What can science shed light about reading the Bible? Genetic science has made some incredible discoveries lately. In this episode of Kingdom Roots Scot shares his story of why he opened his mind about reading Genesis in light of scientific study. Readers of the Bible need to be sensitive to scientific study and Scot shows how that sensitivity can lead readers of the Bible to a deeper understanding of the ancient near east. Preorder Adam and the Genome here: http://goo.gl/Tfmme7 If you want to have a chance to win a copy of Adam and the Genome, share your favorite line from the episode on Twitter or Facebook with #kingdomroots.

What would it have looked like to have the Apostle Paul as your Pastor? In this episode of Kingdom Roots, Scot investigates what people think about when they think of the word pastor. There are four major models of pastoral responsibilities that Scot sheds light on and invites the Apostle Paul to speak into. Studying Paul as a pastor is necessary if the Kingdom is going to take root now as it took root for Paul and the early church. If there is any way we can help you or your ministry please don’t hesitate to email Chaz at crobbins@seminary.edu.

The majority of earth’s inhabitants believe in angels. Yet many of us cannot claim to have seen one. Why? Perhaps it’s because in order to encounter one, we first have to learn what to look for and how to look! We live in a world where the natural and supernatural overlap. Angels are constantly on mission from God and constantly at work in the world. From the Garden of Eden to the book of Revelation, Scripture is filled with hundreds of references to these wondrous creatures. In this episode of Kingdom Roots, Scot McKnight begins to unpack what the Bible says—and doesn’t say—about these majestic beings. Pre-Order Scot’s new book on amazon here: (http://goo.gl/klu0c2) Want a chance to win the Hum of Angels? Just share your favorite line from today’s podcast on Twitter or Facebook with #kingdomroots. You will be put into a drawing on January 10 to win a copy of the Hum of Angels.

What is the future of Evangelicalism? Scot begins to answer this question and more by defining how the term “Evangelical” has been used and how the people who claim the title have engaged in society. The story of Evangelicalism is a fascinating one. Scot makes some very important suggestions on what the Church as a whole can learn from the good and bad parts of Evangelicalism. Suggested Resources for further study: The Dominance of Evangelicalism by David Bebbington (http://goo.gl/JDC71N) Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory by Randall Balmer (http://goo.gl/GjAqFA) Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter by Randall Balmer (http://goo.gl/pfXzuE) Kingdom Conspiracy by Scot McKnight (http://goo.gl/CxW8Gy) Be sure not to miss an episode of Kingdom Roots with Scot McKnight by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes or Sticher. Learn more about Northern Seminary’s Master of Arts in New Testament at www.seminary.edu/MANT

Beverly Gaventa explains how when reading the book of Romans, we often focus on the quotable passages, making brief stopovers and not staying long enough to grasp some of the big ideas it contains. She invites readers of Romans to linger in Romans and to consider Paul’s admonition, how Abraham is involved in Paul’s message, and how worship is expressed in ethics. Suggested Resources: When in Romans: An Invitation to Linger with the Gospel according to Paul by Beverly Gaventa (http://goo.gl/DPxwBz) Our Mother Saint Paul by Beverly Gaventa (http://goo.gl/ykzYin) From Darkness to Light by Beverly Gaventa (http://goo.gl/ooFB3u) Want to listen to the Kingdom Roots episode with John Barclay about Grace? It can be found here: http://goo.gl/2Kh3oU Interested in seminary? Learn more about how Northern Seminary equips the Church to change the world at http://seminary.edu

What really were the dynamics of the first Christmas? Hallmark and Santa Clause have all but totally hijacked the Christmas season. When we really investigate the true story of Christmas we find a story dripping with scandal, surrender, sacrifice and social revolution. The Church is currently in the season of Advent where it is awaiting the coming of Jesus into the world. If the Church is to let the Kingdom take root then it will have to embrace and be encouraged by the reality of how the real Christmas Story took root.

How can we pray like Jesus? The Jewish people Jesus grew up with were a praying people. Scot guides us on a journey into the depths of prayer in first century Judaism and explains how Jesus anchors His understanding of prayer in Jewish prayer. Prayer is an essential part of Kingdom living. This episode will help you allow prayer to build deeper roots in your life. Suggested Resources: Praying with the Church by Scot McKnight (http://goo.gl/09E1gy) The Divine Hours, Pocket Edition by Phyllis Tickle (http://goo.gl/k8dTaK) The Common Book of Prayer (http://goo.gl/43XpQu) Lord, Teach Us: The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willmon (http://goo.gl/w34ZHl)

What is the central thing for the Church? There are so many things that inevitably work to splinter the Church. However, if the Church intentionally roots itself in the central things such as the Gospel of Jesus, then not even divisive issues such as an election can divide the Church. Scot gives a vision for how to keep the central things central while adopting and adapting implications from the Gospel to the culture in which the Church exists. Suggested Resources: Books: The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight (http://goo.gl/ARF03V) New Horizons in Hermeneutics by Anthony Thiselton (http://goo.gl/5Oud8G) NT Blogs: Scot McKnight (Jesus Creed) - http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/ Ben Witherington III - http://www.patheos.com/blogs/bibleandculture/ Larry Hurtado - https://larryhurtado.wordpress.com OT Blog: Claude Mariottini - https://claudemariottini.com Magazines: Relevant Magazine - http://www.relevantmagazine.com Christianity Today - http://www.christianitytoday.com Interested in learning more about Northern? Attend Northern’s Open House online through Northern Live or in person on Tuesday, Novemeber 15 at 6pm CST. Learn more and register at http://www.seminary.edu/news/oh16/

“If we only get the right person in the right political office, then all will be well.” Scot explains why this is such a dangerous and damaging way to approach politics as Christians representing the Church. The good news is that even if Christians disagree on politics, there is a way to be faithfully present as the Kingdom of God in the midst of governments of the world. Suggested Resources: Kingdom Conspiracy: Returning to the Radical Mission of the Local Church by Scot McKnight (http://goo.gl/oPvdzu) unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity … and Why It Matters by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons (http://goo.gl/Mjd4gq) They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations by Dan Kimball (http://goo.gl/YEUzxP) Interested in learning more about Northern? Attend Northern’s Open House online through Northern Live or in person on Tuesday, Novemeber 15 at 6pm CST. Learn more and register at http://www.seminary.edu/news/oh16/

In our quest to renew the church, Christians have walked through seeker-friendly, emergent, missional, and other movements to develop new expressions of the body of Christ. Now in the post-Christian world in North America we're asking the question again: Is there a way to be the church that engages the world, not by judgment nor accommodation but by becoming the good news in our culture? In this episode of Kingdom Roots, Scot has a conversation with noted pastor, scholar, and his friend David Fitch about his new book, Faithful Presence. In Faithful Presence, David gives a new vision for the witness of the church in the world. He argues that we have lost the intent and practice of the sacramental ways of the historic church, but those ways can be rediscovered if the church goes back to the practices that anchored the church from its birth. Preorder Faithful Presence here: http://goo.gl/I0cZGu Connect with David Fitch on Twitter (https://twitter.com/fitchest) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/fitchest?fref=ts) Or listen to Theology on Mission (http://goo.gl/DsKDE6) Interested in learning more about Northern? Attend Northern’s Open House on Tuesday, November 15 at 6pm CST. Learn more and register at http://www.seminary.edu/news/oh16/