Faith isn't what you think it is (Bible Study)
SeedTime with Bob and Linda Lotich
Release Date: 12/20/2025
SeedTime with Bob and Linda Lotich
Is our money system actually working against faithful stewardship? In this episode, Bob and Linda tackle a conversation almost no one in the church is having—but one every Christian steward needs to understand. Bob opens with a shocking reality: $100 in 1971 now buys about $12 worth of stuff. Same number. Far less value. So what happened? From there, the conversation zooms out to explore inflation, fiat currency, and why Scripture repeatedly condemns unequal weights and measures. Is our modern money system quietly violating biblical principles—and if so, what...
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When money is tight, a budget can feel like punishment. Like proof you messed up… or worse, proof your faith is weak. But what if that’s backwards? In this episode, Bob and Linda flip the script and show why a budget isn’t evidence of failure—it’s evidence of faith in action. Drawing from Scripture, psychology, and real-life stories, they unpack why budgeting is actually a weapon God gives us in seasons of financial pressure. If you’ve ever thought, “If God would just fix this, why do I need a spreadsheet?”—this conversation is for you. ...
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Get Your Spirit Back: Breaking Free from the Lies Holding You Back - with Pastor Earl McClellan What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t your circumstances… but the lies you’ve believed about yourself? In this powerful, deeply honest conversation, Bob & Linda sit down with Pastor Earl McClellan, lead pastor of Shoreline City Church and author of Get Your Spirit Back, to talk about negative self-talk, fear, calling, identity, and what it really looks like to walk by faith when you’re scared. This isn’t a hype-up, “just believe harder”...
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A viral clip claims something shocking: any pastor who gets paid by a church will eventually be corrupted by money. It’s a bold accusation — and honestly, harder to dismiss than you might think. In this episode, Bob and Linda watch the clip, slow it down, and wrestle with the real tension underneath the claim. Is the modern church system broken? Does money inevitably compromise spiritual leadership? Or is this another example of painting faithful people with too broad a brush? This conversation isn’t defensive or dismissive. It’s thoughtful, biblical,...
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What if obedience doesn’t lead to the breakthrough you expected? Andy and Serena Ryan did “the right things.” They took a biblical money course. They committed to tithing. They tried to steward their finances faithfully. And then everything fell apart. They lost income. Fell behind on rent. Needed food pantries and church assistance. And eventually—after months of praying for a miracle—they packed up their family and moved into an RV in someone else’s backyard. This episode isn’t a prosperity story. It’s a surrender story. In one of the most...
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Most Christians agree that materialism is bad… but few of us have ever connected the clutter in our garages to the condition of our hearts. In this episode, Bob sits down with Joshua Becker (author of Uncluttered Faith and founder of BecomingMinimalist.com) to explore a provocative idea: what if consumerism isn’t just a money issue—but a spiritual one? Joshua makes the case that the things we own—and the things we want—may be quietly choking out our fruitfulness, distracting us from God’s best, and stealing time, energy, and joy we didn’t realize we were...
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Is God Warning Us About AI? The Biblical Case for Preparing Now! Before every major disruption in Scripture—famine, flood, exile—God warned His people first. Those who listened didn’t just survive… they thrived. So what if we’re living in one of those moments right now? In this episode, Bob and Linda wrestle with a question many Christians are quietly asking: What does the rise of AI mean for our work, our finances, and our faith—and how should God’s people respond? This isn’t fear-based. It’s faith-filled preparation. From Joseph...
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What if wealth isn’t about luck, connections, or hustle—but about how you think? In today’s episode, we unpack a fascinating story of a 17-year-old dishwasher who spent a decade working inside a high-end country club alongside ultra-wealthy members. What he learned completely dismantled common assumptions about rich people—and surprisingly, many of his lessons line up directly with Scripture. Bob and Linda walk through 7 mindset shifts that separate people who grow wealth from those who stay stuck, and why renewing your mind around money may be the most biblical...
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In this episode, Bob and Linda unpack spiritual habits found in Scripture that quietly shape financial outcomes—habits that have nothing to do with spreadsheets or hustle culture, but everything to do with becoming the kind of person money can be trusted with. These aren’t the usual “Christian money tips.” They’re deeper. And once you see them, you can’t unsee them. 🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode Bob and Linda walk through 7 overlooked spiritual disciplines that directly affect how we earn, spend, save, and steward money: Why...
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Spiritual abuse around money almost made us stop giving altogether. We’ve seen manipulation from the pulpit. We’ve witnessed leaders mishandle funds. We’ve felt the tension between honoring God and distrusting institutions. And yet… we still tithe. In this episode, Bob and Linda have an honest, nuanced conversation about why they chose not to let other people’s failures steal something God wanted to use for their freedom. This is not a legalistic defense of tithing. It’s a heart-level conversation about obedience, trust, healing, and...
info_outlineMost of us were taught that faith means "trying really hard to believe" — especially with our finances. But in the Bible-study-style episode, Bob & Linda unpack Hebrews 11, Romans 10:17, and Jesus' "abide" teaching to reveal a surprising truth:
👉 Biblical faith isn't mustered. It's received.
And once you see that, anxiety shrinks, striving stops, and finances shift.
Join Bob & Linda as they walk through their own misconceptions about faith, why effort-based Christianity wears us out, and how to let God grow real, evidence-bearing faith in your financial life.
This one is equal parts devotional, Bible study, and super pracitical conversation.
What We Cover
- Why “trying harder to have faith” never works
- What Hebrews 11 actually teaches about faith as “evidence”
- Linda’s family devotions and how teaching Scripture unlocks new revelation
- The surprising connection between faith, abiding, and legal authority in Scripture
- How faith grows (and why it’s not through willpower)
- Why community + hearing the Word matters
- What Noah, Sarah, and Abraham teach us about doing hard things “by faith”
- How to apply faith to money without resorting to wishful thinking
- Why budgeting, paying bills, and taking small obedient steps are acts of faith
- How to pray Scripture over your finances when you feel uncertain
Key Scriptures (NLT)
- Hebrews 11:1 — “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for…”
- Romans 10:17 — “Faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News…”
- Psalm 46:10 — “Be still and know that I am God.”
- John 15 — Jesus’ teaching on abiding
- James 1:22 — “Be doers of the word, not hearers only.”
Memorable Moments
- “If faith is evidence, it can’t originate from me.”
- “Abiding produces fruit — not effort.”
- “Sometimes the faith God gives you feels like hope… but with legs.”
- “Faith without works is dead — but striving isn’t a fruit of the Spirit.”
Practical Takeaways
- Immerse yourself in Scripture and let God give you faith rather than trying to manufacture it
- Look for the “tiny mustard seed” God is already giving you
- Identify one Scripture that keeps getting highlighted — that may be where God wants you to act
- Don’t avoid financial decisions out of fear; small steps are how faith grows
- Teach what you’re learning (to kids, friends, spouse) — it expands revelation
Resource Mentioned
📘 Prayers for Finances (Free PDF) — Scripture-based declarations to build faith in your money life.
Grab it at: SeedTime.com/prayer
Episode Takeaway
You don’t need more willpower — you need to abide, hear the Word, and act on what God gives you. Faith grows where striving stops.
BONUS: Ever dreamt of hanging out with us for 6 weeks in your small group or church? Head to https://seedtime.com/true for details or shoot us a DM on Instagram (http://instagram.com/seedtime).
If you haven’t checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you’ll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as “a money book for people who don’t read money books.”
You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.