Bible in a Year (The Story) Podcast
Bible in a Year (The Story) podcast features Professor Rachel Bodell, a marketing storyteller who teaches marketing, innovation, and leadership at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA University). She will not only read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation in one year, but she will share all the resources that have helped her to understand the Bible as one unfolding connected story along the way through short commentaries and reflections from biblical scholars, most of which read original biblical languages like Hebrew and Greek (e.g., Dr. Tim Mackie, N.T. Wright, Dr. Carmen Imes, Dr. Jeannine Hanger, Dr. James Petitfils, Kristi Mclelland, Dr. John Walton, Dr. Michael Heiser, and Dr. Lucy, Peppiatt) By 2024, we hope to additionally offer special episodes from the renowned Bible scholars themselves that will help you understand the context of hard-to-understand stories within the meta-narrative of the Bible. We want to help you not only listen but hear what God is saying through the Bible every year and grow in your understanding, practice, and re-telling of the story to others as you learn more about how all the pieces of the Bible fit together to tell the GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD with a God that is inviting us to participate in the story as it is unfolding today! Each episode is about 15 minutes and includes two to three scripture readings and a short commentary and reflection with suggested biblical scholar sources (e.g. The Bible Project and Premiere Insights) for this is our prayer ”that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God” (Phil 1:9-11). Some passages of the Bible and commentary reflections contain adult themes that may not be suitable for younger children - parental discretion is advised. Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
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Episodes
Wednesday May 31, 2023
Wednesday May 31, 2023
Today we read 1 Samuel 21–23 and Psalms 52 and 142. This is a story with a message where Saul acts as the adversary, jealous of King David who is representative of Jesus; Jesus being the true and high priest-king. In this story, Jonathan represents us, as God’s children, who yield our portion of power and authority to the true king and take up our position as His representatives, to stand with Him as second, not first. This is a good time to review the entire connected story of the Bible and remember. In this story, we really get a sense of the warfare of the heart, the community, of life when we choose to be God’s representative, and go to Him for guidance. We will have enemies, we will have friends, we will have those we help and those that help us, yet we have faith that God is the architect of victory and sometimes it means standing against and at other times it means to retreat.
Resources:
Dr. Tim Mackie. David the Priestly King. The Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/david-priestly-king/
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings (2017) One Story. Two Sources. https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/40
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Today we read 1 Samuel 18–20 and Psalms 12 and 59. The first part of this story is about the friendship of David and Jonathan, born out of a shared purpose to be Yahweh’s representative leaders. They are one in spirit and Jonathan loved David as he loved himself. Although Jonathan is the son of King Saul and would be the next to inherit the throne, instead, Jonathan gives his gear to David, signifying his surrender of power and identification of David as God’s intended king. We also see King Saul’s war within himself and wrestle with the reflection of what that means, but ultimately, Saul, David, and Jonathan know he will not be the king for much longer. The second part of this story has to do with escape and how David had friends in King Saul's daughter and son to help him stay alive and stay on course as God intended.
Resources:
Dr. Justin Bass (2023) on Dr. Michael Heiser's podcast The Naked Bible Podcast 467 1 Samuel 19 https://podcasts.apple.com/bs/podcast/naked-bible-467-1-samuel-19/id961385822?i=1000613771639
Dr. Justin Bass (2023) on Dr. Michael Heiser's podcast The Naked Bible Podcast 466 1 Samuel 18 https://podcasts.apple.com/bs/podcast/naked-bible-466-1-samuel-18/id961385822?i=1000612876856
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Monday May 29, 2023
Monday May 29, 2023
Today we read 1 Samuel 15–17 and Psalm 61. Today we read the famous story of David and Goliath, but first, we read about Saul’s disqualification from being the king for much longer. He’s being let go for continuing to be unaware, disobedient, defiant, and when called to task, he cares more about his reputation than his heart’s alignment with God Himself. Saul is being let go and David, the 8th son of Jesse from the Tribe of Judah, a young shepherd who plays the lyre will be the next king. David seems to respond to his environment with curiosity and a willingness to walk into his role as God’s representative. The story elicits the common quote, God equips the called. David’s posture is willing and all-in, and his confidence is not in his skills or experiences but God’s past faithfulness in delivering him personally from a lion and a bear and in God’s reputation itself. David is sure that God is the architect of victory and that this adversary must be crushed. In true connected fashion, referencing back to Genesis 3:15 and forward to Jesus, this story has David “crushing” the adversary’s head. The question becomes, will we have a heart like David in this story with our willingness and whole heart for God to fight the monster in front of us with faith that God is the architect of victory and it’s His reputation we represent.
Resources:
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings (2017). Season 2 Episode 39: A King After God's Own Heart. https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/39
Gladwell, Malcolm (TedSalon NY 2013). The unheard story of David and Goliath. Ted Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_the_unheard_story_of_david_and_goliath?language=en
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Saturday May 27, 2023
Saturday May 27, 2023
This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!
Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today?
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to remind you on Monday that the show has been posted! Subscribing, rating, reviewing and sharing our show also helps to organically grow our channel and make it easier for people to find us! Thanks for listening and we look forward to being back with you next week.
Friday May 26, 2023
Friday May 26, 2023
Today we read 1 Samuel 13–14 and Psalm 58. This story continues the struggle of a king to lead in his way or follow God’s way. It’s a prophecy of succession change. Yet, we are introduced to King Saul’s son, Jonathan who has a similar heart to the boy David, who will be king next, and will be Jonathan’s best friend. This story also challenges reflection on the motivation and purpose behind our decisions as leaders.
Resources:
Father Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins (2023). Day 108: Saul's Vanity. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/day-108-sauls-vanity-2023/id1539568321?i=1000609442536
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Thursday May 25, 2023
Thursday May 25, 2023
Today we read 1 Samuel 11–12 and Psalm 55. We read the messy truth in this story. The people wanted and asked for a human king when they had always gone to God in the past. Yet, God allowed them to have a king as long as the king and the people followed God. The first king, Saul, is a complex character who does not quite follow or always reject God’s will. He evokes sympathy, confusion, and self-reflection. Are we like that? Is our heart willful, desiring what we want the way we want it when we want it - only willing to submit to God when it aligns with what we want? Or, are we willing to allow God to be the center of the story and to submit our will to His, yielding when His will is different from our own.
Resources:
Father Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins (2023). Day 107: Samuel's Speech. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/day-107-samuels-speech-2023/id1539568321?i=1000609254524
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Today we read 1 Samuel 9-10 and Proverbs 6:23-35. In the first part of this episode we review the unified story of the Bible, thus far from Genesis to 1 Samuel 7. Then we dive into the story of the 1st human king of Israel, the donkey herder from the tribe of Benjamin who was tall and looked the part. Yet we are introduced to him in a scene where he lost his herd of donkeys and we end with him hiding in the supplies when called upon to be the 1st human king of Israel. Even though there is metaphor for Israel in the appointment of Saul by God, Samuel anoints him and God changes his heart and the Spirit of God comes powerfully upon him. There is a message in the selection of him as the king and the power and provision of God to work and transform a heart, regardless. What will the relationship between Saul, God, Samuel, and the people of Israel look like? Stay tuned.
Resources:
Solomon, Marty and Billings, Brett (July 2017). A Donkey Herder to Lead Us. (28 minutes 29 seconds). BEMA podcast https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/38
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Today we read John 19 to 21 and Proverbs 6:16-22. This is a story of Jesus giving His life for us and returning from the dead. His death and resurrection marks a new beginning, a revolution. We also review the gospel of John as a whole before we end it. This book is referred to as the seven signs, the book of hours, the book of glory, and well known for its water imagery, divinity of Jesus, and the relationship of God to logos.
Resources:
Dr. Tim Mackie. New Testament Book Overviews John 13-21. The Bible Project. (8 minutes and 32 seconds) https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/john
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings. John - The Hour Has Come. BEMA Podcast. https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/284
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Monday May 22, 2023
Monday May 22, 2023
Today we read John 16 to 18 and Proverbs 6:12-15. In this story, Jesus is saying now is the time. Jesus is revealing His divine power as He yields it, by giving up His life for us. Jesus's power comes from God and He used it for God. In a similar but different way, God gave humans a portion of His power and authority as representative agents here on Earth in Genesis 1:26-28 and He is asking us to yield it to Him, with Him, for Him as we use this blessing to bless others and all creation as we bear His name in the world.
Resources:
Dr. Tim Mackie. New Testament Book Overviews John 13-21. The Bible Project. (8 minutes and 32 seconds) https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/john
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings. John - The Hour Has Come. BEMA Podcast. https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/284
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Saturday May 20, 2023
Saturday May 20, 2023
This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!
Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today?
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to remind you on Monday that the show has been posted! Subscribing, rating, reviewing and sharing our show also helps to organically grow our channel and make it easier for people to find us! Thanks for listening and we look forward to being back with you next week.