Riverside Reading Plan
Religion & Spirituality Podcasts
Whether you're opening your Bible for the first time, you've been reading it for decades, or you're somewhere in between, this podcast will be your daily companion as we explore God's story together. At Riverside, we believe that the Bible is good, the Bible is true, and the Bible is interesting. So over the next year, we'll be reading through carefully selected portions of text that revealed the grand narrative of God's relationship with humanity, and we'll dive into the transformational story of Jesus from day one of creation. Download the full reading list at riverside.faith/read
Location:
United States
Description:
Whether you're opening your Bible for the first time, you've been reading it for decades, or you're somewhere in between, this podcast will be your daily companion as we explore God's story together. At Riverside, we believe that the Bible is good, the Bible is true, and the Bible is interesting. So over the next year, we'll be reading through carefully selected portions of text that revealed the grand narrative of God's relationship with humanity, and we'll dive into the transformational story of Jesus from day one of creation. Download the full reading list at riverside.faith/read
Language:
English
Episodes
Psalm 98
1/2/2026
This psalm calls all creation to sing praise because the Lord has made known His salvation and remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to Israel, with all nations witnessing His vindication. The invitation for sea, world, floods, and hills to join in joyful noise anticipates the cosmic scope of divine redemption that extends beyond humanity to all creation. The emphasis on God coming to judge the earth with righteousness and equity provides hope for ultimate justice while celebrating the salvation that has already been accomplished and revealed to the nations.
Duration:00:02:23
1 John 5
1/2/2026
John's teaching that everyone who believes Jesus is the Christ is born of God connects faith with regeneration while emphasizing victory over the world through divine birth rather than human effort. His confidence about prayer according to God's will provides assurance for petitions while the distinction between sin leading to death and sin not leading to death acknowledges different degrees of spiritual danger. The conclusion that believers know they have eternal life through God's testimony about His Son provides assurance grounded in divine revelation rather than subjective feelings or experiences.
Duration:00:02:59
1 John 4
1/2/2026
John's instruction to test spirits by their confession that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh addresses false teachers who denied the incarnation while affirming the importance of doctrinal orthodoxy. His declaration that God is love doesn't define God by love but reveals how His essential nature expresses itself supremely in sending His Son as propitiation for sins. The teaching that perfect love casts out fear while we love because He first loved us demonstrates how understanding divine grace transforms both vertical and horizontal relationships.
Duration:00:03:00
1 John 3
1/2/2026
John's teaching about being children of God emphasizes the transforming hope of becoming like Christ when He appears, motivating present purification from sin. His distinction between those born of God who cannot keep on sinning and those of the devil reveals the fundamental difference between regenerate and unregenerate nature. The practical expression of love through laying down lives for brothers and sharing material goods with those in need demonstrates how divine love should affect human relationships and social responsibility.
Duration:00:03:21
1 John 1 & 2
1/2/2026
John's declaration about handling and seeing the Word of life establishes his eyewitness authority while emphasizing fellowship with the Father and Son through walking in the light rather than darkness. His teaching that if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves balances assurance of forgiveness through Christ's advocacy with realistic acknowledgment of ongoing human failure. The test of knowing Christ through keeping His commandments, especially the new commandment to love one another, reveals how authentic Christian experience involves both doctrinal truth and ethical transformation.
Duration:00:05:20
Romans 16
1/1/2026
Paul's extensive personal greetings reveal the network of relationships supporting his ministry while demonstrating the multi-ethnic and socially diverse nature of the early Roman church. His warning against those who cause divisions contrary to apostolic teaching shows ongoing vigilance against false doctrine while the promise that God will crush Satan emphasizes ultimate victory. The doxology praising God's ability to strengthen believers according to Paul's gospel and the revelation of the mystery hidden for ages but now disclosed concludes the letter by emphasizing both divine power and the universal scope of salvation
Duration:00:03:22
Romans 15
1/1/2026
Paul's example of Christ not pleasing Himself but bearing others' reproaches provides the pattern for strong believers helping weak ones rather than asserting their rights. His description of his apostolic ministry to the Gentiles emphasizes the priestly service of offering them as an acceptable sacrifice through the gospel's sanctifying work. The travel plans and request for prayer reveal the personal relationships and collaborative nature of apostolic ministry while demonstrating dependence on divine guidance and protection.
Duration:00:03:55
Romans 14
1/1/2026
Paul's discussion of disputes over food laws and holy days between "weak" and "strong" believers provides principles for handling secondary issues without destroying gospel unity. His emphasis that the kingdom of God consists in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit rather than external regulations offers timeless guidance for church conflicts. The principle of not causing brothers to stumble through exercising legitimate freedoms demonstrates how love should limit liberty when it affects others' spiritual welfare.
Duration:00:03:04
Romans 13
1/1/2026
Paul's teaching about civil government as God's servant for maintaining order demonstrates how believers should relate to earthly authorities while maintaining ultimate allegiance to Christ. His summary of ethical obligations in the love command shows how Christian relationships fulfill the law's intent without legalistic observance of ceremonial requirements. The eschatological motivation to wake from sleep because salvation is nearer encourages holy living in light of Christ's return rather than moral complacency.
Duration:00:02:24
Romans 12
1/1/2026
Paul's appeal to present bodies as living sacrifices connects to Old Testament worship while demonstrating how gospel gratitude motivates whole-life dedication to God. His teaching about spiritual gifts within the body of Christ emphasizes both unity and diversity, with each member contributing different functions for the common good. The practical instructions about love, hospitality, blessing persecutors, and living in harmony show how theological truth transforms everyday relationships and social interactions.
Duration:00:02:39
Romans 11
1/1/2026
Paul's warning against Gentile arrogance toward Israel uses the olive tree metaphor to show how Gentiles are grafted into covenant privileges rather than replacing Israel entirely. His teaching about Israel's partial hardening until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in reveals God's plan to save both peoples while maintaining faithfulness to His covenant promises. The doxology praising God's unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways appropriately concludes this section by acknowledging the limits of human understanding regarding divine sovereignty and election.
Duration:00:04:23
Romans 10
1/1/2026
Paul's explanation of Israel's failure emphasizes their pursuit of righteousness through law-keeping rather than faith in God's provision through Christ. His declaration that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness means not abolition but fulfillment, making righteousness available through faith rather than works. The beautiful passage about preaching—how can they believe without hearing, and how can they hear without someone preaching—demonstrates the necessity of gospel proclamation while Israel's continued unbelief fulfills Old Testament predictions.
Duration:00:02:45
Romans 9
1/1/2026
Paul's anguish over Israel's unbelief despite their covenant privileges introduces the complex question of how God's promises can be trusted if His chosen people reject their Messiah. His argument about divine sovereignty in election uses examples from Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, to demonstrate that God's choice has never been based on human works or decisions. The potter and clay metaphor illustrates divine prerogative in mercy and judgment while maintaining human responsibility, though the mystery of how these truths relate remains beyond full comprehension.
Duration:00:04:09
Romans 8
1/1/2026
Paul's teaching about life in the Spirit begins with no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus and demonstrates how the Spirit enables what the law could not accomplish through human effort. His description of the Spirit's work includes bearing witness to adoption, helping in prayer with groans too deep for words, and guaranteeing future glorification. The assurance that all things work together for good for those called according to God's purpose culminates in the declaration that nothing can separate believers from God's love in Christ.
Duration:00:04:56
Romans 7
1/1/2026
Paul's marriage analogy illustrates how believers have died to the Mosaic law through Christ's body, freeing them to bear fruit for God rather than sin. His personal struggle with sin in verses 14-25 demonstrates the law's inability to produce the righteousness it demands while revealing the internal conflict that characterizes even mature believers. The cry "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me?" sets up chapter 8's answer about life in the Spirit overcoming the law's weakness.
Duration:00:03:28
Romans 6
1/1/2026
Paul's response to the objection about continuing in sin addresses the logical question of whether grace's abundance makes obedience irrelevant. His teaching about union with Christ in baptism demonstrates how believers have died to sin and been raised to new life, making continued slavery to sin both unnecessary and inconsistent with their new nature. The slavery metaphors reveal that everyone serves either sin unto death or righteousness unto life, with no neutral ground between these two masters.
Duration:00:03:01
Romans 5
1/1/2026
Paul's contrast between Adam and Christ as federal heads explains how sin entered through one man's disobedience while righteousness comes through another's obedience. His teaching that suffering produces endurance, character, and hope demonstrates how present difficulties serve spiritual development when grounded in God's love poured out through the Holy Spirit. The principle that where sin increased, grace abounded all the more reveals the triumph of divine mercy over human rebellion without encouraging continued sinning.
Duration:00:03:09
Romans 4
1/1/2026
Paul's use of Abraham as the paradigm of justification by faith demonstrates how righteousness has always come through believing God's promises rather than performing religious works. His argument that Abraham was declared righteous before circumcision and before the law shows how faith-righteousness predates and supersedes all ceremonial requirements. The parallel between Abraham's faith in God's life-giving power and Christian faith in Christ's resurrection reveals the consistent principle of trusting divine promises against apparent impossibilities.
Duration:00:03:37
Romans 3
12/30/2025
Paul's conclusion that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory eliminates any human ground for boasting while establishing universal need for divine righteousness. His teaching about justification by faith apart from works of law demonstrates how God can be both just and justifier through Christ's propitiatory sacrifice. The exclusion of boasting through the principle of faith rather than works reveals how salvation depends entirely on divine grace rather than human achievement or religious privilege.
Duration:00:03:47
Romans 2
12/30/2025
Paul's argument that God shows no partiality challenges both Gentile moral superiority and Jewish presumption based on possessing God's law without keeping it. His teaching that circumcision profits only if one keeps the law while uncircumcised law-keepers are considered circumcised reveals how external religious markers cannot substitute for heart obedience. The principle that God will judge according to deeds through Jesus Christ applies universally, making both Jews and Gentiles accountable for their response to divine revelation.
Duration:00:03:52