https://nicoleunice.kit.com/Today we’re in Mark chapter 3, and I’m calling this episode “The Secret to Being Yourself,” because this chapter shows us how Jesus moves through intense pressure without losing His center. The crowds are pressing in, the religious leaders are watching Him like hawks, and even His own family shows up thinking He’s out of His mind. And yet—Jesus doesn’t get pulled around by expectations, fear, or public opinion. He stays anchored in one thing: obedience to the Father.

We watch Jesus heal on the Sabbath and expose what really matters in the kingdom of God—mercy, restoration, and full life. We also see how quickly opposition escalates, and how willing people are to protect power when Jesus disrupts their system. But the comfort in all of it is this: when following Jesus costs you approval, you’re not alone. Jesus shows us that belonging isn’t just about bloodlines or popularity—it’s about being part of a new family formed around God’s will. And I want us to walk away asking: Am I willing to trust God’s timing and obey Him—even when it disappoints other people?

What We Cover:

- Understand what Mark 3 reveals about Jesus’ priorities: mercy, restoration, and life—not legalism.

- See why Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath becomes a flashpoint and what it teaches about “the higher law” of love.

- Notice what makes Jesus righteously angry: stubborn hearts that miss opportunities to love and heal.

- Learn why opposition escalates so quickly—and how people will unite across differences to protect power.

- Grasp the “Messianic secret” idea (Jesus repeatedly limiting publicity) and how expectations about the Messiah shaped reactions.

- Reflect on discernment: the danger of calling good evil (and evil good) when you’re spiritually misaligned.

- Be encouraged that Jesus understands relational pressure: even family misunderstanding doesn’t derail Him.

- Take away a defining principle: Obedience to the Father is the pathway to your most free, grounded self.

- Leave with two heart-questions: Do I trust God’s timing? Am I living from obedience—or from approval?

Resources mentioned:

• Check out Nicole's website and subscribe to her weekly newsletter: https://nicoleunice.kit.com/

• Nicole’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today, we’re in Mark chapter 2, and I've titled it “The Spirit Brings Freedom,” because this chapter provides a front-row seat to what Jesus is like—and what He prioritizes. Mark moves fast, and chapter 2 is no exception. We watch Jesus forgive sins, heal a paralyzed man, call a tax collector to follow Him, and then collide head-on with religious leaders who are more focused on rules than on restoration.

What I love about this chapter is how clearly it answers the question: Who is Jesus for? He is for the desperate, the hurting, the overlooked, and the people who know they need help. And over and over again, Jesus keeps pulling the conversation back to what matters most—the heart, mercy, freedom, and the higher law of love. So by the end of this episode, I want you to ask: Does my life actually look freer because I’m following Jesus? And what do I need Him to free me from right now?

What We Cover:

• See the big structure of Mark 2 and how it’s “bookended” by Jesus’ authority.

• Discover three key confrontations that reveal what Jesus prioritizes—and why not everyone is happy about it.

• Understand why Jesus forgives before He heals (and what that says about the spiritual root beneath the physical need).

• Learn why Jesus eats with “sinners” and what that teaches about grace, identity, and who belongs near Him.

• Make sense of the “new wine / new wineskins” metaphor as a picture of Jesus bringing something truly new that won’t fit into old structures.

• Reframe Sabbath as mercy and trust, not legalism and burden.

• Walk away with a personal gut-check:

  • Is my faith more about checking boxes—or about love and freedom?

  • Does following Jesus make me more compassionate, more forgiving, more secure?

  • What do I need to be freed from right now?

Resources mentioned:

• Check out Nicole's website and subscribe to her weekly newsletter: https://nicoleunice.com/

• Nicole’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today I’m taking us into Mark 1, because sometimes life gets a little off-kilter—and when it does, I really believe we need to return to the basics and refocus on who Jesus is. Mark is the shortest and most action-packed Gospel, and it’s such a powerful place to start (or start again), especially if you’re feeling spiritually disoriented or overwhelmed by all the competing voices around you.

In this first chapter, we watch the story move fast: prophecy fulfilled, John the Baptist preparing the way, Jesus baptized, Jesus tested in the wilderness, and then Jesus stepping into ministry—calling ordinary disciples and bringing wholeness everywhere He goes. And by the end of the chapter, we land on this stunning moment where a man with leprosy asks, “If you are willing…” and Jesus responds, “I am willing.” That’s the heartbeat of this episode: Jesus is willing to cleanse, heal, forgive, and restore. The question I want to leave us with is: Am I willing to come to Him?

What We Will Cover in Our Study of Mark 1 -

• A clear overview of Mark 1 and how quickly it introduces Jesus’ identity, authority, and mission.

• Understand why Mark opens with Old Testament prophecy and what that signals about Jesus as Messiah.

• See the purpose of repentance as a heart-level “turning” that prepares the way for Jesus in our lives.

• Notice the pattern: affirmation → wilderness → ministry (Jesus is declared beloved, then tested, then sent).

• Learn what discipleship looks like in Mark: ordinary people called to follow Jesus up close.

• Recognize Jesus’ authority in real-life categories: spiritual oppression, sickness, fear, and isolation.

• Catch the significance of Jesus touching the leper: compassion over ceremonial distance; holiness moving toward suffering.

• Walk away with a personal invitation: Jesus is willing—will I bring my need to Him?

Resources mentioned:

• Check out Nicole's website and subscribe to her weekly newsletter: https://nicoleunice.com/

• Nicole’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/nicoleunice

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.