Podcast Summary: 52 Weeks in the Word (The Gospel Coalition Podcast, Dec 26, 2025)
Main Theme
In this episode, recorded at the 2024 TGC Women’s Conference, Trillia Newbell delivers a talk titled “52 Weeks in the Word.” She invites listeners to pursue Bible reading not as a burdensome duty, but as a source of delight, love, and transformation, rooted in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Using Jesus’s “I Am” statements from the Gospel of John as a framework, Trillia unpacks barriers to daily Scripture engagement and points to the truth of who Christ is as the foundation for deep, enduring faith.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Faith as the Foundation, Not Just Action
[02:54–05:00]
- Trillia emphasizes that while practical tips for Bible reading are useful, the root issue is faith—truly believing that Jesus is who He says He is.
- She warns against pursuing theological knowledge for its own sake, quoting J.I. Packer:
“If we pursue theological knowledge for its own sake, it is bound to go bad on us. It will make us proud and conceited.”
(Trillia Newbell, 03:40) - The heart’s delight in God, not mere duty, fuels lasting engagement with Scripture.
The Gift and Struggle of Belief
[05:01–09:00]
- Trillia recounts a story of her four-year-old son wrestling with belief, illustrating that genuine faith is a supernatural gift only God can give.
- She prays for God to grant faith so that listeners might truly delight in Him, reinforcing our dependence on His grace.
The “I Am” Statements: Seeing Jesus Clearly
1. I Am the Bread of Life – John 6:35
[09:01–13:00]
- Jesus is the only source of deep satisfaction.
- The common lie: Other things or people will satisfy us more than God.
“If we believe that something or someone else will satisfy us, why run to God?”
(Trillia Newbell, 11:30) - Trillia gives a memorable analogy of children preferring the box to the gift, paralleling our tendency to neglect Jesus for lesser things.
2. I Am the Light of the World – John 8:12
[13:01–17:30]
- Jesus offers true freedom through light.
- The lie: Darkness (sin, the world’s ways) looks like freedom, while obedience feels like a burden.
- Trillia addresses doubts and deconstruction, urging listeners to seek answers in God’s Word.
“God is not afraid of questions. But where you seek the answers matters.”
(Trillia Newbell, 15:45)
3. I Am the Good Shepherd – John 10:11
[17:31–23:00]
- Jesus lays down His life for sinners, guiding and protecting us.
- The lie: We project the failures of earthly leaders onto Jesus, doubting His goodness.
- Trillia shares about her own suffering and how God’s Word, stored in her heart, sustained her:
“Don’t wait for the suffering to happen. Get in His Word now.”
(Trillia Newbell, 22:00)
4. I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life – John 14:6
[23:01–26:30]
- Delight in Jesus Himself, the cornerstone of Christianity—not just an idea or system.
- Quote from Michael Reeves:
“The center, the cornerstone, the jewel in the crown of Christianity is not an idea, system, or a thing... It is Jesus Christ.”
(Trillia Newbell, 24:55) - The lie: Either that we don’t need Jesus or that we’re disqualified by our sin.
5. I Am the True Vine – John 15:5
[26:31–38:00]
- Abiding in Jesus is essential for fruitfulness; apart from Christ, we can do nothing.
- The lie: We believe we can go it alone, or that neglect is harmless.
- Trillia uses her “plant killer” story to show how neglect—in spiritual life as with plants—doesn’t lead to immediate death, but slow withering.
“It’s one neglect after another... then all of a sudden, you’re not watering it, you’re not feeding. Dies. In so many ways, this is what happens to us when we’re not connected to the vine.”
(Trillia Newbell, 34:21)
Motivation: Relationship, Not Legalism
[38:01–41:00]
- Obedience is the overflow of being loved by God, not a checklist for favor.
- Trillia encourages telling God honestly about struggles with motivation, guilt, or distraction.
“He will also give you grace. He will give you peace. He will give you joy. He will remind you that none of it actually matters.”
(Trillia Newbell, 40:45)
Memorable Quotes & Moments
-
On faith’s role:
“Our desire is to love God with all our hearts, mind, soul and strength. Our love will lead to delighting in Him and His Word. But we need God for that, right?”
(Trillia Newbell, 04:10) -
On questions and doubt:
“Question, question all you want. God is not afraid of questions. But where you seek the answers matters.”
(Trillia Newbell, 15:45) -
On abiding in Christ:
“Just as I cannot—and we cannot—save ourselves, we cannot grow without Jesus. Apart from Him, we will wither away.”
(Trillia Newbell, 31:22) -
On motivation for Bible reading:
“I don’t want you to be motivated because it’s something you can check off a list. I want you to be motivated because of God, that you love God, that you want to know God, that He has poured out His grace on you and let that be your motivation.”
(Trillia Newbell, 41:37)
Practical Application & Encouragement
[41:01–47:30]
- Make Bible reading a priority out of love, not obligation.
- Be creative: listen to the Word while walking, read together as a family or community.
- Don’t be discouraged by imperfection; press on because “we need the Bible. The Lord. Do you need Him? All right, so then run to Him.” (Trillia Newbell, 44:06)
- Trillia shares a moving story about people receiving the Bible in their language for the first time, reinforcing the preciousness of God’s Word.
- She closes with a heartfelt prayer for joy, renewed longing, comfort in suffering and reassurance for those who feel unworthy to approach God.
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Faith over Action, Motivation for Bible Reading: 02:54–09:00
- “I Am” Statements—Bread of Life to True Vine: 09:01–38:00
- Abiding in Christ, Analogy of Plant Care: 33:30–38:00
- On Motivation & Practical Tips: 38:01–44:06
- Concluding Story, Reflection, and Prayer: 44:07–47:30
Tone & Style
Trillia’s talk is warm, vulnerable, and pastoral. She openly shares personal stories, acknowledges doubts and difficulties, and urges listeners with both gentleness and challenge to draw near to Jesus in His Word. The overall message is not one of religious guilt, but of invitation to enjoy the surpassing worth of Christ.
For Listeners
If you struggle with daily Bible reading, doubt, distraction, or discouragement, this episode offers both honest empathy and practical hope. The central call: Come to Jesus, the all-satisfying Bread, the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, the True Vine. Let your faith and reading spring from the joy of being loved by God, not from duty alone.