Today's passage is one of the "See For Yourself" passages Chapter 8 of Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity.

Do you ever feel like a trial has you cornered, like you have to choose between trusting God or taking matters into your own hands? In this episode, we walk through James 1:1–8 and learn why James can say to “count it all joy” when life gets hard.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Who James is, why his voice matters, and what we know about his role in the early church
• What James means by “trials” and how pressure reveals what we truly trust
• Why perseverance is so valuable
• How “perfect and complete” means mature faith reaching what it was intended to become
• What “wisdom” is in James 1:5
• Why God gives wisdom “generously…without reproach,” even to the immature and struggling
• What it means to ask “in faith” instead of being double-minded

By the end, you’ll have a clearer, steadier way to think about hardship: not as random pain or a spiritual failure, but as a proving ground where God strengthens faith, grows endurance, and teaches wisdom.

Series: Start Strong: A New Believer’s Podcast

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Today's passage is one of the "See For Yourself" passages Chapter 7 of Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity.

In 1 Corinthians 12:1–3, Paul speaks to a church that’s confused about what makes someone “spiritual.” The Corinthians had started treating dramatic experiences—especially speaking in tongues—as proof that God was truly at work.

Paul redirects them to something far simpler and far more decisive: the Spirit’s work is shown in a person’s confession and conviction that Jesus is Lord, not in how impressive their worship looks or how extraordinary their experiences feel.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why the Corinthians’ pagan background shaped their expectations of spiritual “signs”
• What Paul means by “spiritual things” in 1 Corinthians 12:1
• How Paul identifies the real mark of the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer
• Why “Jesus is Lord” summarizes the heart of the gospel message
• How modern Christians can repeat Corinth’s mistake
• What true spirituality looks like in ordinary life: work, family, faithfulness, and daily obedience

By the end of this episode, you’ll have clarity and relief: the Spirit’s presence isn’t measured by flash, intensity, or spiritual comparison.

Series: Start Strong: A New Believer’s Podcast

Give more than an invitation this Easter; give a guide to the Christian faith.

Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity is available wherever books are sold.

Today's passage is one of the "See For Yourself" passages Chapter 6 of Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity.

In Matthew 10:40–42, Jesus makes a startling connection: the way we welcome His people reveals the way we welcome Him and, ultimately, the God who sent Him. This episode clarifies what it means to “receive” Jesus in Scripture, showing that it’s not a passive feeling but an active choice to accept, listen, and embrace His messengers and message.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• What “receive” means in the Bible and why it implies deliberate welcome rather than passive contact
• How receiving Jesus’ disciples reflects receiving Jesus Himself (and the Father who sent Him)
• What it means to receive a prophet “in the name of a prophet”
• Why Jesus links “reward” to salvation and mercy
• Why Jesus calls His disciples “little ones,” and how humility and dependence shape true faith
• How welcoming a disciple with something as small as a cup of cold water carries eternal significance
• What your response to Scripture (the apostles’ words) and to fellow believers reveals about your heart toward God

After listening, you’ll have a clearer, more biblical understanding of what it means to “receive” Jesus and why faith shows up in concrete, everyday welcomes.

Series: Start Strong: A New Believer’s Podcast

Start Strong: A New Believer’s Guide to Christianity is available now wherever books are sold.