Your Daily Bible
647 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 months ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratingsShort, daily meditations on God’s Word that are practical and relevant to your everyday life. Featuring pastor Kurt Barnes from Silver Creek Fellowship Church in Silverton, Oregon.
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Episodes
Episode 45: Habakkuk 1:12-17
October 30, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 4.97 MBIt’s been a month — maybe two — since it all started going south. The debt was manageable in the beginning. There was one pile of student loans, the car payments, and the credit card bills you swore were “emergencies.” But then came the medical bills you weren’t expecting, and the tuition bill that was twice what you thought it would be. The pile got bigger, overwhelming you. You, who didn’t deserve this. You, who hadn’t done anything wrong. You, who the world was coming down on for really...
Episode 44: Habakkuk 1:1-11
October 29, 2019 07:00 - 5 minutes - 4.34 MBCancer steals the ones we love. Babies die before they get a chance to live. Police officers are charged with murder. People riot in the streets and burn cities. Wildfires chase people from their homes. If God is a good God who wants good things for His children, why do bad things happen? Where is the justice? When devastating circumstances rock our lives, even the most faithful among us can be shaken with doubt. Where is God? Why is He allowing this? Is He really good? Does He even exist...
Episode 43: Philippians 4
October 28, 2019 07:00 - 7 minutes - 5.44 MBIn the midst of hard circumstances or anxiety, it can be difficult to see past the problem in front of us, much less present our requests rationally, clearly or with thanksgiving. What is there to be thankful for when you’re facing bankruptcy, or divorce, or Cancer? Shouldn’t you be anxious when the relationship you thought would last forever suddenly falls apart? What is there to rejoice about when you keep falling into that sin over and over and over again? In Philippians 4:4-6, Paul isn’...
Episode 42: Philippians 3
October 27, 2019 07:00 - 7 minutes - 5.39 MBAs we grow older, the need to be good is continually reinforced. We justify ourselves with how good we are, whether it’s as an employee, spouse or person. The way we describe each other confirms it. “He’s such a good person.” “She has a good heart.” At the beginning of Philippians 3, Paul points out the flaws in this kind of thinking. If we’re chasing goodness, we’re chasing a moving target. If anyone reading Paul’s letter thought he or she was a good person, Paul was better. He was rais...
Episode 41: Philippians 2
October 26, 2019 07:00 - 7 minutes - 5.65 MBLife never seems to go the way we imagine it will in our heads. No matter the effort we put into preparing our day-to-day lives, unforeseen circumstances can leave us feeling frustrated. Many of us have believed the lie that Christians won’t have troubles. But Jesus tells us plainly in John 16:33, “... In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We will have problems. The question is what we do when we face obstacles. In Philippians 2, Paul writes th...
Episode 40: Philippians 1
October 25, 2019 07:00 - 7 minutes - 5.59 MBAre you chained to a secret addiction? Trapped in a dark depression? Feeling the weight of past mistakes or the effects of a failing marriage? When everything seems to be falling apart, and we are certain we have let God down, grace intervenes and reminds us the story isn’t over yet. It’s only an intermission. Paul’s life was certainly not going the way he had planned when he found himself alone in a prison cell. Yet, in Philippians 1:4-6 he wrote, “I always pray with joy… being confiden...
Episode 39: 1 John 5
October 24, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 5.22 MBOur world has perfected the art of performance-based love. It is exhausting to feel like you’re only as valuable as you are expendable. The good news is that our performance does not determine Jesus’ love for us. It can be difficult to wrap our minds around how Jesus loves. We easily fall into the habit of performance, viewing Jesus’ commands as rules to follow instead of a means to intimacy with Him. But 1 John 5:3 says it is out of love for Jesus that we obey His rules — not the other wa...
Episode 38: 1 John 4
October 23, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 4.99 MBWhat if God was not love? What if He existed as all-powerful and all-knowing but lacked the attribute of love? Love sets our God apart from the gods of every other religion. Other religions say strive, our God says, “Love.” Everything He made and everything He’s done was an act of love for us. When we see love in the world, it’s a reminder that we were made in His image. Love exists among us because it’s part of God’s character. God is often described as our Heavenly Father. For those of u...
Episode 37: 1 John 3:11-24
October 22, 2019 07:00 - 5 minutes - 4.37 MBIt's easy to love people who love you back. But then there are times when it's not so easy to love. The times you have been hurt and wronged. Are you still supposed to love someone who hurts you? And, if so, how? In 1 John 3:14-15, John, one of Jesus’ closest friends, warns us that hating someone makes us murderers in our hearts. God wants us to love even those who are hard to love. Our ability to love others on our own is pretty limited. It's circumstantial, based on how we feel about the...
Episode 36: 1 John 3:1-10
October 21, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 4.78 MBAlready this week, most of us have probably lost our temper with our kids, ignored an opportunity to be generous, or let the urge to have one more get the better of us. We're not yet who we want to be, but we're not who we used to be either. Before meeting Jesus, we were oblivious to our sinfulness. After meeting Jesus, the Holy Spirit inside of us makes us aware of our sinfulness — not out of condemnation, but out of a desire to help us change. We cannot meet Jesus and stay the same. John...
Episode 35: 1 John 2:18-29
October 20, 2019 07:00 - 5 minutes - 4.61 MBHave you ever been through a season where you felt like you weren’t hearing from God or seeing Him work in your life? You prayed, you studied the Bible, but inside you wondered if He even hears you. After a while, it’s easy to think, "Maybe I’m not even really saved." In 1 John 2:18-29, one of Jesus’ closest friends reminds us that we are children of God. No matter what we feel on any given day, if we know the Father, and we declare that Jesus is Lord, we are His and we are promised etern...
Episode 34: 1 John 2:1-17
October 19, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 5.31 MBEvery Christian wants to know the secret to avoiding sin. When Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, “Sin no more,” we wonder, “How?” When He tells His disciples, “If you love me, keep my commands,” we ask, “Is that possible?” John, one of Jesus’ closest followers, says it is. In 1 John 2, John gives us three ways to prevent sin and show Jesus we love Him. 1. Keep His commands. In 1 John 2:3, John says, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.” Sin is a way of sa...
Episode 33: 1 John 1
October 18, 2019 07:00 - 5 minutes - 4.33 MBWhen was the last time you sat back, looked around, and realized you were grateful for your life? Joy is what we experience in moments like that. We’re connected to something deeper than surface-level emotions and the positive or negative events in our lives. Joy is an internal contentment regardless of external circumstances. We lose out on joy when we’re separated from God and separated from others. That separation is called sin. Our relationships are restored when we don’t hide our si...
Episode 32: Galatians 6
October 17, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 5.03 MBWhen we make the decision to follow Jesus, we start a lifelong journey. But this is not a trip we make on our own. When we ask Jesus into our lives, we join a family of other Christians all around the world who are doing their best to follow Jesus step by step. God is Relational all the way to His core, and he yearns to have a relationship with each of us, and He wants us to grow in our relationships with one another. Jesus demonstrated this for us in His relationships with the 12 disciples...
Episode 31: Galatians 5:16-26
October 16, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 5.09 MBWe all know that feeling of walking into a gym for the first time. You want to get in shape, and today is the day you’re going to start! There is one problem: You have no idea what to do. You don’t know anything about fitness or how to use the equipment. You need guidance. There are times in all of our lives where we need counseling to know what to do. At a gym, guidance comes in the form of a personal trainer. In our spiritual lives, our guide is called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit i...
Episode 30: Galatians 5:1-12
October 15, 2019 19:00 - 5 minutes - 4.28 MBHave you ever been in a relationship where nothing you did was ever good enough? If you have, you know it’s frustrating, exhausting, and often heartbreaking. The eventual outcome is that we stop trying, or worse, become bitter toward others and doubtful of our own self-worth. If you’re experiencing the pain of a no-win relationship, here’s some good news: You never have to work to earn God’s acceptance. In fact, it’s impossible to earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9). Human nature leads us to think we...
Episode 29: Galatians 4:8-20
October 14, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 4.94 MB“Don’t drink, smoke, chew or go with girls that do…” For many this is familiar advice. The point is simple: Stay away from bad influences. Date those who follow the rules. It’s well-intentioned advice that misses the point. Instead of focusing on Who people follow, we focus on the rules they follow. This is not a new problem in the church. From the beginning, people have struggled to understand the relationship between freedom in Christ and the call to live holy lives. Often, to solve this...
Episode 28: Galatians 4:1-7
October 13, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.53 MBThe apostle Paul wrote emphatically that Christians are sons and daughters of God, and therefore, Jesus is the Christian’s brother. Did you hear that? It’s truly remarkable! And this position of son and daughter is not just on paper; you enjoy this position experientially. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, something supernatural occurred. At the moment of your salvation, the Lord Jesus released His Holy Spirit into your heart, and your spirit came alive. You were born again...
Episode 27: Galatians 3:15-29
October 12, 2019 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.71 MBGalatians 3:15-29 (ICB) 15 Brothers, let me give you an example: Think about an agreement that a person makes with another person. After that agreement is accepted by both people, no one can stop that agreement or add anything to it. 16 God made promises to Abraham and his descendant. God did not say, “and to your descendants.” That would mean many people. But God said, “and to your descendant.” That means only one person; that person is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: God had an agreement ...
Episode 27: Galatians 3:15-29
October 12, 2019 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.71 MBGalatians 3:15-29 (ICB) 15 Brothers, let me give you an example: Think about an agreement that a person makes with another person. After that agreement is accepted by both people, no one can stop that agreement or add anything to it. 16 God made promises to Abraham and his descendant. God did not say, “and to your descendants.” That would mean many people. But God said, “and to your descendant.” That means only one person; that person is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: God had an agreement ...
Episode 26: Galatians 3:1-14
October 11, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.59 MBLife as a Christian can seem difficult if not impossible. How easy is it — really — to love our neighbors, to honor our parents, or to forgive someone who has hurt, betrayed or left us? How easy is it to share the Gospel with someone who you work with or sit next to in class? It is impossible to follow Jesus on our own. The good news is Jesus gives us His power, so we’re never alone. In Galatians 3, Paul calls the people “foolish” and “bewitched” for trying to earn their salvation. He remi...
Episode 26: Galatians 3:1-14
October 11, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.59 MBLife as a Christian can seem difficult if not impossible. How easy is it — really — to love our neighbors, to honor our parents, or to forgive someone who has hurt, betrayed or left us? How easy is it to share the Gospel with someone who you work with or sit next to in class? It is impossible to follow Jesus on our own. The good news is Jesus gives us His power, so we’re never alone. In Galatians 3, Paul calls the people “foolish” and “bewitched” for trying to earn their salvation. He remi...
Episode 25: Galatians 2:11-21
October 10, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 4.68 MBFrom the time we are babies, we are rewarded for hard work. We are promised a toy if we don’t scream during the shopping trip. When we are brave at the doctor’s office, we get a sucker. Teachers reward good behavior with stickers. As we get older, we work hard for good grades to get into a great college. We bust it at work to earn the promotion. Our whole lives teach us that success is the result of following the rules and putting forth the effort. Maybe that’s why grace is a hard concept t...
Episode 24: Galatians 2:1-10
October 09, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.33 MBEveryone knows “that” crowd in high school, the one we let intimidate us by their status or influence. They were cooler, more popular, had the best of everything. But no matter how far removed the in crowd seemed, they are people just like the rest of us. They face the same struggles, hopes and fears. And while we might be intimidated, God sees us all the same. He does not show favoritism. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. In Galatians 2:6, Paul writes, “Those men who seemed to be im...
Episode 23: Galatians Chapter 1
October 08, 2019 08:00 - 6 minutes - 5.06 MBPleasing dad is something most of us strive for throughout our lives. No matter how complicated our relationship with our parents might be, something in us desires to please our father. But in Galatians 1, Paul, a leader in the church, addresses this need to win our earthly fathers’ approval over our heavenly Father’s approval. Paul was zealous for the religious traditions of his family. But after an encounter with Jesus, Paul realized there was much more to his faith than what his family p...
Episode 22: Paul's Prayer Ephesians 3:14-21
October 07, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.6 MBHow’s your morning been? Your week? Your month? We live in a world of crazy deadlines, commitments, and opinions. Sometimes it feels like we’re barely keeping our heads above water. Pause, take a breath, and soak in Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul’s prayer for the church of Ephesus is a wonderful reminder of how much more God wants for our lives than our short-sighted vision shows us. This beautiful prayer depicts the wonderful relationship Jesus invites us to. The only way to experience the fullne...
Episode 21: The armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-20
October 06, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.21 MBIn the movie "Gladiator," Maximus Decimus Meridius goes from being a general in the Roman army to being a slave and gladiator. Maximus is incredibly skilled in combat, but no matter his arena, he never goes out to fight without his body armor, shield and sword. The Greek word for “whole armor” in Ephesians 6 is “panoplia,” which refers to the shield and weapons of a fully armed soldier. Knowing our lives will be faced with trouble, and that Satan’s mission is to steal, kill, and destroy, Pa...
Episode 20: Thanksgiving is not a day; it’s a lifestyle! Ephesians 5:1-20
October 05, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.4 MB“Thanksgiving is not a day; it’s a lifestyle.” Maybe you’ve heard that phrase or seen it on a church billboard. Learning to be thankful every day is not a new concept. It’s an idea Jesus taught and a principle that Paul, the writer of Ephesians, tried to teach Christians in Ephesus almost 2,000 years ago. Paul was a Christian missionary who was imprisoned for his faith. Yet in Ephesians 5:20, Paul encouraged the church to give thanks to God for all things. How could Paul, of all people, be...
Episode 19: Following Jesus happens one decision at a time, day in and day out. Ephesians 4:17-32
October 04, 2019 07:00 - 6 minutes - 4.79 MBWhen family and friends get together, sharing food seems to be a required part of the process. Holiday celebrations wouldn’t be the same without everybody’s favorite dish or two. But, we can’t eat every day like it is Thanksgiving. If we do, the impact becomes obvious quickly. Bulges show where we don’t want them. Comfortable clothes aren’t comfortable anymore. Just like with any behavior that is excessive, there are consequences. To reverse undesirable results, we have to discipline ours...
Episode 18:Our actions give others an impression of our God. Ephesians 4:1-16
October 03, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.14 MBEver noticed how one customer service experience can make or break a business’s reputation? Stories about a bloody Band-Aid can make you avoid chili for the rest of your life, while good reviews on Yelp can be the deciding factor in where you go for dinner. One person’s experience can affect the perception of an entire group. The same can be said for Christians. Often, the people around us are looking at our actions to see what Christians look like, and you may be the only picture they see....
Episode 17: Less than the least of all God's people. Ephesians 3:1-13
October 02, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.41 MBHave you ever felt ill-equipped to do something you wanted to do or knew you should do? We all feel that way at times. Sometimes we feel that way as we walk with Jesus. We know we should read our Bibles, but it’s difficult to sit down and focus on God’s Word. We want to serve others, but it’s hard to find the time when so many responsibilities demand our attention. We know we should share our faith with a co-worker, but we can’t seem to work up the courage. We all face situations in which w...
Episode 16: We are on the same team! Ephesians 2:11-22
October 01, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.63 MBI am a college football fanatic! There is no sporting atmosphere that rivals a good college football tailgate. Thousands of people drive for hours to hang out in a parking lot together. Even if people can’t make it to the stadium, nothing seems to bring people together like football. Fans meet in houses and sports bars just to be around other people who root for the same team. The same way that football unites people of all backgrounds and walks of life around a common love, our love for Je...
Episode 15: Moving from a consumer to a server. Ephesians 2:1-10
September 30, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.13 MBImagine yourself walking into your favorite coffee shop. The barista greets you by name and starts making your drink before you even order. That feeling of being known, of being cared for personally, that’ll change the way you approach your day. In Ephesians 2:10, the apostle Paul writes that God created each of us to fulfill a plan and purpose. The same way the barista was ready and waiting for you to step into the coffee shop, God is prepped and ready for us to step into the “good works h...
Episode 14: Knowing God better Ephesians 1:15-23
September 29, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.65 MBEphesians 1:17 "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. " Now, that is really the major objective of a Christian life -- to know God better. We need to ask ourselves, "Is this happening with us? Are we really getting to know God better?" There is a principle in the Scripture that is very important for us to understand. We are all familiar with the phrase that says we are ma...
Episode 13: You have been chosen by God! Ephesians 1:1-14
September 28, 2019 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.83 MBPerhaps it was an athletic team, a special project at work, or the popular crowd at school — we’ve all experienced the feeling of wanting to belong. There is a special feeling that comes from being chosen on purpose. In Ephesians 1:4-5, Paul explains that God chose us before the creation of the world, and in love, He adopted us as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. He did all this not because we were good, but because He is good. Support the show
Episode 12: What is the secret to rejoicing in suffering? Romans 5:1-5
September 27, 2019 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.7 MBRomans 5:5 "And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love in our hearts by the Holy spirit whom He has given us." There are two responses we often take to suffering: "Why?" or "Help!" Why is it that we get mad at the one who can help us the most? Even in your suffering God loves you and has your best interest at heart. We can run to Jesus in our times of suffering, He understands! He is our perfect leader! And our perfect example. Support the show
Episode 11: Suffering produces hope.
September 26, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.39 MBRomans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. Trials, rather than destroying our hope, are meant to increase our hope. What is hope? In the New Testament, hope does not mean wishful thinking. It means confidence. In this development period of your life, God says I'm going to use the problems in your life to give you the ability to handle pressure and that will make yo...
Episode 10: Suffering produces character. Romans 5:3-4
September 25, 2019 08:00 - 6 minutes - 5.25 MBRomans 5:1-5(NLT) Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and ch...
Episode 9: Suffering produces perseverance. Romans 5:3-4
September 24, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.58 MBRomans 5:1-5(NLT) Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and ch...
Episode 8: God cares about your suffering. Romans 5:3-4
September 23, 2019 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.96 MBRomans 5:3-4 "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope." Paul says we are to rejoice in our suffering. He doesn't mean faking it. He's not talking about putting on a plastic smile and pretending everything's OK. He's not saying be a Pollyanna and deny reality. He's not talking about an artificial happiness. Many people take these verses and think that as a Christian you have ...
Episode 7: Standing firm in the presence of God Romans 5:1-5
September 22, 2019 14:00 - 4 minutes - 3.46 MBRomans 5:2 "Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege (grace) where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory." We not only have peace with God, but access to God. Notice the word STAND, Paul didn’t say we have access by faith into his grace where we now sneak in, or quickly race through before we get zapped. No he said we can stand, we can plant ourselves in the presence of God and enjoy him as much, as long,...
Episode 6: The War is Over! Romans 5:1-5
September 19, 2019 20:00 - 4 minutes - 3.71 MBThose of us who are in Christ have PEACE WITH GOD! The War is over! Hostility has ended! The War with God is over, and this is an important fact for us to know! Japan surrendered to the United States on August 15th 1945 bringing WW2 officially to an end but the last Japanese soldier did not surrender his post until 1972! Almost 30 years after the fighting had stopped! He was on a remote island in the South Sea and just prior to Japan's surrender he had received orders to disrupt trade and sh...
Episode 5: God is with us! Isaiah 43:1-3 and Ephesians 3:14-16
September 19, 2019 18:00 - 4 minutes - 3.3 MBGod is with us, leading us, guiding us, loving us, providing for us -- all with His unlimited resources. What do we need? Do we need strength, peace, love, joy, or hope? He has it all. He is longing to pour out His favor and blessing upon us. We need to be open to Him and to trust Him. We need, by faith, to receive what He has for us. It is essential we realize how much He loves us and that He has a good purpose and plan for us.
Episode 4: God is with us! John 14:15-20, 16:5
September 19, 2019 17:00 - 4 minutes - 3.51 MBMaybe today you are feeling alone, wishing that Jesus was physically present with you today like he was with his disciples in that boat. Jesus addressed that fear with his disciples before leaving earth and re-assured us that he would never leave us alone.
Episode 3: God is with us! Psalm 46 and Exodus 14:13-14
September 19, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes - 3.08 MBJesus said to the storm PEACE BE STILL! I know it goes against everything that is inside of us, when we are in crisis when things are not going right we like Peter want to solve it or fix it ourselves we have a very high value in this country and greatly celebrate our independence, but independence is not what makes you strong or great, it’s dependence on God that shows true wisdom and strength. Literally translated this phrase be still means “take your hands off and relax” We like to be ha...
Episode 2: God is with us! Mark 4:35-41
September 19, 2019 16:00 - 5 minutes - 4.24 MBWhy were the disciples afraid? Who was in the boat? Who was present with them? Think about it! The Author Of Creation, The First Born, The Alpha and Omega…JESUS was in the boat! Were they ever on that day despite what it appeared as in any real danger? The disciples still did not know who was in the boat with them!
Episode 1: God is with us! Psalm 46
September 19, 2019 16:00 - 4 minutes - 3.81 MBMy desire for you is that you would taste and see that no matter what you and I are facing, no matter what we are experiencing in our lives, there is a real and tangible hope available for you. There is help available. Today let's look together at Psalm 46. This is one of my all time favorite Bible passages. I have looked back over it countless times because it's loaded with invaluable truths that I need to be reminded of regularly.