Better Bible Reading Podcast
222 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsKevin Morris from BetterBibleReading.com teaches reading and study methods to help you have an enjoyable and productive bible reading experience. Learn how you can make the most of your time, eliminate distractions, and grow in your knowledge and grasp of the Bible!
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Celebrating Justification by Faith Alone
October 28, 2021 04:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBOctober 31st should be a day for Protestants to celebrate the hallmark doctrine of justification by faith alone. But for many of us, we're preoccupied with eating candy and covering our bushes with fake spider webs. Today we talk about why this doctrine is what sets us apart from Roman Catholicism, and why a growing disinterest in justification by faith alone is much scarier than ghosts and goblins! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becomin...
You, Me, and Systematic Theology
October 21, 2021 04:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBToday I share our new project on Teaching Thursdays- and one that will take a LONG time to complete: Our first Systematic Theology book study together! This episode is all about convincing you of the importance of systematic theology, and why our best choice is a new edition of an old book: Theoretical-Practical Theology by Petrus Van Mastricht. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Why We Have Four Gospels
October 14, 2021 04:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBWhy do we have four gospels? Why not one, or ten? We'll discuss what makes our four gospels unique, and how to grow our interest in them. The Bible contains four gospels because God wants us to understand the unique element of divine inspiration and a dual divine/human authorship. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Love Experienced, Love Expressed
October 07, 2021 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBToday on Teaching Thursdays, I would like to share a recent sermon I preached. But this sermon was not preached at my church, or at any church for that matter. Actually, this was a school preaching project that I had to record and send in for a grade. I had several criteria (length, illustrations, transition phrases, eye contact, etc...) to follow for this, but the end result is a sermon on 1 John 4:17-21, "Love Experienced, Love Expressed" Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and ...
Personal Bible Reader, Public Church Member
September 30, 2021 04:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBIt's easy to mistake personal for private and public for superficial. But what happens when we do this with our view of the Bible and the Church? You might be shocked how common this is. This is the Better Bible Reading Podcast with Kevin Morris. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Conclusion to 1 Peter
September 23, 2021 04:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MBToday on Teaching Thursdays we reach the end of our study through 1 Peter. We'll analyze the last few verses of the letter and take some time to talk about the big ideas that Peter has developed throughout these 5 chapters. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Why You Should Care if Your Pastor Uses Canned Sermons
September 16, 2021 04:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MBEnroll in my FREE course that teaches you the most important principles of the Bible reading process! https://betterbiblereading.com/freeclass Plagiarism, consumerism, marketing, churches, and... Bibles? These terms shouldn't belong in the same conversation, but as many pastors today are using what's called canned sermons, it becomes a conversation worth having. Today we'll see how this odd assortment of topics should make us think carefully about our commitment to the Bible and the churc...
Temporary Suffering, Eternal Glory (1 Peter 5:1-11)
September 09, 2021 04:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBToday on Teaching Thursdays we are inching towards the finish of our study in 1 Peter together! 1 Peter 5 features Peter's conclusion of the letter, which is packed with encouragement and motivation to live joyfully in a fallen world. The closing remarks of Peter focus on bringing our Christian life into perspective- that it is one of temporary suffering, and eternal glory. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
3 Misconceptions About the Law of God
September 02, 2021 22:57 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBIf you were asked to describe the Law of God, would you use the word gracious or legalism? Here are 3 misconceptions about the Law of God. Misconception 1: The Law of God is the Opposite of Grace Misconception 2: People Were Saved in the Old Testament by the Law Misconception 3: The Law is Irrelevant for Christians Today Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Suffering According to God's Love (1 Peter 4:12-19)
August 26, 2021 04:00 - 31 minutes - 21.3 MBYou can find the video version of this episode exclusively at www.betterbiblereading.com Suffering is the reality for both Christians, atheist, and every religious variety in between. Yet, for the Christian suffering is uniquely a gesture of God's love. We learn this from 1 Peter 4:12-19 where Peter reminds us that we are "Beloved" in God's sight and because of that love, we should not consider suffering as something foreign to God's love. Learn all about this and more on today's episode...
Important Update on the Better Bible Reading Website and Podcast
August 19, 2021 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBAs the summer draws to a close and the year will quickly be another one in the books, I wanted to share with you a quick update of what to expect for this show for the rest of the year, as well as the website betterbiblereading.com I want to invite you to start finding me on my digital home instead of social media, external site, and even apps. As Better Bible Reading strives to be a resource to come alongside you and improve your Bible reading and spiritual life with God, the best way for...
The Philosophical Task of the Interpreter- Culturology
August 17, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 4.02 MBThe Philosophical Task of the Interpreter- Culturology Sometimes it is difficult for people to equate the ministry with the head, since the essence of spiritual life seems to have a heavy bent to wards matters of the heart. Thus, when people think of biblical interpretation, whether for practical application or ministerial/teaching tools, the emphasis is normally outside the realm of philosophical thought. However, although Christianity is much more than an intellectual pursuit, it is cert...
God's Love Through His People, to His People (1 Peter 4:1-11) Teaching Thursdays
August 12, 2021 04:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBToday on Teaching Thursdays Peter says that we’ve spent enough time living our previous way of life- the way of this world. To do battle with the world is to be transformed by the Spirit of God and to seek God’s glory in everything. This is the essence of Romans 12:1-2 and it is the essence of Jesus’ earthly ministry: Live for the glory of God, through suffering, and contend with the world, so that the world might be saved and transformed. Additionally, along the way of suffering, we find th...
What is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Bible Interpretation? Giving an Answer
August 11, 2021 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.23 MBWhat is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Bible Interpretation? Giving an Answer It is true that many who are devoid of the Holy Spirit are nevertheless interpreters of the Bible. That reality of interpretation shows that hermeneutics is not a process restricted to whether or not one has the Holy Spirit. We must remember that false teachers have always built a system of doctrine from the scriptures (hermeneutical conclusions), but do so without the aid of the Holy Spirit, people who are as Ju...
Interpreting the Bible and Culture- Culturology
August 10, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 3.56 MBInterpreting the Bible and Culture- Culturology The interpretation of culture and the Bible are two disciplines which work to arrive at meaning. This represents a presupposition of an objective quality, both in cultural texts and biblical texts. That is to say, there is a tangible, definitive message in cultural texts and biblical texts that can be interpreted, else the disciplines of interpretation would be exercises in vanity and uncertainty. To understand both disciplines properly, they...
Resolved to Hope in Suffering (1 Peter 3:8-22) Teaching Thursdays
August 05, 2021 04:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBToday on Teaching Thursdays, we find Psalm 34:12-16 at the heart of Peter’s point in the text. To understand his command and encouragement to us, we should take some time to look at this section of Psalm 34. The main point to notice is the active obedience that it calls us to. We will not be joyful sufferers by being passive- we must be active! Not merely to refrain from returning evil, but to bless! Not merely to turn from evil, but to do good! Not merely to refrain from violence, but to ...
Should People Read the Bible Differently? Giving an Answer
August 04, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 3.99 MBShould People Read the Bible Differently? Giving an Answer The "ideal" approach to reading the Bible varies from person to person. To be sure, there are different measures to be taken by a pastor who is studying the Bible for an upcoming sermon and a teenager who reads most days during the week, yet there should be a particular set of qualities that are present and a balance to found that is structured but not mechanical. Here are some in no particular order: The Bible reader understands ...
Dynamic Diversity According to the Bible- Culturology
August 03, 2021 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.61 MBDynamic Diversity According to the Bible- Culturology Dynamic Diversity, written by Bruce Milne, is based on the thesis that the church is meant to be a center of reconciliation. This idea of a reconciliation center is predicated upon the vast division in society, division which is normally comprised of the four major categories of class, age, race, and gender. According to Milne, a center of reconciliation is a place which seeks to reconcile the divides found in those four categories (Mil...
Do Genres Matter in the Bible? Giving an Answer
July 28, 2021 04:00 - 4 minutes - 3.31 MBDo Genres Matter in the Bible? Giving an Answer Although the Bible doesn't self-identify as a library of sorts, it does come with the basic communication to the reader that a particular book should be understood on its own terms of genre. For example, there are cues throughout the text of scripture to demonstrate genre to the reader: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1.1 ESV) This communicates that this book is "gospel" and is told to us by way of recoun...
Unity and Diversity in Truth- Culturology
July 27, 2021 04:00 - 7 minutes - 5.11 MBUnity and Diversity in Truth- Culturology The book of Romans speaks of the universe as the created order which God displays and reveals Himself to His creation. It has often been the prerogative of theologians to stress that the teaching of Romans is that which is called natural revelation, in contrast to special revelation. Natural revelation, it is said, is the revelation of God which is manifest and accessible to all, regardless of whether someone has saving knowledge of God. One could ...
How can I Balance Planning and Walking By Faith? Giving an Answer
July 14, 2021 13:35 - 7 minutes - 5.4 MBHow can I balance planning and walking by faith? This is quite a sobering discussion question, yet I surmise that Christians must reckon with such a question if we hope to be faithful and effective in life that is by and large unpredictable. I would like to suggest four particular texts that have meant much to me over the last six years of ministry: "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." -Proverbs 19.21 "So, whether you eat or drin...
Centers of Reconciliation- Culturology
July 13, 2021 04:00 - 6 minutes - 4.73 MBCenters of Reconciliation In Bruce Milne’s book, he argues that the church is meant to be a center of reconciliation. This idea of a reconciliation center is predicated upon the vast division in society, division which is normally comprised of the four major categories of class, age, race, and gender. According to Milne, a center of reconciliation is a place which seeks reconcile the divides found in those four categories (Milne 14). In other words, a center of reconciliation is meant to e...
Suffering and Serving in Marriage, According to Christ (1 Peter 3:1-7) Teaching Thursdays
July 07, 2021 14:10 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBToday on Teaching Thursdays we continue our study of 1st Peter. We look at the beginning of chapter 3, considering the first seven verses. This section of 1st Peter teaches how Jesus' example of suffering and serving is the template and example for a godly husband and a godly wife. We talk about the parameters of suffering in marriage, the depths and extent of a wife submitting to her husband, and the weight of responsibility placed on the husband to understand his wife in a loving way. This...
Why Did God Test Abraham? Giving an Answer
July 07, 2021 14:01 - 5 minutes - 3.77 MBWhy Did God Test Abraham? Scripture testifies that God by direct result of His being is all-knowing of events that have not yet come to pass: "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose'" (English Standard Ver...
The Need for Reconciliation and Unity- Culturology
July 06, 2021 15:21 - 9 minutes - 6.34 MBJohn 17, formally referred to as the high priestly prayer of Jesus Christ, is a wonderful place to see the work of reconciliation and unity in the body of Christ. In this prayer, Jesus rehearses the work of redemption between the Father and the Son and gives a clear blueprint of God’s design in how He has saved His elect people. This chapter serves the church by reminding the people of God that they are caught up in a work of reconciliation and currently reside in state of unity with God. To...
Do Paul and James Agree About Justification? Giving an Answer
June 23, 2021 04:00 - 11 minutes - 7.59 MBThe debate between Protestants and Roman Catholics about justification is normally between Paul and James' teaching on justification. It is argued by Protestants that Paul teaches justification by faith alone, while Roman Catholics argue that James teaches a mixture of faith and works as the recipe for justification. Do these men agree? This is Giving an Answer, an edition of the Better Bible Reading Podcast with Kevin Morris Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to suppor...
A Universe Charged With the Grandeur of God- Culturology
June 22, 2021 04:00 - 14 minutes - 10 MBAre worldviews universal in scope, or are they reserved for academic and philosophical discussions? Although questions like these are not regularly asked by the average person, the implications embedded in each question are well-worth considering. Christian Theism provides the only compelling answer to this question, a worldview described by James Sires as "a universe charged with the grandeur of God". This is Culturology, an edition of the Better Bible Reading Podcast with Kevin Morris Su...
Our Suffering Servant (1 Peter 2:18-25)
June 17, 2021 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBToday on Teaching Thursdays we finish chapter 2 of 1 Peter, looking at verses 18-25. Along with last week's eithical imperative to submit to authority as a Christian and live out the gospel in the public square, we now learn of our perfect model of suffering and servanthood in the life of Jesus Christ. Peter uses Jesus' perfect example from Isaiah 53 on the suffering servant to show us how we are endure all things as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. This is the Better Bible Readin...
Should Christians Use Social Media? Giving an Answer
June 16, 2021 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.7 MBSocial media regularly becomes a temptation for Christians to use it as a means to gossip, venting, and idolatry. What is harmlessly a tool for communication is distorted into a trophy room whereby people compare and contrast their lives, their quotes, and their opportunities over against one another. So should Christians use social media? Today we talk about why this question is not answered by a strict yes or no, but rather by exploring how we use social media. This is Giving an Answer, an...
Postmodernism as a Worldview and Interpretive Method- Culturology
June 15, 2021 14:27 - 13 minutes - 9.06 MBHaving previously considered naturalism as a worldview, we now look to another worldview that it regularly leads people to embrace: postmodernism. This worldview is especially difficult to define, because it rejects the notion of absolute truth and objectivity. Because of this, we have to break the rules of postmodernism in order to define it. We will now briefly consider postmodernism both as a worldview and an interpretive method. This is Culturology, an edition of the Better Bible Reading...
Freed Slaves (1 Peter 2:13-17)
June 10, 2021 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBWe are back into our weekly study in 1 Peter on Teaching Thursdays, part of the Better Bible Reading Podcast lineup! Today, we look at verses 13-17 in chapter 2 of 1 Peter where Peter teaches us about the ethical imperative of the Christian life, under the banner of submitting to authority. This submission to authority is explained with a very interesting dynamic of Christians existing in this world as freed slaves. As we are freed from sin, we are obligated to serve God as our covenant-give...
All Things to All People- Giving an Answer
June 09, 2021 04:00 - 14 minutes - 10 MBToday on Giving an Answer: What does it mean to be all things to all people? The apostle Paul speaks of what it means to become “all things to all people” in this passage. This is a well-known mantra within Christianity, but a brief survey of the text is in order. The context of this passage comes in the preceding chapter of 1st Corinthians in which Paul establishes what it means to live within the ebb and flow of Christian freedom and Christian responsibility. Paul sets up his rationale ...
Naturalism and Personal Responsibility- Culturology
June 08, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 5.27 MBNaturalism denies the supernatural and elevates the autonomy of humanity. The problem with this is that it takes away all possibility of personal responsibility in laws and ethics. Today on culturology we see how the 'natural' progression from the false freedom of naturalism ultimately leads to a reinvention of the wheel in postmodernism, or the despair of nihilism. MANUSCRIPT: ---------------- Man Is A Responsible Being. When a person is tried in court for murder, the guilt or innoce...
Update June 2021 The Better Bible Reading Podcast
June 03, 2021 18:20 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBAfter a month away, here is the June 2021 update on what's been going on in Kevin's life, as well as what to expect for the rest of 2021 on the Better Bible Reading Podcast! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Writing Your Way Through the Bible- Five Minutes to Better Bible Reading
May 04, 2021 04:00 - 4 minutes - 3.43 MBWriting your way through the Bible is the final step for better Bible reading. This step is all about learning to read with a pen in your hand! I recognize that this step is perhaps confusing at first glance, because what we're talking about is conversing with the Bible. In my opinion, this is where it all comes together. Everything that we've been talking about so far comes together at this point, simply put conversing with our Bible, means reading with a pin or a pencil in hand. Some lik...
More Bibles, More Options- Five Minutes to Better Bible Reading
April 27, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 3.76 MBMore Bibles, more options. Step 5 in how to be a better Bible reader is all about supplementing! And while we talked last time about expanding the books we read in the Bible, we will now talk about supplementing the kind of Bible(s) we use! After expanding the question might come up, but what else is there to do? And that's what step number five is all about. Supplementing. I hope that so far, you're really seeing the value of opening up possibilities for how you read the Bible. This next...
Out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light (1 Peter 2:9-12)
April 22, 2021 04:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBPeter describes our salvation as being brought out of darkness into His marvelous light. What does that transition describe, and how should we live as people brought out of darkness? Today we continue chapter 2 in our study of 1st Peter. This is Teaching Thursdays with Kevin Morris on the Better Bible Reading Podcast! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Should Christians Observe the Sabbath? Giving an Answer
April 21, 2021 04:00 - 13 minutes - 9.47 MBShould Christians observe the sabbath? Today we talk about how and why we should understand the Sabbath as an ongoing practice of the Church's obedience to the 4th commandment today. This particular question about the observance of the Sabbath has become especially close to home for me lately, since I have transitioned into the PCA denomination over the last year. This Presbyterian denomination by and large is Sabbatarian, that is, upholds an observance of the Sabbath day. In my own experi...
The Anything and Everything Approach- Five Minutes to Better Bible Reading
April 20, 2021 14:43 - 5 minutes - 3.89 MBAll scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16). If that's true, our Bible reading should be an anything and everything approach. Today I share Step 4 for Better Bible Reading- Expansion! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Do We Need a Historical Adam? Giving an Answer
April 14, 2021 04:00 - 11 minutes - 7.65 MBDo we need a historical Adam? The pressure for the promotion of evolutionary views of the Bible is ever increasing, and along with it is a denial of a historical person named Adam who existed in Genesis 1. Today we uncover why this is denial is not only an attack on faithful biblical interpretation, but even on the gospel itself. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Five Minutes to Better Bible Reading- If You Want to Read the Bible, Organize Your Life
April 13, 2021 03:25 - 5 minutes - 3.89 MBStep 3 of my 6 steps for better Bible reading is all about organization. If we want to know how to read the Bible, we must organize our lives to make sure we leave room for what matters most. This means making a schedule for Bible reading just like we do for the essentials: eating, sleeping and hygiene. And just like the essentials, when life happens we must be willing find a way to adjust our schedule to make room for what matters. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to ...
Teaching Thursdays- Living Stones, Precious Stones, Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:1-8)
April 08, 2021 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBWhat does it mean that Jesus is the living stone and cornerstone of our salvation? And, what does it mean that we as Christians become living stones? As we begin chapter 2 in our continuing study of 1st Peter, we'll consider the logic behind Christian maturity and the tragedy of rejecting Christ. This is Teaching Thursdays with Kevin Morris on the Better Bible Reading Podcast! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Giving an Answer- Is the Book of Acts a How-To Guide?
April 07, 2021 20:30 - 12 minutes - 8.37 MBChristians are divided as to whether the Book of Acts is a how-to guide for church models, or if it tells the story of something that was unique to the times of the apostles and the formation of the early church. Today in Giving an Answer, we discuss why the book of Acts is best understood as descriptive, not prescriptive for the church today. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Five Minutes to Better Bible Reading- If You Want to Read the Bible, Eliminate Distractions
April 06, 2021 04:24 - 5 minutes - 3.89 MBToday I share the second of six steps on reading the Bible: Elimination. If we want to know how to read the Bible, we must eliminate distractions that keep us from properly reading and comprehending the pages of the Scripture. If you want to read the Bible, eliminate distractions! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Teaching Thursdays- For as Long as God is God (1 Peter 1:22-25)
April 01, 2021 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBHow long should Christians trust in what God says? Today in our continuing study of 1st Peter, we talk about the various elements of the first chapter of 1st Peter. We cover the beautiful structure of the letter, the arguments made by Peter, and the use of Isaiah 40. All of this boils down to a strong, enduring assurance in the good news of Jesus Christ, for as long as God is God. This is Teaching Thursdays with Kevin Morris on the Better Bible Reading Podcast! Support the show If you enjo...
Giving an Answer- Is There a Gospel Without a Resurrection?
March 31, 2021 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.28 MBIs there a gospel without a resurrection? It might sound absurd to raise this question, but you should know that there are churches who actively preach a gospel while also maintaining that the resurrection is an ignorant thing to believe in. But not only is this a departure from the most basic creed in church history (the Apostle's creed), it is a denial of Scripture. One test case includes the book of Acts. When you read the book of Acts, you soon realize that the emphasis is placed upon Je...
Five Minutes to Better Bible Reading- Read the Bible With Confrontation
March 30, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 3.77 MBToday I share the first of six steps on reading the Bible: Confrontation. If we want to know how to read the Bible, we must first come to the Bible to be informed by God about God. In other words, to read the Bible is to be confronted by God. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Teaching Thursdays- Hope is the Command (1 Peter 1:13-21)
March 25, 2021 04:11 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBCan God command us to hope? Today in our continuing study of 1 Peter, we talk about the connection between each section of the letter as the key to understanding Peter's big ideas. The test case is seen in the way verses 13 and following are presented as a conclusion statement for the foundation of verses 1-12, including our command to hope. This is Teaching Thursdays with Kevin Morris on the Better Bible Reading Podcast! Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the...
Five Minutes to Better Bible Reading- Communication in the New Testament
March 24, 2021 01:38 - 5 minutes - 3.77 MBThe New Testament is very easy to read, but its communication can easily go unnoticed. I want to talk to you today about appreciating that communication, one that is an aerial shot and a ground level view of the person and work of Jesus. When we view the New Testament in that two-way communication, we begin to appreciate the uniqueness of the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!
Teaching Thursdays- Inexpressible Joy (1 Peter 1:1-12)
March 18, 2021 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBToday we continue our new study through the book of 1 Peter with a quick overview of the book. We also talk about the emotion that Peter encourages all Christians to have, whether in seasons of suffering or comfort: inexpressible joy! Welcome to Teaching Thursdays on the Better Bible Reading Podcast with Kevin Morris. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the show, consider becoming a Patron!