Reasoning Through the Bible

Glenn Smith and Steve Allem
  • 4.5 (15)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Taking a cue from Paul, Reasoning Through the Bible is an expository style walk through the Scriptures that tells you what the Bible says. Reviewing both Old and New Testament books, as well as topical subjects, we methodically teach verse by verse, even phrase by phrase.   We have completed many books of the Bible and offer free lesson plans for teachers. If you want to browse our entire library by book or topic, see our website www.ReasoningThroughTheBible.com.   We primarily do expository teaching but also include a good bit of theology and apologetics.  Just like Paul on Mars Hill, Christianity must address both the ancient truths and the questions of the people today.  Join Glenn and Steve every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as they reason with you through the Bible.

  1. 1D AGO

    Is Christmas Really a Pagan Holiday? || An RTTB Topical Study

    Discover the origins of Christmas as we unwrap (pun intended) the holiday's rich history and address the long-debated question: Did Christmas begin as a pagan festival? Our festive foray cuts through the tinsel to provide clarity on how December 25th became the cornerstone of Christian celebration.  We share how scriptural verses about bringing trees into a home are misinterpreted and set the record straight on Martin Luther's influence, which transformed this evergreen into a symbol of celebrating Jesus' birth. Join us for an episode that not only offers historical insights but also a heartwarming reminder to keep the Lord Jesus at the center of our Christmas festivities. Support the show Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

    25 min
  2. S20 || How Jesus Opens the Way to God || Hebrews 8:9 - 9:5 || Session 20

    3D AGO

    S20 || How Jesus Opens the Way to God || Hebrews 8:9 - 9:5 || Session 20

    What if God’s law moved from stone tablets to your heart? We walk through the end of Hebrews chapter 8 and venture into the beginning of chapter 9 to show why Jesus is the better priest who brings a better covenant with better promises—and why that changes everything about how we know God, obey, and worship. We unpack Jeremiah chapter 31’s promise of an inner work of the Spirit, explore how the covenant speaks to Israel while blessing the nations, and clarify a key tension: the Mosaic Law is obsolete, yet God’s moral will is fulfilled in us through the law of Christ. From there, we step into the tabernacle. Picture the outer court, the holy place, and the Holy of Holies sealed by a veil. Only the high priest entered once a year with blood for the mercy seat. Every detail shouted distance. Then the cross tore the veil. Jesus, our great High Priest, presented His own blood, opened a living way into God’s presence, and continues interceding for us. The smoke of incense that once hovered before the curtain now imagery-richly belongs inside, because our Advocate is already there. This conversation connects theology to hope and practice. If the Spirit writes God’s ways on our hearts, obedience grows from desire, not fear. If the law of Christ guides us, we live led by the Spirit rather than by ritual. If access is open, we come boldly to the throne of grace. Along the way, we address Israel and The Body of Christ [The Messiah], the promise of future belief, and how Gentiles share in covenant blessings without erasing the text’s plain meaning. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Hebrews, and leave a review telling us: what part of the new covenant gives you the most confidence today? Support the show Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

    25 min
  3. S19 || Majesty at the Right Hand of God || Hebrews 8:1-8 || Session 19

    6D AGO

    S19 || Majesty at the Right Hand of God || Hebrews 8:1-8 || Session 19

    A single claim reframes everything: Jesus serves right now as our high priest in the true tabernacle—the one God set up, not man. From that vantage point, Hebrews chapter 8 unfolds a better ministry, a better covenant, and better promises, showing how the Old Testament doesn’t get replaced but revealed in full through Jesus Christ [Messiah]. We walk through the text line by line to explore why the earthly sanctuary was only a copy and shadow, how Psalm 110 and Jeremiah 31 anchor the argument, and what it means that The Law moves from stone tablets to living hearts. We also tackle a question that splits commentaries and coffee tables: who is the new covenant for? By following Jeremiah’s wording—“the house of Israel and the house of Judah”—and Jesus’ words at the table of His last Passover supper—“the new covenant in my blood”—we make space for both biblical specificity and gospel breadth. Israel is named, The Church is grafted in, and all of it centers on union with Jesus. The first covenant wasn’t flawed; the people of Israel were. The new covenant doesn’t lower the bar; it changes the heart, producing real righteousness through The Spirit. Along the way, we challenge a popular but thin habit of reading the Old Testament [Hebrew Scriptures] through a New Testament lens that erases its original meaning. Hebrews doesn’t rewrite the Hebrew Scriptures; it lets them speak and then shows their fullness in Jesus. That approach deepens assurance: our mediator is seated at the right hand of Majesty, His once-for-all sacrifice secures access, and His present ministry anchors our hope beyond the veil. If you’ve wondered how priesthood, sacrifice, Israel, and The Body of Christ fit together without forcing the text, this conversation offers a clear, Scripture-first path forward. If this helped you see Hebrews with fresh eyes, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves Bible theology, and leave a review with your key takeaway so others can find it too. Support the show Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

    32 min
  4. S18 || Why Jesus as High Priest Changes Everything || Hebrews 7:23-28 || Session 18

    DEC 17

    S18 || Why Jesus as High Priest Changes Everything || Hebrews 7:23-28 || Session 18

    Ever feel like you’re stuck on a spiritual treadmill—striving, second-guessing, and never sure you’ve done enough? Hebrews chapter 7 offers a doorway out. We unpack why Jesus, as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, changes the terms of assurance from fragile to forever by holding a priesthood that never ends. Mortal priests came and went; Jesus lives and intercedes without interruption, which means your access to God isn’t fluctuating with your feelings or your week. It’s anchored in His unending life. We walk through Hebrews 7:23–28 to explore what “once for all” really means. Instead of daily sacrifices and human representatives who must atone for their own sins, Christ—holy, innocent, undefiled, and exalted—offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and now stands in the true Holy of Holies on our behalf. That’s practical relief. If He saves completely, your security doesn’t hinge on spiritual hot streaks or rituals that try to patch what only His cross can cure. The old system was endless and exhausting. His finished work ends the churn and invites you to rest. We also clarify what ongoing intercession looks like: not a replay of the cross, but a living Advocate applying a decisive victory. When accusations rise, the Father sees the Son. That’s why Hebrews urges us to draw near to trust the One who holds us fast. If you’ve wrestled with doubt, fear of losing salvation, or the pressure to be “worthy enough,” this chapter will steady your heart and widen your view of grace. Listen, reflect, and share with someone who needs to hear that Jesus saves completely and keeps completely. If this helped you breathe a little easier, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it on. Support the show Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

    25 min
  5. S17 || How Melchizedek Points to a Higher Priesthood || Hebrews 7:4-22 || Session 17

    DEC 15

    S17 || How Melchizedek Points to a Higher Priesthood || Hebrews 7:4-22 || Session 17

    What if the most famous tithe in the Bible wasn’t about a rule at all, but about recognizing a greater King and Priest? We open Hebrews chapter 7 and discover why Abraham’s gift to Melchizedek predates the Mosaic Law and why that matters for how we give, how we worship, and how we understand Jesus’ ministry today. Instead of arguing for a quota, the passage raises a bigger claim: a superior priesthood has arrived, grounded not in lineage but in the power of an indestructible life. We walk through the key moves of the text: Melchizedek blesses Abraham, so the greater blesses the lesser; Levi “pays” tithes in Abraham, elevating Melchizedek’s order above the Levitical priesthood; and if the priesthood changes, the law must change too. That’s where everything turns. The Mosaic Law could diagnose sin but could not make anyone complete. Jesus, our priest forever according to Psalm 110, brings a better hope, a new covenant, and real nearness to God. The law of Christ—love God and love neighbor—raises the bar beyond rule-keeping and empowers obedience through the Spirit. We also rethink generosity in light of this better priesthood. The New Testament calls us to give freely, joyfully, and abundantly, not under compulsion. If giving feels like an invoice, we miss the point. Generosity becomes participation in God’s work, a way to share in its fruit with open hands and a full heart. And because Jesus’ priesthood never ends, our hope is not seasonal or symbolic; it’s anchored in his ongoing intercession and his once-for-all sacrifice. Join us as we trace how Hebrews 7 reframes tithing, priesthood, and law around Jesus—greater than angels, greater than Moses, and greater than the old priesthood. If this conversation helps you see giving and grace with fresh eyes, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show. Support the show Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

    32 min
  6. S16 || A Trust That Never Lies || Hebrews 6:19 - 7:3 || Session 16

    DEC 12

    S16 || A Trust That Never Lies || Hebrews 6:19 - 7:3 || Session 16

    Lies travel fast, but they don’t last. We end Hebrews chapter 6 and open chapter 7 finding a sturdier place to stand: God’s promise to Abraham, sealed by an oath, and a hope described as an anchor for the soul. From that foundation, we follow the thread behind the veil into the true tabernacle, where Jesus acts not as our forerunner and high priest who secures our access to the presence of God. We unpack how an ancient sanctuary layout—outer court, holy place, Holy of Holies—mirrors a heavenly reality, and why that matters for everyday assurance. If Jesus Christ [Messiah] carries His own blood into the real Holy of Holies, then atonement is not a metaphor; it is the substance the Old Testament symbols pointed to. Along the way, we meet Melchizedek, the mysterious king of Salem, whose sudden appearance with bread and wine, blessing, and tithe becomes a powerful type of Christ: king of righteousness, king of peace, and priest of God Most High. The absence of his genealogy in Genesis isn’t a puzzle to solve as much as a signpost toward an eternal priesthood fulfilled in Jesus. This conversation stays grounded with a vivid nautical image of a “forerunner” boat that carries the big ship’s anchor over the sandbar into safe holding. That’s how our hope holds when life’s tides pull us backward: not because we are strong, but because our anchor is set in God’s unchangeable character. If you’ve felt the drag of doubt or the sting of broken promises, this is a warm, thoughtful guide to a trust that doesn’t crack under pressure. If this helped steady your faith, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs firm footing, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Support the show Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

    30 min
  7. S15 || Better Things Ahead || Hebrews 6:9-18 || Session 15

    DEC 10

    S15 || Better Things Ahead || Hebrews 6:9-18 || Session 15

    When faith feels thin and church life shows more thorns than fruit, where do you turn for steady ground? We open Hebrews 6:9–18 and find a surprising lift: God remembers every act of love, calls us to serve until the end, and anchors our hope with an oath He swore by His own name. This isn’t self-help; it’s soul ballast. We move from the everyday trenches of showing up for people in our local church small groups to the towering heights of the Abrahamic covenant and the God who cannot lie. We start with the “better things that accompany salvation,” clarifying why diligence matters and why love toward the saints should be our first reflex. The conversation gets practical about how real care happens in close-knit community, not just from the pulpit or staff. If you’ve ever wondered whether unseen service counts, Hebrews answers with a firm yes—God is not unjust to forget your work or your love for His name. Then we climb into the theology that makes this hope unshakable. God promised Abraham land, a great nation, and blessing to all nations, and he ratified those promises by swearing an oath on Himself. That one-sided covenant underwrites our New Testament confidence: the Body of Christ's future doesn’t hinge on human strength, but on divine faithfulness. Waiting, like Abraham did, becomes an act of trust, not a mark of failure. Finally, we explore Jesus as our true refuge and the anchor of our souls, the forerunner who has entered behind the veil as our High Priest. Hope isn’t a mood; it’s a mooring. When life rattles your confidence, this passage invites you to take hold of the hope set before you—sure, steadfast, and secured by Jesus Christ. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find these conversations. Support the show Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

    30 min
  8. S14 || If Our Salvation Is Secure, What Comes Next || Hebrews 6:1-8 || Session 14

    DEC 8

    S14 || If Our Salvation Is Secure, What Comes Next || Hebrews 6:1-8 || Session 14

    What if the truths we treasure most—repentance, faith, and resurrection—are meant to be the starting line rather than the finish? We open Hebrews chapter 6 and discover a surprising call: move beyond the elementary teachings and press on to maturity without abandoning the foundation that saves. That shift reframes how we think about spiritual growth, assurance, and the temptations that pull us back toward performance, ritual, and spiritual shortcuts. Together we map the passage step by step: the list of “first things,” the Jewish context, and the thorny debate around verses 4–6. We walk through six major interpretations, then weigh them against the wider witness of Scripture—John 10, 1 John 5, Romans 8—to show why eternal life is secure in Jesus Christ. With Kadesh Barnea as the backdrop, we explain how “falling away” points to turning from Christ’s sufficiency to systems that imply he must be sacrificed again. That move does not erase salvation; it robs believers of rest, fruit, and reward, and it puts the cross to open shame by suggesting it was not enough. If you’re hungry to grow past spiritual basics without drifting from the gospel, this conversation will ground your assurance and stretch your vision. Press on with us, and if it helps you, share the episode with a friend, subscribe for more verse-by-verse studies, and leave a review to tell us what “solid food” topic you want next. Support the show Thank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

    32 min
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4.5
out of 5
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About

Taking a cue from Paul, Reasoning Through the Bible is an expository style walk through the Scriptures that tells you what the Bible says. Reviewing both Old and New Testament books, as well as topical subjects, we methodically teach verse by verse, even phrase by phrase.   We have completed many books of the Bible and offer free lesson plans for teachers. If you want to browse our entire library by book or topic, see our website www.ReasoningThroughTheBible.com.   We primarily do expository teaching but also include a good bit of theology and apologetics.  Just like Paul on Mars Hill, Christianity must address both the ancient truths and the questions of the people today.  Join Glenn and Steve every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as they reason with you through the Bible.

Information

  • Creator
    Glenn Smith and Steve Allem
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    618
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Reasoning Through the Bible
  • Show Website
    Reasoning Through the Bible

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