Scott Mitchell's Let The Bible Speak

07/02/2023

Awesome! Scott appears in one of episodes.

Want to hear inspiring sermons from Scott Beyer in a podcast format, filling our souls with God's Word? We know we do!

Introducing the Scriptures for the Soul podcast.

This new, sermon-length podcast series from Scott Beyer is available from many of the places you may be listening to your podcasts now:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2119485/share

05/02/2023

Hello, Everyone. Scott Beyer with Eastland church family in Louisville, Kentucky has a couple of new podcasts. One that just started yesterday is available on Spotify at the following link:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0QK3RNRGhVSMdvFq7MW9dy?si=02b6028542154a63

Listen to Scriptures for the Soul on Spotify.

06/10/2022

Mark Roberts gave a great lesson today talking about how we can have renewed hope by taking advantage of the tools available to use to reach out and be influencers, specifically in the way of social media...

https://youtu.be/mYSVWik9Tp0

If you are interested in Mark's entire series on Hope, they are located here:
https://www.youtube.com/c/EastlandChurchofChristLouisville

06/10/2022

Hello, Everyone,

For folks that remember Scott Mitchell's Let the Bible Speak as a radio program airing on 89.9 FM WBRO, there is talk of returning to the radio airwaves! We will let everyone know when something becomes official. :D

04/04/2022

Let the Bible speak...

12/03/2022

Hello, Everyone!

Our listeners, readers and viewers could do us a real favor. :D

One of our past guests is a preacher at a congregation in the WBRO listening area where Let The Bible Speak began broadcasting. The congregation has a page. They are having opportunities to reach out to the community, and they are directing folks to their page.

What kinds of things are folks interested in the Gospel message looking for in a page? Do they want to be able to watch a live stream of the worship and/or class services? Do they want regular, short Bible lessons? Are they expecting links to other resources, and if so, what kinds of resources?

The above are just a few ideas, so please keep the feedback and ideas coming.

Thank you!

30/11/2021

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish…” (Hebrews 6:11-12)

Sluggish is quite the picturesque word. I cannot imagine anyone would like to see themselves compared to a slimy, gelatinous critter that is repulsive to look at and leaves behind a trail of mucus.

I wonder if that is how God views our sluggish faith? Does it make Him nauseous when we refuse to do what we know we ought? Does it disgust Him when we procrastinate in spiritual service? What about when we allow our lack of zeal to leave a trail of apathy for other Christians to be tainted by? At least the lowly slug can’t help it!

Be diligent in your faith and run the race – pursue God with diligence and excellence. Say no to slug-faith. Set the pace for others and realize the full assurance of hope.

Matthew 4:4

26/11/2021

It is entirely appropriate that we take this time to give thanks to God for our material blessings.

But also, let us not stop yearning for the eternal blessings...

2 Cor 5:2 ESV
For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling

26/11/2021

“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6)

No God-fearing Christian should be able to read Hebrews 6:4-6 without a sense of trepidation and tremble. The words of Hebrews were written to Christians who had seen the apostles and had first-hand experience with the signs and wonders which testified to the Word of God. Their teachers were the prophets. If they could taste such things and then fall away from the Lord, certainly we are not immune to the dangers of spiritual drift!

Beware of the slow fall away from Jesus. We must be faithful until death, not just faithful until we become comfortable.

Matthew 4:4

25/11/2021

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” (Hebrews 5:12)

Though there is a sense in which only a few possess the talents and skills of teaching (see James 3:1), there is a basic level in which all Christians must accept the responsibility to teach. After all, we cannot be “prepared to give a reason for the hope within us” (1 Pet. 3:15) unless we have gained the necessary skills to reasonably be prepared to share said hope.

Christians are in the people business, and we are in the teaching business. Coercion, violence, or bribery cannot be induced to lead people to Jesus. We are only left with the tools of teaching and persuasion to bring the good news to our friends and neighbors. After all, there is no draft – the ranks of Jesus’ army are filled solely by volunteers.

It is not expected that every Christian know everything, but every Christian should know some things. We must be prepared to answer the basic questions about the tenets of our belief in Jesus. Why should I trust the Bible? What does the Bible teach about how one is saved? Why are we lost without Jesus? What is the church? Why should I care?

Make no mistake, we must be able to articulate what we believe… maybe not at first, but eventually “you ought to be teachers.”

Matthew 4:4

24/11/2021

“He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation…” (Hebrews 5:9)

All things precious have a source, and that source must then be tapped into through some method of extraction. Olives contain an oil that is of great value but requires pressure to extract and obtain it. The earth is the source of great deposits of oil and veins of gold that may be of tremendous benefit if the appropriate means and effort are applied to tap into them.

Jesus is no different. He is the source of eternal salvation for all, and obedience is how we may benefit from Him. Jesus will not yield His precious gold to the man who desires it but refuses to pick up his cross and follow Him. Obedience is the pickaxe that mines the gold and the drill that taps into the oil deposit.

We cannot be saved without Him, and He refuses to yield to our methods. We cannot lean against our shovels and hope that simply saying His name will do the job. Obedience is the only acceptable pathway to the Source of our salvation.

Matthew 4:4
(www.biblegrad.com)

23/11/2021

“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)

I will not pretend to speak deeply about how the perfect Son of God could learn obedience; such a theological endeavor is beyond my abilities, and I will not attempt it here. I simply wish for us to recognize that He did learn obedience. There is a sense in which Jesus gained something He previously did not have until after He was required by time and circumstance to humble Himself in obedience through suffering.

If this is true (and the Scriptures do not lie), how dare we revile suffering as some putrid thing that ought to be avoided at all cost? If the benefit of pain is a knowledge that even the Son of God benefitted from (in what way, I know not how), then such knowledge should be considered more precious than all the teachings of all the ancient tomes combined!

Let us embrace the discomfort of obedient suffering, not for the sake of the suffering, but for the sake of what it is guaranteed to teach us.

Matthew 4:4

22/11/2021

“…he [the high priest] can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness…” (Hebrew 5:2)

When a descendant of Aaron took up the mantle of high priest, he was entering into a life of service to the “less than” community. The high priest spent his life dealing with the ignorant and misguided – namely those who made choices without thinking about them or made choices after only badly thinking about them. Every day, he was to make intercession for people who came to him needing forgiveness for poor choices made with poor planning. I imagine, at times, it was a tedious task of repetition. Yet, as high priest, it was the role you were born into, and genealogy forced you to hold it – not to mention that your own humanity would help you to recognize the shortcomings of your fellow man.

Yet, Jesus had no such external circumstances forcing Him into the role as our High Priest. He had no shortcomings Himself, nor did He have a genealogy that required Him to take up the office. Jesus chooses to deal gently with our misguided ignorance out of love, not compulsion. He chose to walk in our shoes to see the weakness of our flesh, so He would be a compassionate Redeemer.

Jesus deals gently with us, and, likewise, as priests of the Most High, we ought to deal gently with each other.

Matthew 4:4
(www.biblegrad.com)

29/10/2021

“And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us, and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.” (Acts 28:15)

Brethren give us courage. When Paul met the Christians on his way to Rome, it didn’t matter that he was headed to trial – Paul knew he wasn’t alone, and that made him grateful and bold.

We need each other.

Matthew 4:4

28/10/2021

“Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all, and he broke it and began to eat.” (Acts 27:35)

Next time you feel like you are in too much of a hurry to stop and pray before you eat… remember that Paul gave thanks in the middle of a shipwreck.

Perspective.

Matthew 4:4
(www.biblegrad.com)

27/10/2021

“…the God to whom I belong and whom I serve…” (Acts 27:23)

Ownership – that’s what God had over Paul. Paul belonged to God, and what his Master said was law. Paul wasn’t playing church. Paul lived like someone who had been bought by blood and lived a life as a bound servant.

What would you do differently if you woke up tomorrow and asked what your Master would have you do? Would you live differently (would you serve differently) if you remembered you belonged to Him?

Matthew 4:4

26/10/2021

“…for this has not been done in a corner.” (Acts 26:26b)

Reason #9,472 that I am a Christian: christianity wasn’t created in a dark corner through some man’s private visions and philosophies. Christianity is a publicly-verifiable religion, and every part of the Scripture can be vetted by the evidence.

Jesus preached in public, performed miracles in public, died in public, and His empty tomb was left for all the public to see. No tricks, no games, and no hidden agendas. That goes for the Bible, too. It is an open-source document that can be traced and vetted by anyone who wants to compare its veracity and authenticity throughout history.

The evidence is in – Jesus is the real deal.

Matthew 4:4

25/10/2021

“…that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.” (Acts 26:20)

You wouldn’t wear swim shorts with a suit jacket because it isn’t appropriate – we shouldn’t perform evil deeds with the title ‘Christian’ on our heads. To say we love God and then live immoral lives is inappropriate. It doesn’t match the hope we claim to live by. Repentance has an expectation of appropriate behavior to match it.

So don’t let foul language out of the same mouth that prays to God – it isn’t appropriate.
Don’t mistreat your coworker with the same life that worships God – it isn’t appropriate.
Don’t abuse and manipulate your spouse with the same heart that is supposed to have Christ in it – it isn’t appropriate.

Instead, let your words, your hands, and your heart be consistent in performing deeds appropriate to a life that has been turned to God.

Matthew 4:4

22/10/2021

“…to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:18)

One of the primary goals of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to open your eyes to the darkness. To pretend there is no evil in the world (or at least no evil in me) is the sort of self-deception that Satan revels in. If we do not recognize wickedness, we cannot flee from it. Tyranny cannot be overthrown without recognition of its evil dominion.

Satan owns us as long as we give him the power to shackle us to our lusts, our selfishness, and our hunger for power and pride. As long as we refuse to admit the problem, he happily leads us by the leash of our ignorance. The gospel reveals the darkness in us, so it might be repelled.

When we open our eyes to our sin, we can flee from it and seek the forgiveness of the Savior.

Matthew 4:4

21/10/2021

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? Is it hard for you to kick against the goads?” (Acts 26:14)

Jesus had been goading Saul with the gospel for years. Certainly, Saul had had opportunity to hear of Jesus of Nazareth while He walked this earth. Saul had definitely heard the gospel message preached by Stephen on that fateful day when Saul held the cloaks of those that stoned the first recorded martyr for Christ. Saul had ample opportunity to hear of the empty tomb, the evidence of the resurrection, and the turmoil it had caused amongst the religious elite.

And yet, there was Saul on the road to Damascus, still refusing to heed the goads of Jesus. So, Jesus calmly asked him if it had been hard. Had it been hard to fight against the evidence and ignore the truth? Had it been hard to turn a blind eye to the light and hunker down in the old habits of darkness?

Sometimes we do that – we put up our walls and ignore Jesus’ calls to repentance and growth. We know we should probably listen, but change is hard. Today, do the hard thing. Heed the goads and make the changes. Don’t fight it anymore. Repentance is hard, but it is worth it. Only when Saul stopped kicking back did he become the heroic apostle we all need.

Matthew 4:4

20/10/2021

“…but they had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.” (Acts 25:19)

Acts 25:19 is one of those understated gems hidden in the New Testament. During Paul’s trials, the conclusion the Romans came to was that Paul just had some “points of disagreement” over “religion” and whether or not Jesus was dead. What the world sees as trivial, Christians view as monumental.

If Jesus is dead, we are the most pitiable of creatures… but if that tomb is empty, it changes everything. If His tomb is empty, ours will be, too.

The world doesn’t get it. It’s all religion, spiritual talk, and philosophy to them. Don’t be discouraged – it’s all theory until we die, and then everyone cares about the empty tomb.

Matthew 4:4

19/10/2021

“…there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” (Acts 24:15b)

The key word here is ‘certainly’. The resurrection is a fixed point in the future of humanity. Your personal resurrection to wickedness or righteousness is the only point in question.

Matthew 4:4
(www.biblegrad.com)

19/10/2021

“But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened…” (Acts 24:25)

Accountability is frightening. When we realize we will need to explain our behavior and give account for what we did and why we did it, things get real quickly. Most of us don’t like having to explain our behavior, and it can become embarrassing when we have choices we made become uncovered in the light of day.

What if every text message you ever wrote could be read publicly? Or every email you’ve sent? What would happen if every website you ever visited was catalogued for all to see? Or far worse, what if every thought you ever dwelt on became public knowledge? That sort of transparency is unnerving.

Yet, that is what the judgment will be—every choice laid on the table and every moment of weaknesses exposed to the scrutiny of God on His throne of judgment. Felix had good reason to be shaking in his boots. Judgment without Jesus is a terrifying proposition.

Matthew 4:4
(www.biblegrad.com)

14/10/2021

And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest, for it is written, “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.” (Acts 23:5)

Paul apologized for speaking poorly of the high priest, even though Paul had been right, and the high priest had been wrong. Paul won the argument but apologized for his lack of respect for the office.

If Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, was careful when speaking about rulers of Israel (the same rulers who crucified Jesus), we ought to be mindful of how we speak about our government leaders, too. (I’m looking at you, keyboard warriors.)

We need not condone wicked behavior, but we ought to speak circumspectly and with respect. It's a matter of Christian character.

Matthew 4:4

13/10/2021

“Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22:16)

Many will miss heaven simply because they procrastinated. Delayed obedience is just another way of saying disobedient. Can you imagine speaking to Jesus on the Judgment Day and trying to explain why you were too busy to accept the salvation He died to give you? I doubt that will go over too well.

When you know the right thing to do – do it. Paul knew he was a sinner, and Ananias knew the answer was baptism. There was no reason to delay, and Ananias urged Paul to show some hustle in his obedience to Jesus. Thankfully, Paul heeded the advice!

Procrastinating obedience is a sin. Don’t get tricked into delaying the most important things in life.

Matthew 4:4

12/10/2021

“Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing…” (Acts 21:16)

The only thing we know about Mnason is he was a Christian of consistency. Long-standing faith doesn’t sit down when the going gets rough. Long-standing discipleship keeps reaching upward and finding new growth. Long-standing faith doesn’t come up short – it finishes strong.

Be Mnason – be a long-stander.

Matthew 4:4

11/10/2021

“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner, you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

Every day, find a small way to give back. Jesus has made our cups overflow – let that overflow reach others.

In your life, you will have many opportunities to be a taker, but you will also have many opportunities to give. But, as Paul said, giving requires “working hard in this manner”. It takes a special kind of person to understand and see the needs of others and work the extra amount required to meet them.

However, is there anything more satisfying in life than giving? When we learn to give, we become aligned with our heavenly purpose as servants, and we will often find that the desire to give becomes almost addictive. The reason it feels good is because we are doing what we were made for.

The devil is a lion that roars and consumes. Jesus is a lamb who gives Himself as a sacrifice. Giving is the way of the Lamb.

Matthew 4:4

08/10/2021

“I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable and teaching you publicly and from house to house.” (Acts 20:20)

“I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” (Acts 20:27)

Paul didn’t hold back from preaching everything God revealed to him. Why? Because whatever is from God is profitable for you. Notice the parallel between verse 20 and verse 27. What is profitable is the whole purpose of God. To declare God’s will is to declare what is profitable for the human soul.

The Scriptures are the manual for your soul. Within them are revealed the wisdom of the Creator to His creation.

Why was Paul so adamant to not hold back on preaching? Why was he so passionate that he would preach publicly and from house to house? For the same reason you would be passionate about sharing the cure for cancer if you found it.

Don’t withhold from others what has changed your own life.

Matthew 4:4

08/10/2021

“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day…” (Acts 20:7a)

How important was the Lord’s Supper to the first-century church? It was so important that even though an apostle was in town, the church gathered together to remember break the bread of communion, and only then did they have Paul speak.

The Lord’s Supper was the reason for gathering; the preaching of an apostle was the bonus.

The first day of the week memorial is the spiritual meal our souls need every week. Don’t underestimate the value of the Lord’s Supper’s weekly observance. Even if Paul showed up next Sunday to preach, remembering Jesus’ sacrifice would still be more important than the sermon.

Matthew 4:4
(www.biblegrad.com)

06/10/2021