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Join the Chara Project Podcast as our team helps equip you to understand and study the Bible on your own and with your neighbor.

Subscribe and tune in to our podcast on YouTube or on most any podcasting site like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music.

The Chara Project Podcast with mobile device
The Chara Project Podcast with mobile device
The Chara Project Podcast logo

Join the Chara Project Podcast as our team helps equip you to understand and study the Bible on your own and with your neighbor.

Subscribe and tune in to our podcast on YouTube or on most any podcasting site like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music.

Latest Episodes

Two women recording a podcast behind laptops, with the text “Why Biblical Authors Matter” displayed above them.

DOES GENESIS TELL US THE AGE OF THE EARTH? WHY BIBILCAL AUTHORS MATTER | EPISODE 138

Does Genesis tell us the age of the earth? Many of us come to the creation story with modern questions, but Genesis was written to answer the questions of the Israelites after 400 years in Egypt. Understanding the author’s purpose changes everything about how we read it.

The 66 books of the Bible were written by about 40 authors, and each one wrote with a purpose. In this episode, Heather and Sarah share 3 reasons why understanding the Author’s purpose matters:

So we don’t ask the Bible to do something it was never intended to do
So we don’t whisper where the author shouts
So we don’t shout where the author whispers

 

Two women wearing glasses sit at a table with laptops and microphones, with the text “Why historical context matters” displayed above them.

DOES THE BIBLE FORBID TATTOOS? WHY HISTORICAL CONTEXT MATTERS | EPISODE 137

The Bible is the bestselling book in history, yet more than half of Americans have barely read it. The most common reason? It’s hard to understand, and the parts we struggle with most are usually the ones rooted in a history very different from our own. In this episode, Heather and Sarah share 3 reasons why knowing the Bible’s historical context changes the way we read it:

  • It exposes our biases and assumptions
  • It lets us hear what the original audience heard
  • It gives us a framework for every story

To put it to the test, the Chara Project team takes on one of the most debated verses in scripture: “Do not… put tattoo marks on yourselves” (Leviticus 19:28). What did it mean to the people who first heard it, and does it apply to us today?

Two women sitting at a desk with laptops and microphones for a podcast recording under the text “4 Reasons Why Context Matters.”

BIBLE VERSES OUT OF CONTEXT (4 REASONS WHY CONTEXT MATTERS) | EPISODE 136

Ever heard seen Bible verses taken out of context? Or struggled to know what a verse really means? In this episode Sarah and Heather explain why context is the most important tool for understanding the Bible. They show how reading scripture out of context can lead us to doubt God’s goodness, believe false teaching, or even deceive ourselves.

They walk through four reasons context matters, with examples from the Bible and everyday life.

Featured Podcast Series

The Story of the Bible Series on The Chara Project Podcast

THE STORY OF THE BIBLE

In this series, The Chara Project team walks through the entire storyline of the Bible—cover to cover—in a clear, compelling, and accessible way. Whether you’re brand-new to the Bible or you’ve been reading it for years, this conversation will help you see how every era, character, and page fits together to reveal God’s unfolding plan to redeem and restore humanity.

If you’ve ever felt lost, confused, or unsure where to start with the Bible, this episode is your roadmap. It’s the perfect companion to our Story of the Bible Guide, helping you read with confidence, clarity, and renewed wonder.

Tune in—and rediscover the Bible as one breathtaking, unified story with Jesus at the center.

Bible Impact Stories Series on The Chara Project Podcast

BIBLE IMPACT STORIES

Want to build confidence in studying the Bible? One way to do this is from learning from other people’s stories–hearing the impact of the Bible and its message on people’s lives that can encourage us in our faith journey. Join the Chara Project’s Bible Impact Stories series, as they interview people from a variety of faith backgrounds share their experience with God’s Word.

Studying Jonah with The Chara Project Podcast

STUDYING JONAH

Have you ever wanted to study Jonah, but didn’t know where to start? While Jonah is one of the 17 prophecy books in the Old Testament, it reads differently from the others. It tells a narrative story of a reluctant servant who was pursued by a relentless God. So how do we study a prophecy book that doesn’t look or act like all the other prophetic books? How should we approach the book of Jonah?

Join the Chara Project team as they provide insight into how to study the book of Jonah as a whole. They will address what makes the book of Jonah unique, what high-level themes and questions to consider in each of the four chapters, and also address a common question on whether the book of Jonah is real and historical

The Chara Project Podcast Series Literary Styles

HOW TO STUDY LITERARY STYLES OF THE BIBLE

As we study the Bible, we see that the authors used a variety of literary styles to communicate to people in a way they would understand. In fact, there are 9 major literary styles found in the Bible, including Law, Narrative, Poetry, Wisdom, Prophecy, Gospels, Parables, Letters, and Apocalyptic. Commonly used in their culture, the original hearers would’ve been familiar with these styles and would’ve known how to read each appropriately for their intended purpose. But what about us today?

Join the Chara Project team take a look one by one at the different literary styles found in the Bible.

The Chara Project Podcast Loving Your Neighbor

LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR

Sometimes engaging your neighbor can feel intimidating – especially if it’s around the Bible. What does loving my neighbor look like in practice? Who really is my neighbor? Jesus was the master at engaging with people in a meaningful way, and we can learn a lot from Him and His interactions with others, as we dive into God’s Word.

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Corresponding Bible Studies

Enjoy Bible study guides that correspond with our videos and podcasts! Created as bible studies for you to use on your own, or in a group.

Finding Joy Bible Study with The Chara Project

Finding Joy Bible Study

3-Week Bible Study on How to Find True Joy

The Upper Room Bible Study with The Chara Project

The Upper Room Bible Study

6-Week Bible Study on the Final Teachings of Christ in John 13-17

The Chara Project Parables Bible Study

The Parables Bible Study

13-Week Bible Study on the Teachings of Christ

Chara Bible Study Guide

A Guide for Personal or Group Bible Study

Chara Article Library

Simple Guides to Help Study the Bible Together

Recommended Resources

Our Favorite Tools from The Chara Team

CHARA at a Glance Bookmark

Quick Overview of the CHARA Guide