Thursday Dec 04, 2025
136| Preaching That Builds Disciples: Catholic Insights from Jeff Cavins
Tom and Melissa sit down with Jeff Cavins—Catholic speaker, author, and creator of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible. Jeff shares his powerful journey from leaving the Church to coming back to the Catholic Church with a renewed fire for Scripture.
He talks about how people truly meet Jesus in the Church, why priests must preach so the Word lands in everyday life, and how Scripture moves people from passive pew-sitters to active disciples. Along the way, Jeff shares lessons from Mother Angelica, stories from his years as a pastor, and insights for every parish leader who wants to make Scripture come alive.
Resources Mentioned
- The Great Adventure Catholic Bible – Ascension Press
- Hallow App – Daily Reflections with Jeff Cavins
- Jeff Cavins Website & Pilgrimages
- Bible in a Year Podcast (with Fr. Mike Schmitz & Jeff Cavins)
Highlights
- Jeff’s journey: from Catholic roots to Protestant pastor and back home to the Church
- The prophetic bishop who told him, “You’ll be back to teach your people”
- Why relational preaching matters more than polished rhetoric
- The “Holy Osmosis” myth—why Catholics need to be taught how to read Scripture
- Practical ways priests can preach the Word so it connects to people’s lives
- How curiosity and empathy make great communicators
- The art of questions—how Jesus used them, and why you should too
- Moving parishioners from consumers to contributors
- What “innovators” and “early adopters” have to do with parish renewal
- Behind the scenes of Jeff’s new Great Adventure Bible Study, filmed on location
Chapters
- 00:00 — Welcome & the Father Michael / Justin Jefferson laugh
- 01:00 — Jeff’s quick story: leaving and returning to the Catholic Church
- 03:50 — A prophetic bishop’s words and blessing the journey
- 10:10 — Why people don’t always meet Jesus in church—and what to do about it
- 14:42 — Teaching Catholics to read the Bible
- 17:47 — Preaching that opens the Word for daily life
- 23:16 — Stop talking to “one”: speak to you
- 27:45 — Asking questions that open hearts
- 29:15 — From stage fright to communicator: speaking to individuals
- 34:06 — Knowing Scripture and people’s burdens
- 40:29 — Moving pew-sitters to disciples
- 44:18 — Innovators, early adopters, and parish renewal
- 48:05 — The impact of The Great Adventure
- 52:09 — The new on-location Bible study
- 53:03 — Where to find Jeff & wrap-up
Quick Takeaways
- Preach to people, not at them.
- Lead with relationship, not content overload.
- Every parent and priest should teach how to read Scripture.
- Great communication starts with listening and curiosity.
- Renewal begins with innovators and early adopters—start small, then multiply.
Resources Mentioned
- The Great Adventure Catholic Bible – Ascension Press
- Hallow App – Daily Reflections with Jeff Cavins
- Jeff Cavins Website & Pilgrimages
- Bible in a Year Podcast (with Fr. Mike Schmitz & Jeff Cavins)
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