Wednesday in the Word podcast
The podcast that explains what the Bible means and how we figure it out.
Wednesday in the Word is the longest-running Bible study podcast in the world.
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In each episode, I explain the author’s meaning in plain language and model how I reached those conclusions.
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Latest Episodes from the Wednesday in the Word podcast
07 Do All Things Without Grumbling (Philippians 2:14–30)
Paul concludes this first section of the body of the letter by again encouraging them to persevere in the faith and telling them of 3 ways he hopes to communicate with them.
06 What Does It Mean to ‘Work Out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling’? (Philippians 2:12–13)
Philippians 2:12-13 is one of Paul’s most famous statements and it’s one we forget to place in the context of the letter. At first reading, it looks like Paul is highlighting a paradox of YOU work out your salvation because GOD is working in you. But in context, I think Paul is still concerned that the Philippians are living their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel (1:27) and are motivated to do so for the right reasons.
05 The Mind of Christ: Learning True Greatness (Philippians 2:5–11)
Philippians 2:5-11 is traditionally associated with the doctrine of the Trinity. However, I think the context suggests that Paul’s main point is not to teach the doctrine of the Trinity. From an interpretative standpoint, I believe the context suggests that Paul intends to teach something about unity and our attitude towards other believers, and he uses Christ as an example to make that point. If we also learn something about the Trinity, that is icing on the cake.
04 Standing Firm and Staying United (Philippians 1:27-2:4)
Philippians 1:27 begins a new section in which Paul urges his readers to live a life worthy of the gospel. Living such a life does not mean that you will live a perfect life. Rather if we actually believe the gospel is true, we now see the world differently and, we begin to view some things as right, proper and good, and begin to view other things as wrong, selfish and evil. And we choose accordingly.
03 To Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain: How Paul Views Suffering and Ministry (Philippians 1:12-26)
What are we to make of Paul’s joy that selfishly ambitious teachers are proclaiming the gospel? And, what can we learn from his famous statement “to live is Christ, to die is gain”?
02 Why Paul Didn’t Pray for Comfort And What He Asked for Instead (Philippians 1:9-11)
Paul’s opening prayer in Philippians reflect what he hopes and confidently expects God to do in the lives of his readers and it introduces the main theme of his letter. From this short prayer, we can learn what we ought to most want for ourselves and for each other.
01 Introduction to Philippians (Philippians 1:1-8)
Paul’s message in Philippians is essentially the same as Moses in Deuteronomy 30:19-20: Choose life by loving the lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him. He opens the letter expressing his gratitude — not because the Philippians have sent him financial support. But rather he is grateful that the gospel was so important to the Philippians that they wanted to support it.
2 Peter Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Peter’s second epistle.
1 Thessalonians Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians.
Acts 16 Why did Paul baptize a household?
In Acts 16, when Luke reports on the conversion of two locals, he tells us that Paul baptized their entire households. Why would Paul baptize an entire household?
10 The the Danger of Small Compromises (Nehemiah 13)
Years later, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to find the people have broken all their vows. His reaction is ruthless — to make a point.
Philippians: Choose Life
Paul’s letter to the Philippians is filled with expressions of praise, joy and confidence, despite the fact that Paul wrote the letter while he was in prison. The Philippian church, unlike many other churches Paul wrote to, was not facing any particular problem or controversy. Instead their challenges were the kind that plague many churches today. We can learn from Paul how to rejoice and persevere in the mundane, ordinary difficulties of life.
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