Two Texts
John Andrews and David Harvey
A Podcast about the Bible Every two weeks, from two different countries, the two hosts of the Two Texts podcast pick two biblical texts to talk about. Each episode we pick one text to talk about, which invariably leads to us talking about two texts and often many more.Dr John Andrews and Dr David Harvey share a mutual fascination with the Bible. Simple yet complex; ancient yet relevant; challenging yet comforting. But one thing that fascinates them consistently is that, like a kaleidoscope, no matter how many times they look at it there is something new, fresh and exciting to talk about.This podcast is designed for you regardless of how much or how little you've read the Bible. Grab a hot beverage, a notepad (or app), and a Bible, sit back, listen, enjoy, and learn to also become fascinated (or grow your fascination) with this exciting, compelling and mysterious book. John and David are two friends who love teaching the Bible and have both been privileged enough to be able to spend their careers doing this - in colleges, universities, churches, homes and coffee shops. The two of them have spent extended periods of time as teaching staff and leadership in seminary and church contexts. John has regularly taught at David's church, and there was even a point where John was David's boss! Nowadays David is a Priest and Pastor in Calgary, Canada, and John teaches and consults for churches in the UK and around the world. They're both married with children (John 3, David 1) and in John's case even grandchildren. In their down time you'll find them cooking, reading, running or watching football (but the one thing they don't agree on is which team to support). If you want to get in touch with either of them about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 28, 2021 • 44min
Suddenly...A Man | Miracles 11
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David explore an encounter between Jesus, a man and once again it's a healing on the sabbath. How do we think about sabbath? Is it just a religious day, or is there much more going on there?Click Here to read the text from Luke 14:1-14. Click Here to buy John Andrew's "First Day" book about SabbathClick Here to read Irving Greenberg's "Guide to Sabbath"Click Here to learn about Abraham Joshua Heschel's "Sabbath"Episode Outline1:44 Luke 149:28 Diving into Sabbath19:06 Sabbath and Time24:49 Sabbath and Slavery in Egypt30:17 Unable to Answer35:20 The Grace Narrative40:36 And They were SilentEpisode 28 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 11If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagramand Twitter. We're also on YouTube where you can watch an unedited video version of this podcast. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
Sep 16, 2021 • 57min
Suddenly...A Woman | Miracles 10
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David explore an encounter between Jesus, a woman and some synagogue leaders. How do we treat people, and do we let our own views and opinions get in the way of doing good?Click Here to read the text from Luke 13:10-17. Episode Outline1:13 Luke 138:36 Some thoughts on translation14:24 Jesus and vulnerability23:11 Mary, not your average teenager28:49 The touch of Jesus34:39 Sabbath rules42:05 The shame of it all49:47 From miracle to parableEpisode 27 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 10If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagramand Twitter. We're also on YouTube. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
Sep 14, 2021 • 46min
It's All About The Widow | Miracles 9
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David drop into the story of a widow who had lost her son. The miracle story gives us insight into Jesus' consistent care for the vulnerable. Why does he raise the son? There might be more to it that we think.Click Here to read the text from Luke 7:10-17. Click Here to read about Miroslav Volf's book "Exclusion and Embrace" and his ideas of Jesus being "against exclusion".Episode Outline2:55 - Luke 711:22 - Jesus and Widows23:03 - The Lord has Visited35:37 - Don't Rush to the PunchlineEpisode 26 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 9If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagramand Twitter. We're also on YouTube. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
Aug 5, 2021 • 1h 7min
Help My Unbelief | Miracles 8
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David explore faith and doubt in the midst of a miracle of Jesus. Is our paradigm of faith a little too simplistic? Does our need for certainty create crises for us that aren't necessary. Is Jesus ok when our doubt seems a little overwhelming?Click Here to read the text from Mark 7:24-37. Click Here to read the article by Michael Gerson that contained the quote "Faith, thankfully does not preclude doubt. It consists instead of staking your life on the rumor of grace."Episode Outline1:28 Mark 97:18 Jesus and Moses17:00 A Conversation on Faith26:02 If you can help39:05 Faith and Doubt44:24 A Quick Tour of Gospel Doubt51:16 Which kind?1:02:24 Is he dead?Two Texts Podcast will return in SeptemberEpisode 25 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 8If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We're also on YouTube. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
Aug 3, 2021 • 1h 1min
Ephphatha | Miracles 7
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David get excited talking about miracles in Mark chapter 7. Jesus uses the Aramaic word Ephphatha in the midst of chapter that offers us more than one insight into Jesus and what we can learn from him today.Click Here to read the text from Mark 7:24-37. Episode Outline1:01 Mark 75:07 Little Dogs15:12 Did Jesus Really Say That?28:51 John and Isaiah 3533:55 David and Isaiah 3544:11 Really Really Present56:57 Jesus’ Pastoral PracticeThe next episode of Two Texts will be on Thursday August 5. Episode 24 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 7If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We're also on YouTube. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
Jul 22, 2021 • 1h 5min
They Were Both Daughters | Miracles 6
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David talk about an ill woman and Jairus' daughter. A woman and a little girl from different places in life, both struggling, both meet Jesus, both are healed. You know there's lots to talk about with that, right?Click Here to read the text from Mark 5:1-20. Click Here to learn about Matthew Thiessen's book "Jesus and the Forces of Death".Episode Outline3:00 Mark 57:08 Ritual Impurity13:44 What does a Gospel author do?22:11 The touch of Jesus34:51 An automatic miracle?41:22 Interruptions56:44 The messianic secretThe next episode of Two Texts will be on Tuesday August 3. Episode 23 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 6If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We're also on YouTube. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
Jul 20, 2021 • 1h 8min
His Name was Legion | Miracles 5
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David discuss a man tormented by evil in a place called Gerasenes. A dark and slightly scary story of a man with an "unclean spirit", or perhaps a legion of unclean spirits. How can Jesus turn around a story like this? And if he can, what does that imply for all of us?Click Here to read the text from Mark 5:1-20. Episode Outline1:04 Mark 5 9:13 Jesus v Legion 18:07 The evil forces are malevolent 27:24 Did the demons worship? 40:19 The authority in a name 48:24 The economic impact of the story 56:13 The adverse reaction to a miracle 1:02:01 What happened in Decapolis doesn't stay in DecapolisThe next episode of Two Texts will be on Thursday July 22. Episode 22 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 5If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We're also on YouTube. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
Jul 8, 2021 • 1h 5min
Water Walking | Miracles 4
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David talk about Jesus (and Peter) walking on water. The miracle of Jesus walking on water is often appreciated as an event, but what does it teach us? Does it give us insight in to who Jesus is, and also how he helped his disciples grow?Click Here to read the text from Matthew 14:22-36. Episode Outline1:05 - Matthew 146:40 - Water Mythology13:38 - Exodus Resonances19:24 - Take Heart “I Am”29:14 - The Importance of Hearing35:04 - Peter the Rock46:27 - Hearing or Seeing50:33 - Little Faith55:48 - The Relatable Peter1:00:46 - Fear and Humiliation are Bad TeachersThe next episode of Two Texts will be on Tuesday July 20. Episode 21 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 4If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagramand Twitter. We're also on YouTube. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
Jul 6, 2021 • 1h 9min
Five Thousand | Miracles 3
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David talk about the feeding of the 5000. What is this miracle about? Is it about food? Or the Messiah? Or is it about hunger - physical and spiritual? And how does the context of what happened around this story help us understand it?Click Here to read the text from Matthew 14:13-21. Click Here to learn about Skye Jethani's What if Jesus was Serious? Click Here to read Walter Brueggemann discuss the 'Myth of Scarcity'.Episode Outline2:40 - Matthew 1410:56 - The Greek Word for Compassion22:21 - Bread in the Desert32:09 - The "Death" of John the Baptist41:48 - Contrasts and Parallels53:23 - Two Feasts59:49 - The Myth of ScarcityThe next episode of Two Texts will be on Thursday July 8. Episode 20 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 3If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagramand Twitter. We're also on YouTube. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
Jun 24, 2021 • 47min
Did He Just Spit? | Miracles 2
Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you’d like us to reply)In which John and David talk about a miracle with more to it than meets the eye. Jesus encounters a man who is blind in Mark chapter 8, but the miracle seems to have a deeper meaning . A meaning that is important for anyone who might follow Jesus. Click Here to read the text from Mark 8:22-38. Click Here to learn about Richard Hays' book The Moral Vision of the New Testament that David mentioned in this episode. Episode Outline1:13 Mark 8:22 - The man who was blind 8:08 The story is bigger 10:58 Eyes, eyeballs, and eye sockets 20:18 Miracles on the margins 23:14 Making sense of the messiah 32:14 Stringing all the stories together 38:34 It's ok to make mistakes around Jesus 41:36 The journey The next episode of Two Texts will be in two weeks time. Episode 19 of the Two Texts Podcast | Meaning of Miracles Series 2If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We're also on YouTube. If you enjoy the podcast, we’d love it if you left a review or comment where you’re listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021Support the show
