Untwisting Scripture helps you heal from harmful theology and rediscover the true heart of God.
If you've ever wondered, "Is God mad at me?" "Do I have to earn His love?" or "Why do I feel so much shame around faith?"—this podcast is for you.
Hosts Jan Touchberry and Lisa Scheffler untangle distorted Bible teachings and replace fear-based beliefs with grace, truth, and freedom. Whether you're deconstructing or rebuilding your faith, you'll find clarity, hope, and a deeper understanding of Scripture here.
55: Are You Really Ready? What the Parable of the 10 Virgins Teaches About Spiritual Preparedness
In this final installment of our “Storytime with Jesus” series, we unpack one of the most sobering and misunderstood parables: the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25). It's not just about oil or end-times prophecy—it’s about readiness, responsibility, and the weight of being chosen. We talk honestly about the fear-mongering around the Second Coming, the pressures of spiritual performance, and what it really means to be ready for Jesus.
Whether you’ve wrestled with end-times anxiety or just want to understand what this parable means for your everyday walk with Christ, this episode will challenge and encourage you.
What the Parable of the 10 Virgins really means and why it’s not about fear
The connection between spiritual maturity and producing fruit
Why readiness can’t be borrowed—your faith is your responsibility
The dangers of end-times obsession and spiritual distraction
How Jesus calls us to live with anticipation without anxiety
Matthew 25:1–13 (The Parable of the Ten Virgins)
Matthew 24 (context for the Olivet Discourse)
Revelation (Bride of Christ metaphor)
00:00 – Celebrating our podcast anniversary and Spotify comments
03:00 – Why this is a “spicy” and tough parable
07:20 – Honest thoughts on end times teaching and fear-based theology
10:30 – Reading the Parable of the Ten Virgins
14:00 – Jewish wedding context and the role of the bridesmaids
18:00 – What does it mean to be spiritually ready?
21:00 – Can readiness be shared? Why the oil couldn’t be given 25:00 – Grace, judgment, and God’s deep desire for everyone to be with Him
27:00 – Final reflections and prayer for readiness and fruitfulness
Quotables:
🟡 “You can’t borrow someone else’s readiness. You have to live it yourself.”
🟡 “Being picked to carry the lamp was an honor—just like being a child of God is an honor.”
🟡 “God is too honorable to leave people confused at the end. But He is also just.”
👉 Like what you heard? Don’t forget to follow on Spotify and drop a comment—we love connecting with you there!
✉️ Got questions or suggestions for a future episode? Let us know via Instagram or Spotify comments.
📲 Share this episode with a friend who needs to know: readiness isn’t about fear—it’s about faithful living.
CONNECT WITH US on Instagram @lisaschef and @jantouchberry
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8 Jul 2025
54: What Kind of Soil Are You? | The Parable of the Soils | Luke 8: 1-15
In this episode of Untwisting Scripture, we're digging into one of Jesus’s most well-known — and most misunderstood — parables: the Parable of the Four Soils from Luke 8. This isn't your average Sunday School take. We're unpacking what Jesus really meant when He talked about seeds, soil, and spiritual growth. Was He talking about salvation, fruitfulness, or both? And what does it mean for your walk with God right now?
Whether you’ve heard this story a hundred times or you’re hearing it fresh, this conversation invites you to reflect deeply, ask honest questions, and maybe rethink what “believing in Jesus” actually looks like.
📌 Key Takeaways:
The Parable of the Soils challenges us to examine the condition of our hearts, not others'.
Allegiance to Jesus goes beyond mental agreement — it’s a lived-out commitment.
The thorns of life (worry, riches, pleasure) can choke out spiritual growth even in believers.
Jesus used parables to force decisions, not to entertain — they demand a personal response.
Luke uniquely highlights the faithful role of women in Jesus’s ministry, which has deep theological implications.
🕰 Timestamps:
0:00 – Welcome + why parables aren’t cozy bedtime stories
3:24 – Setting the scene in Luke 8: Jesus on the move
6:50 – The surprising significance of the women around Jesus
8:00 – Reading the Parable of the Soils
10:40 – Why Jesus taught in parables: was He hiding the truth?
15:00 – Breaking down the four soils and what they symbolize
17:30 – Is this about salvation, fruitfulness, or both?
21:30 – Why this parable is more about reflection than judgment
26:30 – How distractions (even worry!) can kill your growth
29:18 – The power of perseverance and spiritual fruit
31:00 – What allegiance to Jesus really looks like
💬 Memorable Quotes:
“All parables force a decision. They aren’t just stories—they demand a response.”
“Belief isn’t just something that happens in your head. It’s allegiance. It’s action.”
“We’re not called to categorize others. We’re called to examine our own soil.”
📚 Resources Mentioned:
Luke 8:1–15 (NIV)
Daryl Bock’s commentary on Luke
Ephesians 6:12 – Spiritual warfare and prayer
John 6 – Bread of life and the cost of following Jesus
Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode challenged or encouraged you. IG @lisaschef and @jantouchberry
🙌 Connect with Us:
1 Jul 2025
53: Why Did Jesus Say the Tax Collector Was Justified? (And Not the Pharisee?)
Happy Birthday to the Untwisting Scripture podcast! In this special one-year anniversary episode, Jan and Lisa reflect on the podcast’s impact, audience feedback, and the power of creating space for honest biblical questions. Then, they dive into the next parable in their “Storytime with Jesus” series—unpacking the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18:9–14.
This episode explores what it really means to be “justified before God” and challenges listeners to examine where pride may be hiding in their walk of faith. Whether you relate more to the rule-following Pharisee or the desperate humility of the tax collector, this conversation invites you into a deeper understanding of mercy, prayer, and spiritual posture.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why Jesus’ parable about the Pharisee and tax collector was so radical in His day
How self-righteousness subtly creeps into modern Christian life
What it actually means to be “justified” and how it relates to righteousness
Why humility is essential in prayer—and how to cultivate it
How this parable pairs with the story of the persistent widow to reshape how we pray
The importance of safe spaces to ask hard questions about the Bible
Key Scriptures Discussed:
Luke 18:1–8 (Parable of the Persistent Widow)
Luke 18:9–14 (Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector)
Romans 3:10 – “There is no one righteous, not even one”
Matthew 7:3–5 – The plank and the speck
Various parables from the “Storytime with Jesus” series
Timestamps for Key Moments:
00:00 – Celebrating one year of Untwisting Scripture
03:10 – The unexpected impact of asking questions about the Bible
06:45 – The “English garden vs wilderness” analogy for spiritual growth
10:20 – Recap of the Parable of the Persistent Widow
11:08 – Reading and exploring the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
15:00 – What “justified” means in a biblical context
17:15 – How pride shows up in modern Christian behavior
20:00 – The dangers of comparison and pious posturing
23:00 – Why new believers often have the deepest joy
24:08 – How this parable reshapes our understanding of prayer
Notable Quotes:
“There is no one righteous, no not one.”
“Humility is a shy virtue—once you claim it, you lose it.”
“We are all in a mess. But by the mercy of God, we have hope.”
“Jesus challenges not just our actions, but the posture of our hearts.”
Resources & Links:
🎉 Celebrate with us by sharing the podcast with a friend!
📱 Follow us on social media
📝 Don’t miss the bonus resources and veggie tale clips— https://youtu.be/3hfZK61eiC0?si=h-JzsOaDvgfg0XoW
📩 Got questions? Message us or text us—your input might shape our next episode.
Next Up:
We’ll wrap up the “Storytime with Jesus” series with two more parables that challenge our assumptions and reframe how we see God's kingdom. Got a parable you’d love for us to unpack? Let us know!
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