The Bryce Crawford Podcast

Episode 159: Luke Series Chapter 11
Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Bryce Crawford

Overview

In this episode, Bryce Crawford continues his journey through the Gospel of Luke, focusing on Chapter 11. The conversation dives deep into Jesus' teaching on prayer (the Lord's Prayer), persistence in faith, the nature of spiritual gifts, the dangers of spiritual pride, and self-examination. As always, Bryce blends Scripture reading with real-world analogies and personal applications, aiming to encourage listeners to rely on God’s Word rather than just the podcast.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Gift Exchange (02:38–04:22)

• The episode begins on a light-hearted note with Christmas-themed banter including elves and Santa, leading to Bryce humorously receiving deodorant and body spray as a Christmas gift.
  • Notable Moment: Dylan the Elf gives Bryce deodorant and Axe Body spray, jesting about the hot studio and upcoming travel.
    • "It's deodorant and Axe Body spray. What’s this for?" (03:48, Bryce)
    • "I'm just saying, we got a flight coming up tomorrow. Whoever's sitting next to you... it'd be good just to have it on you." (04:02, Dylan the Elf)
  • Sets a casual, relatable tone before moving to Bible teaching.

2. The Lord’s Prayer: Simplicity and Power in Prayer (04:23–05:48)

• Scripture Read: Luke 11:2-4 (The Lord’s Prayer).
  • "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us, and lead us not into temptation." (04:26–04:34)
• Bryce notes the importance of persistent, honest, and direct prayer.
• Encourages listeners: No matter the time or circumstances, call upon God; He hears and responds.

3. God as the Giver of Good Gifts (05:48–07:00)

• Scripture Discussed: Illustrations about God and good gifts (Luke 11:11-13).
  • "If evil, wicked people know how to give a good gift, how much more will God in heaven, who is good, who is the definition and embodiment of good, how much more will he be able to give you a good gift?" (06:27, Bryce)
• Emphasizes trust in God’s goodness and readiness to provide for real needs.
• Challenging analogies to make spiritual truth accessible and relatable.

4. Jesus and the Accusation of Casting Out Demons by Beelzebul (07:00–08:45)

• Scripture Read: Jesus is accused of casting out demons by demonic power.
• Bryce points out Jesus' logical rebuttal about a divided kingdom and the absurdity of Satan casting out his own demons.
  • "Why would Satan cast himself out? It does not make any sense. It makes no sense." (08:17, Bryce)
• If Jesus delivers by God’s power, it proves God’s kingdom is present.

5. Spiritual Cleansing & Dangers of Emptiness (08:45–09:05)

• Teaching: Warning about spiritual emptiness after deliverance.
• Bryce warns that once freed, failing to fill life with God invites greater spiritual attacks.
  • "If you don't fill that hole with the spirit of God and the things of God, that demon will wander out in a way... and come back... and bring more power with it from the demonic." (09:00)

6. Seeking Signs vs. Seeking Jesus (09:05–09:42)

• Scripture Read: The "sign of Jonah" and demands for miracles.
• Bryce highlights that the resurrection ("the Son of Man... three days and rise again") is the greatest sign.
  • "Jonah caused Nineveh, wicked city to repent. I have come to repent... the greatest sign you will see is just as the Son of Man..." (09:29, Bryce)
• Urges listeners not to chase after spiritual fireworks but to embrace the message of Christ himself.

7. The Light Within and What You Consume (09:42–10:59)

• Scripture Discussed: The lamp of the body and the consequences of what you let into your life.
• Bryce makes an application to modern life:
  • "Are you struggling with depression and then you blame it on the devil, but really you're listening to sad music 24/7?" (10:24, Bryce)
  • "What you consume is what you become. And I'm not belittling anxiety and depression. But sometimes we give the devil more credit than he deserves. Sometimes we need to take accountability for the things that we're doing." (10:33, Bryce)
• Encourages self-examination regarding media intake and its impact on spiritual health.

8. Rebuke of Pharisees: Outward Appearances vs. Inner Reality (10:59–12:13)

• Scripture Read: Jesus rebukes religious leaders for focusing on appearances rather than inward transformation.
• Key points:
  • Jesus exposes hypocrisy and superficial spirituality.
  • Bryce draws a parallel to modern believers:
    • "Woe to you when you think you've been walking with the Lord just enough that you think you're better than other people." (12:00)
    • "Listen, be humble. Rely on Jesus. You're trusting in yourself than in Jesus." (12:12)

9. Warning to Lawyers and Knowledge Keepers (12:13–12:55)

• Jesus warns lawyers for making faith burdensome and blocking others from the truth.
  • "You have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering." (12:35, Bryce – quoting Jesus)

10. Closing Reflections - Examining the Heart (13:06–13:47)

• Bryce encourages self-examination for pride and encourages continual dependence on God.
  • "I think there's a very big call in Luke 11. Check your heart... What are you prideful in? What areas of your life are you prideful in? Where are you fallen?" (13:06 – 13:19)
• Final exhortation: Read the Word for yourself; don’t just rely on podcasts.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Prayer & Persistence:
  • "Call upon the name of the Lord, asking, it shall be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be open." (05:08, Bryce)
• On God’s Character:
  • "If evil, wicked people know how to give a good gift, how much more will God in heaven ... give you a good gift?" (06:27, Bryce)
• On Accountability:
  • "What you consume is what you become... Sometimes we need to take accountability for the things that we're doing." (10:33, Bryce)
• On Spiritual Pride:
  • "Woe to you when you think you've been walking with the Lord just enough that you think you're better than other people." (12:00, Bryce)

Practical Application & Tone

• Bryce maintains a conversational, down-to-earth style, mixing humor with serious spiritual reflection.
• He stresses humility, the dangers of relying on outward religion, the necessity of personal engagement with Scripture, and self-awareness concerning spiritual and personal habits.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Gift Exchange & Banter: 02:38–04:22
• Lord’s Prayer & Persistent Prayer: 04:23–05:48
• God Gives Good Gifts: 05:48–07:00
• Jesus & Demons/Beelzebul Accusation: 07:00–08:45
• Spiritual Emptiness Warning: 08:45–09:05
• Sign of Jonah / Seeking Miracles: 09:05–09:42
• Lamp of the Body / Intake: 09:42–10:59
• Pharisee Rebuke: 10:59–12:13
• Lawyers Rebuke: 12:13–12:55
• Closing Reflections: 13:06–13:47

Conclusion

Bryce concludes with an encouragement to read the Bible independently, urging listeners to let the Word and the Holy Spirit be their primary guides rather than the podcast itself. His closing prayer is for the teaching from Luke 11 to encourage, challenge, and inspire deeper humility and self-examination in faith.

"You don't rely on the podcast, you rely on the word of God and the Holy Spirit." (13:32, Bryce Crawford)