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🎧 Welcome!

What drives you? Is it career success, personal fulfillment, or something deeper?

In today’s episode, we turn to Romans 15:14–33, where Paul shares a personal reflection near the end of his great theological letter. He reveals his own God-given ambition—not to build on another’s work, but to preach Christ where He was not yet known. Paul's words challenge us to consider our own goals in life and whether they are shaped by the gospel and empowered by the Spirit.

Join us as we explore:

• Why Paul reminds the Romans of what they already know
• What true Christian ambition looks like
• How Paul’s vision for mission shaped his life and travels
• How our daily faithfulness can become a spiritual offering to God

This episode invites you to reflect deeply: not just on what your ambition is, but what it could be in Christ.

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👋 Welcome

Welcome back to The Bible Project Daily Podcast, where we take the Bible one verse at a time and apply it to everyday life. In today’s episode, we tackle one of the most practical and often perplexing issues in Christian community life: what do we do when believers disagree about morally “grey” areas?

Based on Romans 15:1–13, Paul offers a Spirit-filled, Christ-like solution that goes beyond rule-keeping and gets to the heart of Christian unity and self-sacrificial love. Whether you're the "strong" believer walking in freedom or the "weaker" one wrestling with conscience, Paul has a word for all of us.

📖 Episode Summary

In this episode:

• We explore the tension that arises in the church over disputable matters—those morally neutral or unclear issues where believers differ in conscience.
• Paul’s answer? The “strong” in faith are called not to please themselves but to bear with and build up the weak—just as Christ did not please Himself.
• We break down Paul’s structure: an exhortation, an example in Christ, and a prayer for unity.
• Finally, Paul turns to all believers—calling everyone to accept one another as Christ accepted us, so that with one voice we may glorify God together.

🧩 Key Themes

• Spiritual Maturity is shown in Sacrifice, not self-assertion
• Unity comes through mutual acceptance, not uniformity
• Christ is our model—He bore reproach to bring us peace
• Scripture and prayer anchor us in hope, even when we differ

📌 Takeaway

Not every issue requires a verdict—some require love, humility, and patience. Paul’s solution to “doubtful things” is not to win the argument, but to build one another up in Christ.

Welcome to One Shalom! We are two young adults who have a burden to share the shalom...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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Welcome:

This episode explores the tension between Christian freedom and individual conscience. Drawing from Romans 14:14–23, we look at how Paul addresses the differences between believers who feel free in amoral matters (like food or drink) and those whose consciences are more sensitive. Rather than judging one another, Paul calls Christians to walk in love, especially when their liberty might cause others to stumble. This is not legalism—it’s kingdom-minded maturity.

Two Key Principles (Romans 14:14–15):

1. “Nothing is unclean in itself” (v.14) — Amoral things are not inherently sinful. But if a person believes it’s wrong, it becomes sinful for them.
2. “You are no longer acting in love” (v.15) — Causing someone grief or to stumble due to your actions, even if permissible, is unloving.

Three Key Conclusions:

1. Verse 16 – Don’t let your good (freedom) be spoken of as evil. Love may mean yielding your rights.
2. Verse 19 – Pursue peace and mutual edification. Build up rather than tear down.
3. Verse 22 – Keep your convictions between yourself and God. Don’t parade your liberty if it harms others.

Kingdom Priorities (v.17): The Kingdom of God isn’t about eating or drinking—it’s about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Spiritual joy is greater than momentary indulgence.

Final Reflection: Walking in love might mean giving up things you’re free to enjoy—out of care for others’ spiritual growth. That’s not legalism, that’s maturity. It’s the difference between worldly wisdom and the peaceable wisdom James 3 speaks of.

Quote from James 3: “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable…”

Main Takeaway: True Christian maturity isn’t about asserting your rights—it’s about laying them down in love to protect the conscience and growth of your fellow believers.

Call to Action: Consider areas in your life where your freedom might be misunderstood or become a stumbling block. Are you walking in love?

Subscribe to TBPDP Stay connected as we walk through the Book of Romans and learn to apply God’s Word in real, practical ways.

Support the Podcast: [https://www.patreon.com/JeremyMcCandless]

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🎙️ Welcome to The Bible Project Daily Podcast

Thanks for joining me on this journey through the Bible—chapter by chapter, verse by verse.

Each episode, we dig deep into Scripture, reflect theologically, and consider how God's Word speaks into our everyday lives. Whether you're listening on your commute, during a quiet moment, or while doing the dishes, I pray these reflections encourage and challenge you to follow Jesus more closely.

If you find this helpful, consider subscribing and sharing it with a friend. Let's grow in the Word together.

📖 Episode Title:

Don’t Argue Over Doubtful Things
Romans 14:1–13

✏️ Episode Summary:

In today’s episode, we reflect on the Apostle Paul's plea for unity in the church—even when Christians disagree on non-essential matters.

Whether it’s food, Sabbath observance, or other grey areas of conscience and conviction, Paul’s message is clear: don’t pass judgment or treat each other with contempt. We explore the difference between the strong and weak in faith, the danger of legalism, and why unity does not require uniformity.

At the heart of it all is a call to live unto the Lord—because every believer belongs to Him, not to us.

🧭 Key Themes:

• Christian liberty vs. personal conscience
• Unity over uniformity
• Judging others vs. receiving them in love
• The Lordship of Christ over every believer
• Living with conviction—unto the Lord

📚 Scripture References:

Romans 14:1–13
(With supporting insights from 1 Corinthians 8 and 1 Timothy 4)

📌 Quote to Remember:

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Welcome back to The Bible Project Daily Podcast! In today’s episode, we're exploring what really motivates the Christian life. Is it fear? Guilt? Love? Or something even deeper?

As we open Romans 13:11–14, the Apostle Paul tells us to wake up, not just because it’s morning—but because eternity is drawing near. What does it mean to live with a sense of urgency, with our eyes on the horizon of Christ’s return?

This passage isn’t just a call to behave better—it’s a wake-up call to live differently in light of the nearness of our salvation. So grab your Bible and let’s dig in together.

📄 Episode Notes: The Motivation of the Christian Believer (Romans 13:11–14)

Main Passage: Romans 13:11–14

Episode Summary:
In this episode, we reflect on one of the most urgent appeals in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Having spoken of motivations like fear, guilt, and love, Paul now introduces a deeper, time-sensitive motivation for the Christian life: the imminent return of Christ. The night is nearly over. The day is at hand. It’s time to wake up.

Together, we’ll unpack:

• What “salvation is nearer now” really means
• The three tenses of salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification
• Why the doctrine of Christ’s imminent return isn’t a modern invention, but a deeply biblical and early Christian conviction
• What it looks like to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” today

Key Themes:

• Christian motivation
• The return of Christ
• Sanctification and urgency
• Living in the light of eternity
• The threefold structure of salvation

Quotes Referenced:

• Sanday & Headlam: “The language is that befitting those who expected the actual second coming of Christ almost immediately.”
• C.E.B. Cranfield: “The kingdom of God has come close... now actually confronting them in the person of Jesus.”

Takeaway:
Paul doesn’t want us to live in spiritual sleepwalking mode. He wants us to live awake—alert to the fact that the Lord is at the door. Are you living like that today?

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In today’s episode, we move beyond the practical politics of tax and submission and explore the deeper calling of Christian citizenship—not just within the state, but among the people who share our streets, schools, and shopping centres.

What does it mean to owe nothing... except love? And how can this unpayable debt of love shape the way we live with our neighbours, even the difficult ones?

Join us as we consider Paul's vision of public holiness, where the gospel calls us not only to obey authority, but to honour others, respect the dignity of all, and above all, to love without limits.

Episode Notes:

• Main Scripture: Romans 13:8–10
• Key Theme: The Christian’s ongoing “debt” to love others as the fulfilment of the law.
• Summary:
  This episode continues our look at Romans 13 by turning from our obligations to the state (verses 1–7) to our responsibilities within it. Paul teaches that love is not optional—it’s a divine debt we can never fully repay. From the marketplace to the motorway, our lives as believers are marked not merely by rule-following, but by neighbour-loving.
• Topics Covered:
  • The difference between financial debt and spiritual obligation
  • What “Owe no one anything” really means
  • Why love is the one debt that never disappears
  • How public love fulfils God’s law
  • The connection between home, church, and civic life
• Reflection:
  “The debt of love remains with us permanently and never leaves us; this is a debt which we both discharge every day and forever owe.” – Origen

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Episode Summary: In this episode on Christian citizenship, we explore Romans 13:1–7, the most comprehensive New Testament passage on a believer's relationship to government. Paul makes a compelling case that governing authorities are ordained by God and that submission to them is a form of submission to God's providential order. We unpack what it means to live faithfully under human governments—just or unjust—and how our ultimate allegiance to God's authority informs our public and civic responsibilities.

Main Themes:

• The universal call for Christians to submit to governing authorities (v.1)
• Government's divine institution and God's sovereignty over human rulers (v.1–2)
• Resistance to government as resistance to God (v.2)
• Government as God's servant to commend good and punish evil (v.3–4)
• The Christian's dual motive for obedience: conscience and fear of judgment (v.5)
• The legitimacy of state authority in collecting taxes and maintaining order (v.6–7)

Key Points:

• Submission to government is grounded in submission to God, not in the moral merit of the state itself.
• All authority, including governmental, is ultimately from God—even flawed or unjust rulers exist by God's sovereign allowance.
• Christians should be known for their integrity, lawfulness, and peaceable conduct within society.
• The government bears the sword not in vain—it has the God-given right and responsibility to administer justice.
• Obedience to the state does not override our obedience to God, but it expresses our trust in God's providence.

Applications for Today:

• Christians must grapple with the tension of living as citizens of heaven and residents of earthly nations.
• Our critique of government must always be tempered by the recognition of God's hand in history.
• Active, respectful civic engagement is part of our Christian witness.
• We must resist lawlessness and chaos, even as we pursue justice and righteousness.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How does recognizing God’s sovereignty over government change your attitude toward political authorities?
2. Are there limits to Christian submission to the state? When and how should believers resist?
3. In what ways can Christians be faithful citizens without compromising their ultimate loyalty to Christ?

Further Reading:

• Daniel 4:17 — God's sovereignty over human kingdoms
• Acts 25–28 — Paul's respectful engagement with Roman authority
• Matthew 22:15–22 — Jesus on rendering to Caesar and to God

Next Episode: In Part Two, we will explore the boundaries of submission—when governments command what God forbids or forbid what God commands. How should believers respond when earthly and heavenly authority collide?

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The Bible is unmistakably clear on one thing: that love stands at the center of our Christian life. We are commanded to love God, to love one another, to love our families, our neighbours, and even our enemies.

That being so, it’s reasonable to ask: What exactly is love?

Today’s passage teaches us not just what love looks like, but how it behaves. It begins with the command:

Summary of Love in the Church:

• Put others first (vv. 10–12)
• Provide for those in need (v. 13)
• Practice hospitality (v. 13)

But beginning in verse 14, Paul shifts the focus outward—to love for all people, even enemies.

Most commentators agree: these are instructions about how we love our fellow human beings, not just fellow believers. That said, even if aimed at relationships within the church, the effect of such love is a powerful witness to the outside world.

Five Commands of Christian Love Toward the World:

Command One:

Christian love doesn’t retaliate with words or actions. When wronged, we bless. Speak kindly, not flattery, but grace. Even in persecution, love blesses.

Command Two:

Love is emotionally present. Love enters into others’ joy and sorrow. It celebrates sincerely and weeps compassionately. Love shares the experience of others.

Command Three:

This is a call to humility and unity. Love sees value in everyone. Don’t network upward; relate humbly. Love looks around, not up.

Command Four:

Love refuses to strike back. It doesn’t even the score. It seeks what is right, honourable, and healing. Paul is realistic: peace may not always be possible, but as far as it depends on us, we pursue it.

Command Five:

This is the climax. Don’t take justice into your own hands. Trust God with vengeance. Your role is mercy. Love your enemy by feeding them, caring for them. This disarms hostility and brings transformation. Love absorbs evil and overcomes it with good.

Conclusion:

These five commands reveal the heart of true love: it blesses enemies, shares in joy and sorrow, walks in humility, refuses to retaliate, and entrusts justice to God. In doing so, it mirrors

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