The Bible For Busy People
Do you find the chaos and noise of the world getting you down? Time to turn up the voice of God in your life! Join Jenn Schultz for a mini-bible study podcast each weekday. In 7 minutes or less, you’ll dive into God’s Word and come up refreshed and ready for the next thing on your to do list. We know you can find 7 minutes a day to stop and soak in God's truth! You can totally connect with Jesus on your commute, during your lunch break, in the school pickup line, while you’re doing the dishes, or at the...
Doubled - Elijah - 2 Kings 2
If you’ve ever watched The Sandlot, you know the magic of wanting “s’more”, and honestly, that’s exactly how it feels when we long for more of God’s presence and power in our lives. In 2 Kings, Elisha asks for a “double portion,” a bold, beautiful reminder that God invites us to seek more of Him than we often dare to ask.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4vDJnfH
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
Convicted - Elijah - 1 Kings 21
Walking into a new church can feel awkward enough, but trust me, playing Jezebel in front of a room full of preteens is not the move. Elijah reminds us that even when we cringe at our own missteps, God still calls us to courage, truth, and a faith that stands firm when it matters most.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49TjOz3
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Consoled - Elijah - 1 Kings 19
Some days it feels like the hard stuff hits fast, but the glimmers, those tiny God‑given sparks of joy, have a way of catching us off guard and reminding us we’re not alone. Elijah’s story in 1 Kings shows the same truth: even in the wilderness, God meets us with gentleness, provision, and the quiet reassurance that He’s right there with us.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4oi1DZw
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at P...
Restored - Elijah - 1 Kings 18
There’s nothing like that moment when something broken in your life finally comes back to life again... Like when your taste buds return after weeks of bland nothing and suddenly a tomato tastes like a miracle. Elijah’s story in 1 Kings shows how God does the same kind of restoring work in our souls, turning our hearts back to Him with a power and tenderness that brings us fully alive again.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4vFvgqa
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episode...
Unexpected - Elijah - 1 Kings 17
Some of the people I can’t wait to meet in God’s Kingdom aren’t the obvious heroes—they’re the ones like Elijah, bold enough to call a nation back to God yet human enough to wrestle with fear and loneliness. It reminds me that God loves working through the unexpected; unexpected places, unexpected people, unexpected moments of grace. As we look at Elijah’s journey, I pray it open our eyes to how God is moving in the surprising corners of our own lives.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4fyYZMQ
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Water - Holy Spirit As... - John 4, 7, Isaiah 44, 55, Jeremiah 2, 17
Some metaphors for the Holy Spirit feel powerful and dramatic, but water hits a little closer to home because we know what it feels like to be thirsty—physically, emotionally, spiritually. Just like the woman at the well, we all come to Jesus carrying empty spaces we can’t seem to fill on our own, and He meets us with something deeper than quick relief. Living water doesn’t just refresh us for a moment; it settles into the places that need cleansing, healing, and connection, becoming the steady flow that keeps our faith alive.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly...
Oil - Holy Spirit As... - Exodus 30, Isaiah 61, Acts 10, 1 John 20
Some images of the Holy Spirit feel big and dramatic, wind, fire, clouds, but oil is one of those quiet metaphors that sneaks up on you with how deeply it fits real life. God’s Spirit has a way of soaking into the everyday places we don’t always notice. Maybe that’s the point: the Spirit doesn’t just show up in the spectacular moments but in the ordinary ones, slowly softening, healing, and empowering us from the inside out.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4x6u2FV
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Fire - Holy Spirit As... - Exodus 3, 19, Acts 2, 1 Peter 1
Fire has a way of revealing what’s really there—what’s fragile, what’s strong, and what’s ready to be refined. Parenthood has felt a lot like that for me, a slow burn of challenges that somehow shapes you into someone braver and more capable than you expected. As we look at the Holy Spirit through the image of fire, we’re reminded that God’s presence doesn’t consume us but transforms us, refining our faith in ways we often only understand in hindsight.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4uQNPrD
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Cloud/Wind - Holy Spirit As... - Exodus 13, 14, 24, Matthew 17, John 3
Sometimes the Spirit nudges us in ways that feel as unpredictable as wind and as mysterious as a cloud—gentle, insistent, and impossible to ignore. I’ve learned that those small pushes often lead us straight into God’s purposes, even when they pull us past our comfort zones. As we look at the Spirit through the images of cloud and wind in Scripture, we see that God’s presence both guides and moves us in ways we could never orchestrate on our own.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3SjrQuN
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Breath - Holy Spirit As... - Genesis 1, 2, 2 Peter 1, 2 Timothy 3
Breath is one of those quiet miracles we barely notice until life feels chaotic, and suddenly we’re desperate for something steady to hold onto. The Holy Spirit, the very breath of God, is one of those gifts that doesn’t just tell us who God is but gently shows us, hovering, ordering, and inviting us to pause long enough to receive.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4fpHizi
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
The Woman At The Well - Unexpected Heroes - John 4
I’ve been thinking about how often Jesus revealed Himself most clearly to people His community considered “other,” and the Samaritan woman is such a powerful example. She carried social labels, cultural tension, and personal pain, yet Jesus met her with dignity, truth, and the promise of Living Water. Her story shows that no one stands outside the reach of God’s invitation.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4ecBV4n
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.c...
The Centurion - Unexpected Heroes - Matthew 8
Amazement has this beautiful way of waking us up, whether it’s a breathtaking sunset, a child learning something new, or a moment of unexpected beauty that stops us in our tracks. Those flashes of wonder keep us humble and human, and they remind us that God still surprises us in the ordinary. Even Jesus was amazed at times, especially when He encountered simple, humble faith that trusted His authority completely.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4nT9RqM
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Naaman - Unexpected Heroes - 2 Kings 5
It’s funny how often we brace ourselves for big, dramatic answers when the real solution is far simpler—and far closer—than we imagined. I’ve lived that in my own body, and Naaman lived it in his own story, discovering that healing came not through grandeur but through humble obedience. Sometimes God’s invitations are small, accessible steps that reshape our faith from the inside out.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4vi3akU
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Bus...
Ruth - Unexpected Heroes - Ruth 1
Sometimes God meets us in the very places we feel most discouraged, showing up with a kind of comfort or joy we never saw coming. I’ve experienced that in seasons of grief, where laughter, connection, and unexpected peace reminded me that God walks with us even when the path feels heavy. Ruth and Naomi’s story echoes that same truth, faith is often shaped right in the middle of our hardest moments.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4nUPYQq
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Rahab - Unexpected Heroes - Joshua 2
Rahab’s story is one of those beautiful reminders that God has always been in the business of using unexpected people in unexpected ways. Long before Jesus came, her bold faith pointed to a bigger truth, that God’s promises were always meant for anyone willing to trust Him. Her courage invites us to look at our own lives and consider how we step out in faith, even when it goes against the grain.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4u4Qe0p
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Opening Up To God - Knowing God - Psalm 139, 13
Have you ever had a friendship that felt a little one‑sided—either you were doing all the sharing or all the listening? I’ve learned the hard way that real connection only happens when both people are willing to be known. And it turns out, our relationship with God works the same way.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4tPymGZ
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Face To Face With God - Knowing God - Exodus 33, 34; 2 Corinthians 3
We’ve all seen someone light up when they talk about something they’re passionate about, and honestly, it’s contagious. Moses had that same kind of radiance after spending time with God—only his glow came from something far deeper than excitement. His story invites us to remember who we’re actually talking to when we pray and how that changes us from the inside out.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4dGz6YR
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Wrestling With God - Knowing God - Genesis 32
I’ve never been great at conflict; I’d much rather keep the peace than stir anything up. But real relationships—whether with people or with God—inevitably bring moments of tension that we can’t sidestep forever. Jacob’s night of wrestling shows us that sometimes the struggle is exactly where God meets us.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4unK5NU
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
We would love to hear from you! E...
Naming God - Knowing God - Genesis 16
If you’ve ever stressed over choosing the “perfect” baby name, you’re in good company—I was the same way. But reading Scripture reminds me that names have always carried deep meaning, shaping stories and revealing how God sees us. That’s why Hagar’s story in Genesis 16 hits so differently when we notice the name she gives to God.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4v4Qvla
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
We woul...
Believing God - Knowing God - Genesis 15, Romans 4
Do you ever feel like you’re supposed to be “over it” by now—over the sadness, over the sin, over the season you’re in? I’ve been there, and God is teaching me that He values my being with Him far more than my doing for Him. It’s a lesson I’m still learning, one quiet step at a time.
And maybe that’s the invitation for both of us this week—to loosen our grip on all the “shoulds,” slow down enough to actually abide, and trust that God is shaping something beautiful in us even when we feel stu...
Whom Do You Seek? - Good Question - John 20
Losing sight of someone you love pulls a kind of panic out of you that you don’t even know you’re capable of, and Mary felt that same desperate ache when she realized Jesus was gone. She wasn’t quiet about it, and she didn’t hold back... she sought Him with her whole heart, grief and all, and Jesus met her right there in the middle of it. In our own moments of fear, loss, or longing, His question still reaches us: Whom do you seek?
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3RlTwPh
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Do You Still Not Understand? - Good Question - Mark 8
Clues can be everywhere, God’s faithfulness, answered prayers, moments of compassion, and we can still miss the bigger picture when we’re focused on the immediate problem right in front of us. The disciples did the same, standing beside Jesus with baskets of leftovers at their feet, yet still struggling to understand what He was trying to show them. Do you still not understand? becomes less a rebuke and more an invitation to remember what He’s already done so we can trust Him with what’s ahead.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4nEi9Tt
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What Do You Want Me To Do For You? - Good Question - Mark 10
Sometimes the simplest question is the one we struggle to answer the most. Whether it’s with our families, our friends, or even with God, it can feel easier to downplay our desires than to speak them honestly. But in Scripture, Jesus invites people to name their deepest hopes with boldness, not hesitation, reminding us that He actually wants to hear the real answer, not the “reasonable” one we think we should give.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4uHFeXE
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Why Are You So Afraid? - Good Question - Matthew 8, 14
Fear has a way of sneaking into the places we can’t control—our storms, our worries, even our parenting moments—and yet Jesus meets us there with a question that isn’t meant to shame us but to steady us: Why are you so afraid? In the chaos, He isn’t asking us to pretend we’re brave; He’s inviting us to remember who He is and who holds the waves. As we look at the questions Jesus asked, we get to see how fear can shift into wonder when we realize He’s been in the boat and on the water...
Who Do You Say I Am? - Good Question - Matthew 16, John 11
Sometimes the questions that make us the most uncomfortable end up being the ones that lead us straight into the heart of Jesus. As I’ve wrestled with my own fear of not having the “right” answers, I’m realizing that Jesus wasn’t afraid of questions at all—He used them to draw people closer, not push them away. This week, as we look at the questions Jesus asked, we get to slow down and honestly face the most important one: Who do you say I am?
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/42uxht2
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Inclusive - What's the Kingdom Like? - Luke 15
We spend so much of life trying to figure out where we fit, but Luke 15 reveals a God who is already searching for us with open arms. Jesus paints a picture of a Kingdom where every lost one matters and every return is a celebration. In God’s family, you truly belong.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49LQZUT
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Imminent - What's the Kingdom Like? - Matthew 25
Alarms exist to wake us up, and in Matthew 25 Jesus gives us a spiritual wake‑up call—live prepared, live transformed, and live like the Kingdom is already here.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4dfT2S5
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Generous - What's the Kingdom Like? - Luke 14, Matthew 18
It’s easy to get caught up in planning the “perfect” moments, yet Jesus shows us that God’s generosity goes far beyond anything we could ever pull off. Luke 14 and Matthew 18 invite us to see just how extravagant His grace really is.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4wqdOau
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Humble - What's the Kingdom Like? - Matthew 13
We love big moments and impressive beginnings, but Jesus keeps reminding us that the Kingdom grows quietly, humbly, and often in ways we don’t expect. Matthew 13 shows us how God does His greatest work through the smallest seeds.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4337pEC
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Priceless - What's the Kingdom Like? - Matthew 13
Our hearts are always scanning for something precious, something worth holding onto. Matthew 13 reminds us that the Kingdom of Heaven is the treasure that outshines every earthly pursuit.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/42lBr6k
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Colossians - Letters of Faith
Stepping into Colossians feels a bit like listening in on a heartfelt message sent across miles—Paul writing to people he’d never met, yet caring for them deeply and pointing them (and us) back to the Jesus who holds all things together and reshapes every part of our lives.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4ut80LB
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Philippians - Letters of Faith
When life hands us seasons that feel heavy or uncertain, Philippians reminds us that joy isn’t something we wait for—it’s something God grows in us right in the middle of the hard, just like He did for Paul in a prison cell. This letter invites us to look for the grace that meets us in our struggles and to trust that the good work God started in us is still unfolding, even on the toughest days.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4eY7bWA
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Ephesians - Letters of Faith
In a world that pulls us in a hundred directions, Ephesians gently calls us back to the truth that we are chosen, loved, and invited into a whole new way of living—one shaped by grace, unity, and the strength God provides for every battle we face.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/499S7Bq
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Galatians - Letters of Faith
As we navigate the tug‑of‑war between who we were and who we’re becoming, Galatians reminds us to breathe deeply and rest in the truth that Christ’s finished work—not our striving—is what holds us.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/42guuU3
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
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Paul's Story - Letters of Faith - Acts 22
We all love a powerful redemption story, the kind where life takes a sharp turn toward hope. As we look at familiar examples like Gru or The Grinch, we’re reminded that God has been writing the greatest redemption stories long before movies existed, including Paul’s dramatic transformation that shows us no one is beyond the reach of grace.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Pgg9E8
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for Busy People at Purposely.com
We...
A New Heaven and Earth - All Things Made New - Revelation 21
There was a time when I thought the Bible was mostly a rulebook—clear instructions for how to behave so God would be pleased with me. But the more I’ve learned to read Scripture through the lens of God’s character instead of my own performance, the more I see it as a story of God pursuing us, restoring us, and making all things new. Revelation 21 gives us a glimpse of that future wholeness, reminding us that even in the middle of our messy reality, God is leading us toward a day when heaven and earth are united and we fin...
A New Creation - All Things Made New - 2 Corinthians 5, Ephesians 4
Sometimes you watch someone change so deeply that it feels like they’ve become an entirely new person, like they’ve stepped out of an old life and into something brighter, freer, more whole. I’ve seen that kind of transformation in people who choose to follow Christ, trading old patterns for a new way of living that radiates joy and purpose. That’s exactly what Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 5: when we’re in Christ, we don’t just tweak a few habits, we become new creations with a new identity and a new way of seeing the world.
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A New Covenant - All Things Made New - Hebrews 8, 2 Corinthians 3
In our house, Uno isn’t just a game—it’s a full‑on emotional experience, complete with dramatic sighs, suspicious side‑eyes, and the occasional “how could you?” when someone drops a Draw Four. It’s funny how a simple deck of cards can shift so drastically depending on the rules you’re playing with, and how new rules can change everything. In a similar way, Scripture shows us that God introduced a new covenant through Jesus, one that reshaped the entire way we relate to God, offering freedom, intimacy, and grace that the old system could only hint at.
Sho...
A New Song - All Things Made New - Isaiah 42, Psalm 96
There’s something beautiful about the way we all stopped to look up together during the Artemis II mission, sharing the awe, wonder, and spark of collective effervescence that reminds us we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. It’s funny how even rocket science can feel simple compared to the mystery of creating something new, like a song. And yet, in Isaiah 42, God invites us into exactly that—a new song rising from the hope, justice, and restoration Jesus brings into the world.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4vHIu6F
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A New Way - All Things Made New - Isaiah 43
Spring has a way of waking us up, doesn’t it? Just when everything feels cold, quiet, and a little too still, the world starts blooming again, as if God is whispering that renewal is still possible. In the same way, Scripture reminds us that God is always at work making things new, even in the wilderness seasons we never asked for but somehow find ourselves in.
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4u5EL14
We’d love to encourage you to spend even more time in the Word. Find all the past episodes of The Bible for B...
