A simple guide to the Christian faith, one passage at a time. A 15-week Bible Study for New Believers
Discover the Essentials of Faith
If you’re new to Christianity or curious about what it means to follow Jesus, Start Strong: A New Believer’s Podcast is for you. No jargon. No assumptions. Just 15 clear, weekly episodes that walk you through the essential truths of the Christian faith.
Each episode unpacks one big idea from Scripture, making it easy to understand, and even easier to apply to real life. You don’t need any prior knowledge. Just show up with curiosity and a desire to grow.
This series pairs with the book Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity. Each week, we’ll unpack one of the “See for Yourself” passage from the book.
Questions:
- No book? No problem. You’ll still understand and benefit from every episode.
- Have the book? Read the chapter first. Then listen. The podcast will bring the key passage to life.
- Studying with friends? Grab the free discussion guide and workbook to reflect, journal, and grow together.
- Teaching others? Bible teachers can download free lesson plans to lead classes or groups with confidence.
- Homeschooling? Make sure the lessons stick with a free quiz for middle grades (6-8) and one for high school (9-12)
You can find these free resources, the book and the workbook at StartStrong Book.org.
Prefer an audiobook? Subscribe to the Krisan Marotta’s Bookcast for audio versions of each chapter of Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity. You can cancel anytime. Supporter FAQs
01 If Grace Covers All Sin, Why Not Keep Sinning?
If grace means God forgives every sin, no matter what, then why not keep sinning? What’s the real incentive to live differently if the threat of punishment from the Law is off the table? In this episode, we’ll unpack Paul’s answer and discover how removing the Law is not a license to sin, the real incentive we have to avoid since and how the gospel changes us in a way the Law never could. Teacher: Krisan Marotta February 4, 2026. Season 27, episode 1.
Passage: Romans 6:13-7:6; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 1: From Cracks to Chaos: The Sin We Can’t Ignore
02 Why Can’t You Just Try Harder to Be Good?
You’ve said you’re sorry, promised to do better, but you still feel guilty? Why? Because guilt isn’t just a feeling to shake off. Real guilt requires real forgiveness. In this episode, we’ll walk through another passage from Romans to uncover God’s response to our sin and why that matters more than we realize. If you’ve ever wondered whether your past disqualifies you, or why grace is so hard to believe, this passage has the answer. Teacher: Krisan Marotta February 11, 2026. Season 27, episode 2.
Passage: Romans 1:18-32; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 2: The Verdict: Guilty With No Appeal
03 If All Religions Lead to God, Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
If all roads lead to God, why was the cross necessary? In this episode, we confront the contradiction many Christians quietly carry: believing both that Jesus is the only way to salvation and that all religions are valid paths. We’ll study Jesus’ own words to learn what the cross reveals, why belief matters, and what it means to be born again. Teacher: Krisan Marotta February 18, 2026. Season 27, episode 3.
Passage: John 3:14-21; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 3: The Only Cure: Why the Cross Sets Us Free
04 What Jesus Taught About Saving Faith
Discover what Jesus taught about saving faith. Learn the 4 core convictions (REAL faith) and why Jesus calls the poor in spirit, meek, and persecuted “blessed.” Teacher: Krisan Marotta February 25, 2026. Season 27, episode 4.
Passage: Matthew 5:1-16; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 4: The Only Escape: What Real Faith Looks Like
05 How to Build Your Life on a Rock, not Sand
How can you tell if you are actually on the narrow road that leads to life and not just saying “Lord, Lord,” without Jesus knowing you? In this episode, we’ll learn how the Golden Rule, true fruit, and a God-centered worldview become clear markers of the path to life. Teacher: Krisan Marotta March 04, 2026. Season 27, episode 5.
Passage: Matthew 7:12-29; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 5: New Lenses: Seeing with Truth
06 What Does it Mean to Receive Jesus?
What does it actually mean to “receive” fellow believers? And why does my response to fellow disciples reveal my response to Jesus and God? In this episode, you’ll learn what “receiving” looks like in real life and why it carries the promise of a reward that lasts. Teacher: Krisan Marotta March 11, 2026. Season 27, episode 6.
Passage: Matthew 10:40-42; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 6:New Family: Finding Your People
07 How Paul Defines Spirituality and Why it Changes Everything
Have you ever walked out of church feeling like you missed the “real” spiritual experience because you didn’t feel a certain way or your life looks ordinary? The Corinthians felt that pressure too. They used speaking in tongues as a standard to measure whether someone was truly a believer. Paul tells them they are using the wrong test. The true mark of a spiritual person is how you respond to Jesus. Teacher: Krisan Marotta March 18, 2026. Season 27, episode 7.
Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-3; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 7: New Aim: Living for What Lasts
08 How Trials Strengthen Your Faith
Ever feel like a trial has you cornered? Like you have to choose between trusting God or taking matters into your own hands? James says you should rejoice in that “hot water” moment. In this episode, you’ll learn why God uses trials to grow steadfast, mature faith, what it actually means to ask for “wisdom,” and why you need to stop living with one foot in God’s promises and one foot in a backup plan. Teacher: Krisan Marotta March 25, 2026. Season 27, episode 8.
Passage: James 1; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 8: New Strength: Forged by Fire & Grace
09 Are You Really Saved If You Still Struggle with Sin?
You’ve confessed faith in Christ but you still struggle with sin. Maybe one particular sin that you can’t seem to stop. Is that a problem? In this episode, we unpack Paul’s sobering warning that not all who claim belief will inherit the kingdom. Discover the crucial difference between stumbling and settling and why that difference matters. If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I really saved if I still struggle like this?” this episode is for you. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on April 1, 2026. Season 27, episode 9.
Passage: 1 Corinthians 6:9-14; Titus 3:3-7; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 9: Staying on Track: Boundaries & Belonging
10 How Biblical Marriage Solves Your Need for Intimacy
Most people think biblical marriage is just a list of rules, but it’s actually God’s beautiful solution to your deepest need for intimacy. Genesis 2 teaches the three foundational commitments that make marriage fulfilling: specialness, permanence, and becoming one flesh. You’ll discover why Hollywood’s promise of freedom leads to loneliness, what Adam learned before Eve was even created, and why the wisest man who ever lived concluded that permanent monogamous marriage is the path to true happiness. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on April 8, 2026. Season 27, episode 10.
Passage: Genesis 2; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 10: Hurdle One: Sex
11 Colossians 3:18-4:1
Teacher: Krisan Marotta April 15, 2026. Season 27, episode 11.
Passage: Colossians 3:18-4:1; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 11: Hurdle Two: Work
12 Matthew 6:19-24
Teacher: Krisan Marotta April 22, 2026. Season 27, episode 12.
Passage: Matthew 6L19-24; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 12: Hurdle Three: Wealth
13 Ephesians 1:13-23
Teacher: Krisan Marotta April 29, 2026. Season 27, episode 13.
Passage: Ephesians 1:13-23; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 13: Your Ally: The Holy Spirit
14 Romans 5:1-11
Teacher: Krisan Marotta May 6, 2026. Season 27, episode 14.
Passage: Romans 5:1-11; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 14: Your Anchor: Hope
15 Galatians 5:13-24
Teacher: Krisan Marotta May 13, 2026. Season 27, episode 15.
Passage: Galatians 5:13-24; Reading: Start Strong Chapter 15: Your Quest: Eight Truths to the Finish Line
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Copyright © 2025 · Krisan Marotta, WednesdayintheWord
Photo by Sergei Lisovskiy on Unsplash
Season 27, episodes 1-15
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