Episode 64 : Acts 27-28 - Survivor - Malta Jan 7, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall The last two chapters in Acts contain the details of an amazing shipwreck where all the crew and passengers are brought safely to the island of Malta. The story is better than a similar reality tv program you may have watched… and for several reasons it’s also a fitting end to Luke’s account of the Acts of the Apostles. Resources Referenced and/or Read: Yates, K. W. (2016). Military Leaders and Jonah in the Writings ...
Jan 08, 2023•32 min
Episode 61 : Acts 24-26 - Felix, Festus, and Agrippa Dec 30, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In Acts 24-26, Paul stands before three Roman backed rulers, Felix, Festus, & Agrippa II. You may have read this story not really understanding who these rulers were. If that’s you, you are not alone. Most people gloss right over these Roman sychophants. So sit back, relax, and let’s talk about the men who judged Paul before he went to Rome. Resources Referenced and/or Read: Thorpe, D. J. (2016). Anton...
Dec 31, 2022•28 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 62: Rethinking Advent Rewind December 21, 2021 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall Join Gregory Hall for a special rendition of the advent story. In this episode we'll look at some of the details from last year's advent series (episodes 28-33) and combine those details into the well-known story of the our Savior's birth. Gather your family around... turn up the volume... and let's start a new Christmas tradition as we rethink the advent story. Referenced Resources: Ch...
Dec 21, 2022•23 min
Episode 61 : Acts 22-23 - The Commissioning Formula Dec 13, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall There is a common way the biblical authors tell the story when a person is commissioned by God for a specific task. While these revelations are always unique to those who receive them, they all share a literary form found throughout the Bible and other Ancient Near Eastern literature. Luke uses this formula three times in Acts 22-23. Resources Referenced and/or Read: Hubbard, B. J. (1977). Commissioning Sto...
Dec 14, 2022•26 min
Episode 60 : Acts 20-21 - The Eutychus Syndrome Dec 1, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In Acts 20, we are introduced to Eutychus. He’s a young man who, falls asleep while listening to one of Paul’s sermons, then falls to his death from an upper story window. In this episode we ask what lessons we should learn from a story such as this. We will also figure out how to avoid the Eutychus Syndrome. Resources Referenced and/or Read: Glavic, Julie. A. (2014). Eutychus in Acts and in the Church: The Narr...
Dec 01, 2022•28 min
Episode 59 : Acts 18-19 - The Liminal Leftovers of Johnny B. November 13, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In Acts 18-19 we are introduced to a subgroup of the faithful. They are folks that knew and followed the teachings of John the Baptist. But these events occur about thirty years after the ministry of Johnny B. So just how should we understand these folks who don’t fit nicely into any of our modern-day boxes. Resources Referenced and/or Read: Carman J. Imes, Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still ...
Nov 14, 2022•32 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 58 : Acts 16-17 - What Must I Do to Be Saved? October 29, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In Acts 16-17 Paul and his traveling companions hit the road. These chapters record some of the events in his second missionary journey… and they are packed full of interesting topics. In this episode we discuss circumcision, baptism, a python spirit, and the very important question asked by a jailer, “What must I do to be saved?” Resources Referenced and/or Read: Moyer V....
Oct 29, 2022•38 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 57 : Acts 15 - Who Were Those "Appointed to Eternal Life?" October 19, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In Acts 15, a decision is made. The question on the table was how to keep peace between the different cultural expectations of those who had come to faith in Jesus. The list of action items they came up with might be a little surprising to our modern ears. But what’s really interesting… is something that didn’t make the list at all. Resources Referenced and/or...
Oct 19, 2022•26 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 56: Acts 13-14 - Who Were Those "Appointed to Eternal Life?" September 28, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall *10-12-23 Note - The original release of this episode had some minor production errors. Those have been corrected and the new version is available for download. There are many ideas about how people get "saved." Is God in control of the whole process, or do people have some say in what they believe. There’s a story in Acts 13-14 that some think speaks to t...
Oct 09, 2022•34 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 55: Acts 12 - The Logos and the Mythos September 28, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In ancient times stories used two general concepts, logos and mythos, to convey meaning to their readers. It’s true of stories outside the Bible, but it’s also true of the stories we find within the Bible as well. In this episode we look further into the ancient understanding of logos and mythos and how they are presented in Acts 12. Resources Referenced and/or Read: The All-Am...
Sep 28, 2022•30 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 54: Acts 10-11 - The Gentile Pentecost September 9, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall When we read Acts 10, we often make Cornelius the focus of the chapter. But a careful reading of the text suggests that Peter is really the dynamic character with the most movement. Could it be that Peter was also given a gift of the Holy Spirit the day the Gentiles spoke in tongues? Resources Referenced and/or Read: Witherington, B., III. (1998). The Acts of the Apostles: a soc...
Sep 10, 2022•34 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 53: Acts 9 - What Exactly Happened on the Way to Damascus? August 27, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall Acts 9 is where we find the story of Saul’s conversion. But you may be surprised to discover that’s not the only place this story is found. Luke included two other versions of the story later in Acts, and each episode adds important details not found in chapter nine. In this episode we gather all the details together and try to figure out what exactly happened ...
Aug 27, 2022•30 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 52: Acts 8 - The Samaritans August 20, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In Acts 8, Philip made his way to Samaria to tell them the story of the Christ. This was significant for a number of reasons, but mostly because the Samaritans and the Jews didn’t normally associate with one another. You may already know that, but today we will examine more closely how and why these two groups came to be at odds. Resources Referenced and/or Read: Deppe, D. B. (2011). All Roa...
Aug 20, 2022•34 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 51: Acts 7 - The Gospel in the Story of Stephen August 9, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In Acts 7, Stephen becomes the first of the "Christ-Followers" to be killed for his faith. And right before he dies he gives a long sermon that most readers just skip right over… because they think it’s not relevant. But for some reason, Luke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, thought the details of this chapter important enough to include. Today, we’ll look at how ...
Aug 09, 2022•23 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 50: Acts 6 - Living Sacrifices July 25, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In act 6, we read about a problem in the early days of the church. Some widows in the church were being overlooked by other church members. And it turns out it was an ethnic issue. The locals weren’t getting along with those from out of town. In this episode we’ll look a little deeper into the problem and try to connect their solution back to a story in the book of numbers. Resources Refere...
Jul 26, 2022•31 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 49: Acts 5 - The Fate of Ananias and Sapphira July 10, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall There are a few times in Scripture where God hands down a death sentence for what we might otherwise consider a somewhat minor infraction. You might view the story of Ananias and Sapphira, in Acts 5, as one such story. Did they really have to die for what they did? But what if a careful theological investigation of this double death turned up a whole new perspective on what h...
Jul 10, 2022•25 min
Friends, lend me your ears. No really… I need your ears! Would you be willing to be an Audiobook Beta Listener? My Rethinking Rest book is scheduled for release on Jan 19, 2023, and I’ve decided to record the audiobook myself! Needless to say… I’ve never done this before. But I’ve started the process and I’m needing some feedback. That’s where you can help! I’ve uploaded this excerpt from the first chapter of the Rethinking Rest audiobook . I’d love it if you would be willing to give it a listen...
Jun 30, 2022•21 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 47: Acts 2-4 - Should We Be Counting Converts? June 24, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall Counting converts has become a common practice within modern church culture. But who are we counting? And why such a focus on the numbers. It may be partly due to the events recorded in Acts chapters 2-4, and today we’ll look a little more closely at the numbers Luke recorded to see if he was counting converts, and telling us to do the same. Referenced Resources: Rethinking ...
Jun 25, 2022•33 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast Episode 46: Acts 2 - What Just Happened? June 6, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall I recoded this episode on Pentecost Sunday. I was in "The Upper Room" (my recording studio) and covered the "what" of Acts chapter 2. What exactly happened on that Pentecost Sunday in Acts 2? And what relationship does that event have with Paul’s description of the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14? This is unlike any other "tongues" podcast you've ever heard! Referenced Resources: Ep...
Jun 07, 2022•44 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 45: The Homes and Help Initiative June 1, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In the regular episodes, we are making our way through the book of Acts. We’ll get back to that study in the next episode. But this is a bonus episode where I take a little time to introduce you to something I’ve been working on behind the scenes, The Homes and Help Initiative. And don't worry... I'm not asking for any money! Referenced Resources: More information about The Homes and He...
Jun 01, 2022•10 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 44: Acts 2 - The Day of Pentecost May 18, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall There’s possibly no passage in Scripture that is more hotly debated than Acts chapter 2. Arguments abound over who, what, where, how, and why. In fact, just about the only thing people agree on is the when of this passage. These events happened when the day of Pentecost had come. And today we’ll try and sort out the passage and bring clarity to these momentous events. Referenced Resourc...
May 30, 2022•27 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 43: Acts 1 - You're Going the Wrong Way! May 18, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall Several things occur in Acts chapter 1 that set up the well known events of the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. But don’t make the mistake of assuming that the content of this chapter is only an ellipse... or a placeholder with its only purpose to get to the story further down the road. Acts chapter 1 includes the often neglected account of Jesus’ ascension into the heavens. Referenc...
May 19, 2022•29 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 42: Introduction to the book of Acts May 8, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall The book of Acts is the story of how the witness of Jesus the messiah made it’s way from Jerusalem to the remotest parts of the earth. But we would be deficient if we just read these individual stories as disconnected events. Luke, the author, has organized these episodes so there are hidden treasures throughout the narrative. Referenced Resources: Rethinking Rest Website: https://ret...
May 09, 2022•29 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 41: The Rethinking Conversion Project April 25, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall In today’s church culture, someone’s conversion is surrounded by certain expectations. Conversion is often understood as a “personal decision for Christ” that happens at a church alter, or maybe an outreach event. And when that decision is memorialized by some rendition of the “sinner’s prayer”, only then is it considered official. But what if our modern understanding of conversio...
Apr 25, 2022•34 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 40: The Rethinking Babel Project - Part 3 April 6, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall Today we go further down the theological rabbit hole of Babel theology… we’ve arrived at the Gift of Tongues. There is maybe not a more divisive topic in the church today… and unfortunately I’ll not going to be able to clear up all the confusion around the gift that was originally given to eliminate confusion. How ironic is that? That this particular gift would cause confusion....
Apr 07, 2022•49 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 39: The Rethinking Babel Project - Part 2 March 29, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall Biblically speaking, the confusion of our languages and, in turn, humanities general inability to communicate effectively with each other, is a practical expression and a tangible reminder of rebellion against God’s authority. Humanity once communicated with each other, and with God, with no confusion using one language. But then rebellion happened and everything changed. What...
Mar 30, 2022•26 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 38: The Rethinking Babel Project March 15, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall Some people think of the first eleven chapters of Genesis as only a prologue or filler to get to the story of Abraham. But it’s in those chapters where key the theme of rebellion is first introduced. In the beginning chapters of Genesis we are also introduced to the idea of exile. These themes culminate in one short story in chapter eleven. It’s about a tower reaching into the heavens ...
Mar 15, 2022•35 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 37: The Rethinking Eden Project February 28, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall There is nothing more theologically foundational than the events that happen in the garden of Eden. It’s in this garden that we are introduced to Adam and Eve, the serpent, and the biblical concept of exile. The garden contains a mighty river of life, and the tree of life. And with all these concepts together in one place, Its seems like a story that’s ready for rethinking. Show Musi...
Feb 28, 2022•35 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 36: The Rethinking Rest Project February 21, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall Rest. We talk about it a lot, but it seems so elusive. Even when you get some rest… it seems like that refreshment just doesn’t last very long. But would you be surprised if I told you that there is a fully-developed theology of rest within the pages of Scripture? And it’s not what you’re thinking... because biblical rest is so much more than just a one-day-a-week shadow of better da...
Feb 22, 2022•31 min
Rethinking Scripture Podcast - Episode 35: Intro to the Rethinking Scripture Projects January 31, 2022 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall You’ve heard someone say that everyone’s got a book in them. What would your book be titled if you wrote one? I’ve outlined several projects that I’ve been working on for years. These are biblical topics and themes that have captured my theological attention and engaged my mind for decades. Over the next few episodes, I’d like to introduce you to the Rethinking Scriptur...
Jan 31, 2022•18 min
