Encounter with God Together

Genesis 1This week on Encounter with God Together, host Gail Martin welcomes back Matt Eberflus, assistant head coach of defense for the San Francisco 49ers, for week three of our “Coaches in the Word” series. Matt shares how the NFL Coaches Fellowship has carried him through the peaks and valleys of professional sports, the colleague who first noticed Christ at work in his life, and the mentor who drew him in. Together they dig into the opening verses of Genesis, finding fresh wonder in familiar words: the joy of simply resting in the truth that God created, and a powerful picture of how the Spirit hovers over our own formless beginnings before transforming us.Following along with the Encounter with God daily Bible reading guide? Find it at scriptureunion.org. Featured Guest: Matt Eberflus, assistant head coach of defense for the San Francisco 49ersMatt Eberflus is the assistant head coach of defense for the San Francisco 49ers, a role he stepped into in 2026. A Toledo, Ohio native and former college linebacker at the University of Toledo, he brings more than three decades of coaching experience to the sidelines. He previously served as head coach of the Chicago Bears (2022–2024), defensive coordinator for both the Dallas Cowboys and the Indianapolis Colts and spent seventeen years coaching at the collegiate level before entering the NFL. Known around the league for his defensive expertise and disciplined, opportunistic units, Matt is also a devoted follower of Christ who came to faith just over a decade ago and has been an active member of the NFL Coaches Fellowship ever since.

Romans 14:10–15:33In this episode of Encounter with God Together, Gail Martin welcomes Chris Foerster, assistant head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, for week two of the special "Coaches in the Word" series, reflecting on Romans.Chris shares part of the origin story of the NFL coaches' fellowship—a group that began roughly 25 years ago when he, Tony Dungy, and Vikings chaplain Tom Lamphere started meeting together in Scripture using the Encounter with God daily Bible guide. His connection to this community runs deep, going all the way back to a college Bible study at Colorado State.Reflecting on this week's readings from Romans, Chris zeroes in on the call not to criticize but to stir up goodness, peace, and joy. He poses a convicting question from the devotional: Did Jesus merely tolerate us, or did he love us? That distinction, Chris says, should change how we treat everyone around us—on the field and off.Chris gets personal about what a life of service looks like in the high-pressure world of the NFL, how Tony Dungy's teaching-first philosophy shaped his coaching career, and why he believes we're blessed in order to bless others.📖 Follow along with the Encounter with God daily Bible reading guide at scriptureunion.orgFeatured Guest: Chris Foerster, Assistant Head Coach of the San Francisco 49ersChris Foerster is the assistant head coach and offensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers, currently in his 11th overall season with the organization. A Colorado State alumnus, Chris began his NFL coaching career with the Minnesota Vikings in 1992 and went on to coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, and Washington Redskins before his long tenure in San Francisco. Over more than three decades in the league, he has helped develop Pro Bowl linemen and Hall of Famers, including Jonathan Ogden, Joe Staley, and Jeff Christy. Chris is a founding member of the NFL coaches' Bible study fellowship, where he and fellow coaches have been reading Scripture together using the Encounter with God daily Bible guide for over 25 years.

Romans 11:36–14:9Join SU President, Gail Martin and guest Tony Dungy, Pro Football Hall of Famer, reflecting on a new week of Scripture readings from the Book of Romans.Featured Guest: Tony Dungy, Pro Football Hall of FamerTony Dungy is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Super Bowl-winning head coach, bestselling author, and one of the most respected voices in professional football. Over a 13-year head coaching career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1996–2001) and Indianapolis Colts (2002–2008), he compiled a 148–79 record and became the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl when the Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. He holds a number of NFL firsts, including being the first head coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams, the youngest assistant coach in league history at age 25, and the youngest defensive coordinator at 28. Before coaching, Dungy played as a defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was part of their Super Bowl XIII championship team. Off the field, Dungy is known for his deep Christian faith and commitment to mentoring the next generation. He is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller Quiet Strength, and has served as an analyst on NBC's Football Night in America. He and his wife Lauren are the parents of ten children — three biological and seven adopted — and have been foster parents to dozens more. In 2001, Tony co-founded a Bible study fellowship among NFL coaches that continues to this day, now spanning 15–20 teams across the league and using Scripture Union's Encounter with God as its daily devotional guide.

Join SU President, Gail Martin and guest Emmanuel Jackson Foltz, Family Pastor at Roxborough Church, to introduce a new week of Scripture readings from the Book of Romans.Together, they explore what it means to be prepared to explain and live out one’s faith with confidence, clarity, and authenticity. Drawing on Paul’s teachings in Romans, the conversation encourages viewers to:Understand the foundations of Christian beliefEngage thoughtfully with questions and doubts about faithPractice spiritual readiness in everyday life and conversationsYou can subscribe to the daily Bible reading God, Encounter with God, via print, email or online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ScriptureUnion.org#romans #biblereading #encounterwithgod #apologetics

2 Chronicles 32:24-36:23SU-USA President Gail Martin is joined this week by Whitney Kuniholm, SU President Emeritus, as they discuss readings in the book of 2 Chronicles.You can subscribe to the daily Bible reading God, Encounter with God, via print, email or online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ScriptureUnion.org Featured Guest: Whitney T. Kuniholm, SU President EmeritusMr. Kuniholm is President Emeritus of Scripture Union, USA. He is a speaker and the author of several books on personal and group Bible study, including The Essential Series, three church-wide Bible reading programs based on his books. To date, the Essential Series has reached more than 20 million people and has been translated into 25 languages.

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