Into The Word is a radio and podcast program committed to helping people read, love and live the whole counsel of God. Toward that end, we try to provide “pastor level” guidance to our listeners, as we walk together verse by verse, and chapter by chapter through whole books of the Bible. Each chapter episode is between 15-25 minutes in length, depending on the number of verses in the text. As of December 1st, 2024, we’ve covered 563 chapters, or approximately 47% of the Bible. God willing, we will pass through the 50% mark in 2025! We also have nearly 200 Life 100.3 episodes, which are radio adaptations of the podcast, featuring the regular program audio plus application conversations between myself and Chris “Woody” Woodland.
The regular podcast program is designed to be used as an aid to your personal Bible reading and study. Many people listen to the podcast with their paper Bibles open in front of them. As the passage is read and explained, they make notes in the margin or in a journal. Other people listen while driving to work, walking the dog or doing the dishes. However you use the material, our goal is to help you understand and apply what you are reading.
To listen to a sample Old Testament episode, see here.
To listen to a sample New Testament episode, see here.
To listen to an entry level series that is perfect for new believers, see here.
To listen to a series that unpacks a complicated Old Testament book, see here.
To listen to a sample Life 100.3 radio episode, see here.
The entire library of episodes can be found on the Into the Word app or on the Into the Word website. Recently released episodes can be found on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts.
What’s Coming Up In 2025?
In April of 2025 I am hoping to release 19 new episodes in our series on The Book of Psalms. As long-time listeners will know, I have been pecking away at the Psalms for a couple of years now. Normally we just release one whole book at a time, but there are 150 chapters in Psalms, so I have been doing it in stages. In April of 2025 I plan on releasing a new Introductory episode, as well as new chapter episodes covering Psalms 1 through 29. I started the practice of creating Introductory episodes for each series about a year ago and people have indicated that they find them helpful, so even though I have already covered Psalms 40-105 in years past, I decided to go back and do a new full length introduction. I also wanted to take the opportunity to incorporate some insights from the newly released series by Christopher Ash, which I have been enjoying tremendously. If things go well, and if the Lord wills, then I also hope to release a further 14 episodes in the Psalms series in October of 2025. This will result in our having covered chapters 1-119 by year’s end. I will probably look to complete the series in 2026.
In addition, we’re working on some significant changes on the tech, admin and delivery side of things. A number of our listeners have asked if there was a way to skip the front bumper when they are listening to an entire series. As awesome as our front bumper is (thanks Woody Woodland!!), it can be a bit repetitive if you are binge listening to a series on your 18 hour drive to Florida – or so I’ve been told. We will look to modify our use of bumpers in all upcoming series, with only the first episode in the series having the front bumper and only the last episode in the series having the full end bumper. We will also look to make this change on the app and website versions of each episode as we have the time.
We’re also looking at some changes with respect to the look and presentation of our website. We have some talented folks eager to brighten things up and to make the content more accessible to our listeners.
Finally, we are investing in some technology that should allow us to make the episode transcripts available for free. We are aware that many pastors in the developing world use Into the Word for sermon prep and so we want to be as helpful as we possibly can be. Into the Word has never been about making money. I do this for love of God and love of God’s people. I have a full-time job as a pastor for which I am fairly compensated. I don’t take a penny out of Into the Word. Any donations that come in go toward the cost of production (books, software, web and app fees etc.) or out into mission. Therefore, we have nothing to lose by making everything available on the site for free; the only reason we haven’t done it already, is that we didn’t know how and we didn’t have anyone to do it. We appear to be making progress on both of those fronts, so we hope to have the transcripts available at some point during the coming calendar year.
A Peak Behind The Curtain:
You’ve probably noticed me alternating between “we” and “I” over the course of this article, which I have done on purpose because, while I do the study, write the scripts and record each episode, there is a team of people who help with the editing, uploading and administration. Into the Word couldn’t exist without them and I am truly thankful for their time and effort.
In terms of my process, I will typically read 4-5 commentaries on the book in question before starting work on the transcripts. Once I have those in place I will begin recording the episodes, and after a bit of light editing from our support team, we will usually release those episodes on the date that the corresponding chapter appears on the RMM Bible Reading Plan. Of course, all of the Into the Word content can be used with any reading plan, or with no plan at all. I would love one day to have a feature on the app that allows the user to input their preferred reading plan and to have the episodes immediately organized and pushed according to the plan schedule – but that is a project for another day. I will often choose books to cover based on where I plan to go in my preaching calendar or in my other teaching responsibilities within the church. This creates obvious efficiencies in terms of time. If I release an Into the Word series on a particular book of the Bible in 2025, for example, you can expect a sermon series or a class on that book in 2026 or 2027.
What’s The Backstory On Into the Word?
People ask me from time to time, why in the world I am doing this. I am a full-time pastor. I’ve got 5 kids. I’m 50 years old. This project has already taken me 8 years and will probably take 10 more to complete. So why in the world am I doing this?
I guess the simple answer is that I can’t imagine not doing it. I was 18 years old the first time I read through the whole Bible from cover to cover and from that point on, I was hooked. Every time I read the Bible the whole way through, I feel like all the individual stories and parts make more sense to me. I keep reading the Bible because I want to learn more about God, about me, and about how God has saved me through the person and work of Jesus Christ. I want to do that, and I want to help other people to do that as well.
By God’s grace I’ve had the opportunity to study the history and languages of the Bible and to receive the traditional pastoral education. That’s a gift and a privilege and I know that very well. I’m thankful to my parents, to my home church and to all the professors and educators who invested in me along the way, and now, having received that blessing, I feel a call and obligation to pay it forward. Through the Into the Word radio and podcast program I’ve had the opportunity to help people all over the world read, love and live the whole counsel of God. It has been a joy to do that, and I hope to continue doing that, as long as the Lord gives me life and breath. If Into the Word can be useful to you in your spiritual journey in 2025, I would be forever grateful.
And may God alone be glorified!
Pastor Paul Carter
December 13th, 2024
To find the complete library of Into the Word episodes by Pastor Paul see here. To read his most recent articles over at TGC Canada see here.