Turn on Joy Radio early in the morning on any weekday, and you’ll likely hear the friendly voice of East Tennessee native Bob Bell. Since 1993, he’s been sharing Bible truths, current events, quizzes and fun with listeners.
As Bob delivers scripture from memory and speaks boldly about what’s in the Bible, he may come across as a guy who’s always had it all together. But before building his relationship with Jesus, his life was falling apart.
Bob struggled with addiction and a desire for approval. He wants the world to know about his brokenness, so he can point to the One who put the broken pieces back together for something better.
There was a time when Bob drank heavily, used drugs, and lived by his own rules. He did it all while being a regular church attendee.
“I was a lost church member,” he says. “I knew how to look the part. But I hadn’t surrendered.”
His redemption didn’t come suddenly like a lightening bolt, but moment by moment like the sunrise after a long, dark night. One evening, sitting alone in his apartment with no access to alcohol, drugs, or even money, he started shaking.
“It wasn’t just physical. I was mentally unraveling. That’s when I knew I had a problem,” Bob says.
It’s been said that acknowledging a problem is the first step to solving it, but Bob still had a long way to go. He was arrested for drunk driving but still wasn’t ready for any kind of spiritual awakening.
“I just learned not to drive drunk,” Bob says. “I kept drinking. I wasn’t ready to let go.”
A Wake-Up Call in the Word
Everything finally clicked into place at a revival service where he heard the parable of the wheat and the tares. The story explains that tares (weeds that look like wheat but aren’t) will be thrown into the fire, a metaphor for the fate of people who look like Christians but aren’t.
“That story wrecked me,” Bob says. “I realized I wasn’t just flawed. I was faking it. That’s when I finally asked Jesus to take over.”
From that point on, Bob’s priorities changed. He didn’t just want sobriety. He wanted a relationship with Jesus.
The decision to commit his life to Christ sparked a change in Bob. He began to dig into scripture, committing verses to memory.
“I didn’t do it because I was strong. I did it because I was weak,” he says. “I needed God’s Word in me so I could live like a new creation.”
Scripture That Sticks: Why Bob Memorizes the Bible
Among the verses he can quickly recite are ones that were especially important as he learned how to live life as a believer even when no one was watching.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. They have divine power to demolish strongholds.” – 2 Cor. 2:4-5
Those verses weren’t abstract ideas. They were practical, daily lifelines.
“I battled strongholds,” Bob explains. “I needed something stronger than me. Scripture gave me that.”
His passion for the Word increased as he began to volunteer in ministry. It was no longer just a matter of personal growth – but a matter of personal accountability.
“What if you don’t have your Bible or phone?” Bob asks pointedly. “What if someone asks you where that verse is? I wanted to be able to tell them.”
Bob will be the first to say he’s not perfect, but a working knowledge of scripture has radically changed his life, giving him the confidence to declare the gospel to anyone who will listen.
His advice to other Christians is to make the effort, because the pay-off is worth the investment of time and energy. He recommends starting with small, bite-sized pieces of scripture.
“Choose a verse that means something to you,” Bob says. “Start in John. Just begin.”
Over time, Bob became convinced not only of the spiritual truth of the Bible but its historical accuracy as well. He often shares about non-Christian sources who have confirmed the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
But for Bob, the strongest proof is the way he’s seen the Bible transform believers.
“When you love your enemies, things change,” he says. “Not just around you, but inside you.
“We’re all on a journey. I’ve learned to pray for people instead of preach at them.”
Bob doesn’t call himself an alcoholic. “I’m a former alcoholic” he says. “I don’t want it anymore. That’s grace.”
While he stands on the Rock of his salvation, he acknowledges that he still has weaknesses, just like everyone else. But he’s free from the things that once controlled him.
Bob and his wife have been married for 40 years, they’ve raised three children and now have four grandkids. Life is full and time is short, but Bob still makes time to dig into God’s word and hopes he can inspire others to do the same.
“You don’t have to be strong,” Bob says. “You just have to trust the One who is.”
If you want to hear more from Bob, tune in to The Bob Bell Show every weekday morning from 6 to 8 a.m. on Joy 620 WRJZ. He’ll make you think, make you laugh, and most of all, point you to truth you can hold onto. Whether you’re starting your day or starting over, you’ll find hope and encouragement here.
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