Discover the Word Podcast

What does your name mean? Why were you given your name? Does it mean anything to you? Well, in this Discover the Word study, Bill lead Elisa and Bill and Daniel and Rasool in looking at some of the Old Testament "names" that are given to God. Discover how those names describe important aspects of what God is like and how these names can give us security and confidence to trust this God who love us so much.Receive As we explore some of the Old Testament names that are given to God, we can rejoice as we discover how those names describe important aspects of what God is like and how they can give us security and confidence to trust this God who loves us so much. How awesome to know that Yahweh/Jehovah is the Great I Am as well as Jehovah-Jireh our Provider, Jehovah-Rapha our Healer, Jehovah-Nissi our Banner, and Jehovah-M'Kadesh our Sanctifier! God is much greater than we could ever comprehend or describe with mere words. When we remember how good, loving, holy, merciful, and powerful God is, it helps us keep everything else in perspective. Reflect Why do you think Abraham focused on God’s mercy and faithfulness, not on his own obedience, when he called the place Jehovah-Jireh in Genesis 22:14? What do you think God was saying about Himself in Exodus 3:13–14? How does the name Jehovah-Rapha in Exodus 15:26 relate to Jesus, the Great Physician? According to Exodus 17:15–16, who ultimately won the victory for the Israelites? Based on Exodus 31:12–15, who makes us holy? Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Dear God, thank You for being my Provider, Healer, Sanctifier, Banner, and so much more! Help me to call upon You in good and bad times. Help me to meditate on Your Word and on how glorious and marvelous You are!” Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: What Does It Mean to Say, “The Genesis Account Is True”? Noah: Hope in the Waters of Remaking Joshua: Conquering the Impossible David, Goliath, and the Gospel: Living in Light of Our Savior’s Victory The Strength to Be Wise Listen: But . . . But . . . But . . . How God Responds to Our Excuses Who Is God? A Study of Ephesians Read: Child of God Set Free to Worship God Watch: Jesus: the Bridge to God? Revelation 4:8 / Holy, Holy, Holy

This series of 15 conversations revisits the story of a world-class liar and deceiver. The intent is to find insight and perspective as we explore together what Jacob, the father of the original 12 tribes of Israel contributes to the bigger story of Jesus— and to us. Even though he was a grandson of Abraham, Jacob turned out to be so dishonest that he had to leave home to avoid being killed by the older brother he betrayed. Yet his legacy is as wonderful as it is mysterious. God loved Jacob, and chose him to be a blessing to every family of the earth. What was God trying to tell us?Receive Jacob turned out to be so dishonest that he had to leave home to avoid being killed by the older brother he betrayed. Yet his legacy is as wonderful as it is mysterious. Although Jacob’s life and relationships raise lots of questions, we can see that God still loved Jacob and God chose him to be a blessing to every family of the earth. As we reflect on Jacob’s story, we can rejoice that God loves us despite our flaws, struggles, and weaknesses and can still use us to be a blessing to many. Reflect How might Rebekah have justified the scheme to deceive her husband as we find in Genesis 27:41– 45? Why would God offer not only to provide and protect a man like Jacob, but also to make him part of the story that would bring blessing to the whole world as we read in Genesis 28:10–17? In Genesis 28:18–22, was Jacob expressing the kind of faith that pleases God or trying to put conditions on his faith? Based on Genesis 31:5–7, what was happening in Jacob during those twenty years of struggle and betrayal while living with and working for his dishonest father-in-law? Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Dear God, thank You for loving me despite my flaws, mistakes, and past. Thank You for Your mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Help me to surrender to You in every area of my life and to trust You in every season.” Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: Our Daily Bread Ministries' Press Giving Campaign Listen: The Master of Forgiveness Myths of Forgiveness Read: A Socially Suspect Ancestry The Forgiveness of God Watch: Jerusalem – The City of Forgiveness (The Holy Land) Jerusalem – The Cost of Forgiveness (The Holy Land)

Have you ever struggled with the question "what am I supposed to do with my life?" From pretty early on in our lives, we begin to ask that question, only to discover that it reappears in almost every stage of life. So, this week, Daniel is going to lead Elisa and Bill and Rasool in looking at a few stories of “calling” in the Bible and see how these stories might help us think through where we currently are, how God may be leading us in whatever season we’re in, and what the answer to that question—what am I supposed to do with my life?—might be for us right now. Hearing God's Call is the focus of this series of conversations on Discover the Word. Receive If you've ever struggled with the question, "What am I supposed to do with my life?" be encouraged that you're not alone. Questioning what you're supposed to do with your life, no matter what stage you're in, is a common and valid question. As we look at a few stories of “calling” in the Bible, let's see how these stories might help us think through where we currently are and how God may be leading us in whatever season we’re in. We can take heart that regardless of where we are in life right now, God is calling us into an ever-deepening relationship with Him, where we're being transformed into the person that God has made us to be. Reflect Why is Genesis 1–3 a good passage to begin with to discuss “calling” in the Bible? According to Esther 4, how much of Esther’s story, or calling, has to do with what she wanted versus having to respond to what happened to her? Based on Ruth 1:1–18, how does Ruth's story demonstrate how faithfulness in the everyday is part of God’s calling on all our lives, especially when we can’t see what may come? According to Amos 1:1 and Amos 7:10–15, how does Amos' story show us that God can call us out of our comfort zones and skill sets to do the work He has for us to do? What can Paul and Ananias in Acts 9:1–22 teach us about our primary calling in life? Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Dear God, thank You that You've called me to have a deeper relationship with You. Help me to follow You and serve You even if it seems ordinary and mundane, if it means stepping out of my comfort zone, or I feel unqualified." Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: 7 Bible Stories to Hear God's Calling (Reclaim Today) Listen: Answer the Call God Hears Her Podcast: Your Everyday Purpose (Elisa, Eryn and Vivian) Read: The Call to Discipleship: Embracing the Journey of Following Christ Discipleship and Obedience Watch: Outside Your Comfort Zone | Acts 10 A Call to Something New (Matthew 4:19-22)

A covenant is a type of contractual agreement we see in Scripture. The covenants God has made with humanity are significant benchmarks in the Scriptures. Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Davidic, and the New Covenant all serve as critical moments when God has demonstrated his grace and mercy to humanity. But they aren’t the only covenants or contracts we find in Scripture or in many churches. There are also the Unspoken Contracts that people have made with God. Though God never agreed to them, many of us hold him to them anyway. This series will explore the Unspoken Contracts we find many mistakenly make in the Bible and how we can identify them and replace them with the Spoken Covenants that we should actually build our faith upon. Receive Throughout the Bible, we see God making covenants with His people from Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, to the New Covenant through Jesus. But those aren’t the only covenants, or contracts, we find in Scripture or in many churches today. There are also unspoken contracts that people, including us, have made with God. Though God never agreed to them, many of us try to hold Him to them anyway. We expect God to work in a specific way. If we have unspoken contracts with God, it’s good to identify them and replace them with God’s promises in the Bible. Reflect Why was God’s contract/covenant with Abram in Genesis 15:1–10 particularly notable? What unspoken contract did Abram and Sarai try to hold God to in Genesis 16:3–6? What was the result? Based on Moses’ complaint in Exodus 5:3–9, what unspoken contract did he mistakenly have with God? Throughout the book of Job, what are some of the unspoken contracts his friends believed about why he was suffering? What is the unspoken contract driving Martha in Luke 10:38–42? How was Martha able to tear up her unspoken contract and embrace Jesus’ spoken contract in John 11:20–27? What was Peter’s unspoken contract in Matthew 26:31–35 and Matthew 26:69–75? Based on 1 Peter 5:5–6, what did Peter replace his unspoken contract with later in life? Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Dear God, thank You for Your love and patience as I recognize and replace the unspoken contracts I may have in my life. Help me identify where I’m making assumptions about how You should act. Help me to replace those assumptions and expectations by trusting Your faithful promises in the Bible.” Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: Faith Under Construction podcast Listen: Promise Keeper (with Shannon Popkin) on God Hears Her Podcast Misunderstanding Martha Read: God’s Faithfulness to His Promises A Covenant Keeping God Mary, Martha, and Jesus Watch: Abraham & Waiting on God’s Promises What Do We Desire of God? (Matthew 5–7)