Are there two creation stories in Genesis? How do Genesis 1 and 2 fit together and into the rest of the biblical story? In this episode, Tim and Jon explore these questions and the theme of water in the opening chapters of the Bible. Yahweh’s transformation of the chaos waters into waters of life set the stage for his calling upon his people and an important theme that will carry us from Genesis to Revelation. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-9:20) Part two (9:2...
Jun 07, 2021•40 min•Ep. 253
The biblical authors often use creation imagery that clearly didn’t come from Genesis 1. Did they borrow from the creation accounts of other cultures? In this episode, join Tim and Jon for a deep dive into Genesis 1:1-2 and discover its similarity to other ancient cosmologies, plus one key difference: Yahweh is infinitely greater than all other gods. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-9:00) Part two (9:00-26:00) Part three (26:00-40:00) Part four (40:00-50:00) Par...
May 31, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 252
What is existence? What existed before humans did? Ancient people groups asked the same questions we do today, with totally different answers. In this episode, Tim and Jon survey the cosmologies of Israel’s neighbors, ancient Egypt, Canaan, and Babylon––people groups the biblical authors shared more in common with than modern readers––to shed light on the Bible’s creation account. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0-6:30) Part two (6:30-19:00) Part three (19:00-39:30)...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 251
What does the Bible really say about the origins of the universe? The biblical authors had a completely different framework for this question than we do. When we expect the Bible to settle our debates, we close ourselves off from understanding the text as they intended it. In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they kick off a new series on Genesis 1-3, beginning with a look at ancient cosmologies. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-8:15) Part two (8:15-12:30) Part ...
May 17, 2021•35 min•Ep. 250
Who was at the beginning of the cosmos with God? God’s Spirit? God’s word? Or Lady Wisdom? Rich with creation narrative ties, the book of Proverbs contains important insights for how we understand God’s relationship to his creation and who Jesus is. Join Tim, Jon, and Carissa as they explore Proverbs 8. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-8:30) Part two (8:30-21:00) Part three (21:00-36:00) Part four (36:00-52:00) Part five (52:00-end) Referenced Resources Interest...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 249
Of all the people in the Hebrew Bible, why is Melchizedek so crucial for understanding Jesus? In this episode, join Tim, Jon, and special guest Dr. Josh Mathews as they take a deep dive into the Old Testament, the book of Hebrews, and the life of the mysterious priest-king Melchizedek in relationship to the ultimate priest-king, Jesus. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-15:30) Part two (15:30-24:00) Part three (24:00-31:30) Part four (31:30-41:00) Part five (41:00...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 248
Jesus is our priest, our atoning sacrifice––and our brother? In this episode, join Tim, Jon, and special guest the Rev. Amy Peeler, Ph.D., as they discuss the book of Hebrews and how the many characteristics of God found in this epistle set him apart as wholly other and also form our identities as his followers. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-13:15) Part two (13:15-28:20) Part three (28:20-38:30) Part four (38:30-51:30) Part five (51:30-end) Referenced Resourc...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 247
Thanks to our audience for all your incredible questions! In this week’s episode, we tackle questions like: How could God break his covenant with the tribe of Levi? What’s the connection between the forehead markings of priests and followers of the beast? And why did offering his own sacrifice cost Saul his kingship? Listen in to hear the team answer your questions. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps What’s the Connection Between Israel’s Priests and Modern Church Leaders? (1:04...
Apr 19, 2021•46 min•Ep. 246
After Jesus’ disciples receive the Holy Spirit, they become God’s temple and the physical embodiment of Jesus on earth. This has huge implications for our understanding of what it means to be the church today and live in unity. Dive into this discussion with Tim and Jon as they unpack what it means for followers of Jesus to be the royal priesthood, now and in eternity. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-6:56) Part two (6:56-16:13) Part three (16:13-31:55) Part fou...
Apr 12, 2021•51 min•Ep. 245
What does it mean for Jesus to be humanity’s cosmic priest? It means he intercedes on behalf of humanity––and so much more! Through Jesus, God has forever included humanity into his own self. In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they discuss Jesus’ ascension and the eternal union of heaven and earth. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-18:30) Part two (18:30-23:00) Part three (23:00-31:00) Part four (31:00-43:00) Part five (43:00-end) Show Music “Defender (Instrume...
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 244
Why were the Levitical priests always getting mad at Jesus? Jesus identified himself as another of God’s anointed priests––except he came in his own authority. In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss how Jesus fulfills Moses’ prophet-priest role and the priest-king role we saw in David. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-12:00) Part two (12:00-21:30) Part three (21:30-34:00) Part four (34:00-45:30) Part five (45:30-end) Show Music “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS C...
Mar 29, 2021•57 min•Ep. 243
What will God do with the continually failing Levitical priesthood? God announces that he will elect his own faithful priest from a household that can be counted on. In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they follow the royal priesthood all the way to David, anointed priest-king of Jerusalem, fulfillment of Melchizedek’s role, and foreshadowing of the coming priest-king Jesus. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–14:30) Part two (14:30–28:00) Part three (28:00–36:30)...
Mar 22, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 242
The origins of Israel’s royal priesthood are anything but glamorous. From Moses rejecting God five times to Aaron creating an idol while God is instructing Moses about priests, the Levitical priesthood seems doomed from the start. In this episode, discover just how important the failed priesthood is to the story of the Bible. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-15:00) Part two (15:00-24:00) Part three (24:00-35:00) Part four (35:00-end) Show Music “Defender (Instru...
Mar 15, 2021•49 min•Ep. 241
What do Abraham, Melchizedek, and David all have in common? They’re part of the unfolding theme of the royal priesthood in the Bible. In this week’s episode, join Tim and Jon as they explore how this theme is part of humanity’s quest to get back to the blessings of Eden. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–11:30) Part two (11:30–18:45) Part three (18:45–25:00) Part four (25:00–31:30) Part five (31:30–end) Show Music “Defender Instrumental” by Tents “We Must Believe...
Mar 08, 2021•44 min•Ep. 240
In the story of the Bible, all the main players are prophets, priests, or kings. While it might seem foreign to us today, those three roles are intimately connected to what it means to be people created in the image of God. Join Tim and Jon for the first episode of a new series on the royal priesthood! View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–19:00) Part two (19:00–29:00) Part three (29:00–34:30) Part four (34:30–50:00) Part five (50:00–end) Mentioned Resources S. Dean ...
Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 239
A coming king and a bunch of crying babies? Psalm 8 can seem kind of confusing. But when we look closer and understand its context, we can see that it’s actually a beautiful meditation on the image of God. Join Tim, Jon, and Carissa as they discuss this important poem. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (00:00-10:45) Part two (10:45-26:45) Part three (26:45-46:30) Part four (46:30-54:30) Part five (54:30-end) Show Music “Defender Instrumental” by Tents “Psalm 8” by Poor...
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 238
How can the book of Ephesians contribute to conversations surrounding modern race and justice issues? Tim and Jon interview New Testament scholar Andrew Rillera and discuss Ephesians 2 and the unified, diverse family of God. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one: (0:00–11:00) Part two: (11:00–19:45) Part three: (19:45–30:00) Part four: (30:00–43:30) Part five: (43:30–55:00) Part six: (55:00–61:15) Part seven: (61:15–64:30) Part eight: (64:30–end) Mentioned Resources Presto...
Feb 15, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 237
From biblical deconstruction to the responsibility of Jesus followers in government and social justice, we’re looking at what the Bible has to say about some of society’s biggest questions today. Join Tim and Jon as they interview New Testament scholar Esau McCaulley, author of Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope . View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00-13:00) Part two (13:00-26:30) Part three (26:30-33:30) Part four (3...
Feb 08, 2021•52 min•Ep. 236
Thank you to our audience for your incredible questions. In this week’s episode, we tackle questions like, did Adam represent a male human? Where did Cain’s wife come from? And what is the relationship of the Church to Israel? Listen in to hear the team answer your questions. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps How Could There Be Descendants of Cain After the Flood? (0:50) Where Did Cain’s Wife Come From? (13:25) Was Adam Male? (19:35) Was the Promised Land Conquest a Case of Sib...
Feb 01, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 235
God’s plan has always been to bring all of humanity into one diverse and connected family. Jesus carried forward this mission in his teachings, calling God’s people to look past societal divisions and be unified in him. Join Tim and Jon in this week’s podcast episode as they look at the theme of unity in the New Testament. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–9:20) Part two (9:20–23:30) Part three (23:30–34:00) Part four (34:00–39:00) Part five (39:00–59:00) Part si...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 234
In the book of Romans, Paul talks about humanity being justified by faith, but what does this have to do with the family of God? In this episode, Tim and Jon look at Paul’s letter to the Romans and unpack what it looks like to unify a diverse group of people into one family. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–26:00) Part two (26:00–29:00) Part three (29:00–37:30) Part four (37:30–53:20) Part five (53:20–end) Show Music “Defender Instrumental” by Tents “Loving Some...
Jan 18, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 233
God wants people from all nations to be a part of his family, but Jesus’ mission was focused on Israel. So how did the Gospel message move out from Israel to the rest of the world? Join Tim and Jon as they unpack the arrival of the Spirit and Jesus’ commissioning of his disciples. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–15:30) Part two (15:30–28:30) Part three (28:30–35:50) Part four (35:50–end) Show Music “Defender Instrumental” by Tents Music by Chilldrone “Anecdotes...
Jan 11, 2021•52 min•Ep. 232
Who did Jesus come for? Throughout the Gospel accounts, Jesus is laser-focused on Israel. Yet his ministry and even his family tree include many non-Israelite people. In this week’s episode, join Tim and Jon for a look at the family of God in the life of Jesus. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–11:00) Part two (11:00–24:30) Part three (24:30–32:15) Part four (32:15–40:15) Part five (40:15–48:00) Part six (48:00–end) Mentioned Resources Richard Bauckham, Gospel Wo...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 231
In this special year-end episode, Tim and Jon reflect on 2020, share stories from our listeners, and look ahead to exciting projects coming out in 2021. Thanks for being a part of this with us! Series mentioned in this episode: Apocalyptic Literature Tree of Life Exile 7th Day Rest - Sabbath Generosity Timestamps Part 1 (0:00–20:00) Part 2 (20:00–end) Show Music “Clap Cotton” by Vinho Verde “Defender (Instrumental)” by Tents Show produced by Dan Gummel. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Powered and ...
Dec 28, 2020•33 min•Ep. 230
Why do God’s chosen people have just as many moral failings as anyone else in the Bible? In this week’s episode, Tim and Jon take a look at ancient sibling rivalries, divine election, and God’s determination to form a covenant people that will one day embrace and include all nations. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–9:20) Part two (9:20–19:40) Part three (19:40–40:00) Part four (40:00–end) Show Music “Defender Instrumental” by Tents Show produced by Dan Gummel. ...
Dec 21, 2020•57 min•Ep. 229
What does divine election have to do with God’s blessing for all nations? In this week’s episode, we’re picking up the story of the family of God with Genesis 12-17, God’s calling of Abraham. Join Tim and Jon to see how God responds to Abraham and Sarah’s bad choices and turns them into something good for all people. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–17:50) Part two (17:50–30:00) Part three (30:00–40:00) Part four (40:00–56:30) Part five (56:30–end) Show Music “S...
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 228
What was so bad about the Tower of Babel? In this episode, Tim and Jon examine the cycle of division within the human race in Genesis 1-11, the violence that occurs when humans unite apart from God, and God’s plan to use one family to redeem all families in the end. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part 1 (0:00–16:00) Part 2 (16:00–29:30) Part 3 (29:30–35:00) Part 4 (35:00–46:00) Part 5 (46:00–end) Show Music “Defender Instrumental” by Tents “The Size of Grace” by Beautiful Eu...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 227
What is God’s picture of an ideal humanity? In this podcast episode, Tim and Jon look at Genesis 1-2 and talk about how God makes one humanity, divides them, and purposes for them to be one again. And this oneness that God brings doesn’t erase personal and cultural differences; rather, it completes them. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–7:30) Part two (7:30–37:30) Part three (37:30–49:15) Part four (49:15–end) Show Music “Movement” by Felty “Day and Night” by Ai...
Nov 30, 2020•56 min•Ep. 226
Jesus unites his followers across cultural and ethnic lines as members of his global family. But that doesn’t mean cultural differences disappear. In fact, Jesus resurrects and glorifies what is unique and beautiful about every culture. In this episode, listen in as Tim and Jon discuss what it means to be part of the family of God. View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Part one (0:00–22:30) Part two (22:30–32:00) Part three (32:00–43:15) Part four (43:15–end) Additional Resources P...
Nov 23, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 225
Sometimes the Bible seems to contradict itself––God is slow to anger, except for the times he appears to get mad quickly. The biblical authors don’t give us a systematic explanation, but they invite us to wrestle through our deepest questions and encounter a clearer, more nuanced picture of God. Learn more as Tim, Jon, and Carissa respond to your questions! View full show notes from this episode → Timestamps Is God’s wrath passive? (02:00) Does God punish innocent people? (22:40) Why does Psalm ...
Nov 16, 2020•59 min•Ep. 224
