Exploring My Strange Bible

This teaching is more like story time rather than a lecture. I wanted to try to capture the story that is driving the fist three quarters of the Bible. I begin on page one of the Old Testament and narrate the story as different people contribute with scriptures. The goal of this was to help us rebuild our portrait of God by grounding it in the actual biblical story.

This podcast delves into the complex role of Yahweh as a judge in the Hebrew scriptures, exploring the balance between justice and mercy. It highlights the concept of covenant love, forgiveness, and the ripple effects of sin. The discussion extends to parenting with discipline and reflects on Yahweh's grace and judgment as a gracious judge.

Delving into the divine name 'Yahweh' revealed to Moses, the podcast explores the significance of God's identity. From misconceptions about God's character to the concept of sacred space and shoe etiquette, it delves into intricate topics. The narrative on encountering Yahweh Elohim and the importance of the Shema prayer in monotheism add depth to the discussion. Emphasizing respectful religious discourse, the podcast challenges listeners to understand and accept diverse beliefs.

Discover how Paul's teachings transform household dynamics in the context of the gospel. Explore the relationships between parents and children, while re-examining the implications of slavery in a Christian framework. The discussion emphasizes love, respect, and equality, urging listeners to reflect on these timeless principles in their own lives. Dive into the nuances of authority and responsibility, and learn how the good news encourages compassionate interactions in all aspects of life.

This teaching explores how Paul challenges the Christians to explore God’s spirit. The whole debate about God’s spirit and how he expresses God’s powers is very controversial conversations. However, the Apostle Paul actually intended the exact opposite - he wanted the spirit to be something that united Christians.

Explore the transformative identity as believers become a 'new humanity' in Paul's teachings. Discover how this identity shapes behavior and fosters a renewed mindset. Delve into the concept of agape love, which serves as the foundation for interactions within the community. This discussion highlights the need for moral and relational commitments, guiding new followers of Christ to embody their true identities. Embrace the connection between personal faith growth and the challenges of realizing how deeply one is loved and forgiven.

It was important to Paul that Jesus' followers were a diverse group of people across many ethnicities. In this teaching, we explore Paul’s vision for diversity and bridging relationships among people who are different but unified under Christianity.

This first teaching is actually from the middle of chapter 1. It’s a prayer that Paul prays for the followers of Jesus in Ephesus. It’s an amazing prayer where he prays for power. The kind of power that Paul thinks that followers of Jesus have access to is a very different conception of power. It’s a power that was expressed when Jesus gave up his life and was resurrected by the power of love and self-sacrifice. This is exactly the kind of power that Paul wants followers of Jesus to recognize.

In this teaching we are going to explore Psalm 73, which is a prayer where the poet is expressing a crisis of faith. When he looks at the world, he doesn’t see a world that his faith can always make sense of. In fact, it is the opposite. It seems like many of the things that this poet believes about God are contradicted by what he sees going on around him.

The podcast explores the theme of confessing to God after making mistakes and hurting others. It discusses the healing and growth that come from confession and praying through failures. The symbolism of clothing as a representation of hiding vulnerabilities is explored. The chapter emphasizes the power of confessing secrets and sins and the importance of acknowledging failures. It also discusses the concept of failure and sin in moral decisions, and the importance of being raw and honest in confession. The transformative experience of confession and God's response of forgiveness are highlighted.