Kingdom Roots

In this episode, the hosts analyze the challenges faced by followers of Jesus in a hostile political and cultural environment. They discuss living a morally excellent and aesthetically beautiful way of life among other ethnic groups, accommodating societal structures without compromising faith, promoting goodness within systems, and the power of generosity to bring awareness to lack of generosity.

Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett discuss the politics of the New Testament, exploring themes in Paul's letters and the impact of political divisions on the church. They also delve into the significance and challenges of working on a commentary for several years, and discuss Paul's strategic use of language to portray Christians as socially respectable members of society.

The podcast features the Apostle Paul, an influential figure in early Christianity, exploring political themes in his letters from prison. They discuss Paul's language of life and citizenship, living a transcendent and politically engaged life, and the significance of Philippi being a Roman colony. They also delve into the concept of citizenship and living worthily of the gospel, emphasizing the importance of pursuing reconciliation and peace.

Scot McKnight, a New Testament scholar, and Laura Barringer discuss their new book "Pivot" which focuses on transforming toxic church cultures into good ones. They address common questions about culture transformation and provide practical tools to evaluate and initiate change. The podcast explores the motivation behind the book, its impact on people's experiences, the writing process, and the importance of confronting toxicity and cultivating goodness in churches.

Within the podcast, Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett delve into the politics of the New Testament, focusing on Paul's letter to the churches in Rome. They discuss misinterpretations of the kingdom and refute the idea that it is based on the American government. Additionally, they explore the purpose of Paul's letter, theories behind it, and the historical interpretation of Romans 13:1-7. The hosts emphasize the role of love and peacemaking in the book of Romans, calling for harmonious living within the Roman government.

The podcast discusses the politics of the New Testament, including the destabilization and formation of early Jesus-communities, turning the world upside down, Paul's Roman citizenship, and the political implications of Paul's message.

The hosts explore politically charged interactions from Jesus' life, including his response to a trick question about paying taxes to Caesar. They analyze the different authorities in the Roman Empire and Israel during Jesus' time. The relationship between Pharisees and Herodians in the Gospel of Mark is discussed. The chapter highlights Jesus' resistance to taxation and his politically charged language. The subversive nature of Jesus' actions and his emphasis on allegiance to him rather than political powers is examined.

In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett begin a new series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos. 

On this episode of Kingdom Roots, Scot and I interviewed Scott Nelson about his new book, Supply Lines: Five Supporting Relationships Every Planter and Pastor Needs.  In this book, Scott identified five supply lines, or types of relational support, that pastors and church planters need: Spiritual, Inspirational, Motivational, Interpersonal, and Practical. Scott Nelson is a church planter and lead pastor of Covenant Grove Church in Modesto, California. He also serves as a church planting coach and trainer. 

An Interview with John Blake about his recent book, More Than I Imagined: What a black man discovered about the white mother he never knew, published this past May with Convergent Books.John Blake is an award-winning CNN journalist. Previously, he was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He has been honored by the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, the American Academy of Religion, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Religion Communicators Council. A recipient of the GLAAD Media Award, he has spoken at high schools, colleges, symposiums, and in documentaries on race, religion, and politics. Blake is a native of Baltimore, MD, and now lives in Atlanta, GA. https://johnkblake.com