Summary4 min read

The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

Episode: This Teaching Will Change Your Life
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz, presented by Ascension
Date: April 16, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz shares a personal reflection on his journey with Scripture—how his desire to "know the story of the Bible" evolved from high school curiosity to a deep theological pursuit, culminating in a transformative encounter with Jeff Cavins’ “Great Adventure Bible Timeline.” He discusses the importance of understanding the overarching narrative of the Bible and highlights a new, immersive iteration of the study program designed to make Scripture accessible, engaging, and memorable for everyone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fr. Mike’s Early Passion for Scripture

Personal Beginnings: Fr. Mike reminisces about his first experiences with reading the Bible, from getting a small Gideon New Testament at a county fair to receiving a substantial New American Bible as a Christmas gift.
- Quote:
  
  “I just wanted to like, dive deeply into the Bible.” (00:26)
Academic Experience: He shares how years of formal theological study left him knowledgeable yet still searching for “the story” that seemed elusive.

2. The Problem with Traditional Bible Reading

Common Struggle: Fr. Mike and a secondary speaker (possibly reading a comment or anecdote) humorously reference the widespread enthusiasm that fizzles out by the book of Leviticus.
- Quote:
  
  “Perhaps... you get really excited about reading through the whole Bible. Read through Genesis...and then right about March, you quit. Why? You’re in Leviticus...where did the story go?” (01:23)

3. Discovering the ‘Great Adventure Bible Timeline’

Transformative Teaching: Fr. Mike credits Jeff Cavins’ Bible study series with finally helping him grasp the continuity and narrative arc of Scripture.
- Quote:
  
  “I took all these classes...I never knew the story like I know the story now until Jeff Cavins taught me the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. It connected all of the dots.” (01:50)
Continual Learning: He describes how he eagerly sought out every new Bible study from Cavins and then taught them at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
- Quote:
  
  “I am learning more from this guy...than every other teacher, maybe combined.” (02:18)

4. The ‘Great Adventure Bible Timeline Refresh’

Innovative Format: Fr. Mike describes the updated program, which features teaching from diverse locations such as Rome, the Holy Land, Egypt, and Turkey, offering a rich visual immersion.
- Quote:
  
  “Instead of him standing in front of a random church...he went to Rome...he went to the Holy Land...he went to Egypt...They went on location.” (03:13)
Expanded Faculty: Other notable contributors include Marcelino D’Ambrosio, Dr. John Bergsma, Dr. Mary Healy, and Damon Owens—all respected Catholic scholars and teachers.

5. The Power of Story and Accessibility

Making the Bible Come Alive: Fr. Mike extols the program’s clarity and accessibility, emphasizing that it doesn’t oversimplify but clarifies and beautifies the Bible’s message.
- Quote:
  
  “I don't know of a more clear, more simple— I don't mean simplistic...an easier way to get the overarching story of salvation than the Great Adventure Bible Timeline.” (04:30)
Immersive Experience: He likens the program to receiving a trip to Israel, Ephesus, or Greece—without leaving home.
- Quote:
  
  “If you were to say, Father Mike...where would you go? Nine times out of ten, I would say Israel. The Great Adventure Bible Timeline Refresh is...it brings Israel to you...It’s just amazing. Incredible. I can’t recommend it enough.” (03:50)

6. A Life-Changing Teaching

Personal Testimony: Fr. Mike closes with an emphatic endorsement rooted in his own transformation.
- Quote:
  
  “This teaching from Jeff Cavins changed my life. And I would love it if it changed your life, too. Sorry, let me clarify. Changed my life for the better. I think it’ll change your life for the better, too.” (05:07)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the frustration of losing the narrative:

“You are in Leviticus and you’re reading about entrails and kidneys and livers and monthly cycles. Where did the story go?” (01:33)
On the impact of good teaching:

“He finally told me this story...It was like, oh my gosh, I am learning more from this guy...than every other teacher, maybe combined.” (02:17)
On the new immersive format:

“If you can't go there, it brings Israel to you...It’s just amazing. Incredible. I can’t recommend it enough.” (03:59)
On the transformative power of the Great Adventure Bible Timeline:

“Changed my life for the better. I think it'll change your life for the better, too.” (05:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:00–01:22 – Fr. Mike’s early relationship with Scripture and journey through theological education
01:23–01:49 – The struggle with reading the Bible and losing interest
01:50–02:21 – How Jeff Cavins’ teaching transformed Fr. Mike’s understanding of Scripture
02:22–03:45 – Teaching and recommending the Bible Timeline; highlights of the refreshed program and contributors
03:46–04:37 – The immersive, international approach of the new Timeline and accessibility for everyone
04:38–05:15 – Closing thoughts: sincere recommendation, affirmation of the program’s life-changing impact

Summary & Takeaway

Fr. Mike Schmitz passionately advocates for understanding the story of salvation, emphasizing that the Bible isn’t just a collection of books and laws but a unified, breathtaking narrative. The “Great Adventure Bible Timeline Refresh” stands out—as he puts it—because it’s beautifully produced, accessible, and deeply impactful. For anyone who’s ever felt lost or stuck in Scripture, this episode serves as both a testimonial and an enthusiastic invitation:
Dig into the story. Let it change your life.

Loading summary

Transcript3 lines

[00:00]
A
I just remember thinking, I just want to know the story of the Bible. Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz, and this is Ascension presents. So when I was in high school, I remember maybe I've told this story so many times. I remember getting my very first Bible. It was a, I was at the Crowing County Fair and I got one of those little Gideon Bibles. It was the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. I think it was what it was. And I was so, I was so stoked. I was so excited to have that Bible. Later on. I think I might have been a junior or senior in high school. One of my parents. For Christmas, I wanted a new American Bible that was one of those St. Joseph editions. Big kind of big chunk of change. You know, hunker. And I just wanted to like, dive deeply into the Bible. When I went to college, I studied theology and I took all these scripture classes. And then I was missionary a little bit. This is a recap of my life. Then came back to seminary. Bunch of years of seminary. In seminary, I, I, I, I often thought about, do I want to like, focus? Do I want, I want to get a, a special degree in Sacred Scripture. I didn't, but I just, I loved all those scripture classes. I spent years diving into the Bible on my own. I spent years taking classes at the college level and the seminary, you know, postgraduate level. It wasn't until after hours ordained, and I stumbled upon, I think it was, was it DVDs or. It might have been VHS tapes. I think it might have been DVDs of Jeff Cavins teaching the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. And I remember watching these, I think they recorded it in the Church of St Paul in Ham Lake, this, this kind of random town in Minnesota.
[01:24]
B
Perhaps. You've, you've been into programs like this. They get really excited about reading through the whole Bible. Read through the Bible in a year and start reading in Genesis. And you go to Genesis through Genesis. And then right about March, you quit. Why? You're in Leviticus. You are in Leviticus and you're reading about entrails and kidneys and livers and monthly cycles. Where did the story go?
[01:50]
A
And I would listen to Jeff just unpack the story of the Bible. And I remember as I was going through it, thinking, I took all these classes as a college student. I took all of these classes as a seminarian. I never knew the story like I know the story now until Jeff Cavins taught me the great Adventure Bible Timeline. It connected all of the dots. Every time he would Come up with a new Bible study. Be like, I'm getting that one. I'm going to go through that one. And then what I would do here on campus at the University of Minnesota Duluth is, is I would go through his Bible study, the great English Bible timeline, Gospel of Matthew, Acts of the Apostles, whatever it was. And then I would teach it here. I remember thinking, oh, my gosh, I am learning more from this guy, this one guy, than, no offense to any other teachers, than every other teacher, maybe combined. But that's not exactly the case. I learned a lot of stuff from all those other teachers. It was like this. He finally told me this story. That DVD series, I think, came out 20 years ago, or maybe even over 20 years ago, which is. It's still good, the content's still great. I'd recommend it 10 out of 10. But here with Ascension, they did something new. They did the great Adventure Bible Timeline Refresh. Instead of him standing in front of a random church in metro Minnesota, he went to Rome to talk about. Here's Peter in Rome, here's Paul in Rome. He went to the Holy Land to talk about. Here is where God walked on the face of the Earth. He went to Egypt. I believe they see that, you know, Cairo, they have the. The. The. What do you call them? Pyramids? What shape is that again? Pyramids. They went to Turkey. Here's Paul, went to Ephesus and preached. They went on location. Jeff, amazing teacher, but they have other teachers. Marcelino D', Ambrosio, they have Dr. John Bergsma, who. Who people at San Franciscan University of Steubenville say that's like, he's the number one guy you want to take scripture from. He's just incredible. Dr. Mary Healy, she teaches at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. Damon Owens. Incredible people who can just take these truths of the Bible, the story of the Bible, and bring them to life. This great adventure Bible Timeline Refresh is. Is. Is a new gift for a new decade. It's a new gift for a new year. It's a new gift for a new culture. If you were to say, Father Mike, if you had a plane ticket to go anywhere in the world for the next 10 days tomorrow, where would you go? Nine times out of 10, I would say Israel. The great Adventure Bible Timeline Refresh is you can't go there, but it takes. Brings Israel to you, it brings Ephesus to you, it brings Greece to you. It's just amazing. Incredible. I can't recommend it enough. And I would just say this. If you've gone through the Bible in a year, or if you haven't gone through the Bible in a year, if you just want to know the Bible better. I don't know of a more clear, more simple. I don't mean simplistic, but I mean just. It's just there. An easier way to get the overarching story of salvation than the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. And there's, I would say, nothing more aesthetically pleasing now than the Great Adventure Bible Timeline. Refresh this teaching from Jeff Cavins Changed my life. And I would love it if it changed your life, too. Sorry, let me clarify. Changed my life for the better. I think it'll change your life for the better, too. Anyways, promise. Citizens and presents, my name is Father Mike. God bless.