Podcast Summary

Podcast: A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace

Episode: Discovering the Beauty of Jesus Through Scripture in 2026
Date: December 30, 2025
Hosts: Shelby, Scott, CJ, and Paul (The Daily Grace Co.)

Episode Overview

In this special crossover episode, Shelby introduces listeners to her new co-hosts for the upcoming 2026 season of "A Year in the Bible": Scott, CJ, and Paul. Together, they share their vision for guiding listeners through a year-long journey in Scripture, focusing on discovering the beauty of Jesus in both the Old and New Testaments. The conversation covers practical tips for consistent and fruitful Bible reading, the centrality of Christ throughout Scripture, and what listeners can expect from the new season.

Meet the Hosts (00:54 – 03:59)

• Shelby: Main host, involved in content creation and editorial oversight.
• Scott: Theological editor. "Mainly what I get to do is review what we put out, make sure that everything is theologically accurate, clear for the reader, and helpful, and just faithful to what the Bible actually teaches." (01:32)
• CJ: Editorial team member. Loves reading and spending time outdoors with family.
• Paul: Editor, involved in writing, editing, and theological review. Loves travel, football games, and board games.

Memorable moment:
Discussion of family traditions, especially football and travel, offering a glimpse into their personalities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cultivating Consistency in Bible Reading (04:46 – 07:45)

• Paul:

  • Pick a reading plan you’re excited about—whether canonical, chronological, or a mix.
    "Picking one that makes you want to get into Scripture really definitely helps because you're more likely to follow it if you're excited to read every day." (05:02)
  • Read in community for encouragement and accountability.
  • Aim for consistency, not perfection.
    • "Reading the Bible itself is not the end. It's a means to an end. And that end is an intimate relationship with God… When you miss a day or two, because it probably will happen, it's important to remember that the consistency with which you read the Bible is not the standard God assesses you on." (06:08)
  • Distinguish between shame and conviction when you miss days:
    • Shame demotivates; conviction draws you back.

• Shelby Analogy:

  • Bible reading is like eating: some days it's a feast, other days it's just a quick snack, but both are necessary. "If we expect it to be like a feast every single day, that's just probably not realistic…today I listened to the audio Bible in the car on the go...I think that's all right." (08:21)

2. Having a Fruitful Time in Scripture (10:06 – 13:01)

• CJ:

  • Fruitfulness involves understanding and living out what you read.
    • "So to begin, we want to be people who appreciate God's story. We appreciate scripture, and we look for Christ in that scripture, and we look for where we fit into that scripture, too." (10:32)
  • Ask helpful questions:
    • What does this passage say about God's plan to redeem the world?
    • Am I letting the truth of this passage shape me?
  • Prayer before, during, and after reading is essential for transformation.

• Shelby:

  • Recommended resources for going deeper:
    • In the Word Journal
    • Bible Handbook ("…going to simply break down each book of the Bible for you.")
    • Bible Study Handbook ("…take you step by step and walk you through from start to finish." (11:55))

3. Growing Closer to God through Scripture (13:01 – 14:46)

• Scott:
  • Come to Scripture expectant:
    • "Come expectant to your time in God's word. Expect to hear from God." (13:03)
    • Referenced 2 Timothy 3: All Scripture is inspired and useful for shaping us.
    • Even in "hard" books, God speaks. "The question is never is God saying something to me through this passage. Rather, the question is, what is God wanting me to see in this passage?" (13:48)
    • Bible reading is relational, not merely a checklist.

4. The Beauty of Jesus in All of Scripture (15:30 – 19:04)

• CJ:

  • "All scriptures lead to Christ." (15:45)
  • Example: Ruth's story leads into Christ's genealogy.
    • "Seeing those little through lines in Scripture…is what it means to see the beauty of Scripture in Christ and all scripture." (16:15)

• Scott:

  • The Bible reveals that Jesus is the answer to our world's ache; God has not abandoned us.
    • "Jesus, by taking on flesh, living in our broken world, dying a horrific death, shows us that God loved us at great cost to himself." (17:17)

• Paul:

  • Jesus’ presence as Emmanuel – God with us makes Bible reading rich and relational.
    • "Reading the Bible is not an end in itself. It's a means to an end. And that means of scripture is to the end, a fellowship with God." (18:09)
    • God’s presence continues beyond the reading time.

5. 2026 Plan & What to Expect (19:04 – 22:36)

• Shelby:
  • Year-long study covering "A Year in the Bible: 365 Days of Discovering the Beauty of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation."
  • Study will be canonical (Genesis to Revelation, by Bible order), with podcast episodes accompanying the readings each day.
    • "You can do that study content, read the scripture for that day, and then…[listen to] the podcast with us where we're going to be breaking down that scripture just a little bit more." (20:14)
    • Each host will dive deep into different books.

6. Hopes for Listeners (20:57 – 22:36)

• Paul:

  • Wants listeners to "stitch together" the themes running across Scripture—God’s people, promises, provision, power, presence (21:04)

• CJ:

  • Hopes listeners find "consistency and accountability" and are "pushed to see the beauty of Christ in all the scriptures." (21:41)

• Scott:

  • Desires listeners gain "clarity and appreciation for portions of the Bible that you've never read" and grow in confidence to understand Scripture on their own. (21:53)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Paul:
  "Reading the Bible itself is not the end. It's a means to an end. And that end is an intimate relationship with God." (06:31)

• CJ:
  "All scriptures lead to Christ…just the little tiny pieces all work up and lead to Christ, I think is what it means to see the beauty of Scripture in Christ and all scripture." (15:45)

• Scott:
  "The question is never is God saying something to me through this passage. Rather, the question is, what is God wanting me to see in this passage?" (13:48)

• Paul:
  "Reading the Bible is not an end in itself. It's a means to an end. And that means of scripture is to the end, a fellowship with God." (18:09)

Episode Flow / Segment Timestamps

• Host intros and background (00:54 – 03:59)
• Consistent Bible reading tips (04:46 – 07:45)
• Analogy and grace in the process (07:45 – 10:06)
• Fruitful Bible study: understanding and living out (10:06 – 13:01)
• Growing closer to God: postures and expectations (13:01 – 14:46)
• Seeing Jesus’ beauty in all of Scripture (15:30 – 19:04)
• Overview of 2026 study plan (19:04 – 20:57)
• Co-host hopes for listeners (20:57 – 22:36)

Tone and Takeaway

The episode is warm, encouraging, and practical—a blend of wise counsel and personal experience. The hosts emphasize grace, community, and the transformative beauty of Christ underlying the entire Bible. Listeners are invited to join the journey of seeing Jesus on every page of Scripture in 2026, supported every step by the podcast team and resources from The Daily Grace Co.