While Revelation contains many passages that, on the surface, seem terrifying, toward the end, John narrates a calming, almost safe story of a New Jerusalem descending from heaven. It's a relatively well-known passage often referenced when considering what the end times may be like. So, Jonathan and Seth try to hear it anew. Despite their best effo…

The theme of exile runs throughout the Hebrew Bible. While it's sometimes more explicit than others, scholars have argued that even when exile does not prominently appear, it was the lens ancient readers used to interpret the text. So, Jonathan and Seth talk about exile. They discuss its effect on ordinary people's lives, the deep longing it causes…

Hurricanes have been in the news lately. The cleanup will take months, and a sense of normalcy in some places may take years if it is possible at all. Meanwhile, the psalmist declares that the natural world is so stunning and masterfully designed that it points toward God. How do we make sense of these claims in light of these recent natural disast…

We have a lot of stuff. Compared to most of the world, those capable of listening to podcasts are doing quite well. We often, however, do not think of ourselves as wealthy. After all, some are much more affluent than us. We don't have private planes, yachts, or entourages. So, how do we read Jesus' remark, "Go, sell what you own, and give the money…

CW: discussions of abuse, painful marriages, and scripture that people have used to trap women in harmful situations While our episodes often touch on serious topics, this one deserves the content warning above. We mention these potentially triggering topics, but they're not most of the episode. Instead of trying to wrestle with texts about marriag…

Lately, there has been a lot of coverage in the news about political factions. But factions appear more than just in the political sphere. Churches, of course, can develop them too. They're equally insidious and difficult to deal with in civic, and public life. So, Jonathan and Seth talk about how these divisions take place. They start small this w…

One of the defining characteristics of the Psalms is that they have little historical context. Dating them is incredibly tricky. Scholars often rely on how language develops as much as they do historical artifacts. Because of this limited historical data, they're endlessly applicable; it's why they resonate today. Jonathan and Seth discuss Psalm 1,…

We use our tongues a lot. We use them to swallow, speak, and help us chew food. They're the strongest muscle in the human body relative to its size. It likewise, has an outsized impact on our lives. The words it forms can edify or eviscerate. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss words and speech this week based on James' comment that "the tongue is a smal…

Everyone has a name. One can change their name, use a nickname, like or dislike it, but they have a name. What does it mean to have a "good name"? And how do we develop one or protect it? Jonathan and Seth discuss names and reputations this week. They talk about how creating a lasting reputation may take a long time. And what do names have to do wi…

What is purity? What makes someone pure? How is it maintained and how is it restored? In this week's Gospel text, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees asking questions about the practice of ritual handwashing that they do to ensure purity. Jesus responds that "nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are wh…

Families often shape one's faith. Frankly, that can be both positive and negative. Families can pass down unhelpful, harmful theologies. They can also spur someone to ask questions. As a mom recently told Seth, her son asked, "If Jesus breathing on someone can give them the Holy Spirit, can he also fart on them?" On a more serious note, Jonathan an…

The Bible is packed with "wisdom literature." It's most often associated with books from the Hebrew Bible, but some scholars have argued that James and portions of Ephesians fall under the umbrella of "wisdom literature" too. So, what is it? Does Jesus produce wisdom literature? What happens if we apply the lens we ordinarily use for wisdom literat…

One of Seth's life rules is that we should always be wary when people want fewer ethics. Codes of ethics are also in the news, as President Biden proposes a binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court. In Ephesians, Paul lays out some rules for the community to follow. Could this be a source of ethics in the modern world? Could it, at least, be a …

This episode's text immediately follows last week's text about David raping Bathsheba. Because of that, this episode may also be triggering for some. Like last week, feel free to skip this episode and join us next week when we return to discussing the appointed gospel text. David is now forced to live with the consequences of his actions. Even his …

Content Warning: This episode discusses David raping Bathsheba. We understand that may be triggering and we hope you’ll tune in next week. King David has a lot of power. He’s “the guy” to lead Israel. His military conquests are legendary. His kingdom is as big as Israel will ever be. He uses that power, however, to control and rape Bathsheba. In th…

Some of the most important jobs are dirty, tiring, and overlooked. Such was the life of a shepherd in first-century Palestine. With countless sheep to watch and threats to assess, there were no showers or Dr. Scholl's orthotics for support during long days on their feet. In this episode, Jonathan and Seth revisit the concept of shepherds, drawing p…

The Church and secular governments have a storied history, occasionally acting as coconspirators in plans to concentrate power among a few and sometimes being deeply adversarial. There's also the enduring challenge of untangling the Church from the government after they become "roommates". To make it more complex, opposite trends have simultaneousl…

Boasting can make both friends and enemies. With the right amount of boasting, one can bolster other's opinions of them. Too much, the boast-er is seen as arrogant, rude, or haughty. Paul, rather, "boast[s] all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Cor. 12.9). What does boating in weakness look like? What…

There is much to lament if one looks around; there are also many reasons for hope. How are our laments and our hopes intertwined? Are both necessary? How does trust in God influence how we cry out, dream, despair, or get to work? Jonathan and Seth discuss these questions based on the only joyous section of Lamentations. And while this episode touch…

Do you have any unexpected relationships? Ones that make you think, "I don't know how this happened" or that you believe are misunderstood or misconstrued from the outside? In this week's episode, David and Jonathan seem to have an unexpected relationship. David is, at first, an outsider to the royal family and Saul is overtly antagonistic to him. …

"What's good?" can be more than a greeting, but a way of thinking. In this Sunday's appointed lectionary text, Jesus tells short parables about seeds. In the first, someone scatters seed on the ground; it grows, and the sower harvests it. Next, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to the tiny mustard seed that grows into a large shrub. Jonathan and Se…

There are various famous "falls": Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," The Fall of Rome, the fall season, etc. Theology has discussed a different kind of fall, one that affects not only the Usher family, a single civilization, or trees, but one that leaves a permanent scar on humanity. What does it look like to read the story of "The…

Are you a rule breaker? Jesus was. In the appointed Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus claims that King David was, too. But they don't break just any rules, run stoplights, or commit petty theft. They break rules that prevent human flourishing. Jonathan and Seth discuss "making good trouble" and how prioritizing people grows from our calling as …

Does the Trinity matter? Does it exist only to give professional theologians minutiae to argue about? Is it a manifestation of male-dominated, political church councils that should be thrown into the dustbin of history? Jonathan and Seth think it does more than describe how the members of the Trinity interact; it also expresses how people should in…

While each member of the Trinity plays an equal role in the Godhead (to say anything else has been heresy since at least 381), in practice, the Holy Spirit often gets the least attention in mainline circles. What would focusing on the Holy Spirit for a Sunday look like? What words could we use throughout the church year to expand our names for God?…

Life's complicated. There's a myriad of choices to be made daily. Many we make unconsciously. Others keep us awake at night as we fret over the options. In the appointed psalm for this Sunday, there appears to be a clear distinction between those who are good and evil. How does one know, however, which category they're in? Jonathan and Seth discuss…

One way to think about the Psalms is as ancient Israel's hymnody. Like more contemporary songs, from Bach to Beyonce, one doesn't have to understand every part of it to appreciate it. There are some opaque metaphors; others seem clear. In Psalm 98, the whole chorus of creation joins in on the hymn. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss ways that we can mak…

"Love" gets thrown around all the time. "I love ice cream," says Seth. We've talked many times on this podcast about God's love. 1 John, again, emphasizes love this week. So, too, does the appointed Acts reading that narrates the Ethiopian eunuch's baptism. Jonathan and Seth ask: What does this story tell us about God's limitless love? Who are the …

Christian communities have read John’s account of Jesus identifying as the good shepherd for over 1,000 years. Unlike most Sundays, even the psalm relates to the gospel reading (rather than the first reading). So, true to form, Jonathan and Seth ask a lot of questions about shepherds: who are like modern shepherds? Can one identify an uncommitted h…

Jesus’ followers are startled, confused, and scared. The one they’ve been following was killed like a common criminal, laid in a tomb, and now lives again - not as a ghost, but someone who really lives, laughs, and lunches. So, what now? Jonathan and Seth discuss this “what now.” What happens after you make a seemingly life-altering mistake? What h…

Each year, the Gospel reading for the Sunday after Easter is the story of “doubting Thomas.” The other readings, however, emphasize living in a community. Jonathan and Seth discuss why living in community can be so formative, why communities matter, and what the contemporary church might learn from the early Jesus-following movement. They discuss a…

He is risen! He is risen, indeed! On Palm Sunday, we talked about what it looks like to experience joy, about momentarily putting our pains, perils, and problems in the backseat. On Good Friday, we talked about leaning into our pain and that of others. What does it look like to integrate them? How does it look for the disciples in the aftermath of …

Another short and sweet episode, Jonathan and Seth talk about what it looks like to sit in suffering as the disciples. How do we make room for suffering when we're unsure when or if it ends? Again, we're praying your Holy Week is a blessing.Por No Experts Allowed

As promised, this episode is short and sweet. It's primarily a long, beautifully written prayer by Jonathan aimed at helping us move into Holy Week and see Jesus' humble service as a paradigm for our own. We hope you have a blessed Holy Week.Por No Experts Allowed

Palm Sunday has to do a lot of heavy lifting. To help, most services are divided into the liturgy of the palms and the liturgy of the passion. This isn't true historically, however. Now, most people cannot (or will not) come to church on Good Friday, Palm Sunday has to link Jesus' triumphal entry with his crucifixion and lead into Easter. Luckily f…

"What happens when it breaks?" asks Jonathan. In this Sunday's readings, covenants break and Jesus' Spirit seems broken too. Jonathan and Seth discuss how God responds to brokenness, why a theology of brokenness matters today, and what the Gospel has to say to those of us whose hearts may be broken. These passages, perhaps more than any other Lente…

The contrast between light and darkness often appears in Scripture, particularly in the appointed passages for Lent 4. These texts and this theme, however, have been used historically to praise whiteness and to denigrate those with dark skin. Jonathan and Seth discuss that pitfall, how it encourages binary thinking, how darkness can be seen as posi…

The Old Testament reading for this Sunday is the 10 Commandments. The appointed Psalm extolls the God's law. In the Gospel reading, Jesus sees money changers and sellers using the temple-goers as profit-makers. Upset, Jesus drives them out of the temple. Jonathan and Seth discuss the law, and why Jesus might be so upset at this longstanding temple …

In this quick episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss the classic question: When is it appropriate to tell someone to take up their cross? Who should be encouraged to suffer on behalf of tier faith? And do these lectionary texts have a common thread? This episode airs Monday (2/19) and is about the following Sunday (2/25). We hope to use that format mov…

There’s water everywhere in this Sunday’s texts: the flood, to 1 Peter describing baptism, and, finally, to Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. Jonathan and Seth discuss this theme, but also how these texts evidence God’s gracious love for us and why that’s particularly important during our Lenten journey. Look for another episode next Monday (2/19…

Ash Wednesday, of course, falls on Valentine’s Day this year. The celebration of love coincides with the reminder that “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Jonathan and Seth give an overview of the appointed lectionary texts for the day. They discuss how the Gospel’s admonition not to flaunt one’s piety might fit with the practice of puttin…

Jonathan and Seth reboot with a new format, new episodes, and new questions. Starting Ash Wednesday, and continuing every Sunday, they’ll discuss the appointed lectionary texts and raise questions that someone could address in a sermon or a Bible study or may want to meditate on. The new format should be shorter and more relevant for those in minis…

Resurrection has an impact on the entire universe. It will involve Jesus, human beings, and all of creation. What will the future of creation look like? What small but visible resurrections are taking place in nature right now? Jonathan and Seth discuss these issues. Jonathan fails the final quiz of our series, possibly for the first time in his li…

Hanging on the cross, Jesus cries out the opening line of Psalm 22. The poem starts with deep pain, punctuated by statements of trust in God's presence. A savior who utters these words offers a helpline to those suffering too, who feel abandoned, but are never alone. Jonathan and Seth explore how this psalm - and Jesus' use of it - affects how we c…

John's Gospel uses "love" more than the synoptic Gospels combined; Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus' commandment to love one another. What does it look like to also love the natural world? What would it look like to regard the natural world as we love other people? Jonathan and Seth explore those seemingly simple questions in this short, Holy Wee…

The valley of dry bones that Ezekiel sees resembles a modern landfill. Discarded, wasted, and loose parts are strewn about. God tells Ezekiel, however, that the bones can live and recombine into bodies. It's similar to recycling programs, which use discarded, wasted, loose plastic to create new products. Sadly, very little plastic is recycled. What…

Both Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well are thirsty; they go the well at noon, the hottest time off the day. The history of Interpretation, however, has mostly focused on “living water.” What would it look like to focus on their need for refreshing, drinkable, “regular water”? Jonathan and Seth do just that in this episode that focuses on wa…

Tempted in the desert, Jesus refutes the Devil's offers with quips from scripture. This story has often been used to tell Christians to defeat temptations similarly. Is that a helpful paradigm? What does it look like to read this story through a wider ecological lens? Jonathan and Seth discuss how a more expansive view of this story sees Jesus' roo…

We're back for 40 days + Sundays. Look for new episodes every other Sunday focused on ecologically-minded readings of Lenten texts. We'll think about environmental degradation, repentance in the context of ransacked natural habitats, and how we can reorient our lives to love Creator and creation. We're glad you're joining us.…

King Herod hears about a newborn King of the Jews. And like all despots, he wants to squash anyone who could be his political rival. This leads Jonathan and Seth to discuss contemporary politicians and their deep desire to remain in power. They discuss what this looks like when taken to the extreme and the way Jesus offers a different view of power…