Discover the Word by Our Daily Bread Ministries

What happens when God’s people worship other things? Find out as we continue exploring the wayward tribe of Jacob’s son Dan with archaeologist Dr. Jonathan Greer.

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The Danites focus on God but they distort their worship of Him. By subordinating Him to other things, establishing their own version of religion, and lacking justice, they actually keep themselves from God. While their story reveals some important cautions for us today, we can also be encouraged by God’s promise to restore all things.   

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When you hear the word "seek," what comes to mind? Hide and seek? Explorers? Searching for something you lost? Well, Matthew 6:33 is one of the best-known scriptures in our Bible. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” What does this summation mid-way through the Sermon on the Mount actually mean and how can following its guidance impact our lives?

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The 12 tribes of Israel play a crucial role in how the story of the Bible unfolds. These descendents of the sons of Jacob (renamed Israel) form the backbone of the redemption story the culminates in Jesus. In this Discover the Word study with archaeologist Dr. Jonathan Greer, the group explores a little discussed tribe of Israel that has a shady past going all the way back to the patriarch himself--Jacob's son Dan. Sometimes the stories in the Bible surprise us and make us feel uncomfortable, and leave us thinking "That's not the way it's supposed to be!" Such is the case for much of The Story of Dan. But while the tribe of Dan has a mixed legacy when it comes to worshipping God, this study reveals how God, remaining faithful to His promises to Abraham, redeems Dan and all of Israel in Jesus, who makes things the way they should be. 

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Have you ever noticed that the phrase “let us...” appears thirteen times in the book of Hebrews? Join us as we explore why this phrase was important to the author and how it invites us to walk with Jesus!

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Join together with other believers and walk with Jesus through a series of five “let us” invitations from the book of Hebrews: let us hold fast to our faith, let us approach God in prayer, let us grow spiritually mature, let us draw near to God, and let us run our race. 

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Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? 

We want to live wisely, but that can seem impossible at times. Discover what the Bible means when it says that wisdom begins with “the fear of the Lord.”

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What does it look like for you to grow in wisdom? Scripture invites you to begin by fearing the Lord—by learning to revere Him for who He truly is and letting that reverence shape your daily choices.  

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Being afraid of something doesn’t sound preferable, but throughout the Bible we see benefits from fearing the Lord. Find out what that can look like for us today and what we’ll experience when we do!

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The fear of the Lord is the starting place for wisdom and it leads to a never-ending friendship with a loving God. Scripture reveals that fearing the Lord is intended to comfort us not to scare us. Because the more we understand God’s character, the more we are compelled to revere Him. God’s Word guides us to express our fear of the Lord through right living, rejecting evil, and clinging to what is good. 

Reflect 

Several times in the Bible, we read that what is impossible for man is possible for God. What does this mean in various settings? Is making the impossible possible a matter of faith? Character? God’s power? What might be dangerous about the possibility for humans? How can we understand and fully live within the boundaries of the possible while stretching to experience God’s power in the impossible?

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When life feels uncertain, it helps to remember who God truly is and that the Bible says repeatedly that nothing is too hard for God. But... the Scriptures also tell us there are things God cannot do—He cannot do evil, He cannot lie, and He cannot be overcome by death. That means His character is completely trustworthy. When we face fear, confusion, or disappointment, we can rely on His goodness, believe His promises, and trust that nothing—not even death—has the final word. 

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The battle for contentment is one of life’s biggest challenges—even for followers of Christ. And that battle for contentment runs headlong into how we view money. What we use to purchase things. The phrase “silver and gold” appears in the scriptures no less than 58 times and we want this week to examine a handful of those texts to try and get some wisdom about money in general and silver and gold in particular.

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Money touches so much of our daily lives, but the Bible helps us see it in the right perspective. Scripture reminds us that while money can meet needs and bless others, it was never meant to define our worth or secure our future. God cares more about shaping our character than growing our bank accounts. As we earn, spend, give, and save, we’re invited to trust Him as our true provider—knowing that our ultimate security isn’t found in money, but in Jesus. 

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Friendships are an essential part of our lives but many of us struggle to build healthy ones. Rediscover how friendships can be nurtured by exploring Jesus’ friendship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

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Jesus demonstrated the importance of friendship throughout the Gospels. His relationship with the Bethany siblings—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus—provides a great example of how much we need friends in our own lives, and how much we need to be a friend. Engaging in healthy communication, being dependable, growing with each other, and sharing celebrations can help our friendships flourish!

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Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? 

Have you ever traced Jesus’ final steps in Scripture toward the crucifixion? Come along with us as we explore where Jesus prayed alone, was betrayed and arrested, tried and condemned, mocked, and carried His cross with Simon’s help. Let these moments in the Bible help you experience our Savior’s journey to save us.

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Early Christian pilgrims once walked the path Jesus took to the cross, stopping at “stations” to remember His suffering and love. In “Cross Stations,” we slow down with Scripture and reflect on those moments together. In part one, follow Jesus from Gethsemane through His trial to the moment He carried His cross—and take time to consider how His sacrifice speaks into your own faith and life today. 

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Come along with us as we continue tracing Jesus’ final steps in Scripture toward the crucifixion. Remember what He did for you by exploring where He stopped to speak with women and criminals, where He cared for His mother, died on the cross, and was buried. Follow our Savior’s journey to save us—and embrace how this can impact our lives today.

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Christians once retraced Jesus’ final steps, pausing at “stations” to remember His sacrifice. In “Cross Stations,” we follow that path through Scripture. In part two, linger at the cross and the tomb as we reflect on the moment Jesus’ body is taken down and laid in the darkness, and consider what His death means for your faith today. 

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 Overwhelmed by life’s headlines? 1 Corinthians 15 points to the news that truly matters: Jesus is risen!

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Even though we live in an information-saturated world, we don’t have to be overwhelmed and distracted by all the news and headlines fighting for our attention. The apostle Paul wanted to remind the Corinthian church not to lose sight of what truly matters in life. The greatest good news of Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection is “Of First Importance”! No matter what time of the year it is, it’s always a good time to ponder and rejoice that Jesus overcame sin and death.  He is risen! He is risen indeed!   

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Conquerors can be scary—but God’s power is different. Discover from Genesis to Revelation how He makes us more than conquerors!

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The word “conqueror” can stir up many mixed feelings and rightfully so. But the idea of conquest is found in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. What if instead of avoiding the complicated topic, we pondered how the Bible points to a better idea of conquering? As we ask God to help us overcome various trials and obstacles in our life, we can take courage knowing that we are more than conquerors though Him who loves us.  

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 What are you conquering—or being conquered by? Explore how God’s surprising plan for His people to both conquer and be conquered is revealed throughout the Bible!

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The word “conqueror” may make you feel uncomfortable for various reasons. But what if the Bible’s idea of conquest is better than we could ever imagine? As we ponder what it means for us to be more than conquerors through Him who loves us, let’s look to Jesus’ example of what it means to overcome. And let’s remember that His story isn’t over. May we be encouraged and remain confident that when it’s all said and done, Jesus will still be victorious.  

Reflect 

The Bible is a book of invitations, and in this series, we will explore such invitations in the form of "let us" statements inviting us to join in some aspect of the life of the Christ follower. From worship to purity to endurance to love, these invitations welcome us to live with and for our Lord.

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After exploring some Let Us invitation in the letter to the Hebrews in our last study, is it possible there are other Let Us invitations in other parts of the Bible? Step into five more biblical invitations, outside of Hebrews, that call you to live out your faith in everyday ways: worship God with your whole heart, persevere when faith feels hard, lay aside the sin that holds you back, love others deeply, and put that love into action.  

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What happens when people “fear the Lord” in a healthy way? Explore how this can lead to wisdom and relationship with God!

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The Bible’s wisdom books remind us again and again that the fear of the Lord is where real wisdom begins—and that’s the kind of wisdom we need for everyday life. From big decisions to ordinary moments, we all need God’s perspective to help us navigate what’s in front of us. 

Proverbs offers that wisdom with a hopeful, “glass half-full” lens, giving practical guidance for daily choices. Ecclesiastes meets us in the tension, naming life’s frustrations and uncertainties with a more “glass half-empty” honesty. And Job takes us deeper, showing that a healthy fear of the Lord isn’t about being afraid—it’s about being drawn into a real, trusting relationship with God as we learn to revere all of who He is, even when life doesn’t make sense. 

Reflect 

Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? 

Most followers of Christ want their lives to count, but it's easy to get impatient with the slow pace at which a life of significance often happens. In these two weeks of conversations with pastor and author Jeff Manion, the Discover the Word group explores how living a life marked by steady faithfulness can have tremendous and lasting results. Learn how, most often, what God considers a great life is built on a foundation of "holy redundancy," as Mart and Elisa and Bill welcome Jeff Manion to the table for this series called "Dream Big, Think Small." 

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When you hear the word "justice" what comes to mind? Courts? Activism? Legal TV dramas? Well, justice is a major theme in the Bible, appearing over 400 times. But what does it look like for God to "act justly?" And what does it look like of us to do justice? In these conversations, the Discover the Word group looks at some specific examples of what Biblical justice looks like, with the hope of making practical applications for us today. 

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What are some things you are devoted to? Family? Career? A sports team? In Acts 2, we find Luke telling us what the earliest followers of Jesus were devoted to. Can those areas of devotion inform our living today as well? It's a Discover the Word study that asks us to reflect on the question "what am I devoted to?"

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What does it mean to live life to the full? Discover how seeing Jesus as our “good shepherd” helps us understand His promise to give us full life!

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How have good friendships helped you through life? Explore some of the best parts of friendship from the Bible and be encouraged to strengthen your relationships!

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What makes a good friendship? Explore some examples of friendship in the Bible that encourage you with wisdom for healthy relationships!

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What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Gain a deeper understanding about the Holy Spirit and how this gift from Jesus works in our lives! 

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Do you feel like you’ve got parenting figured out or could you benefit from some reliable wisdom? Explore parenting stories from Scripture and discover how they can help parents and guardians today!

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 We can all struggle to trust God in moments of crisis. We wonder…Where did He go? Why has He allowed this? When will He intervene? In a boat on the waves, the disciples (Peter in particular) undergo a trust trial where despite some terrifying circumstances, Jesus asks them to trust Him. Will they? What principles will they draw on? What can we learn from their trust trial for the trust trials we will face? 

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In Mark 8, Jesus sets forth the path of discipleship—what it means to follow Him. It is not an easy, casual path, but an exceedingly important one that we explore this week.

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 Has the way you read the Bible changed over the course of time? What sparked those changes? In this week of Discover the Word conversations, ODBM Senior Director of Bible Engagement, JR Hudberg, joins the group to talk about 3 vital characteristics of reading and engaging the Bible well. JR says these characteristics are not new or original with him, but they have changed the way he reads the Bible and have re-ignited his love of Scripture in ways that have made the text come alive. 

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It’s easy to confuse Elisha with his mentor Elijah. Not only do their names sound similar but they also performed similar miracles. Come along with us to explore how Elisha and Elijah were similar, how they were different, and how they both represented God’s nature. Discover how Elisha went on to do even greater things than Elijah and how through their story we find out what God can do for us! 

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It’s easy to confuse Elisha with his mentor Elijah. Not only do their names sound similar but they also performed similar miracles. Come along with us to explore how Elisha and Elijah were similar, how they were different, and how they both represented God’s nature. Discover how Elisha went on to do even greater things than Elijah and how through their story we find out what God can do for us!

It’s easy to confuse Elisha with his mentor Elijah. Not only do their names sound similar but they also performed similar miracles. Come along with us to explore how Elisha and Elijah were similar, how they were different, and how they both represented God’s nature. Discover how Elisha went on to do even greater things than Elijah and how through their story we find out what God can do for us! 

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 It’s easy to confuse Elisha with his mentor Elijah. Not only do their names sound similar but they also performed similar miracles. Come along with us to explore how Elisha and Elijah were similar, how they were different, and how they both represented God’s nature. Discover how Elisha went on to do even greater things than Elijah and how through their story we find out what God can do for us! 

WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:

 It’s easy to confuse Elisha with his mentor Elijah. Not only do their names sound similar but they also performed similar miracles. Come along with us to explore how Elisha and Elijah were similar, how they were different, and how they both represented God’s nature. Discover how Elisha went on to do even greater things than Elijah and how through their story we find out what God can do for us!

WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:

 It’s easy to confuse Elisha with his mentor Elijah. Not only do their names sound similar but they also performed similar miracles. Come along with us to explore how Elisha and Elijah were similar, how they were different, and how they both represented God’s nature. Discover how Elisha went on to do even greater things than Elijah and how through their story we find out what God can do for us! 

WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:

It’s easy to confuse Elisha with his mentor Elijah. Not only do their names sound similar but they also performed similar miracles. Come along with us to explore how Elisha and Elijah were similar, how they were different, and how they both represented God’s nature. Discover how Elisha went on to do even greater things than Elijah and how through their story we find out what God can do for us!

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Has connecting with God—through the Bible—sometimes seemed confusing or frustrating? Author Alex Goodwin joins us to explore how we can approach the Bible differently and enjoy an easier more fruitful experience reading it!

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There are times in the gospels when Jesus gives commands that can confuse us – because they seem downright impossible. The Ten Commandments are hard enough – and we know that we’ll be imperfect in keeping the Law of the Old Testament. That’s why God provided a way out for us in Jesus. So what did Jesus mean in His seemingly impossible commands? Perhaps the truth He wants us to grasp is that He loves us so much that He makes the impossible possible. And we love Him back by allowing Him to help us move in the direction of obedience. 

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There are times in the gospels when Jesus gives commands that can confuse us – because they seem downright impossible. The Ten Commandments are hard enough – and we know that we’ll be imperfect in keeping the Law of the Old Testament. That’s why God provided a way out for us in Jesus. So what did Jesus mean in His seemingly impossible commands? Perhaps the truth He wants us to grasp is that He loves us so much that He makes the impossible possible. And we love Him back by allowing Him to help us move in the direction of obedience. 

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"The glory of God is a human fully alive." This is a paraphrase of something an early church Father wrote, and it sounds inspiring! We go through our lives often wishing there was more. Let's explore what it means to step into the abundant life God offers, by considering a very famous speech from Acts 17 that's full of some pretty surprising and often humorous moments. And through this, we will discover what it looks like to walk through life with God, and become more fully alive.

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"The glory of God is a human fully alive." This is a paraphrase of something an early church Father wrote, and it sounds inspiring! We go through our lives often wishing there was more. Let's explore what it means to step into the abundant life God offers, by considering a very famous speech from Acts 17 that's full of some pretty surprising and often humorous moments. And through this, we will discover what it looks like to walk through life with God, and become more fully alive.

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Author Leslie Leyland Fields joins the Discover the Word group from her home on Kodiak Island, Alaska and shares Insights from a Fisherwoman About Following Jesus. In a time when so many are "unfollowing" Jesus and leaving the church, Leslie's experience in her family's commercial fishing business provides a helpful perspective about what it meant for those first fishermen disciples to follow Jesus, and what it means for us today.

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Have you noticed how it usually takes a lot of ordinary steps to achieve something extraordinary? Join us and special guest Jeff Manion to explore some ordinary habits that can lead to an extraordinary life of faith!

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It's astonishing how technology (smartphones, tablets, laptops, GPS, etc.) has influenced our lives--for both good and bad? So, would it surprise you to know that "technology" shows up in the Bible and plays a vital role in God's story? In this Discover the Word study, the group explores several stories where technology plays a role. And as we study those passages together, we may find wisdom and freedom for how to use tech well in our modern world to draw us closer to God and others. 

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It's astonishing how technology (smartphones, tablets, laptops, GPS, etc.) has influenced our lives--for both good and bad? So, would it surprise you to know that "technology" shows up in the Bible and plays a vital role in God's story? In this Discover the Word study, the group explores several stories where technology plays a role. And as we study those passages together, we may find wisdom and freedom for how to use tech well in our modern world to draw us closer to God and others. 

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Have you thought much about Jesus’s earthly family and His heavenly family and the impact they all had on His life? Discover what we can learn from people like Mary, Joseph, and the Trinity! 

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While Old Testament genealogies often include lists of fathers and sons, join us to explore the four women who are presented in the genealogy of Jesus. Discover their important stories as you celebrate Christmas! 

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How is God celebrated in the Bible and how can this inspire your celebration of God throughout the coming year? Join us to discover some of the many praiseworthy qualities that Psalm 95 reveals about our mighty God!

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