Michael and Jeff explore the theme of how the gospel creates a sense of family within the church. They discuss the importance of community, shared honor, and identity, and how Jesus redefined what it means to be part of God's family. The conversation touches on cultural aspects, the role of the church, and the significance of meals in forming deep connections among believers. They emphasize the need for churches to focus on family dynamics rather than individualism and how this can transform the...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 8 min
The Eikon team introduces a framework for understanding beliefs categorized as blood, ink, and pencil, emphasizing the need for clarity in what constitutes essential Christian doctrine. They discuss the importance of accepting differences in beliefs and practices within the Christian community, emphasizing unity and mutual respect. The conversation also touches on the challenges of fellowship and separation over doctrinal disagreements, exploring the spectrum of opinions on various issues, inclu...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Michael and Jeff explore the complexities of interpreting scripture in modern contexts, the role of tradition in understanding faith, and the evolution of Christian doctrine. They discuss the impact of individualism on Christianity and the importance of recognizing the varying weight of doctrinal beliefs. The episode culminates in the introduction of the concept of 'Blood, Ink, and Pencil,' which categorizes beliefs and practices based on their significance to the Christian faith. 00:00 Introduc...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Summary The conversation in this episode highlights the need for flexibility in understanding doctrine, the importance of community and cooperation among different faith groups, and the ongoing struggle to navigate boundaries in faith without losing sight of the core message of Jesus. Chapters 00:00 The Icon Podcast Introduction and Community Dynamics 04:26 Exploring the Centered Gospel 15:31 Balancing Centered and Bounded Set Gospels 22:42 Judgment and Interpretation of Doctrine 31:11 The Impor...
Jun 09, 2025•59 min
The Other Realm Team delves into the fascinating world of zombies, exploring their cultural significance, the evolution of zombie movies, and the science (or lack thereof) behind the undead. They discuss iconic films and TV shows, share personal reflections on the genre, and ponder what they would do in a zombie apocalypse. Michael, Jason, and Elijah explore the hypothetical scenarios of a zombie apocalypse, discussing survival strategies, cultural fascination with the zombie genre, and the psyc...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr
The Eikon Team delves into a deeper exploration of the centered and bounded gospels, particularly through the lens of table fellowship as illustrated in Luke 14 and 15. They reflect on the implications of social status in biblical times and how it relates to modern spiritual practices, including communion. 00:00 Opening Banter 15:01 Understanding Table Fellowship in the Gospel 20:02 Bounded vs. Centered Gospel Discussion 25:36 Individual vs. Collective in the Gospel 28:01 The Parable of the Lost...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Summary Michael and Jeff discuss the challenges of measuring spiritual maturity and the need for a deeper understanding of faith that goes beyond mere rule-following. 00:00 Opening 09:04 Exploring Centered Set Church Concepts 30:57 Bounded vs. Centered Churches 38:06 Leadership in Bounded vs. Centered Models 42:28 Blood, Ink, and Pencil Issues in Faith 46:54 Centered Approach to Faith and Community 50:04 The Challenge of Sin Management vs. Image Bearing 51:59 Digging Wells vs. Building Fences...
May 19, 2025•1 hr
The Eikon team explores the differences between bounded and centered gospels, discussing the implications of church dynamics on inclusion and exclusion. They delve into the nature of bounded churches, the judgmentalism that can arise, and the importance of fostering a community that encourages exploration of faith. The discussion highlights the spectrum of church mentalities, the impact of exclusion on individual identity, and the need for a more inclusive approach that focuses on unity rather t...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Michael and Jeff explore the themes of living as Christians in a world that often feels like an empire. They discuss the importance of community, the call to live honorably, and the challenge of embodying the way of the cross. The conversation delves into the role of the Christian community in society, the complexities of engaging with government, and the need for humility and love in the face of cultural challenges. They emphasize the ideal of a loving, sacrificial community while acknowledging...
May 05, 2025•1 hr
In this episode of The Other Realm, Michael and Elijah Burns delve into the controversial topic of the flat Earth hypothesis. They explore its historical roots, the resurgence of interest in modern times, and the main arguments put forth by flat-earth proponents. They then dive into the critiques of flat-earth claims. The discussion emphasizes the importance of discernment, truth, and the need for a faithful reading of scripture in the context of scientific understanding. 00:00 Introduction 03:1...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 11 min
Jeff, Gianna, and Michael explore the challenges and responsibilities of living as a Christian community in today's world. They discuss the importance of embodying the teachings of Jesus, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, and the need to focus on community engagement rather than just individual conversion. They highlight the tension between political power and the cross-shaped life that Jesus exemplified, urging listeners to consider how they can live out their faith collectively in a way th...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 1 min
S7E209 – Exilic Gospel: Subversive Witness Gianna, Jeff, and Michael explore the complex relationship between the kingdom of God and the dynamics of empire, particularly in the context of exile. They discuss the importance of understanding one's identity as an exile, the instructions given in Jeremiah 29 for those in Babylon, and the call to seek shalom in a foreign land. The conversation also delves into the various responses to empire, including syncretism, separation, and revolution, and high...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 2 min
The Eikon team explores the themes of exile, identity, and leadership in the context of the gospel and the Old Testament. They delve into the concept of exile as a central theme in the Bible, and examine God's design for kingship, militarism, the economy and status in Israel's history. They consider this as a clarifying metric for the embodied gospel and a conundrum for claims of any country that wishes to claim the status of a Christian nation. 00:00 Introduction and Banter 05:21 The Concept of...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr
In this episode, Michael Burns and Thabani welcome special guest, Alfredo Valentin, the BK apologist. They delve into the complex world of urban apologetics, focusing on the Black Hebrew Israelite movement. They explore the theological implications, historical context, and appeal of this ideology, particularly among marginalized communities. The conversation also touches on strategies for engaging with Hebrew Israelites and the importance of understanding their beliefs to effectively communicate...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 10 min
In this conversation, the Eikon team explores the themes of allegiance, exile, and the nature of the church in relation to the kingdom of God. They discuss how the early church navigated political subversion and the implications of living as exiles in a world that often contradicts the values of the kingdom. The conversation emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of what it means to pledge allegiance to Jesus and the challenges posed by political idolatry in contemporary society. Timesta...
Mar 24, 2025•58 min
The Eikon team continues to analyze the whole gospel, which differs from incomplete versions in its formation of community, the role of baptism, and especially what we understand as the primary mission of the church. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections 8:38 The Whole Gospel: Understanding Community and Individuality 13:36 The Challenge of Individualism in the Gospel 19:48 Baptism and the Role of the Church 23:00 The Role of Gospels in Mission 26:22 Embodiment of Justice and Comm...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Gianna, Jeff, and Michael explore the complexities of faith communities, the challenges of drawing lines in beliefs, and the importance of embodying the gospel through love and community rather than merely exporting morals.
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 7 min
S7E203 – Giants and the Bible Thabani and Michael delve into the complex interpretations of Genesis 6 and explore the supernatural view of the Nephilim, discussing how early Jewish and Christian beliefs shaped the understanding of these figures as giants and their implications in biblical narratives. The discussion also touches on the cultural memory of giants across civilizations and the language used in ancient texts, emphasizing the importance of context in biblical interpretation. Chapters 0...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 9 min
The Eikon team examines the gospel story, highlighting aspects often left out or missed altogether. Through the lens of the narrative, they explore the concept of image bearers and their rebellion against God, the role of Elohim, and the significance of the Tower of Babel. They discuss Israel's purpose as a light to the nations and how Jesus embodies the fulfillment of God's plan. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and banter 06:21 The Story of the Gospel Begins 22:52 The Rebellion of Image Bearers 24:...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 7Ep. 202
S7E201: Christian Nationalism and the Role Gospel The Eikon Team delves into the concept of role gospels, discussing how identity and roles play a crucial part in understanding the gospel message. They examine variations of the role gospel including Christian Nationalism, the anti-immorality gospel, and distorted justice. They discuss historical parallels with Rome, the importance of humility and critique within the church, and the challenges posed by cultural assumptions. The conversation empha...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Michael and Gianna welcome Jeff Hickman as the newest member of the Eikon team. They continue their series on the story of the gospel by exploring the ‘soul gospel and the implications of viewing the gospel primarily as a means of saving souls. They discuss the invention of the Great Commission as the primary mission and substance of discipleship, emphasizing the need for a more holistic understanding of the whole gospel. Chapters 00:00 Introduction of Jeff Hickman 05:44 Exploring the Soul Gospe...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 6 min
In this episode of The Other Realm, Michael and Thabani delve into the intriguing topics of aliens and UFOs, exploring cultural beliefs, scientific perspectives, and biblical connections. They discuss the varying beliefs about extraterrestrial life in Western and African cultures, the phenomenon of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and the overlap between alien encounters and spiritual experiences. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to The Other Realm 10:34 - Cultural Perspectives on Aliens 20:15 ...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 24 min
Michael and Jason discuss the impact of the gospel on community versus individualism and how individualism shapes our understanding of spirituality and the church. They explore the themes of community, the role of Israel and Jesus in God's plan, and the importance of understanding scripture from a collective perspective. They discuss the concept of election, the display of God's love through Israel, and the significance of using individual gifts for the body of Christ. They end the episode with ...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 7Ep. 198
In this episode of the Icon Podcast, hosts Gianna, Michael, and Jason start a journey of exploring the gospel of Jesus the King. The conversation delves into the importance of storytelling in understanding the Gospel and how different starting points can shape one's perception of faith. They emphasize the importance of context and the narrative preceding the New Testament while addressing alternative interpretations of the Gospel. Michael also explains the crazy connection between the John Wick ...
Jan 20, 2025•53 min
The Eikon Team explores themes of personal growth, spirituality, and the importance of community, as they share their favorite resources and moments of the year. Michael reveals his five favorite reads of 2024 and recommends several helpful online resources. Gianna shares her personal growth and spiritual reflections by looking at her favorite moments of the year. Finally, they look ahead to what is in store for 2025 with Season 7. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Opening Banter 04:05 Life Update...
Dec 16, 2024•50 min•Season 6Ep. 196
In this end-of-season-six episode, Michael, Gianna, and Jason discuss the concept of new creation and the importance of keeping Christ at the center of our lives. They explore how different passions within the church can sometimes lead to division and how to navigate that in a loving and Christ-centered way. They also touch on the dangers of becoming too focused on one aspect of the gospel and losing sight of the bigger picture. The hosts share personal stories and insights on maintaining unity ...
Sep 16, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 6Ep. 195
Special Episode: We are making the season finale of our special Patreon series, The Misfits, available this week for everyone to enjoy. This is the eleventh episode in the series so far. If you would like to hear the rest of the series, please help support this podcast by signing up at www.patreon.com/eikonpodcast.com. Summary: In this episode, the hosts discuss the balance between the church's responsibility to accommodate misfits and the misfits' responsibility to meet the needs of the church....
Sep 08, 2024•54 min•Season 6Ep. 194
Gianna, Jason, and Michael discuss the challenges and misconceptions of marriage and parenting within the context of new creation theology. They emphasize the importance of power-with rather than power-over in parenting and the need for vulnerability and authenticity in marriage. They also highlight the significance of modeling Jesus in both parenting and marriage, rather than just teaching about Jesus. The team then explores the idea of whether baptism should be the primary goal of parenting. C...
Sep 05, 2024•54 min•Season 6Ep. 193
In this episode, Michael, Gianna, and Jason discuss the danger of placing too much emphasis on specific spiritual practices and judging others based on their level of engagement in those practices. They also highlight the significance of work, leisure, and everyday activities as acts of worship. The conversation concludes by acknowledging that everyone's journey of worship is unique and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Chapters 00:00- Introduction and Welcome 11:21 - Redefining Worsh...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 6Ep. 192
The conversation explores the concept of race in the context of new creation. It discusses how race is a construct that emerged in the 15th century. The discussion highlights that race is not a biblical concept and that the Bible focuses more on cultural and religious practices rather than physical attributes. The conversation also touches on the dehumanizing nature of race and the biblical call to challenge and dismantle things like racial hierarchies. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Discussi...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 6Ep. 191
