Gospel at a Glance

Episode 15 - Matthew 4:18-22 - Follow Me

Scripture: Matthew 4:18–22 (NIV)
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,
and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Episode Summary
Jesus’ first disciples weren’t scholars or priests. They were fishermen in the middle of their daily routine. Yet when Jesus calls, they drop everything. In this episode, we explore how God meets us in the ordinary and transforms it into the sacred.
Andi unpacks three key movements in this short but powerful scene:
The Power of Presence — Jesus meets us right where we are.
A New Kind of Fishing — God transforms what we already know into what others need.
Immediate Obedience — Following Jesus means reorienting our priorities around his call.
This passage reminds us that the kingdom doesn’t begin in the extraordinary—it begins with everyday people willing to say yes.
Key Takeaways
Jesus meets us in the ordinary places of life.
Our existing gifts and experiences are redeemable tools for the kingdom.
Discipleship isn’t just belief—it’s movement, a willingness to follow.
 Sources Referenced
The HarperCollins Study Bible – emphasizes the immediacy of the disciples’ obedience and how it reorders priorities.
The Jewish Annotated New Testament – connects Jesus’ call to prophetic summonses like Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 19).
The Oxford Annotated Bible – links “fishing for people” with Jeremiah 16:16’s image of gathering God’s people.
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone – notes that Jesus calls us not to admire him but to join him in God’s renewing work.
About the Series
Gospel at a Glance takes you through the gospels one short passage at a time inviting you to pause, reflect, and see how the kingdom of God meets us in the everyday.
Follow the show on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. 
Connect: gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Keywords
Matthew 4:18–22, calling of the disciples, Peter and Andrew, James and John, Sea of Galilee, follow me, fishers of men, Jesus calls disciples, Gospel of Matthew, Christian podcast, Bible study, discipleship, kingdom of God, ordinary faith, spiritual growth, progressive Christian, devotional podcast, faith reflection, Andi Miller, Gospel at a Glance Podcast
Hashtags
#GospelAtAGlance #FollowMe #Matthew4 #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #FaithPodcast #ProgressiveChristianity #JesusCalls #Discipleship #FishersOfMen #KingdomOfGod #BibleReflection #SpiritualFormation #EverydayFaith

Episode 14 - Matthew 4:12-17 - Wildnerness to Witness

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:12–17 (New International Version)
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali —to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” 
Episode Summary
After John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus moves north to Galilee and begins His public ministry. The moment marks a turning point from wilderness testing to public witness.
In Galilee’s diverse and often overlooked region, Isaiah’s prophecy comes to life: “the people living in darkness have seen a great light.”
Jesus starts not with spectacle or power but with a simple invitation: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is not a call to guilt but to transformation, to turn toward the new reality God is bringing into the world. The light of the kingdom doesn’t wait for heaven; it breaks into ordinary life now, in the midst of the tired, the forgotten, and the overlooked. From testing to teaching, from isolation to invitation, the ministry of Jesus begins — and the upside-down kingdom dawns.
Takeaways
God begins renewal on the margins. Galilee’s edges become the birthplace of the kingdom’s light.
Repentance means re-orientation. It’s not about punishment but about turning toward life.
The kingdom has already come near. Heaven is not far off; God’s reign is active here and now.
Light grows quietly. God’s transforming work often starts where no one is looking.
Recommended Reading
A range of respected biblical scholars explore what Jesus meant when He spoke of the kingdom of heaven—a reign both present and still coming, spiritual yet social, personal and communal:
R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew (NICNT) — Describes Jesus revealing the kingdom as a present reality that anticipates its future fulfillment.
D. A. Carson, Matthew in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary — Explains the kingdom as Christ’s reign now established but awaiting its full consummation.
Craig Blomberg, Matthew (NAC Series) — Highlights how believers live under God’s rule in the present while looking forward to its ultimate completion.
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 — Portrays heaven’s rule as something transforming ordinary life here and now, not merely a future escape.
Ulrich Luz, Matthew 1–7 (Hermeneia) — Sees the kingdom as God’s alternative social order challenging injustice and reimagining community.
Amy-Jill Levine, Short Stories by Jesus — Interprets the parables as glimpses of God’s reign already active in small, surprising ways.
Donald B. Kraybill, The Upside-Down Kingdom — Emphasizes Jesus’ radical reversal of status and power as the essence of kingdom living.
John Dominic Crossan, God and Empire — Frames the kingdom as a present-tense vision of divine justice standing against oppressive systems.
Tags / Keywords
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew4 #KingdomOfHeaven #Repentance #UpsideDownKingdom #Faith #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #AndiMiller #PresentKingdom #JesusMinistry

Episode 13 - Matthew 4:8-11 - Temptation of Power

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:8-11 (ESV translation)
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Episode Summary
In the final wilderness temptation, the devil offers Jesus authority over every kingdom on earth, but only in exchange for worship.
Jesus refuses, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.”
This closing test shifts from trust to allegiance. Jesus rejects the shortcut to glory and shows that true kingship will come not through conquest but through surrender.
Here we glimpse the heartbeat of the upside-down kingdom: a reign where power is expressed through humility, greatness through service, and victory through obedience.
The wilderness ends quietly, not with spectacle but with the peace of faithfulness; angels attend to the One who chose worship over control.
Takeaways
Power without worship is hollow. Jesus models authority rooted in devotion, not domination.
The kingdom of God reverses expectations. Strength appears as humility; leadership looks like service.
Faithfulness outweighs shortcuts. Obedience, not ambition, reveals divine power.
Worship orders the heart. Whom we worship determines how we use whatever influence we hold.
Further Reading: The Upside-Down Kingdom
Study Bibles
The Oxford Annotated Study Bible (NRSV): Highlights how Matthew presents God’s kingdom as reversing human power and status.
The HarperCollins Study Bible (NRSV): Emphasizes Jesus’ consistent pattern of social and spiritual reversal, especially in the Beatitudes.
The Jewish Annotated New Testament (Levine & Brettler): Shows how Jesus’ teachings echo Jewish wisdom traditions that critique unjust hierarchies.
The ESV Study Bible: Describes Jesus’ rejection of worldly authority as foreshadowing His servant-style kingship.
Commentaries
R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew (NICNT): Shows how Jesus’ obedience redefines true authority under God’s rule.
N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Portrays the temptations as Jesus rejecting worldly power to reveal God’s.
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary: Connects each temptation to political expectations and Jesus’ counter-kingdom response.
John Nolland, The Gospel of Matthew (NIGTC): Interprets the wilderness story as a paradigm of worship shaping all rightful power.
Donald B. Kraybill, The Upside-Down Kingdom: A classic exploration of how Jesus’ message overturns social hierarchies and defines power through love.
If you’d like to share your thoughts or questions, email gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com!
Tags / Keywords
#GospelAtAGlance #Matthew4 #TemptationOfJesus #UpsideDownKingdom #Faith #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #KingdomOfGod #ServantLeadership

Episode 12 - Matthew 4:5-7 - Trust Without Tests

Scripture? Matthew 4:5-7 (NIV): 
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
— Matthew 4:5-7 (NIV)
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we explore the second temptation of Jesus. It's one centered not on hunger or power, but on trust. The devil quotes Scripture itself to provoke Jesus into proving His identity through spectacle and self-destruction. Instead, Jesus reveals a deeper obedience: faith without manipulation.
This passage challenges us to consider the subtle ways we test God when we demand proof of His care, rather than resting in His promises. True faith doesn’t need to perform. It trusts that God’s presence and protection are already secure.
Takeaways:
Even Scripture can be twisted when separated from trust and humility.
Faith that demands proof isn’t faith at all.
Jesus models restraint, a quiet confidence in God’s character.
Our identity doesn’t need to be proven through performance.
Recommended Reading:
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary — explores how the devil’s use of Scripture reflects real interpretive dangers.
N.T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 — connects this temptation to modern faith struggles around proof and performance.
The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2nd ed.), eds. Amy-Jill Levine & Marc Z. Brettler — notes parallels between this scene and Israel’s testing of God in the wilderness.
HarperCollins Study Bible (NRSV) — commentary highlighting the Deuteronomy connection and the theological weight of “testing the Lord.”
Questions or reflections to share? Email us at gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
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Key Words:
Matthew 4:5–7, Jesus temptation, testing God, trust in God, Gospel of Matthew podcast, Christian podcast, Lent reflection, faith over fear, Jesus in the wilderness, Bible study podcast, spiritual growth, understanding temptation, Scripture misuse, Gospel at a Glance

Episode 11 - Matthew 4:1-4 - Not By Bread Alone

Episode 11 — Not by Bread Alone (Matthew 4:1–4)
Scripture (ESV)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But he answered, “It is written,
‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
 
Episode Summary
Immediately after His baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. There, the tempter challenges His identity and hunger. Jesus refuses to turn stones into bread, choosing trust over self-reliance and reminding us that true life comes from God’s word.
Takeaway
The wilderness teaches dependence. Strength is not found in control, but in trusting the One who provides.
 
Contact
📧 gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Listen On
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Sources Referenced
ESV, NRSV, NIV, Oxford Annotated Study Bible, Jewish Annotated New Testament, HarperCollins Study Bible
Music Credit
Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Episode 10 - Matthew 3:13-17 - This is My Beloved Son

Scripture (NRSV)
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he consented.
And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
 
Episode Summary
Jesus steps into the Jordan to be baptized by John, identifying fully with humanity and fulfilling all righteousness. Heaven opens, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice declares His love. This moment marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and reveals the unity of the Trinity.
Takeaway
Before Jesus does anything public, He is declared beloved. So are we. God’s approval comes not after achievement but before it.
Contact
📧 gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Listen On
Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio • PodBean • PlayerFM • PocketCasts • Podchaser • BoomPlay • or wherever you listen.
Sources Referenced
NRSV, ESV, NIV, Oxford Annotated Study Bible, Jewish Annotated New Testament, HarperCollins Study Bible
Music Credit
Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Episode 9 - Matthew 3:11-12 - Baptized with the Holy Spirit and Fire

Scripture (NRSV)
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Episode Summary
John the Baptist prepares the way for the coming Messiah and reveals that Jesus’ baptism will be unlike his own...one of Spirit and fire. The imagery of winnowing and refining invites us to see God’s fire not as destruction, but purification.
Takeaway
The Holy Spirit’s fire refines us into something stronger and truer. God’s judgment is not meant to condemn but to renew.
Contact
📧 gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Listen On
Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio • PodBean • PlayerFM • PocketCasts • Podchaser • BoomPlay • or wherever you listen.
Sources Referenced
NRSV, ESV, NIV, Oxford Annotated Study Bible, Jewish Annotated New Testament, HarperCollins Study Bible
Music Credit
Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Episode 8 - Matthew 3:7-10 - Bear Fruit Worthy of Repentence

Scripture (NRSV)
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them,
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Episode Summary
John confronts the religious elite who come to observe his baptism. His words are sharp but purposeful. True repentance isn’t inherited or performed, it’s shown through transformation.
Takeaway
Repentance is more than words. It’s a life that bears visible fruit of humility, justice, and faithfulness.
Contact
📧 gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Listen On
Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio • PodBean • PlayerFM • PocketCasts • Podchaser • BoomPlay • or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Sources Referenced
NRSV, ESV, NIV, Oxford Annotated Study Bible, Jewish Annotated New Testament, HarperCollins Study Bible
Music Credit
Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Episode 7 - Matthew 3:1-6 - The Voice in the Wilderness

Episode 7 — The Voice in the Wilderness (Matthew 3:1–6)
Scripture (NRSV)
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan,
and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
 
Episode Summary
After centuries of silence, a prophet’s voice rises again. John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, calling people to repentance and preparing the way for the Lord. His message of “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” is both moral and theological: God is on the move.
Takeaway
Renewal begins on the margins. God often starts His greatest work in quiet, uncomfortable spaces where hearts can truly turn toward Him.
Sources Referenced
ESV, NIV, NRSV, Oxford Annotated Study Bible, Jewish Annotated New Testament, HarperCollins Study Bible
Contact
Have questions or comments? Email gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Listen On
Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio • PodBean • PlayerFM • PocketCasts • Podchaser • BoomPlay • or wherever you listen.
Music Credit
Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Episode 6 Matthew 2:19-23 - Out of Egypt and into Nazareth

Gospel at a Glance — Episode 6: Matthew 2:19–23 - Out of Egypt and into Nazareth
Scripture:
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
— Matthew 2:19–23 (NIV)
 
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we follow the Holy Family as they return from Egypt and settle in Nazareth. Herod’s death brings an end to one chapter of danger, but Joseph’s caution and divine guidance lead them not to Judea, where Herod’s son Archelaus now rules, but to Galilee. There, in the quiet town of Nazareth, prophecy is fulfilled once again.
This passage closes Matthew’s infancy narrative and completes the pattern of revelation, obedience, and fulfillment that has defined Joseph’s role. It also ties Jesus’ story to Israel’s—out of exile, into the promised land, and into obscurity—foreshadowing the kind of humble ministry that will characterize His life.
Takeaways:
God’s direction often comes step by step, through trust and obedience.
Matthew continues to draw parallels between Jesus and Israel’s story of exile and return.
Nazareth’s obscurity highlights God’s pattern of working through the humble and overlooked.
“He will be called a Nazarene” reminds us that Jesus’ identity is rooted in both humility and divine purpose.
Sources Referenced:
ESV, NIV, NRSV, Oxford Annotated Study Bible, The Jewish Annotated New Testament, and The HarperCollins Study Bible.
Contact Us:
Have thoughts or questions about this passage? We’d love to hear from you!
📧 gospelataglancepodcast@gmail.com
Music Credit:
Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay