Behind the Scenes Fall Updates: Hearing Jesus, Bible Study, Daily Affirmations

Behind the Scenes Fall Updates: Hearing Jesus, Bible Study, Daily Affirmations

Summary

Hey friend, this one is a little different. It's a bonus "State of the Union" episode where Rachael shares what's changing behind the scenes: wrapping up the Psalm series, what's coming this fall (Bible Study 101, then Luke and Acts), why she started her own podcast network, an update on spiritual direction, and some personal family news about her daughters Addy and Georgia.

Join the email list at rachaelgroll.com to be entered in the fall giveaway.

• ☆Sign up for Rachael's newsletter here: RachaelGroll.com/Newsletter

• ☆Send Rachael a voicemail with any questions at her SpeakPipe here: SpeakPipe Voicemail

• ☆Go on a trip with Rachael: Bible Study Live

• ☆Get Ad-Free Episodes, Bonus Content, and more here: patreon.com/HearingJesus

• ☆Pick up a copy of my latest book: Bible Study and Devotional

• ☆If you would like to give to Hearing Jesus and financially support the podcast, you can do so here! ➤ Give Here

• ☆Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/SheHears.org/

• ☆Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/rachael.d.groll/

• ☆Website ➤ Hearing Jesus

Every time Rachael steps away from a straight Bible study to do an update episode like this, someone reaches out to ask if they missed the teaching. They didn't. This is a bonus episode, a chance for Rachael to share what's changing behind the scenes: a few prayer requests, some personal news, and some exciting updates for the podcast.

The Psalm series wrapped up recently, and it was actually a repeat of one Rachael taught four or five years ago. She stepped away from new teaching for a season to write a couple of books, and a lot of listeners have joined the show since then who never heard it the first time. Judging by the response, it was worth bringing back.

Two things. First, a short series called Bible Study 101. Then, the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, taught together as one long series. Luke and Acts were originally written as a two-part work, even though they were separated when Scripture was canonized. Rachael wanted to teach them the way they were first meant to be read, side by side.

It's a short, foundational series, less than a month long, built for anyone who feels like they're missing the "why" and "how" behind studying the Bible on their own. Rachael has taught this material in person for years, but realized not everyone listening has been with the podcast long enough to have picked it up. It's not meant to replace anything she produces. Her hope is that you'd walk away needing her less and depending on your own relationship with the Lord more. There will still be daily Scripture woven through it before Luke and Acts begins.

Email works anytime, or you can use the Speakpipe link in the show notes to leave a voice message. Rachael reads and listens to as many as she can, and questions about Bible Study 101, Luke, or Acts may get answered right in an episode.

This is the transparency part. Every podcaster has to cover the cost of equipment, software, and editing somehow, and ads are the usual way. The problem is that ad networks let companies self-certify what category their ad falls under, and nobody double-checks it. That's led to ads slipping through that don't match a faith-based show's values, sometimes without Rachael even knowing until a listener flagged it. So this past spring, she built her own network. It's not a perfect fix since the industry-wide self-certification problem still exists, but it gives her direct control to pull an ad the moment something doesn't sit right, and there's AI screening in the works to catch problems before they ever air.

No, and it was a hard call to make. Other parts of the ministry needed her full attention, and spiritual direction was what she had to let go of to make room. There's also a deeper reason: as much as she loves this community, she's not anyone's pastor, and a lot of what came up in those sessions belonged in the context of a local church relationship. If you were hoping to walk through that curriculum, it's available as a self-paced course called Knowing Jesus.

Just join the email list at rachaelgroll.com. That's it, no extra steps, and if you're already subscribed, you're automatically entered. There will be three giveaways over three weeks, each with a mix of favorite things: a tote, a women's Bible from Hosanna Revival, Bible highlighters and tabs, copies of a couple of Rachael's books, and a few other bonus surprises. The email list is also where you'll see the new book cover first, get prayer requests, and hear bonus content that never makes it to the podcast.

Two big transitions this fall. Her daughter Addy is heading to Southeastern University for a missions program, a decision that Rachael is thankful for and covets prayer over as Addy steps into this next season. And her oldest daughter, Georgia, who helps out part-time behind the scenes, is getting married this fall to someone she's known since preschool.

• 0:12 Welcome and why this is a "State of the Union" bonus episode

• 1:05 Wrapping up the Psalm series

• 1:29 This fall: the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts

• 2:17 Introducing Bible Study 101

• 4:10 How to send in your questions

• 5:45 Why Rachael started her own podcast network

• 11:15 An update on spiritual direction and the Knowing Jesus course

• 12:33 Join the email list and enter the fall giveaway

• 14:31 Family updates: Addy and Georgia

• 16:21 Closing thoughts

How long does the Bible Study 101 series run? Less than a month, starting this fall before the podcast moves into the Luke and Acts series.

Where can I find the Knowing Jesus course Rachael mentioned? It's on rachaelgroll.com. It's $97 and includes more than 12 hours of teaching, the same content Rachael used to walk people through in one-on-one spiritual direction.

What if I hear an ad on the podcast that doesn't feel right? Reach out by email or Speakpipe and let Rachael know. She can pull an ad from her own network directly, and she's actively working on AI screening to catch mismatched ads before they air.

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What is a "State of the Union" episode?Why did the podcast repeat the Psalm series?What's coming to the podcast this fall?What is Bible Study 101?How do I send in a question for the series?Why did Rachael start her own podcast network?Is Rachael still offering spiritual direction coaching?How do I enter the fall giveaway?What's new with Rachael's family?Chapters
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