Brew Testament Podcast: Recent Episodes
John Schwehn and Joel Bergeland
We find absolutely no parallels between our current context and a story from the Bible involving a paranoid king who demands absolute loyalty and throws temper tantrums and gets violent when he doesn't get it. God blesses principled, nonviolent resistance in this final installment of our Easter Vigil series.
Easter Vigil Reading #8: Daniel 3:1-29
Beer #8: Traitor IPA by Badger Hill Brewing
Music: "Clothed with Compassion," by Nate Crary
If you ever get on a ship and meet someone who tells you they're fleeing God, don't be surprised if you have to throw that person overboard a couple days later during a violent storm. This episode, we tackle the story of Jonah - a piece of satire designed to get us to laugh our way to the disturbing reality that God's mercy really is for everyone, including those we loathe.
Easter Vigil Reading #7: Jonah 1:1-2:1
Beer #7: Mocha Marlin Porter by Ballast Point Brewing
Music: "Agnus Dei," from Messy Mass by Nate Crary
When you read the Bible while drinking beer, you notice details like the fact that this famous reading about a valley of dry bones never tells us that they're NOT elephant bones! Tune in for a discussion about wind, flesh, and God's promise to raise the dead.
Easter Vigil Reading #6: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Beer #6: Windy Hill New England Style IPA by Mikkeller Brewing
Music: "Kyrie + Gloria," from Messy Mass by Nate Crary
Which is the most surprising: God's offer of an abundant feast to an exiled people, the notion that words change reality, or a beer with fish in it?
Easter Vigil Reading #5: Isaiah 55:1-11
Beer #5: Sorry Umami IPA by Yoho Brewing
Music: "Clothed with Compassion," by Nate Crary
God makes a way into freedom through the sea, unless you're driving a chariot. There's good news here for slaves and oppressed peoples. Not-so-good news here for pharaohs, armies, and horses. Listen in.
Easter Vigil Reading #4: Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
Beer #4: Big Wave Golden Ale by Kona Brewing
Music: "Freely Formed," by Nate Crary
Let's talk about moral ambiguity, trauma, and dads. How does Abraham handle an impossible test of faith? Is this a test of faith? What happens to Isaac? We've got questions about this one. Time to drink a beer.
Easter Vigil Reading #3: Genesis 22:1-18
Beer #3: Picnic by the Wicked Thicket by Insight Brewing
Music: "Clothed with Compassion," by Nate Crary
It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is building an enormous boat in order to save every species of animal from extinction.
Easter Vigil Reading #2: Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13
Beer #2: SeaQuench Ale by Dogfish Head
Music: "Only by Our Lonesome" by Nate Crary, sung by Rachel Kurtz
Welcome to our series of (mini) podcasts that will explore eight Bible stories read at the Great Vigil of Easter!
In this episode, we explain what an Easter Vigil service, we drink a beer, and we talk about the very beginning of every thing.
Beer we drink:
Pillars of Creation 1 by Cosmos Brewing (Tropical White IPA)
Text we discuss:
Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Beers: Kona Brewing Company - Longboard Lager Tallgrass Brewing Company - Buffalo Sweat Oatmeal Cream Stout
Texts: Exodus 20:1-17; John 2:13-22 Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-21
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Wheel of Lent) 7:10 - Longboard Lager 12:13 - Exodus 20: John 2 32:00 - Buffalo Sweat 34:48 - Numbers 21; John 3
Beers: Lake Monster Brewing - Empty Rowboat IPA Clown Shoes Brewing - The Exorcist Dry-Hopped Stout
Texts: Mark 1:14-20 Mark 1:21-28
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Go Vikings!) 9:28 - Empty Rowboat IPA 13:20 - Mark 1:14-20 30:54 - The Exorcist 36:26 - Mark 1:21-28
Beers: Indeed Brewing - Stir Crazy Ale Bald Man Brewing - Dark Side of the Moon Porter
Texts: Luke 2:22-38 Matthew 2:1-12
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (12 Days of Christmas) 8:24 - Stir Crazy Ale 11:57 - Luke 2 25:33 - Dark Side of the Moon Porter 29:40 - Matthew 2
Beers: Indeed Brewing - Let it Roll IPA Left Hand Brewing - Milk Stout on Nitro
Texts: Matthew 25:14-30 Matthew 25:31-46
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Roy Moore) 8:39 - Let it Roll IPA 12:19 - Matthew 25:14-30 31:27 - Milk Stout on Nitro 36:01 - Matthew 25:31-46
Beers: Trader Joe's - Boatswain American IPA Fargo Brewing - Woodchipper IPA
Texts: Matthew 21:33-46 Matthew 22:1-14
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Robotic Funeral Rites) 8:06 - Boatswain American IPA 14:30 - Matthew 21 28:40 - Woodchipper IPA 32:54 - Matthew 22
Beers:
Brauerie Heinrich Reissdorf - Reissdorf Kolsch
New Belgium Brewing - 1554 Black Lager
Texts: Matthew 15:10-28 Matthew 16:13-28
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Nuclear War, White Supremacy, Robot Spider) 8:38 - Reissdorf Kolsch 12:56 - Matthew 15 29:27 - 1554 Black Lager 35:49 - Matthew 16
Beers:
Left Handed Brewing - A Blessing & a Curse Double IPA
Dogfish Head Brewing - Flesh & Blood IPA
Texts: Matthew 9:35-38; 10:1-8(9-23) Matthew 10:24-39
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Robots that Baptize) 8:53 - A Blessing & A Curse 13:38 - Matthew 9-10 26:24 - Flesh & Blood 33:51 - Matthew 10
Beers: Surly Brewing - Todd the Axe Man IPA Indeed Brewing - Mexican Honey
Texts: Acts 17:22-31 Luke 24:44-53
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Updates) 7:56 - Todd the Axe Man 14:54 - Acts 17 (but mostly Toy Story) 33:08 - Mexican Honey 39:09 - Luke 24
Beers: Boom Chicka Pop - Popcorn Ale Lagunitas Brewing - Aunt Sally American Wild Ale
Texts: Philemon 1:1-21 Luke 14:25-33
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Olympics) 7:15 - Popcorn Ale 11:04 - Philemon 1 21:23 - Aunt Sally Wild Ale 28:29 - Luke 14
Beers: New Glarus Brewing - Bubbler Hefeweizen New Glarus Brewing - Totally Naked Ale
Texts: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23 Luke 12:13-21
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Donuts) 4:37 - New Glarus Bubbler 9:38 - Ecclesiastes 18:26 - New Glarus Totally Naked 22:58 - Luke 12
Beers: Angry Orchard - Summer Honey Cider Lagunitas Brewing - Censored Red Copper Ale
Texts: Genesis 18:20-32 Luke 11:1-13
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Pokemon Go) 7:33 - Angry Orchard Summer Honey 10:17 - Genesis 18 22:11 - Lagunitas Censored 29:23 - Luke 11
Beers: New Belgium - Fat Tire and Friends Fat Wild Ale Sierra Nevada - 11.5 Degree Plato Session IPA Goose Island - Four Star Pils Pabst - Blue Ribbon
Texts: Genesis 18:1-10a Luke 10:38-42
Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction (Responding to Racism) 11:57 - Grab Bag Round 1 16:53 - Genesis 18 26:04 - Grab Bag Round 2 30:35 - Luke 10