How to Study the Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on RomansClick here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook groupQuestions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage? What does Romans 9 say? Paul has great sorrow in his spirit knowing that his own people do not see Jesus as their Messiah and as Christianity begins to blossom, his desire is that they accept Jesus as the chosen one. The Jewish people are stumbling trying to be righteousness by law, but it is the gentiles; the people outside of Judaism, that are choosing righteousness by faith.What’s the backstory?There are a lot of people out there who will debate with you about theology and the verses in Romans 9. Amid the mystery of these verses, remove everything you know about church and look at the story for what it is: a historical man who had a 3-year career, who died, and his followers insisted that he was raised from the dead. It sounds like fooliness. And yet, here we are in 2021 with billons of people believe in this message. This is who Jesus is. What does it mean? When we are trying to understand the mystery of Romans 9, we must interpret it with scripture that we know is clear and forthright. Two verses to help us interpret Romans 9: 1.John 3:16: “For God so loved the world.” 2.2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patience with you not wanting anyone to parish but everyone to come to repentance.” What does it mean for me? Am I willing to be clay in God’s hands? Am I willing to be formed or reformed? Can I hold onto the mystery of what I cannot explain with the certainty of what I can explain? Resources:Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on RomansClick here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook groupQuestions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage? What does it say? There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Outline of Romans 8: Romans 8:1 —The PromiseRomans 8:24 — The How of the PromiseRomans 8:14-15 — The Permeance of the PromiseRomans 8:26-27 — The ConfidenceRomans 8:31-39 — Circling Back on How Awesome The Promises AreWhat’s the backstory?Jesus is the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament system, which means he gets the set the conditions and declare that it is finished. He was the only perfect sacrifice who came as a man and embodied sinlessness.What does it mean? We have permanent adoption as sons and daughters of Christ Jesus. Because of this, holiness will become more evident in you as you see more of your darkness and sin. What does it mean for me? God is actually very involved and interested in being a part of your everyday life and decisions. The Spirit of God is living and has taken up residence in you. Resources:Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on RomansClick here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook groupQuestions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage? What does it say?In Chapter 7, Paul expresses that even though he has been set free from the law that has brought death, he still struggles with sin. What’s the backstory?Paul alludes to a process in which there is a time in our lives that we are innocent of the awareness of sin. However, as we learn about morality and the law that we are supposed to follow, it makes us want to sin. What does it mean? Even though Paul is a “holy guy” the struggle is real for him, and the struggle is real for us too. There is no difference between us. More education, knowledge, or desire for God does not mean that we won’t struggle with sin. What does it mean for me? There is a real war being waged within me as a believer. This law of sin is still at work trying to draw me in, but I have an assurance of salvation and the mercy of God. Every single day his mercy is new. Resources:Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on RomansClick here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook groupQuestions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage? What does it say?It’s okay to be confused or uncomfortable while reading scripture. When reading tends to feel like this, it is important to refer to the study notes. If we are justified, how do we grow into maturity in Christ? We are going to talk about maturity in three parts over the next two or three weeks: 1.Freedom from sin’s tyranny.2.Freedom from condemnation.3.Life in the power of the Spirit.What’s the backstory?In verse 18-19, Paul uses the analogy of slavery, which may be hard to digest in 2021 as we go through this difficult time in our history. In verse 19, Paul also uses the word “offer,” which may be easier to understand in this context. Paul suggests that we offer ourselves as willing servants to the Lord.What does it mean? We are free not from sin itself, but from the enslaving, tyrannical nature of sin. In the power of Christ, we have the ability of Christ to break out of our patterns and give ourselves to a higher power. Sin is deceptive in its charm, but destructive in its nature. What does it mean for me? What does increasing holiness look like in your life? Increasing holiness is a person looks like someone that is full of love, presence, kindness, and in enjoyment of the world. Resources:Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on RomansClick here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook groupQuestions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage? What does it say?There are four phrases we are going to look at to help us understand the passage: Justified by faith: Justification comes through Jesus’ blood. In the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, we can now be in right standing with God. It is the process of reconciliation. Peace with God: Peace with God is not a weather condition; it is like a location. We can have circumstances that make it feel different, but peace is always the same. Access into this grace: We all have access into this grace. Boast in hope: We boast in the hope of the glory of God because of his peace that we have experienced. What’s the backstory?Everything that happened through Adam in the book of Genesis is rectified through Jesus. Just like Adam, we are all sinful from birth. We are all made in the image of God, so we are imprinted with his imagery, but we also bring sin into our life. Adam is the way that sin entered the world, and Jesus is the way we experience the abundance of life. What does it mean? Peace and hope are always ours to have. Always. Through Jesus Christ, in faith, we get to stand in grace.What does it mean for me? Do you practice the peace of God in your life? What would it look like for you to practice the peace of God this week? Romans 5:1-2:Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God.Resources:Help! My Bible Is AliveFOLLOW NICOLE:Website: https://nicoleunice.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice/ Episode Image Credit: Getty Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on RomansClick here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook groupToday is a special day! Today I am joined by my friend Rayshawn Graves as we dig into Romans 4. Rayshawn is a pastor here with me in Richmond, Virginia, and hosts the podcast Ask A Pastor.Questions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage? Romans Week Four: Romans 4 1. What Does it Say? We learn what it looks like to believe in Jesus – it doesn’t work to depend on works. You could stack your works against the works of the holiest person that you can think of, and the scales do not balance. 2. What Is the Backstory? Sometimes we may think that the God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath, but Paul takes us back to the Old Testament through Abraham reminding us that God has always had a plan. Abraham trusted and believed in God when he had nothing else. 3. What Does It Mean? We must believe in Him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead. And believe that Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Knowing, embracing, and leaning into this truth is the basis of our faith (v. 23-24).4. What Does It Mean for Me? We see God’s goodness and proactiveness in our lives – he does for us what we couldn’t do. Resources:Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on RomansClick here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook groupQuestions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?Romans Week Three: Romans 3:20-261. What Does it Say?Notice the “therefore” in verse 20. Everything we learned about in chapters 1 & 2, we’re about to get the closing argument for here. None of us can be who we think that we can be – none of us is righteous. 2. What Is the Backstory?All of Romans up to this point is addressing the problem of human logic. God cannot be understood fully in our human intelligence. We see the limits of human logic and reason throughout the Bible, even recorded in the earliest written book – Job (See Job 38:1-4).3. What Does It Mean?Sin is the great equalizer of men; mercy is the great deliverance for those who believe. Unless we recognize how deeply we cannot make this happen without God we will continue to try to justify ourselves through our own false self-righteousness. 4. What does it mean for me?1.Reckon with our pride2.Repent of our self-righteousness3.Rejoice in his mercy.Resources:Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on RomansClick here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook groupQuestions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage? Romans Week Two: Romans 2: 3-4, 291. What Does This Passage Say? Last week on the podcast we left off knowing that 1) Romans is going to give us a vision for our life and 2) that we are set up with a problem of sin and need a savior. This is the chapter of conviction. Paul is preaching that the church has a problem. Some people are worshipping created things, some who call themselves good are passing judgment and condemnation, and all have a sin problem. “So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (v. 3-4). “No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.” (v. 29)2. What’s the Backstory? Paul sets up this life-giving letter to say that human beings cannot be good on their own. There is no holiness that you can pursue that will make you holy enough for God. We need to ask the question, what am I relying on to make me feel good? What am I relying on to say that I am okay? Whether your sin is on the outside or inside, we all have the same need for God’s kindness – and that becomes the starting point for the good news.3. What Does It Mean? Genuine faith does not come from outward acts, but an inward reality. Heart change is proven over time. 4. What Does It Mean for Me? I have a problem just as much as anyone – and that problem is my sin. Questions to ask yourself: Do I believe that I need a savior? Do I experience in my own self-awareness that I fall short every day? Resources:Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Click here to subscribe to Nicole's mailing list and receive bonus resources on RomansClick here to join the conversation in Nicole's Romans Facebook groupQuestions We Ask Every Time We Read the Bible:1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory? What's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage?Romans Week One: Romans 1:16-17; 251. What Does This Passage Say?In the opening of this great letter of the Apostle Paul, we get a vision for what the gospel really means. This gospel is righteousness, by faith, and is the power of God for life. But, what is the problem in the world? “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” (v. 25)2. What’s the Backstory?Paul is doing ordinary pastoral problems and challenges. In the midst of that, he gives us a detailed and thoughtful doctrinal statement on what really matters. We often separate the doctrine & belief from the everyday reality. But what if we chose to see this great gift of salvation as 100% relevant to our everyday life?3. What Does It Mean?The gospel is the power of God, and it is for the Jews and Gentiles – it is not for just one people group. It is about and for the world.4. What Does It Mean for Me?If someone turned to you and asked you: “Why do you follow Jesus?” “How are you different than me?” “What is grace really?” What would you say? That is what is ahead! Resources:Help! My Bible Is AliveFollow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/aradaphotography Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Join our FREE Romans Group to take your study of Romans to the next level! Just head over to https://nicoleunice.com/romans/ to sign up for access to weekly inspirational content and access to our private Facebook group! We will walk through Romans as a community, and Nicole will be in the group every week answering your questions about Romans and providing reflections for you to take your study to a deeper place.***No matter what circumstances you are in, God describes himself as slow to anger, compassionate, and rich in love. In today’s episode, we are searching for truth in our feelings when we are angry. What do we do when we feel angry? Behind our anger can be fear, insecurity, pride, control, and irritation, but God is calling us to search our hearts before him to understand where our angry is being placed. In today’s episode, Nicole does a topical study of scripture and breaks down 3 important principles about anger:1. God is slow to anger.2. God’s anger and human anger are not the same things. 3. Anger is not a sin, but it can lead to sin. Questions to consider: 1. Since anger is a natural reaction, what is my plan for dealing appropriately with it? 2. How am I at releasing anger? What might I need to request from God about my anger? As a reminder, here are the three questions we ask each show: 1. What do the verses say? 2. What's the backstory, what's the context? 3. What does it mean? What are the principles of this passage? Today's Scripture Referenced: Exodus 34:6Psalm 135:8Psalm 103:8Psalm 86:15Nehemiah 9:17Proverbs 15:1Escalates 7:9Ephesians 4:26James 1:19-20Psalm 4:4***Check out Nicole’s latest book, The Miracle Moment: a six-week Bible study on transforming conflict into connection: https://nicoleunice.com/miraclemoment/Follow Nicole: Her Site | Facebook | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Pict Rider Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.