What could bring this new, settled nation of Israelites to the brink of civil war?! What are the "Jordan Rivers" of division in our culture today? BIBLE JAZZ CHALLENGE! Step 1) Find someone on social media who's views oppose yours, and invite them to a conversation on the phone or in person. Take a screen shot of your invitation! Step 2) Send the screen shot to us and we'll celebrate your courage. Step 3) If they accept your invitation, write to us and let us know how it went. Send your screensh...
Aug 18, 2020•51 min
The words "church" and "worship" seem almost synonymous. But what is worship, and are we engaged with worship in a way that is formative for our lives? Or have we fallen into a habit we call worship but which lacks the right intentions? We also do our best with an excellent listener question about "God's justice." Will worship become like WonkaVision some day? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvS3j8VtanM Check out our new "discipleship basics" course, EQUIPPING! More at UPPC.org Get on our Friday...
Aug 11, 2020•46 min
What does it mean to be co-agents of the Kingdom of God? To be active in God's redemptive work in this world? That's what it means to be good "stewards of our inheritance..." See Rob's message at UPPC.org/media Or listen-only through the UPPC app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/uppc/id912998759 Check out these resources for youth: https://uppc.org/foundation https://uppc.org/therock https://uppc.org/cornerstone Details about IF:Lead will be forthcoming at UPPC.org/events Rob plugged these summer ...
Jul 28, 2020•41 min
Lots of people get tripped up by stories of violence, and violent conquest, in the Bible. What is the proper posture with which to read these stories? What must we be cautious to avoid? What is the best way for us to read these in the context of the Bible as a whole? This week's "Headline": https://www.today.com/news/malala-yousafzai-graduates-college-8-years-after-taliban-gunned-her-t184665 Subscribe to Bible Jazz on Apple! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 Fo...
Jun 30, 2020•37 min
Margaret "Muggs" Hollins joins us for a look at the great potential of kids worldwide, and the necessity of telling our stories with the truth that can only be found through honesty, community, and the grace and mercy of God in response to our mistakes. This week's "Headline": https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news/nine-year-old-kenyan-inventor-given-national-award/ar-BB14YRtH Learn more and register your primary school kids for Day Camp: https://uppc.org/children Subscribe to Bible Jazz on Ap...
Jun 23, 2020•48 min
Recent high school graduate Maria Smith joins Lexi and Mike to talk about her experience of being a high school senior during the Covid-19 shut down. The Bible Project on "Justice": https://bibleproject.com/explore/justice/ This week's "Headline": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFETUbrlEpg Great listener email: "Lack of Unity in the Church"! Learn more and register your primary school kids for Day Camp: https://uppc.org/children RightNow Media is available to you for FREE! Visit UPPC.org and sc...
Jun 15, 2020•45 min
This week's "Headline": https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/us/traveling-pianist-at-george-floyds-memorial-trnd/index.html Let's learn together: RightNow Media (let us give you your account as a GIFT! Visit UPPC.org and scroll down to RightNow Media, follow the links to make your account). *Racial Reconciliation: The Elephant in the Room *Race, Justice, and the Church- Eric Mason *The Color of Promise- Jemar Tisby *Oneness Embraced-Tony Evans Books: *So You Want to Talk About Race- Ijeoma Oluo *How t...
Jun 08, 2020•32 min
For Bible Jazz's 100th episode, Mike and Randi improvise through an unexpected, brief conversation about the murder of George Floyd, the riotous aftermath, and the clear need for empathetic listening and compassion as we seek reconciliation as one community. Announcements: - We are celebrating our 100th episode by giving $100 to Families Unlimited Network (familiesunlimitednetwork.org ) - Today's episode also marks the one-year anniversary of rebranding the podcast as "Bible Jazz" - Over the nex...
Jun 01, 2020•19 min
100 EPISODES! BIBLE JAZZ'S FIRST BIRTHDAY! Help us celebrate by MAKING AN IMPACT. For every rating we get on APPLE PODCASTS (link below) BY JUNE 1, WE'LL DONATE $1 to FAMILIES UNLIMITED NETWORK! So rate us and get all your friends and family to as well! https://www.familiesunlimitednetwork.org From today's chat: https://officialprojectiam.com https://www.coolanddope.com Subscribe on Apple! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 familiesunlimitednetwork.org Follow on...
May 25, 2020•49 min
100 EPISODES! BIBLE JAZZ'S FIRST BIRTHDAY! We're celebrating our 100th episode on June 1, and the first anniversary of our rebranding as "Bible Jazz." Help us celebrate by MAKING AN IMPACT. For every rating we get on APPLE PODCASTS (link below) BY JUNE 1, WE'LL DONATE $1 to FAMILIES UNLIMITED NETWORK! So rate us and get all your friends and family to as well! Subscribe on Apple! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 familiesunlimitednetwork.org Follow on Spotify: h...
May 18, 2020•40 min
Bible Jazz is excited to begin doing more interviews like this one -- who would you like to listen to? We're ready to reach far and wide during this remote-meeting time to talk to guests on video chat and phone! LET US KNOW your ideas for great guests, and we'll see if we can get them on the show. Email your ideas to uppcbiblejazz@gmail.com ! Subscribe on Apple! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YLbRFDsJbqGEAkMu...
May 11, 2020•44 min
Chris Wang is one of the coolest people I know. A young husband and father, Chris is also the teaching pastor at St. John's church in Suzhou, China. I had the chance to meet and spend a week with Chris about a year-and-a-half ago, and I'll never forget it. This week, Chris lets us in on what it was like to experience the unfolding of Covid-19 in his city and church, as a Chinese citizen, and how God is opening new doors during this time! Bible Jazz is excited to begin doing more interviews like ...
Apr 27, 2020•57 min
Rachel Ayres is a sophomore at Whitworth University, an upcoming summer fellow at UPPC, a future Smithsonian intern, and just around cool. Joined by our director of communications, Kate Evarts, Rachel explores with us some of her life and faith background, the art and craft of communication, and what it has been like to be a college student in the era of Covid-19. (Rachel's interview starts at 12:20.) There's a lot going on at UPPC, so don't miss some updates in this week's episode, including ho...
Apr 20, 2020•54 min
Nathan Murphy (@nathangmurphy) is a young and passionate follower of Jesus who works as a serial entrepreneur, passionate about helping people and making positive influence. Nathan and I met randomly a few months back, hit if off in conversation, and now I've learned a lot from him in this week's interview. Check out what Nathan is up to on Instagram, and pray for him as he makes a big move! Bible Jazz is excited to begin doing more interviews like this one -- who would you like to listen to? We...
Apr 13, 2020•42 min
WHO would you like to hear as a guest on Bible Jazz? We're ready to reach far and wide during this remote-meeting time to talk to guests on video chat and phone! LET US KNOW your ideas for great guests, and we'll see if we can get them on the show. Email your ideas to uppcbiblejazz@gmail.com ! THANK YOU for sticking with Bible Jazz, as our greatest hope is to continue to engage a wide audience in matters of life and faith. Subscribe on Apple! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id...
Apr 06, 2020•33 min
This week we're looking at what Paul may have meant, or not meant, when he told people, "Do not be anxious." What are we supposed to do with those natural anxious feelings, anyway? Spiritual Director Lorina Meade will give some practical ways to pray and redirect our anxious attention to Jesus. THANK YOU for sticking with Bible Jazz, as our greatest hope is to continue to engage a wide audience in matters of life and faith. Help others find Bible Jazz and subscribe on Apple! https://podcasts.app...
Mar 30, 2020•30 min
Part of the fun of Bible Jazz is the organic conversation that happens when we gather in the "Gray Room 2" studio. Welp...that ain't happening for the time being because of the COVID-19 pandemic. BUT--we're still going to get some content to you! For now, we're uploading audio from the week's teaching (including some great interviews!) while we're working on doing some remote interviews in the coming weeks. THANK YOU for sticking with Bible Jazz, as our greatest hope is to continue to engage a w...
Mar 23, 2020•34 min
Northern Ireland. For many people around the world, it is a country whose history conjures images of civil unrest and militia-style warfare. Mike lived in Belfast in 2000-01 and has remained friends with several people there, including Beth McGardle. As we explore the idea of Jesus having a "bigger table" for people, Beth brings wise insight about the healing message of the Gospel in a divided country like N. Ireland. It's insight that any country struggling with division needs to hear. Help oth...
Mar 09, 2020•44 min
Actor, dancer, chaplain, pastor, and all around interesting dude, Adam Jones joins us in this important conversation about what is means for Jesus to be inviting everyone to his "table" (with a little nostalgia, a lot of laughter, and one jawbone of a...well listen to the episode.) LOTS of links and resources today! Here they are, with a sum of the episode below: Follow Adam on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @adamnoeljones Follow Willow Stephens on Instagram @willow_stephens and on Spotify! Chec...
Mar 02, 2020•49 min
We're going over a quick summary of this latest series, then moving into some basic principles for reading the book of Revelation. PLUS, we'll answer a listener email about how to read 1 Timothy when it comes to women in the church. Oh yeah, "Ancient Aliens" and "Higglytown Heroes" get some free advertising. Help others find Bible Jazz and subscribe on Apple! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YLbRFDsJbqGEAkMuJ1E...
Feb 24, 2020•49 min
We finally get our good friend and pastor Harlan Shoop on the show! We're talking about how to read "epistles," otherwise known as letters, in the New Testament. A lot of damage has been done by irresponsible interpretation, and this is one example. Let's see if we can avoid letting Paul's letter get lost in translation. Help others find Bible Jazz and subscribe on Apple! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YLbRFD...
Feb 18, 2020•49 min
Faux fur. Robot aliens. And some of our favorite stories! It's story time in this series as Aaron brings us one of Jesus' parables. What's up with the vineyard? What do you think about how the landowner treats the latecomers? Also, we discuss a great question from a listener! Help others find Bible Jazz and subscribe on Apple! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YLbRFDsJbqGEAkMuJ1E5M Listen on Stitcher: https://ww...
Feb 11, 2020•55 min
What's one of your favorite stories? Tell us about it at uppcbiblejazz@gmail.com Would you rather ride a donkey or a giraffe? Would you rather be baptized in a river or a tub? This week we're looking at narrative again, from the New Testament -- Luke's narratives about baptism in the book of Acts. What parts were "there and then," and what aspects are for "here and now?" Help others find Bible Jazz and subscribe on Apple! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 Follo...
Feb 03, 2020•44 min
Can you smell the hush puppies? What is the Hebrew for "baldy"? What do female bears have to do with it? Experience the epitome of improvised conversation! (And don't forget to listen to the Easter egg at the end of the episode). We'll take a look at the difference between "narrative" and "normative" as we read the Hebrew scriptures (also known as the Old Testament) -- what elements of God's Word before Jesus simply tells us what happened in the past, and what elements tell us what should always...
Jan 27, 2020•48 min
Popcorn in kids' ears! A dog named Dandy! A cat named Hermeneutics! And of course, an honest look at the presuppositions we bring to the Bible, how it affects our perception and reception, and what it means for becoming more mature readers of the most prolific book in history. Follow Bible Jazz's #1 fan, Julie Judy! Instagram: @julierjudy Facebook: Julie Amster Judy Learn more about Coffee Oasis: https://thecoffeeoasis.com/tacoma/ Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-po...
Jan 20, 2020•49 min
Yes! Another listener email to UPPCBibleJazz@gmail.com You can also write us on Instagram @biblejazz! www.instagram.com/biblejazz This week: Rusty Rivets! Genealogies! Two new Bible Jazz guests! Emily and Camille join us in this improvised conversation about the Bible -- what is it, how do we approach it, what parts do we like or not like, and what does "dual nature" mean? Subscribe, rate, and review Bible Jazz at Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt...
Jan 13, 2020•47 min
$10 Wayside gift card to the 16th person to write to Bible Jazz by January 12 and share your New Year's resolutions! Write to us at uppcbiblejazz@gmail.com ! This week: The worst-ever baby card idea! Intentional discomfort! Mike's thoughts on tapioca! And of course, the best news for the whole world. Subscribe, rate, and review Bible Jazz at Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2YLbRFDsJbqGEAkMuJ1E5M Stitcher: ...
Jan 06, 2020•51 min
$10 Wayside gift card to the 16th person to write to Bible Jazz by January 5 and share your New Year's resolutions! Write to us at uppcbiblejazz@gmail.com ! This week: Christmas trivia! Used candy canes! Sorcerers and new year's resolutions! And of course Rob, Kate, Randi, and Mike look into some of the meaning of the visit of the Magi as part of the Christmas story. Subscribe, rate, and review Bible Jazz at Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uppc-podcast/id1450663729?mt=2 Spo...
Dec 30, 2019•45 min
We kick things off with MORE EMAILS from listeners about your favorite Christmas songs! Share your comments, questions, or favorite songs: Email: uppcbiblejazz@gmail.com Twitter & Instagram: @biblejazz Each week we say our conversations at Bible Jazz are "always improvised." On this special episode, Mike and his college buddy Erik share some memories as they look at the art of improv theater, its skills and principles, and how it relates to life and faith. They even do a little improv live o...
Dec 23, 2019•53 min
We got an early Christmas present this week -- EMAILS from listeners! Keep sending your favorite Christmas songs and we'll share them on an upcoming episode. Write to us at uppcbiblejazz@gmail.com , and on Twitter or Instagram @biblejazz. Robin, Aaron, and Mike get into the dangerous and challenging journey Mary and Joseph would have taken from Nazareth to Bethlehem as we try to cultivate a better understanding of their world, and deepen the meaning of Christmas in our world today. We also talk ...
Dec 16, 2019•51 min
