Podcast
Bible Book Club
Hosted by Susan Merrill & Heather Rubio · EN
The Bible. It’s been the #1 book sold since the day it was written, but have you read it? And if you read it, did you understand it? In the Bible Book Club podcast, we read every word of the Bible for you. In fact, Heather Rubio and Susan Merrill will do it all for you—read, discuss, and explore the only book ever written that can change your life forever. All you have to do is listen. Just join the club! Start in the beginning with Season 1: Genesis or choose a book. Available Seasons include Season 1 Genesis, Season 2 Exodus, Season 3 Leviticus, Season 4 Numbers, Season 5 Deuteronomy, Season 6 Joshua, Season 7 Judges, Season 8 Ruth, Season 9 1 Samuel, Season 10 2 Samuel Season 11 1 Kings Season 12 2 Kings Season 13 1 Chronicles Season 14 2 Chronicles Season 15 Ezra Season 16 Nehemiah Season 17 Esther
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Psalms 25-30: Whom Shall I Fear?
2w ago00:30:10Tap to summarizeWhat do Psalms 25–30 teach us about how to actually live out our faith when guilt, fear, and doubt feel overwhelming?The psalms in our last episode answered the question what has God done. This episode answers the harder question...so now what do I do? In Psalm 25-30, David walks us through six raw, honest psalms that cover the full range of the human experience. The journey starts with guilt and ends with joy. And everything in between feels remarkably familiar.This Psalms 25-30 Bible study covers:[5:17] Psalm 25: Forgiveness and Direction – How to pray boldly for forgiveness and ask God to show you a better path forward even when the weight of your past feels too heavy to move.[11:08] Psalm 26: Accusation and Innocence – Whether you're guilty and need grace or innocent and need vindication, God is the right place to take both.[15:25] Psalm 27: Fear and the "One Thing" – Why David, who was surrounded by enemies and outnumbered, asked for just one thing, and why his answer might reframe everything you're afraid of right now.[19:30] Psalm 28: Unanswered Prayers – What happens when your deepest fear isn't your circumstances but that God isn't listening and how the act of praying itself becomes the turning point.[22:15] Psalm 29: Storms and Peace – Why the storms in your life aren't chaos and what it means that God's powerful voice is for you, not against you.[25:58] Psalm 30: Mourning and Dancing – How David's "weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning" is less about outcomes and more about the attitude of the heart.Psalms Show Notes:Psalms RoadmapPsalms Playlist on Apple MusicPsalms Playlist on SpotifyPsalm 8 (Hallé) by Phil WickhamACTS Prayer GuidePsalms Prayer ListGroup Discussion Questions for Psalm 25–30:[7:10] In Psalm 25, we get four practices we can use to find God’s way: studying God’s word, praying to God, worshiping God, and seeking fellowship in church or a small group. Which of these four sounds the most intriguing, and which is the most difficult for you? [19:50] Psalm 28 shows that the act of praying itself is the pivot that moves David from pleading to praise, even without new information. Has there been a time when the simple act of saying the hard thing out loud to God has shifted something in you?[26:36] Psalm 30 invites us to celebrate “the mornings,” those moments after a long night of suffering. Are there any mornings in your own life, past or present, that you haven't paused to acknowledge and praise God for?Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →Psalm 22-24: The Shepherd’s Trilogy: the Cross, Crook, and Crown
3w ago00:30:50Tap to summarizeWhat if the three most famous Psalms in the Bible are actually one story, and that story has been pointing to Jesus all along?In this episode, we dive into a Bible study on Psalms 22-24. These psalms were written by King David nearly a thousand years before the New Testament, and biblical scholars refer to them as the "Shepherd’s Trilogy." Hidden within these psalms is a stunning prophetic timeline of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. This Psalms 22-24 Bible study covers:[06:26] Psalm 22: The Crucifixion Prophecy – How David described Jesus on the cross in vivid detail, down to the pierced hands and divided garments, nearly 1000 years before the crucifixion.[08:22] A Lesson from King David – How to feel the full weight of your pain and bring it to God the way David did to experience an unexpected peace and lightness.[12:19] The "Bookend" Revelation – The jaw-dropping message Jesus sent to the Jewish crowd from the cross by quoting both the first and last lines of Psalm 22.[19:25] Psalm 23: The Lens of Suffering – Why the rest, restoration, and “quiet waters” of this beloved passage only make sense through the lens of Christ’s suffering.[27:42] Psalm 24: The Palm Sunday Connection – How this triumphant praise Psalm connects to the Ark of the Covenant, Handel's Messiah, and Jesus' final entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.Psalms Show Notes:Psalms RoadmapPsalms Playlist on Apple MusicPsalms Playlist on SpotifyPsalm 8 (Hallé) by Phil WickhamACTS Prayer GuidePsalms Prayer ListGroup Discussion Questions for Psalms 22-24:[08:22] David vented his pain to God and then pivoted to praise, not because the suffering stopped, but because he transferred the burden. Is there something you are carrying right now that you haven't fully laid at God's feet?[20:27] God put David through “shepherd school,” Moses through the wilderness, and Esther through the royal court. In your life, what season or "school" has God put you through, and what do you think He was preparing you for?[23:16] People and sheep have a lot in common. What characteristics of a sheep can you most see in yourself: defenseless, needing constant care and to be led to (spiritual) food and water, resisting rest, or fearfulness.Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →Psalms 17-21: The Heavens Declare
4w ago00:33:31Tap to summarizeWhen it feels like God isn't showing up for you, how do you even begin to pray? Join us for this episode of the Bible Book Club as we dive into a powerful Psalms Bible study and uncover five raw, honest prayers David hands us in Psalms 17–21. These Old Testament prayers serve as a practical Christian prayer guide to help you pray through the hard times.In our Psalms 17–21 Bible study, we cover:[02:52] Psalm 17: Feeling Invisible to God – What David really meant when he begged to be the "apple of God's eye" and why the original Hebrew makes it one of the most tender images in all of Scripture.[11:32] Psalm 18: Coming Through Something Hard – How Psalm 18 teaches us to pray with adoration first and why starting with who God is changes everything about how we pray through the hardest times in life.[18:54] Psalm 19: Seeing God Everywhere – Why Psalm 19:1-2 was on a hand-written card aboard Artemis II, 252,760 miles away from Earth.[24:36] Psalm 20: Facing a Battle – What "trusting in chariots and horses" actually looks like today and whether the thing you're relying on most is God or just a very sophisticated plan B.[30:18] Psalm 21: Celebrating a Win – What the Hebrew word hesed reveals about why King David really won in the Psalms, and what that means for us through Jesus.Psalms Show Notes:Psalms RoadmapPsalms Playlist on Apple MusicPsalms Playlist on SpotifyPsalm 8 (Hallé) by Phil WickhamACTS Prayer GuidePsalms Prayer ListGroup Discussion Questions for Psalms 17–21:[04:09] David felt unseen and unloved by God even while doing everything right. Have you ever been in a season where your faithfulness seemed invisible to God and everyone around you? How did that shape the way you prayed?[15:30] Psalm 19 describes two ways God speaks to us: through creation and through His Word. Which one tends to draw you closer to God more naturally, and how could you lean into that even more?[25:50] Psalm 20 warns against trusting in chariots and horses. What are the "chariots" in your life right now such as resources, credentials, or strategies that you're tempted to trust more than God?Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →Psalms 9–16: Refuge
Jun 800:32:30Tap to summarizeWhen life feels out of control and God feels distant, where do you even begin?Psalms 9-16 are one big, honest conversation about what it's like to live in a broken world and still choose to trust God. David, who wrote all of these Psalms, was a man who fought 50+ battles, faced enemies on every side, and somehow kept his faith intact. These Psalms aren't polished theology. They're raw, real, and remarkably relatable.In this episode, we cover everything from crying out in anger when evil seems to win, to finding shelter in God like a bird tucked under a wing. And we end somewhere surprising...with a hidden resurrection prophecy tucked inside a psalm written a thousand years before Jesus walked the earth.This Psalms 9-16 Bible study covers:[09:50] Psalm 10: When God Feels Absent – David shows us how to ask "Where are you, God?" as an act of faith, not doubt.[12:30] Psalm 11: When Fear Has the Upper Hand – Why your foundation matters more than your circumstances and what it means that God is in control.[15:05] Psalm 12: Deception and Lies – How to take heart and trust God for protection when people in your life can't be trusted.[16:50] Psalms 13: When You Need a Safe Place – "How long, O Lord?" can become one of the most faithful prayers you can offer up.[23:03] Psalm 15: How to Find Favor with God – A surprisingly practical list of what it looks like to live in a way that draws you closer to God.[27:52] Psalm 16: A Prophecy You Didn't See Coming – A hidden vision of resurrection that Peter quoted at Pentecost pointing from David all the way to Jesus.Psalms Show Notes:Psalms RoadmapPsalms Playlist on Apple MusicPsalms Playlist on SpotifyPsalm 8 (Hallé) by Phil WickhamACTS Prayer GuidePsalms Prayer ListGroup Discussion Questions for Psalm 9–16:[16:50] David asks "how long" four times in a six-verse psalm. Then his mind quickly pivots from lament to trust in God's unfailing love. Do you think this ability to vent without spiraling into despair is the secret to David’s faithfulness? How could you imitate this in your own faith walk?[23:12] Psalm 15 describes 10 behaviors of someone who walks closely with God. Which of these 10 behaviors feels most like a place of potential growth for you right now?[27:02] Psalm 16 says our security is not tied to a bank account, a home, or a job. God is our portion. What is one thing you tend to rely on for security more than God, and what would it look like to loosen your grip on it?Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →Psalms 3–8: From Fear to Wonder
Jun 100:33:49Tap to summarizeWhat can you do when you're afraid, anxious, exhausted, or wrongly accused, and you don't know how to pray?Psalms 3–8 are David's raw, unfiltered conversations with God. They read less like religious poetry and more like texts you'd send to a trusted friend. In this episode, we walk you through six Psalms that cover the full emotional spectrum from fear and betrayal to wonder and praise. We also show you how to easily use these Psalms as helpful prayers in your own life.This Psalms 3-8 Bible study covers:[7:57] Psalm 3: Fear and Betrayal – How David's shield of faith gives you a practical way to fight panic when life feels like it's falling apart.[11:20] Psalms 3 and 4: Anxiety and Sleep – How these psalms were used together as a daily circle of protection, and how they can quiet your anxious mind at night.[17:43] Psalms 5 and 6: Exhaustion and Suffering – God's permission to cry out when you're alone and exhausted from a prolonged trial.[22:13] Psalm 7: Injustice and Accusation – What to pray when you've been wrongly accused and need God to vindicate you.[25:20] Psalm 8: Awe and Wonder – Why Jesus quoting this psalm in Matthew 21 reveals just how significant you are to God.Psalms Show Notes:Psalms RoadmapPsalms Playlist on Apple MusicPsalms Playlist on SpotifyPsalm 8 (Hallé) by Phil WickhamACTS Prayer GuidePsalms Prayer ListGroup Discussion Questions for Psalms 3–8:[10:47] The Hebrew priests used Psalms 3 and 4 together daily as a circle of protection to manage their anxieties. Is there a certain Psalm or prayer you find yourself returning to in difficult seasons?[18:02] David used very raw, unfiltered language in his laments: exhaustion, anguish, weeping all night, begging God to vindicate him. Does that kind of honesty in prayer come naturally to you, or do you tend to soften what you bring to God? What would it take for you to pray more like David?[30:23] Paul describes our current life as living in the "gap" between the perfection we were created for and the new heaven and new earth still to come. Where in your life right now do you feel that gap most acutely, and how does knowing that Jesus stepped into it change how you hold that tension?Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →Psalms Overview + 1 - 2 Psalms: The Playlist of Your Heart
May 2500:33:34Tap to summarizeEver wonder if God really gets you? The Book of Psalms is your answer.Psalms is a playlist that's been playing long before Spotify with 150 songs God selected for all of humanity. Songs for every emotion, crisis, and moment when words fail. In this episode, we open with a big picture view of the Book of Psalms. Then we dive into Psalms 1 and 2. This Psalms 1-2 Bible study covers:[00:45] The Playlist Concept – Why the Book of Psalms is God's original soundtrack for the exact place your heart is right now, because God deeply understands you.[09:23] Psalms as Songs – How we know the Psalms are songs meant to be sung, not just read.[20:59] Psalm 1: The Two Paths – Why Jesus is the only person who ever perfectly lived Psalm 1 and what that means for us.[22:23] Psalm 2: The Hidden Prophecy – How a Psalm written thousands of years ago is confirmed as a prophecy about Jesus in Acts 4, Acts 13, and Revelation 2.[28:04] The Great Design – How Psalms 1, 19, and 119 form one hidden thread (the Word of God) while Psalms 2, 20, and 120 form another (the Messiah) and why that's a Bible Bender.Psalms Show Notes:Psalms RoadmapPsalms Playlist on Apple MusicPsalms Playlist on SpotifyPsalm 8 (Hallé) by Phil WickhamACTS Prayer GuidePsalms Prayer ListGroup Discussion Questions for Psalms 1 and 2:[01:07] Everyone has a soundtrack running in their head. With the Psalms, God gives us His playlist. When has a Psalm or a song met you in a moment and moved your heart?[19:09] Psalm 1 compares a person who meditates on God's law day and night to a flourishing tree planted by streams of water. What is one small thing you could do this week to meditate on God's law and become more like that tree?[32:35] Do you have a modern playlist of songs that help you remember to lean on God, especially when your emotions are high?Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →Job 38-42: Finally, God Speaks to Job
May 1800:31:06Tap to summarizeWhat does God say when you demand answers from Him?After chapters of silence, in Job 38-42 God finally speaks, and His answer isn't what anyone expects. Instead of explaining Job's suffering or defending His decisions, God shows up in a whirlwind and asks Job 77 questions. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Can you command the morning? Do you control the constellations?The answer, of course, is no. And that's the point. God doesn't come as a defendant to answer Job's case. He takes the bench as Judge, and Job drops to his knees and drops the lawsuit entirely.In our Job 38-42 Bible Study, you'll learn:[08:06] God's response to Job's suffering: Why God answers Job's painful questions with questions of His own, and why that's actually the most profound comfort imaginable.[11:14] The turning point: How Job goes from demanding a courtroom confrontation with God to covering his mouth in awe, and what that shift looks like for us in our own struggles[12:40] The Behemoth and Leviathan: What two terrifying creatures have to do with trusting God when life feels completely out of your control[24:10] The friends get their verdict: Why the three friends who had all the "right answers" are the ones God is angry with, and the stunning way Job responds[27:12] Job's restoration: What to make of Job's happy ending, why some people find it unsatisfying, and the freeing truth hidden in it about grace, trust, and God's mysterious waysShow Notes for the Book of Job:ACTS Prayer GuideThe Old Testament BooksCharles Spurgeon's SermonGroup Discussion Questions for Job 38–42:[11:14] Job covered his mouth with his hand in stunned silence when God revealed Himself. Have you ever experienced a moment where God's greatness left you in stunned silence? How did that feel?[20:00] God asks Job 77 questions about creation that Job can't answer. Does knowing how little we know or understand about our life and our world bring you comfort or anxiety? Why do you think that is?[24:58] Job was asked to pray for the very friends who hurt him deeply. Is there someone in your life right now who has wronged you, for whom God might be calling you to pray?That concludes the Book of Job! Next up, we will discuss Psalms.Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →Job 35-37: Elihu Sees God in the Storm
May 1100:28:24Tap to summarizeWhen you're crying out to God in pain and getting only silence, is He ignoring you?Job has lost everything. He's been interrogated by three friends, talked over by a brash young man named Elihu, and God still hasn't said a word. In Job 35–37, Elihu makes his final case, and for one breathtaking moment he actually gets it right.As a storm gathers on the horizon, Elihu stops dissecting Job's theology and does something none of them have done yet. He looks up. And what he sees changes everything he says next.In our Job 35-37 Bible Study, you'll learn:[04:06] Faith vs. transaction: Elihu lands a truth worth sitting with. Your relationship with God was never meant to be a deal. Faithfulness isn't a payment God owes you a return on.[07:21] Why God sometimes seems silent: There's a difference between crying from pain and crying for God. And it turns out it matters deeply which one you're doing.[09:15] Songs in the night: What an ancient phrase from Job 35 and a famous Spurgeon sermon reveal about finding peace when it makes no sense to worship.[11:24] God's power reframed: Job feared God's power would crush him. Elihu argues it's actually the guarantee of justice, a tension that pays off big in the next episode.[24:56] How not to comfort someone: After four men and dozens of speeches, the most practical lesson in these chapters may be the simplest. Listen before you speak and build bridges, not walls.Show Notes for the Book of Job:ACTS Prayer GuideThe Old Testament BooksCharles Spurgeon's SermonGroup Discussion Questions for Job 35-37[07:28] Is there a trial in your life right now where you need to cry out for God's presence rather than just His intervention?[26:23] Have you ever tried to comfort someone who was suffering, but your words made things worse instead of better?[27:30] Has God ever used your own suffering to prepare you to comfort someone else?Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →Job 32-34: Who Are You, Elihu?
May 400:28:54Tap to summarizeWhen everything seems unfair, how do you keep believing God is still good?Job has defended his innocence, the three friends have finally run out of arguments, and an eerie silence has fallen over the city gate. Then a young man named Elihu steps out of the crowd, and he is furious. Furious at Job for questioning God. Furious at the friends for failing to prove their case. And absolutely convinced he has the answer everyone else has missed.But does he? In Job 32–34, Elihu delivers some genuinely fresh theology and some head-scratching contradictions. He says God speaks through suffering to redirect us, not just punish us. He even unknowingly describes a heavenly mediator who sounds remarkably like Jesus. Yet, by the end of chapter 34, he's doing the same thing the three friends did, accusing Job of wickedness and asking for him to be tested even further.In our Job 32-34 Bible Study, you'll learn:[03:27] Who Elihu is: A young outsider with real spiritual insight but also an ego he can't quite keep in check[14:36] God's surprising voice: How God speaks through dreams, pain, and messengers, and why your suffering may be redirection, not punishment[18:05] A hidden glimpse of Jesus: How Elihu accidentally describes the mediator Job has been crying out for since Chapter 9, a ransom-payer who rescues us from the pit[22:53] God's justice on trial: Elihu's three-part case for why a just God cannot be wrong, and where his argument misses Job's heart entirely[26:55] The pattern we all fall into: Why Elihu starts with compassion but ends up sounding just like Job's friends and what that says about how we handle people in painShow Notes for the Book of Job:ACTS Prayer GuideThe Old Testament BooksCharles Spurgeon's SermonGroup Discussion Questions for Job 32-34[14:38] Elihu says that God speaks to us through dreams, suffering, and messengers. Has there been a moment in your life when you recognized that God might have been speaking to you through a difficult experience? What did that realization change for you?[15:08] Elihu's insight that suffering can be preventive rather than punitive is a powerful idea. Is there a "thorn in your flesh" in your own life that, looking back, you can see God may have used to redirect or protect you?[27:01] Elihu started out wanting to vindicate Job, but the longer he spoke, the more he ended up condemning him. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you began with good intentions but frustration caused you to say something you ended up regretting?Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →Job 28-31 Job: Where Can I Find Wisdom?
Apr 2700:28:21Tap to summarizeWhen life falls apart, where do you look for help?Job has survived three rounds of debate with friends who had all the answers but none of them right. Now the arguments are over, and the crowd goes quiet. What Job does next is unexpected. Instead of demanding justice, he goes searching for something deeper. Something we all want when life doesn't make sense. Wisdom.What unfolds across Job 28–31 is one of the most breathtaking poems in all of Scripture spoken by a grieving man who refuses to let go of God, even when God seems to have abandoned him.In our Job 28-31 Bible Study, you'll learn:[03:10] The Wisdom Poem (Job 28): You can't mine for wisdom, and you can't buy it. You can't find it in the land of the living. There's only one true place wisdom comes from.[09:08] The great twist: Three times God declared Job already has wisdom, but Job doesn't even know it yet.[10:40] Our access to wisdom: Through Christ and the Holy Spirit, the wisdom Job spent four chapters searching for is now freely available to us. All we have to do is ask.[21:03] The "but now" moment (Job 30): Job looks at everything he's lost—his reputation, his health, his community—and he lets himself grieve.[25:39] Job's final oath (Job 31): Job signs his name to his own defense with 19 "if" statements and dares God to answer him. It is bold.Show Notes for the Book of Job:ACTS Prayer GuideThe Old Testament BooksCharles Spurgeon's SermonGroup Discussion Questions for Job 28–31[04:33] Job found that wisdom cannot be mined, bought, or discovered in the land of the living. It belongs to God alone. Can you think of a time when you were searching for wisdom in all the wrong places? What was the result?[14:30] In Chapter 29, Job describes a ministry of caring for people that brought him great joy. In Chapter 30, he deeply mourns its loss. Can you relate to Job here? Has there ever been something in your own life that brought you joy but then suffering or circumstance took it away?[26:55] Job signed his name to his innocence and demanded God, not the crowd, answer him directly. Have you ever found yourself going to people for approval or justice? How could you turn to God instead for clarity and insight, as Job did? Contact Bible Book Club!Social: Instagram or FacebookWebsite: Bible Book ClubReview Us: Apple Podcast or SpotifyJoin the Fun: DONATE or Buy merchThis episode is part of our ongoing Bible Book Club series, starting with Genesis and journeying all the way through the Bible. Thanks for listening!
Transcribe →