Russ walks through the Filament Study Bible app, shows how the print Bible and app work together, and then uses the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 to model a simple Bible study. The episode matters because it shows how a study Bible can help you read more carefully, compare translations, and follow cross references into deeper interpretation.In this episode, Russ explains the app’s main features, reads the Lord’s Prayer aloud, and then follows study notes into Matthew 4, Matthew 26, James 1, and 1 Chronicles 29 to explore temptation, testing, and the doxology tradition. It’s a practical, beginner friendly look at how to let Bible study tools shape your reading.

Inside the episode:

• Russ introduces the Filament Study Bible, which combines a print Bible with the Filament app.
• He gives a quick tour of the app’s main tabs, including Home, Reading Plans, Scan, Audio Bible, and More.
• The Reading Plans section includes options like a one year Bible plan and a seven day plan on anxiety and God’s peace.
• The Scan feature is used to pull up Matthew 6 through 8 from the printed page.
• The Audio Bible feature offers multiple voices, and Russ chooses the one he finds most listenable.
• The More tab includes settings for Bible translation, reminders, audio speed, text size, theme, tutorials, and support.
• Russ reads Matthew 6:8 to 13 and compares the NLT wording with more traditional renderings of the Lord’s Prayer.
• He notices footnotes on phrases like “Give us today the food we need” and “Don’t let us yield to temptation.”
• A study note links the temptation line to Matthew 4:1 to 11, showing how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.
• Russ reflects on the difference between temptation and testing, and how the Spirit may lead into a wilderness place without God being the source of temptation.
• Another cross reference sends him to Matthew 26:41, where Jesus tells the disciples to watch and pray so they do not give in to temptation.
• James 1:13 reinforces the point that God does not tempt anyone.
• The final study note explains that the doxology in some manuscripts may have been added later, possibly influenced by 1 Chronicles 29:11 to 13.
• Russ reads David’s praise in 1 Chronicles 29 and connects it to the familiar ending of the Lord’s Prayer.
• He closes by encouraging listeners to read the Bible with the intention of hearing God speak.

Russ reviews his new NLT Filament Enabled Bible and explains why it stands out as a practical, newbie-friendly print Bible. He also reflects on the 500th anniversary of English Bible translation, connecting the Bible’s design and purpose to William Tyndale’s legacy and the goal of making Scripture understandable in everyday language.In this episode, Russ walks through the Bible’s physical features, front matter, and back matter, then previews how the companion app will work alongside the print edition. If you’re curious about Bible bindings, translation philosophy, or how to choose a print Bible that’s easy to use, this episode is packed with useful observations.

Inside the episode:

• Why Russ bought a print NLT Bible after primarily teaching from the NLT without owning a substantial print copy
• The 500th anniversary of English Bible translation and William Tyndale’s translation work
• How the Filament Enabled Bible connects print reading with digital resources through its companion app
• The difference between genuine leather and bonded leather bindings
• The Bible’s readable text—and the challenge of its very small reference print
• The NLT’s translation philosophy, publication history, and ongoing updates
• The Tyndale Verse Finder, a newbie-friendly tool for locating verses by topic
• Visual overviews and infographics about Israel’s calendar, the Psalms, the prophets, Jesus’ ministry, and more
• Why Russ expects to use his print Bible and the Filament app together

Russ walks through a practical example from Matthew 6 to show how study Bible tools can deepen personal Bible reading. He focuses on the Lord’s Prayer, using notes, footnotes, and cross references to unpack prayer, temptation, and translation details.

Inside the episode:

• In this episode, Russ explains how notes, footnotes, and cross references each serve a different purpose in a study Bible.
• He uses Matthew 6:9 to show how a study Bible note frames the Lord’s Prayer as a model for prayer, not just a memorized passage.
• Russ breaks the prayer into categories: adoration, God’s kingdom and will, daily needs, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil.
• He distinguishes footnotes from commentary notes, showing how footnotes often give alternate translations or clarify difficult wording.
• He uses a footnote on “daily bread” to demonstrate how translation choices can reveal meaning and why he reads footnotes carefully.
• Russ explains cross references as a way to trace themes across Scripture, comparing Matthew 6:13 with John 17:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and James 1:13.
• He highlights John 17 as Jesus’ prayer for believers, connecting the Lord’s Prayer to Christ’s intercession.
• He uses 2 Thessalonians 3:3 to emphasize God’s faithfulness to strengthen and guard believers from evil.
• He uses James 1:13 to stress that temptation does not come from God and should not be blamed on Him.
• Russ closes by discussing a footnote about the doxology, explaining why some newer translations omit it while older manuscripts and traditional versions include it in the notes.