Aug 3

The Spirit of Wisdom

Spirit of God E3 — We’ve discovered in this series so far that God’s Spirit, or ruakh in Hebrew, creates and sustains all life, moment by moment. Another key way the Spirit works in the world is by filling humans with wisdom. But in each story of the Spirit and wisdom, we’re left ... Show More

54m 49s

Jul 27

The Spirit of Life and Death

Spirit of God E2 — The word we translate in English as “spirit” is ruakh in the Hebrew Bible, and it can mean spirit, wind, breath, and mind. In multiple passages where ruakh functions as “breath,” the biblical authors invite us to reflect on God’s life-giving power and also on o ... Show More

52m 20s

Jul 20

The Spirit, Breath, and Wind Behind Everything

Spirit of God E1 — In 2017, we released a 3-episode series on the theme of the Holy Spirit. And now eight years later, we’ve decided there’s still a lot more to reflect on and explore! The word we translate in English as “spirit” is ruakh in the Hebrew Bible and pneuma in the Gre ... Show More

53m 39s

May 2025

How to Read Your Bible

If you've ever sat down to read your Bible and felt unsure where to begin, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm walking you through a method that's helped me so much in my own quiet time—the POIMA method: Prayer, Observation, Interpretation, Meditation, and Application. It's a ... Show More

47m 17s

Sep 2024

How to Find the Meaning of a Bible Verse

How do we make sense of Bible passages that we don’t understand? Pastor John demonstrates how to patiently interpret Scripture with Scripture.

11m 48s

Oct 2022

Episode 221: Pete Enns & Jared Byas - How to Read the Bible Now That We've Ruined It

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Pete and Jared reflect on all the ruining they’ve been doing, what it means for how we read and connect with the Bible going forward, and how they’ve been personally affected by an evolving view of Scripture. Show Notes → Learn more ... Show More

38m 42s

Mar 2024

Teaching | The Book of Strange New Things | It Is Written E02

What exactly is the Bible? If we misunderstand what the Bible is, we’ll turn in into something it’s not. John Mark makes the case that the Bible is a library of writings that are both divine and human, that together tell a unified story which leads us to Jesus. Key Scripture Pass ... Show More

54m 6s

Aug 2023

68. But what does the Bible say?

<p>In this episode we discuss a crucial component of growing in our ability to recognize God's voice and receive wisdom from Him.<br/><br/>Other episodes referenced in this one:<br/><a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/1192271/5699140'>Episode 7: Meditating on the Scriptures, ... Show More

46m 16s

Jan 2023

Teaching | The Bible as an Alternative Story | Scripture E02

Why do authoritarian governments often ban the Bible? John Mark talks about the how the library of Scripture is an alternative story: one that points to Jesus as the center of reality. He challenges us to let this story shape our lives and engage with these writings, even through ... Show More

51m 6s

Jan 2023

How to Read the Bible for Beginners

What approach do you currently have to reading the Bible? Whatever your method, taking time to read the Bible is a valuable practice. However, knowing how to read the Bible can give you greater insight into the context and how you can apply it in your life.In this episode, I'll t ... Show More

18m 26s

How Do You Read the Bible? – Paradigm E1