How to Study the Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

This is it, friends. Our final episode. And I can't think of a more perfect place to land than right here, in the very process that brought me to this moment of saying goodbye. Today we're walking through the actual steps of discernment, a rigorous, Holy Spirit-led process rooted in Ignatian spirituality that is so much more than a pros and cons list. And I want you to know, this process took me seven months to work through for this decision. Seven months of going back and forth, consulting spiritual advisors, wrestling, praying, and waiting. That's very different from how the world tells us to make decisions. But the freedom on the other side of it? There are no words. The Five Steps of Discernment Identify the actual decision in front of you Ask the Holy Spirit to transform your thoughts — work toward sacred detachment Ask the Holy Spirit to influence your will — gather data, write pros and cons, evaluate findings Ask the Holy Spirit for spiritual consolation — wait for settled, deep confidence Confirm the decision and move forward in faith Want More? 📥 Download the free four-week Decisions study guide at NicoleUnice.com/decisions — includes Nicole's notes from today's episode and reflection prompts for the whole series 📖 Scriptures from today: Matthew 26:39–45 · Romans 12:2 · 2 Peter 1:3–4 · Galatians 6:14 · 2 Timothy 1:7 · Psalm 94:19 · Matthew 11:28 📱 Follow Nicole's next chapter on Instagram @NicoleUnice and on Substack for weekly essays and updates on the church plant in Richmond, Virginia 🙏 Would you pray for Nicole, her husband Dave, and the city of Richmond, Virginia, as they begin this church planting journey? 🎙️ All 300+ episodes of How to Study the Bible remain available — go back and keep exploring God's word! ⭐ Leave a review and share the podcast with someone who needs it — even now that the show is wrapping up, your review helps new listeners find these episodes. 🎧 For more faith-filled podcasts, visit lifeaudio.com "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you. May the Lord lift up His countenance unto you and give you His peace, both now and forever, and until we meet in heaven. Amen." — Nicole Unice Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We're in week two of our Wayfinding series on discerning God's will, and this week we're talking about something I've been thinking about a lot lately, partly because I spent three days hiking alone in the Santa Cruz Mountains before stepping into this new season of ministry. We're talking about terrain, and what the mountains and valleys of your life are actually trying to teach you. Here's the first thing I want us to hold onto: we should expect both. Psalm 126 gives us this soaring, almost disbelieving joy: "When the Lord restored our fortunes, we were like those who dreamed." And Psalm 13 gives us the raw lament, "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?" Those two psalms sit just pages apart, and that's not an accident. That's the reality of life. Mountains and valleys, abundance and loss, seasons that surprise us with joy and seasons that bring us to our knees. Download the free four-week Decisions study guide at https://www.NicoleUnice.com/decisions The question for those of us in a season of discernment is: what is the terrain trying to clarify? And here's what I've found to be true: when we're wandering, when a decision hasn't come, when the direction still isn't clear, it often means God is still purifying our destination. He's showing us all the other things we're quietly serving alongside Him. Because here's the thing about discernment that I really need us to understand. Discernment isn't about choosing between right and wrong. That's just obedience. Discernment is about choosing between good things, and knowing which good thing points you most directly toward your highest calling, which is serving God wholeheartedly. When serving God becomes the actual destination, everything else, your career, your relationships, your money, your time, becomes a means to that end. Not the end itself. And the moment any of those things becomes an end in itself, it becomes an idol. I know that's rigorous. I know it's uncomfortable. It's uncomfortable for me too. But this is where the terrain does its work, because it's only possible to hear from God clearly when we're willing to live in the reality of our actual condition. Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek. He's not describing a special category of people. He's describing all of us, and saying that the ones who experience my blessing are the ones willing to live in the truth of that. So this week, the invitation is simple but not easy: listen. Listen to God through His Word, through wise counsel, through what He's already done in your life. And stay in the uncomfortable zone of waiting, knowing that God is good and His hands are full of abundance. Reflection Questions What season are you in right now, a mountain, a valley, or somewhere in between? Are there any good things in your life that have quietly become conditions you've placed on following God? What would it look like this week to listen to God more intentionally, through His Word, through counsel, through silence? Want More? 📥 Download the free four-week Decisions study guide at https://www.NicoleUnice.com/decisions - includes weekly reflection prompts to keep discernment moving between episodes 📖 Scriptures from today: Psalm 126 · Psalm 13 · Matthew 5:3–5 (Sermon on the Mount) · Psalm 66:16–20 · Genesis 32 (Jacob wrestling for the blessing) 📸 Want to see photos from Nicole's three-day solo pilgrimage in the Santa Cruz Mountains? Find them on Instagram @NicoleUnice or on her Substack (https://nicoleunice1.substack.com/)  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Before we get into anything else today, can I just ask you a question? Are you experiencing genuine restoration and refreshment in your life right now? Not entertainment. Not distraction. Real restoration. Because most people I know would say no, and that's exactly where this week's rhythm comes in. We're talking about Sabbath today, and I know that word can land differently depending on where you're coming from. Maybe it brings up guilt about Sunday sports schedules. Maybe it feels like an Old Testament rule that doesn't apply anymore. Maybe you're in ministry, and Sunday is your biggest work day of the week. Wherever you're starting from, I want us to take a breath and start from scratch, because Jesus Himself tells us something really clarifying about what Sabbath is actually for. We're in Mark chapter 2, where the disciples are grabbing a snack as they walk through a grain field on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees immediately call them out. Jesus responds by pointing back to King David, who ate sacred bread from the altar when he was hungry, and then delivers one of the most liberating lines in all of Scripture: "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of the people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath." That's the whole principle, right there. The Sabbath was made for you. We also go back to the original command in Exodus 20, and what I love about it is how tender it is. It's not just rest for the head of the household, it's rest for your children, your servants, your animals, and the foreigners living among you. There is so much care and justice built into this rhythm from the very beginning. And then we talk about what Sabbath could actually look like in your real life, not a list of rules, but a genuine question: what does holy refreshment look like for you? For some people it's creativity, painting, gardening, making something. For others it's actual rest, napping, being still. For others it's uninterrupted time with people they love, or being in nature. There's no one-size-fits-all answer here. But the invitation is the same for all of us: stop. Trust that God is at the helm. And see what happens when you actually let yourself rest. Check out my free download to walk through these practices together:https://nicoleunice.kit.com/spiritualpractices Reflection Questions Are you experiencing genuine restoration and refreshment in your life right now — or just entertainment? What does holy refreshment actually look like for you? Is there a place in your week where you could carve out even a half day of intentional rest? Where do you notice yourself striving or feeling anxious when you try to stop? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We're back with Rev. Rachel for week three of our Spiritual Rhythms series, and this week we're talking about one of our absolute favorite things — Scripture. But maybe not in the way you're used to engaging it. Here's something worth sitting with: most of us who love the Bible tend to engage it almost entirely through our heads. We study it, analyze it, cross-reference it — and that is genuinely wonderful. But there's a whole other way of being in Scripture that most of us in the evangelical tradition have barely touched, and it's actually one of the oldest Christian practices in existence. It's called lectio divina — divine reading — and it's been around for about 1,700 years. Long before the printing press, long before people could read their own Bibles, Christians were using this practice to actually experience and be formed by Scripture, not just informed by it. And today, Nicole and Rev. Rachel walk you through it live, using Psalm 119:9–16. Here's how it works: the passage is read four times, slowly. The first time, you just listen. The second time, you notice what word or phrase sticks with you. The third time, you ask the Holy Spirit how it connects to your life right now. And the fourth time, you ask God how He's inviting you to respond. What you're looking for at the end isn't more information — it's peace. It's the gentle conviction or comfort of the Spirit meeting you right where you are. We also talk about the digital fast from last week — and why your phone might be revealing more about where you actually place your trust than you'd like to admit. (Pro tip from Rev. Rachel's college students: buy an old school alarm clock. Seriously.) And the core idea we keep coming back to all series long: right pace creates right perspective. When we slow down enough to let Scripture read us — not just the other way around — something shifts. That's the invitation this week. Check out my free download to walk through these practices together:https://nicoleunice.kit.com/spiritualpractices This Week's Practice: Lectio DivinaTry it yourself with Psalm 119:9–16 — read it four times, slowly: Read 1 — Just listen. Let the words wash over you. Read 2 — What word, phrase, or image sticks with you? Read 3 — Ask the Holy Spirit: how does this connect to my life right now? Read 4 — Ask God: how are you inviting me to respond? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Special Bonus Episode from "Untangling Prayer with Rachel Wojo" Today’s episode features a special bonus conversation from "Untangling Prayer" hosted by Rachel Wojo. She interviews Kristy Graham host of On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse. Through powerful stories of faith, service, and God’s work around the world, this episode offers a reminder that Scripture is not just something we study—it’s something we live out. Discover how Samaritan’s Purse is bringing hope, meeting physical needs, and sharing the message of Christ with people across the globe. To hear more inspiring stories from On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse, visit:https://www.samaritanspurse.org/ You'll discover: Why joy in suffering comes from God's presence rather than changed circumstances How to pray honestly and still surrender the outcome to God What persecuted believers pray for instead of protection, and why it matters The difference between praying for your circumstances to change and letting God change your heart Why serving others in your own pain can lift the weight you're carrying If you're in a season where your prayers feel unanswered, this conversation is a reminder that you are seen by a loving God who understands your pain and meets you in it. Resources Mentioned: On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse podcast: ontheground.samaritanspurse.org Learn more about Samaritan's Purse: samaritanspurse.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself. Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture. Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks. I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years: 2 Corinthians 4:1 — "Since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." Everything we do is through His mercy, not our striving. 2 Corinthians 4:7–9 — "We have this treasure in jars of clay." Life is hard — not might be hard. But hard-pressed is not crushed. Perplexed is not despairing. Isaiah 40:28–29 — "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." Your only qualification for this promise is that you need it. 1 Peter 5:6–7 — "Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you." All of it. No anxiety too small, too irrational, or too shameful to hand over. Galatians 6:9 — "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." God sees every seed you're planting in this season. None of it is wasted. This summer, we'll be replaying some favorite episodes while I try to practice what I'm preaching and be present for this last summer with my youngest at home. I'll miss you, but I trust God's Word is living and active, which means an episode from three years ago can still fall fresh on your heart today. Want More? 📖 Scriptures to write out this week: 2 Corinthians 4:1; 4:7–9; Isaiah 40:28–29; 1 Peter 5:6–7; Galatians 6:9; Psalm 119:11 Practice mentioned: Handwriting scripture on Post-it notes or index cards on a ring — place them somewhere you'll see them every day Book mentioned: Not What I Signed Up For by Nicole Unice — for unresolved, unexpected, or weary seasons. Available wherever books are sold Sign up for Nicole's monthly newsletter at NicoleUnice.com — the best way to stay connected over the summer and let Nicole know what you'd love to study next While Nicole is on summer break, catch up on favorite past episodes right here on the podcast feed. Stay connected and access resources at NicoleUnice.com/realtalk Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If you were writing a story about the Son of God, Mark chapter 15 is probably not the story you would write. Jesus is arrested, mocked, beaten, humiliated, and executed — and through almost all of it, He is completely silent. No protest. No retaliation. No escape. And He had every power to do all of those things. So why did Jesus choose surrender? That's the question we're sitting with today, and I think the answer changes everything about how we understand not just Easter, but every hard and unresolved season in our own lives. We walk through the full weight of what's happening in this chapter — the crowd that was shouting Hosanna just days earlier is now demanding Barabbas. Pilate, conflicted and cowardly, bends to the pressure. Jesus is crucified between two criminals, mocked by the very people He came to save. And darkness covers the land for three full hours. I want us to really sit with what the cross meant in Roman culture — this was the symbol of highest shame, of total defeat, of public humiliation. The word excruciating literally comes from the Latin word for crucifixion. And in the middle of all of that, at the very moment when Jesus cries out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" — that is the moment theologians point to as when He took the sin of the entire world onto His shoulders and experienced, for the first and only time, separation from His Father. That cry? That is the most painful moment of all of it — not the nails, not the mockery, but the weight of sin creating distance from God. And then He says it is finished. And the temple curtain tears in two. Here's why that matters so much: that curtain separated the people from the presence of God. Only one priest, once a year, after elaborate ritual, could enter that space. When it tears — it tears because the barrier between us and God is gone. Forever. Through the breaking of Jesus's body, we now have full access to the presence of God. No more separation. No more curtain. This is not just a personal salvation transaction. This is a cosmic shift in how the world works. And it happened in what looked like the darkest, most defeated moment in history. So whatever unresolved, silent, confusing season you're in right now — I want you to know that Jesus has been there. He has gone before us in the silence, in the suffering, in the feeling of God's absence. And because He did, we never have to experience real separation from God again. What Does It Mean for Me? Can I trust God when circumstances feel unresolved? Can I trust God with the unknowns in my own story? What does surrender look like for me today? What does it look like to actually surrender at the foot of the cross, knowing that Jesus has taken my sin upon his shoulders? If I knew I was right with God — today, tomorrow, and the rest of my life — how would I feel? How would I act? What would I do? If I can't get there yet, what would that freedom even feel like — and what would it look like to move toward it? Want More? Read along: Mark 15 Old Testament prophecy fulfilled here: Isaiah 53:7 — written 600 years before Jesus's birth Psalm connection: Psalm 13:1 — "How long, Lord, will you forget me forever?" — an honest lament for hard seasons  One-sentence prayer for the week: "God, help me trust that your silence is not the same thing as your absence." Book mentioned: Not What I Signed Up For by Nicole Unice — for anyone in an unexpected, disorienting, or suffering season. Includes a free video Bible study series. Find it at NicoleUnice.com Stay connected and access resources at NicoleUnice.com/realtalk Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What would it look like to give your very best to Jesus — not what's left over, not what's convenient, but your actual best? That's the question sitting at the center of Mark chapter 14, and it comes to life through one of the most striking contrasts in all of the Gospels. In the same passage, on what feels like the same night, we have a woman who breaks open an entire year's worth of perfume and pours it over Jesus's head — and a disciple who slips away from the table to sell Him out for money. Devotion and betrayal, side by side. Mark puts them there on purpose, and I think we're meant to feel the discomfort of that. Here's what gets me about the woman: nobody defends her. The people at the table — including the disciples — moralize about what a waste it is, what the money could have done for the poor. And Jesus steps in and says, leave her alone. She did what she could. I want us to just sit with that for a second. She did what she could. Not what was expected. Not what made sense to everyone else. What she could. And Jesus says that every time the gospel is preached, people will remember what she did — which is remarkable when you consider that women in that culture had no vote, no voice, and no property rights. And then there's Judas — the one holding the money bag, the one moralizing about how the perfume should have been given to the poor — who is at that very moment plotting to hand Jesus over for cash. The irony is impossible to miss. You can be religious and still be completely missing it. You can be physically close to Jesus and have a heart that's miles away. We also spend time in the upper room, where Jesus takes the Passover meal — one of the most sacred remembrances in all of Judaism — and completely redefines it. The bread is His body. The wine is His blood. He is the Passover lamb. The freedom from bondage that God's people had been celebrating for centuries? Jesus is saying that's me. That's what I'm about to do. And this table, He says, is for everyone — the devoted and the broken and even the betrayer. So here's the question I'm leaving with all of us today: what would costly devotion actually look like in your life right now? Not in theory — in practice. Is it your time? Your forgiveness? A relationship you've been holding at arm's length from God? What would it look like to bring your whole heart? Want More? 📖 Read along: Mark 14:1–11 and 22–26 📖 Old Testament context worth exploring: Exodus 12 (the original Passover story) and 2 Samuel 24:24 ("I will not sacrifice to the Lord what costs me nothing") 📖 Closing Psalm: Psalm 73:25 📚 Book mentioned: Brave Enough by Nicole Unice — on what it looks like to follow Jesus with courage and grace in everyday life. Find it at NicoleUnice.com 📧 Sign up for Nicole's monthly newsletter at NicoleUnice.com/realtalk 💬 Leave a comment on YouTube — Nicole loves hearing from the community! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if the way you measure your faith isn't the way God measures it at all? That's the question Jesus drops right in our lap in Mark chapter 12 — and He uses one of the most quietly powerful moments in all of the Gospels to make the point. We've been watching Jesus disrupt systems, confront religious leaders, and flip assumptions upside down. And He does it again here, but this time it's subtle. He simply sits down near the temple collection box and watches. Rich people filing past, dropping in large, visible, attention-drawing gifts. And then — one poor widow. Two small coins. And Jesus turns to His disciples and says she gave more than all of them. Here's what I want us to really sit with today: giving can be just as performative as anything else. Those offerings were dropped into trumpet-shaped boxes in a very public space — and if you were giving a lot, everyone knew it. Sound familiar? Because not much has changed. Jesus even says about people who give for public recognition, you've been paid in full — meaning the applause here on earth? That's your reward. Full stop. But this widow? She had every reason to hold on to those two coins. She had no husband, no legal protections, no guaranteed income. Those coins may have been her next meal. And she gave them anyway. That's what Jesus noticed. Not the amount — the dependence. Not the performance — the trust. We also talk about something that I find really freeing once it actually sinks in: everything we have already belongs to God. He gave it to us. So when He asks us to give, He's not asking us to sacrifice what's ours — He's inviting us to participate in what He's already doing. And friend, He can do it with or without us. But he's asking, do you want to be part of it? So here's the honest question I'm leaving us all with today: if someone separated your calendar and your bank account from what you say you value — what would they actually find? Because that's where the real audit happens. Want More? 📖 Read along: Mark 12:41–44 (and the full chapter for context on the religious leaders Jesus confronts just before this) 🌍 Organization mentioned: Compassion International — one of Nicole's favorite global organizations providing wraparound care for children in need. Learn more at compassion.com 📧 Sign up for Nicole's email newsletter at https://nicoleunice.com/ for resources, links, and more from the podcast ⭐ Loving the podcast? Leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 💬 Leave a comment on YouTube — Nicole loves hearing from you! 🎧 For more faith-filled podcasts, visit lifeaudio.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.