There’s a question at the heart of the new book “Delighting in Jesus” that caught my attention: it says, “I know I should read by Bible and pray every day, but I’m just not consistent. For many Christians, ‘daily devotions’ and ‘spiritual disciplines’ strike guilt and shame in our hearts. But what if we got it all wrong? What if our Christian experience hinges not on perfect spiritual disciplines, but on the perfect love of a Father who delights in us?” 

This has been a topic I’ve been interested in for a while now: what does relationship with Jesus really mean. And now there’s a new word entering the conversation: delight. We often talk about joy or happiness, but I’m so grateful to my guest today, Asheritah Ciuciu, for focusing in on the word delight. Asheritah is the host of the Prayers of Rest Podcast and author of many books including Full, Bible & Breakfast, Walking with God, and her latest, Delighting in Jesus. In this conversation, Asheritah and I talk about why “delight” is an important word when thinking about our relationship with Jesus, why we don’t need to be afraid of being broken, how to build your joy center in your brain, and much more. I want to note too, in the show notes for episode you’ll find links to purchase Delighting in Jesus (which I highly recommend) and also a link to a devotional personality quiz that will help you understand better how God created you to feel most connected to him. I hope you enjoy both of these resources.

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
https://www.asheritah.com/
https://www.delightinginjesus.com/
Devotional Personality Quiz - https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/65654f1a7d4c35001488e815

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes:
Living Hope with Phil Wickham - https://youtu.be/1U_aetP2H0M
Longing for Joy with Alastair Sterne - https://youtu.be/HNXAl4wTmIc
Music, Story, and Experience with Luke Smallbone - https://youtu.be/6I-ayiHn7Tw
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
Living Out of Overflow - https://youtu.be/aBKXbHf0X0s
What it Looks Like to Give God All My Worship - https://youtu.be/E33yKXp1E9w
Living with Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fI

“Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, ‘How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!’ But the people were completely silent.” – 1 Kings 18:21

The book of 1 Kings marks the transition from the reign of King David to the reign of Solomon. The nation of Israel is now firmly in the age of monarchy and Solomon is ready to not just take over his father’s mantle but also to build the temple his father had wanted to build. However, as is usually the case, things do not go smoothly and Solomon’s reign ends up being a rollercoaster ride. 1 Kings also introduces us to Elijah, one of the most fascinating prophets in the Bible. This book, full of accounts of Solomon’s wisdom, Solomon’s palace, the ark of the covenant, the Queen of Sheba, Elijah’s miracles and his defeat of the prophets of Baal, this full and robust book, is at its heart a book about God – who the one true God is. 

To help us navigate the book of 1 Kings is Dr. Iain Provan, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Regent College and author of the Understanding the Bible Commentary on 1 & 2 Kings. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Understanding-Bible-Commentary-ebook/dp/B008DVSWHG

Subscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
Navigating the Bible: 2 Samuel - https://youtu.be/ZbpafGgOW7c
Navigating the Bible: 1 Samuel - https://youtu.be/lY8wPElSFMY
Navigating the Bible: Rute - https://youtu.be/YaH-t-ZzTaM
Navigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NU
Navigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFs
Navigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zU
Navigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxs
Navigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
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“The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The king of kings calls me His own
Beautiful savior, I'm Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope”

These lyrics are some of countless others written by Phil Wickham sung at church services across the world every weekend. Ever since his first album released in 2003, Phil’s songs have become part of the catalog for Christian worship, with popular songs including House of the Lord, Battle Belongs, I Believe, Living Hope, Sunday is Coming, and This is Amazing Grace. What I wanted to know is where do these songs come from? What goes into writing a song that resonates with a generation? In today’s episode, I talk with Phil about how he finds inspiration for songs, his process in songwriting, what his quiet times look like, parenthood, lessons he’s learned, and much more. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
https://philwickham.com/

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
Music, Story, and Experience with Luke Smallbone - https://youtu.be/6I-ayiHn7Tw
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
Living Out of Overflow - https://youtu.be/aBKXbHf0X0s
What it Looks Like to Give God All My Worship - https://youtu.be/E33yKXp1E9w
Living with Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fI

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?” – 2 Samuel 7:18-19

In 1 Samuel, we were introduced to a new cast of characters in the story of Israel – and a new season of change. The people of Israel demanded a king and, despite God’s warnings through the prophet Samuel, they were given Saul, the first king of Israel. But all was not well and soon God’s anointing turns from Saul to David. 1 Samuel ends with the death of Saul and 2 Samuel then picks up the story of David’s reign as king. 2 Samuel is a complex book of palace intrigue, wars, adultery, murder, repentance – all wrapped around these themes of who is the real king and what does it really mean to be a man after God’s own heart. 

To help us navigate this book is Dr. Heath Thomas. Dr. Thomas is the president of Oklahoma Baptist University, an Old Testament Professor, and author of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
https://www.amazon.com/Exalting-Samuel-Christ-Centered-Exposition-Commentary/dp/0805499318

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
Navigating the Bible: 1 Samuel - https://youtu.be/lY8wPElSFMY
Navigating the Bible: Rute - https://youtu.be/YaH-t-ZzTaM
Navigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NU
Navigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFs
Navigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zU
Navigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxs
Navigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“If we have eyes to see, we uncover joy almost everywhere. Like someone searching for sand crabs on the coastline, we may not find her under every rock. But we also don’t need to look too hard before we uncover her.” 

This is a quote from the new book, Longing for Joy. There are many misconceptions about joy. There are many people who may struggle with joylessness because of anxiety, depression, or other factors. But there is also an availability of joy, true deep joy, to be found in Christ and his creation. This episode today is one of those moments where I think God is up to something. I’ve seen, heard, and read a lot about joy as of late. When I hear something pop up in a lot of conversations, that’s usually a sign to me that God is wanting to do a work in us related to this topic - and it was an added nudge from God when I saw the new book, Longing for Joy, by Alastair Sterne, which quickly turned into one of my favorite books of the year. 

I’m joined today by Alastair to talk about the reality of longing, joy found in creation and each other, practices that help cultivate joy, and much more. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
Longing For Joy - https://www.amazon.com/Longing-Joy-Invitation-Goodness-Beauty/dp/151400898X

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
The Burden and Gift of Living - https://youtu.be/VP6kHyBUpP4
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
Living Out of Overflow - https://youtu.be/aBKXbHf0X0s
Music, Story, and Experience with Luke Smallbone of For King & Country - https://youtu.be/6I-ayiHn7Tw
Living with Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fI

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 1 Samuel 3:8-11

1 Samuel, the 9th book of the Old Testament, is without a doubt one of my favorite books of the Bible. Continuing the narrative of God’s people, Israel, we transition from the time of the Judges into a new season – but, as is with the case of most of Israel’s history, all was not to go so easily. 1 Samuel contains a lot of well-known stories: the calling of Samuel, the anointing of Saul, the anointing of David, David and Goliath, and so on, but it’s what we learn about God and about ourselves through this book that make it so fascinating. To help us navigate 1 Samuel is Dr. David Jensen, Professor of Theology at Austin Seminary and author of a theological commentary on 1 & 2 Samuel. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
https://www.amazon.com/Samuel-Theological-Commentary-Bible-Belief/dp/0664232493

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
Navigating the Bible: Rute - https://youtu.be/YaH-t-ZzTaM
Navigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NU
Navigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFs
Navigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zU
Navigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxs
Navigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I have a very vivid memory of a specific church service about 10 years ago. My wife and I go into the worship center, find seats in our usual section, but the stage looks different. There are instruments I’ve never seen on our stage, and in a configuration that I didn’t recognize. When the service starts, a group of people come out onto the stage in long coats, suspenders, moppish hair, and then the drum starts. The rap of the single snare drum (make sound) that I hadn’t heard in that way before but have come to be very familiar with now. That service sticks out so much in my mind because that’s the kind of effect For King & Country have. The experience was so exciting, so fresh, and the music itself had a similar effect. 

Since then, For King & Country have become one of the biggest names in Christian music as four-time Grammy winners with hit songs such as Crave, The Proof of Your Love, Fix Your Eyes, Priceless, Joy, and so many more. But they’ve also now ventured into other forms of storytelling, with movies they’ve been involved in like Unsung Hero and the new theatrical release of their Christmas Concert, Drummer Boy Live. 

Today's guest is Luke Smallbone, half of the duo known as For King & Country along with his brother Joel. In this conversation host Jason Wieland talks with Luke about how he sees Jesus show up in the songwriting process, the power of storytelling, how being a parent changes perspective, the special effect experiences have on us, and much more. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
For King & Country website - https://www.forkingandcountry.com/
Drummer Boy Live Movie Website - https://www.fathomevents.com/events/for-king-country-a-drummer-boy-christmas-live/

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
Living Out of Overflow - https://youtu.be/aBKXbHf0X0s
What it Looks Like to Give God All My Worship - https://youtu.be/E33yKXp1E9w
Living with Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fI

Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me." But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Ruth 1:8, 16. 

The Book of Ruth, the 8th book in the Old Testament, is surely one that stands apart from everything we’ve read so far in the Bible. We’ve been reading epic stories of nations, but Ruth is a little shining jewel that focuses in on one little family – really just something that happened in the lives of 3 connected individuals. While it’s a short book, only 4 chapters, it is not one to be ignored or forgotten. We learn so much about God in how he works in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz – and yet as with all Scripture there is always still much more goodness to reap. 

To help us navigate the book of Ruth is Dr. Eric Redmond, Professor of Bible and Executive Director of the Moody Theological Seminary Center for Compelling Biblical Preaching, and author of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary on Ruth. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
https://www.amazon.com/Exalting-Jesus-Judges-Christ-Centered-Exposition/dp/1462797210

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
Navigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NU
Navigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFs
Navigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zU
Navigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxs
Navigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When we talk about reading the Bible, we usually talk about it in a personal context or in a church setting. We talk about developing personal Bible-reading habits, studying God’s Word, or growing a healthy devotional life. But today, we want to talk about reading the Bible in a different way – reading it with non-believers. Perhaps this idea is new to you, perhaps you may think I sound crazy or maybe your muscles automatically tightened at the mere notion of reading the Bible with non-believers, but I hope you stay with me. Reading the Bible with people who don’t know Jesus does not have to be as scary as it sounds. Saddleback Church is actually spearheading a new, multi-church initiative called One Million More – asking the question what if one million more fell in love with the Bible. 

For today’s conversation on reading the Bible with non-believers host Jason Wieland sits down with Saddleback Executive Pastor Jason Williams. Jason Williams has a long history of hosting Bible book clubs with non-believers so he’s here to break down fear barriers, give practical tips, and talk about the powerful impact that reading with non-believers can have not just on them, but on you as well. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
One Million More - https://onemillionmore.bible/

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
How does the History of the Bible Affect How we Read it Today - https://youtu.be/l9I2WlvEeA8
What Are We Getting Wrong in How We Approach the Bible? - https://youtu.be/_uAiWrq2EyU
Why Are There So Many Bible Translations? - https://youtu.be/BqeAS2HQljg

"Whenever the LORD raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways." – Judges 2:18-19. 

The book of Judges, the 7th book in the Bible, is a fascinating look at the life of Israel, now in the land of Canaan. It’s a book of tribes, a book of land, but ultimately it’s a book about God and his people. Moses has died. Joshua dies in the beginning of chapter 2 of this book, and now the people are left to make the choice for themselves of whom they are going to follow. The influence of the Canaanite people is strong and we see quickly that Israel falls into disobeying the Lord. The verse immediately following Joshua’s death says “After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.” But thank God that he would send judges to remind Israel of who he was and is and is to come. 

Judges is a rich, episodic book where we see Deborah and Gideon and Samson and many others wrestle, some better than others, with how to point the people of Israel back to God. To help us navigate the book of Judges is Dr. Kenneth Way. Dr. Way is the Professor and Chair of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology and has written a commentary on the book of Judges. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Resources Related to This Episode:
Judges-Ruth Teach the Text Commentary - https://www.amazon.com/Judges-Ruth-Teach-Text-Commentary/dp/0801092159

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
Navigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFs
Navigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zU
Navigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxs
Navigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

On this Election Day in America, host Jason Wieland offers a prayer of hope, love, and peace for the nation. 

Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).

Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: 
Living with a Non-Enemy Mentality - https://youtu.be/YqgVVtjFgB4
Being People of Peace - https://youtu.be/4jKaSS3r4V4
How to Talk with Others with Civility - https://youtu.be/9tA07RTKaI8
The Power in Gentleness - https://youtu.be/So3n7PaBbYM
How to Live with Humility - https://youtu.be/UHroSMEUkXU

Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/