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.
Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Apr 03, 2023
Monday Apr 03, 2023
Today we read Numbers 12-13, Deuteronomy 12-3, and Psalm 95. Numbers 12 is an important reminder to use a position God gave to serve and not complain. Numbers 12 is also an important reminder to intercede when someone is suffering. Numbers 12 is also a reminder that God is just, but He also offers grace and restoration. Numbers 13 hold suspension as the Israelites are sent on an exploration to return with samples and a report of the promised land. Yet, when they return they tell a story of fear and doom with no remembrance of God’s promises. Yikes! Deuteronomy 12 is a reminder that God directs the “how” of worship and Deuteronomy 12 is a reminder that He is the only God we are to worship. A major theme in Deuteronomy is “place” , a special place and what the people are to do in this place.
Resources:
Sandra Richter, PhD. The Place of the “Name” in Deuteronomy. Southeastern Seminary YouTube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5uV__fSAcQ
Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/
Adrian Reynolds (2023) A Numbers Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/numbers/#section-14
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Saturday Apr 01, 2023
Saturday Apr 01, 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 Mar 31, 2023
Friday Mar 31, 2023
Today we read Numbers 11, Deuteronomy 11, and Psalm 94. This story captures the first generation leaving Mount Sinai and at the first micro-discomfort, they complain and desire the advisary over Yahweh God who rescued them. They want to eat from and at the hand of the advisary than from God, the creator and deliver of food, redemption, and the promised land. Even Moses and Joshua struggle with complaining. Then in Deuteronomy, Moses is reminding the second generation of the importance of Shema - loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength; obeying wholeheartedly. The story ends with a reminder of the choice and what’s at stake. Choose God and His blessing and purpose or do not; there is no blessing in the absence of God. It’s like being back in the Garden of Eden, follow God and flourish in the Garden of Eden or morally defect and be alienated and dislocated from Him and flourishing.
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Thursday Mar 30, 2023
Today we read Numbers 10, Deuteronomy 10, and Psalm 93. This story is about a circumcision of the heart. The word “love” is used more here in the book of Deuteronomy than any other book in the Old Testament. We are reminded that transformation will require God’s relentless grace and our present choice to undergo revision through God’s redemptive restoration mission. Is the next generation of Israelites ready? Will they hold steadfast? God is in full pursuit, promise and blessing in-tact, forewarnings given that they will/we will be tempted to rebellion and that they will/will we morally defect? What is our greatest defense? Draw near to God’s details, remember, let it stir in us and keep our hearts soft, in response giving “shema” all of ourselves (heart, soul, and strength) to God. This is the way.
Resources:
Dr. Ben Tertin, Dr. Tim Mackie, and Cheree Hayes (2022) What Does the Book of Numbers Teach Us?Trusting God in the Wilderness. Editors: Kenzie Halbert-Howen and Nina Simone. BibleProject Blog. Producer: Brand Witty. https://bibleproject.com/blog/what-does-the-book-numbers-teach-us/
Dr. Mackie, Tim and Collins, John (2017). Deuteronomy Q&R (48 minute podcast). https://bibleproject.com/podcast/deuteronomy-q-r/
Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/
Dr.David Ben-Gad HaCohen (n.d.) Why Deuteronomy Has an Account of Aaron's Death in the Wrong Place. TheTorah.com https://www.thetorah.com/article/why-deuteronomy-has-an-account-of-aarons-death-in-the-wrong-place
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Wednesday Mar 29, 2023
Wednesday Mar 29, 2023
Today we read Numbers 8-9, Deuteronomy 8-9, and Psalm 92. In this story, we discuss how Deuteronomy uses the word “love” the most in the Old Testament and the second most frequent in the entire Bible. The book of John in the New Testament used the word “love” the most overall. We discuss how the Hebrew term Shema introduced in Deuteronomy 6:4 and discussed again here means to love the Lord your God with all your heart, souls, and strength. We discuss what that means and now it relates to when Jesus discusses the Shema in Matthew and Mark, how it’s similar but “mind” is introduced and then added. We discuss how the story of Numbers and Deuteronomy is tethered to the entire Pentateuch or Torah whenever it is referred to by other speakers in the Bible such as Ezra and Nehemiah. In Hebrew, the first words of each book taken together would be In the beginning (Genesis,), departure (Exodus), He called (Leviticus), in the wilderness (Numbers), words (Deuteronomy).
Resources:
Dr. Ben Tertin, Dr. Tim Mackie, and Cheree Hayes (2022) What Does the Book of Numbers Teach Us?Trusting God in the Wilderness. Editors: Kenzie Halbert-Howen and Nina Simone. BibleProject Blog. Producer: Brand Witty. https://bibleproject.com/blog/what-does-the-book-numbers-teach-us/
Dr. Mackie, Tim and Collins, John (2017). Deuteronomy Q&R (48 minute podcast). https://bibleproject.com/podcast/deuteronomy-q-r/
Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Today we read Numbers 7, Deuteronomy 7, and Psalms 91. We read about leadership giving what is asked and more and God speaking to Moses. We read about the pattern of God architecting the victory in the rescue mission and that we are not only expected to listen, but respond appropriately. Yet, we are warned in this story about two temptations of our hearts towards the belief that God’s goodness is not enough so we need to take and the belief that God himself is not enough so we are a better option to lead. It's Genesis 3 reminders. The warnings remain. The warning is that without guides - “covenantal listening with gratitude not entitlement” and guardrails against these temptations that Israel, we are in jeopardy of walking away from “THE” story, the purpose we are made for, the relationship we were made to be in with God, each-other, and creation. Big important stuff!
Resources:
Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/
Dr. Keller, Timothy. Prodigal God.
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Today we read Numbers 6, Deuteronomy 6, and Psalm 90. This story is about taking vows, a reminder of God’s promises and what it means to listen and lean into the way to not only be blessed but be a blessing to others. Numbers 6 reminds me of what the story is all about, our role and purpose, to give God the best of us, to yield to Him in becoming a kingdom of priests for the purpose of becoming a living representative blessing to others by bearing God’s name. Deuteronomy reminds us that leadership starts with listening and leaning in to understand wholeheartedly and then moving from awareness through associative knowledge to attachment, loyalty, and obedient activity.
Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/
Pollard, William (1996) The Soul of the Firm. HarperBusiness
Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe (2020). The Blessing "Live" From Home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZJFHh93FGc
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Saturday Mar 25, 2023
Saturday Mar 25, 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 Mar 24, 2023
Friday Mar 24, 2023
Today we read Numbers 5, Deuteronomy 5, and Psalm 89. We are reminded in this story of God’s holiness and our need for restitution. We are given a story about a jealous husband and God’s way of bringing justice before Him as the judge. We also read about God’s jealousy and we are reminded of the covenant and his message on how we are to live, will we listen and obey? Will we live into our God-given purpose and blessing?
Resources:
Dr. Sandra Richter and Dr. Scott Rae. (August, 2020). Sexual Violence Against Women and the OT Law. Biola Think Biblically Podcast https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2020/sexual-violence-against-women
Dr. Sandra Richter and Dr. Scott Preston. Does the Old Testament Dehumanize Women? Theology in the Raw Podcast. https://theologyintheraw.com/podcast/814-does-the-old-testament-dehumanize-women-dr-sandy-richter/
Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Today we read Numbers 4, Deuteronomy 4, and Psalm 88. This is a story about the story. We talk about Moses and Joshua. The Garden of Eden, Mount Sinai, and the Promised Land. There is a cost and there is a total crushing victory that must take place. What if a peace that passes all understanding is actually letting go of understanding? What if self-control means to actually let go of our control and trusting in God? There is a difference between control and influence. There is a difference between wanting to understand and having to. There is a difference between peace and comfort. The story is not comfortable it is full of human moral defection over and over again. Even when God keeps providing, pursuing, rescuing, revealing, redeeming, restoring - grace. What is our response going to be to this type of grace? Can we put our trust in God’s voice, the voice that came out of the fire and performed so many wonders. The God who comes close to us in relationship. Can we respond with faithful listening and action? Can we fully step into the plan and role God has for us? Can we be in right relationship with God? That is where light and promise, where God lives and calls to us. Yet, He also promises to listen when we pull away and rescue us, if we will but only ask. He is a jealous God, we have a choice to make.
Resources:
Dr. Millar, Gary (2023) A Deuteronomy Commentary, The Gospel Coalition: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/commentary/deuteronomy/
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.