Relevant Magazine's nine things to do when reading the Bible
- What is a good reference for understanding the historical and cultural context of the Gospels?
The hosts read through and react to a Relevant Magazine article listing nine habits for Bible reading: read 'King' where you see 'Christ'; read the plural 'you' (y'all); chase down every 'therefore'; distinguish conditional from causal 'if' statements; lament freely; read prophecy as forth-telling; learn the king's idioms; remember the Bible is literature, not an instruction manual; and read to refresh the heart. They agree with most, rate some (the plural-you point gets a zero), and riff on memorizing Amos, Bible dictionaries, and the dubious 'Jesus folded the napkin' internet story.
More on Scripture
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'It's not a religion, it's a relationship': framing the big question
- Does God want a relationship with you - and if so, what do we actually mean by it?
Ben frames the night's first big question: the phrase 'it's not a religion, it's a relationship' is common, and evangelicals say 'God wants to be in relationship with you' - but is it true, and if so, what do we mean?
From No. 602 · Relationship Counseling
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The New Testament case for human shaping
- What does the New Testament actually say about spiritual authority and submission?
Ben walks the New Testament texts: Hebrews 13:17 ('obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls') presumes a soul-watching laborer, not a rule-maker;…
From No. 600 · Rage The Elephant
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How to tell your voice from God's: the Bible test and leniency
- How can you tell the difference between you speaking and God speaking?
Ella distills the question: how do you tell the difference between you speaking and God speaking? Her first answer: we have a Bible — what God is telling you is probably already in it ('Ben's gonna have a proud papa moment').
From No. 597 · Maybe A Word From God
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Self-help Jesus and the wave problem
- Why do believers cycle through self-help-style Jesus fads instead of lasting growth?
The hosts move to the second topic: 'self help Jesus' content on social media — spirituality coded with affirmations that God loves you but really centered on self-improvement, arriving in waves like fad diets.
From No. 545 · By Invitation Only