The Bible Nerds Podcast

In this episode, we'll be looking at the stories of Nicodemus and The Samaritan Woman. Two different people, but both encountered Jesus in significant ways that would enrich our understanding of Jesus' message and mission. Both of them were from different social classes, which challenged their time's existing religious and social norms. Yet, still, Jesus longed to grow closer to them. And this illustrates Jesus' profound, inclusive nature. In this episode, we latch on to the hope of a God who wants to meet us where we are, despite our countless running away and unableness to see our need for our Savior.

During The Jewish Passover festival in Jerusalem, Jesus goes to the Temple and finds that the temple courts have been turned into a marketplace. Out of anger because of the desecration of the sacred place, Jesus drove out the sellers out of the temple—including the animals that were for sale! And because of this incident, Jesus foreshadows His death and resurrection as the Jewish leaders asked Him to justify why He did what He did.But in the heart of this scripture emphasizes Jesus' zeal in giving importance to the purity and sanctity of worship spaces, for genuine worship.

Weddings are beautiful celebrations of life and love through the union of man and woman with plenty of food, drinks, and dancing. In The Bible, they were weeklong celebrations that gathered the whole village together. And during those times, wine was a very big deal for such celebrations. But, something that could be found in The Bible as well is how the renewed heaven and earth is paralleled to a wedding banquet. And we know more about this through Jesus' first sign in this gospel account. In this episode, see how Jesus' compassion allows us to foresee the revelation of His glory, and the abundance of blessings He has to offer for us as He calls us to faith and obedience.

John is one of the most profound, beautiful pieces of Scripture that was designed to lead us into worship, crafted in the forms of poetry, narrative, and imagery that keep readers intrigued and wanting for more. The Gospel of John, just like the rest of The Bible, is meditation literature—it is not meant to be read just once. Throughout our walk with Jesus, we are encouraged that we be shaped more and more to be like Him through Scripture. As we begin journeying through this gospel, may we encounter The Word deeper as He extends His invitation to us to shine His light towards eternal salvation.

God's grand plan for family is much bigger than we could imagine. Jesus created a new family with His disciples, fostering unity to draw all families on earth to Him, and to heal brokenness at the core of humanity's struggles.In the concluding episode of this series, we see how God's plan to bless the world through families, as seen in His promise to Abraham in Genesis, continues through imperfect families, which ultimately led to the ultimate fulfillment of all families and nations worshipping together in unity.

Jesus' ministry initially calls us to expand His reach outside of familiar circles we are already comfortable with. This manifests with how Jesus commissioned His disciples to spread The Word and His teachings to all nations, and how He calls us to do the same.In this episode, see how God calls the most unlikely people to be bear this mission, and how this traces back to His genealogy, bringing the blessing of healing and renewal.

For the past episodes, we have been discussing how our biological families are our first ministry, where Jesus calls us to love first.In the succeeding episodes, we will learn how Jesus now calls us to embrace His bigger family. And this begins with getting to know God The Father and how He shelters us in His loving embrace.

The biblical theme of marriage is evident from Genesis to Revelation, symbolizing the relationship between God and His people. Jesus was born into the family of Abraham and humanity intentionally by God, who chose to be with us. He was born into the marriage of Joseph and Mary, emphasizing the significance of marriage in forming a family. While not all families start with a wedding, all marriages create a family bond.In marriages, like Joseph and Mary, we may not always understand each other or make the right decisions. However, by seeking God's guidance, we can navigate through the challenges and grow in a deeper spousal intimacy with each other and with God. Just as Jesus fulfilled His promise to His people, we can strive to remain faithful and loving in our marriages till the end.

Sometimes we ask God that if He will use our families to bless us and bless others, why were we born into the families we have? And this question usually arises as family history is unpacked—including past hurts, traumas, and the deepest family secrets.Though most of the time it is a difficult conversation to start and have, such conflicts and confrontations, when talked about willingly with an open heart and an open mind, become key to navigating them that would eventually lead to forgiveness and healing in order for future generations to become better and certain cycles to stop.In this episode, The Bible Nerds are joined by Light of Jesus Pastoral Care Head, Dr. Ichel Alignay to discuss on the dynamics of Filipino families, what makes us unique within our families, and how despite every member's differences we find how to love our family better.

God created the family as the most ancient institution. Throughout history, families have played a significant role in shaping individuals and societies. From the creation of the first family with Adam and Eve to the lineage of Jesus, family plays a central role in God's plan for humanity as it is considered the "domestic church," where we first learn about God's love and our place in the world.Despite the blessings of family, not all relationships are healthy, and family members can also bring pain, hurt, and sin. The brokenness of family relationships is a common experience, with stories of betrayal, bitterness, and unresolved issues present in many families. Familial relationships can be sources of both profound love and deep pain, impacting us in various ways throughout our lives. But also, loving family members, despite their imperfections, provides an opportunity for growth and expression of love in a tangible way.In this new series that talks about the core of society, we dive deep on what it means to understand our biological families and being part of a spiritual family. We also see the lens of Jesus' willingness to be born into a messy family that highlights the complexity and importance of family dynamics. Through prayer, humility, and openness to God's healing, we can work towards healing and restoration within our families.

Technology has become a huge source of stress and distraction. Social media has presented different views of what and how rest looks like. In today's modern times where everything is all about the hustle and bustle of life, how can we Filipino Catholics observe The Sabbath? How do we stop, rest, delight, and contemplate discerning real Sabbath in our lives?

In the four Gospels in The Bible, all share similar stories of Jesus' healing during The Sabbath. One might think 'but, didn't God command that The Sabbath be a day for rest?' or even 'is He allowed to do that?' God's idea of real rest is different from how we perceive rest to be. And through a very familiar bible verse, we see how our burdens are meant to lead us to real rest that only God provides.

Talk 5 is about Jesus, how He declared that He is the Messiah, created His Jubilee Team– and included us as part of the team.The key message: Your Jubilee has begun.Here’s a review of the amazing lessons we’ve learned so far:Humanity has a problem and it’s huge: Overworking but underliving.And God has the antidote. It’s called Shabbat—a rhythm of rest and relationship.Last week, we learned that in the Bible, there were four Sabbath practices: (1) the weekly Sabbath; (2) seven annual festivals; (3) the Sabbath Year; and (4) the Jubilee Year.And the biggest Sabbath is the Jubilee where three phenomenal things happen: (1) all debts are erased; (2) all slaves are released; and (3) all lands are returned to their original owners. It’s pretty radical. So, the goal is about ending poverty, creating abundance for all, and building a community of equals—with Jesus as King.The Sabbath is much more than taking a vacation—It’s about bringing people back to the abundance of the Garden.

This is the fourth episode of our seven-week series, RESTED.Talk 1, titled Rest, established that there’s a great pandemic going on, called Overworking but Underliving.Talk 2, titled Work, is the antidote to this pandemic: the Sabbath—which bestows two essential blessings: 1) a rhythm of rest; and 2) a rhythm of relationship.The key message: God wants to work with you.Talk 3, titled Time, gives God’s good schedule for us to have a good time for work and rest.The key message: Follow God’s Rhythm of Restoration.Talk 4, titled Jubilee,  points out that Sabbath gives us time and space to remember our core identity—that we’re the Beloved of God.The key message is: Remember who you are.

It is human to mark spaces we occupy. Though a much more abstract idea, we also do it for time. Take for example birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. But how is this a significant element in our faith? In this episode, receive The Sabbath rest's invitation to practice being in God's presence, dedicated as rhythms of rest accompanied with trust in God's rule and provision.

Work looks different for everybody. Some have to wake up early to beat traffic, others do it simply at the comfort of their homes. Work is what puts food on our tables and allows us to pay for monthly bills. But in the midst of feeling anxious and uncomfortable with work, it is where we spend most of our waking days! But is that how God really created the world's work to be?

We live in a fast-paced world where everyone seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere or achieve something. But behind all of the work we put in is a reality we sometimes refuse to acknowledge—we are all tired! That is why we often view rest as a luxury or reward. But rest actually matters to God! And He had this in mind as He created the entire universe, as well as practicing it Himself. In this new series, join The Bible Nerds in exploring what it means to build a healthy relationship with rest and balancing it with daily work.

How do you define happiness? What does being truly happy mean? No matter how you define it, happiness carries a special gift that roots from goodness and gratitude. But at the same time, happiness also becomes too much when we mismanage it. In the final installment of The Bible Nerds' Emotions series, entrust your life to the Ultimate Source of your joy and happiness because He is filled with goodness!

"Buti pa siya..." "Sana all!"It's hard to be grateful of what you have when you see someone have the things you want or wish you could have at present. It's painful because you would feel dissatisfied with where you already are in life. In this episode, may we be reminded how we are created for more at His perfect time for us despite the unfair, discontent the world tries to make us feel.

At some point in our lives, we have been vulnerable because of sadness. Feeling sad is normal, especially if something has hurt you. It also indicates that a part of you needs healing.In this episode, see how instances in The Bible turned pain into purpose, and sorrow turned into healing.