Bible Basics

We reset the pace and rebuild our foundation for reading Scripture with clarity and confidence. We explain why the Bible matters, what it is, how it was written, and how its many books tell one unified story.

• reasons Christians read the Bible as God’s word
• the Bible as a library of sixty-six books
• authors, time span, and original languages
• inspiration as God-breathed through human voices
• the grand...

We explore why much of the New Testament feels like reading someone else’s mail and show how that lens unlocks clarity, context, and comfort. Real letters from pastors and apostles become living guidance for modern believers when we read them as whole conversations.

• definition of an epistle as a letter
• why letters change how we read the New Testament
• who wrote the letters and who received them
• overview ...

We trace Acts 13–28 from Antioch to Rome, watching the Spirit send ordinary people into extraordinary moments as the gospel crosses cultures, faces resistance, and still advances. Paul’s journeys, the Jerusalem Council, and the clashes in cities like Ephesus show how grace shapes a global church.

• Acts’ structure and the pivot from Peter to Paul 
• Antioch as a sending center shaped by prayer 
• First journey patt...

In this episode of the Bible Basics Podcast, host Jacqueline Adewole delves into the early chapters of the Book of Acts, exploring the challenges faced by the early church as they spread the message of Jesus amidst increasing pressure and opposition. She reflects on a conversation about the struggles of faith, emphasizing that true growth often occurs in discomfort. The discussion highlights key events, such as Peter healing a...

• This episode begins a three-part series on the book of Acts, the story of how the early church began.
• We explore how the story of Jesus continues after the Gospels, not ending with His resurrection or ascension.
• Learn why Acts is often called the bridge between the life of Jesus and the growth of the early church.
• Discover what Jesus meant when He told His followers they would be His witnesses.
• Walk through Acts 1 and see why Jesus...

We trade guilt for grace and show a simple way to build a Bible-in-a-year rhythm that fits real life. Fifteen minutes, a right-fit plan, and a friend for accountability turn a fragile intention into a steady habit rooted in purpose.

• New year expectations versus real-life rhythms
• Why plans fail and how to rethink success
• Find a clear personal why that endures
• Build a 15-minute daily framework that sticks...

We trace John’s purpose for writing and follow the arc from signs to the cross and the empty tomb, showing how belief shifts from ideas to personal trust. Stories of Nicodemus, the healed, and Thomas show how curiosity grows into a living faith that begins now.

• why John wrote his gospel and what belief means
• Nicodemus and the new birth by the Spirit
• seven signs pointing to Jesus’ identity and mission
• Ca...

We explore thankfulness as a God-centered posture, not a reaction to circumstances, and share habits that help gratitude endure through changing seasons. Ola joins to reflect on faith, marriage, and three practical nuggets for practicing thanksgiving today.

• faith as the anchor for gratitude
• give thanks in all circumstances explained
• why things and feelings cannot hold joy
• simple habits to notice daily m...

We explore the seven “I Am” statements in John to show how Jesus reveals his identity and meets our deepest needs with clarity, care, and power. From hunger to hope, darkness to direction, despair to resurrection, each image invites a personal response.

• the divine echo of “I Am” from Exodus
• bread of life and the end of restless hunger
• light of the world and guidance through confusion
• the gate as safety ...

We walk the big picture of John’s Gospel, from the cosmic prologue to breakfast by the sea, to show how Jesus reveals God’s heart up close. Signs, I Am statements, the cross, the Spirit, and restoration form one story that invites belief and brings life.

• how John differs from the Synoptics 
• who wrote John and why that matters 
• the prologue’s claims about the Word 
• seven signs that reveal identity and co...

We explore Luke’s Gospel as a careful, compassionate portrait of Jesus—fully God, fully human—who brings salvation “today” and welcomes outsiders to the table. From certainty and song to meals, prayer, and the Spirit’s power, we trace why Luke still speaks to weary hearts.

• Luke’s purpose of clarity and certainty
• Salvation as forgiveness, welcome, and healing now
• The theme of “today” in Luke’s narrative
• ...

The Gospel of Mark offers a breathless, urgent account of Jesus' life that captures his identity as the Son of God and extends his invitation to follow him today.

• Mark is the shortest gospel at 16 chapters—readable in about 90 minutes
• Written around 55-65 AD, likely the earliest written account of Jesus' life
• Tradition says it was written by John Mark, capturing Peter's eyewitness perspective

Matthew's Gospel serves as a bridge connecting Old Testament promises to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, deliberately placed first in the New Testament to show continuity in God's redemptive plan.

• The word "gospel" means "good news" - the four gospels each present Jesus from different perspectives
• Matthew, a former tax collector called by Jesus, wrote primarily for a Jewish audience...

The Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - form the foundation of Christian belief, each offering unique perspectives on Jesus Christ's life and teachings. These four complementary accounts provide a comprehensive portrait of Jesus as King, Servant, Son of Man, and Son of God.

• Matthew, a former tax collector turned disciple, presents Jesus as King and connects His life to Old Testament prophecies
• Mark, comp...

The blank page between Malachi and Matthew represents 400 years of crucial history that set the stage for Jesus' arrival in what the Bible calls "the fullness of time." Reverend Sandra Glenn explains how this period, while called the "silent years" because of no prophetic messages, was actually filled with God's behind-the-scenes work preparing the world for Christ.

• Transition of power from ...

In this tribute episode, we honor Reverend Allison Johnson, a beloved friend and supporter of the podcast who recently passed away, by resharing a powerful interview about developing consistent Bible reading habits.

• Augustine said the Bible is "so shallow a baby can wade in it and so deep an elephant will drown in it"
• The importance of reading Scripture for yourself rather than relying solely on what othe...

Have you ever pondered on the 400-year-long silence between the Old and New Testaments? Where did the Pharisees and Sadducees suddenly spring from? Here's the chance to satiate your curiosity as we embark on a thrilling journey through the sands of time, unearthing the mysteries of the Intertestamental period. Together, we'll traverse through shifting world powers, from Persia to Greece, and subsequently Rome, witnessing ...

Malachi, the final prophet of the Old Testament, delivers a gentle but firm wake-up call to God's people who had fallen into spiritually empty routines. Though the temple was rebuilt and sacrifices resumed after exile, their hearts had drifted from authentic worship without them even realizing it.

• The prophet Malachi speaks to Israelites around 430 BC who had returned from exile
• His message unfolds through six...

Zechariah brings a message of hope and encouragement to God's people who have returned from exile but fallen into discouragement and apathy while rebuilding the temple. Through eight vivid night visions and powerful prophecies about the coming Messiah, Zechariah shows that God remembers His promises and has a future planned that's bigger than they can imagine.

• Setting the historical stage: 520 BC, after the Jew...