Ever wonder about the cultural norms left unsaid in the Bible? Discovering the collectivist perspective will help you better understand Scripture.

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If we read the Bible exclusively from our Western individualist point of view, we may miss or misunderstand cultural values everybody in the ancient Mediterranean world understood. As this week’s guest, Randy Richards, reminds us, the values of kinship, patronage, and brokerage, which focus on the family or group dynamic instead of an individual, are found throughout Scripture. We also find examples of honor, shame, and boundaries in the Old and New Testaments that are used as tools to help enforce and strengthen these cultural values.

Understanding the ancient Mediterranean culture that the Bible is set in can enrich our understanding of some Scripture passages.

How has discovering some of the cultural backdrop of the Bible helped you gain a deeper understanding of Scripture and how the Bible applies to your life?

What next step could you take toward learning more about the cultural context of the Old and New Testament?

Reflect

• Why were the Pharisees trying to shame Jesus in Matthew 9:11?
• How was the apostle Paul trying to use shame in a positive sense in 1 Corinthians 15:34?
• In 1 Timothy 2:9, how was the apostle Paul trying to use shame in a positive way to encourage women to stand up against the culture’s way of dressing?
• Based on Romans 1:1, what was the role with the highest honor for the apostle Paul?
• How were the chief priests, teachers of the law, and the elders trying to have an honor contest with Jesus in Luke 20:1–8?
• Why did Jesus tell the parable of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9–14 to those who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else?
• Why is the apostle Paul setting a boundary in 1 Corinthians 10:27 –28?

Respond

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God)

“Dear God, thank You that as I grow in my knowledge of Scripture, I can grow deeper in my love and understanding of You! Help me to dive deeper into Your Word, so my relationship with You can grow stronger. Help me to gain wisdom that I can apply to my life.”

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources

Mentioned in this episode:

• Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes by our guest E. Randolph Richards

Listen:

• Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes (with guest Randy Richards))
• Understanding How to Read the Bible Today

Read:

• Starting in the Right Place
• How Should We Read the Bible—and What Type of Book Is It, Anyway?

Watch:

• In Pursuit of Peter
• In Pursuit of Paul

Struggling with worry and anxiety? No matter what you’re struggling with, discover how to cast your cares on God.

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It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with worries, cares, and anxious thoughts, but you’re not meant to carry all those burdens on your own. Jesus said not to worry, and the apostle Paul said to cast all your cares on God.

What are you worried about?

What may be hindering you from trusting God with your worries, anxious thoughts, cares, and concerns?

What could your next step toward trusting God more and worrying less look like?

Reflect

• How does it feel knowing that God wants you to cast all your cares on Him as it says in 1 Peter 5:7 and that we’re to be anxious for nothing as you read in Philippians 4:6–7?
• How does Matthew 6:19–34 help you to not worry so much about tomorrow?
• How does the good soil Jesus mentioned in His parable found in Luke 8:4–18 differ from the other soil He mentioned?
• How can you stay focused on what matters most like Mary in Luke 10:38– 42 instead of being distracted by good things like Martha?
• How does Timothy’s genuine concern for the well-being of the Philippian church that the apostle Paul commended him for in Philippians 2:14–24 differ from unhealthy worry?

Respond

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God)

“Dear God, thank You that I don’t have to be consumed with worry and anxious thoughts. Thank You that I can go to You with all my cares and concerns. Help me to keep trusting You no matter my circumstances.”

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources

Mentioned in this episode:

• Resilient
• Bible Engagement and "The Power of 4": A Key to Spiritual Growth| Center for Bible Engagement| Our Daily Bread

Listen:

• Resilient
• Don’t Worry!

Read:

• The Resilient Life
• How Can We Put Our Worries to Work for Us?

Watch:

• Uncovering Resilient Faith with Lina AbuJamra (Unshakable Moxie)
• Worrying Steals Your Days - Luke 12:25

The apostle Paul often used the theme of running in his letters. Discover what he might have been trying to tell us through his running metaphor.

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The apostle Paul often used the metaphor of running a race to remind his readers, and us, how important it is to run our race well. In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul encouraged believers to run away from sin and temptation and to run toward God.

What have you been running toward lately?

Is there something you need to flee from in your life so you can pursue God instead?

What could your next step of running toward God look like?

Reflect

• How can you run away from sin and temptation as the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:18 and 1 Corinthians 10:14?
• What does it look like to “run in such a way” as it says in 1 Corinthians 9:24?
• According to 1 Corinthians 9:26–27, why is it important to be disciplined along your Christian journey?
• Based on 1 Corinthians 14:1, what are we to be running toward?

Respond

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God)

“Dear God, thank You that You are with me as I run the race You have set before me. Help me to run away from sin and temptation and run to You with my whole heart. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit can empower me to run my race well.”

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources

Mentioned in this episode:

• In Pursuit of Paul

Listen:

• Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes
• Paul, the Letter Writer | Week 1
• Paul, the Letter Writer | Week 2

Read:

• The More Excellent Way: What Paul Actually Means in 1 Corinthians 13
• Spiritual Disciplines | Running the Race

Watch:

• Why Do We Have to Struggle? | 1 Corinthians 10:13
• Cleansing the Body and Spirit – 2 Corinthians 7:1

In a sense, you could say that the entire Bible is about God’s desire to dwell with his people. Immanuel—God with us. Experiencing God’s presence is what we were created for. And we are promised in Scripture that if we seek God, we will find Him. But how do we experience the presence of God when we don’t see Him or feel like He’s with us? Well, in this series of conversations with Dr. David Mathewson, the Discover the Word group explores how experiencing God’s presence can be a regular practice and experience of God’s people. And time In His Presence can transform, heal, and empower us.

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From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is the story of God dwelling with His people. We were created to commune with God, but it can be challenging since we can’t see or feel Him.

How can you experience God’s presence on a regular basis?

Is there something hindering you from spending time in God’s Word and in prayer and worship so you can experience His transforming, empowering, and healing presence and power in your life?

God longs to make His presence known to you.

What could your next step toward seeking God’s presence look like?

Reflect

• How does Genesis 1–2 reveal God’s desire from the very beginning to dwell among His people?
• According to Hebrews 4:11, why is spending time with God so important?
• How do you feel knowing that we have access to God the Father through His Son Jesus as it says in Hebrews10:19–22?
• What did the Bible figures mentioned throughout Hebrews 11 get commended for and how can that encourage you on your journey?
• What helped the psalmist in Psalm 73 go from despair to hope?
• Even now, how can you gaze upon God’s beauty as it says in Psalm 27:4?
• How does Revelation 4–5 fill you with hope for what awaits in heaven?

Respond

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God)

“Dear God, thank You that You long to spend time with me. Thank You that I can feel Your presence even though I can’t see You. Help me as I seek to feel Your loving, healing, and empowering presence in my life. Thank You that in Your presence, there is fullness of joy!”

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources

Mentioned in this episode:

• 30 Days in God's Presence by Dr. David Mathewson from Denver Seminary and Jennifer J Fitzgerald

Listen:

• What Is Faith?
• Does Sabbath Still Matter?

Read:

• In His Presence
• The Promise of Presence - John 14:15–17, 25–31

Watch:

• Hebrews 11:1 - Biblical Faith
• Revelation 4:8 | Holy, Holy, Holy

What did Jesus mean when He told Nicodemus that he must be “born again”? Join us as we explore Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. Discover why the concept was so difficult for Nicodemus to grasp and why we also sometimes struggle with the truth that is so central to the Christian faith.

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Jesus often said things that unsettled the very people who thought they understood God best. When He told Nicodemus he must be “born again,” it didn’t fit his framework—and he struggled to receive it.

Where might the same be true for you?

Is there anything—assumptions, expectations, past experiences—that could be shaping how you hear Jesus’ words today? Ask God to gently reveal and release anything that’s getting in the way.

Nicodemus didn’t understand everything at first, but he kept moving toward Jesus—stepping out of the shadows, speaking up, and showing up when it mattered most.

What might your next step toward Jesus look like?

Reflect

• Read John 3. As you reflect on the chapter, what stands out to you?
• Why do you think Nicodemus struggled to understand the meaning of being “born again” that Jesus mentioned in John 3:1–4?
• According to John 3:5–15, why must Jesus’ followers be “born again”?
• Based on John 7:50–51 and John 19:38–42, do you think Nicodemus eventually understood what it meant to be “born again” and became a follower of Jesus?
• How does John 3:16–17 encourage you as you read about God’s immense love for you?

Respond

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God)

“Dear God, thank You that by Your Holy Spirit I can be born into Your kingdom. Thank You for renewing and cleansing me. Help me overcome any baggage that may be hindering me from completely receiving Your gift of eternal life through Your Son Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. Help me as I seek to live for You.”

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources

Mentioned in this episode:

• I Am the Way
• The Chosen Season 1, Episode 2
• The Chosen Season 1, Episode 7

Listen:

• The Pharisees Week 1
• For God So Loved

Read:

• Love: What does Jesus see when he looks at me?
• The Gospel Here and Now
• Jesus and Nicodemus

Watch:

• God Loves You!
• God’s Daily Love

The Bible is filled with feasts and tables set for God’s people. Discover the significance of these meals and gatherings and why they still matter today.

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God delights in setting a table for His people. From the last supper Jesus shared with His disciples before His sacrificial death to the meals He shared with His disciples after His glorious resurrection, there are various lovely moments of fellowship between Jesus and His followers recorded for us in Scripture. The early church also knew the importance of breaking bread together. As we consider the meals mentioned in the Old and New Testaments and the greatest wedding banquet that’s still to come mentioned in Revelation, may we rejoice in knowing that God lovingly provides for our every need.

Reflect

• What do Matthew 9:9–13, Luke 19:1–10, and Luke 7:34 teach us about who is invited to the Lord’s table?
• Why does Jesus’ last supper with His disciples recorded in Matthew 26:17–30, Mark 14:12–26, Luke 22:7–23, and John 13–17 still matter to us today?
• Why did Jesus break bread with His disciples even after His resurrection as mentioned in Luke 24:30–32 and John 21:1–14?
• In Acts 2:42–27 we read about the early church sharing meals together. Why would that have been so important to them?
• Isaiah 61:10–62:5 and Revelation 19:6–9 point to the church being the bride of Christ and look ahead to Jesus’ bridal banquet. How do these Bible verses help you understand how precious you are to God?

Respond

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God)

“Dear God, thank You for your love and faithfulness. Thank you for providing for my every need. Help me to trust You even more with every day that passes. Help me to live for You especially as the day of Your great bridal banquet approaches.”

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Holy Land Series

Listen:

• The Abundant God
• Sinners Dinners

Read:

• The God Who Protects and Provides
• Humble Hearts, Open Hands

Watch:

• Feast of Sukkah
• Inviting Others to the Table