The Bible Project Daily Podcast

Send us a textFew stories have entered the cultural bloodstream like A Christmas Carol. First published in December 1843, it was an instant success—selling out its first edition within days and never going out of print since.At its heart, A Christmas Carol is a gospel narrative. Ebenezer Scrooge begins as a man enslaved by greed, isolated by pride, and blind to the grace of others. He is like the rich fool of Luke 12, hoarding wealth while at the same time starving his own soul. But through the visitation of three spirits, representing past memories, Judgment, and Mercy, he is transformed. His journey is not just psychological—it is spiritual. It is the journey of repentance in story form.Culturally, Dickens, through this story, reshaped our idea of Christmas itself. Before A Christmas Carol, the holiday was fading in England—seen by many as old-fashioned, even unnecessary. Dickens revived it with this book.But probably more important is the fact that he gave us the language of generosity and gave unction to the conviction that Christmas is a time for compassion. In doing so, he did more than entertain—he evangelized a whole culture. He preached a gospel of joy to a society that had all but forgotten it. For us friends, this episode is not just a beloved tale—it’s a spiritual truth. Revealing that no heart is too hard for God’s grace to reach. That no soul is too lost for redemption. And that Christmas, at its core, is not about sentiment—it is about salvation. Happy Christmas.Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textThe subject of today’s episode is one we usually avoid in polite conversation, and honestly, I have never heard it addressed from the pulpit. We’re talking about the decision to take one's own life, suicide. I know that just saying the word can cause a tightening in the chest. But we have to talk about it, because 1 Samuel 31 very clearly ends with King Saul taking his own life.If you, or if you know someone is struggling, I want you to hear me clearly: There is hope. Before you go any further, I want you to write a number down. Put it in your phone. In the US, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is 988. In the UK, it’s an organization called The Samaritans, and you can call them free on 116 123 They're free, it’s confidential, and it’s available 24/7. Please, don't try to walk through that "narrow" place alone.My New book, "The Renewed Mind", available now at;https://amzn.eu/d/0RkxBbgSupport the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textOne of the most infamous characters in all of literature is, without a doubt, Ebenezer Scrooge. From A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. In it he paints a picture of a man who is the very definition of mean-spirited.  But the beauty of that story is the ending. It concludes with a radical transformation. The skinflint becomes a gentle, kind soul.But here is the question that prompts us in the real world: Is that actually possible? Can a greedy, stingy person really be transformed into a generous one? Or is that just a nice Christmas story, almost a fairy tale we tell ourselves at Christmas? Today, I want to take you to a desperate moment in the Old Testament—tucked away in 1 Samuel Chapter 30—that answers that question. It shows us not just what generosity looks like, but the intense pressure cooker required to produce it….Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textScripture repeatedly assures us that God protects those who trust Him. That truth is woven all through the Bible. But here’s a question that may surprise you. Does God ever protect people when they are not really trusting in Him very? The answer, remarkably, is yes. There is an episode in the life of David where God protects him in precisely that way—quietly, unexpectedly, and without David asking for it. And that episode is found in 1 Samuel chapter 29.  What makes this passage so striking is not just that God protects David, but how He does it, and why He does it.To get my latest book, "The Renewed Mind - A Spiritual Path to Overcoming Depression and Anxiety". https://amzn.eu/d/dL4oIYqSupport the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textThis episode was originally released as a Patreon-only special episode on the 10th May 2025.Mindfulness The 1970’s Buddhist appropriation of Prayer and Reflection.Thích Nhất Hạnh, the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, peace activist, and prolific author, stands as one of the most influential contemporary figures in introducing Buddhist thought, particularly mindfulness meditation, to Western audiences. His 1975 work, "The Miracle of Mindfulness," offered an introduction to mindfulness, not merely as a spiritual technique but as an encompassing way of life. Hạnh’s message, deeply rooted in Mahayana Buddhism and Vietnamese Zen traditions, is characterized by gentleness and commitment to nonviolence.While these teachings on presence and compassion have resonated with individuals across various religious and secular paths, their underlying metaphysical assumptions present significant divergences when viewed from a Christian worldview.Themes:1. The Nature of the Self: Created Dignity vs. Illusory Ego2. The Problem of Suffering: Moral Transgression vs. Karmic Ignorance3. The Path to Liberation: Divine Redemption vs. Self-Realization4. Temporal Presence and Eternal Hope: The Trajectory of Time5. The Nature of the Divine: Personal God vs. Non-Theistic InterbeingConclusion: Christians must be anchored in a Different NarrativeThích Nhất Hạnh’s "The Miracle of Mindfulness" offers some insights into the idea of living in the moment, but in my opinion, not adding anything to what the Stoics taught 2000+ years ago. However, from a Christian theological perspective, its foundational assumptions about the self, suffering, salvation, time, and the nature of ultimate reality diverge significantly from the Christian worldview.Christianity anchors its understanding of life and its spiritual practices in a revealed narrative: the story of creation by a personal God, the tragic fall of humanity into sin, the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and the promised hope of future restoration and eternal communion with God. This narrative provides a framework where the self is not an illusion to be overcome but a creation to be redeemed, where suffering finds its ultimate answer not in mindful detachment alone but in the sacrificial love of God, and where the present moment, while sacred, points towards an eternal future in relationship with a personal, loving Creator.A full essay presenting my views to an entirely secular readership/audience can be found on my Substack. Sign up and follow me there for access to future posts in blog and essay format.https://open.substack.com/pub/jeremymccandless/p/a-christian-reflection-on-thich-nhat?r=2r7o2c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueSupport the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com