Live the Bible with Wayne Stiles

What book of the Bible most intimidates you? For a long time, my answer was Revelation. But when I finally studied Revelation the way you’re supposed to study any book of the Bible—interpreting Scripture with Scripture—it quickly became one of my favorites!Revelation not only reveals what wonderful things lie ahead for those who believe in Christ, it also calls us to action here and now in a practical way. In this episode of ​Live the Bible​, we’re exploring both. I can’t wait to share the surprisingly simple application with you. Support the show

Your walk with God is worth fighting for. Or at least Scripture says we should think so. The little epistle of Jude begins by urging us to “contend earnestly” for the faith. What does that mean? And what does it mean for us right now? In this episode of ​Live the Bible​, we’re digging into Jude’s letter to find out two key steps we can apply today. Support the show

Who in your life has set a bad example? Perhaps you had a parent who disciplined out of anger. Or a pastor who wielded his Bible like a club. Or a boss who abused his or her power. It’s easy to dismiss such lousy leadership as incompetence, but Scripture says we can learn a lot from a bad example!In this episode of ​Live the Bible​, we’re turning to the book of 3 John to find out what those lessons are. They’re helpful ones we can all use—and apply—right away. Support the show

We love to hear the Beatles croon, “All you need is love.” And that sounds pretty basic to most of us. But—what is love? And what does it mean to love others? In this episode of ​Live the Bible​, we’ll open the seldom-seen book of 2 John, where God tells us exactly what love is—and why it must be joined with truth.Love and truth. We need them both. (Bonus: you get to hear me sing on this episode!) Support the show

There’s something inside us that hungers for resolution. We crave songs with the perfect last note and movies with the right ending. We need loose ends tied and conflicts resolved. And yet, we live in a world that’s unresolved.In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re looking to the book of 1 John for how to deal with that tension.It’s a simple—but powerful—solution that will bring lasting peace. Support the show

What if God's promises don’t fully come true in your lifetime?This episode of Live the Bible is the conclusion of the series on waiting on God seen through the life of Joseph. It ends just as God intended, with resurrection hope.Joseph’s story reminds us that waiting on God is never wasted, even when it stretches beyond what we can see or understand. Support the show

What if the hardest thing God asks you to do is forgive?In this episode of Live the Bible, we're looking at one of the most powerful moments in the life of Joseph—his long-awaited reunion with his brothers.If you’re carrying the weight of past hurt or struggling to let go, this episode will help you see your story differently. At the center of it all is a perspective that changes everything: what others intended for harm, God can use for good. Support the show

Surrender seems easy, until it costs you something.In this episode of ​Live the Bible​, we continue our journey through the life of Joseph by exploring how to let go of what you think you need in order to trust God with what He knows you need.As Joseph’s brothers reenter the story, they’re faced with an unexpected test. Like a sudden pop quiz, God’s tests have a way of exposing who we really are.If you’ve ever been caught off guard by circumstances that challenge your faith, this episode will help you understand what God may be doing beneath the surface. Support the show

What if the season that feels like loss is actually God’s process of preparation?In this episode of ​Live the Bible​, we continue our series on waiting on God by following Joseph into Egypt—a place of uncertainty, testing, and transformation.Joseph had already received a promise from God. But before that promise could be fulfilled, his character had to be refined.If you’re in a season where it feels like more is being taken away than given…where life feels like a series of setbacks rather than steps forward…this message will be a helpful reframe.What may look like an unjust setback could actually be part of God’s plan for your progress. The real question is: what is God producing in you right now? Support the show

What do you do when the life God promised looks nothing like the life you’re living?In this episode of Live the Bible, we begin a special five-part series on waiting on God through the life of Joseph. At just 17 years old, Joseph received a dream from God about his future—only to be betrayed by his own family and sold into slavery shortly after.It raises a question many of us quietly wrestle with: Did God forget His promise? If not, then what's going on?If you’ve ever felt stuck between what God said and what you’re experiencing, between hope and disappointment, this episode will meet you right there. Support the show

Are you tired of taking two steps forward and one step back?It’s exhausting! Thankfully, Scripture shows us a better way to live. In this episode of ​Live the Bible​, we’ll look in 2 Peter to learn how to keep the biblical essentials firmly in mind, so we can keep going when we're ready to quit. Do you know those essentials? Support the show

Has your road gotten way too rough? In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re turning to 1 Peter to discover what happens when the proverbial rubber meets the road in our Christian lives—and we just want to find the nearest exit.If you’re ready to quit, this episode has what you need to keep going. Support the show

The Bible is the best-selling book in history. Sounds like a good thing—and it is—but God’s goal isn’t for us to just have a stack of Bibles on the shelf. He wants us to, well, LIVE the Bible!In this episode of ​Live the Bible​, we’re turning to the book of James to find out exactly what that means and how to do it. (And why we must.)It’s a simple process anyone can follow—and you can start today.Support the show

How can we be sure our salvation is secure? And if our salvation IS secure no matter what we do, does it matter what we do? When we read the book of Hebrews, sometimes it seems the verses say both yes and no!In this episode of ​Live the Bible​, we’re tackling those confusing passages in Hebrews head on. With a little context, we’ll see that Hebrews holds the answers, not the problems. Support the show

Who in your life has hurt you so badly that a part of you died? I’m talking about that person who spoke too much or showed up too little, neglected too much or lashed out too often—someone who took advantage of you, or betrayed you, or abused you.How do you forgive that person?In this episode of Live the Bible, we look in the book of Philemon to learn how to truly let go and move on when forgiveness seems impossible. I urge you to listen now. Support the show

God’s grace is helpful for more than just the hereafter. It also works for this afternoon. As Christians, we know God’s grace secures our eternity. The question is: How can we apply it today—now?In this episode of ​Live the Bible,​ we’re turning to the book of Titus for the key to making the most of God’s amazing gift right now. Support the show

 How do you want to finish your life? That’s not an easy question to think about. When we’re young, we don’t think about it at all. And the older we get, the more distracted we get. Some folks would love to be distracted all the way to the grave.But God wants so much more for you than that. SO much more....In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re opening God’s Word to 2 Timothy to uncover the secret to living and finishing well. Support the show

There are 2,350 verses in the Bible about money. If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is! Why would God dedicate so much of His Word to our finances? Because money competes with God as the master of our lives more than anything else.Our world is fully invested in convincing us that we’re lacking; we always need more. Can we ever really be content? In this episode of Live the Bible, we’ll find the secret of contentment in the book of 1 Timothy.It’s a simple and reliable truth you can apply immediately. Support the show

Jesus is coming soon. But so what? If one thing is constant in this world, it’s that the news is bad. The simple fact is: the news is a business, and when tragedy strikes, business is good.But do today’s terrible headlines mean the end is near? And if so, so what??In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re looking at the truth about the end-times.Don’t worry! Above the clamor of our world’s bad news, Scripture proclaims the very BEST news we could imagine. Support the show

Most of us can recite the Lord’s Prayer without thinking.And that’s a problem. What if we’ve grown so familiar with it that we’ve missed what Jesus meant to teach us?In this episode of Live the Bible, I sit down with my longtime friend Brad Gray to talk about the Lord’s Prayer—where it came from, how Jesus intended it to shape our lives, and why it may be the most underutilized prayer among believers today.We talk Bible context, the Kingdom of God, forgiveness, daily dependence, and how this short prayer is meant to reorient our hearts every single day.You’ll find this episode encouraging, clarifying, and deeply practical. The Lord’s Prayer will never be the same.  Support the show

Your life is a marathon. And it’s tough. In today’s episode of Live the Bible, we get to gulp down some encouragement to keep going and growing in the hardest part of every marathon: the middle! What keeps you from giving up when you have so far to go?If you’re growing weary in the race, I’m here to cheer you on! Support the show

What defines you? In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re getting honest about how we see ourselves. Even though we know we shouldn’t, we tend to judge ourselves (and others) by the externals—our looks and our clothes, our jobs and our money, our cars and our kids, our houses and spouses.But take all that away. What defines you?The Scriptures hold the key to understanding who you truly are. Support the show

Why does it take some people so long to change? Who came to your mind when you read that question? Maybe a parent or a child, a boss or a friend, a spouse or even a pastor. You’ve prayed SO long for this person to change. But no matter what you do, nothing changes.WHY?We’ve all been there, asking that question—even the Apostle Paul. In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re traveling with him to Philippi, where we’ll find the surprising answer.Are you ready for the surprise? (It’s a good one!) Support the show

What does God say about the best way to use your time?From self-help books to leadership courses to employee reviews, time management is a big deal! And most of us want to know how to do it better. But does the Bible have anything to say about how to make the most of your time?This episode of Live the Bible may be one of the best uses of time for you this week.Whether you’re a time management pro or a habitual procrastinator, God’s secret for making the most of your time just might surprise you! Support the show

What if you could send spies into your future and report back to you what’s coming. Would you want to hear it?In this episode of Live the Bible, that’s exactly what happens. We get ready for the New Year with a look at how to fearlessly face the fabulous future God has planned for you. Our future will always have giants. But we can face them—in their many forms—as long as we don’t look at the size of the giants but at the size of our God! Support the show

The humble birth of Jesus Christ reveals a truth that, frankly, is shocking. In fact, it’s as surprising today as it was in the day Mary gave birth to Jesus in a Bethlehem barn.In this episode of Live the Bible, we take a special look at Christmas and its surprising truth. What truth? The pursuits of our lives and passions can easily get misplaced. Jesus shows us that the way up is down. The way to true greatness in the eyes of God is to be a servant to Him—and to others—just like Jesus was from the day He was born. Support the show

What are you planting this summer? In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re looking at the principle that we reap what we sow. Nature proves this is true. Just ask any gardener! What you plant is what you get, every time. But what does this basic gardening principle have to do with connecting the Bible to your life?Galatians has the answer—and it’s a good one! Listen now and let’s get planting.Support the show

If you could go back and undo your greatest mistake, would you?Of course, you would! I’d give my right arm for a chance like that. But we know too well that time never rewinds; we can’t undo our choices that cost us the most.We can’t change the past. But we CAN change the past that WILL be—and in this episode of Live the Bible, we’re turning to the book of Genesis to find out how. Support the show

When was the last time life hit you like a ton of bricks? In today’s episode of Live the Bible, we’re getting honest about just how hard and fast life can hit us. Divorce, job loss, illness, death, disaster—everything can change in a moment.When it does, it’s easy to wonder if God’s really the good and merciful Lord He says He is. Have you been there? I sure have.This message has hope for you when you’re hurting.Support the show

Think of the most powerful messages you’ve heard. Were they long or short?In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re looking at a chapter of Scripture that proves we don’t have to say a lot for our words to be powerful. I’m talking about 1 Corinthians chapter 13. In just thirteen short, inspired verses, Paul gets down to the essence of what it means to love. But is the kind of love Paul describes possible in a world of hurt?Again, the answer is short: YES. Support the show

What’s a question only you can answer? In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re opening our God’s Word to a book that’s like a candy store to me: Romans. Paul’s letter to the church in Rome is so chock-full of good stuff—it’s tough to choose what to dig into first! But today, I’ve got four questions from Romans for you, four questions only YOU can answer.I can hardly wait for you to hear these questions!Are you ready?Support the show

What do you do when God directs you down a path that makes no sense?Honestly, I’ve lost count of the number of times the Lord has led me in a direction that, well, just seems so terribly inefficient!In this episode of Live the Bible, we’ll be in the book of Acts to look at times Peter and Paul must have felt the same way. So often, we know where we’re headed; we feel ready. But instead of taking us on a direct path, the Lord throws in a hard left turn. We all know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so why does God always seem to take us the long way?There’s an answer, and it’s a good one!Support the show

Have you ever wondered why God chose a book to reveal Himself?In this new interview, I talk with my longtime friend and publishing expert Joel J. Miller about how books have shaped civilization—and how the Bible itself transformed human thought, language, and culture.Joel’s insight is remarkable. From Augustine’s moment in the garden to the invention of the printing press, he shows how the simple act of writing words on a page became God’s chosen way to speak to us—and still changes lives today.You’ll never look at your Bible (or your bookshelf) the same way again.Support the show

What’s your biggest challenge in life? In today’s episode of Live the Bible, we’re turning to the book of John to address one of my personal, biggest challenges: waiting.Little in this life is as hard as waiting—especially waiting on God. If only God would answer our prayers more quickly, if only He would say YES instead of NO when we’re desperate for Him to, if only He would speak up and show up when we want Him to, our lives would be so much easier. Right?It may feel that way, but the Scriptures show us what’s really true.Support the show

What can you do when the life God has promised you looks nothing like the life He has given you?Let’s ask that another way. How good are you at waiting on God?In this episode of Live the Bible, we look at a topic relevant to all of us who walk with God— and that is the struggle of waiting on Him.  Support the show

Okay, so I'll admit it.When you reach a certain age, your eyes start changing so that either reading up close or seeing things from a distance become challenging. (I can read up close but far off is a total blur.) Progressive lenses can help. But honestly? They take some getting used to!Life is a lot like this either/or perspective. We need the lenses of God's Word to see both the big picture AND what's right in front of us, at the same time.In this episode of Live the Bible, we're looking through the eyes of Joseph in Genesis 50. He had learned to see both today and eternity—and he shows us how we can do the same.  Support the show

We can't change the past . . .Or can we?As strange as it may sound, we can change the past that will be by how we live today.In this episode of Live the Bible, we're continuing our series in the life of Joseph, where we'll hear the final words from Joseph's father on his deathbed. These final words will help us best plan for yesterday—today.  Support the show

Let’s be honest. If the Bible doesn’t relate to our lives, what’s the point? We need truth to live by, not just truth that’s sounds nice. That brings us to today’s episode of Live the Bible. What can we do when God makes zero sense? When what we read in the Scripture doesn’t compute with our own ideas of life? As we continue in our series on the life of Joseph in Genesis, we’ll see what to do when we don’t understand what God is doing.  Support the show

We all know change is hard.Truthfully, though, we welcome change that WE initiate or can anticipate. But God uses surprising change that HE initiates to help us grow and bring about His sovereign plans.In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re back in Genesis to see the next chapter in Joseph’s life of surprising twists—and to discover the comfort God has for us when we’re afraid to follow Him. Support the show

Unmet expectations, betrayal, and abuse can color our perceptions like little else.But what if I told you there’s one perspective that could change everything?In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re continuing Joseph’s story in Genesis where we’ll discover what that perspective is. It really can—and does!—change everything when you apply it.It has changed my life, and I know it can encourage you as well. Support the show

It’s easy to compare ourselves to others.We all do it. But comparison only produces two responses: envy or pride. Neither honors God—yet, comparison seems unavoidable.What can we do?We’ll find out in this episode of Live the Bible as we turn to Genesis to see Joseph’s brothers face the test they failed the first time: jealousy. Support the show

Have you noticed how God’s tests are always pop quizzes?That’s because they’re designed to reveal who we are, not what we know. In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re turning to Genesis where we’ll see Jacob face one of God’s most challenging tests: surrender.It’s a powerful lesson in why God asks us to trust Him—and why we can. Support the show

Have you ever felt forgotten by God?You’re not alone.You’re so ready to use your talents for the Lord, to be a success and see your dreams come true—if only God would show up. If anyone in the Bible understood that feeling, it’s Joseph!In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re picking up his story in Genesis to learn what to do when it feels like God has forgotten us. Support the show

What do you do when the life God has promised you looks nothing like the life He has given you?Sometimes it feels like God is leading us in circles. He points in one direction, and we walk—and walk—and walk!—and never turn a corner.What can we do with one foot nailed to the floor?In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re opening God’s Word to Joseph’s story in Genesis. We’ll find the answer there—and it’s a good one. Support the show

Temptation can be tough—and I mean TOUGH—to say no to at times.The only thing harder is to have resisted—but then be falsely accused of giving in!In this episode of Live the Bible, we’ll see Joseph’s infamous encounter with Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39. It’s a story that offers powerful tools for resisting temptation—and the encouragement we need when others malign our motives. Support the show

God’s work in and through you isn’t hindered by your family struggles.No matter the mistakes we or our family members make, God is in control. In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re turning to Genesis 38 to see that truth in action through the life of Joseph’s brother Judah.It’s an encouragement for anyone who’s ever been let down by family. Support the show

The Bible doesn’t tell us everything.Seriously! There are huge gaps in the Bible. God’s Word doesn’t tell us everything—but it does tell us everything we need to know. God works the same way in our lives, and thankfully, the Bible DOES tell us that we can trust Him, even when we don’t understand what He’s doing.What can we do when the life God has promised us looks nothing like the life He has given us?In this episode of Live the Bible, we’re starting a series on Joseph—a man whose story from Genesis will encourage you to trust God completely. Support the show

How do you view God? In this episode of Live the Bible, we’ll get honest about how we see God and our lives of faith. We tend to assume, “If I’m walking in God’s will, then life’s gonna look like THIS. This is how it should be!”We view our lives the same way we view social media or Christmas cards—the way we want it to be rather than the way it really is. But God is so much more than that, and He wants our lives of faith to be more than that too.The book of Luke can help us get there.Support the show

What do you do when God doesn’t meet your expectations? In this episode of Live the Bible, we’ll turn to the book of Mark to answer that tough question. We all have an idea about what life will be like when we say yes to following Jesus.The first disciples certainly had their expectations too! And Jesus disappointed them. But why does God let us experience the hurt, disappointment, and anger of unmet expectations?The answer, amazingly, is good news.Support the show

Almost everybody knows the Bible says, “Judge not.”But what does that really mean? In this episode of Live the Bible, we examine one of the most popular verses in the Bible, “Judge not, that ye not be judged” (Matthew 7:1).What Jesus meant when He gave that famous command might not be what you think!Support the show