Word Nerd - Faith, Scripture, and real questions for teens

Ep. 10 Can you Trust your Heart? A Verse Study on Jeremiah 17:9

Can we trust our hearts? Welcome to the first Verse Mosaic study! Instead of focusing on a single word, we’re taking a deep dive into one verse: Jeremiah 17:9. Together we’ll explore the context, compare translations, study key Hebrew words, examine cross-references, and discover what this passage teaches about the human heart, God’s perfect knowledge, and the hope of a transformed heart. Jeremiah 17:9 is one of the most quoted verses about the heart, but what did Jeremiah actually mean? Join me as we slow down, study the text carefully, and see what this passage reveals about God and ourselves. Scripture References: • Jeremiah 15:1–3 • Jeremiah 17:9–10 • Proverbs 4:23 • Ezekiel 36:26–28 • Mark 2:8–12 • Psalm 51:10 Downloads: • Work Along page https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qqjncTbGBSHPXlIOxxJxUS2lP9fgBvyj/view?usp=sharing [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qqjncTbGBSHPXlIOxxJxUS2lP9fgBvyj/view?usp=sharing] • Lev (Heart) Word Study Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kKXj55uHSyNkRLAjvqKdS3j3fEw53i2v/view?usp=sharing [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kKXj55uHSyNkRLAjvqKdS3j3fEw53i2v/view?usp=sharing]

Ep.9 Can Worship be More than Music? An Interview with Ms. Helen

Can worship be more than music? Download the companion resource here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10i9tnuue6OJqbpVy0wacvuQFin44CARP/view?usp=sharing [https://drive.google.com/file/d/10i9tnuue6OJqbpVy0wacvuQFin44CARP/view?usp=sharing] In this episode of Word Nerd, Lily sits down with Helen to discuss what praise and worship look like beyond Sunday mornings. Together they explore the meaning of hallelujah, the importance of praising God for who He is rather than only for what He gives, and how worship can become a daily way of life. What if worship is more than a song we sing? What if it shapes our thoughts, words, and actions every day?

Ep.8 Why Biblical Truth is More than Information

Click here for a free study sheet to go along with this episode! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s77K4DmoLlAX2TFUCS8vzi-JL3GIr1cF/view?usp=sharing [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s77K4DmoLlAX2TFUCS8vzi-JL3GIr1cF/view?usp=sharing] Follow us on Instagram @Wordnerdpodcast What does the Bible mean when it talks about truth? Is truth simply knowing the right facts, or is it something deeper? In this episode of Word Nerd, Lily explores the Hebrew word emet (אמת)—a word often translated as truth, but one that also carries the ideas of faithfulness, reliability, trustworthiness, and steadfastness. Through biblical examples and word study, she examines how emet describes something firm and dependable rather than merely intellectually correct. Along the way, Lily looks at how emet is used throughout Scripture, its connection to faithfulness and trust, and why biblical truth is meant to shape the way we live. Rather than treating truth as information to collect, the Bible presents truth as something that calls for a response. If you’ve ever wondered why the biblical concept of truth feels deeper than our modern use of the word, or if you’re interested in Hebrew word studies and the original languages of Scripture, this episode is for you. Trust what’s true. Let it shape you

Ep. 7 The Manuscripts Behind Your Bible: A Conversation with Noah Hawkins

What are biblical manuscripts, and why do they matter for Christians today? In this episode of Word Nerd, Lily sits down with Noah Hawkins for a conversation about biblical manuscripts, textual transmission, papyrus fragments, and how the New Testament was preserved throughout history. Together, they discuss what manuscripts actually are, how scribes copied Scripture, why textual variants exist, and why these topics don’t have to shake our confidence in the Bible. Along the way, they explore common misconceptions about textual criticism, look at real manuscript evidence like Papyrus 48 (𝔓⁴⁸), and talk about why understanding the history behind your Bible can actually strengthen your faith rather than weaken it. If you’ve ever wondered how the New Testament survived for nearly two thousand years, what biblical manuscripts really are, or why scholars care so much about tiny fragments of papyrus, this episode is for you. During parts of the episode, we reference details visible on Papyrus 48 (𝔓⁴⁸), so you may want to pull up the image from the episode post while listening for the full Word Nerd experience. You can see it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x5Bow0BOj9KWxA--GeD3WllZKK0tzZ4h/view?usp=sharing [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x5Bow0BOj9KWxA--GeD3WllZKK0tzZ4h/view?usp=sharing] Buy one of Noah's awesome replicas here! https://sacredtextreplicas.com/ [https://sacredtextreplicas.com/]

Ep. 6 The Kind of Love There’s No English Word For

Free Hesed study pages below! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ptVmXaXrrpLtIMaHDk5T4CMiLpexI1hL/view?usp=sharing [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ptVmXaXrrpLtIMaHDk5T4CMiLpexI1hL/view?usp=sharing] What if one of the most important words in the Bible doesn’t have a direct English translation? In this episode, we’re diving into hesed, a Hebrew word often translated as love, but that barely scratches the surface. Hesed is loyal love, steadfast love, covenant love… it’s the kind of love that stays, gives, forgives, and acts even when it’s hard. We’ll break down what hesed really means, where we see it in Scripture, and what it looks like lived out in everyday life—from simple acts of kindness to costly obedience. Because this kind of love isn’t just something we understand, it’s something we live. Because, the Bible isn’t just something we read, it’s something we listen to and obey.