Bite Size Theology: Recent Episodes
Everyday Exiles Podcast Network
Love theology, but don't have the time for big dusty books? Bite Size Theology is just for you! A podcast that explores complex issues in under five minutes!
In this episode, Aaron, John, and Sage play an incredible game of Would You Rather, answer emails about how human & divine intervention work together, and interview Bryon Fortner, the youth director at First Baptist Church in Gatlinburg. Huzzah!
This is it!! We celebrate the two year anniversary of this podcast by cracking open drinks on the podcast, and doing a mixture of dumb games, sharing real & vulnerable talk about life and Jesus, and everything in between. Aaron, John, and Sage also answer YOUR user questions that cover all sorts of subjects, from scary movie villains to abortion (what an incredible shift in tone)!
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In this jam-packed episode, Aaron, John, and Sage tackle the story in Acts 8 about Simon the Magician, and then promptly move on to tackle light topics such as the age of the earth, try to get down to why Paul is called a "woman hater" based on what he wrote in the Bible, and solve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome for everyone.
In this episode, John, Aaron, and Sage all express some unpopular opinions, a statement which could apply to the email segment OR the main topic! We talk about how our faith in Jesus should ultimately work in an American culture (hint: not that much different from anywhere else) and how easily we can confuse the ideology of a nation with the values of Jesus throughout history. Aaron also schools everyone with his spelling skills, a statement which is not at all true, but might as well be since he's writing this episode description.
The concept of "original sin" came up in the fourth century, and not everyone was having it!
Cooper reviews and analyzes Christopher Nolan's 2006 film The Prestige. He shares why it's great, what we can learn from it, and how we can interpret it through a Biblical worldview.
Sage and Aaron hop into a special "two-in-a-canoe" episode of the extended edition to discuss why banning peoples' consumption of fantasy stories because of the existence of magic in those stories might be extreme biblically, why healthier boundaries about media consumption are a good thing, discuss parenting despite having absolutely no experience with it, cure salmonella forever, and ruminate on the types of food that are pretty good burnt.
On this two in a canoe episode John and Sage ask where's Aaron? And talk about the life and legacy of Sampson.
In this episode, John joins Aaron and Sage in a canoe as the three of them capsize the whole thing, debating the uselessness of specific tree types, mourn the pain of not having body hair, and deep dive into the misleading nature of the "God's Not Dead" movie trilogy (and how to tell if any media is propaganda).
In this episode, John, Aaron, and Sage talk about why we see Jesus as depicted as white in a lot of the art we see in our churches (when he definitely wasn't), and the subtle but significant problems that come from that portrayal. They also awkwardly solve their way through the problems of deforestation and four-way-stops.
In this stunner of an episode, Aaron, John, and Sage eliminate every beverage on earth except for one, discuss the feasibility of all water getting replaced by sparkling water, heavily weigh which action movie character they'd choose to save their family, and... well, there's no smooth segue into this.... they also vulnerably share how their understanding of communion and its significance to them has grown over the years.
John, Aaron, and Sage think they're going to have time to talk about baptism and communion both, but quickly realize the baptism conversation will take up the whole time! Please enjoy this, and other debates including whether you'd want to be 10 years older from the neck up, or 10 years older from the neck down.
In this episode, Aaron intellectually outperforms John and Sage in the subject of sports trivia, and the three fellas talk about several debatable issues in the church: alcohol consumption, media consumption, strong language, and others, but more importantly, why they're debatable, and not as big of a deal as we make them out to be.
John, Aaron, and Sage discuss the efficiency of Pepto Bismol water fountains, attempt to explain what differentiates a game and a sport with very, very mixed results, and celebrate the memory of Ravi Zacharias by discussing how the mind and the heart work together in faith.
What do we do with the pain rippling across the country right now? As Jesus and John both told us countless times, love is the ethos of the Christian faith. Love, kindness, and gentleness must characterize every relationship and every interaction in our lives. What does love look like in the face of hopelessness? Listening. Being near. Sitting with. Standing up for and standing by. Peacefully organizing and marching. Writing letters and emails to congresspeople. We have a duty to all of our brothers and sisters in Christ and all others who are bearing the weight of hopelessness right now.
The shortest episode of the podcast yet, because we've done enough talking. It's time to listen.
Ways you can take action to support black communities:
GIVE: Black Lives Matter - https://blacklivesmatter.com/ NAACP Legal Defense Fund - https://www.naacpldf.org/ Know Your Rights Camp - https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/
SIGN PETITIONS: George Floyd - www.justiceforbigfloyd.com/#petition Ahmaud Arbery - www.runwithmaud.com/#petition Breonna Taylor - www.standwithbre.com/#petition
RESOURCES TO READ: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander https://www.amazon.com/New-Jim-Crow-Incarceration-Colorblindness/dp/1595586431 Prophetic Reflections by Cornel West https://www.amazon.com/Prophetic-Reflections-America-Eurocentrism-Multiculturalism/dp/1567510078/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=PROPHETIC+REFLECTIONS&qid=1591132653&s=books&sr=1-2 White Fragility - Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism - by Robin DiAngelo https://www.amazon.com/White-Fragility-People-About-Racism/dp/0807047414/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CI4J31M5LZJ1&dchild=1&keywords=white+fragility&qid=1591132691&s=books&sprefix=WHITE+%2Cstripbooks%2C186&sr=1-1 Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Dr. Esau McCaulley https://www.amazon.com/Reading-While-Black-American-Interpretation/dp/083085486X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=READING+WHILE+BLACK&qid=1591132722&s=books&sr=1-1 How to be an Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Antiracist-Ibram-Kendi/dp/0525509283/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CHN7PBEHW218&dchild=1&keywords=how+to+be+an+antiracist+ibram+x.+kendi&qid=1591132742&s=books&sprefix=HOW+TO+BE+AN+ANT%2Cstripbooks%2C182&sr=1-1 The Nickle Boys by Colson Whitehead https://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Boys-Novel-Colson-Whitehead/dp/0385537077/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=nickle+boys&qid=1591132797&s=books&sr=1-1 Dear White America by Tim Wise https://www.amazon.com/Dear-White-America-Letter-Minority/dp/0872865215/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MH7FXPKBCL54&dchild=1&keywords=dear+white+america&qid=1591132813&s=books&sprefix=dear+w%2Cstripbooks%2C180&sr=1-1 Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates https://www.amazon.com/Between-World-Me-Ta-Nehisi-Coates/dp/0812993543/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3IOYWG13QYOSF&dchild=1&keywords=between+the+world+and+me&qid=1591132827&s=books&sprefix=betw%2Cstripbooks%2C177&sr=1-1 How to be Less Stupid About Race by Crystal Marie Fleming https://www.amazon.com/How-Less-Stupid-About-Race/dp/0807039845/ref=sr_1_1?crid=30YYXPDNF23Y1&dchild=1&keywords=how+to+be+less+stupid+about+race&qid=1591132891&s=books&sprefix=how+to+be+less%2Cstripbooks%2C195&sr=1-1 Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad https://www.amazon.com/Me-White-Supremacy-Combat-Ancestor/dp/1728209803/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QGH3PDQS8PE1&dchild=1&keywords=me+and+white+supremacy+book&qid=1591132965&sprefix=me%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1 White Rage by Carol Anderson https://www.amazon.com/White-Rage-Unspoken-Racial-Divide-ebook/dp/B01D1RUOJU
A two in a canoe edition of Bite Size Theology where Sage and John discuss movie mashups and draft a Biblical Basketball starting five.
In this riveting installment of the Extended Edition Podcast, Aaron, John, and Sage ponder over what it might look like if Schindler's List turned into Shrek over the course of a normal viewing, discuss the viability of hot dogs, and then discuss small groups. Do they matter? What should they look like? What are some of our experiences in them?
On this episode John talks through his 3 year journey of deconstruction to a simple solution he should have probably learned in Sunday School. After the guys play a riveting opening game called straight to the main topic.
Sage breaks down things he learned in college and seminary that made him doubt, how he dealt with it, and the way his faith was strengthened.
On this episode we celebrate our 300th podcasting by goofing off and being generally idiotic. Thanks for listening to 300 of these!
This week we start a difficult, honest, and open conversation about doubt and the pain that comes with questioning things we held as certain, starting with Aaron's own deconstruction.
We continue in our sermon series called story time. Moving fairy tales to solid truth to stand on.
On this episode we discuss how to love our neighbor while quarantined, the good and bad of this effecting the church, and of course walking uphill.
During a time when people are quarantined and Churches are unable to meet we figured it would be good to put some sermons up for the next couple of weeks.
A special two in a canoe version of Bite Size Theology! By that we mean Aaron is gone and we are worse for it. On this episode we discuss the best and worst depictions of Jesus in Movies.
John, Aaron, and Sage discuss their blind hatred of mayonnaise, and talk at length about how to discern God's will in your life.
This is the last of our talks on politics (thank goodness). On this episode, the guys discuss why we get so angry about political disagreements, after fighting some hypothetical duck sized horses.
Aaron, John, and Sage continue the politics discussion. What do Christianity Today's recent articles indicate about Christian witness in the world? Why should nationalism be a growing concern within the American church? You might also hear some cooking mishaps and the only definitive ranking of Star Wars movies in this episode. But who can say for sure?
A threat for a threat leaves the whole world terrified, blow for blow never settles the score.
We fought about whether or not to even talk about this. How do we engage such a polarized world?
On this episode of the podcast Aaron, Sage, and John discuss The importance of reading your Bible and not just books about your Bible. After playing some intense would you rather of course.
John, Aaron, and Sage elevate steak sauce from a secondary level issue to primary, and lose their friendship in the process. Speaking of, they also tackle fundamentalism and its impact on the church!
We get serious around minute 45... Crack open a drink with us and celebrate the 1-year anniversary of this podcast, complete with our trademark mix of dumb nonsense and gut-wrenching vulnerability!
Sage, John, and Aaron discuss whether Paul and James contradict each other and what focusing too hard on faith or works can lead to on a personal level. They also eliminate every type of furniture from your house except for the best one (You'll have to listen to find out what that is. Hint: it's not grandfather clocks, those things are useless).
He can talk pretty, can make pretty things out of Gold, but waiting on God...He is bad at that.
For someone who leaves such a lasting legacy, we really don't know much about Issac. He did tell people his wife was his sister again. Just a bad idea.
Aaron and John berate Sage for being sick, Aaron and Sage berate John for not knowing anything about sports, and Sage and John berate Aaron for rarely tipping at ice cream shops. Put this together with some spirited conversations and rants about ministry and you've got yourself a good time.
Today we begin a series on the Characters of the Bible. They aren't perfect, but....na that's it, they aren't perfect either.
I wonder if Jesus' teaching on him being the bread of life pertains to this at all...spoiler alert, it does.
John, Aaron, and Sage discuss the futility of basing human worth and identity on things that aren't God, but also the futility of walking around without knees.
The battle between Nietzsche and Jesus! You would think people would realize this isn't a fair fight....you would be surprised.
Hope and a promise that you are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not alone. You are not forgotten.
Wait, Jesus talks about being poor in the Spirit? Someone really needs to tell prosperity preachers and faith healers because that makes it sound like they don't read the Bible at all.
Hidden in Genesis is one of the most intriguing verses in all the Bible. What does it mean? The Gospel? Or a set up for a Hollywood sequel "Noah's revenge!"
On this episode the guys discuss three church leaders worth knowing about. They also solve world issues very simply and very seriously.
Gentleness seems useless in a forceful world. Also how does Paul have the right to tell us to be gentle?? Dude wrote Galatians.
What is the Fruit of the Spirit? Do they apply to our lives past learning the catchy song as a child?
Can every worldview be valid? Does Jesus really invite everyone to follow Him or only a few? John, Sage, and Aaron tackle that crucial topic. And of course, they also have a take-no-prisoners argument about transportation that proves they know nothing about being inclusive. Then John gets struck by lightning.
Are Faith and Reason at odds with one another when following Jesus? Or do the two actually make each other stronger?
"Money is the root of all evil?" Jesus said that...or Paul...or the Bible? Right? Right??
John and Sage get outclassed once again by Aaron's encyclopedic sports knowledge, and then the three fellas attempt to address some of the tough, practical reasons someone might have for wanting to leave a church.
What does this big word mean? What is replacement theology? Why are they both more harmful than they sound?
Aaron, John, and our first ever guest Evan each share some fun (and/or crazy) stories from church history and discuss the logistics of eating a cup of uncooked rice.
This question is the linchpin of the entire Christian faith. So it's important for us to get right down to it. Historically, how does it make sense for Jesus to have risen from the dead?
The three fellas settle a centuries-old debate right here on the podcast. Is God fully in control or do we have free will? Well, let's just say we use the term "settle" very loosely.
Our culture gives us a cartoonish Dante's-Inferno-style idea of what hell is, complete with fire and torture and a red devil poking you. It probably shouldn't surprise us this doesn't square with what the Bible says about hell at all.
We've all heard the question: If God is all powerful and all loving, why do evil and suffering exist in our world? A difficult topic but one we need to talk about.
Some of the most famous preachers in the United States aren't actually teaching the gospel. We break down the prosperity gospel and why it's so dangerous.
We make a habit of going there on Sundays, but outside of seeing some friends and hearing some sermon, what is the significance of church in the first place?
As Jesus continues to teach through story, he now shares about the danger of putting new wine in an old wineskin. What could he possible mean?
In the final lines of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus delivers a fitting end to his legendary message.
Two chapters into the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us against judging others. In 7:1-2, he tells us that we will be judged by the same standards that we judge others. Jesus immediately follows that charge with this parable, implying a connection between them. So, what does this mean?
Jesus taught through story. Today we are launching a new mini-series where we will examine the role of parables in the teachings of Jesus.
The three fellas give a review of Burger King, discuss sports trivia, and then discuss the value and role of seminary.
We all believe that God does supernatural things, but what is the role of miracles in the ordinary Christian life?
A door is an allusion that the Bible uses frequently, what could it possibly have to do with following Jesus?
We were created to worship the God Who created us, but what is the purpose of worship in the Christian life?
Jesus not only died in our place for our sins, but he also forgave the sins of the people who rejected him!
When Jesus died for those who place faith him, he also died for the sake of the church.
Jesus will judge both the living and the dead - why is this great news for those who believe in Jesus?
Jesus has died, been raised on the third day, and now returns to his rightful place at the right hand of the Father.
Ever wonder what happened to Jesus during those three days after he died. Where did he go? What happened on Sunday morning?
In the second episode of Bite Size Theology Extended Edition, our hosts discuss the uniqueness of Christianity as a worldview, and what are the markers of being a Christ follower.
Did Jesus really have to suffer? Couldn’t he have just defeated sin by choice instead of action?
Christians across the centuries have believed that Jesus was born of a virgin, but does it really matter?
The exclusivity of Jesus is at the center of the Christian and human story. What does it mean that Jesus is the only begotten son of God?
A new first for the Bite Size Theology community - a long-form discussion where we get to know the hosts and hear more about their stories and what has drawn each to this project.
How should the church talk about purity - what is the damage that can be caused from misusing this word?
In an increasingly polarized political sphere, let's go back to how God deals with politics in the Bible.
Part Two! What does it mean when we say Jesus is both fully God and fully man? Are these contradictions?
What does it mean when we say Jesus is both fully God and fully man? Are these contradictions?
You can tell God's forgiveness has affected our hearts if we aren't unforgiving and harsh towards others.
Is the traditional image of us getting sucked up into the clouds in any way accurate? Or is this something even better?
Is prayer so we can manipulate God into giving us what we want, or is it something else?
We pay attention to the wayward son, but there's another who's just as much in the wrong.