Reflections

In this special final episode, the team shares why the podcast portion of Reflections Bible Study is wrapping up and how you can continue to participate in our journey through the Bible the rest of this year.

Transcribed - Published: 18 August 2021

In English Bibles, the books of 1-2 Chronicles follow Samuel and Kings, but in the ancient Hebrew ordering of the Scriptures, Chronicles is the final book of the Old Testament. So what is the significance of this? The book of Chronicles ends with a decree to build a temple. This is the same decree that is told in the book of Ezra-Nehemiah. But Ezra and Nehemiah have already built the temple. So the fact that the whole Hebrew Bible ends on this note tells us that there must be another return from exile, another temple that will be built up and a better leader to come—a Messiah who will lead the people back to communion with God. The Hebrew Bible ends in anticipation for all that’s to come.

Transcribed - Published: 11 August 2021

After Israel returned from exile, many of the people were just as selfish and unjust as before. But there was a remnant of Israel who trusted and honored Yahweh. God called them his treasure and reminded them to hold on to his words of promise. We too can join this faithful remnant. When we feel overwhelmed by the state of our world, we can stand alongside generations of those who patiently trusted God. He assures us that he will bring justice and set all things right. He will keep his word. So as we continue to wait, we can also hold onto hope.

Transcribed - Published: 4 August 2021

The book of Daniel explores what it means to be God’s people while living in a culture that is set against his values. How do God’s people remain faithful and confident in a situation like this? The strange dream in Daniel chapter 7 gives us some insight. In it we see there’s a kingdom ruled by the “Son of Man,” the one with all “authority, glory and sovereign power.” The oppressive rulers of this world will fail, but the Son of Man’s rule will never end. So when arrogant kings rise up, the people of God can look to a more powerful King. His name is Jesus, and all his followers are invited to live in the humble values of his Kingdom now, even while living amidst the kingdoms of Earth. Let’s reflect more on this.

Transcribed - Published: 28 July 2021

The book of Esther is a classic expression of the biblical idea that God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. And God is still in the habit of elevating those who society has deemed unimportant. It might not always look as heroic as Esther’s story, but God can use anybody as an instrument for his purposes. If we want to partner with God, we don’t have to be rich, important, or powerful. We simply need to trust him over everything else.

Transcribed - Published: 21 July 2021

Yahweh warned Israel not to tie themselves to foreign gods through marriage. But when those same foreigners left their gods to honor him, Yahweh welcomed them with open arms. Yahweh’s people were not as welcoming. Ezra and Nehemiah loved God, but they were misguided to exclude foreigners from joining God’s people. Since Ezra and Nehemiah weren’t exactly models for godliness and reform, what can we learn from their stories? How can we welcome others in the family of God who are different from us?

Transcribed - Published: 14 July 2021

God’s people fail over and over again. We’re so messed up. Will there ever be a day when we get it right? The prophet Ezekiel said that God would renew his covenant by renewing hearts, and he’d do this by giving his own Spirit to those who trusted in him. God fulfilled his promise through Jesus. Now as followers of Jesus, we are invited to practice living with his Spirit. And as we do, we find our hearts are being renewed every day, filled with new desires and new decisions to love God and one another. Let’s reflect on this.

Transcribed - Published: 7 July 2021

The biblical authors of Lamentations and Psalms invite us to express our grief, anger, and sadness to God. But this is hard. It’s so much easier to either avoid pain with numbing distractions or vent out frustrations without ever bringing them to God. But he is patient. He understands how painful our situations are, and he cares and grieves with us. Today, let’s practice grieving with him.

Transcribed - Published: 30 June 2021

The prophetic books are intense, so it’s easy to skip ahead to more comfortable portions of the Bible. But Jesus often used the prophets’ words to describe what he was all about. So if we want to know Jesus, we need to read the prophets. And as we do, we can learn that when God’s people reject him, they are rejecting life itself. The disorder, chaos, and suffering that results is painful and it grieves God. But there is hope that God’s people can return to the life that he offers.

Transcribed - Published: 23 June 2021

We all long to be truly seen, known, and loved by God and others. We want to fully give ourselves to these deep relationships. The Song of Songs is about that desire, that dream that imagines the unity of Heaven and Earth. One day this dream will be fully realized, but until then, we have access to unity with Jesus. He invites us into a real and intimate relationship. And in him, we can know a love that cannot be quenched or swept away—a love that can overflow toward others and heal creation.

Transcribed - Published: 16 June 2021

How can we approach our responsibilities in life with wisdom and healthy mindsets? In this episode, we open the book of Ecclesiastes and discover some practical advice for how to live realistically.

Transcribed - Published: 9 June 2021

What is the purpose of metaphor in the Bible? The biblical authors use metaphors to help us better understand the world, God, and ourselves. In today’s episode, we reflect on the surprising metaphor of God giving birth. In the book of Job, we see God giving birth to elements of creation, and in the book of Isaiah, God is depicted as both a warrior and a mother giving birth to a new reality.

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2021

What does it mean to fear the Lord and be wise? The book of Proverbs helps us understand how to live by God’s wisdom. It teaches us that true wisdom isn’t just knowing the right thing to do––it’s about doing it. But how do we know what the right decisions are in every situation? The Scriptures show us that God understands what is good and bad in the world. So to be wise, we must first recognize that our own perspectives are limited and God knows what we can’t comprehend. This humble dependence is called the “fear of the Lord,” and it’s where all wisdom starts. From this posture of reliance, we can begin to learn from God and live in light of his wisdom. So what does God say is wise? Jesus shows us the way. He perfectly embodies God’s wisdom and summarizes what it means by calling us to love others as he loved us.

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2021

Today we open the book of Job, a complex story about a good man who suffered the cosmic loss of everything. What did God want Job to know in the midst of his suffering? And what do we need to know in our own suffering? In this episode, we remember that we’re not alone in hardship and that God is trustworthy. Even when the pain is so intense that we can barely see beyond it, God is at work limiting chaos and giving life.

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2021

How can we show God’s mercy to people who’ve hurt us? In this episode, we are reflecting on the final chapter of the book of Jonah. God doesn’t just want Jonah to preach to his enemies, he wants Jonah to share his compassionate heart toward them too. Will Jonah agree with God’s compassionate perspective? The book ends with a question to give us the opportunity to self-reflect. So let’s do that together.

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2021

What does God really want as he relates to us? In this episode, we are reflecting on the book of Hosea, where we’ll discover what God desires in a relationship.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2021

How is God at work in the world today? Jesus read from Isaiah 61 to describe what it looks like when the good news of his kingdom is at work in the world: the ignored are honored, the poor are fed, and the sick receive care. This kind of stuff happens wherever followers of Jesus honor him as King.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2021

Who are the Hebrew prophets? What was the goal of their message? And how can their words bring hope to us today? God wants his people to flourish - to experience peace and joy in a community of love. But sin destroys a community. So God sends his prophets to warn his people, so they’ll turn from sin and its destruction. When Israel refuses to listen, they experience the awful consequences of their own ways, just like the prophets warned. But when Israel listens, they receive God’s promised mercy. And we can too. If we are honest about our sins, God forgives. Completely. That’s how God wants to show his faithfulness and justice to people. He forgives everyone who humbly comes to him.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2021

Why does God allow so much suffering in the world? And is he doing anything about it? The Bible doesn’t answer all of our questions about why God allows suffering. But it does tell us a story about how God responds to human suffering. We learn that God has chosen to partner with humans to deliver communities from suffering, and that he chose to enter our pain by becoming human himself. Jesus took up the worst of human suffering, shoved it into a grave, and rose again to give us a new future––one that’s free of injustice and grief. Yes, our questions around suffering are valid. God hears us and understands our pain. Today, let’s tune into the question God has for us. As we face suffering in the world, will we partner with him to be a part of his solution?

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2021

Where is God when the people we look up to disappoint us? In this episode, we learn how Israel’s long line of disappointing kings is meant to point us to a greater King, Jesus. He is the true David and a better Solomon. He leads God’s people with wisdom, unites the nations, and makes a way for God’s presence to dwell among his people. Wherever people disappoint, King Jesus is there, inviting us into the beauty of his temple––his perfect presence.

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2021

How does God respond when we fail to represent his goodness in the world? Humanity’s failures never cancel God’s faithfulness to his promise. In fact, the God of Israel became human to fulfill the promise himself. Jesus, the long awaited King, faithfully completed everything we have left undone.

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2021

What should we do when life is unfair and everything feels out of control? In this episode of the Reflections podcast, we are reflecting on God’s powerful response to the cries of the powerless in 1 Samuel 2.

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2021

Where is God in the midst of impossible situations? In today’s episode, we’re reflecting on Ruth, a woman who came from a nation that violently opposed God’s people. Despite this, Ruth became an example of God’s loyal love even in the midst of impossibly difficult circumstances. We’ll also reflect on God’s impartial and merciful character and the hope he offers to all who trust in him.

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2021

What happens when we turn our backs on God? In this episode, we are reflecting on how God responds when his people walk out on him and when they return.

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2021

There’s a lot of violence in the Old Testament, but isn’t God loving? How do we make sense of all this? In this episode, we are exploring a few key things to keep in mind while looking at the topic of violence in the Bible. Note to parents: The terms genocide, child sacrifice, sexual fertility rituals, and sex slavery are used in this episode. Before listening with your child, consider if they are ready to be introduced to these concepts and if you are prepared to carefully answer any follow-up questions they may have.

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2021

How can we understand the ancient laws in the Old Testament? And what’s the point of reading them today? In this episode, we are learning how to read the ancient laws that God gave to Israel and reflecting on how they can impact our choices today.

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2021

Why did God give his people so many rules? In this episode, we’re reflecting on the wisdom and purpose of God's commands.

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2021

How does fear hold us back from experiencing God’s promises? In this episode, we reflect on God's trustworthy character and how he responds when his people fail to trust and follow him.

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2021

In today’s episode, we’re reflecting on the meaning and importance of rest. As we explore the biblical concept of Sabbath and the ancient festival of Jubilee, we’ll find wisdom and principles that are still relevant for us today.

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2021

In today’s reflection, we are exploring the biblical theme of sacrifice and atonement. It can feel strange and uncomfortable at first, but as we learn more, we’ll discover just how life-giving and powerful this biblical theme is.

Transcribed - Published: 27 January 2021

Last week, we explored how God rescues his people when they cry out to him. In today’s episode, we’re reflecting on why God rescues his people. He doesn’t only free us from corruption, he free us for restoration. His rescue is not just for us but for the restoration of the whole world.

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2021

How does God respond when his people cry out to him? In this week's episode, we invite you to contemplate the ancient Exodus story for the first time or with fresh eyes.

Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2021

Did God really pick a fight with Jacob in the middle of the night? Are we reading this right? In this reflection, we explore a fascinating story from Genesis that shows us God’s relentless commitment to bless his people despite themselves.

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2021

In the opening pages of the Bible, God gives the first humans a choice. But why? We invite you to reflect with us on this first week of the Reflections podcast by BibleProject.

Transcribed - Published: 29 December 2020

Welcome to Reflections, a micropodcast by BibleProject. Each episode includes a short message from one of our Bible scholars, a narration of a Scripture passage, and a time to reflect and respond to a series of thoughtful questions. A new episode releases each Wednesday.

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2020