Blog

Latest Blog Posts from Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know.

How to Use Bible Background

How to Use Bible Background

Background is your flashlight, not your steering wheel. Use it to illuminate the author’s path. Then keep walking where the paragraph leads

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How to Transform your Bible Study with an Outline

How to Transform your Bible Study with an Outline

An analytical outline is a way of displaying a text of Scripture so that the flow of thought and the relationship between the grammatical parts become clear. It is my favorite study tool and one of the first things I do. Learn how to make one.

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How to Use Commentaries

How to Use Commentaries

How to Use Commentaries wisely: when to open them, which ones to read, and how to compare, without replacing your own study.

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Word Study Shortcuts

Word Study Shortcuts

While I recommend you learn how to do your own word studies, here are some shortcuts you can take to save time, to get past “study block” or compare your ideas with someone else’s.

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How to do a word study

How to do a word study

Word studies are one of the basic tools of Bible study. With today’s tools, you don’t have to know Greek and Hebrew to do a good word study. Here’s how.

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How to Cross Reference

How to Cross Reference

Learn how to cross reference Scripture with a simple method: start near, test relevance, and let clear verses explain hard ones. Tools, examples, FAQs.

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How to Study Epistles

How to Study Epistles

Learn a simple six-step method to study New Testament epistles: trace arguments, define key terms, and apply Scripture with confidence. Free checklist.

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12 Why Gentiles Gave to Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8-9 Background)

12 Why Gentiles Gave to Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8-9 Background)

Paul devoted more than a decade of his ministry to the Jerusalem Collection. Understanding the story behind it helps us understand 2 Corinthians 8-9. Today we’ll explore the origin, purpose, and implications of the Jerusalem Collection, using events in Acts and Galatians to trace the evolving relationship between Paul, the Jerusalem apostles, and the Gentile churches.

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Understanding Prophecy

Understanding Prophecy

Studying biblical prophecy is an often overwhelming task. Much of it is written in Hebrew poetry. The names and places are foreign, and the metaphors don’t always resonate with our modern ears. Yet we can usually understand the main point. If studying an Old Testament prophet overwhelms you, here are some tips to get you started.

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September 2025 Reflections

September 2025 Reflections

Here’s what's new on Wednesday in the Word in September, 2025. Two new resources this month: ​a free Bible Study Starter Kit ​and a brand-new page with ​all my free downloads in one place.​ NEW Free Resources Bible Study Starter Kit a simple, text-first method anyone...

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Understanding Narratives

Understanding Narratives

Narratives are true stories. Over 40% of the Old Testament Scriptures are narratives. Generally, the purpose of a biblical narrative is to show the Lord at work in His creation. Every genre found in the Bible presents unique challenges for understanding. Narratives are no exception. With narratives we think in scenes, plot and character, rather than paragraphs and outlines.

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Understanding Epistles

Understanding Epistles

Every genre found in the Bible presents unique challenges for understanding. Here are guidelines for studying epistles.

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09 Receiving Grace in Vain (2 Corinthians 6:1-12)

09 Receiving Grace in Vain (2 Corinthians 6:1-12)

In 2 Corinthians 6:1–12, Paul urges his readers not to receive the grace of God in vain. Though many in Corinth claimed to believe the gospel, their rejection of Paul revealed a lack of faith. In this episode, Krisan Marotta explains why responding to grace involves more than religious affiliation or claims of belief.

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08 New Creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12-21)

08 New Creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12-21)

In this episode of Wednesday in the Word, Krisan Marotta examines how the Apostle Paul defends his ministry against critics who judge him by outward appearance rather than by the message he proclaims. Paul insists that true transformation comes from God’s work in the heart, not from impressive credentials or presentation. Through this passage, Paul calls the Corinthians—and us—to see others through the lens of the gospel, not worldly standards.

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Basic Retreat Planning

Basic Retreat Planning

Church women’s retreats offer one of the best opportunities of the church for women to step away from their daily responsibilities, rest and connect with other women in the church and spend some concentrated time learning more about the Lord. While retreats require a lot of planning, they are worth it in the long run.

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August 2025 Reflections

August 2025 Reflections

Exciting news! My first book, ​Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity,​ is releasing in January, 2026. I’d love your help getting it into the hands of the people who need it most.

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Start Strong: Will You Help Me Launch it?

Start Strong: Will You Help Me Launch it?

My first book, ​Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity,​ is releasing in January, 2026. I’d love your help getting it into the hands of the people who need it most.

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Making the most of registration forms

Making the most of registration forms

Registration is a chance to collect valuable information about your participants that can help you build small groups, evaluate the success of your program and plan for the future. Here are some questions you might want to include on your registration forms.

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Example Forms: First Day Sign up

Example Forms: First Day Sign up

The first day of Bible study typically requires a lot of teamwork and cooperation. You probably need leaders to sign up for both refreshments and tasks. Here’s two example sign up forms.

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05 Why Paul’s Ministry Outshines Moses (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)

05 Why Paul’s Ministry Outshines Moses (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)

In this episode of Wednesday in the Word, Krisan Marotta explores Paul’s bold claim that his ministry as an apostle is more glorious than the ministry of Moses. By comparing the Old and New Covenants, Paul shows that spiritual transformation doesn’t come from the Law but from the work of the Holy Spirit.

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04 What’s New About the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:1-6)

04 What’s New About the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:1-6)

Trying harder won’t fix the human heart, and that’s exactly why the new covenant is such good news. In this episode, Krisan Marotta walks us through 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, where Paul defends his ministry by pointing not to his qualifications, but to the life-giving work of the Spirit. Paul’s confidence doesn’t come from his own strength. It comes from what God is doing through him.

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Bible Study Procedure

Bible Study Procedure

Wondering how to put all the tools and pieces of Bible study together so that you can tackle a specific passage of Scripture? Here’s the overall procedure.

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