

Faith Improvised
Tim Gombis
Exploring what it means to be faithfully Christian in our always-changing world with its challenges and opportunities. I like to think out loud and talk with friends about biblical texts, books, politics, sports, music, films, and basically anything that interests me. This is all an attempt to be fully alive in God’s good world and to enjoy the liberating reality of the Christian gospel.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 30, 2025 • 40min
Paul's Thesis Statement in Ephesians 1, Pt. 2
In this episode, I continue talking about how Ephesians 1:19-23 functions in the argument of this letter.

Sep 23, 2025 • 60min
Paul's Thesis Statement in Ephesians 1
In this episode I talk about how Eph 1:19-23 functions within his overall presentation in this letter.

Sep 16, 2025 • 51min
Summer's End
In this episode, I give an update of what I've been up to the last several months, and mention a bunch of books I've been reading or am about to jump into. Books mentioned:They Poisoned the World: Life and Death inthe Age of Forever Chemicals, by Mariah Blake Pushback: The 2,500 Year Fight To ThwartWomen By Restricting Abortion, by Mary Fissell Long Island Compromise, byTaffy Brodesser-Akner Big Dumb Eyes, by Nate Bargatze Attack from Within: How Disinformation isSabotaging America, by Barbara McQuade The Age of Guilt: The Super-Ego in the OnlineWorld, by Mark Edmundsen We the People: A History of the U.S.Constitution, Jill Lepore

May 13, 2025 • 1h 11min
Paul's Prayer Report in Ephesians 1
In this episode, I talk about how Paul reports he is praying for his audiences at the end of Ephesians 1.

Apr 29, 2025 • 1h 14min
Identity Formation in Ephesians 1, Pt. 3
In this episode, I talk about Timothy Snyder's chapter on solidarity, from his book On Freedom, and about Paul's literary and rhetorical strategy in Ephesians 1.

Apr 22, 2025 • 58min
Identity Formation in Ephesians 1, Pt. 2
In this episode, I talk a bit more about Timothy Snyder's book, On Freedom, and about Paul's literary strategy in Ephesians 1.

Apr 16, 2025 • 1h 8min
An Epic Golf Tournament & National Political Shenanigans
In this episode, Steve Watkins and I reflect on Rory McIlroy's Masters win, and talk about staying sane and humane in the midst of national political madness.

Apr 8, 2025 • 51min
Identity Formation In Ephesians 1
In this episode, I keep talking about Timothy Snyder's book, On Freedom, and I talk about Paul's identity formation strategy in the opening of Ephesians.

Apr 1, 2025 • 43min
Ephesians As A Letter
In this episode, I continue talking about Timothy Snyder's book, On Freedom, and I introduce other aspects of Paul's letter called Ephesians.

Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 2min
God's Cosmic Enemies in Ephesians
In this episode, I talk about the role of the powers and authorities in Paul's letter, and their background in the Old Testament and the Jewish literature of Paul's day.