Context Matters

David Bailey is the Founder and Chief Vision Officer of Arrabon. As a public theologian, David helps to bring wisdom, theological imagination, and moral imagination to the way that Christians show up in the world. He created Arrabon as a way to equip Christ's followers to actively, creatively pursue healing in their communities, to be a foretaste of the kingdom of God, an agent of healing, and an agent of reconciliation in their community. Find out more about Arrabon HEREDownload Arrabon's free Lent resource The Winding RoadExplore Arrabon's resources on Spiritual FormationContact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

When two contradictory commands about remembering past events refused to be reconciled, Dr. Megan Roberts began exploring new theories to help her exegetical work. Trauma theory helped explain the Israelites engagement with memory. And working on what God's comfort can say to traumatized people hit a deep and personal cord in her own life.  Read more about her work in Isaiah HEREYou can find many of her sermons and teaching at Prairie College on their YouTube channel HEREContact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Biblical texts can be hard to read for several reasons - the poetry or images are challenging, or the emotion is strong, or the text seems to contradict itself in strange ways. In this episode, Dr. Megan Roberts from Prairie College tells us what draws her to these challenging texts and how they have a personal impact on her own life. Read more about her work in Isaiah HEREYou can find many of her sermons and teaching at Prairie College on their YouTube channel HEREContact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Last week Dr. Faro introduced us to the significant literary theme of women who advance the story of salvation. Today we hear example of the Matriarch Sarah and how she and Mary the Mother of Jesus share some common characteristics. We also talk about Hannah's song and about a little known figure named Jehosheba. How do these unexpected women play critical roles in the salvation story?Discover more about Dr. Faro HEREExplore her new book HEREContact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Dr. Ingrid Faro joins us today to talk about the "highway" that runs through the literary structure of the salvation story. Seeing women as crucial players in moving the story of God forward is not common, but Dr. Faro introduces us to why this is so important for readers of the biblical text. Today we begin a conversation about her new book Redeeming Eden: How Women of the Bible Advance the Story of Salvation. Discover more about Dr. Faro HEREExplore her new book HEREContact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Brad Nelson and Brad Gray from Walking the Text continue their conversation about the rich theology embedded in every phrase of the Lord's Prayer. How does "Holy be Your name" involve the community of believers? Why is receiving and giving forgiveness so essential? This is only a taster for their new film called "The Lord's Prayer" and their recently released  book titled Bringing Heaven Here. Explore the wealth of resources at Walking the TextWatch the movie trailer for The Lord's PrayerPurchase the book Bringing Heaven HereInstagram / Facebook: @thesacredthreadtvInstagram / Facebook: @angelInstagram / Facebook: @evolvestudiosContact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

So many of us memorized the Lord's Prayer. Some congregations quote it together every week. It is so familiar that we don’t always stop to think about the theologically rich statements it is making. Today, helping us slow down to think about the prayer are  Brad Gray and Brad Nelson from Walking the Text. They recently released a film called "The Lord's Prayer" and wrote a book titled Bringing Heaven Here. Explore the wealth of resources at Walking the TextWatch the movie trailer for The Lord's PrayerPurchase the book Bringing Heaven HereInstagram / Facebook: @thesacredthreadtvInstagram / Facebook: @angelInstagram / Facebook: @evolvestudiosContact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Dr. Jack Beck, an author and professor known for merging biblical scholarship with a passion for geography, delves into the geographical significance of the Christmas narrative. He reveals how Luke emphasizes Jerusalem, framing key encounters with Simeon and Anna in the temple as central to the story. The discussion highlights how the longing for God's presence shapes expectations, while affirming Jesus’ role as light for all. Jack encourages deeper storytelling around Christmas by integrating these rich historical contexts.

It is Christmas time and we are discovering the fullness of the Origin Story of Jesus. Matthew and Luke tell us so much more than the moment of Jesus' birth. Dr. Jack Beck joins us again to talk about how the geography matters in the way we understand who Mary and Joseph are. This week we start with Nazareth. How big was it? Where was it located? Did the geography influence what people expected from life? Discover more about Dr. Beck, his books, and videos  HEREWatch the wealth of options on Dr. Beck's YouTube channel HEREDiscover Dr. Beck's books HEREContact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Dr. Nicholas Schaser introduces us to the fascinating world of rabbinic interpretation. Today we talk about how similar Jesus is to his contemporary sages like Hillel and Shammai. What were their views of interpretation? What kind of humor did the sages use? Find out more about Dr. Schaser HEREExplore his book: A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in MatthewRead short articles by Dr. Schaser on Israel Bible Center's website HEREContact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!