Welcome to Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind , where we revisit past episodes of the Lifespring family of podcasts so you can hear the entire Bible read in one year. In this episode we are in the Gospel of Matthew, reading chapters 8 through 10, and then spending some time in Matthew 10 thinking about what it really means to confess Christ openly in a world that is often hostile to Him. Today’s Reading Today’s reading is Matthew 8–10 . These chapters show Jesus healing the sick, calming storms, casting out demons, calling Matthew, raising the dead, opening blind eyes, and then sending His disciples out with authority to preach, heal, and confront spiritual darkness. It is an action packed section of Scripture that reminds us that Jesus has real authority over disease, nature, demons, and people. If you would like to follow along in your own Bible or online, you can read Matthew 8–10 on Bible Gateway . Key Thoughts from Matthew 10 In the commentary segment, I focus on Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 about confessing Him before people. Jesus says that if we confess Him before others, He will confess us before His Father in heaven, and if we deny Him before others, He will deny us before the Father. Those are strong words, and they underline how important it is that our faith in Christ is not hidden or purely private. I share a line from an old song by Gary S. Paxton that has stayed with me for decades: if you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? My prayer is that in my own life there would be so much evidence that it would be the world’s shortest trial. This episode is an invitation for you to think about what your “evidence” looks like, too. We also look at Jesus’ warning that following Him can cause division even inside families. He is not telling us to be harsh or unloving, but He is clear that loyalty to Him comes before every other relationship. At the same time He reminds us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and that whatever we lose for His sake is nothing compared to what we gain. On This Date in Church History In the On This Date in Church History segment for November 15 we look at three believers whose lives still speak today: George Müller – Known for caring for thousands of orphans in England while relying on prayer rather than fundraising campaigns. His journals record specific answers to prayer in remarkable detail. You can learn more about him on his biographical page . Billy Sunday – The former baseball player turned evangelist whose fast paced preaching drew huge crowds during the early twentieth century, including a major campaign in Boston in 1917. Jim Elliot – The young missionary to Ecuador who was killed in 1956 while attempting to share the gospel with the Waorani people. His journal line, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose,” continues to inspire many believers today. You can read more about him here . Taken together, Müller, Sunday, and Elliot remind us to trust God for daily provision, to respond to His call with boldness, and to hold our lives loosely for the sake of Christ. Prayer Segment In this season of Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind , the prayer segment is current, not a rewind. I share a fresh request about a friend who has been deeply hurt by others and invite you to join me in praying for healing, reconciliation, and wisdom. I also encourage listeners who have not yet trusted Christ to come to Him, ask for forgiveness, and begin a real relationship with Him today. If you have a praise report or prayer request, I would be honored to pray for you on the show. Visit prayer.lifespringmedia.com to send it in. Support the Show This podcast follows the value for value model. There are no advertisers, which means the show continues only as listeners who find value in it return value in the form of time, talent, or treasure. Time – Tell someone about Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind . Share the episode, rate or review the show, or mention it to a friend, family member, or someone at church. Talent – If you have skills you would like to contribute, such as artwork or music, I would love to hear from you. Treasure – To send financial support, visit support.lifespringmedia.com . You can give a one time gift or set up ongoing support in an amount that makes sense for you. However you choose to support the show, thank you. You help keep the Bible in earbuds and hearts around the world. Get Help with Bible Names If pronouncing Bible names has ever tripped you up, you might find my book Webb’s Easy Bible Names Pronunciation Guide helpful. I spent more than two years putting it together, and many pastors, teachers, and students have used it to gain confidence when reading Scripture aloud. You can learn more or order a copy at EasyBibleNamesGuide.com . Connect I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode, especially about confessing Christ in today’s world. You can leave a comment at comment.
