Veritas

Podcast for October 4-10

What “Hypocrite” Means to Jesus

In Matthew 6, Jesus transitions from sharing a vision for righteousness that fulfills the Torah and Prophets to talking about how true righteousness impacts religious practices. Religious practices—like prayer, serving the poor, or generosity—are meant to align our hearts with God. But Jesus noticed that many people in his day were doing religious practices to promote their own name and status. He called this behavior hypocrisy, which meant something different to him that it does to us today. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the original meaning of the word “hypocrite” and the differing motivations people can have for doing right by God and others.

https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/what-hypocrite-means-jesus/

As you listen to the podcast, reflect on these questions. Feel free to post your thoughts below.

1. What was one thing that stood out to you while you listened to the podcast regarding the difference between what hypocrisy meant in Jesus’ day versus what it means to us today?

2. What is one thing you sense God is saying to you through the podcast and what will you do about it? How can Veritas help you embody that thing in your life?

Podcast for September 27-October 3

Why Does Jesus Want Us to Love Our Enemies?

In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus shares his sixth and final case study based on the wisdom of the Torah, and it may be the most challenging one yet. The first three case studies focused on treating others as sacred image-bearers of God. The fourth and fifth case studies offered guidance on how to handle conflict. And in the final case study, Jesus concludes with wisdom on how to respond to people who not only dislike us but even desire our harm. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss one of Jesus’ most famous teachings: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/why-does-jesus-want-us-love-our-enemies/

This is probably one of the most challenging teachings Jesus ever taught. Our culture calls us to hate our enemies and take them down. But Jesus calls us to the hard Kingdom work of actually loving our enemies. So take some time this week to reflect on this difficult teaching. And dialogue around these questions.

1. Who might you label as an enemy? How have you “hated” them? By words, thoughts, or actions? How might you seek to love them? Where do you need the power of the Holy Spirit to show your enemies love?

2. What might loving your enemy look like this week for you?

Podcast for September 20-26

What Jesus Means by “Turn the Other Cheek”

In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus offers wisdom from the Torah about retaliation, justice, and nonviolent resistance to injustice. He references a series of laws in Exodus 21, Leviticus 24, and Deuteronomy 19, all of which contain the familiar language of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” Jesus reveals the surprising wisdom within these laws, using real-life scenarios that would have been familiar to oppressed Israelites living under Roman occupation: turning the other cheek, giving your cloak, and going the extra mile. In this episode, Jon, Tim, and Michelle discuss how these actions can open up our imaginations for boldly standing against injustice in creative, nonviolent ways.

https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/what-jesus-means-turn-other-cheek/

After listening to this podcast, take some time to reflect on what you heard and then think through these questions:

1. How did this podcast challenge your preconceived notion of what turning the other cheek actually means? Were you surprised by its actual meaning?

2. How might you live out the meaning of Turning the Other Cheek in the everday ordinary spaces of life? What might turning the other cheek look like for you?

Podcast for the week of September 13-19

Why Does Jesus Say Not to Swear Oaths?

In Matthew 5:33-48, Jesus offers three case studies about how people can work together in spite of conflict. The first case study focuses on the ancient practice of oath keeping. By the time of Jesus, ancient Israelites no longer spoke the divine name of Yahweh out of respect, but they would still swear oaths by things closely related to God—like the sky, land, temple, etc. Some people used these oaths as a loophole because they felt less serious to break (“I only swore by the temple!”). In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss Jesus’ teaching on oaths, which demonstrates God’s wisdom on the integrity of our words and the danger of even small deceptions.

https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/why-does-jesus-say-not-swear-oaths/

As you listen to this podcast this coming week here are some questions to process.

1. Where does this teaching apply to your everyday life? How often do you flippantly make “oaths” (i.e., promises)? How many times have you said “I swear to God,” to bring weight to what you said?

2. How can you be the kind of person whose ‘yes’ is ‘yes’ and whose ‘no’ is ‘no’? How can you be a person of integrity? How might you develop as a person of integrity?

Podcast for September 6-12

How Jesus Responded to the Divorce Debate

In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus offers a quote from the Torah about when it is lawful to divorce, and then he shares his perspective. But what is the context of these words, and how would Jesus’ original audience have heard them? It’s easy for modern readers to miss, but Jesus is entering a longstanding debate concerning a passage about divorce in Deuteronomy 24—and his take is surprising. In this episode, Jon, Tim, and special guest Jeannine Brown discuss the story surrounding divorce in ancient Israel, the Bible’s ideal of covenant loyalty, and the wisdom we can find in Scripture to navigate divorce in our culture today.

https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/how-jesus-responded-divorce-debate/

After you have listened to the podcast spend some time reflecting on these questions.

1. What surprised you most in this episode?

2. Where did this teaching touch down in your life? How might what you learned and heard impact how you live, serve, and engage with those in the world around you as a follower of Jesus committed to the way of the Kingdom of God?

Veritas Prayer E-Mail- September 2026 -

Veritas Prayer E-Mail- September 2026

Podcast for August 30-September 5

Jesus’ Vision for S*x and Desire

In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus references the Torah’s command to not commit adultery (Exod. 20:14), going on to say that any man who lusts (or “goes on looking”) at a woman commits adultery with her in his heart. So what is his solution to avoid lust? Cut off a hand and gouge out an eye! Whoa—what is Jesus talking about? In this episode, Jon, Tim, and special guest Lucy Peppiatt discuss the meaning and impact of lust, the Bible’s original ideal for men and women, and Jesus’ countercultural vision for s*x and marriage in the Kingdom of the skies.

https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/jesus-vision-s*x-and-desire/

Spend some time next week listening to the Podcast (if you have kids, I would listen to this podcast while they aren’t around). And spend time reflecting on Jesus’ countercultural vision for s*x and marriage.

1. What most surprised you in this episode? Why did it surprise you?

2. What is one take away from the podcast that you can apply to you life this week?

Podcast for August 23-29

Why Do the Beatitudes Matter for the Overworked and Hopeless?

Why do we not find the Sermon on the Mount in the gospels of Mark or John? Why is “blessed” not a good translation of the word makarios? And if Jesus says that mourning, powerlessness, and poverty are the key to the good life, should we pursue those things? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from the first seven episodes of the Sermon on the Mount series. Thank you to our audience for your incredible questions!

https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/why-do-beatitudes-matter-overworked-and-hopeless/

Take time to listen and think through these questions. Please feel free to share your thoughts below.

1. What is the one thing that stands out to you in this Q&A episode of the Bible Projec Podcast?

2. Which beatitude captures your attention? Why? How might you actively seek to practice that beatitude, with the help of the Holy Spirit, this week?

Ryan's sermon from the Northern Ohio District Conference last weekend. Sermon starts at right around the 30 minute mark...

Opening Worship, NOD COB DC 2026 Opening Worship for Northern Ohio District Conference 2026 August ...

Podcast: August 16-22

How Is Anger the Same as Murder?

In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus reveals the divine wisdom of Israel’s Old Testament laws through six case studies. In the first case study, he expounds on one of the Ten Commandments, “Do not murder” (Exod. 20:13). After acknowledging this command, Jesus takes it further by saying that anyone who is angry with his brother or publicly shames someone is also guilty of murder. What does he mean? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss Matthew 5:21-32, exploring key concepts—such as murder, contempt, and divine justice—and what they tell us about the value of human beings.

https://bibleproject.com/podcasts/how-anger-same-murder/

As you listen to this podcast think through these questions.

1. How have you recently dehumanized someone? In word, thought or deed? Have you confessed this to the individual and to God?

2. What do you sense God saying to you because of this teaching and what are you going to do about it?