Does God want to heal you, or do you want to be healed? In this episode of our Winter Watch Party, we explore The Chosen Season 2, Episode 4 ("The Perfect Opportunity"), where Jesus asks a paralytic who's been waiting 38 years for a miracle one of the strangest questions in the gospels: "Do you want to be healed?" We start with a "Bible Fact Check" to see what’s fact (the pool of Bethesda, 38 years) and what’s fiction (Simon the Zealot’s brother, the name Jesse). Then, we dive into four profound questions Jesus asks in the Gospel of John — questions designed not to gather information, but to act as a mirror for our souls. Finally, we challenge you to pick one of these questions to sit with this week as if Jesus were asking you directly.

The Big Idea: Jesus doesn't ask questions to get answers; He asks them to act as mirrors that reveal our true desires and awaken our faith.

Show Notes

• Watch Episode 268 (VIDEO)
• The Chosen: Season 2, Episode 4 - "The Perfect Opportunity" (VIDEO)
• The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda (PASSAGE)
• Jesus Asks: "What Are You Seeking?" (PASSAGE)
• Jesus Asks: "Do You Believe This?" (PASSAGE)
• Jesus Asks: "Do You Not Know Me?" (PASSAGE)
• The Zealots (ARTICLE)

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Grab a marshmallow and pull up a log — it's time for The Breakfast Club with swords and sandals. In this episode of our Winter Watch Party, we break down The Chosen Season 2, Episode 3 ("Matthew 4:24"). It’s a classic "bottle episode," meaning no set changes, no travel montages, and 100% character development as the disciples sit around a campfire waiting for Jesus. We play a game of "Bad Teams," debating who would be the worst pair to build IKEA furniture (looking at you, Peter and Matthew) or run a three-legged race. But amidst the bickering, we explore the hard work of unity — realizing that unity isn't about "sameness," but about choosing to love despite our different files on each other. Finally, we look at the creative choice to show an exhausted Jesus, reminding us that He "emptied Himself" for us — and that it’s okay to need a nap.

The Big Idea: Jesus didn't just take on a human body, he took on human limitations — proving that exhaustion isn't a sin and needing rest is part of being human.

This Week's Challenge: The "Nap Challenge" — If Jesus needed help taking off his sandals after a long day of ministry, you’re allowed to stop. Find one moment this week to admit you are at your limit and simply rest.

Show Notes

• Watch Episode 267 (VIDEO)
• The Chosen: Season 2, Episode 3 - "Matthew 4:24" (VIDEO)
• Healed by Jesus (PASSAGE)
• Maintaining the Unity of the Spirit (PASSAGE)
• He Emptied Himself (PASSAGE)
• He Gives His Beloved Sleep (PASSAGE)

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When was the last time you felt truly seen? In this episode of our Winter Watch Party, we explore Season 2, Episode 2 of The Chosen, where we meet Nathanael — a man feeling completely unseen until Jesus meets him with three simple words: "I saw you." We dive into the subplots, including Matthew and Mary’s struggle to catch up on their Torah learning and Peter’s jockeying for leadership. But the heart of this discussion is evangelism. We break down how Philip’s simple invitation — "Come and see" — might be the best model for sharing Jesus in the entire Bible. Plus, we play a game of "Three Degrees to Jesus" to trace who connected us to the Lord (spoiler: it usually starts with a grandma or a friend at a KFC table).

The Big Idea: We don't need a theology degree to share our faith — just a simple invitation to "Come and see."

Show Notes

• Watch Episode 266 (VIDEO)
• The Chosen: Season 2, Episode 2 - "I Saw You" (VIDEO)
• Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael (PASSAGE)
• Jacob’s Ladder (PASSAGE)
• Behold the Lamb of God (PASSAGE)
• Mary Listening at Jesus' Feet (PASSAGE)
• Come and See (PASSAGE)

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Welcome to the Winter Watch Party! We're filling the gap between seasons with a low-stress rewatch of The Chosen Season 2. Today, we're discussing Episode 1, "Thunder," where we encounter road rage in Samaria, cranky disciples, and the "Sons of Thunder" trying to call down fire from heaven. We introduce the "Golden Sandals Awards" to honor the best (and most unbiblical) moments, including the "Simon Peter Award" for putting your foot in your mouth. From Jesus' patience with prejudice to John's writing process, we explore how Christ redirects our zeal from destruction to love.

The Big Idea: Jesus meets our impatience and judgment not with rejection, but with a patience that transforms our "thunder" into living water.

Show Notes

• Watch Episode 265 (VIDEO)
• The Chosen: Season 2, Episode 1 - "Thunder" (VIDEO)
• James and John Call Down Fire (PASSAGE)
• The Good Samaritan (PASSAGE)
• Jesus Talks with the Samaritan Woman (PASSAGE)
• Sons of Thunder (PASSAGE)

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Every time a bell rings, does an angel get his wings? Probably not. In this season finale, we're' separating the Hallmark movie myths from the biblical reality of angels. We kick things off with a round of "Angel Jeopardy," debunking chubby cherubs and shoulder angels, before diving into the "Hot Seat" to answer the big questions. Do angels still work in the world today? Do we actually have "guardian angels," or is that just a nice thought? And what does it really mean to "entertain angels unawares" — are we dealing with celestial "secret shoppers"? Join us as we look behind the curtain at the invisible armies encamped around us.

The Big Idea: Angels are God’s powerful servants, carrying out his purposes and ministering to us!

Show Notes

• Watch Episode 264 (VIDEO)
• It's a Wonderful Life - "Teacher says..." (VIDEO)
• Ministering Spirits (PASSAGE)
• The Angels of the "Little Ones" (PASSAGE)
• Peter's "Angel" (PASSAGE)
• Entertaining Angels Unawares (PASSAGE)
• Abraham's Visitors (PASSAGE)
• Elisha's Invisible Army (PASSAGE)
• The Angel Encamped Around Us (PASSAGE)
• Shepherd of Hermas (WEBSITE)

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Is Philippians 4:13 the ultimate spiritual cheat code for winning football games and acing math tests? In this Bible Geeks Mini, we’re rescuing one of the most famous verses in the Bible from the locker room and putting it back where it belongs. We explore why Paul wasn't looking for a "Sylvester Stallone-style" triumph, but rather the strength to endure prison with peace. We dive into the "secret of contentment" — learning to be okay whether we're full or hungry, rich or poor. It turns out the true power of this verse isn't about achieving our dreams, but finding the otherworldly strength to choose joy in whatever situation we face.

The Big Idea: The "secret" of contentment isn't a superpower to achieve all our dreams, it's learning to find Christ's strength sufficient in all our circumstances — whether we have plenty or are in need.

Show Notes

• Watch Episode 263 (VIDEO)
• The Secret of Contentment (PASSAGE)
• Rejoice in the Lord Always (PASSAGE)
• Do All Things Without Grumbling (PASSAGE)
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's "But If Not" Faith (PASSAGE)
• Tim Tebow's eye black Bible verses: A guide (ARTICLE)

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Have you ever opened your mouth and heard your parents come out? It happens to the best of us! This week, we’re looking at the "base operating system" of our families to see if there are any glitches we need to fix. We dive into the "copy and paste" drama of biblical families, asking why Abraham’s deceit and Isaac’s favoritism kept showing up in the next generation. Is it nature, nurture, or just a lack of updates? Thankfully, we don't have to stay stuck in a loop. We explore how Joseph "flipped the script" and how Jesus — the ultimate pattern breaker — offers us a total reboot as a "new creation". It’s time to identify the baggage we’ve inherited and let God start "reparenting" us for the better.

The Big Idea: The gospel empowers us to break bad patterns and pass on better ones.

This Week's Challenge: Identify one unhealthy family pattern and one positive pattern. Pray about them and take one step this week to break the bad and reinforce the good.

Show Notes

• Watch Episode 262 (VIDEO)
• 1 Peter 1:18 (PASSAGE)
• Abraham’s Deception (PASSAGE)
• Isaac and Jacob’s Favoritism (PASSAGE)
• Nathan Rebukes David (PASSAGE)
• Ezekiel 18 (PASSAGE)
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 (PASSAGE)
• As For Me and My House (PASSAGE)
• Peter Scazzero (WEBSITE)

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This week, we’re hitting "peak Bible Geeks" territory. Is God actually at work in your life, or did He just set the world spinning and walk away? We tackle the heavyweights — providence, miracles, and the mystery of God's will — without getting bogged down in the philosophy. We explore the meaning of "providence," the "salami sandwich" of Proverbs 16 (where man plans but God establishes the steps), and the story of Joseph to see how the Lord governs the world. We also ask: Are miracles still happening today, or is there a distinction between apostolic signs and God’s mighty works in response to prayer? Join us as we look at Romans 8:28 and the power of the word "perhaps" to guide us through uncertainty.

The Big Idea: God still personally and purposefully works to quietly direct ordinary events toward his good and eternal purposes.

This Week's Challenge: This week, pause once each day to name one “ordinary” event and thank God for how he might be using it for good — whether or not you can see the outcome yet.

Show Notes

• Watch Episode 261 (VIDEO)
• The "Salami Sandwich" of Planning (PASSAGE)
• God Meant It for Good (PASSAGE)
• The Secret Things Belong to God (PASSAGE)
• Working Together for Good (PASSAGE)
• The "Perhaps" of Providence (PASSAGE)
• Praying for the Sick (PASSAGE)

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