In this heartfelt episode of Family Talk, we delve into an enriching conversation with Dr. Jack Graham about his new release, The Jesus Book, and the profound impact Scripture can have on individual lives. We explore why biblical literacy is crucial and how modern Christians can engage with the Bible in meaningful ways. Along the way, Dr. Graham shares personal stories about learning the Bible alongside his grandfather, offering listeners a unique perspective on how to make faith deeply personal and transformative.
Hello, everyone. You’re listening to Family Talk, a radio broadcasting ministry of the James Dobson Family Institute. I’m Dr. James Dobson, and thank you for joining us for this program. I’m Roger Marsh, and welcome to Family Talk, the broadcast division of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. Over the weekend, we had a wonderful time of celebrating and remembering and even shedding a few tears for Dr. Dobson, remembering his life and legacy at the beautiful memorial service that was held here in Colorado Springs. For those who were invited, of course, we had a wonderful time celebrating along with Mrs. Dobson, Ryan Dene and members of the family. And if you would like to experience that memorial service, please know that it was recorded in its entirety. And once we have it ready for presentation, we’ll be sure to let you know how you can get access to it. It will be available for free on most streaming sites. But please check our website at drjamesdobson.org for more information on how you can witness and experience the memorial service for Dr. James Dobson that took place over the weekend. Question for you, with all the different events that are happening in the world right now, Dr. Dobson going home to be with the Lord, the Charlie Kirk assassination, you might think that things are pretty glum out in the world. But quite frankly, the people who are really wrestling with what’s happening in the world right now are people who really haven’t either studied Scripture or haven’t really paid attention. So a question that we all have to ask ourselves right now is, how well do I really know the Bible? There are over 80 million people every year downloading Bible-related products, so it’s clear that people are searching. They’re hungry for a deeper understanding of God’s Word and how it impacts their lives. At the same time, though, as more and more people in Generation Z are going back to church or going to church for the first time, studies still show that biblical illiteracy is at an all-time high, even among regular churchgoers. That’s why today’s edition of Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk is so very, very important. We are joined on the broadcast by Dr. Jack Graham, senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church and author of the new book called The Jesus Book, Reading and Understanding the Bible for Yourself. Dr. Graham believes the key to understanding Scripture is literally to see Jesus on every page, from Genesis to Revelation. And so he’s written this powerful book that will help us understand how to better relate to the Lord through the pages of Scripture. Now, the program you’re about to hear was recorded at the 2025 National Religious Broadcasters Convention, which took place in Dallas several months before Dr. Dobson went home to be with the Lord. And please be listening at the end of the program as Dr. Jack Graham will share a very special and touching remembrance of Dr. Dobson to honor his passing. First, though, let’s get into my conversation with Pastor Jack Graham on today’s edition of Family Talk. Well, today here on this special edition of Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, I’m Roger Marsh sitting in the co-host seat today. We are in Jack Graham country here in Dallas at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. Dr. Jack Graham is with us. Jack, welcome to the program.
SPEAKER 01 :
Amen. Thank you very much. I started early at breakfast and Chuck Swindoll was there, but Dr. Dobson was mentioned several occasions. We were talking about the beginning of Christian radio impact and of course, you know, such a pioneer, such a powerful voice. for generations, literally. And so I started the morning early hearing about Dr. Dodson once again, gladly. And then so it’s a privilege to join you.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, we are here at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Dallas. The brand new book from Dr. Jack Graham, the author of many, many books. And Amanda, we’re talking about PowerPoint Ministries. Of course, you’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people on television and radio all the time. The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham podcast in partnership with Pray.com. It’s a whole new world, isn’t it?
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, it is. And the people at Pray.com came to us and said, would you consider doing a through the Bible experience? And so it’s narrated through the Bible. And I do an application. I do an introduction to each chapter. So it took a while to do it. And I thought when I agreed to do it, it would be worth it if we had a couple of hundred thousand people view it or listen to it. And it’s just blown our minds. I mean, it’s amazing what has happened. But I call it the Jesus book. Because when Jesus was walking with those disciples on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection, they were despondent, defeated, thought he was dead and gone. And Jesus shows up and begins walking with them. They don’t recognize him initially. We don’t know why exactly, but perhaps their eyes were blinded by tears. We don’t know. But they didn’t know that they were walking with the risen Lord. But it says that Jesus showed them in all the scriptures as he walked with them those things concerning himself. So of course that was Old Testament scripture. And so he’s pointing out starting in Genesis 3 perhaps where the promise of the Messiah is first given in Genesis 3.15. He probably started in creation. I was there, created the world. And then all the pictures and portraits and types and illustrations and stories and prophecies that all point to Christ. And many people are intimidated by the Bible. They don’t know what it’s about because they missed the plot. The plot is redemption. And if you just started anywhere in the Bible, you may not know where the Bible was going. But when you understand that the Bible is about this story of God’s love for the world and salvation in Jesus Christ, then you will get it. And we talk about things in the book like how the Bible was put together, some very practical things for maybe a new believer. How did we get the Bible? How did it come together? What about translations? How is the Bible divided? Why are there chapters? Why are there verses? All those things, I talk about that. I do evidences for the Bible. There’s a little bit of apologetics in it. That’s why you can trust the Bible. But then very practical things like how do you read your Bible and how do you learn to read the Bible for yourself? How do you mark your Bible, meditate on scriptures, memorize scriptures? Some of those basic discipleship practices that Christians who want to grow in their faith will discover.
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s amazing when you think about this. Pastor Jack Graham has written this book called The Jesus Book, Reading and Understanding the Bible for Yourself. And at first glance, you might say, yeah, I read the Bible. I understand it. End of story. But the fact that 81 million people have downloaded the podcast on this thing is a pretty good testament to the fact that there are a lot of people who are saying, either I want to make sure I’m getting it right or, wow, I never knew. You just mentioned a whole slew of Jesus prophecies that are in the Old Testament.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yes. And I’m talking about Bible engagement. Back to the worldview, here’s what concerns me about a lot of Christians today and church members today. They look at the Bible through the lens of the culture. But a biblical worldview, we look at the culture through the lens of the Bible, through the scripture. And many Christians have never learned to do that. They’ve never learned to go to their Bibles first when there are questions, when there are issues at stake. Where do you go for authority? Where do you go for truth? And when truth is on the scaffold in our generation, as we know it is, and truth is up for grabs, and your truth is my truth is my truth is your truth, what is truth? Pilate asked Jesus that question. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. And so the Bible is God’s Word, breathed out. 2 Timothy 3.16, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. I believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture, meaning verbal, that every word is inspired. Jesus said not a jot or a tittle, not a hyphenated word. Mark would pass away from God’s Word. So it’s verbal. You can’t have math without numbers. You can’t have a message without words. So the words matter. Every word matters in Scripture. Plenary means all Scripture is inspired. It’s not inspired in spots. It’s inspired when it inspires you. Some people say, well, the Bible is inspiring. It’s an inspiring book. No, it is the inspired book. Breathe that, which means the very breath of God is in it. That’s why God’s word will never die. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Your word, O Lord, is forever settled in heaven. Amen. So the word of God, the Bible, could no more cease to exist than God himself could cease to exist.
SPEAKER 02 :
You know, it’s interesting when you think about the Christian life and what it means to so many people. You have a chapter in this book, the Jesus book, on meditation. What exactly is that?
SPEAKER 01 :
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER 02 :
And I know that you have served alongside Mrs. Dobson with National Day of Prayer. You know, we talk about nations having these prayer events and things like that. And a lot of people, when you hear meditation, they’ll run from it as opposed to saying, well, there’s a biblical way to do this. Talk about why it’s important for people to understand something that crucial.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, that is crucial because when we meditate upon Scripture, it means to turn it over in our minds again and again. You know, Eastern mysticism, meditation, The idea is to empty your brain and just welcome whatever comes in it. That’s a dangerous thing to do. Most of us don’t have enough brains to empty. And so when you empty your brain, that’s dangerous. Satan can come in. So the difference in that is… And what the Bible teaches us about meditation is in meditation, so let’s call it concentration. Let’s call it considering what you have read and turn it over. I mean, the picture is actually one of a cow chewing the cud just over and over and digesting. So there’s another word, digesting scripture. Your words were found, the psalmist said, and I did eat them. And so you ingest the word of God, you digest it, it becomes a part of you. Your thought life, you know, you are what you think. And when your mind, when your heart is saturated with God’s word, you think differently. You think biblically and therefore you act differently.
SPEAKER 02 :
I think about, you know, the Apostle Paul saying, hey, look, you know, whatever is true, pure, noble, lovely. Think on these things. Yeah, think about them. And it’s not like you have to say, OK, I need to think of something good, you know, but rather when we are saturated in Scripture, when we understand it, when we ruminate and meditate on it, then we do. Ruminate. That’s another good word for it. The capacity to actually take that into account.
SPEAKER 01 :
You know, a lot of times when people are dealing with a crisis or a problem or sickness and, you know, we all contend to ruminate on that. We can’t think about anything else. The way to think properly is to replace your thoughts. So if I’m thinking the wrong thing. The only way to change the channel, if you will, is to start taking the right things. And that’s that passage in Philippians 4 that you talked about. That’s a passage about peace. It’s about calm. It’s about settling down and trusting God. And so he says, think on these things, true, what is true, what is just, what is lovely, what is beautiful. Think on these things. So what I do, if my mind is getting obsessed with something that is bothering me or something that is making me anxious, I work always at turning my thoughts to Scripture. Just read God’s Word and maybe ask it some questions. What is this saying? What does it mean? Is there some… Doctrine, some truth I need to believe here. Is there some sin that is convicting that I need to repent of here? Is there some action that I need to take here? Is there some promise that I need to claim here? It’s just you think through the scriptures and don’t just rush through. I mean, there are reading plans and You know, I like reading through the Bible, but don’t rush through the Bible. Take your time. And when God speaks to you in a verse, just stop there. The most powerful prayers are when we pray God’s word back to him. And God, you said this. And so I take this as your word and I’m believing it and I’m receiving it. And pray it for your children. Pray for your grandchildren. Pray the scriptures. It’s a powerful way to pray. It’s David in the Psalm saying, I will remember, I will remember, I will remember.
SPEAKER 02 :
And it’s telling God, you promised. And it’s not always smite my foes because it feels like they’re advancing. I’m glad, Dr. Jack Graham, you mentioned you brought up kids and grandkids because kids, grandkids desperately need the prayer cover from their parents and grandparents.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, let’s start there with parents and grandparents. I opened the book. Speaking of when I first became aware of the Bible, which was I was a small boy. I’m grateful for a Christian heritage, parents and grandparents. I had the privilege of living with my maternal grandfather. He was a wonderful man. He wasn’t a preacher. He was a layman. But virtually every night of my young life, I sat in his chair in a rocking chair and he read the scriptures to me. Wow. And I learned to read. literally reading the Bible with my grandfather. And so it started early and I had a love for the Bible early on because of the influence of my grandfather and my parents. So parents and grandparents, it starts with you. I do think if you have the opportunity to either homeschool your children where you can teach the Bible or send them to a biblical worldview Christian school. We have a wonderful Christian school at our church. In fact, Dr. Dobson and Mrs. Dobson, we gave them a big award. It’s called the Zig Ziglar Award, named after the great member of Zig Ziglar. And it goes to support kids and their scholarships. And we gave that to Dr. Dobson several years ago. But that school, I mean, we teach biblical worldview and we do it very well. And so if you can afford it or if it’s possible, pray about getting your children and grandchildren in a really great Christian school where they can. can develop and lay foundations in their lives. And so I’m encouraged. I am too.
SPEAKER 02 :
And it’s encouraging to talk to you, Dr. Jack Graham, about this issue of the Jesus book being so popular, reading and understanding the Bible for yourself. And I wonder how many young people, I’ve talked to people maybe in the Gen Z generation, who will say things like, well, the Bible is a history book. And so as far as the history goes, I’m okay with that. But they kind of read it like it’s a historical book, as opposed to one of the chapters you talk about. What is the point? of the Bible. Help us understand how we can read the Bible with that point in mind, as opposed to just saying, well, I need to check off three chapters today on my one-year Bible plan. There I did it, and it doesn’t really, it just washes over you. It doesn’t really get into your mind.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, I would say for me, and what I would say to anyone is, you know, read the Bible to meet God. Read the Bible to know Jesus more and more as Paul said that I may know him more and more progressively in my life and the power of the resurrection. So when you read the Bible you don’t go to the Bible as a book of history. It is history and when it speaks historically it speaks accurately. We can trust the Bible on those things. But when I read my Bible, I want to know, God, what do you have to say? And I do believe the Holy Spirit. We have the Holy Spirit as our teacher. And it’s good to have pastors and teachers and those who help us understand the Bible. But if you will read the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes. The psalmist said, open my eyes, Lord, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It’s all about the Bible. and God’s word and it’s a magnificent passage. From cover to cover and everything in between, we have this wonderful, marvelous story of God’s grace, God’s love, God’s salvation that has come to us in Christ. So when you start there, I mean, it’s virtually impossible if you’re not a Christian to understand the Bible. Now, I tell young seekers, if someone is a seeker, they want to know and if they want to know, they will know. But read the Gospel of John, which was written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. So start there. If you’re a doubting Christian, go to 1 John, where these things are written that you may know that you have eternal life. So there are introductory things that you can do. If you’re not accustomed to the Bible, if you don’t know the Bible that well, if you’re not a Christian, start in John. If you’re a baby Christian or maybe you’re a doubting Christian, go to 1 John. Those are a few things, but virtually, I mean, the Bible is written for those who believe. And yes, it’s a witness. Yes, it’s a gospel. Yes, it’s the message that the world needs to hear that doesn’t know Jesus. But God’s Word is for every believer who is willing to open it and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and to lead you. Psalm 119 says, 105, your word, O Lord, is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. So if you’re lost in the darkness, open up God’s word.
SPEAKER 02 :
I love the fact, Pastor Jack Graham, that you told us that story about your grandfather reading those stories to you. Because even if you didn’t fully understand them, they sounded really wonderful. But God’s Word didn’t come back void. And here you were at the age of 20 into full-time ministry.
SPEAKER 01 :
I mean, you got after this early. I did. One of the favorite, you know, that I remember my grandfather reading, one of the great stories when… When the prophet was sleeping and Samuel heard the voice and said, Samuel, Samuel called his name. He goes in to see the prophet and said, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed. And then he hears it again, hears it again. And the man of God said to him, this is God’s voice. go back and listen and say, speak, Lord, your servant hears. I’ve always remembered that story in that verse, speak, Lord. Sometimes we run to the Bible or in prayer, we say, listen, Lord, your servant is speaking. But our position should be, speak, Lord, your servant is listening. I love that.
SPEAKER 02 :
Powerful words from Pastor Jack Graham. The book is called The Jesus Book, Reading and Understanding the Bible for Yourself. And we have a link up at drjamesdobson.org forward slash family talk for this brand new resource. Dr. Graham, it’s been a pleasure and an honor to spend some time with you. We got to get you to Colorado Springs one of these days to hang out with the Dobsons.
SPEAKER 01 :
It’s so beautiful. I need to come back and I would do it in a minute. I’d ride a bus, a car, a train to come and see you and certainly the Dobsons as well. Well, we appreciate you, brother.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for being with us today here on Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk.
SPEAKER 01 :
God bless. Thank you.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, it was such a pleasure to sit down with Pastor Jack Graham for the conversation you just heard today here on Dr. Dobson’s Family Talk. While he didn’t get a chance to come visit us here in Colorado Springs before Dr. Dobson went to be in glory, Jack Graham did post a very special touching tribute to Dr. Dobson on the day he passed. And so as we conclude this special memorial edition of Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, here once again is Dr. Jack Graham to share his thoughts and reflections on the life of Dr. James Dobson.
SPEAKER 01 :
I want to take just a few moments this morning to reflect upon the life of Dr. James Dobson, who went to heaven into the presence of the Lord today and we are celebrating his life and all the impact and influence that he had upon so many of us. James Dobson was one of a kind and truly touched the world with the message of Christ and the Bible. He was a trained psychologist and very well trained, but he understood beyond human psychology, there’s the psychology of the Bible and the Word of God. So he enabled us to live according to God’s principles by teaching us and counseling us on marriage, on home, on family. That was something very important to him, of course. And he also had such an amazing influence in the nation. He stood so strongly for the sanctity of life. In fact, I first met Dr. Dobson at the White House in the Reagan years, way back, when he was stepping up and challenging the president and government to support the sanctity of life and to care for the unborn. And so over the years, I had the opportunity to get to know him better, just most recently with President Trump and working on the faith initiatives with President Trump. And Dr. Dobson was a key part of that. Shirley, his wife, and we’re praying for Shirley and the family. I led the National Day of Prayer for many, many years, and James was right alongside Jim, was right alongside of her in that he was a man of prayer as well. But it was my privilege a number of years ago to serve as the national chairman of the Day of Prayer. and to work with the Dobsons on that and to be up close to see their heart for our nation and their love for God’s church and to advance his kingdom. In 2022, here at Prestonwood, Prestonwood Christian Academy, we gave James and Shirley Dobson the Zig Ziglar Award. Now, that’s a big deal for us, and he made it a big deal for him. He seemed to be so honored to receive the Ziglar Award, named after the famed Zig Ziglar, who was a member of Prestonwood and a good friend of Dr. Dobson and Shirley. We gave him that award because it’s a servant leadership award, and certainly he was a servant leader and a champion of the faith. And so we’re going to miss him, and yet his influence, his life is going to live on in the presence of the Lord. He is there. This might be a good time to remind all of us that the only way to heaven is Jesus. President Trump spoke about how to go to heaven the other day. He was talking about heaven and created a lot of questions for people. Well, James Dobson, he knew that we don’t go to heaven by good works or good deeds, any personal achievements. Dr. Dobson is not in heaven because he was a great man or a good man, though he was great and though he was good, but he’s in heaven because because he put his faith and trust in jesus christ and he looked forward to the day he would meet christ face to face so that day has come so his life in the presence of the lord lives on and then his life lives on in the legacy of his faith uh here on earth and so many of us have been touched by the ministry and the mission of dr james dobson so well done uh good and faithful servant, James Dobson. You’ve heard those words from the Lord, and we especially celebrate that joy that you have in the presence of Jesus right now.
SPEAKER 02 :
Amen. Amen. Trusted words and a great tribute from Dr. Jack Graham today here on Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk. And while, of course, Dr. Graham did not have the opportunity to come visit us here in Colorado Springs to be with Dr. Dobson in person before he went home to be in glory, what a beautiful reunion that is going to be one day in heaven. You’ve been listening to Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk and a conversation I had with Dr. Jack Graham about discovering the heart of scripture. If you missed any portion of today’s broadcast, or if you’d like to share it with someone who is literally hungry to know more about God’s word, go to drjamesdobson.org forward slash family talk. You’ll find the audio for today’s program, and you’ll also find complete information about Dr. Jack Graham’s book called The Jesus Book, Reading and Understanding the Bible for Yourself. Again, go to drjamesdobson.org forward slash family talk for all the details. Dr. James Dobson’s words have shaped families and inspired faith for generations. And now through the historic Dr. James Dobson Memorial Matching Grant, you have the opportunity to ensure his legacy continues and multiplies. Thanks to a remarkable $6 million matching gift challenge, which is available now through December 31st, 2025. Every dollar you donate will be doubled, placing practical biblical wisdom into the hands and homes of countless families for years to come. Together, we can honor Dr. Dobson’s vision, preserve his teaching, and expand his work to new generations and geographies. You can go online at drjamesdobson.org and make a secure donation there. That’s drjamesdobson.org. Or have your gift doubled when you call us. A member of our constituent care team will be happy to take your call at 877-732-6825. That’s 877-732-6825. And keep in mind, we love to receive your cards and your letters. And you can also send your tax-deductible donation through the U.S. Postal Service. Our ministry mailing address is Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, P.O. Box 39000. Colorado Springs, Colorado, the zip code 80949. And for the days when you can’t join us on the radio, make sure you subscribe to our podcast. It’s available on all major platforms, and it’s the perfect way to access biblical wisdom for your family on the go. Just search for Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk wherever you get your podcasts. Well, I’m Roger Marsh, and from all of us here at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, thanks so much for listening today. Be sure to join us again next time right here for another edition of Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, the voice you can still trust for the family you love. This has been a presentation of the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.
