No Experts Allowed: Recent Episodes
No Experts Allowed
Join co-hosts Jonathan Fuller and Seth Roseman as they talk about Bible stories, laugh a little, and try to answer two fundamental questions: What's the story? What's the point?
Christian Nationalism has, unfortunately, not gone away since Jonathan and Seth discussed it last on the podcast. It grew slowly, insidiously, for years and will take similarly sustained work to prune it from religious and political spheres. In this episode, Jonathan and Seth do a close reading of Psalm 33:1-12. They argue that it is a particularly strong starting point to critique Christian Nationalism. And they discuss briefly the ways that pastors have been complicit in blurring Christianity and American democracy.
We're glad you're with us! You may have had enough of Christian Nationalism, because you've heard us talk about, have to live with it's effects in your everyday life, or came from a church background heavily steeped in. We do not mind if you skip this episode; we hope you'll put yourself first and only listen if you have the bandwidth.
The Holy Trinity is both one God and a community. Scholars have often reflected on this by exploring the ways people should live in communities. They have said that, like God, people are not meant to be alone. People should work together and simultaneously be one. In this episode, Jonathan and Seth talk about the community that exists within us. We have multiple selves, differing perspectives even in our own minds, and different ways we interact with others. Again, those are all us! What would it look like for them to live in harmony, supporting, encouraging, and dancing with one another as the Trinity does?
We're glad you're with us! Jonathan and Seth talk about the movie Inside Out. If you have strong feelings about Inside Out or the many "yous" that you contain, we'd love to hear from you.
Everyone has a skill they bring to our world. Some skills, however, are more highly prized. This was the case in Corinth when Paul wrote his letter to the burgeoning Christian community there, too. The Corinthians wanted to speak in tongues and emphasized speaking in tongues to the detriment of the other gifts in the community. Jonathna and Seth talk about gifts that are over-emphasized today, the ones that people want, even if those gifts are not as important as some of the more hidden, but more basic, bedrock gifts.
We're glad you're with us! What gift do you think you have? Do you think it's prized, or overlooked and undervalued? We'd love to hear from you! Our podcast continues to grow. So, wherever you are in the world, send us an email at noexpertsallowed@gmail.com
In John's Gospel, before Jesus' crucifixion, he prays a long prayer. Sometimes called "The High Priestly Prayer." It is rather meandering, but one theme is that the disciples are one as Jesus and the Father are one. What does that solidarity look like? As federal, state, and even local programs are stripped of funding, what does solidarity that sustains us in the hard times look like? What would it mean to pray for this?
We're glad you're with us! Solidarity is not easy. It is challenging to build communities that are resilient, helpful, and truly caring. If this intrigues you, you may be interested in Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha. The book is primarily about building care communities for those with disabilities, but it is broadly applicable and has practical tips for doing so. It's linked here.
Before Jesus leaves, he promises an "advocate." But what is an advocate? How would Jesus' disciples have heard this term? What does it look like to try to block out what we know about the Holy Spirit, or think we know, and hear about this advocate anew? Jonathan and Seth try to do just that. They ask what the role of the Advocate is and what might be the role of people who advocate for others today.
We're glad you're with us. Do you have a distinct memory of someone being an advocate for you? We'd love to hear about it. While we didn't plan it this way, this episode naturally leads into next week's episode about solidarity. So, be sure to tune in then, too.
Returning from Jerusalem to Emmaus, two of Jesus' disciples talk to a man they do not recognize about the "things that have happened there in these days" (Luke 24:17). When they invite him to stay with them, he breaks bread, and they recognize him as Jesus. It's a story about a transition from doubt to faith, from confusion to action. The other appointed lectionary texts are also about transitions. Jonathan and Seth talk about transitions in general. They also talk about an exciting transition: Jonathan's transition from being a Ph.D candidate to finishing his dissertation.
Thanks for joining us! We hope this episode is both a reflection on life's many changes and the process of going through them. I (Seth) also wanted to champion Jonathan's work, celebrate his achievement, and glean the tiniest bit of what he's learned during the process.
The Sunday that follows Easter always has the same appointed lectionary text regardless of the liturgical year: "Doubting" Thomas. This year, Jonathan helps us focus on our vulnerabilities, our wounds, both visible and hidden. Jonathan and Seth talk about some of the physical wounds they carry from childhood, but also how naming and revealing our pains or bruises may help others - and even help us. If you've ever doubted that your wounds could help others, look no further than Jesus.
We're glad you're with us! We hope you had a joyful Easter. One of our goals is to keep that Easter momentum going throughout this season, so we hope you'll keep listening for more episodes about the implications of rolled-away stones and empty tombs.
Does resurrection feel foreign to you? To Jonathan and Seth, it feels alien right now. It's like it comes from a completely different planet. In a strange way, it does. It comes from outside of us, from a tomb, from God who walks and talks and dies like us. Jesus' resurrection also changes how we should live in community. So, Jonathan and Seth talk about what the Church should look like after this weird, cosmic event.
We hope this Holy Week is meaningful for you and challenge you to sit with all the feelings it brings. Don't try to rush through it; be like the disciples who were confused and in awe and depressingly overcome with emotion on Good Friday. We're glad you're with us, as always!
As the official name of this Sunday implies, it is meant to hold much of the Jesus Story. It starts triumphantly but ends with Jesus crying out in a loud voice and breathing his last (Matthew 27:50). In most worship services, this turn takes roughly an hour. Jonathan and Seth, constrained by their episode length, try to do it in half that by talking about what links the two stories. Jonathan proposes that Paul's letter to the Philippians and his Christ Hymn (2:5-11) emphasize humility, which can help us bridge that gap. So, what is humility? In what ways is Jesus humble? How is his death another example of his humility and, maybe, the ultimate act of it?
We're glad you're with us! Our podcast episodes have been gaining more traction lately; they're reaching slightly larger audiences. We love that! We would love it if you'd share it with someone you think would enjoy it too.
Ezekiel is shown a valley of dry bones. They look further away from life than almost anything imaginable. But God tells him that they can live. And of course, they do! Connective tissue appears along with muscles, organs, and flesh. The news reports also show valleys of dry bones. We don't have to travel to see them; they're available for viewing in our living room or on our phones. In an episode that connects with last week's, Jonathan and Seth discuss where they see dry bones or "the depths" and how Christian community can help make these places alive again and sustain us until then.
We're glad you're with us! We're praying for the many, frankly, depressing news reports we see on TV. We hope you'll join us and pray for the war in Iran, the genocide in Palestine, the continued terror-inducing reign of ICE, places hit by severe weather, and more.
When you look around the world, what do you see? There is so much to see, after all: stunning landscapes, the smiling faces of strangers, friends achieving long-hoped-for goals. There are also painful situations to see: war, community violence, and hunger. What does it look like to really see what's going on in the world, including the pain? What do we do when we want to look away? In John's Gospel, Jesus heals a man born blind (9:6-9:8), but the Pharisees, the religious leaders, are still confused about Jesus' identity; they spend the majority of the passage asking questions about Jesus and the blind man. Jonathan and Seth discuss the way we can be distracted, too, from what we can readily see right in front of us, in our communities, and on the news.
We're glad you're with us! What are you seeing in the news that gives you life right now? It can be difficult to find, but we hope you can see it if you look.
Leaving Egypt, the wandering people cry out to Moses, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" (Exodus 17:3). What does this teach us about leaping from legitimate worries to thinking of the worst possible scenario? And how can Psalm 95 help us return to the problem at hand and also God's presence in our lives despite our worries? What does it look like to have worries and faith? Lent embraces worry while equally embracing stories about what God has done. In this way, it can prepare us for an uncertain future.
We're glad you're with us! We're marching steadily toward the Great Three Days, which encompasses the evening of Maundy Thursday through Easter morning. Have you given anything up for Lent? If so, what and what's your experience been like? We're love to hear about it.
What is a nation? What is the nation of Israel in "Bible Times"™? How is it portrayed in the biblical texts? How is the modern, nation state of Israel connected or not connected to that historical group? This podcast aims to be less than half an hour, so these are obviously large questions to tackle in the time, however, Jonathan and Seth set out to do just that. They look at Genesis 12:2-3:
I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
We hope this episode helps to think more critically about modern day Israel and whether its uncritical support is justified by the the biblical text.
We're glad you're with us! This episode, perhaps more than most, has the best chance to "ruffle some feathers" or upset people. Rather than jumping to conclusions, we hope you'll both listen to the end to hear our entire argument and respond in love, even if you disagree. Stay safe and warm!
Jesus is tested in the wilderness by the devil. Frankly, it strikes me (Seth) as an odd story. The devil rarely appears in the New Testament, especially not in an anthropomorphized way where he speaks and takes someone places. Instead, the New Testament authors often speak of the forces of evil or "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4). What are these strange temptations by the devil, then? Jonathan and Seth discuss them as quick fixes to deep-seated problems. That's not only an ancient problem, but one especially relevant in the age of fast shipping, 5G, and streaming services. What does Jesus' refusal to take the quick fix teach us, and how can it help us this Lent?
We're glad you're with us! This episode is released late because I (Seth, again) thought I set it to upload, but did not. I apologize! If you're digging out from the snow, we hope you'll give it a listen. Stay safe and warm!
Jesus, along with Peter, James, and his brother John, is on a mountain. While there, Jesus's clothes become "bright as light," and his face shines with a radiance like the sun's. This text and its setting are often used to talk about "mountain top experiences." Jonathan and Seth discuss how they've heard that term used, their own significant experiences of seemingly being in the divine presence, what it looks like to carry these experiences with us, and why we might be tempted to try to stay on the mountain.
We're glad you're with us. These mountain-top experiences may seem to be opposed to the coming season of Lent; however, their transformation and the call to carry on the practices or put this new knowledge to use are fitting for this Sunday that leads into Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season.
What is the point of fasting? Jonathan and Seth discuss their experiences with fasting, different types of fasts, the potential challenges of fasting, and what "true fasting" looks like according to Isaiah 58:1-9a. In Isaiah's vision, fasting has a social component; it changes how people live, and it also alters the structure of entire societies. It involves liberation, sharing one's resources, and the deep humility that requires personal transformation. It is less about abstaining from food but rather about abstaining from injustice. This seems like a pressing word for today.
We're glad you're with us! If you've listened to our episodes, we hope you know where we stand on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). To be clear, however, we unequivocally oppose ICE, its goal, the murders it's caused, and the terror it strikes in our neighbors. We hope you'll join us in condemning it.
What would a world radically shaped by God's vision look like? How would people behave? What would they prioritize? While the lectionary texts are designed to go together, this Sunday's readings seem particularly linked. This week, Jonathan and Seth read all of them, including the Beatitudes and Micah 6:8, and discuss how they connect. They talk about how they offer a different vision than what we see in the wider world, especially in politics right now. In a reversal of Michelle Obama's statement about going high when they go low, we might think of this episode about living as God's people as: "When they aim for high positions of power, we aim for lowly positions of service, humility, and love."
We're glad you're with us! Jonathan and Seth are snowed in as this episode goes live. If you are, too, we hope you're safe and warm. If your weather is nicer than ours, then we're jealous!
So much of the Bible is poetry. Obviously, the Psalms, but also the vast majority of Job, and the prophets. There are songs like those Moses and Miriam sing in Exodus 15. Paul quotes what might be early Christian hymns in his letters. Is there something peculiar to poetry that makes it the preferred medium for expressing suffering? Is it made for emotion? What can poetry, and writing poetry ourselves, help us to discover about the biblical texts? Jonathan and Seth discuss poetry in this episode. We hope it inspires you to write some of your own, too.
We're glad you're with us! This book did not come up in our conversation, but Robert Alter wrote a well-known book in biblical studies called The Art of Biblical Poetry. I (Seth) would recommend it if this episode really resonates with you. And feel free to email us poems that have stuck with you. We would love to read them.
What's in a name? How did you get your name? And what's in a name like Israel? And what baggage do we bring from our Bible reading to the modern nation-state of Israel? When we see the word Israel, do we conflate the two? Jonathan and Seth discuss how to separate these two identities. This separation (or its conflation) has real repercussions for how we view Israel today.
We're glad you're with us! While this episode talks about one specific name, Israel. We'd love to hear how you got your name or how you named your pet(s). Email us with the story. W'd love to hear from our listeners.
Have you ever had an epiphany? Suddenly, you've realized something that was not obvious before. This is one use of the word "epiphany," but the Church has historically used it more technically: to describe the revelation of Jesus Christ into the world when the magi arrive to see Jesus. They talk a little about the "wise men." But mostly Jonathan and Seth discuss these different uses of the word, why, and how epiphany differs from Christmas, and why it matters.
Epiphany is January 6th, 12 days after Christmas. We transferred it to the following Sunday, however, as some churches do. We're glad you're with us! Feel free to reach out and tell us your epiphanies, whether they're religious or not.
John's Gospel starts at a different scale than Matthew's and Luke's (Mark's just sort of starts with no nativity or infancy narrative). John starts at the beginning of creation with "He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being" (1:2-3). While Matthew and Luke "zoom in" on Jesus and the Holy Family, John "zooms out." What can we make of this difference? What does it mean to have, as some scholars have called it, a cosmic Christ? And, maybe most centrally to the Jesus movement, what does it mean that this Cosmic Christ lived among us in our very flesh and blood? Christmas is almost over, but the questions it raises are not. So, join Jonathan and Seth as they talk about them together.
Thanks for being with us! We hope the joy of Christmas carries with you throughout the year. Although we know that Christmas brings with it lots of complicated emotions, we hope joy is the lasting one.
A short, fun episode, Jonathan and Seth pray and reveal the gifts they got each other. In an attempt not to spoil the surprise, here are links to Jonathan's gift to Seth and to Seth's gifts to Jonathan.
Merry Christmas from the both of us!
Jesus and his family become refugees in Egypt. The peaceful mangers we set up at home, or the almost-life-sized ones set up at the large church in our area, look so calm. But this text reminds us that there is a political dimension to Jesus' birth that enrages Herod. Jonathan and Seth discuss how it also is also an affront to the empires and the powerful today. They talk about why we don't hear this story more often, why Jesus' stint in Egypt might be glossed over by hymn sings, and why this newborn is political - like refugees, children, and the displaced today.
We're glad you're with us! This episode hits your feed at a strange time because it is about the Sunday after Christmas, but is uploaded before Christmas. No matter when you listen, we hope your Christmas was/is joyful! And we will have another, shorter Christmas episode to listen to on Christmas Eve.
Joseph is not Jesus' biological father, or "biodad" as is growing in popularity on TikTok. But he does seem to be committed to Mary and, subsequently, to the baby Jesus. As Luke writes, "Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose [Mary] to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly" (1:9). What can we learn about commitment and calling from him? Are these different? This story clearly fits into the larger narrative of Jesus' birth, but how does Joseph fit into Advent?
We're glad you're with us! We hope that your Advent is expectant, your Christmas preparations are underway, and that you are tender with yourself as this season brings with it its many emotions.
What makes you feel impatient? What are life's small annoyances that you dislike waiting for? Unfortunately, waiting is part of life, and especially the Christian life. The Advent season emphasizes waiting and the joy that can be found in it. In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss whether they're patient wait-ers, how Advent can be a balm for the impatient among us, and even ways to be better wait-ers. While we're not sure it will help us be better servers at a restaurant, it may help us better serve those around us.
We're glad you're with us! Do you share some of our annoyances? If so, we'd love to hear from you. In the meantime, keep waiting - Christ will come again!
Advent texts, particularly the Old Testament readings, often offer a glimpse into joy, peace, and justice God’s second coming will bring. In this week’s texts, Isaiah describes unlikely animals living in peace with each other. They’re neither dominated by their prey drive or fear. What unlikely pairings might be possible today? Who can we befriend for the betterment of the world God loves? What holds us back from these relationships? In other words, what does God’s shalom look like now, as we anticipate it coming in its fullness?
We’re glad you’re with us for this new liturgical year! I (Seth) forget how much I love Advent until it rolls around again. Then I’m always thankful for its themes; I hope you experience the same.
Are you a "prep-er"? Are you prepared for anything, running through scenarios and 'what-ifs' at work, in life, with friendships, and everything in between? To start the new liturgical year, Paul wants us to wake up and be ready. Jonathan, as someone who is ever-prepared, and Seth, someone who is moderately prepared, talk about what that looks like in the life of faith. They discuss being ready as a state of being and how we can live in light of the expected return of Christ, which will bring with it unexpected joy, reversals, and new life.
We're glad you're with us! This is the 3rd recording of this episode because the sound was not cooperating for Seth. Thank you for your patience; we know our episodes usually release on Mondays, but this one wasn't ready (See what I did there?).
Reign of Christ Sunday, or sometimes called Christ the King Sunday, ends the liturgical year. It asks who is ultimately in charge and worth worshipping. But to know that God is in charge and to act like it is much easier said than done. Jonathan and Seth discuss the challenge of the phrase, "Be still, and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10) and what a faithful stillness might look like in our hurried, news-flooded world. Since this Sunday closes the liturgical year, the discussion seems like a fitting recap of much of their discussion this year.
We're glad you're with us! We hope you'll join us for liturgical year A that takes us to Matthew.
Recorded on election day, November 4th, politics was in the air. In Virginia, the gubernatorial election dominated advertisements. In Pennsylvania, the option to retain state Supreme Court justices was on the ballot. All of this was happening during a government shutdown that was affecting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). And the author of 2 Thessalonians - who may or may not be Paul - writes, "anyone unwilling to work should not eat" (3:10). To say there is a lot to talk about is an understatement! Jonahtn and Seth discuss this verse, which they've heard in the news lately, but also talk about the wider role of tradition when Christianity seems muddled.
We're glad you're with us! Votes are counted, but this episode is still relevant. We'd love to hear how you've heard the phrase, "anyone unwilling to work should not eat." Feel free to email us.
What does a theology look like that has "good bones?" What does a theology rooted in care and concern for people look like? What are its hallmarks? How is it lived? In this week's lectionary text, the Sadducees ask questions about the resurrection. Jesus, however, speaks about resurrection as a way of life so that their question about multiple husbands is moot. Jonathan and Seth discuss this idea of a resurrection faith that takes seriously questions about heaven, but then tries to bring that ideal down to earth. They attempt to find the "good bones" in the Sadducees quiz.
We're glad you're with us! Be on the lookout for a backlog of episodes that are going to post this week. We understand life's busy, and you might not have time to listen to them all, but we wanted to make them available. And they'll be here for years, so you can always listen next time Year C rolls around!
Do you crave praise? In this week's gospel text, Jesus talks about simply doing one's duty without expecting any additional reward. The job itself is the reward. Jonathan and Seth discuss why we might still want praise, but what it looks like not to need it. What does it look like to find contentment in what we're doing? How do we balance commendation and criticism? Is there anything that students and teachers can illuminate for us about that balance?
We're glad you're with us! There are multiple "weird" texts in the lectionary, and I (Seth) think this is one of them. If you'd like to talk more about it, email is; we'd love to hear your thoughts.
Psalms express a particular feeling at a particular time to a particular audience. Because they are so... particular, they can serve as the basis for new psalms and poems. This week, Jonathan and Seth start with Psalm 14 and reverse it. It helps them see the psalm in a new light and to ask questions about professing Christians "do[ing] abominable deeds" (Psalm 14:1). This helps them explore the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin, too. What are we looking for? What is worth all our energy to find? How might Scripture let us ask new, vibrant questions if we "flip" it sometimes?
We're glad you're with us! Jonathan and Seth got to see each other in person the weekend before this episode goes live. We hope that excitement comes through on the podcast.
Approximately 1/3rd of Americans do not get enough sleep. They lack rest. God, on the other hand, never needs to sleep and yet rests on the 7th day of creation. When this week’s Hebrew Bible text picks up, Isaiah is extolling the benefits of the Sabbath. So, Jonathan and Seth talk about the importance of rest. They wonder what a sabbath practice might look like that isn’t overly strict, but is still help. And they use Tricia Hersey’s book Rest is Resistance to help them consider rest more holistically.
We’re glad you’re with us. However, if you skip this episode to get some rest, we won’t fault you.
In this week's appointed gospel lesson, Jesus says, "Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!" (Luke 12:51). Generally, Jesus has been seen as a great uniter, a unifying force among disparate groups with differing identities of every sort. It's what makes this declaration particularly challenging, at least for Jonath and Seth. So, they ask what Jesus might want to separate us from, what is the historical context of Jesus' statement, and how does it apply to us today? What do we need to be divided from to follow Jesus more closely?
We're glad you're with us! We hope your summer ends well. Keep cool, keep hydrated, keep listening!
Do you have a lot of stuff? In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss the items they collect. Seth talks about his Uncle Joe, who was a hoarder (and we use that term seriously), and how he witnessed his uncle's attachment to his belongings, especially towards the end of his life. They talk a little about what we can do about all our "stuff", but more about what it means to be ready for Jesus' return by finding our security in Jesus' love for us rather than our belongings.
We're glad you're with us! We'd love to hear what items you collect; we won't judge! And if you've had success thinning your hoard, we'd love to hear about that too. Because we're glad you're on this journey with us, wrestling with what it means to follow Christ in a complex world.
The temptation exists to read Ecclesiastes as fundamentally different from the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. It's not history, not law, not like proverbs or the psalms, but a completely different genre altogether. There are themes, however, that echo throughout the entire Hebrew Bible that reverberate in Ecclesiastes as well. One of them is rest. The writer doesn't want their audience to toil constantly; that would be pointless, or vanity, or like a breeze that blows through quickly and disappears. What does rest look like? And how can people like Jonathan and Seth help others rest who don't have the opportunity to do so? What does it look like to read Ecclesiastes constructively as opposed to the ramblings of a depressed Solomon?
We're glad you're with us! Ecclesiastes is, maybe strangely, one of Seth's favorite books of the Bible. If you want to read a groundbreaking work, see Jennie Barbour's The Story of Israel in the Book of Qohelet: Ecclesiastes as Cultural Memory.
Jesus gives his disciples what is often called "The Lord's Prayer" or the "Our Father." Afterwards, he tells a story about persistence and relates it to one's prayer life. What happens, however, when our prayers go unanswered despite persistent pleas? What is the point of prayer if it is not a gumball machine, dispensing what one wants after they've paid? Who does prayer change, us or God? Jonathan and Seth discuss why prayer matters. We do it at the end of each episode, after all.
We're glad you're with us! Is there a prayer practice you've found particularly meaningful? Is there a prayer you recite often? If so, we'd love to hear from you. We apologize that this episode was released late too. Like usual, it's Seth's fault!
Jesus has some difficult-to-hear words about following him, including seemingly telling a man that he should not even return home to bury his father. In the ancient world, family may have been more important than it is today; there were no retirement homes, so family had to take care of their members as they aged. If someone ended up in prison, food was not provided. Family or friends had to bring it to them. It's into this ancient context that Jesus' words seem particularly difficult. But they're difficult today, too. What do we do when we encounter texts that seem to push against the grain we see in Scripture? Shouldn't we love and care for those who love and care for us, after all? Shouldn't we invest in our chosen or given families? Jonathan and Seth discuss how to approach and read tough texts.
We're glad you're with us! Seth returned from Greece the day before this episode was recorded, and his circadian rhythm had never been more off. It's better now, but he'd appreciate it if you gave him extra grace this episode.
When a man is purged of his many demons, it seems like cause for celebrating (Luke 8:26-39). The townspeople who knew the man, however, "asked Jesus to leave them, for they were seized with great fear" (Lk. 8:37). How do we let fear dictate how we see our future, how we see others, even how we see Jesus? Jonathan and Seth talk about this rather strange story that seems like a traditional healing, but has much more detail before and after the healing takes place in the narrative. What does this additional information help us learn about the healed, the healer, and the wider community they find themselves?
We're glad you're with us. Lately, our podcast statistics have been trending up! More people than ever are listening. If you're enjoying us or finding us helpful for your sermon preparation, we hope you'll share us with someone else, write us a review, or both.
After celebrating Pentecost, the Church turns its attention to the Triune God. This Sunday makes preaching, teaching, worship planning, and children's sermons particularly difficult because the danger of heresy seems to lurk everywhere. What if we didn't let that stop us from dreaming and exploring what God was like? Jonathan and Seth attempt to unpack what is dangerous about heresies related to the Trinity and whether there is anything we can learn from rigid rules defined in patriarchal councils convened by rulers intent on using the Church for their control. In other words, why does the Trinity still matter?
We're glad you're with us! Seth nerds out on this episode as early church history and the patristic period (from roughly 100-451 CE) piques his interest. We hope that excitment comes through.
As Target learned the hard way, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the way forward. It's also the way of God in the world as evidenced at Pentecost. So, Seth and Jonathan talk about DEI. While we've occasionally spoken around it, referenced it, or advocated for an inclusive Church, this episode tackles DEI head-on. Why do we need DEI? What are its limits? How can we go further than DEI initiatives? And how does the multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual story of Pentecost inform diversity efforts today? This episode is not political charged, unless you find any mention of diversity inherently political. It is, however, faithful.
We're glad you're with us. This episode was particularly fun to record because we could confront an issue that has been widely politicized. We hope our joy and our commitment to inclusion shine through because if you have a problem with inclusion, your problem is not with, but with God.
Situated between Jesus' ascension and Pentecost, this is an odd Sunday. One of the oddities, at least for modern readers, is that a whole household is baptized together in the appointed Acts reading. When the patriarch of the family, a jailor, decides to be baptized, he decides for his entire family. Is this merely patriarchy at play? Could it tell us something about how households functioned in the ancient world and, perhaps, something about how people can walk along with us toward our baptism? Jonathan and Seth try to sort out what's happening in this story through a lens of grace.
We're glad you're with us! As the Easter season ends, we hope you'll continue living in the joy of Christ's resurrection.
When and how do we tell difficult-to-hear truths? In this Sunday's gospel text, Jesus heals on the Sabbath. In doing so, he does what isn't expected or accepted. Speaking difficult truths can be similar. Others may expect us to "toe the line" by parroting what others in authority have said. Likewise, our truths may not be accepted or could be viewed as harsh. Jonathan and Seth discuss how this applies to the war in Gaza. It also has applications in our personal lives. As we wrestle with these, we hope it stirs questions and insights into how to break the rules, just as the water in the pool of Beth-zatha is stirred up (John 5:7).
We're glad you're with us. In this episode, they reference the book One Day, Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This by Omar El Akkad. I (Seth, here) would recommend it to anyone.
The seer John watches an entire city, a new Jerusalem, descend from heaven. While cities in the ancient world were much smaller than cities today, they were still hubs of economic and civic engagement. People lived closer to one another, interacted more frequently, and likely got into more spats. What do cities offer us that suburbs do not? What are some of their challenges? Can we develop a theology of cities? And what lessons might we take from cities to apply to our lives outside of them? After all, both Jonathan and Seth live in the suburbs now.
We're glad you're with us! As mentioned, cities were smaller in Jesus' time. Scholars estimated that roughly 20,000 people lived in Jerusalem. That's half the size of York City, so if you're unsure where or how large York is, you're close to understanding how small Jerusalem was then! Jerusalem's population, however, would swell for religious holidays.
Do you know that God cares about you? We hope so! We also hope that you'll reflect that care by caring for others. That's much easier said than done, however. What does that care look like? How can it be concrete? What is so enticing about online activism that keeps others at arm's length? What are a few concrete ways to care? In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss how we care for others "up close." We touch on all four appointed readings for this Sunday, too.
We're glad you're with us! This episode was recorded in person. We hope that joy is evident in the recording. It may also mean, unfortunately, the sound quality is a little different. Thanks for bearing with us. We'd love to hear about how someone concretely cared for you or how you've decided what your caring priorities are at noexpertsallowed@gmail.com
Saul’s conversion, or maybe more accurately his call, is full of power imbalances and power reversals. Jonathan and Seth look at this well known story through this lens to ask: how does God use and confuse power? What might that say about who has power today? Who should we be listening to because they have power in God’s kin-don, but have been overlooked, drowned out, or outright disparaged?
Thanks for joining us! We hope your Easter season continues to be full of resurrections, an awareness of God’s unconditional love for you, and the awe of Jesus rising from the dead.
The same reading follows Easter Sunday each year, the story of "Doubting Thomas" (John 20:19-31). In previous episodes, we've discussed how Thomas' reputation suffers despite being logical. When has someone risen from the dead, after all? In this episode, we explore how we might react. Do we lean into change quickly? Are we resistant to change? What makes change easier to stomach? Easter changes how we think about death, the forces of evil, and how we can live in light of them, so this episode sets the stage for the rest of this Easter Season.
In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss the Change Adoption Continuum; it features prominently in their What Would You Do In This Particular Situation question. You can see the graphic here and read more about how to lead others through change.
We hope you had a joyous Easter filled with the power of Jesus' resurrection. As always, we're glad you're with us too.
Vulnerability exists in different forms. Scholars identify physical, social, economic, and environmental as the four main types. What makes being vulnerable so tricky? Why do we feel that way when we might embarrass ourselves or not get what we want? In this episode, Jonathan and Seth talk about those feelings of vulnerability. Jonathan leads an exercise that mimics it and may help us become more accustomed to the feeling; we hope you'll participate in the exercise with us. Finally, they talk about the vulnerability surrounding the entirety of the Easter story.
Since this episode releases Monday of Holy Week, we hope this mini-season is a blessing. Try to take it all in. Sit in Good Friday's pain and confusion (even if you feel vulnerable). And, we hope, you experience the joy of Easter. We're glad you're with us.
"Hosana," people cry as Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey. Hosana means "save us." This reading, including the dramatic entrance and allusions to Caesar entering a city, bursts with political imagery. And politics is dominating the news again. This past weekend, potentially millions marched in the Hands Off protests. People on the opposite side of the aisle have seen Donald Trump as a sort of savior, even a quasi-religious one. So, what does it mean to cry "Hosana" today? What or who needs saving?
This episode focuses primarily on the palms portion of this Sunday. Frankly, we thought there was enough passion, enough suffering in the news, enough death and destruction that an episode on that portion of the day seemed redundant. We're glad you're with us! We hope you'll turn into next week's Easter episode, too.
After Mary anointed Jesus' feet and Judas hypocritically complained about the price of the perfume not going to the poor, Jesus says, "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me" (Jn. 12:8). Unfortunately, this statement has been used to justify not helping those in need. Jonathan and Seth talk about that history briefly but also about spending money on what matters. It's a discussion about how our priorities are shaped by problems we did not cause yet still influence us.
Seth quotes from Lucas Bessire's Running Out: In Search of Water on the High Plains. The majority of the book is Bessire and his dad driving through rural Kansas, meeting with farmers who pump aquifer water and people trying to limit that water use. The afterword is particularly compelling, however, in its connection to broader societal problems and what Bessire calls "the widdening of acceptable disregard."
This episode leads directly into next week's Palm Sunday reading. John's Gospel, too, looks forward to next week's lectionary reading as if to say, "Come back next week for more." We hope you'll do that! Until then, we're glad you're with us.
Luke 15 has been called "The Gospel in miniature." In this week's lectionary reading, the parable of the prodigal son is the appointed text (Luke 15:1-3; 11b-32). However, that parable is the third one in a row. So, Jonathan and Seth discussed these three parables alongside Paul's theology of reconciliation. What does reconciliation look like? Who has the power to reconcile? Are there times when reconciliation is not possible?
This episode is particularly joyous because Jonathan and Seth recorded in person. We hope that joy comes through. We also hope the sound quality is acceptable. It's even a short episode because Jonathan and Seth had to get back to playing Mario Party!
Thanks for listening. We are glad you're with us.
Who matters? That question permeates politics today. This Sunday's Gospel reading might get at the question in a roundabout way. In roughly the first half, Jesus tells a series of stories about local tragedies; in the latter half, a parable about a fig tree that a vineyard owner wants to cut down. Jonathan and Seth discuss how these stories are about "mattering," how they jettison our traditional sense of mattering because of what they produce, and offer a look into God's economy that values people over any productivity.
Be sure to tune in next week for a special episode recorded in person. Jonathan and Seth rarely get to see each other face-to-face, but had the opportunity to see each other, go bowling, play Mario Party, and find time to record a podcast episode. So, we hope you'll listen next week as well. Until then, we're glad you're with us!
At least in North America, citizenship seems to be in the news lately. What do Canadians think about the United States? Who and what is coming over the borders to affect our citizens? How do tariffs impact our citizens and hurt others? And what does it mean for Paul to write, "Our citizenship is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20)? Jonathan and Seth talk about this verse, which is often used to rationalize being separated from the earthly world. Can it be a helpful lens? How might it be particularly helpful in Lent? That seems like enough questions for one podcast!
We're glad you're with us. This episode is not very political, despite the political undertones. So, if you're weary from the news, we hope you'll listen nonetheless.
Lent begins with ashes, a physical sign of death's inevitability. If you're like me (Seth, here), you feel the ashes on your forehead and wipe them without thinking. They're still there but spread even wider across your brow. Lent may be filled with other physical signs, too. Lenten shrouds cover crosses; baptismal fonts may be dry. Are there any physical signs of God's love in your life? Jonathan and Seth talk about theirs, but more importantly, explore what to do with them. If you do not have something physical like this, Lent may be a time to find it, endow it with meaning, and see if it continues being meaningful post-Easter.
We hope Lent is meaningful, you make it Ash Wednesday (or ashes to-go), and tune in next week as we continue marching through Lent. We're glad you're with us.
After receiving the Ten Commandments, Moses comes down the mountain and his face shines (Ex. 34:30). It's like he's been to a rejuvenating spa. Likewise, when Jesus prays at the Transfiguration, "the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning" (Lk. 9.29). Being in God's presence enacts noticeable change. What might that change look like? How can we tell if someone has been spending time in God's presence? What about when two people, each claiming to spend time with God, come away with radically differing conclusions about God and how to live in the world? Jonathan and Seth talk about a lot in this episode; this topic deserves all our attention (and probably future episodes too).
We're glad you're with us! Reach out for support when needed, feel your emotions fully, drink water, and pray. If not for yourself, please do it for us. We care about you and we want you around!
I hope most Christians see forgiveness as part of our main story. Jesus talks about it repeatedly. On the cross, he asks for forgiveness for those who put him up there. Forgiveness is difficult. Forgiveness involves power dynamics. Forgiveness never completely returns the relationship to how it was before. Abusers may use Jesus' command to forgive to perpetuate harm. Jonathan and Seth try to wade through these many issues about forgiveness. How do we take it seriously without it becoming another tool for those in power? When was the last time we forgave someone? What's God's role in forgiveness? There's too much to talk about for one episode, but we try!
We're glad you're with us! Lent is coming, but until then, let's enjoy ordinary time during extraordinary times.
Luke’s narration of the beatitudes is more down to earth, more concrete. It also includes “woes” for the rich, satiated, and praised. Are Luke’s words harder for us to hear? What difference does it make that Jesus “stood on a level place” (Lk. 6:17)? Jonathan and Seth talk about how Jesus’ word can provide hope that’s similarly concrete.
It’s flows naturally from the previous episode, but listening to that is not a prerequisite. Each can stand on their own. We’re even happier you’re with us than we are with an Eagles Super Bowl victory.
Hope takes the long view. It's not merely living in expectation of the following day but for an indeterminate time some distance away. The psalmist knows about this extended hope, declaring, "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever" (138.8). For me (Seth, here), hope is in short supply. The news is as depressing as it's been. A bishop is attacked for asking for mercy. ICE raids took place in my hometown. January was a year long. What does it look like to have hope for the future? What does hope look like that is longer than 4 years? And how can we support each other so no one has to manufacture their hope alone?
I hope you have more hope than I do right now. Either way, we're so glad you're with us. Feel free to email us about what is giving you hope at: noexpertsallowed@gmail.com
This week we talk about… math? Seth describes the distributive property when Jonathan asks about the transitive property. Jonathan gently corrects him. The transitive property allows for substitutions and that opens new ways of reading 1 Corinthians 13, the classic “love text.” What can it tell us about God’s character? What aspects are often underemphasized? And what can we hear anew thanks to the transitive property? You won’t need a calculator for this episode; we promise!
We’re glad you’re with us! Because Easter is relatively late this year, the time after Epiphany stretches, so we’re hearing texts we do not often get in the lectionary. We hope you’re enjoying them as much as we are.
Ezra reads the law. It seems simple enough. But what if there was a little more to it? Nehemiah notes that "they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading" (8:8, NRSV). It's not merely recitation, but explanation. Ezra and Nehemiah attempt to make it accessible to those listening. What does that look like today? What are some ways to empower people to read the Bible? How might this podcast be part of that mission? What are some of the factors that keep people from reading Scripture or reading it in ways that might be harmful? This episode strikes the heart of what we're trying to do with No Experts Allowed.
We're glad you're with us! It's snowy and cold in Pennsylvania, for Seth, and still very cold in Virginia for Jonathan. We hope the weather is more pleasant wherever you are.
There is a controversial book When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself. Written by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, it argues that providing relief and rehabilitation for others can create an unhealthy dependency. I (Seth, here) think these claims are overblown. However, helping can sometimes do more harm than good; I agree with that premise. Jonathan and Seth discuss that. What happens when someone accuses us of hurting when we think we're helping? How do we feel? What do we do next? Who do we listen to? And, if our gifts are "for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:7), how do we ensure they're not self-serving?
Thanks for listening! We hope you're settling into 2025 and your resolutions are going strong. If someone told you they thought you were hurting when you thought you were helping, we'd love to hear about it at: noexpertsallowed@gmail.com.
At Jesus’s baptism, a voice from heaven declared him “beloved.” In Isaiah, God calls Israel “precious.” These special designations about the value of God’s people occur throughout scripture. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss what’s precious to them. They also talk about seeing others as precious and specific, concrete ways to help do that. This theme of preciousness will continue to pop up throughout Epiphany too.
We’re glad you’re with us, as always. We hope life has settled a little from the Christmas season. And we’d be thankful if you’d write us a review or send this podcast to someone you know. It really does help us grow.
Many people go home for Christmas. Home may look different, but it's home nonetheless. Hence, the Christmas classic "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays." The prophet Jeremiah also describes a homecoming. The scattered, exiled remnant of Israel will return to the land where their descendants lived, cultivated farmland, raised animals, and built homes. Jonathan and Seth discuss homecomings. What is their appeal? How does a promised homecoming give us hope for the future? What does going home look like today?
We hope your Christmas was what you needed it to be, whether you went home or not. And, as always, we're glad you're with us. We know this season is often busy, so if you skipped a few episodes, we're thrilled you're back, too!
If you've ever wondered about Jonathan and Seth's favorite Christmas memories, whether they got a gift they still cherish, or if they gave a gift that landed poorly, tune in to find out! We hope this episode gives you a glimpse into Jonathan and Seth's lives, humanizes them, and makes you nostalgic for your own Christmas memories, too.
As always, we're glad you're with us. Email us your favorite Christmas memories; we'd love to read them. Jesus Christ is with us and will be forever!
Jesus is lost; his parents take three days to notice and find him. He's in "His Father's house," as if to say, "Where else would I be?!" This snippet of Jesus as a child forms what little we know about Jesus' childhood. Matthew records Jesus' birth, but not the period between his birth and ministry. (Admittedly, some scholars have argued that the Magi reach Jesus when he is older and no longer a newborn.) Mark starts his story later in Jesus' life as well. John, as always, is doing his own "thing" and begins his at the beginning of time. We're left with just this story about Jesus as a child. Why would Luke include it? What can we learn from it? What does it tell us about listening and asking questions and, generally, having a childlike faith? Jonathan and Seth dig up these questions from well-known stories for Advent.
We're glad you're with us! A special Christmas episode will soon appear on your feed. We hope it brings you joy.
As we've declared on the podcast before, Mary knows. But how is she feeling? What is going through her mind? What does she think about herself when she hears the wonderful news of giving birth to Jesus Christ, the son of God? The text tells us little about Mary's internal dialogue, which is common in ancient texts. What is Elizabeth's role? And what might it tell us about community? Jonathan and Seth discuss Mary, a little about her song, and what Mary might teach us as we, too, wait expectantly for the coming of Christ into the world.
Be on the lookout for a special Christmas episode. We hope you'll listen to that one, too. And, as always, thanks for listening! Please consider leaving us a review; it helps others find us.
The "pink" Sunday of Advent has readings that are thematically different than the rest of the season. The Old Testament, response, and New Testament readings are joyful. In his letter to the Phillippians, Paul uses "rejoice" almost as a refrain. The Gospel reading, however, fits the theme of the rest of Advent: preparing for Jesus' coming. How do these readings connect? What does preparing for Jesus' coming look like when it is peppered with praise? What do we have to rejoice about? How can Advent be a balm in a turbulent season? Jonathan and Seth have a wide-ranging discussion this week about Advent that they hope gets you thinking too.
We're glad you're with us. Christmas is obviously coming (That's what Advent prepares us for, after all!). We hope you're experiencing some rest right now, find time to rejoice, and that this season is also a meaningful preparation time for Christmas and the New Year.
Advent and Lent have many similarities. Both are seasons of expectation and anticipation, balancing despair with hope. In some churches that use paraments (the ornamental hangings and the funky church attire), purple symbolizes both Lent and Advent. Each season is also characterized by preparation and refining. What does that look like in the context of Advent? Unlike last week's episode, Jonathan and Seth talk a little about the election and how living in a post-election might look different for them. They challenge each other to be as specific as possible and hope it also challenges you to ask how you might have an Advent state of mind each day.
We're glad you're with us during this expectant season. Are you doing anything special for Advent? Do you have a cool Advent calendar? Did you watch Josh Allen run, throw, and catch for a touchdown on Sunday? If so, we'd love to hear about it!
Although it's the Church's New Year, the lectionary texts focus on Jesus' return at "the end time." They're about Jesus' expected coming and what it looks like to be ready. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul is praying for his letter's recipients. In Luke, Jesus talks about reading the signs of his return. What would it look like to pray for others as Paul does? And how could thinking about the end times help us to pray appropriately for others? Jonathan and Seth discuss these questions and how Martin Luther and Charles Wesley answered questions about their end-time actions in this New Year Episode.
We're glad you're with us. Advent is full of an expectant joy that we hope seeps into your life; it is already starting to do its work on me (Seth, here). We'd love to hear about meaningful Advent practices or your thoughts about the election, which we frankly avoided in this episode, at noexpertsallowed@gmail.com.
While this episode was recorded before the 2024 United States Presidential Election on November 6th, the question of who will ultimately be in charge remains relevant. Frankly, it feels even more relevant to me (Seth, here) because the election of Donald Trump to a second, nonconsecutive term means the potential removal of many protections for vulnerable people. Jonathan and Seth, however, find hope in God, who will reign forever, who isn't swayed by changing political winds, who never has to worry about having "a mandate," who cares for the vulnerable's plight. We hope this episode is ultimately hopeful.
We're glad you're with us! No matter who the president is, we will continue producing podcasts because Christ still reigns. There are more theological questions to be asked. And there is more love needed in the world.
Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, have one of the few healthy marriages described in the Hebrew Bible. When she mourns her inability to have children, he asks, "Am I not more to you than ten sons?" (1 Sam. 1:8). No, unfortunately. In the following verse, Hannah goes to the temple to pray for a child. While children are infrequently named in the biblical text, the desire for a child occurs often. So, Jonathan and Seth talk about children in the ancient world and whether this desire for children extends to today. They talk about whether they want to have children, the different ways of being a parent, and the pressure sometimes put on young people to have a child.
We're glad you're with us! You may skip this episode if having a child is an emotional topic; we will not be offended and encourage you to care for yourself. Next week, there will be another episode on Reign of Christ Sunday.
In this week's Gospel reading, a widow puts everything she has into the temple's treasury. In contrast, the rich put in large sums that amount to small portions of their total wealth. Jonathan and Seth think more about the widow, considering what else she might be going through beyond how much money she has donated. How old is she? What grief does she carry? What source of income might she have? What compels her to give so much of herself when she has so little? And, finally, what can we learn from that?
We're glad you're with us! Please take extra care of yourself this week. Drink water. Get adequate sleep. Reach out to friends who may be nervous or can help calm your election anxiety. No matter what, we'll be back next week with another episode.
While Revelation contains many passages that, on the surface, seem terrifying, toward the end, John narrates a calming, almost safe story of a New Jerusalem descending from heaven. It's a relatively well-known passage often referenced when considering what the end times may be like. So, Jonathan and Seth try to hear it anew. Despite their best efforts, they uncover some political implications in the text. After all, the election is nearing, and tensions are high. So, what kind of vision does John have for us? Can it teach us about political discourse? Can we imagine a positive vision for our world and move past mere critiques?
As the election nears, we hope you're taking care of yourself. At the risk of stating the obvious: try not to let the news consume you, drink water, and prioritize self-care practices that work best for you. We can make it through this. As always, we're glad you're with us!
The theme of exile runs throughout the Hebrew Bible. While it's sometimes more explicit than others, scholars have argued that even when exile does not prominently appear, it was the lens ancient readers used to interpret the text. So, Jonathan and Seth talk about exile. They discuss its effect on ordinary people's lives, the deep longing it causes, and the joyous hope of being back together again. If we were not following the lectionary, this episode could (and maybe should) have been the first episode we produced.
We're thrilled you're with us! Have you had an experience of exile? Has that pain healed at all? Did you have a homecoming afterward? We'd love to hear about it; email us at noexpertsallowed@gmail.com
Hurricanes have been in the news lately. The cleanup will take months, and a sense of normalcy in some places may take years if it is possible at all. Meanwhile, the psalmist declares that the natural world is so stunning and masterfully designed that it points toward God. How do we make sense of these claims in light of these recent natural disasters? Do they tell us anything about God? Do they tell people "on the ground" something about God that we, sitting in our safe homes, can't comprehend? And what does a God concerned about justice have to do with these communities that were so significantly impacted? We try to unpack these theological questions and wrestle with the beauty we've seen in nature alongside the destruction in Florida and the western Carolinas.
If you're like us, the images of Hurricane Helene's flooding struck you deeply. And, therefore, we think they're worth some theological reflection. We're so glad you're with us. Please join us in praying for those affected by natural disasters and also those in Gaza, who have shown tremendous support for the hurting, despite their physical distance.
We have a lot of stuff. Compared to most of the world, those capable of listening to podcasts are doing quite well. We often, however, do not think of ourselves as wealthy. After all, some are much more affluent than us. We don't have private planes, yachts, or entourages. So, how do we read Jesus' remark, "Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me" (Mark 10:21)? Jonathan and Seth discuss the difficulties with this text. They consider how they've heard it interpreted to make it more palatable. They end by praying for help living into this teaching as people with a lot of stuff.
We're thrilled you're with us! This week's episode raises a lot of questions. I'll pose a few more here: how can one know they have many possessions? How does someone earnestly trim what they have? What do we own that helps us follow Jesus? How do we decide what to buy next? This text raises innumerable questions; we've only scratched the surface in the episode, but hope you'll continue asking them even after the episode ends.
CW: discussions of abuse, painful marriages, and scripture that people have used to trap women in harmful situations
While our episodes often touch on serious topics, this one deserves the content warning above. We mention these potentially triggering topics, but they're not most of the episode. Instead of trying to wrestle with texts about marriage's permanency, Jonathan and Seth zoom out. They discuss friendships, what makes healthy ones, and what sparked theirs and sustains it. And what pitfalls they sometimes fall into. The hope is that this discussion on friendship can illuminate the texts on marriage in healthier and more applicable ways.
We're glad you're with us. Please skip this episode if the content warning stirs fear or dread in you. It's why we provided it, after all! We'll be back next week with another episode.
Lately, there has been a lot of coverage in the news about political factions. But factions appear more than just in the political sphere. Churches, of course, can develop them too. They're equally insidious and difficult to deal with in civic, and public life. So, Jonathan and Seth talk about how these divisions take place. They start small this week; they don't try to tackle the United State's political problems like they sometimes do.
We're glad you're with us! For whatever reason, our last episode took off. So, if you're joining us again, we're thrilled you returned. We'd love to hear from you about church divisions and how we can spread out leadership to take some of the burden off of individuals (as Moses does in this week's reading) at noexpertsallowed@gmail.com
One of the defining characteristics of the Psalms is that they have little historical context. Dating them is incredibly tricky. Scholars often rely on how language develops as much as they do historical artifacts. Because of this limited historical data, they're endlessly applicable; it's why they resonate today. Jonathan and Seth discuss Psalm 1, which could be read as an introduction to the entire book. They disagree about its application. They read the psalm differently, emphasize different parts, and maybe, see the current situation differently. If one has to "read the world" alongside reading texts, this opens up many areas of disagreement. But I (Seth), think we managed the disagreement respectfully and hope it can be a model. It also makes for a classic episode of No Experts Allowed.
We're glad you're with us, regardless of if you always agree with our conclusions. Listeners bring us much joy and push us to improve our podcast. So, a heartfelt thank you.
We use our tongues a lot. We use them to swallow, speak, and help us chew food. They're the strongest muscle in the human body relative to its size. It likewise, has an outsized impact on our lives. The words it forms can edify or eviscerate. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss words and speech this week based on James' comment that "the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits" (3:5). What makes speech so powerful? How can we use it to benefit others? How does human speech mirror God's speech? There are too many questions to answer in one podcast episode, but we tried nonetheless.
We're thrilled you're with us! As the lectionary moves to the end of Year B, the texts become more apocalyptic, so stay tuned for some wild stories and discussions about the other appointed texts (as we try to skirt talking about the end times week after week).
Everyone has a name. One can change their name, use a nickname, like or dislike it, but they have a name. What does it mean to have a "good name"? And how do we develop one or protect it? Jonathan and Seth discuss names and reputations this week. They talk about how creating a lasting reputation may take a long time. And what do names have to do with God? What does this passage tell us about God's name and how God's reputation is meant to be protected? All this and a lot of laughter on this week's episode of NEA.
We're so glad you're with us. We hope you like this episode as much or more than you like your name!
What is purity? What makes someone pure? How is it maintained and how is it restored? In this week's Gospel text, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees asking questions about the practice of ritual handwashing that they do to ensure purity. Jesus responds that "nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile" (Mk. 7:15). In James, however, true religion and the idea of purity seem much more active. It's about helping orphans and widows and keeping the outside influences at arm's length. So, again, what is purity? Jonathan and Seth try to figure it out this week.
We're so thankful you're with us. We'd love to hear your thoughts on purity and whether it is relevant to our modern world. Shoot us an email with your thoughts or say "hello" at noexpertsallowed@gmail.com.
Families often shape one's faith. Frankly, that can be both positive and negative. Families can pass down unhelpful, harmful theologies. They can also spur someone to ask questions. As a mom recently told Seth, her son asked, "If Jesus breathing on someone can give them the Holy Spirit, can he also fart on them?" On a more serious note, Jonathan and Seth discuss who in their family had an unyielding dedication to God, what we can learn from them, and how we wish to sit and talk with them now. We hope this episode raises those questions about your birth or chosen family, too.
We're so glad you're with us. The weather seems to be turning where we are; we hope it's also getting more comfortable for you and that this podcast provides you comfort in challenging times.
The Bible is packed with "wisdom literature." It's most often associated with books from the Hebrew Bible, but some scholars have argued that James and portions of Ephesians fall under the umbrella of "wisdom literature" too. So, what is it? Does Jesus produce wisdom literature? What happens if we apply the lens we ordinarily use for wisdom literature to Jesus' words? Jonathan and Seth discuss how to get wisdom, where we need wisdom, and how wisdom is more than mere knowledge.
As always, we're thankful you're with us. We know we need more wisdom, so to think that people are listening to us anyway brings us great joy. We hope No Experts Allowed brings you joy too!
One of Seth's life rules is that we should always be wary when people want fewer ethics. Codes of ethics are also in the news, as President Biden proposes a binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court. In Ephesians, Paul lays out some rules for the community to follow. Could this be a source of ethics in the modern world? Could it, at least, be a start? And what happens when we don't follow them? Are there whispers of grace in this short passage? In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss these questions and get sentimental about the joys of recording this podcast.
We're thrilled you're with us. And we hope this podcast is a source of refreshment for you, as it is for us.
This episode's text immediately follows last week's text about David raping Bathsheba. Because of that, this episode may also be triggering for some. Like last week, feel free to skip this episode and join us next week when we return to discussing the appointed gospel text.
David is now forced to live with the consequences of his actions. Even his power cannot insulate him from Nathan's rebuke. What can Nathan's prophetic role tell us about participating in systems and critiquing them? How does one both hold power and use it to critique power? Jonathan and Seth attempt to answer these questions, wrestle with how to use their power, and pray for God's help transforming systems that seem almost unchangeable.
We're so glad you're with us as always. A shout-out to Jonathan this week for his flexibility with recording, editing on a tight schedule, and being graceful about it while Seth was away in Maine for vacation.
Content Warning: This episode discusses David raping Bathsheba. We understand that may be triggering and we hope you’ll tune in next week.
King David has a lot of power. He’s “the guy” to lead Israel. His military conquests are legendary. His kingdom is as big as Israel will ever be. He uses that power, however, to control and rape Bathsheba. In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss power. How do people acquire power? How do we know someone has power? How can we use it appropriately?
We’re glad you’re with us. It gives us the power to keep recording (see what we did there?).
Some of the most important jobs are dirty, tiring, and overlooked. Such was the life of a shepherd in first-century Palestine. With countless sheep to watch and threats to assess, there were no showers or Dr. Scholl's orthotics for support during long days on their feet. In this episode, Jonathan and Seth revisit the concept of shepherds, drawing parallels to modern-day teachers. They ask what lessons we can learn from shepherds, how we have been shepherded, and what it means for Jesus to be frequently compared to a shepherd.
This episode was recorded before the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. That event and last week's gospel text (Mark 6:14-29) evidence the messiness and violence of humanity. The world was messy in Jesus' time; it's messy today. But it's this sordid world that God wants to be in. God loves this chaotic, complex world and we continue to pray for it too.
So, we're glad you're with us, as always.
The Church and secular governments have a storied history, occasionally acting as coconspirators in plans to concentrate power among a few and sometimes being deeply adversarial. There's also the enduring challenge of untangling the Church from the government after they become "roommates". To make it more complex, opposite trends have simultaneously occurred in different places. Can they learn from each other, however? Can the lessons be positive? Jonathan and Seth explore these questions in this week's episode, which might - true to form - ask more questions than it answers.
A podcast without listeners is like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If we probe the depths of theology and speak prophetically against those intent on hurting others, but we do not have listeners, we have nothing. So, we're glad you're here!
Boasting can make both friends and enemies. With the right amount of boasting, one can bolster other's opinions of them. Too much, the boast-er is seen as arrogant, rude, or haughty. Paul, rather, "boast[s] all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Cor. 12.9). What does boating in weakness look like? What does boasting look like when one has been trained to embody humility? Should Christians boast? Paul does, after all. Jonathan and Seth discuss a theology of boasting in this week's episode.
We're glad you're here - as always. This week, Jonathan went through a struggle to get this episode out. The recordings sounded like robots took over the episode. We're also thankful he powered through and we could bring this episode to you!
There is much to lament if one looks around; there are also many reasons for hope. How are our laments and our hopes intertwined? Are both necessary? How does trust in God influence how we cry out, dream, despair, or get to work? Jonathan and Seth discuss these questions based on the only joyous section of Lamentations. And while this episode touches briefly on the Gospel reading (Mark 5:21-43), the interplay of despair and hope continues there too.
We're glad you're with us wherever you are on the continuum of deep despair and radical contentment. And we hope this episode resonates with you. If you're enjoying our podcast, a review helps others find us.
Do you have any unexpected relationships? Ones that make you think, "I don't know how this happened" or that you believe are misunderstood or misconstrued from the outside? In this week's episode, David and Jonathan seem to have an unexpected relationship. David is, at first, an outsider to the royal family and Saul is overtly antagonistic to him. Jonathan seems like he should be David's competitor, not his friend! What might their relationship tell us? How might it help us live in an increasingly antagonistic and divisive society? Can it offer us any hope as election season ramps into gear?
We're so glad you listen. And if this podcast has been meaningful for you, we'd appreciate it if you'd tell others about it, share it on social media, or write us a review. All of that helps spread the word - about this podcast and God's overflowing love.
"What's good?" can be more than a greeting, but a way of thinking. In this Sunday's appointed lectionary text, Jesus tells short parables about seeds. In the first, someone scatters seed on the ground; it grows, and the sower harvests it. Next, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to the tiny mustard seed that grows into a large shrub. Jonathan and Seth discuss seemingly small, positive actions happening today. What's good around the world that isn't getting enough attention? What's good that has the potential for a large impact? What's good and worth highlighting?
What's good in your life? We hope our podcast is part of that answer, but we're glad you listen wherever we rank in life's pleasures.
There are various famous "falls": Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," The Fall of Rome, the fall season, etc. Theology has discussed a different kind of fall, one that affects not only the Usher family, a single civilization, or trees, but one that leaves a permanent scar on humanity. What does it look like to read the story of "The Fall" in context? What about reading it through a lens of grace rather than condemnation? Jonathan and Seth attempt to do just that as they wrestle with how the world was created as good and still groans for redemption.
We're so glad you listen. As much as Jonathan and Seth enjoy making these podcasts, they would be worthless without an audience!
Are you a rule breaker? Jesus was. In the appointed Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus claims that King David was, too. But they don't break just any rules, run stoplights, or commit petty theft. They break rules that prevent human flourishing. Jonathan and Seth discuss "making good trouble" and how prioritizing people grows from our calling as Jesus' followers.
This episode is a day late because Seth had his days mixed up. He apologizes! We're so glad you're with us nonetheless.
Does the Trinity matter? Does it exist only to give professional theologians minutiae to argue about? Is it a manifestation of male-dominated, political church councils that should be thrown into the dustbin of history? Jonathan and Seth think it does more than describe how the members of the Trinity interact; it also expresses how people should interact. So, it more than matters.
Of all our episodes, this one seems the most appropriate to solicit listener feedback. We'd love emails about how you see the Trinity mattering, your favorite trinitarian heresy, or the best description of the Trinity you've heard (or frankly anything else). We'd love to hear from you at noexpertsallowed@gmail.com
While each member of the Trinity plays an equal role in the Godhead (to say anything else has been heresy since at least 381), in practice, the Holy Spirit often gets the least attention in mainline circles. What would focusing on the Holy Spirit for a Sunday look like? What words could we use throughout the church year to expand our names for God? Jonathan and Seth discuss just this as we end the Easter season.
We just hit 5,000 downloads and we're overjoyed. We're consistently glad you're with us.
Life's complicated. There's a myriad of choices to be made daily. Many we make unconsciously. Others keep us awake at night as we fret over the options. In the appointed psalm for this Sunday, there appears to be a clear distinction between those who are good and evil. How does one know, however, which category they're in? Jonathan and Seth discuss how we can tell if we're following God. Is it possible? If so, how can we correct course? Like many of our episodes, this one gets at the heart of discipleship.
In the background, you may hear Seth's wife, Patty, playing joyfully with their dog Marshall. We, too, are overjoyed you're with us!
One way to think about the Psalms is as ancient Israel's hymnody. Like more contemporary songs, from Bach to Beyonce, one doesn't have to understand every part of it to appreciate it. There are some opaque metaphors; others seem clear. In Psalm 98, the whole chorus of creation joins in on the hymn. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss ways that we can make worship sound more like this image. How can we get more people involved? How rowdy can worship be? What might this look like in different contexts? This episode may have a more practical focus than some of our previous ones. We hope you enjoy it nonetheless.
Thank you for listening, as always. We're overjoyed to have you with us, and you can reach us at noexpertsallowed@gmail.com.
"Love" gets thrown around all the time. "I love ice cream," says Seth. We've talked many times on this podcast about God's love. 1 John, again, emphasizes love this week. So, too, does the appointed Acts reading that narrates the Ethiopian eunuch's baptism. Jonathan and Seth ask: What does this story tell us about God's limitless love? Who are the eunuchs of today? Who are people who we, despite our best intentions, don't think belong in the church?
We're glad you're with us! We love making this podcast; the fact that anyone listens only adds to our joy.
Christian communities have read John’s account of Jesus identifying as the good shepherd for over 1,000 years. Unlike most Sundays, even the psalm relates to the gospel reading (rather than the first reading). So, true to form, Jonathan and Seth ask a lot of questions about shepherds: who are like modern shepherds? Can one identify an uncommitted hired hand? What if we focus on the sheep?
We’re glad you’re with us! Please consider helping others find us with a review or a rating. It helps tremendously.
Jesus’ followers are startled, confused, and scared. The one they’ve been following was killed like a common criminal, laid in a tomb, and now lives again - not as a ghost, but someone who really lives, laughs, and lunches. So, what now? Jonathan and Seth discuss this “what now.” What happens after you make a seemingly life-altering mistake? What happens after a loss? What happens after some type of resurrection?
We hope you saw the eclipse safely and we’re so glad you’re with us.
Each year, the Gospel reading for the Sunday after Easter is the story of “doubting Thomas.” The other readings, however, emphasize living in a community. Jonathan and Seth discuss why living in community can be so formative, why communities matter, and what the contemporary church might learn from the early Jesus-following movement.
They discuss a framework called “The Life Cycle and Stages of Congregation Development” by George Bullard, which can be found here.
We’re immensely thankful you’re with us; we don’t take it for granted!
He is risen! He is risen, indeed! On Palm Sunday, we talked about what it looks like to experience joy, about momentarily putting our pains, perils, and problems in the backseat. On Good Friday, we talked about leaning into our pain and that of others. What does it look like to integrate them? How does it look for the disciples in the aftermath of the resurrection? This Sunday's question seems to get at the heart of the Christian life: how are joy and pain mingled and how is God in the midst of them?
We're praying for a meaningful Holy Week, a joyous Easter spent with those you care about, and new life springing up in expected ways. And, as always, we're glad you're with us!
Another short and sweet episode, Jonathan and Seth talk about what it looks like to sit in suffering as the disciples. How do we make room for suffering when we're unsure when or if it ends?
Again, we're praying your Holy Week is a blessing.
As promised, this episode is short and sweet. It's primarily a long, beautifully written prayer by Jonathan aimed at helping us move into Holy Week and see Jesus' humble service as a paradigm for our own.
We hope you have a blessed Holy Week.
Palm Sunday has to do a lot of heavy lifting. To help, most services are divided into the liturgy of the palms and the liturgy of the passion. This isn't true historically, however. Now, most people cannot (or will not) come to church on Good Friday, Palm Sunday has to link Jesus' triumphal entry with his crucifixion and lead into Easter.
Luckily for us, podcasts don't suffer that problem. People can listen whenever, so this episode focuses only on the triumphal entry. We have more, short, sweet episodes coming on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Easter's episode follows the usual rhythm.
Edit: This episode should have gone live on Monday (3/18), but some guy who looks, sounds, thinks, and acts like Seth made a mistake with the upload date. He apologizes!
"What happens when it breaks?" asks Jonathan. In this Sunday's readings, covenants break and Jesus' Spirit seems broken too. Jonathan and Seth discuss how God responds to brokenness, why a theology of brokenness matters today, and what the Gospel has to say to those of us whose hearts may be broken. These passages, perhaps more than any other Lenten ones, are dark and reflective. They'll lead us to the (momentary) joy of Palm Sunday.
We're glad you're with us! We'd love it if you'd review us on whatever podcast platform you use; it helps others find the show.
The contrast between light and darkness often appears in Scripture, particularly in the appointed passages for Lent 4. These texts and this theme, however, have been used historically to praise whiteness and to denigrate those with dark skin. Jonathan and Seth discuss that pitfall, how it encourages binary thinking, how darkness can be seen as positive, and how God deigns to work with people rather than alone.
As always, we're glad you're with us!
The Old Testament reading for this Sunday is the 10 Commandments. The appointed Psalm extolls the God's law. In the Gospel reading, Jesus sees money changers and sellers using the temple-goers as profit-makers. Upset, Jesus drives them out of the temple. Jonathan and Seth discuss the law, and why Jesus might be so upset at this longstanding temple practice of selling goods and services inside the temple. They pray to close the episode.
We're glad you're with us and hope you're having a meaningful Lenten journey.
In this quick episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss the classic question: When is it appropriate to tell someone to take up their cross? Who should be encouraged to suffer on behalf of tier faith? And do these lectionary texts have a common thread?
This episode airs Monday (2/19) and is about the following Sunday (2/25). We hope to use that format moving forward so we’re more helpful for those creating material. As always, we’re glad you’re with us!
There’s water everywhere in this Sunday’s texts: the flood, to 1 Peter describing baptism, and, finally, to Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. Jonathan and Seth discuss this theme, but also how these texts evidence God’s gracious love for us and why that’s particularly important during our Lenten journey.
Look for another episode next Monday (2/19) as we settle into a consistent schedule. As always, we’re glad you’re with us.
Ash Wednesday, of course, falls on Valentine’s Day this year. The celebration of love coincides with the reminder that “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Jonathan and Seth give an overview of the appointed lectionary texts for the day. They discuss how the Gospel’s admonition not to flaunt one’s piety might fit with the practice of putting ashes on one’s forehead, and end, as always, with a prayer.
Be on the lookout for more episodes in the coming days. We’re glad you’re with us.
Jonathan and Seth reboot with a new format, new episodes, and new questions. Starting Ash Wednesday, and continuing every Sunday, they’ll discuss the appointed lectionary texts and raise questions that someone could address in a sermon or a Bible study or may want to meditate on. The new format should be shorter and more relevant for those in ministry settings, and equally engaging for those who don't 'do' church professionally.
Look for more ways to get involved soon; we’re glad you’re with us again or for the first time.
Resurrection has an impact on the entire universe. It will involve Jesus, human beings, and all of creation. What will the future of creation look like? What small but visible resurrections are taking place in nature right now? Jonathan and Seth discuss these issues. Jonathan fails the final quiz of our series, possibly for the first time in his life!
We hope your Easter is joyful and that you, too, can experience a resurrection.
Hanging on the cross, Jesus cries out the opening line of Psalm 22. The poem starts with deep pain, punctuated by statements of trust in God's presence. A savior who utters these words offers a helpline to those suffering too, who feel abandoned, but are never alone. Jonathan and Seth explore how this psalm - and Jesus' use of it - affects how we connect to people in pain. And, appropriately for Good Friday, they sit in the tension this psalm and a crucified God create.
John's Gospel uses "love" more than the synoptic Gospels combined; Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus' commandment to love one another. What does it look like to also love the natural world? What would it look like to regard the natural world as we love other people? Jonathan and Seth explore those seemingly simple questions in this short, Holy Week episode.
The valley of dry bones that Ezekiel sees resembles a modern landfill. Discarded, wasted, and loose parts are strewn about. God tells Ezekiel, however, that the bones can live and recombine into bodies. It's similar to recycling programs, which use discarded, wasted, loose plastic to create new products. Sadly, very little plastic is recycled. What would it be like if God gave the recycling process new life? In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss precisely that.
Both Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well are thirsty; they go the well at noon, the hottest time off the day. The history of Interpretation, however, has mostly focused on “living water.” What would it look like to focus on their need for refreshing, drinkable, “regular water”? Jonathan and Seth do just that in this episode that focuses on water scarcity around the globe.
Tempted in the desert, Jesus refutes the Devil's offers with quips from scripture. This story has often been used to tell Christians to defeat temptations similarly. Is that a helpful paradigm? What does it look like to read this story through a wider ecological lens? Jonathan and Seth discuss how a more expansive view of this story sees Jesus' rooted in the Kingdom of heaven and the broader mission of God in the world. How can this reading help us to defeat contemporary temptations?
We're back for 40 days + Sundays. Look for new episodes every other Sunday focused on ecologically-minded readings of Lenten texts. We'll think about environmental degradation, repentance in the context of ransacked natural habitats, and how we can reorient our lives to love Creator and creation.
We're glad you're joining us.
King Herod hears about a newborn King of the Jews. And like all despots, he wants to squash anyone who could be his political rival. This leads Jonathan and Seth to discuss contemporary politicians and their deep desire to remain in power. They discuss what this looks like when taken to the extreme and the way Jesus offers a different view of power that is not meant to be hoarded.
This episode also finishes our Advent and Christmas series on Christian Nationalism. We'll return during Lent with a new series that focuses on a new topic. Of course, we hope you enjoyed these episodes and will join us again starting on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd.
Shepherds hear about the newborn, infant Christ. People who were dirty, spent their time with bleating sheep, and were social nobodies, hear about God in flesh first. Unlike Christian Nationalism that desires proximity to power, Jesus starts his life and continues his ministry alongside the powerless. It’s good news for all of us.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and hope the joy, peace, and love of Christ fill your heart this holy day.
When he learns that Mary is pregnant, Joseph considers leaving her. But an angel appears to him saying that the words of the prophet are true: a virgin will give birth to a son, whose name will be Emmanuel. Emmanuel means "God with us;" Jonathan and Seth explore this phrase in particular. It can be coopted and used to create enemies, but it can also form a faithful foundation that stands against Christian Nationalism, which narrowly defines "us" for political gain.
John the Baptist is a wild man. He's spending time in the wild, he's eating insects in the wild, and he's wild about service to Jesus Christ. In the first installment of our Advent/Christmas season, Jonathan and Seth discuss how the wild and unexpected are antithetical to Christian nationalism. God often acts unexpectedly by flipping the norms of society and prioritizing service and those deemed "worthless."
We're thrilled to be back this Advent and Christmas season. We're even happier you're here on this journey with us.
Since last May, when No Experts Allowed stopped, Jesus has not returned. But the podcast has; we're elated to be back. With its return comes a few changes:
- We're moving to a more serial format. Rather than episodes every Saturday, we'll produce a few episodes for each particular church season that explore a different topic.
- Episodes will air on Sunday - but you're free to listen to them whenever you'd like.
- We're also planning to have more guests on the show.
Again, we're excited to be back with a new episode with our new format this coming Sunday (12/11/22).
It is finished. After 109 episodes, exploring texts from across the Bible, answering strange questions, laughing, and occasionally crying, Jonathan and Seth sign off with a special episode. They discuss some of their favorite moments and “take aways.” They read one last text together (for the podcast, at least) and pray.
Thank you, listeners, for being our cloud of witnesses. Thanks for reading the Bible and struggling with it with us. Thanks for listening!
Jesus promises the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, to accompany the disciples when he returns to the Father. The Holy Spirit will empower them in Jesus' physical absence, teaching them to live as Jesus-followers until Jesus returns. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss the central theological question: How do Christians live in the period between Jesus' ascension and return? They discuss how this passage answers that question and the Holy Spirit's continued work.
This episode is the final "regular" episode of No Experts Allowed. Next week, Jonathan and Seth will return with the last episode. They plan to continue engaging Scripture together, but not for the world to hear. Thanks again to everyone who has listened. We hope these conversations have been fruitful!
“The Way,” as the early Church was called, was exclusive to Jews, but Peter has a vision that opens the Jesus-followers to eating foods that were previously thought unclean and to accepting Gentiles into their movement. Jonathan and Seth talk about the ways grace extends to people they may not want it to extend to. This episode asks: who do we think is unworthy of grace? Why? Who am I that I could hinder God (11:17)?
Jesus' opponents want to know if he is the Messiah. "Tell us plainly," they demand (Jn 10:24). They've seen his works but want assurance. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss doubt. They disagree, discuss it, and conclude that Seth may have been too "down" on doubt. We may be unable to accompany people experiencing uncertainty if we try to avoid it. Interpreting Scripture with others can be life-giving. We hope this episode exemplifies that process, even when disagreements arise.
“Do you love me?” asks Jesus. Just as Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus asks Peter whether he loves him three times. In English, the questions seem repetitive, but the Greek forms of “love” help clarify Jesus’ questions. Jonathan and Seth discuss this passage as great storytelling and a profound narrative about grace. It’s one of Jonathan’s favorite passages; we hope this episode becomes one of your favorites as well.
Revelation can be scary. But, like the whole Bible, it doesn't have to be. Looking for Jesus, knowing that Revelation addresses a particular time and place, and embracing the unknown help tame it. Since this is the podcast's first dive into Revelation, Jonathan and Seth give a short primer to the book. They discuss how Revelation can encourage people during difficult circumstances. The pair also connect this text to the Easter season and discuss why the lectionary compilers may have included it.
No one rises from the dead. That's why many of Jesus' disciples did not believe the news that the stone sealing the tomb moved and that it was empty, except for Jesus' folded clothes. Thomas receives the worst treatment for his unbelief. He's "doubting Thomas" for almost 2,000 years. Mary, however, encounters Jesus in the garden and believes. Jonathan and Seth discuss who we trust and what that says about God. It's an episode about shifting the focus so that people previously on the margins are now at the center.
We wish everyone a joyous Easter and the resurrection life Jesus offers!
Around 1700, a Catholic priest in Peru created a service commemorating Jesus’ three hours on the cross and his final words. Traditionally, it runs for 3 hours. Jonathan and Seth adapt this service for this Good Friday episode and condense it to roughly 10 minutes. They encourage you, however, to pause and reflect on Jesus’ sayings.
The next episode airs on Easter Sunday (rather than the usual Saturday schedule). They wish you a blessed Holy Week.
Entering Jerusalem, Jesus emanates peace. He knows what will happen there and has alluded to it frequently to the disciples. More importantly, Jesus knows who he is. Jonathan and Seth discuss how we achieve this peace in our daily lives. It looks similar to Jesus': knowing whose we are, neither overinflating our ego nor belittling ourselves. Inner peace can affect the world too, make others feel at ease with us, and bring out the best in them. It can do all this even on the way to a cross.
After one hundred episodes (counting only a handful of re-airs), Jonathan puts Seth’s Bible knowledge to the test against two longtime friends. See how Seth fairs and whether he can continue hosting No Experts Allowed.
We’ll return next week with an episode related to Palm Sunday. Until then, thank you to all our listeners, whether you’ve listened once or have been following us for almost two years. We’re glad you’re journeying with us through the Bible.
This episode is marked “explicit” because Seth swears during the second round of Bible trivia.
Reconciliation involves power dynamics. The two parties are rarely equal. This inequality applies to God who “reconciled us to himself through Christ” (2 Cor. 5:18) and, in turn, gives people the task of reconciling too. Jonathan and Seth, however, discuss how people may force reconciliation or use it to maintain the status quo. They discuss how reconciliation is ultimately God's doing and not to be coercive. To hear this passage in a new light, they turn to Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of the Bible, The Message.
If you're like us, you're familiar with the phrase: "My plans aren’t your plans, / nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord" (Jer. 55:8). It often loses its context; it stands alone. Jonathan and Seth discuss how they've heard this verse cited. They also discuss Israel's situation in exile as the background for Isaiah's pronouncement. This context helps them hear the phrase as comforting to people with an uncertain future.
Abram "cuts" a covenant with God. But this covenant requires children; Abram's heir is enslaved, who Abram does not want to receive the inheritance. Later in Israel's history, being enslaved in Egypt will become central to their identity. Jonathan and Seth use this reversal to discuss how what bothers us about ourselves may also bother us when we see those qualities in others. It's a reflective episode, perfect for lent.
Declarations that “Jesus is Lord” (Rom. 10:9) inevitably also declares that others are not lords. Caesar was not in antiquity, neither are contemporary despots, nor employers, or partners. But how does one decide what and who to support? Jonathan and Seth tackle that question and apply it to the conflict in Ukraine.
With the late Thomas Merton we pray for peace: “Teach us to be long-suffering in anguish and insecurity, teach us to wait and trust. Grant light, grant strength and patience to all who work for peace. Grant us prudence in proportion to our power, wisdom in proportion to our science, humaneness in proportion to our wealthy and might. And bless our earnest will to help all … peoples to travel, in friendship with us, along the road to justice, liberty and lasting peace.” (Taken from the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative)
Jesus’ transfiguration is communal. Peter, James, and John accompany Jesus up the mountain; Moses and Elijah appear. Just like “no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed” (Luke 8:16), Jesus’ glistening and glorious face shines onto the disciples. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss its communal element. Jesus’ glory continues to shine in communities too- in churches around the world, between friends, and through this podcast’s community.
Jonathan's break was looking up: he moved, started a new job, and was approved for ordination. Seth's break was rockier: he had emergency surgery after losing vision in his left eye. They each note that these felt like rewards or punishments. So, they discuss how "getting what you deserve" embeds itself in our theologies. While one may resist loving their enemies, the idea of karma can seem simple and attractive.
Since this passage includes Jesus' admonition to "love your enemies," we pray using words from Yusef Iman's poem of the same name, which one can read here.
Theologians have produced many theories to explain suffering, but sometimes it seems to simply happen with no reason and with no long term gain. The reality of suffering seems as relevant as ever. Communally, more than 2,000 people die of the coronavirus daily in the United States alone. Personally, Seth’s retina detached in his left eye, leaving him partially blind and in need of surgery. So, we re-air this episode about Job, the role of the Adversary, and the complexities of suffering.
Assuming Seth’s eye recovers as expected from surgery, a new episode will air next Saturday, February 19th.
Robert Alter calls the book of Esther "Carnivalesque." He notes that no competent empire would have irreversible decrees. The king is portrayed as a buffoon, incapable of making decisions. The book serves as the origin of the Jewish festival of Purim. Jonathan and Seth discuss Pirium, which commemorates the day Jews were to be killed, and how we recall negative situations.
Over the next few weeks, Jonathan settles into a new house and a new job, so we will return with a new episode on February 19th. Until then, we'll re-air two of our favorite episodes from the last few months.
In a few verses, the crowd switches from praising Jesus to attempting to throw him off of a cliff. They are irate because Jesus tells them he will not perform the same miracles for them as he did in Capernaum. His mission is broader than that, and he cites two texts from the Hebrew Scriptures to prove that God's plan has always been that way. Jonathan and Seth discuss how we react when we see God working in others' lives and not in our own.
Over the next few weeks, Jonathan settles into a new house and a new job, so we will return with a new episode on February 19th. Until then, we'll re-air two of our favorite episodes from the last few months.
Bodies have a complicated history for many. Some people like theirs; others feel uncomfortable in theirs. Peoples' feelings about their bodies and their bodies themselves change over time. Paul's words, however, remain unchanged, except for translation changes. Jonathan and Seth use this as an opportunity to read from The Message, talk about how this passage can be heard differently by people with different experiences of their body, and whether the "Body of Christ" is a helpful metaphor today.
This episode connects to last week's, but listening to that episode is not a prerequisite. Either stand on its own.
Paul lists the gifts of the Spirit and emphasizes that they are varied, but all from God and all beneficial. It corrects to the Jesus followers in Corinth who were prizing speaking in tongues over God’s other gifts. Jonathan and Seth fall into the same trap, focusing initially on speaking in tongues to the detriment of the other gifts. They end up discussing speech more generally, preaching using manuscripts, and how they prep for podcasts episodes.
John’s Gospel starts unlike the Synoptics. Rather than beginning “zoomed in” on a family or a young, soon-to-be pregnant girl, John starts his narrative at the beginning of time and space. Jonathan and Seth explore why this narrative differs so much from the other gospel openings, what are the implications, and whether these discrepancies should distract us from the stories.
The pair returns to their respective studios this week. With that return comes more consistent audio.
The Christ Hymn, Philippians 2:6-11, often loses its literary and historical context. Theologians latch onto Christ's kenosis, Christ's self-emptying, and spin that word into entire theological systems. Paul, however, places this early Christian hymn in a letter to the Philippians as a model for their behavior. Jonathan and Seth try to read this text in context, struggle with its implications for people with privilege, and see it as the key to unlocking the rest of the letter.
This episode was the last to be recorded in person; next week, we will return to Zoom and its improved audio quality.
Jonathan narrates A Visit From Saint Nicholas by Clement C. Moore while Seth provides the sound effects for this beloved Christmas classic. After, they read Luke's account of Jesus' birth.
We acknowledge not everyone experiences Christmas merrily, so we hope your holiday is gentle and full of the Christ child's grace.
Mary’s song declares that God has looked with favor on the lowly and will confound the mighty. As the one chosen to carry the Messiah in her womb, Mary experiences this reversal, which convinces her that God will upend social systems too. Jonathan and Seth discuss -in person- the tendency to emphasize either her personal or communal statements. She is viewed either as a mother or a social revolutionary, but rarely both. They seek to hold her whole identity together.
After 84 episodes, Jonathan and Seth record their first episode in person. John the Baptist proclaims a coming Messiah greater than him, but the crowd questions "whether he might be the Messiah” (3:15). Jonathan and Seth discuss how we can tell messengers from the Messiah, who we follow as political messiahs, and how leaders can ensure that people do not mistake them for the One coming after.
Since we recorded this episode in person, the audio quality may be inferior. We hope, however, that our excitement comes through nonetheless.
Malachi addresses people post-exile who remember an extravagant, vibrant Jerusalem. They also anticipate a coming messenger. They live in an interim time. So, following last week's episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss the technical terms "anamnesis" (a holy remembering) and "prolepsis" (looking forward). The pair discusses what worship practices help us remember, help us look forward, and how those intertwine in Advent.
This episode relates to last week's, but listening to that episode is not necessary. Each can stand on its own too.
The beginning of the Church year starts with a passage about the end times. Advent is apocalyptic because, while it looks back at the historical birth of Jesus Christ, it also anticipates Jesus' return. Apocalyptic texts present some challenges, however. Most notably, what to do with them? Jonathan and Seth discuss this passage as people living in the interim period, like Luke's audience, who are waiting for Jesus' return and asking questions about what that waiting looks like in the meantime.
They mention a video called Gandhi II, which one can view here.
Humphrey Bogart's final words were, "I should have never switched from Scotch to martinis." In this week's episode, we have David's last words. Like Bogart's, however, the reports may not be accurate; nonetheless, they are true. Memories of last words and memories themselves are tricky; a gap always exists between the memory and the historical event. Jonathan and Seth discuss the effect of memory-making, why this gap matters, and how it influences our interpretations.
As is often a biblical theme, Hannah is unable to have a child but wants one deeply. In the temple, she prays silently for a son, which makes Eli presume she's drunk. But God has heard her. Jonathan and Seth discuss the effect of hearing, how it can ease anxieties, and reassure us that we're safe. Each of them shares a story about being heard. Because these stories involve emotional distress, they may be triggering for some. In that case, we hear you; please stay tuned for our next episode, which will air next week!
The psalmist exclaims, "Don’t trust leaders; / don’t trust any human beings— / there’s no saving help with them!" (v. 3). This past Tuesday, however, was election day across the United States. Can Christians engage with political institutions? If so, how do they do so? What about institutions that are not political but are businesses? Jonathan and Seth take on this broad topic, talk about engaging with institutions faithfully, and why one should never blindly obey any institution.
The ecumenical Revised Common Lectionary offers an optional reading for Reformation Sunday. Always used by Lutherans, but never used by Catholics, the text is the same every year. Jonathan and Seth use this passage as a springboard to talk about being “free” and the baggage that accompanies freedom for Christians living in America.
Like last episode, this one follows the new format. Because of that, it’s shorter since we haven’t perfected our timing. Let us know, however, how the new format works and leave us a review on whatever podcast platform you use.
A blind beggar named Bartimaeus yells loudly to get Jesus' attention. Jesus stops to heal his eyesight, causing the man to follow Jesus. The crowd, however, was less welcoming to Bartimaeus, telling him to "shush." Jonathan and Seth talk about who they connect with in the text. They also discuss how society ordinarily treats beggars at a roadside. They talk about the connections between this text and last week's (which immediately precedes it in Mark), but listening to last week's episode is not required.
This episode debuts a slightly revised format; please let us know your thoughts and leave us a review.
James and John want to sit at Jesus' right and left hands. After they ask Jesus for this privilege, he radically redefines greatness. The disciples are asking the wrong question at the wrong time. They're, however, not alone. Jonathan and Seth discuss how questions create the opportunity to re-examine what we believe and rebuild. Rethinking happens for Jesus' disciples; it can happens for Jesus-followers two millennia later. They also talk about some resources that significantly shaped their theologies and the importance of "deconstructing" with others.
Jonathan mentions the book When Momma Speaks: The Bible and Motherhood from a Womanist Perspective, which is available here.
The writer of Hebrews makes many connections and allusions to the Jewish Scriptures and sees Jesus as the culmination of Israel's high priests. If Jesus is the high priest, mediator, and Word of God, where does that leave the Bible? Jonathan and Seth tackle this question head-on. Seth talks about Luther; Jonathan about the topic at hand. They also discuss how to interpret the Bible and how their thinking shapes this very podcast.
They give a shout-out to The Inverse Podcast hosted by Jarrod McKenna and Drew Hart, who recently interviewed Dr. Wilda Gafney about a similar topic. You can find that episode here.
A modern proverb claims that college students can either sleep, receive good grades, or have a social life but can only pick two. In Job, one can either believe in a retributive God, Job's righteousness, or Job's suffering, but can only pick two. This episode roughly outlines Job, as does the Revised Common Lectionary over the next 4 weeks. Jonathan and Seth discuss the role of the Adversary, Job's wife, and pain's complexities. They end equally as confused as Job, a biblically supported place to be.
In Esther, the king signs an edict so that on the 13th day of Adar, Jews throughout Persia would be killed. Esther's bravery prevents this from happening, the Jews are allowed to fight back, and the orchestrator of the massacre dies instead. Thus, the book presents the origin of the Jewish festival of Purim. Jonathan and Seth cover the story in more detail since this is the podcast's first dive into Esther. They also discuss how people commemorate anxiety-inducing experiences (or worse) and how they later reshape that story.
Of the Gospels, Mark casts the disciples in the poorest light. In this week's passage, for instance, they argue about who is the greatest. When Jesus asks them what they're talking about, "they kept quiet" (9:34). This silence allows Jesus to speak about what accounts for greatness, welcoming little children, and the inclusive character of the kin-dom. Jonathan and Seth discuss first-century views on children compared to today and how welcoming a child would have been radically countercultural in a world that necessitated productivity to ensure survival.
Using a series of analogies, James notes the relatively small tongue has oversized power. One's tongue can utter evil one moment and seemingly praise God in the next (3:9-10). Like the tongue, however, the good and the bad are entangled when people speak truth that is difficult to hear. Jonathan and Seth consider how uncomfortable truths can be difficult to receive and may also be liberating. Some uncomfortable truths even illuminate what one has been worshiping and reorient one to God. Despite the tongue's power, God's relentless love can overcome the harshest human speech.
Perhaps more than any other gospel story, Jesus' encounter in Mark with the Syrophoenician woman paints Jesus in a poor light. In a surface-level reading, Jesus appears to compare the woman and Gentiles to dogs. Her sassy retort that "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs" (7:28) appears to change Jesus' opinion of her so that he heals her daughter. Scholars have debated this text, and Jonathan and Seth discuss some of the proposed interpretation options. One option sees the woman as a theologian who understands who Jesus is and what Jesus can do, which leads to a conversation about who does theology and who is excluded as if they were a Gentile of Syrophoenician origin.
Martin Luther's distaste for James neither prevents the lectionary from including it nor Jonathan and Seth from discussing the book. James has historically received little attention or been disparaged because of its apparent differences with Paul's work. Jonathan and Seth, however, discuss what it looks like to read biblical texts and look for narrative and counter-narratives. The stories are not linear and do not contain one single arc, but evidence various viewpoints that may be compatible and sometimes not. This episode is as much about the art of reading sacred stories as it is about James.
The armor of God may have given strength to latent Jesus-followers. As a ragtag, small, minoritized group, protection would have sounded helpful. The author, however, states that battles fought with God’s armor are not physical ones; conflicts are against unseen enemies. Jonathan and Seth discuss how this can help Christians consider institutions and systems and prevent demonizing individuals. They reference Bibleman, a video series that ran from 1995 through 2010. One may view the humorous armor of God sequence here.
After following Jesus and being amazed when 5,000 are fed on the shoreline, Jesus comments that "If you don't eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves (Jn. 6:53) cause many to stop following him. This phrase and the early Jesus-followers' practice of communion caused the emerging Church to be called cannibals and barbarians by outsiders. Jonathan and Seth discuss what it looks like to follow Jesus even when his words are mysterious and often countercultural.
Scholars debate the audience of Ephesians. Since little in the letter addresses a specific congregational issue, it may have been written to Ephesus or Jesus-followers elsewhere. No matter the audience, the end of Ephesians is instructive: the author describes not only what not to do but also what one should do. Jonathan and Seth discuss how the Church has historically focused on rules without offering a corresponding, positive action.
Martin Luther's Small Catechism gets a shoutout, which can be found here.
The Revised Common Lectionary's compilers occasionally splice stories in unexpected places. They cut verses five through eight in this case because they were repetitive: the Israelites complain again. They are starving and lament the fact that there is nothing to eat in the wilderness. God responds by providing manna. The manna appears magically each morning, but the announcement of this new food supply catches Jonathan and Seth's attention.
Instead of using the term "miracle," John's Gospel refers to these supernatural occurrences as "signs." When Jesus feeds 5,000 people and walks on water, John combines the two events into a single sign. Jonathan and Seth discuss how these two stories connect, how to understand Jesus' miraculous multiplication of loaves, as well as how we think about scarcity or a lack thereof.
We return from a hiatus to what may be the most well-known Psalm from the most popular translation of the English Bible. Jonathan leads the discussion on Psalm 23, prompting them to think about the difference between comfort and consolation. As they both (but mostly Seth) returned to the rhythm of podcasting, some technical hiccups occurred in this episode. We hope none spoil the content.
No Experts Allowed returns with a new episode next Saturday, July 17th. Until then, Seth and Jonathan are practicing self-care, traveling, and reading. They each selected their favorite episodes of the first year to highlight:
Claiming that "Jesus Christ is Lord" denies lordship to Caesar. The differences between the two, however, contrast with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Caesar rides the finest horses; Jesus borrows a colt. Caesar enters with an entourage; Jesus enters with a small group of disciples without armor or weapons. The counter-cultural and empire-critical reading confronts the powerful today, including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezo.
No Experts Allowed returns with a new episode on July 17th. Until then, Seth and Jonathan are practicing self-care, traveling, and reading. They each selected their favorite episodes of the first year to highlight:
Isaiah writes to the exiles in Babylon about a God who never tires. God has been there since earth's founding and will continue to be present, thereby empowering the exiles to persevere too. This episode is quintessential No Experts Allowed: A discussion of the text and its context coupled with a lively talk about how Jonathan and Seth hear it and how might the ancient audience receive it too.
No Experts Allowed returns with a new episode on July 17th. Until then, Seth and Jonathan are practicing self-care, traveling, and reading. They each selected their favorite episodes of the first year to highlight:
Jesus' "parable" of the Sheep and the Goats is not a parable at all. It does not start with the formulaic phrase, "The kingdom of God is like." Instead, it acts as a roadmap to finding Jesus in the present: he's with people who are thirsty, hungry, naked, imprisoned, ill, addicted to substances, living under the effects of environmental degradation. The parable is both political and not political, which is worth rehearing.
No Experts Allowed returns with a new episode on July 17th. Until then, Seth and Jonathan are practicing self-care, traveling, and reading. They each selected their favorite episodes of the first year to highlight:
Rejoicing during a pandemic, even one that appears to be slowing, creates difficulties. The Philippians -and Paul himself- are in difficult circumstances too. Paul is in prison. Yet, he cajoles the recipients to rejoice and focus on "whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable" (Phil. 4:8). This joy in the face of distress is worth revisiting.
No Experts Allowed returns with a new episode on July 17th. Until then, Seth and Jonathan are practicing self-care, traveling, and reading. They each selected their favorite episodes of the first year to highlight:
In their first episode, Jonathan and Seth discussed the beatitudes as a calling. They hope to reframe these well-known verses and overcome their on-air jitters. This episode is timeless in its content while showing how the show has improved and grown over time.
As is Mark's custom, a lot happens in this short section: Jesus goes home but is too busy to eat (Mk. 3:20), scribes accuse Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebul (3:22), Jesus warns about an unforgivable sin (3:29), and Jesus redefines his family (3:35). Jonathan and Seth touch briefly on each topic and engage in-depth the new family that Jesus-followers have and experience in communion.
The Common English Bible (CEB) translates Paul's idea of "liv[ing] according to the flesh" as "liv[ing] on the basis of selfishness" (Rom. 8:12). This small shift prevents people from thinking about the flesh and the spirit as opposites; it also clarifies that Paul is against living for oneself, but wants the Romans to be oriented outward to others. Jonathan and Seth discuss this outward orientation and how it mirrors Christ's ministry.
Pentecost is God’s “yes” to diversity. Visitors to Jerusalem from all different backgrounds hear about God’s deeds of power in their mother tongue. Like Jonathan and Seth, they ask, “What does this mean?” This episode discusses diversity in the Church at large and how that is reflected in local congregations.
The rarely used Athanasian Creed (of which little is known for certain, but that Athanasius did not write it) is a long, elaborate declaration about the Trinity and the oneness of God. When Jesus prays for his disciples, he mentions this oneness repeatedly: that he is one with God and that God's people should be one too. Jonathan and Seth discuss the many connections this oneness facilitates in the Christian life.
Praise punctuates the psalms. In Hebrew, the name of the book of Psalms, Tehillim, means "praises." Psalm 98 is a paradigmatic praise psalm. People are singing, playing instruments, and shouting for joy - even creation joins. Jonathan and Seth discuss its imagery, how people worship differently, and the communal nature of praise.
"God is love," writes John. The difficulty with this statement is that people give, receive, and experience love differently. Jonathan and Seth examine the context of this well-known phrase to better understand God's idea of love. They make a list of what this passage says about love because it is so rich. They end, of course, by praying to the one whose love overflows for all creation.
Imagining Jesus as the good shepherd has become popular everywhere sheep can be found. This good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep; that commitment is lacking in the hired hand, who flees at the first sign of danger (John 10:11-12). Jonathan and Seth read from a special translation, speculate on the identity of the hired hand, and consider how God's people are also called to be shepherds.
Psalm 4 reads like a litany, with various petitions strung together to form a loose poem. There appears to be little structure and, as is the case with all Hebrew poetry, no ending rhyme. Fortunately, Jonathan and Seth also welcome their friend and professor, Dr. Brian Smith, to help them make sense of this mess. In the process, they discuss the God who is always present in the midst of humanity's messes.
The early Jesus followers pooled their resources. Some have argued this is a model for the Church today too. The portrayal in Acts, however, is less than perfect; not everyone wants to take part. Jonathan and Seth talk about what possessions they hold dear - perhaps too dear - and how Jesus' resurrection challenges us to give away more than we're comfortable with.
The original ending of Mark is abrupt. Mary, Mary, and Salome arrive at an open tomb, a young man wearing white tells them of Jesus' resurrection, and they leave petrified. Jonathan and Seth discuss the hope and fear evidenced in the women's experience and how those feelings may have been present for Mark's audience. They also talk about how hope and fear feel appropriate for today's context.
In the spirit of a Tenebrae Service (Latin for "shadows"), Jonathan and Seth read through John's story of Jesus' trial. In this Holy Week episode, they pause only briefly to talk about what struck them and invite their listeners to do the same. Otherwise, they let the story of the convicted criminal Christ speak for itself.
Before his crucifixion, Jesus washes the disciples' feet and gives them a new commandment to "Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other." In this Holy Week episode, Jonathan and Seth talk briefly about their (in)experience with foot washing and the simplicity of Jesus' final command.
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem is only "triumphal" compared to the usual poor Palestinian's arrival. It pales in comparison to Caesar's parades, pomp, and his accompanying posse. Jesus' disciples even have to borrow a colt for him to ride. Jonathan and Seth discuss this story as a critique of the Roman Empire and wonder how empires manifest today to control people's lives.
In exile, Jeremiah declares that God will make a new covenant and will embed God's teachings inside God's people. The teachings are no longer written on stone tablets or papyri but move wherever people do. Jonathan and Seth discuss how this eliminates barriers between clergy and laity and also affirms human dignity.
When the Israelites complain about their conditions wandering in the wilderness, God sends venous snakes among them. To combat these nuisances, Moses constructs a pole with a snake at the end that heals anyone who looks at it after they've been bitten. Later, in Kings, Hezekiah destroys this piece of artwork that people are making sacrifices to. Jonathan and Seth discuss how items may be helpful at one point and later becomes idols.
Jesus clears the temple court when he finds it looking more like a market than a sanctuary. This passage is infamous for the "whip of cords" Jesus fashions, which some Christians have cited to justify violence. Jonathan and Seth discuss Jesus' use of the whip and how the temple market exploited people living at the subsistence level. They also wonder how contemporary religious communities create socioeconomic restrictions on attendance.
When Jesus predicts his coming suffering and death, Peter rebukes him. In response, Jesus quips, "get behind me, Satan!" After this re-Mark-able interaction, Jesus talks about following him and the need to lose one's life to find it. Jonathan and Seth discuss what that might mean today and how this text can be misapplied to people already on the brink of losing their lives and livelihoods.
Psalms evidence and form theology. The Israelites sang what they believed and, in turn, believed what they sang. The same is true for psalms and hymnody today. So it is no wonder that images of following God's path are popular. Jonathan and Seth, however, discuss whether there is only one path to follow and how one can decide when to change course.
Jesus' transfiguration confuses Peter, James, and John. Peter even blurts out that they should immediately build memorials. The story has been equally as confusing to later interpreters. Jonathan and Seth discuss it in light of Jesus' baptism and ask many questions, some of which they answer.
Isaiah proclaims to the exiles in Babylon that no one compares to God. God does not grow weary, while even "young men stumble and fall" (40:30). Seth and Jonathan wonder how this was received. Isaiah's words could be painful for people living under a foreign empire, but the tireless God can also empower people to be tireless in their perseverance.
Paul summarizes his résumé for the Galatians. His words, however, irk Seth and Jonathan, who read this section as Paul bragging about himself and his accomplishments. They discuss whether arrogance is humanity’s chief sin and what it looks like to see ourselves as God sees us.
Jesus calls his disciples and tells them they will be “fishers of men.” The term “evangelizing,” however, often has negative connotations, but Jonathan and Seth hope to reframe, rethink, and reimagine evangelism.
We mention Leonard Sweet’s book Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God Who’s Already There, which is available from an independent bookseller here.
Samuel hears God's voice at night, repeatedly mistaking it for Eli's. When Eli realizes God is speaking to Samuel, he tells him to respond to God. Thus begins Samuel's prophetic and administrative duties for Israel. Jonathan and Seth talk about their own call stories, the nudges they've felt pulling them toward ministry, and the grumbles that have pushed them away.
Historically, the Church has claimed God creates ex nihilo (Latin for out of nothing).Genesis, however, assumes chaos already exists when God begins creating. In a turbulent world, Jonathan and Seth discuss the chaos they want to see transformed in their own lives and pray to the One who can dispel chaos with a word.
A short section on the Beloved Disciple (traditionally John himself) and whether he will die ends John's gospel. It is a strange passage, perhaps the strangest one we've covered so far. It leads Jonathan and Seth to talk about how they want to be remembered in their eulogies.
In Jerusalem for Jesus' circumcision, Mary and Joseph are approached by Simeon and Anna, who recognize Jesus as a redeemer. Jonathan and Seth discuss how Jesus' identity begins to spread, the purpose of stories about Jesus' early life, and teenage Jesus.
Since this episode releases on December 26th, we hope your Christmas was full of the joy that God's incarnate Son brings.
King David's desire to build a temple is curtailed by God's desire to stay in the moveable tabernacle. God wants to be mobile, moving with God's people. Jonathan and Seth discuss how this passage relates to Advent and Jesus Christ, the walking talking God-with-flesh-on.
Mary's Magnificat and Luke's narrative lift up the role of women in the Church. Unlike the traditionally passive portrayal of Mary in nativity stories, Mary has agency. She takes center-stage, singing a song about God's work in the world and in her womb. Jonathan and Seth wrestle with how women have been historically excluded in the Church because of men like them.
John the Baptist tells the truth. When Mark begins, John is in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance and telling about the one to come after him. Jonathan and Seth discuss baptism and how it empowers Christians to tell the truth.
Isaiah cries that God has hidden God’s face. The miraculous deeds of the past have ended. Yet, Isaiah is confident that God is the potter and God’s people are the clay, which Jonathan and Seth discuss in more detail.
Jesus' story of the sheep and the goats continues Matthew's theme of Emmanuel, God-with-us. Jesus is with us in the hungry, thirsty, outcast, naked, sick, and imprisoned. Jonathan and Seth explore how the disarming simplicity of providing food or a drink to someone can complement reforming entire systems.
Psalms 120-134 are Songs of Ascent, which were sung as pilgrims went up to Jerusalem, which sat on a hill. These Psalms combine praise with poetic descriptions of Israel's past; they describe where the people of Israel are going and where they've been. With Psalm 123 as a guide, Jonathan and Seth discuss the state of the Church and where it needs reform.
Jesus’ parable of the 10 bridesmaids cautions us to stay awake and be prepared because “you do not know the day or the hour” (25:13). Jonathan and Seth try to read against the grain while wrestling with the parable in light of God’s love.
Micah rails against Israel's injustice as the Assyrian army encroaches. He blames the oppression by influential rulers, priests, and prophets for Israel's situation. We discuss the failure of those in power to listen to the needs of people "who [can] put nothing into their mouths" (3:5).
When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus answers with two of them: love God and love your neighbor. Jonathan and Seth discuss how these two commandments are intertwined. They also disagree about which gospel is the greatest.
In what might be the oldest book in the New Testament, Paul praises the Thessalonians for being models to others in their region. Jonathan and Seth discuss what being a model might look like and how the early, persecuted Jesus-followers differ from the contemporary Church.
Paul writes to the Philippians from prison; the letter-carrier, Epaphroditus, almost dies during his journey (Phil. 2:25-30). Yet Paul's letter is characterized by joy. Jonathan and Seth discuss what rejoicing in the Lord looks like and how admonitions to "Rejoice!" land differently depending on the position of the sender and recipient.
Jonathan and Seth welcome their longtime friend, Jared Lorraine, to the podcast. We discuss how the Sabbath disconnects what people produce from their value and how rest relates to equity and justice.
Our discussion briefly comments on the book Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now by Walter Brueggemann, which is available from an independent bookseller here: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780664263294
Just after this short section, Joshua is appointed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land instead of Moses. Jonathan and Seth talk about preparing for one's successors and having bifocal-like vision that sees both immediate and long-term goals.
When we hear Jesus say, "it’s easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom," we may be stunned like his disciples. Many interpreters try to make this message more palatable, but it is clear that the disciples have given up everything to follow him. Jonathan and Seth discuss what it looks like to take Jesus' admonition to heart today and how difficult that is.
The Lord's Prayer comprises one of the most well-known portions of scripture but is often recited verbatim rather than functioning as a model prayer. Jonathan and Seth explore how prayer reorients us from ourselves back to God and how reading various translations helps us see familiar passages in new ways.
We discuss God's command to Moses to warn Pharoah about the final plague. But only Pharoah wants the Israelites to stay; even Pharoah's servants respect Moses. This leads us to a discussion about confronting injustice when those in power are unwilling to act.
Jeremiah pleads for the widows, orphans, and aliens that have been trampled on by Israelite society. In our first episode with guests, our wives, Abby and Patty, talk about how they've seen people in already precarious positions held down and held back.
Ezekiel proclaims a vision of renewed gardens and rebuilt cities. God does not throw away what seems desolate and forlorn but will transform it. That theme leads to a discussion about the prison industrial complex, recidivism, and the need for a system that takes seriously the reforming capacity of people.
Isaiah proclaims that all will be part of God's people; foreigners are invited to join in praise. Jonathan and Seth discuss how churches both intentionally and accidentally exclude others. We also discuss chicken sandwiches.
Jesus chides the religious leaders' ability to predict the weather, but not understand the miracles happening in front of them. He continues by pointing to a rather cryptic "sign of Jonah." Seth and Jonathan discuss how churches can interpret the signs of the times.
Tired of his father-in-law's treatment, Jacob flees Laban. But in the story, Rachel and Leah are relatively quiet, passive characters. Jonathan and Seth discuss how the Bible (and all texts) reinforce one perspective to the exclusion of others and how we can elevate those who whisper in the text.
Praise saturates the Psalms. Since the writer of Psalm 105 roots worship in God's action, Jonathan and Seth discuss ways they've seen God move in their stories to motivate praise.
Returning to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we discuss how to determine whether someone is a false prophet as well as our need to address harmful ideologies without attacking the healthy parts of the tree.
Jonathan and Seth discuss how God's kin-dom requires the transformation of weapons into tools that renew and reconnect people with the earth.
We talk briefly about the organization Raw Tools, which literally turns guns into garden tools but also offers non-violence training. Read more about them here: rawtools.org
In this episode, Pashhur, the chief officer in the Lord's house, slaps Jeremiah and throws him in the stocks. Jonathan and Seth talk about dentists.
Our longest episode yet focuses on Psalm 13 and heavy, healthy lament. Jonathan reads an excerpt from womanist Hebrew Bible scholar Wil Gafney. The full text is available here: https://www.wilgafney.com/2017/07/02/a-newold-psalm-of-lament/
Jesus confronts the Pharisees and religious leaders about their hypocrisy. We talk about the harmful effects of being "double-minded" and how it hurts those who are already marginalized.
A timely text in more ways than one. Jesus is confronted because his disciples do not wash their hands before they eat.
Jesus quotes Psalm 8 in Matthew 21:16 as does the anonymous writer of Hebrews in 2:5–9. Join us as we talk about Psalms in general and what makes Psalm 8 so popular.
Get a taste of the No Experts Allowed Podcast. Co-hosts Jonathan Fuller and Seth Roseman talk about what inspired this podcast, its format, and why you should listen.
In our inaugural episode, Jonathan takes the lead discussing Matthew 5:1–12, historically called the Beatitudes.