The Bite: Recent Episodes
Hope Brooklyn
The Bite is a podcast from Hope Brooklyn of bite-sized spiritual thoughts to inspire you as you center your life around God's great story.
On today's episode, Bryant and Greg talk about the realities of grief and how to navigate the effects.
John 15:1-2 - The Final Episode ... For Now
We're bringing The Bite to a temporary close in this season as God prunes us and prepares us for the next chapter! Listen in for how you can be praying alongside your Hope Brooklyn fam for what's to come!
Week of August 12th, 2019
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 14:22-23 - The Yes Men
What does God require of us in order for God to take action? It might be more, and less, than we think.
Week of August 12th, 2019
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 14:14 - He Had Compassion On Them
Nothing marks Jesus' ministry more than his compassion.
Week of July 29th, 2019
By: Joshua Zepeda
Matthew 13:54-58 - Haters in Your Hometown
The people in Jesus's hometown fail to grasp the new thing he is doing. What can we learn from their mistakes?
Week of July 8th, 2019
By: Joseph Capehart
Matthew 13:51-53 - Creepy Crawly Storage Room
Is new treasures better than the old stuff, and what might Jesus have to say about the state of your storage room?
Week of July 1st, 2019
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 13:47-50 - God, Love, and Hell
How can hell exist when God is suppose to be a gracious and loving Father?
Week of June 24th, 2019
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 13:45-46 - He Came, He Saw, He Sold it All
The merchant in Jesus' story flips the script when he happens upon a merchandise almost too good to be true.
Week of June 17th, 2019
By: Joshua Zepeda
Matthew 13:44 - Costly Treasure
The Kingdom is treasure hidden in a field. That's not exactly good news, FYI
Week of June 10th, 2019
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 13:36-43 - Turn off the Radio
How practicing entering into the awkwardness of total silence can bring us closer to the presence of God.
Week of June 3rd, 2019
By: Anna Joyce
Matthew 13:34-35 - Why Imagine When We Can Remember
For someone who is supposed to be calling us forward, Jesus sure does point back a lot.
Week of May 27th, 2019
By: Joseph Capehart
Matthew 13:33 - Fresh Baked Bread
"Jesus was not a theologian. He was God who told stories" -Madeleine L'Engel
Week of May 20th, 2019
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 13:31-32 - God is in the Details
Even though our faith in Jesus may seem small, Jesus reminds us that He will make something beautiful out of it.
Week of May 13th, 2019
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 13:24-30 - The Sower Knows How Care For His Field
The Sower knows his field and instructs his laborers to be patient, to use discernment, and trust him.
Week of May 6th, 2019
By: Joshua Zepeda
Matthew 13:18-23 - Plain Speech
Jesus explains things very clearly. Are we sure we want such blunt honesty? I'm not.
Week of April 29th, 2019
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 13:13-17 - When I am Both the Crowd and Disciple
The posture of our hearts will determine whether our questions are coming from a place of being His disciple or in His crowd.
Week of April 22nd, 2019
By: Anna Joyce
Matthew 13:10-12 - What's the Point of Parables?
Why does Jesus only speak to the crowd in parables? Why not give it to them straight? And how should that inform how we share the Gospel?
Week of April 15th, 2019
By: Joseph Capehart
Matthew 13:1-9 - God is Not a Very Good Farmer
Jesus is telling stories again, this time about a wasteful farmer and mostly infertile environments, in this to-be-continued parable that says something about God and about us.
Week of April 8th, 2019
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 12:46-50 - Family Matters
Family is a value that God cherishes deeply throughout the Bible. So what is this new family that Jesus speaks of and why is it even better?
Week of April 1st, 2019
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 12:43-45 - What's Wrong with the Pharisees?
"In the New Testament, to know and not do, is to not know at all." - Howard Hendricks
Week of March 25th, 2019
By: Josh Zepeda
Matthew 12:30-42 - Gods, Robots and Human Belief
The Pharisees ask for a sign. But they really don't. What they ask for is proof. And proof simply is not possible in the human experience - ever. You don't get proof. You get phenomena - and faith.
Week of March 18th, 2019
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 12:33-37 - Sticks and Stones; Life or Death
A cautionary tale from Jesus, about watching "what we eat" so to speak. For what we eat, we metabolize into words, which carry the power and the opportunity at holiness, to acknowledge the human being before you, and to build her up, or tear her down.
Week of March 11th, 2019
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 12:30-32 - The More You Know
What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? How can there be a sin that is unforgivable?
Week of March 4th, 2019
By: Joseph Capehart
Matthew 12:22-29 - I Will Not Come as You Expect
Not being able to see the full picture, we often put expectations on God in terms of how he will show up in our lives. Most times He shows up in ways that are far different than we expect, but better than we think.
Week of February 25th, 2019
By: Anna Joyce
Matthew 12:15-21 - Our Broken Champion
How can we have hope in a world that is filled with injustice? As we reflect upon Jesus' mission we see the impact of his silent, yet bold ministry.
Week of February 18th, 2019
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 12:9-14 - Hard Hearts Don't Rest
Jesus calls us to rest from our afflictions and the power of evil by resting in his power and dominion but our hard hearts resist him. We can believe we need his help, and that we need his teachings, but we refuse to believe we need him to free us. Until we see Jesus as our savior king who delivers us we will never rest.
Week of February 11th, 2019
By: Joshua Zepeda
Matthew 12:1-8 - Mercy or Sacrifice?
As we step into a season of spiritual practices, let's make sure we're not doing it for the wrong reasons. Otherwise, we'll become the Pharisees. What are those reasons? Jesus explains...
Week of February 4th, 2019
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 11:25-30 - The Way of Life
There is a tension in Jesus. He allows us to be where we are without coercion. But he unapologetically says that he knows the way of life and if we are not experiencing fullness, it is because we have not chosen it. Will you trust him?
Week of December 24th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 11:16-23 - Turn To God, Receive His Kindness
Jesus’ rebuke is a reminder that we don’t turn to God because of his power, we turn to God because of his kindness. And we can’t see his kindness until we see that we are truly unworthy of it.
Week of December 17th, 2018
By: Joshua Zepeda
Matthew 11:7-15 - A Kingdom for the Dogs
Jesus takes a surprising detour in reacting to John's doubt and explaining who the Kingdom is actually for.
Week of December 10th, 2018
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 11:1-6 - Jesus the Stumbling Block
What happens when a faith giant like John the Baptist doubts Jesus? What can we learn about how God interacts with our doubts?
December 3rd, 2018
By: Joseph Capehart
Matthew 10:40-42 - Radical Hospitality
What does it mean to be rewarded for the hospitality we extend to those who are messengers of God?
Week of November 26th, 2018
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 10:32-39 - The Backwards Logic of God's Relationship
It doesn't make sense but if you give up what you think you have you'll get it back and even more than before
Week of November 19th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 10:24-30 - The Banality of Evil
The first Christians bringing a message of love were convicted and executed as 'haters of humanity'. How is this so?
Week of November 12th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 10:16-23 - The Christian Life Is Not Easy
There's no burden too heavy, no burden too hard for the one you love. - Leonard Ravenhill
Week of November 5th, 2018
By: Joshua Zepeda
Matthew 10:5-15 - Ripe for the Pickin'
Jesus gives some instructions to his disciples on sharing good news, and not only does he give them the who, the why, and the how, but the criteria for the kind of person to let their peace rest upon.
Week of October 29th, 2018
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 9:35-10:4 - Sheep, Workers, and Evangelism
Jesus is big on analogies. What might an analogy about sheep and harvest workers teach us about how we understand evangelism today?
Week of October 22nd, 2018
By: Joseph Capehart
Matthew 9:27-34 - Tale of Two Miracles
Why does Jesus heal some and not others? Does our faith have an immediate correlation with the miracles we receive?
Week of October 15th, 2018
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 9:18-26 - New Wineskins
The new wine of grace is immediately put to the test and the results are shocking.
Week of October 8th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 9:9-17 - New Wine
Why is it that those of us who are "more" religious have a tougher time seeing Jesus for who he is?
Week of October 1st, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 9:2-8 - The Son of Man
The works of Jesus are part of a larger story. One that's meant for us to see what He does as a representation of who He is.
Week of September 24th, 2018
By: Joshua Zepeda
Matthew 8:28-34 - Meanwhile, Back at the Gadarenes
While the laconic Christ in Matthew's story seems to sweep in like the lone ranger, the response of the townsfolks to this miracle worker isn't quite what's to be expected.
Week of September 17th, 2018
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 8:23-27: Even the Winds & the Waves
When Jesus sets a plan for our lives, not even the strongest winds and waves of our circumstances can overcome it. He asks us to have faith and continue the course.
Week of September 10th, 2018
By: Joseph Capehart
Matthew 8:14-17 - The Authority of Redemption
Jesus had all the authority and power in the world, we can clearly see that in his miracles. We also see that authority exercised to bring grace and redemption to our lives instead of the judgment we deserved.
Week of September 3rd, 2018
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 8:18-22 - But if I Follow...
I understand why people don't want to follow Jesus. He clearly warns us that there is great cost in picking up and following him, because you truly don't know where he will take you. But if you do...
Week of August 27th, 2018
By: Anna Joyce
Matthew 8:5-13 - Two Poles of Objectivity
There are two places by which you can see Jesus clearly - one is from the absolute inside and the other is from the total outside. And to reject the former is to end up in the latter
Week of August 20th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 8:1-4 - Is Jesus Kind?
The story of Jesus is a story filled with miralces. Each one helping us to see that the story of Jesus is not merely a story of his power, but a story of his kindness.
Week of August 13th, 2018
By: Joshua Zepeda
Matthew 7:24-29 - Sand and Stone
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus leaves us with a call to action; from the black and white of the page, into the gray and ambiguity of the real world
Week of August 6th, 2018
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 7:15-23 - It ain't what you Do, it ain't what you Say, It's...
Jesus distinguishes between the true prophets and the false prophets, and what separates the two might not be speech or deeds but something entirely more invisible.
Week of July 30th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 7:12-14 - The Destination of our Hearts
Jesus teaches us that there are only two roads we can be on, one leading to destruction, the other eternal life. Why does His teaching sound so exclusive?
Week of July 23rd, 2018
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 7:7-11 - Learning a Parent's Love
Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock because we won't be disappointed. But is that true? Will we receive what we ask for, what we seek, what we demand?
Week of July 16th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 7:6 - Pigs Don't Wear Pearls
Jesus gives us precious gifts. Gifts that we have been trained to understand their invaluable nature. Ensure others are so trained before offering them the same. Otherwise, you will be trampled underfoot.
Week of July 9th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 7:1-5 - Accepting One Another
"To accept people is to be for them. It is to recognize that it is a very good thing that these people are alive, and to long for the best for them." - John Ortberg
Week of July 2nd 2018
By: Joshua Zepeda
Matthew 6:25-34 - Relinquishing Worry
Jesus asks us to reevaluate how we relate to material possessions and invites us into freedom from anxiety and worry.
Week of June 25th, 2018
By: Joseph Capehart
Matthew 6: 19-24 - Digging for Treasure
When we are surrounded by a culture of consumerism, wealth and vanity, Jesus teaches us where our true treasures lie.
Week of June 18th, 2018
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 6:16-18 - What's Done in the Dark, Grows in the Dirt.
In a world that hungers for flash over substance and ascribes more value to online presence and what isn't real, than to physical presence and what is, God beckons us to what might be happening in the dark, behind the curtain.
Week of June 11th, 2018
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 6:7-15 - Prayer is like Coffee with Mama
God gives us the prayer He wants us to pray to Him. But He tells us He already knows it by heart. So then why pray?
Week of June 4th, 2018
By Russell Joyce
Matthew 6:1-6 - Being a Christian can be a Lesson in Hypocrisy
Jesus says that everything, literally everything(!), can turn us into hypocrites - even a relationship with God, the one antidote for it all. Well then, what's the response?
Week of May 28th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 5:43-48 - To Look in the Face of my Enemy
The final Lesson of Jesus: Do this and you will be perfect
Week of May 21st, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 3:38-42 - Countercultural Retribution
Jesus offers a radical response of love when we are faced with hostility and harm. How can we let go of vengenance when we are treated unjustly?
Week of May 14th, 2018
By: Bryant Nam
Matthew 5:33-37 - Not Knowing is Real Faith
Jesus says let yes be yes and no, no. Anything else is not from him. To take an oath at all is a sign we live in a world of lies. What's the alternative?
Week of May 7th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 5:27-32 - No Plan B
Jesus sets out high expectations for Marriage, teaching us to take radical steps to ensure we are following His ways.
Week of April 30th, 2018
By: Jody Chadban
Matthew 5:21-26 - Have you been Hurt by Another? I'll tell you what to do...
Jesus says that murder in the old kingdom is like anger in the new one. Everyone is screwed. But then, after making us feel like he might be on our side, he flips the script and we're left dizzy and out of breath. Sounds just like him, huh.
Week of April 23rd, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 5:17-20 - The Devil's in the Details
When the author of life gives us his philosphy, do we give him the details? That depends on if he loves us or not, and if we love him back.
Week of April 16th, 2018
By: Nathan Cousins
Salt of the Earth
What did it mean for a first century audience to be called the "salt of the earth?" How might that influence our understanding of the Gospel mission?
The week of April 2nd, 2018
By: Joseph Capehart
Matthew 5:11-12 - Losing to Gain
"We are no fools to give what we could never keep, to gain what we could never lose." Jim Elliot
The Week of Marchg 26th, 2018
By: Josh Zepeda
Matthew 5:10 - To be Driven Away
The root of the Greek word for 'to persecute' means to drive away or to cause to flee. How does that influence Jesus' saying that those who are persecuted are blessed.
The week of March 19th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 5:9 - Peace-Making: A Lesson in Merriment
The Peace-Makers are the pursuers of justice, sure. But what about the pursuers of joy? Of rest? Is that to make peace, too?
The week of March 12th, 2018
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 5:8 - The Clean in Heart Know Their Uncleanness Say Whaatt??
The clean in heart see God. But what has always been interpreted to mean a moral cleanness, what if Jesus meant nothing of the sort? What if he meant the exact opposite?
Week of March 5th, 2018 By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 5:7 - The merciful are never happy
Jesus says that the merciful ones are blessed for they will receive mercy. But that doesn't seem true to our experience. Until you flip the idea on its head! And then it all fits like a glove.
Week of February 26th, 2018 By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 5:6 - Fattened for the Slaughter
Jesus said that those hungering and thirsting for the world to be right are already being fattened with that vision. But is that true? Week of February 19th, 2018 By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 5:5 - Humility is the worst! The humble inherit the earth says Jesus. Yea right. Unless... Week of February 5th, 2018 By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 5:4 - The Declaration of the Kingdom
"Do or do not. There is no try." -Yoda
Week of January 29th, 2018
By: Josh Zepeda
Matthew 5:3 - Blessed. Who wants some?
When we hear what Jesus means about being blessed, do we still want it in the ways we used to?
Week of January 22nd, 2018
By: Nathan Cousins
Matthew 5:1-2 - The Freakshow The Sermon on the Mount begins with a Freakshow. Using original music by Micah Bournes. Week of January 15th, 2018 By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 4:23-25 - Jesus' Teaching wasn't that Great
We're told Jesus taught, preached and healed. And yet, seemingly, only one of these three drew crowds. What that might have to say to us for how the Gospel advances. Week of January 8th, 2018 By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 4:18-22 - The Formula of God's Call
Do you want to know what God's will for your life is right now? You can. Seriously. There's a formula to how he speaks to us. But you may not like it (Just FYI).
Week of December 18th, 2017 By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 4:17 - Repentance: God Doesn't Care What you Feel About Him
Jesus' first sermon is four words. And from these words, our entire world is undone.
Week of December 11th, 2017
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 4:12-16 - Non-essential Details What details in your story seem insignificant in the moment of experience, but looking back you see a beautiful, layered plot line in a story you're not writing?
Matthew 4:8-11 - The Temptation toward Good Satan offers Jesus what is already promised him by His Father. So how is this to seduce him?
Matthew 4:3-4 - We do not Live on Bread Alone
Week of November 13th, 2017
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 4:1-2 - When does the Great Liar come to us?
Week of October 30th, 2017
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 3:13-17 - Jesus, the Baptizer, first is baptized. What in the world is He thinking?
Week of October 30th, 2017
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 3:7-12 - What fruit does your identity produce? Week of October 23rd, 2017
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 3:1-6 - Repentance is a desert-ed affair
Week of October 23rd, 2017
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 2:13-15 - Between the basal ganglia and the prefrontal cortex
Week of October 9th, 2017
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 2:1-4 - Are we the Herods or the Wise Men?
Week of September 25th, 2017
By: Russell Joyce
Matthew 1:18-25 - The Vulnerability of Birth Week of September 25th, 2017 By: Russell Joyce
Why you shouldn't be ashamed of your story, even those chapters that you wish no one ever knew about.
Week of September 11th, 2017
The introductory and innagural episode of The Bite: Hope Brooklyn's podcast of bite-sized spiritual thoughts to inspire you as you center your life around God's great story.
Week of September 11th, 2017