Discover the Word Podcast

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.  

Reflect 
Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? 
Psalm 34:3 
How does this invite you into communal worship? 
Romans 13:12-13 
How does this invite you into the sanctification process—that Jesus accomplishes in us? 
Galatians 6:9 
How does this invite you to keep going? 
1 John 4:7 
How does this invite you to receive and share God’s love? 
1 John 3:18 
How does this invite you to live out love and not just feel love? 
 
Respond 
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 
“Jesus, help me embrace the Bible’s invitations to be more like You. Help me worship You. Help me receive the process of sanctification that You accomplish. Help me keep going when things are hard, knowing that You will provide a harvest on the other side. Help me receive and share Your love—by living it out around me.”  

Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources
Mentioned in this episode:
Become an Our Daily Bread Ambassador 
Listen: 
Spiritual Habits and Training | Week 1   
Spiritual Habits and Training | Week 2   
Read: 
Healthy Habits for Spiritual Growth    
The Ordinary Life of Jesus  
Watch: 
New Life in Christ    
Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life

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. 

Reflect 
Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? 
Hebrews 4:14 
How does this invite you to hold fast to your faith? 
Hebrews 4:16  
How does this invite you into prayer? 
Hebrews 6:1  
How does this invite you into spiritual maturity? 
Hebrews 10:22-24  
How does this invite you to draw near to God? 
Hebrews 12:1 
How does this invite you to run your appointed race with Jesus? 

Respond 
(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 
“Jesus, thank you for the invitation throughout Scripture to live with You together with other believers. Help us hold fast to our faith, approach You in prayer, grow in spiritual maturity, stay near to You, and run our appointed race with You.”  
Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources
Mentioned in this episode: 
Start Your Our Daily Bread Subscription   
Listen: 
Spiritual Habits and Training | Week 1  
Spiritual Habits and Training | Week 2  
Read: 
Understanding the Bible: The Letter to the Hebrews   
Healthy Habits for Spiritual Growth   
Watch: 
New Life in Christ   
Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life

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.   

Reflect 
Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? 
1 Kings 12:26-30 
Exodus 32:4-6 
Nehemiah 9:18 
1 Kings 12:31-33 
Amos 5:18-24 
Revelation 7:5-8 
Acts 15:1-5 
Acts 15:13-18 
Jeroboam worshipped God with calf idols which subordinated God (see 1 Kings 12:26-30). Is there a way you may set out to worship God which could actually subordinate Him to other things?  
Jeroboam divided the religion in northern Israel from the religion in southern Israel for his own purposes (see 1 Kings 12:31-33). What caution can you take away about the danger of distorting God’s ways with personalized religion? 
The northern Israelites got some things wrong in how they worshipped God (see Amos 5:18-24). What is one way that justice can be included as you worship God? 
God's redemption is described in both the Old Testament (from Amos 9:11-12) and the New Testament (from Acts 15:13-18). How does this give you hope in God’s restoration of all things? 
 
Respond 

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 
“Jesus, help me to worship You above everything else and prevent me from subordinating You to anything else. Help me to focus on Your ways and prevent me from distorting Your ways with my own ways. Help me see opportunities to include justice as I worship You. And fill me with assurance that you are restoring all things.”  
 
Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources 

Mentioned in this episode: 
The Holy Land: Connecting the Land with Its Stories   
Listen: 
My Three Sons   
Am I That Hard to Love?  
Read: 
Noah: Hope in the Waters of Remaking  
Redemption’s Hope   
Watch: 
A New Identity: The Gospel of Matthew  
Loving Those Who’ve Fallen Away

While some Bible stories surprise us, they all help us understand more about God and His plan! Discover how God was faithful to redeem the tribe of Dan and all of Israel with special guest and archaeologist Dr. Jonathan Greer. 
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So much of Dan’s story leaves us saying “That's not the way it's supposed to be.” From his troubling conception to the Danites forced migration, this tribe does things their own way, mixing legitimate devotion to God with misguided methods of worshipping and serving Him. But ultimately, Dan, his family, and his city set the stage for the coming of the One who redeems all things into the way they should be.   
 
Reflect 
Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? 
Genesis 30:1-6 
Deuteronomy 27:11-13 
Judges 5:17 
Judges 1:34 
Judges 13:1 
Judges 17:1-18 
Judges 18:3-10 
Judges 18:27-19:1 
Dan’s conception began with his mother taking matters into her own hands (from Genesis 30:1-6). In what ways might you be taking a matter in your life into your own hands? 
Micah wanted to seek God but he didn’t involve God in the process (from Judges 17:1-18). In what ways might you be seeking God without involving Him? 
The Danites worshipped the true God but they did it in a false way (from Judges 18:3-10). In what ways might you be trying to worship God but miss Him in the process? 
 
Respond 

(Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) 
“Jesus, help me seek You and find You and worship You with the right motivations. Show me when I may be getting off track following You with the wrong motivations, and lead me to stay on track.”  
 
Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources 

Mentioned in this episode: 
The Holy Land: Connecting the Land with Its Stories   
Listen: 
My Three Sons   
Am I That Hard to Love?  
Read: 
Noah: Hope in the Waters of Remaking  
Redemption’s Hope   
Watch: 
A New Identity: The Gospel of Matthew  
Loving Those Who’ve Fallen Away

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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