Bible in Life

When we're mocked, insulted, attacked, or mistreated, how do followers of Jesus respond?  Someone ridicules you or attacks you on social media. A family member is rude and unkind. A coworker or neighbor mistreats you.  This is the stuff of everyday life, and the way of Jesus is incredibly unique in how we disciples respond to this stuff.  The entire New Testament is clear that we don't respond in kind. Instead, we actively do good and bless them.  In 1 Peter 3:9, the apostle Peter instructs us: "not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing."   Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   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 me: 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.

In John 8:31-32, Jesus tells us the key to living free in Him. He says, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  What does it mean to "continue" in His word? And how can we do that?  Check out this episode as we explore the how to live free in Christ by engaging deeply in his word. 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   Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Connect with me: 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.

What's the Measure of Spiritual Maturity? Is it how involved you are at church? Is it how much you volunteer and serve? Is it bible knowledge? Prayer?  What is the goal we should be aiming for in our own spiritual growth and when helping others grow too? Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   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 me: 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.

In Psalm 43:4, God is described as our "exceeding joy." The Holy Spirit grow joy in us (Galatians 5:22). Jesus wants us to have overflowing joy, and told us the secret to it (John 15:11).  So it's not surprising that the apostles assume that we go through life with incredibly great joy (1 Peter 1:6-9) and called us to live lives of joy (James 1:2 and Philippians 4:4).  When we know Jesus, we have joy! I hope this episode encourages you as it did me. May we fix our joy on the unshakeable foundation of Jesus and his promises! Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly 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 me: 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.

Habakkuk 2:4 is a key verse for walking with God, and it's quoted several times in the New Testament in this regard.  Habakkuk may be my favorite Old Testament prophet. If I'm honest, the prophets can be hard to understand at times, but I get Habakkuk. And I love the message of trust in God, even when He doesn't make sense. In this way, Habakkuk shows us what God wants most from us: loyal, trusting love for God.  Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly 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 me: 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.  

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it. - Romans 8:24-25 Hope is a one of the major engines that drives our life as followers of Jesus. So in the final episode in this series, I want to look our perspective and our approach to life as we live during the overlap of the ages. What perspective shapes our life? What’s our approach to life in view of the tension between joys and sorrows, blessings and hardships that’s normal right now?    Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly 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 me: 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.

One of the ways the already and not yet shapes our life is that we are citizens of heaven living in the present evil age. This means we are to live out the life of heaven in the cities and countries where we live ... to be a colony of heaven on earth.  The apostle Paul calls us to this when he says, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" - Philippians 3:20.  Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly 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 me: 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.

Flesh vs. Spirit is often talked about as if Christians have two natures that are battling within them, the flesh (the so-called "sinful nature") and the Spirit. But this fails to pay close enough attention to Paul’s language … and how it’s shaped by the already, not yet overlap we’ve been talking about. Paul speaks of either being of the flesh or of the Spirit - both/and.  So in this episode we'll explore: two key texts - Romans 8:1-9 and Galatians 5:16-24. what Paul means by flesh how to walk by the Spirit So that, here in the meantime, we can follow Jesus more fully. Because you can’t follow Jesus unless you walk with the Spirit! Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly 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 me: 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.

Temptation…who doesn’t experience it? And who doesn't at times yield to it?  We are all confronted by temptation and sin.  So here’s the question: How can Paul say we’ve died to sin? But that's what he says in Romans 6:1-2: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?  In this episode we explore the tension we experience between Paul's statement that we're dead to sin and the ongoing reality of sin in our life.  Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly 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 me: 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.

Redeemed. If you’re a follower of Jesus, you are redeemed - correct? Well yes, of course.  We sing songs celebrating it.  We praise Jesus for being our redeemer.  We have verses like 1 Peter 1:18-19 8 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.  So yes, we are redeemed.  But saying yes, we have redemption doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s only partially true. There's more to the story of redemption than that.   Yes we have redemption, but we’re also looking forward to the day of redemption. This is the tension we live with in the meantime.    Sign up for the "Bible in Life" monthly and get a free guide: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Support this ministry: Set up a one-time or monthly 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 me: 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.