
Bible in Life
Following Jesus by Learning and Living the Bible
Latest episodes

May 15, 2025 • 25min
What does it mean that Jesus preached to the spirits in prison? | 1 Peter 3:18-21
What does it mean that Jesus preached to the spirits in prison? | 1 Peter 3:18-21
In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast John and Steven think through 1 Peter 3:18-21. What does it mean that Jesus preached to the spirits in prison? And what does it mean that baptism saves you?
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

May 8, 2025 • 24min
What Does the Backstory to 1 Peter Have to Say about our Political Situation Today
What Does the Backstory to 1 Peter Have to Say about our Political Situation Today
In this episode of the Bible and Life podcast John and Steven reflect on the situation facing the original audience of 1 Peter and the difference that makes to our life today.
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

May 1, 2025 • 21min
Learning Lifestyle Evangelism from 1 Peter
Learning Lifestyle Evangelism from 1 Peter
In the episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John and Steven reflect on 1 Peter and what it teaches about lifestyle evangelism. Two key Bible passages from 1 Peter in this episode are:
1 Peter 3:14-15 - Always be ready to give an answer
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be in dread, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect;
1 Peter 2:9-10 - A Royal Priesthood
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Apr 24, 2025 • 35min
Making the Bible Central to Your Life, with Philip Nation
In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John visits with Philip Nation, Vice President of Thomas Nelson Bibles.
Philip Nation
Philip Nation is the Vice-President/Publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles. He has served as a pastor, church planter, and education minister in local churches. He frequently travels to speak in churches and for conferences. Philip earned a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has authored and edited numerous books and Bible studies. Philip is a University Fellow for Arizona Christian University and has been a professor for Union University and Houston Christian University.
Philip's Social Link:
https://x.com/philipnation
Learn more about The OPEN Bible HERE
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Apr 17, 2025 • 18min
Ironic Boasts of the Bible - Suffering | Romans 5:3-5
Ironic Boasts of the Bible - Suffering
3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. - Romans 5:3-5
Boasting in suffering seems to make no sense. Are Christians masochists who love suffering and pain? What are we actually boasting in when we boast in our sufferings and why do we do that?
Tune in to this episode of the Bible in Life podcast to think through what it means to boast in our sufferings.
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Apr 10, 2025 • 19min
Ironic Boasts of the Bible - A Low but High Position | James 1:9-11
Ironic Boasts of the Bible - A Low but High Position
9 Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 but the rich person is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out. - James 1:9-11
How is being poor and lowly a high position and why should we boast in that? That seems backwards, but it's the wisdom James offers. James' line of reasoning is thus like that of the Psalmist in Psalm 37.
Tune in to this episode of the Bible in Life podcast to think through how people who have very little can boast in their high position.
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Apr 3, 2025 • 27min
Ironic Boasts of the Bible - Weakness | 2 Corinthians 12:9
Ironic Boasts of the Bible - Weakness
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9
Why would anyone choose to boast about what makes them seem unimpressive or like a loser? That doesn't make any sense. And yet that's what Paul means when he says that he will boast in his weaknesses.
Tune in to this episode of the Bible in Life podcast to think through what it means to boast in our weaknesses.
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Mar 27, 2025 • 21min
Ironic Boasts of the Bible - The Cross | Galatians 6:14
Ironic Boasts of the Bible - The Cross
But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. - Galatians 6:14
What does it mean to boast in the cross? And why is boasting in the cross so shocking?
Revelation Study Guide - https://listenerscommentary.com/revelation/
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Mar 14, 2025 • 25min
A Basic Theology of Spiritual Growth
A Basic Theology of Spiritual Growth
Using Aristotle's four causes as a tool to think through the nature of spiritual growth, John provides a basic spiritual theology: what is the "material" spiritual growth works with and on? What is the essence of spiritual growth? What is the key thing that brings about spiritual growth? And what is the aim or goal of spiritual growth in our lives?
Key passages mentioned in this episode:
Galatians 2:20
Luke 6:40
Galatians 5:16-24
John 15:1-11
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Mar 7, 2025 • 17min
Does Grace Mean God Lowers the Standard? | 1 John
Does Grace Mean God Lowers the Standard? | 1 John
In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John and Steven explore this question: Does grace mean God lowers the bar of his expectations for his children? Does it mean since he knows they'll never actually measure up that he just lowers the standard? Should we are Christians act like sin is no big deal because God is gracious?
Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:
https://www.johnwhittaker.net
Support this ministry:
Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below.
http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/
The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:
https://www.listenerscommentary.com
Connect with John:
Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram
Email - john@johnwhittaker.net
If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.