRATORThis fall... redemption will rise from the ashes![The screen explodes in a massive fireball. The music hits a deafening climax.]TITLE CARD: “RUTH: THE EXODUS REDEMPTION”[The camera zooms in on Ruth’s fierce, triumphant face, and then flashes to black.]NARRATOR (in a low growl)Coming soon. Get ready for the redemption of a lifetime.[Final, earth-shattering drum hit. Silence.]Is the book of Ruth just a “women’s Bible study” book? Nope! In this episode, we flip the script on that misconception and explore how Ruth is an epic story of redemption—one that mirrors the Exodus and points us straight to Jesus. Our guest, Dr. Justin Jackson, takes us on a deep dive into this four-chapter powerhouse, unpacking its unexpected themes, ancient cultural quirks (yes, we talk about the whole "sleeping at Boaz’s feet" thing), and why Ruth’s story matters for everyone.Plus, we come up with some questionable acronyms, marvel at Boaz’s role as the only named human redeemer in the Old Testament, and maybe, just maybe, leave you wanting to read Ruth all over again.Grab your Bible and join us for this fun and insightful ride!🔹 Resources & One-Pager: Check the show notes for extra tools to help you dive deeper into Ruth. 🔹 Join Us Live! Want to be part of these episodes in real time? Support us on Patreon

If you love Where’s Waldo, you are going to love today's episode. If you don’t love Where’s Waldo, then go back to your childhood, consider what went wrong, pray for forgiveness, and jump in with us.The Clearly crew is joined by Dr. Justin Jackson, a man so dedicated to studying the Bible that he couldn’t stop at just one doctorate. Together, they explore how Jesus is present in all of Scripture, from Leviticus to 1 Chronicles. They break down six key ways to find Jesus in every passage and why this approach transforms how believers read the Bible. They also put their skills to the test in a high-stakes Bible challenge, proving once and for all that, yes, even the most obscure Old Testament passages lead to Jesus.Takeaways from This Episode:The Bible is one unified story, not 66 disconnected books.Every passage—yes, every passage—points to Jesus in some way.Six ways to find Jesus in Scripture: problems, promises, pictures, patterns, paradoxes, and products.Why seeing Jesus in all of Scripture isn't just interesting—it’s life-changing.What happens when someone is put on the spot to explain how a random Old Testament passage leads to Jesus.Why Dr. Justin Jackson’s wife deserves an honorary doctorate for supporting ten years of his theological studies.Jump in and see Scripture in a whole new light!Resources for Further Study:📖 How to Study the Bible – Justin W. Jackson📜 On Pascha by Melito of Sardis – Start on page 37

Satan is stupid. Jehovah’s Witnesses misunderstand John 1. You can do the right thing and still not please God. And if you wish God spoke today like He did in the Old Testament, you’re missing something HUGE!That is it! That is the episode! If you want the details, hit play! (Well, don’t hit—hitting isn’t nice.)**🎙️ Episode Summary:In this Q&A (plus objections) episode, we’re tackling some big theological questions—and a few spicy internet comments. Here’s what we cover:🔹 Why does Satan pursue believers if he knows he can’t take them from Christ?🔹 What does Satan actually accomplish when he attacks Christians?🔹 What are the dynamics of killing sin? How much of it is willpower vs. the Holy Spirit’s power?🔹 How do you know if you’re fighting sin in your own strength or relying on the Spirit?🔹 Why doesn’t God interact with the world today like He did in the Bible?🔹 Where’s the scripture to back up the idea that doing the right thing with the wrong heart doesn’t please God?🔹 Do Jehovah’s Witnesses get John 1:1 wrong? (Hint: Yes, and we explain why.)If you’ve ever wrestled with these topics—or just enjoy some good theological debate—this episode is for you. Have a question or an objection? Send them our way! question@clearlypodcast.com More resources:🔗 How Pilgrims Progress (Fighting Sin)🔗 Bible Translations🔗 Satanology🔗Pattern of miracles in the Bible

We’re talking about the ultimate litmus test for worship songs—because we can’t just let any melody into our setlist.Step One: It must be biblical. And by biblical, we mean it needs to quote Scripture directly—at least 90% in the original Greek or Hebrew (because transliterations are sus).Step Two: It must be about the gospel. If your lyrics wander more than 7 words (God’s number, obviously) away from the cross, it’s automatically out.Step Three: Every songwriter must attend weekly accountability meetings with David Paul Tripp. No exceptions.Step Four: All writers and band members must actively practice at least four spiritual disciplines per week, rotating one out monthly. And if they haven’t ruthlessly eliminated hurry from their lives, they must enter a mandatory 7-day (God’s number, again) digital fast.Want to know the final three steps? Good! That means you actually take your faith seriously. But let’s be real—figuring out what worship songs belong in a church setlist is tricky.Should we sing songs from ministries we don’t align with? Does playing a song mean endorsing the theology (or the lifestyle) of its writers? And what do we do when a worship song is great, but the songwriter later walks away from the faith? Jimmy and Kelly dive into these questions, breaking down biblical wisdom, church history, and personal experience to help us think critically—without overcomplicating worship.Resources Mentioned:📖 Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin – Get the book📖 Rhythms of Grace by Mike Cosper – Get the book🎧 Jimmy's Sermon on Worship: The Life of a Disciple: Worship – Listen here

Stories of a guy’s magic hair, a woman's tent peg assassination, a tiny army's screaming and some broken pots that win a war. It gets weirder, it gets darker, but don't worry! Jimmy opens with a Spice Girls reference.What do the Spice Girls and the Book of Judges have in common? Not much… but we found a way to make it work! In this episode, we dive deep into one of the Bible’s darkest and most chaotic books—full of wild battles, unexpected heroes, and some seriously questionable life choices. From Gideon’s smashing success to Samson’s legendary hair problems, we unpack why Judges is both a tough read and an essential one.We talk about why this book is often misunderstood, what it teaches us about human nature, and how it all points to our need for a true King. Plus, we attempt to name all twelve judges (with mixed success), discuss why Quentin Tarantino might be the perfect director for a Judges movie, and explain how everyone doing what was right in their own eyes led to some of the Bible’s most jaw-dropping moments.So grab your torches and tent pegs, and let’s explore Judges!🎶 Bonus: Check out this catchy kids’ song about the judges we mentioned in the episode: Judges Song💡 Partner with us📩 Sign up for our free newsletter

This is an important episode. To start, you need to memorize these key phrases for winning any argument:  "I know you are, but what am I?"  "I'm rubber, you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you."  "Takes one to know one!"  "If you love it so much, why don’t you marry it?"If none of those work, try kicking them in the shin.That’s the abridged version—if you want more detail, listen to the episode!What if conflict wasn’t something to avoid, but actually a tool for growth?In this episode of Clearly, we (Jimmy & Kelly) dive into the messy, awkward, and often uncomfortable world of arguments. We’ve had our fair share—especially in the early years of our marriage—so we’re bringing real stories, hard-learned lessons, and a whole lot of biblical wisdom to the table.We talk about why most of us either avoid conflict (peace-faking) or blow up in it (peace-breaking) and how there’s actually a better way—peace-making. We’ll break down how honesty, curiosity, and grace can change the way we handle tension in our relationships, whether it’s with a spouse, a friend, or even that coworker who just gets to you.So, what does it look like to argue for the glory of God? Let’s get into it.Additional Resource:If you want to dive deeper into handling anger and conflict well, check out Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness by David Powlison.

Don't get mad, you started it. We just Aed your Qs. So if you are mad at the As, ask better Qs. Need to know where to ask Qs? That is a Q we can A right here. Send all your Qs to question@clearlypodcast.com and we will do our best to A. Ok, and now back to the Q&A!This month, we’re diving into your questions—big, small, and everything in between! From mental health and the role of faith in therapy to the biblical dynamics of men and women in the home, we’re unpacking it all. Ever wondered how small group leaders fit into the church’s authority structure? Yep, we tackled that too.Questions We Answered Today:What is the biblical role of men and women within the home?What authority should small group leaders have compared to pastors or elders?How should Christians approach mental health issues? Is it appropriate to seek help from counselors and psychologists?What are some of your favorite books and songs from the past year?Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Can Women Speak in Church? Context is EverythingElders, Pastors, and Church LeadershipWhat is Complementarianism?The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Amazon)Answering God by Eugene Peterson (Amazon)The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Pocket Edition (Amazon)Beethoven Blues by Jon Batiste (Spotify)Sing the Bible Vol. 1 by Slugs and Bugs (YouTube)The Corner Room: Psalm 23 (YouTube)Got more questions for us? Submit them to question@clearlypodcast.com or hit us up on Instagram @theclearlypodcast. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Arrr, mateys, lend an ear, for the tale of Joshua be as fierce as a squall on the open sea! After the old sea dog Moses sails off into the sunset, young Joshua takes the wheel, leadin’...wait, this isn't a pirate-themed episode? Wow. This is awkward. Maybe we all need to go read Joshua or listen to this podcast. Our bad.In this episode, we dive into the book of Joshua, unpacking its epic narrative, profound symbolism, and the timeless lessons it holds for all of us. Together, we explore:How Joshua steps into Moses’ shoes and leads God’s people into the Promised Land.The fulfillment of God’s promises, alongside the spiritual struggles that don’t magically disappear.Rahab’s surprising redemption story and Achan’s cautionary tale.How we can wrestle with tough questions about God’s justice in the conquest of Canaan.We also share tips for tackling those challenging sections (yes, even the land allocation chapters) and talk about how Joshua connects to the bigger story of Scripture—and ultimately points us to Jesus.Be sure to grab our Joshua one-pager from the show notes to guide your reading, and share this episode with someone you know who might enjoy digging deeper into God’s Word. Join us next time as we jump into Judges!

As you’re reading this, I’m doing one-handed pushups while blending a protein shake and logging both my macros and micros. Don’t forget your amino acids, electrolytes, and H2O while you listen—we’re just here to care about your health! Now that you’re holding a deep squat (you are, right?), hit play and enjoy the episode...Is the pursuit of health and wellness about living longer—or is there a deeper purpose? In this episode, we dig into the rise of health culture, from anti-aging fads to the balance between stewardship and obsession.We’ll explore:✅ What the Bible says about caring for our bodies✅ The dangers of over-prioritizing physical health✅ How the gospel shapes our perspective on fitness, food, and self-careWhether you’re all-in on fitness or just love a good peanut butter sandwich, this conversation is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and laughs.🔗 Related Resources:📖 God at the Center of My Eating Habits📖 Food and the Christian📖 Food and the Bible: Good Food, Bad Food📖 Beautifully Distinct

TWG-ing is in, friends, and today you’re going to learn all about it. I TWG-ed earlier, and let me tell you, it was intense. Like, not Moses-on-a-mountain intense or Moses-in-tents (go back to the Pentateuch if you didn’t get that), but still, pretttttty cool. So jump in and learn how to TWG all by yourself!We’re diving into the ins and outs of “quiet time” and why setting aside time with God can transform your year and your heart. Whether you’re a seasoned Bible reader or new to this, we’ve got practical tips, honest moments, and a whole lot of encouragement to help you deepen your relationship with God.Highlights include:Why time with God isn’t about checking boxes 🎯Journaling, Bible reading, and prayer: how we make it work 📝Honest moments from our own quiet time journeys 💡Links to free Bible reading plans and one-pagers to help you get started 🔗Helpful Resources:Bible Reading Plan Generator: A customizable tool to help you design a Bible reading plan that works for you.Kelly’s Curated Content on Knowing the Word: A collection of articles, resources, and practical tools for diving deeper into Bible reading and study.12 Interesting Ways to Read Your Bible in 2025: Creative ideas and methods to mix up your Bible reading this year.Download your free “Make a Plan” PDF.So grab your Bible, your journal, and maybe a tent (just kidding, unless you’re Moses), and let’s TWG together! 🕊️✨