Red Letter Basics

12/29/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to thank God — and thank you. Jesus has done some amazing things:

• Thousands have engaged with the truth of Jesus through our digital resources.
• Hundreds of people trained and ministered to in person.
• New believers are discovering how to study the Bible and understand truth!

All of this has been possible because of our faithful ministry partners!

Now, as we look toward 2026, we’re asking the Lord to double our digital reach so twice as many people can know and listen to Jesus in a world full of noise.

Your year-end gift will help launch new video series, online Bible courses, and training tools that meet people right where they are: online.

Will you help us finish the year strong?
Together, we can make 2026 a year where countless hearts turn to the words of Jesus.

https://www.redletterbasics.com/?give=GZEJGPD2

12/27/2025

Have you ever wondered how the Bible—written by dozens of authors over thousands of years—manages to tell one cohesive story? 📖

In this clip from the Red Letter Basics Podcast, Austin Woodger and the theological team (Nick Alsop and Matthew Tingblad) explain the "Meta-narrative" of Scripture. Using the analogy of a symphony, they explore how God acted as the single conductor behind the diverse instruments of the biblical authors.

We also tackle the tough questions:

Does "Divinely Inspired" mean the authors were possessed?
How do random stories like Samson or Jonah fit into the Gospel?
What is the "Big Story" of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration?

If you want to understand how the Old and New Testaments fit together without losing the human element of the authors, this video is for you.

Have you ever wondered how the Bible—written by dozens of authors over thousands of years—manages to tell one cohesive story? 📖In this clip from the Red Let...

12/25/2025

What is the most effective way to grow and mature as a Christian?

A massive research project set out to answer this exact question, and the results were shocking. While there are many spiritual disciplines, one specific habit stood "so far out from the rest".

The answer?

It wasn't just church attendance or serving.
It was the amount of time someone spent reading the Bible.

The data showed a direct correlation between Bible reading and a believer's "spiritual maturity and confidence in their relationship with the Lord".

Subscribe to Red Letter Basics for more practical tips on growing your faith!



The mission of Red Letter Basics is to help people know and listen to Jesus. Thank you for watching! Subscribe if you haven't already :)
https://www.redletterbasics.com/

12/25/2025

Happy Birthday Jesus!!! You are the Lord of all!!!

Soooo when asked, this is what ChatGPT told us about Jesus’ birthday… WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS???

The prompt/question asked: “What is the church history and other historical evidence for the birth of Jesus being on Dec 25?”

****

By ChatGPT - December of 2025

Here’s a clear, historically grounded breakdown of why December 25 became associated with the birth of Jesus, what early Christians actually believed, and how church tradition and wider Roman culture intersected.

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1. The Bible does not give a date

The New Testament never states a calendar date for the birth of Jesus Christ.
• The Gospels focus on theological meaning, not chronology.
• Details like shepherds in the fields (Luke 2:8) suggest a range of possible seasons, but nothing conclusive.
• Early Christians did not initially celebrate Jesus’ birthday at all—they prioritized His death and resurrection.

So December 25 is not a biblical claim, but a historical and theological tradition.

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2. Earliest Christian references to December 25 (3rd–4th century)

The first explicit Christian references to December 25 appear in the early 200s AD.

Key sources:
• Hippolytus of Rome (c. AD 204)
• In his Commentary on Daniel, he states that Jesus was born on December 25.
• Roman Christian calendars (e.g., Chronography of 354) list December 25 as natus Christus in Betleem (“Christ born in Bethlehem”).

This shows that December 25 was already established among Christians before Christianity became legal under Constantine (AD 313).

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3. The “March 25” theological calculation (very important)

One of the strongest internal Christian explanations has nothing to do with pagan festivals.

Early Jewish and Christian tradition held that:
• Great prophets died on the same date they were conceived.

Christians believed:
• Jesus was crucified on March 25 (based on Roman dating systems).
• Therefore, His conception (Annunciation) occurred on March 25.
• Add 9 months → December 25.

This reasoning appears in:
• Augustine of Hippo
• Tertullian

➡️ This explanation arises from Christian theology itself, not from Roman festivals.

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4. The pagan festival argument (Saturnalia & Sol Invictus)

This is the most commonly cited modern explanation, but it’s often oversimplified.

Roman festivals near December 25:
• Saturnalia (Dec 17–23)
• Sol Invictus (Dec 25, officially recognized in AD 274)

Did Christians “borrow” the date?
• Some scholars argue Christians reclaimed December 25 to proclaim Christ as the true “Sun of Righteousness” (Malachi 4:2).
• Others note Christians were already using the date before Sol Invictus became prominent.

👉 The evidence suggests overlap and reinterpretation, not simple copying.

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5. How the early Church understood the date

Early Christians did not claim:
• That December 25 was historically provable
• That salvation depended on the exact date

They believed:
• The Incarnation mattered more than the calendar
• The date carried symbolic and theological meaning

By the late 4th century:
• December 25 was widely accepted in the Western Church
• January 6 (Epiphany) remained important in the East

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6. Summary: What history actually supports

Historically solid points:
• ❌ The Bible does not give a birth date
• ✅ December 25 appears in Christian writings by the early 200s
• ✅ A theological calculation from March 25 is well attested
• ✅ Pagan festivals existed near that date, but the relationship is complex
• ✅ The Church never treated December 25 as doctrinally essential

Bottom line:
December 25 is a theologically meaningful, historically early, but not biblically mandated date—chosen to celebrate God entering human history, not to make a chronological claim.

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12/23/2025

According to 1 John 2, there are three distinct stages in the Christian life:

Little Children: When you first believe, you are focused on one main thing: the joy that "your sins are forgiven".
Young Men: This is the fighting stage. You want to "overcome the evil one". (Fun fact: The Greek word used here is "Nike," which means Victory!)
Fathers: This is the stage of maturity. You aren't trying to argue or fight anymore; you "rest in God". You realize, "Lord, you changed me. You'll change them".

Subscribe to Red Letter Basics for more Bible wisdom!



The mission of Red Letter Basics is to help people know and listen to Jesus. Thank you for watching! Subscribe if you haven't already :)
https://www.redletterbasics.com/

12/23/2025

With end of giving in full swing, have you considered how you are helping young people know and listen to Jesus?

Every week we are reaching thousands of people online, and we need your help to double that reach in 2026!

https://www.redletterbasics.com/?give=GZEJGPD2

12/21/2025

The #1 Most Effective Way to Grow Spiritually (According to Research)

How do you actually "cultivate intimacy" with God? Is it just about going to church, or is there something more specific we should be doing?

In this episode of Red Letter Basics, we break down the practical habits that lead to spiritual maturity and look at a fascinating passage in 1 John that maps out the "stages" of the Christian life.

In this video, we cover:

1. The 3 Stages of Growth (1 John 2) We discuss how spiritual maturity often follows a pattern:

Little Children: Focused on the joy that "your sins are forgiven".
Young Men: A stage of "overcoming the evil one"—often characterized by a desire to fight for truth and argue the Gospel.
Fathers: Those who have "known Him from the beginning," reaching a place of rest and trust rather than argument.

2. The "I Seek" Framework | We outline three core pillars for a healthy relationship with God:

Seek God: Through understanding His Word, prayer, and fasting.
Seek Community: Living in relationship with other Christians through the local church.
Seek Mission: Sharing your faith and living as an example to the world.

3. The #1 Driver of Spiritual Growth | We discuss a major research project that found one specific discipline stood out above all others: The amount of time spent reading the Bible. Why? because it provides a daily reminder that you are justified, forgiven, and a child of God.

Full episode can be found in Spotify/Apple/Youtube.

Guest are Bo Thompson and Alsop
Host is Austin Daniel Woodruff

How do you actually "cultivate intimacy" with God? Is it just about going to church, or is there something more specific we should be doing?In this episode o...

12/18/2025

There is a famous moment in Exodus where Moses asks to see God's glory, but God hides him in a "cleft of the rock" instead.

Why couldn't Moses see God’s face?

The Warning: God explicitly told him, "No one can see my face, for if they see my face, they'll die."

The Reason: When sin entered the world, our human nature and essence were "tampered with."

The Metaphor: While we are still image bearers of God, we are now a "chipped and broken image" that cannot withstand His full glory.

Subscribe to Red Letter Basics for more Old Testament insights!

12/16/2025

Did you know the word "Trinity" is technically a made-up word? It’s a term we created to describe a concept that is clearly found in Scripture.

Just look at the grammar in the Great Commission (Matthew 28):

The Command: Jesus says to baptize people in the "name" of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Grammar: He lists three distinct persons, but uses the singular word "name"—not "names".
The Meaning: It implies three persons sharing one singular name and essence.

Subscribe to Red Letter Basics for more deep dives into Bible theology!



The mission of Red Letter Basics is to help people know and listen to Jesus. Thank you for watching! Subscribe if you haven't already :)
https://www.redletterbasics.com/

12/14/2025

Did you know that the average young Christian spends around 7 hours per day on social media? Versus 4 hours per week in Bible based content!

Click the link to read the full article:

https://conta.cc/4oYboem

12/11/2025

To understand the Gospels fully, you need to understand the context in which they were written. Did you know Rome wasn't always an Empire? It actually began as a Republic.

Here is how the power shifted as Rome began to spread:

The Republic: In the beginning, the Senate held the power. They discussed issues and passed laws.

The Empire: Eventually, the system transitioned, and the Emperor began to "call all the shots".

The Result: The powerful Senate was reduced to basically just a group of advisors.

Subscribe to Red Letter Basics for more history behind the Bible!



The mission of Red Letter Basics is to help people know and listen to Jesus. Thank you for watching! Subscribe if you haven't already :)
https://www.redletterbasics.com/

12/11/2025

Screen time vs Bible time... Some basic research reveals something alarming about young Christians!

-- A growing number of young people are coming to Jesus and taking their faith seriously for the first time. But many are being discipled by the internet more than by God's Word — at a rate of 12 to 1.

***over 7hrs/day on social media versus 4hrs/week in Gods Word***

That’s a 1,100% disadvantage.

Think about it though... in a single week, a young Christian; every Sunday at church receives 30 minutes of Bible teaching and 30 minutes of prayer/worship, maybe 60 minutes of time in personal devotional/Bible reading time with Jesus over the other 6 days, and maybe another 120 minutes of total time in Christian content on Social Media. - That's a total of roughly 4 hours per week engaging in God's Word in some capacity.

In comparison... some basics research on google shows that the average young person spends between 6-8 hours PER DAY on social media (some sources include streaming, others simply say social media, and some reference screen time data from individual devices).

The point is that anyway its cut, the percentage of time spent each day investing in a growing relationship with Jesus versus the consumption of all other types of content is quite alarming.

Barna Research put out a project called "Digital Disciple" some years ago that highlighted this very dilemma. The importance of having quality, healthy, simple time in Gods Word has never been more important!

If you want to be a part of helping more people understand the truth of God's Word, send us a message and we can help you get involved in one of three ways:

1. Get a six-pack of our book and share with people in your life.
2. We can train you on how to use our resources to equip people in your lives to understand Gods Word.
3. You can be a financial partner and help us continue in the mission to "help people know and listen to Jesus."