Latest Blog Posts from Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know.
Have you ever wrestled with whether to speak a hard truth to someone you care about? In 2 Corinthians 7:2–16, Paul reflects on the pain and power of writing a sorrowful letter to the Corinthian church, noting how godly grief leads to genuine repentance.
Narratives are true stories. Over 40% of the Old Testament Scriptures are narratives. Generally, the purpose of a biblical narrative is to show the Lord at work in His creation. Every genre found in the Bible presents unique challenges for understanding. Narratives are no exception. With narratives we think in scenes, plot and character, rather than paragraphs and outlines.
“Do not be unequally yoked” is not a blanket ban on contact with unbelievers; it is a warning about binding yourself in partnerships that tug your heart away from Christ or deceiving nonbelievers.
Every genre found in the Bible presents unique challenges for understanding. Here are guidelines for studying epistles.
Paul urges the Corinthians not to receive God’s grace in vain, exposing the gap between outward claims and reconciliation.
Headed to college? Wondering how to survive the experience? Here is advice from an expert: Professor Ken Elzinga.
Paul explains why outward appearance doesn’t define true ministry, what it means to be a new creation, an ambassador for Christ, and part of God’s ministry of reconciliation.
Church women’s retreats offer one of the best opportunities of the church for women to step away from their daily responsibilities, rest and connect with other women in the church and spend some concentrated time learning more about the Lord. While retreats require a lot of planning, they are worth it in the long run.
Happy Labor Day! The podcast will be back next week.
Exciting news! My first book, Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity, is releasing in January, 2026. I’d love your help getting it into the hands of the people who need it most.
My first book, Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity, is releasing in January, 2026. I’d love your help getting it into the hands of the people who need it most.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1–11, Paul continues his defense of his ministry by explaining how his confidence in the resurrection shapes his message, motivates his courage, and defines his integrity.
Registration is a chance to collect valuable information about your participants that can help you build small groups, evaluate the success of your program and plan for the future. Here are some questions you might want to include on your registration forms.
2 Corinthians explained: Why Paul doesn’t lose heart in ministry, how weakness reveals God’s power and the gospel brings eternal hope.
The first day of Bible study typically requires a lot of teamwork and cooperation. You probably need leaders to sign up for both refreshments and tasks. Here’s two example sign up forms.
Explore why Paul’s ministry is more glorious than Moses’. Learn how the Spirit transforms hearts and unveils the glory of the gospel.
Here are a few of my favorite ideas, tips, tricks and books from 20 years as a Director of Women’s Ministry.
What’s new about the New Covenant? The new covenant doesn’t just offer help. It creates new people. 2 Corinthians 3:1–6 explained.
Wondering how to put all the tools and pieces of Bible study together so that you can tackle a specific passage of Scripture? Here’s the overall procedure.
Why didn’t Paul visit Corinth? Find out in season 26 of the Wednesday in the Word podcast. Plus news and free guides.
Explore why Paul refused to change either himself or the gospel to win more converts and what that means for us today.
How do you know if you’ve successfully understood a passage of Scripture? Start by understanding and embracing these basic interpretative convictions.
When Paul didn’t return to Corinth as expected, some accused him of being unreliable. His response shows us how faith navigates conflict, disappointment, and the hard work of loving others well.
After you’ve done your observation, word studies, outlining and answered the questions you generated, it’s time to start putting it all together. In this step, you want to collect, refine and organize all those details you observed into a coherent meaning.
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for glory, doxa, G1391
Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 offer deep insight into suffering, encouragement, and prayer. Learn what his experience teaches us about gospel ministry and why it still matters today.
The first step in Bible study is observation. The goal is to slow down your reading and generate a list of questions that must be answered to understand the passage. I tend to break observation into the following 4 steps which generally correspond to my first few readings through the passage.
Curious about our Bible studies but don’t listen to podcasts? There are several ways to engage without ever hitting play.
Corinth was a city of wealth, power, and moral decay—an unlikely place for a thriving church. In this episode, we explore how Paul planted the church in Corinth during his second missionary journey and why he stayed longer than expected. You’ll learn about his partnership with Priscilla and Aquila, the cultural challenges he faced, and the strategic vision behind his ministry.
You may have heard the “rule” in Bible Study that a text always means what the author intended it to mean. But how do you evaluate whether a particular interpretation hits the mark of authorial intent? You can test any interpretation with the five C’s.
Happy 4th of July! The podcast will be back soon!
July is the time to start preparing for your fall Bible study. Are you overwhelmed by the details or don’t know where to start? Assuming your study starts in September, here’s my summer ministry preparation checklist.
Wednesday in the Word Season 26 kicks off July 9 with a series on 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts.
When learning how to study the Bible, you’ve probably heard the expression “context is king”, meaning context is the arbitrator that rules a particular interpretation valid or not. But how do you use context to decide between possible interpretations?
A 17-week Bible study podcast on 2nd Corinthians from Wednesday in the Word
We use figurative language all the time: “I’ll have to face the music.” “I’m bored to tears.” “She has a green thumb.” “Don’t let the cat out of the bag.” “He died of embarrassment.” Biblical writers also used figurative language and vivid imagery. How are we to understand it?