This week, Josh and Marty spend some time reflecting together on the topic of racism. We both have been doing a lot of listening and learning from people of color during these crazy times. One thing we have been told a lot is that white people need to start having these conversations amongst ourselves. This is an attempt to do just that. Josh and Marty reflect and share some of their thoughts on everything that has been going on. Is it perfect? Probably not... do we have it all figure out... NO!...
Jun 10, 2020•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 81
Story is a powerful thing. This week Josh & Marty were joined by 3 friends of theirs for an important conversation. Christine, Keith, and Ronny have something in common... they are all Black Pastors in predominately White Spaces. With this comes tension. Again, story is powerful and important and the story of these 3 individuals need to be heard. Please join us in (re)thinking racism. Enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jun 03, 2020•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 80
We've all seen the news stories and heard the rumors. Maybe you have been hurt by a narcissistic church leader. It's easy to throw the term around and diagnose others from afar. But what is narcissism, really? And how does it infiltrate the church? This week, Chuck DeGroat joins the conversation. Chuck has been counseling pastors with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, as well as those wounded by narcissistic leaders and systems, for over twenty years. He knows firsthand the devastation narcissi...
May 27, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 79
This week Drew Hart joined the conversation to help us (re)think how the church views racism. In this deep and challenging episode, Drew helps us to see the racial hierarchy of not only our world, but also in the Church. He contends that racism is not just a sociological but also a theological issue as well. Will you join us in (re)thinking how we view racism? Enjoy. RESOURCES: Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism (Book) Drews Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
May 20, 2020•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 78
This is the 3rd and final episode in our mini-series on atonement. This week we were joined by Dr. Tony Jones to discuss the atonement ideas he put forth in his book, "Did God Kill Jesus?" A lot of Christians believe that God the Father demanded his only Son die a cruel, gruesome death to appease His wrath, since humanity is so irredeemably sinful and therefore repugnant to God. Tony Jones, argues that this understanding is actually a medieval invention and not what the Bible really teaches. Chr...
May 13, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 77
This week we are joined by Josh McNall for part 2 of our Atonement series. Josh recently released a new book called "The Mosaic of Atonement". Modern debates of this doctrine have tended toward either a defensive hierarchy, (one model is singled out as most important), or a disconnected plurality, (multiple images are affirmed but with no order of arrangement). McNall pushes back against both of these approaches and argues for a reintegration of four famous "pieces" of atonement doctrine through...
May 06, 2020•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 76
This week we are kicking off our 4 Part mini-series on the Atonement. During this series, we will be approaching the atonement from a variety of angles and perspectives. For part one, we were joined by JD Myers. We discussed some of his ideas from his book, "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus". Enjoy! Resources: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus: How the Sacrifice of Jesus Saves the World From Sin (Book) The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Compassion, and Interpretation (Book) RedeemingGod.com L...
Apr 29, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 75
This week we are joined by rapper Nehemiah. Nehemiah has heard the 9 and seen the grind of the crime trap... but the good news is that he survived that! We had an awesome conversation detailing some of the songs of off Nehemiah's latest album, "Survivor". Nehemiah speaks truth and shares his story in his music... we were lucky enough for him to share some of his story with us this week. Enjoy! Resources: NehemiahBuildingBlock.com I Survived That - Music Video Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
Apr 22, 2020•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 74
Of the world’s three major religions, only Christianity holds to a doctrine of original sin. The fact that many Christians believe there is something in human nature that is, and will always be, contrary to God, is not just a problem but a tragedy. This week, Danielle Shroyer joined the conversation to help us (re)think the doctrine of Original Sin. Why does the doctrine’s assumptions of human nature so infiltrate our sermons and theological bookshelves? How is it so misconstrued in times of gri...
Apr 15, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 73
We are for sure in a crazy time amongst the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are claiming that God is behind COVID-19... Many believe that COVID-19 is the wrath of God or in some way a test or judgment from God. Many are calling forth biblical prophecies and making claims about the end times. So what up with COVID-19? Is this the wrath of God? Are we living in the end times? This week we are joined once again by New Testament Scholar, and Revelation expert Dr. Rob Dalrymple. Rob unpacks these ques...
Apr 08, 2020•58 min•Ep. 72
We all carry sexual shame to some extent. Whether you grew up in the midst of purity culture or not, all of us have been taught that sex, outside of a very specific context, is taboo. This week, Psychotherapist Matthais Roberts joins the conversation to help us rethink what it means to have healthy sex, helping us to overcome our shame in the process. Roberts is a licensed mental health counselor associate and the host of Queerology: A Podcast on Belief and Being. He holds two master's degrees, ...
Apr 01, 2020•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 71
This week, Meggie Lee Calvin joined us to discuss some of the ideas from her latest book, 'I Am My Own Sanctuary'. Meg is gifted at helping spiritually-attuned go-getters heal past wounds and reclaim their personal power so that they can have a life they love. In this fun, humorous, helpful and sometimes irreverent episode, Meg shares with us some of her helpful ideas to aid us in spiritual, emotional and personal growth. Enjoy! RESOURCES: I Am My Own Sanctuary: How A Recovering Holy-Roller Foun...
Mar 25, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 70
What does it mean to say that the Bible is inspired? Conservative scholars and pastors have struggled for years to prove that the Bible is without errors... our guest this week thinks this is a fool's errand. This week, Dr. Greg Boyd joins the conversation to help us rethink what it means to say the Bible is inspired. What if God inspired the Bible's contradictions to function as assets and not problems? Perhaps we should embrace the mistakes and contradictions in Scripture, because they show th...
Mar 18, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 69
This week Dr. Eric Seibert joins the conversation to discuss divine violence. It's no secret that one can find some troubling images of God in the Old Testament. It is also no secret that the Old Testament has a troubling legacy to many. So... Did God really command the complete genocide of men, women, children and animals in the Old Testament? For 2,000 years Bible Scholars and Theologians have wrestled with the violent images of God and the seeming sharp contrast between those images and the i...
Mar 11, 2020•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 68
Does God really plan everything that happens? Bonnie Kristian returns to the podcast, this time to discuss God's providence and foreknowledge. Does God choose everything that happens? Does God choose who will be saved and who will be damned? Does God know the future? Is there even a future to be known? Kristian breaks down 4 different positions regarding these kinds of questions including Calvinism, Molinism, Arminianism and Open Theism. Enjoy RESOURCES: A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What it Mean...
Mar 04, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 67
The idea of hell has haunted many dreams and disturbed much sleep. Many wonder at the justice (or injustice) of it all, feeling confounded by a God who deems it necessary to send the majority of humanity to burn there forever. This week, Sharon Putt (Formerly Sharon Baker) joins the show and offers a safe space to contemplate tough issues and rethink traditional views of hell. Enjoy. RESOURCES: Razing Hell: Rethinking Everything You've Been Taught about God's Wrath and Judgement (book) Executing...
Feb 26, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 66
This week, Aimee Byrd joins the conversation calling us to rethink 'biblical' manhood and womanhood. Do men and women benefit equally from reading the Bible? Are they equally responsible for sharpening one another and passing down the faith to the next generation? Aimee contends that until both men and women grow in their understanding of their relationship to the Bible, there will continue to be tension between the sexes in the church. Church leaders must be engaged in thoughtful critique of th...
Feb 19, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 65
The religious Right has taught America to misread the Bible. Christians have misused Scripture to build power, provoke fear, and defend against enemies. But those who have been hurt by the attacks of Christian nationalism can help us rediscover God's vision for faith in public life. This week Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove joins the conversation to help us rethink our political values and understanding of scripture. Wilson-Hartgrove shows us how religious culture wars have misrepresented Christianity...
Feb 12, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 64
*Content Warning* (This episode contains conversations around heavy topics including sexual abuse and assault. If you have small children around, please be advised. Also, if you are a survivor and this episode brings up past memories please seek help. We stand with and for survivors of sexual abuse and assault.) The #MeToo movement has revealed sexual abuse and assault in every sphere of society... including the Church. Far too often, churches have been complicit in protecting abusers, reinforci...
Feb 05, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 63
This week, Josh and Marty were joined by WM. Curtis Holtzen (DTh, University of South Africa). Holtlzen joined the boys to discuss the ideas in his latest book, 'The God Who Trusts: A Relational Theology of Divine Faith, Hope, and Love." The Bible affirms the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God. But might God also exhibit faith and trust? Standing in tradition with theologians like John Sanders, who argued that God is one who risks, Holtzen contends that not only is God trustworthy and faith...
Jan 29, 2020•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 62
The book of Revelation is perhaps the most misunderstood and abused book in the Bible. Is Revelation a prophetic warning about the end of the world? Is Revelation teaching us about Armageddon? Is the rapture really a thing? What the heck is eschatology? Why does any of this matter? This week, Josh and Marty were joined by Revelation scholar, Dr. Rob Dalrymple. Rob shines some light onto the book of Revelation. He breaks down the overall narrative and message of Revelation (hint: it's about Jesus...
Jan 22, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 61
Saying no to God... is that even a thing? Matthew J. Korpman sure thinks so! He joins Josh this week for a conversation about his latest book 'Saying No To God: A Radical Approach to Reading the Bible Faithfully'. Korpman proposes that the Bible itself reveals that just because 'God says it,' does not, in fact, mean 'that settles it.' Instead, a closer reading of scripture shows that God does not want us to just blindly obey him, but rather, invites us to 'lock hands' with him. Could it be that ...
Jan 15, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 60
This week, Josh and Marty discuss the name change and the things that have lead up to it. They discuss why they believe that change is important and necessary. Marty and Josh both share how they have been rethinking their own faiths, and talk about what is ahead for the show here in 2020... spoiler alert... it's going to be dope! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 08, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 59
Hey everybody, this is just a brief announcement about our recent name change and what to look forward to in 2020. Don't worry... it will still be the same great podcast... just a new name :) Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 03, 2020•19 min•Ep. 58
This week, Keith Giles joins the conversation and asks... What if the Bible is actually keeping us from hearing the word of God? Keith believes that many Christians, think the Bible is the only way to know anything about God. But according to that same Bible, everybody can know God directly through an actual relationship with Jesus. Keith has an urgent call for the followers of Jesus to know Him intimately because the Gospel is not mere information about God, but a transformational experience wi...
Dec 18, 2019•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 57
So all theology is contextual... Our theology is shaped by our context and our environment would be another way to say it. Brian McLaren recently went on a trip he will never forget... a trip to the Galapagos Islands. There, he paid close attention to everything around him but also to what was happening within his heart. The good and beautiful natural world awakened his soul in a way that organized religion could not. During this trip, Brian kept a journal, and recently released a new book, a sp...
Dec 11, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 56
This week, Dr. Matthew Bates joined the conversation to discuss his latest book, 'Gospel Allegiance: What Faith in Jesus Misses for Salvation in Christ.' The truth is... we are missing pieces of the gospel. Now, the biblical gospel can never change... Yet our understanding of the gospel must change! The church needs an allegiance shift. Tons of popular pastoral resources on the gospel are causing widespread confusion. Bates shows that the biblical gospel is different, fuller, and more beautiful ...
Dec 05, 2019•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 55
This week, the boys are joined by Brad Jersak. Brad joined the show to discuss one of his latest books, 'A More Christlike Way'. Brad is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC. He serves as a reader and monastery preacher at All Saints of North America Orthodox Monastery. Through his books and seminars, Brad shares the good news that God is Love, perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. He teaches others how to encounter God through the practice of ”listening prayer,” through which God’s love ...
Nov 23, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 54
This week Josh & Marty were joined by Dr. Jace Broadhurst. Dr. Broadhurst has a PhD in Hermeneutics with a concentration in Old Testament Torah. He came on to discuss the idea of doubt in faith, and the role it has played in his life. You won't want to miss this one! Check it out. Resources on Doubt: The Sin of Certainty (Book) The Certainty of Uncertainty (Book) Benefit of the Doubt (Book) Insurrection (Book) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 13, 2019•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 53
This week, popular author and sought-after speaker Sarah Bessey joins Josh and Marty to discuss her latest book, 'Miracles and Other Reasonable Things: A Story of Unlearning and Relearning God'. This book is a deeply moving and life-affirming account of wrestling with God and finding miracles in the most unexpected places. Sarah opens herself in a very vulnerable way as she wrestles with pain and loss. Join us in unbecoming and rebecoming people of faith. RESOURCES: https://sarahbessey.com/ (web...
Nov 04, 2019•55 min•Ep. 52
