How to Study the Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

Jesus is always using stories to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. He uses imagery to help us humans - who are not yet in heaven – understand a little bit of what heaven is like.Week 3 Scripture: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6:10This week, we’re looking at three specific things in this verse – “your/thy,” “kingdom,” and “will.” Reflection Questions:1. What does the Bible say about the kingdom of God?2. What does the Bible say about His will?***Want to go deeper than the podcast? This series includes access to a private Facebook group: you can join here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodwithnicoleuniceIf you want access to exclusive content (interviews, bonus teaching and a 28-day prayer plan), you can pay for premium here: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/Subscribe to Nicole’s mailing list and get a weekly companion guide for each episode, with journal prompts and reflection questions: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/***Follow Nicole:Website: https://nicoleunice.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleuniceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We have a Father in Heaven and are invited into a relationship and purpose with him! Today we are diving into the first verse in the Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:9. Listen to Week 1 of the How to Pray Series: https://apple.co/46R7bkO / https://sptfy.com/Opwv   What does Matthew 6:9 say?1. “our” father – we are immediately placed in community. This is not an individual prayer.2. “father” – we all have emotional underpinning to this word. If I say the word father, what is the first word that comes to your mind? Check out Romans 8:15 and think about what it means that God is your Abba Father. We have a framework here for how we can approach our Father in Heaven – with freedom and confidence.3. “hallowed be your name” – God is not only our intimate father, but also to be revered as set apart and holy. God wants to be intimately a part of your life, but not as a genie, but as God of all creation. Lord -help us to know you and set you apart the way you are meant to be known and set apart***Reflect:1. Do we need to ask our Father in Heaven – “Lord, what does it mean that you are my Father?”2. We have a shared Father in heaven, we want to know him and for him to be known as holy. “God the Father is ours, and we are his.” - Dale Bruner***Want to go deeper than the podcast? This series includes access to a private Facebook group: you can join here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodwithnicoleuniceIf you want access to exclusive content (interviews, bonus teaching and a 28-day prayer plan), you can pay for premium here: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/Subscribe to Nicole’s mailing list and get a weekly companion guide for each episode, with journal prompts and reflection questions: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/***Follow Nicole:Website: https://nicoleunice.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleuniceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Want to go deeper than the podcast? This series includes access to a private Facebook group: you can join here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodwithnicoleuniceIf you want access to exclusive content (interviews, bonus teaching and a 28-day prayer plan), you can pay for premium here: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/Subscribe to Nicole’s mailing list and get a weekly companion guide for each episode, with journal prompts and reflection questions: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/In this first episode, we’re going to talk about the little passage that leads into The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:5-9. A. What does it say?3 Praying People in These Verses:1. The hypocrites – what do they do? They love to be seen in prayer, and they already have their reward.2. The righteous – they pray private prayers (at least in this context), and God rewards them later on.3. The pagans – they babble on with many words, thinking they will be heard – do not be like them. This passage is not a formula for prayer. If we take this too literally, we will miss the principles, the general framework, that we can grab from this passage.B. What is the backstory?Hypocrites were known to pray as performance, and Jesus was addressing that during the Sermon on the Mount – his sermon introducing his upside-down kingdom and what is required of those who choose to follow him.C. What Does it Mean?Prayer should not be performance, but personal. Jesus is setting up a framework that says, there is a way you can pray that helps you connect to a Father who knows you and loves you. Notice: Jesus does not say “here is ‘what’ to pray.” But rather, “here is ‘how’ to pray.” D. What Does it Mean for Me?Am I making space for private, personal prayer? Or am I praying to be seen? Don’t pray for others’ affirmation. These next few weeks is an invitation to create a place of intimacy and connection with your heavenly father. If you have felt like you are missing something because prayer does not feel like what you think it should – if you have those questions, you are in the right place. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When there is more love, there will inevitably be less fear. The more we believe and accept God’s love for us, the more we trust him. And the more we trust him, the less we will fear, even when life is not going the way that we want.1. Context and backstory: Division within the church, with people in the church teaching something other than the gospel. John returns again and again to the fruit of people’s actions, specifically how we love our Christian brothers and sisters.2. What do these verses say:More love = less fear. Fierce love requires an ongoing acknowledgment and release of fear.3. What does it mean for me?A. God calls us to fellowship locally with believers. Are you in fellowship with believers in a face-to-face way?B. When you are in a pattern of fear, name the things that only God can handle in your life. For example: your identity can only be entrusted to God. Also: your soul, your calling, your future.C. If our identity and calling are secure in the Lord, we can begin to love others with God’s love as the source. We don’t want to give love in order to get love.D. “Keep yourselves from idols” What does John mean by that? We must keep our spiritual house in order. Anything that takes top priority in our hearts, when we begin to link our identity and the way that we decide if life is worth living to those things, our spiritual house is chaotic and messy.Isaiah 42:8 says it this way: “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” God is very inclusive in his invitation to find life in him, BUT he is very exclusive about his positioning in our hearts. He demands priority in our hearts, not for his good, but for our good.Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodromans/**Don’t Miss Our How to Pray Series!** Starting in March, we will be walking through Lent with a special series: How to Pray. We will be looking closely at the Lord’s Prayer together. Find out more at: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/Follow Nicole:Website: https://nicoleunice.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleuniceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you made space (silence) in your life to hear from the Holy Spirit? This week, Nicole helps us understand the connection between making space in our lives for the Spirit and the spiritual freedom we want but don’t know how to get.A. Principle in this Passage:1. God loves us as his children (1 John 3:1). Can you take a moment today and imagine God’s love for you. Imagine the most loving parent you have ever known. God loves you even more perfectly and completely than that. Allow his love to meet you today.2. If you can’t believe the feeling of God’s love, believe the fact of his love: Jesus Christ laid down his life for you. (1 John 3:16)B. What Is The Backstory?John was correcting divisions in the church. The way they could know who was living in the love of Christ: how they loved others.C. What This Means for Me:Obedience in Action (v. 18) – If you experience this love of God, out of that overflow of love there will be an immediate and recognizable change in how you treat believers. Confidence in Discernment (v. 20-21) – God hears everything and hears your prayers. If you’re feeling less than or have regret, confess to God and he is faithful to forgive – have confidence before God. If your heart feels clear, good! You’ll want to do what pleases him. Know God Lives in You by the Way You Are Led by the Spirit (v. 24) – make space in your life this week. 5 or 10 minutes to start. Be quiet. Say, “search me or know me. Engage with me, help me know how to engage in this world.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodromans/**Don’t Miss Our How to Pray Series!** Starting in March, we will be walking through Lent with a special series: How to Pray. We will be looking closely at the Lord’s Prayer together. Find out more at: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/Follow Nicole:Website: https://nicoleunice.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleuniceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this passage, John gives us a series of tests for our faith – not tests like the kind we take in school that you can pass or fail, but tests that reveal to us the genuineness of our faith – so that we can have full assurance of our salvation and so that we can recognize true believers.Test 1: Obedience Out of LoveTest 2: Live as Jesus LivedTest 3: Having Love for Brothers and SistersPrinciple in this Passage:1. I know him2. I love him3. I love others because I love himWhat does it mean for me?1. Apply: What is the motivation of my obedience?2. Apply: What does increasing love look like for my brothers and sisters in faith?Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodromans/**Don’t Miss Our Lent Series!** Starting in March, we will be walking through Lent with a special series: How to Pray. We will be looking closely at the Lord’s Prayer together. Find out more at: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/Follow Nicole:Website: https://nicoleunice.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleuniceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This short letter is rich, deep, and will challenge how we have looked at Bible study so far. This pastoral letter, written by an older Christian, encourages us toward assurance and confidence in our faith.As we begin to open this letter, remember that this letter has a tone of fellowship, joy, and blessing. Big Overview of the Letter: Circular themes of true doctrine, obedient living, fervent devotionWalking through 1 John 1 with the Alive Method:1. What does it say?Themes of light/darkness, cleansing, sin2. What’s the back story?
Connection back to the gospel of John
Circular themes--keep a list of questions
3. What does it mean?
There is a process to forgiveness
There is a path to our righteousness
4. What does it mean for me?
The practice of confession
Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/walkingwithgodromans/**Don’t Miss Our Lent Series!** Starting in March, we will be walking through Lent with a special series: How to Pray. We will be looking closely at the Lord’s Prayer together. Find out more at: https://nicoleunice.com/howtopray/Follow Nicole:Website: https://nicoleunice.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleuniceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Nicole will be back next week! Until then, we are re-airing her first episodes on the basics of Bible study. If you didn't catch these episodes when they first aired, be sure to listen. These episodes lay the foundation for Nicole's simple but powerful approach to Bible study.****Let’s review the first three questions you ask of Scripture:1. What does it say? Can I restate what the passage says?2. What’s the backstory? What’s our context and history in the time it was written?3. What does it mean? What is the principle at play, what is it teaching me about God and our interaction with him?Today, we’ll unpack question four – What does this mean for me? All of our work in studying and understanding the Bible is all meant to move us to this place: where our lives are transformed by who and what we know.What can Scripture give us?1. Encouragement and priorities for the hard or mundane seasons of life.2. Conviction leading to repentance when we sin (2 Corinthians 7:8-13).3. Worship as a response to what we now know about who God is and what he has done! For more, check out:Take the 30-Day 'Help, My Bible Is Alive' Challenge: https://nicoleunice.com/help-my-bible-is-alive/You can find more from Nicole at https://nicoleunice.com/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

While Nicole is taking a much-needed break, we are re-airing her first episodes on the basics of Bible study. If you didn't catch these episodes when they first aired, be sure to listen. These episodes lay the foundation for Nicole's simple but powerful approach to Bible study.****In this episode, we’ll look at the three most common issues that can derail our Bible study and how we can overcome them: Problem 1 - These passages contradict! How can I possibly find the meaning?Questions to ask yourself: What else happens in Scripture related to this topic, beyond this verse? Is it bound in a cultural time or is it a timeless principle?Problem 2 - It seems like the God of the Old Testament and the New Testament disagree. Questions to ask yourself: What if I’m wrong? Have I read both the Old and New Testament in their entirety? Have I explored the backstory? Problem 3 – The Old Testament doesn't seem relevant in my life. Questions to ask yourself: Have you read large passages (several chapters or even an entire book) of the Old Testament at once? Can you read it for the larger story and not only read at the verse level? Resources Mentioned:The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight: http://urlme.cc/Ll8qFor more, check out:Take the 30-Day 'Help, My Bible Is Alive' Challenge: http://urlme.cc/vzQp You can find more from Nicole at https://nicoleunice.com/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

While Nicole is taking a much-needed break, we are re-airing her first episodes on the basics of Bible study. If you didn't catch these episodes when they first aired, be sure to listen. These episodes lay the foundation for Nicole's simple but powerful approach to Bible study.****“The minute you have asked ‘why?’ – you have become a theologian.” – Carolyn Custis JamesFirst, the bad news: you might be a little uncomfortable with this part, at least a first. But the good news (and it really is good news!) is that as you know more, it more it becomes easier to pull the principle out of Scripture. In this episode, Nicole talks about the five filters we use to understand what a passage is teaching us about God, ourselves, and the world we live in:1. Is the principle or theory reflected in the passage?2. Is the principle timeless?3. Does the principle transcend culture, gender, age, status, etc.?4. Is the principle harmonious with the rest of Scripture?5. Is this principle relevant then and relevant now?For more, check out:Take the 30-Day 'Help, My Bible Is Alive' Challenge: https://nicoleunice.com/help-my-bible-is-alive/ Grasping God’s Word by Duvall and Hays: https://amzn.to/3rn2gE9You can find more from Nicole at https://nicoleunice.com/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.