Unbinding the Bible: Recent Episodes
Joshua Yoder
In Luke 24, Jesus told two of his followers that the entire Bible was about him. Yet their reading of the Bible had not actually prepared them for Jesus. Sadly, the same thing is still happening today, even in churches. This podcast is an invitation to reread the Old Testament with Jesus in mind; to “unbind” it from the many ways it’s been misread and misapplied. I hope you’ll join me! Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll wrap up our mini series on Israel: Yes, God still loves Israel. We'll look at Romans 9-11 and how we can both challenge the state of Israel today and yet still believe God has a place of honor for his people.
And then we'll get political and ponder the Christian's relationship to Donald Trump and how our understanding of the kingdom of God ought to impact that relationship.
I'm taking a break for the summer and wanted the chance to speak about this election year before things really start to heat up.
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This episode is a sermon I preached Sunday May 5, 2024 in our church from John 15:1-17. I'm inserting it here on the podcast because of how well it ties in to our series on Israel and how the Bible speaks about Israel. In John 15:1, Jesus declares himself to be the "true" vine, in contrast to the false vine that Israel had become.
Passages referenced in this sermon: Exodus 15:7; Psalm 80:8; Jeremiah 2:21; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Genesis 12:7; Galatians 3:16; Romans 4:13; Galatians 3:27-29; John 8:31-32.
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In this episode, starting with 2 Corinthians 1:20 and Galatians 3:16, we'll see that Jesus himself is the fulfillment of all of God's promises, even his promises to his people, Israel. As we saw in episode 190 - Jesus "Fills In" Israel, Jesus serves not only as Israel's representative head, but as Israel itself, thus receiving all of the promises God made to Israel, and then freely offering those blessings to anyone who believes in him - Jew or Gentile.
Key passages from today's episode: 2 Corinthians 1:20; Galatians 3:13-14, 16, 27-29; John 10:16; Romans 4:13; 1 Corinthians 10:1; 12:2; Ephesians 1:5; Revelation 19:10.
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In this episode, we'll look at how Jesus fulfills all that Israel, as a people, was supposed to be. Jesus acts as Israel's representative head and also embodies the nation itself. Everything really does hinge on the person of Jesus! Get this right, and your ability to correctly interpret the New Testament will skyrocket.
Passages referenced in this episode:
2 Corinthians 1:20; Luke 24:44-47; John 11:45-53; Isaiah 49:1-6; Matthew 1-5; John 1:47-51; Genesis 28:12-19; John 4; John 15:1-11
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In this episode, we'll continue our mini-series on "the land" of Israel-Palestine. We'll focus our attention specifically on how the Bible itself frames our understanding of "the land," particularly as it relates to both the garden of Eden and to the entire world. In this episode, we'll see that the garden of Eden is to the land what the land is to the entire world. In other words:
Garden --> Land --> World
Thinking about the biblical story in this way is immensely helpful and makes sense of so much of the Bible's story.
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In this episode, we'll dive in to what the OT says about the land. Who owns the land? Were there any conditions placed on those living in the land? Do promises of "forever" mean "unending"? And why did God grant the land to Israel in the first place?
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In this episode, we're beginning another mini-series, this time to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a biblical perspective. How should Christians think about this? Who are "God's people"? Does Israel have a divine "right" to the land? Was the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 a fulfillment of biblical prophecy? And how did Jesus think of himself in relation to Israel?
We'll address these questions and many others throughout our series. And I invite you to send me questions of your own!
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In this episode, we'll wrap up our mini-series on heaven by looking at Revelation 21:1-4. In it we'll see the holy city coming down out of heaven from God so that God can forever dwell among his people, like he initially did in the garden of Eden.
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In keeping with our mini-series on heaven, I decided to synthesize all my points against the escapist-mindset belief in the Rapture and put them all into one episode. These are my scriptural and philosophical reasons for rejecting this modern imposition on the biblical text, seeing no scriptural reason for interpreting Jesus and Paul as speaking about anything other than Jesus' second coming. The work of redemption, as we've seen, is heaven coming to the earth, not a heavenward trajectory from the earth.
But I welcome your feedback!
Feel free to email me at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, I tie together several themes that are intersecting in my own life and ministry and do my best to connect them to our series on heaven. I then set us up for where we're headed on the podcast and encourage Christians to allow their faith to get as close to "real life" as possible, for that is where things will make the most sense.
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In this episode, we'll explore the reality that Christians are citizens of heaven and are called to not only root their identities there, but also choose to live out reality as it exists in "the heavens" in their daily interactions with others on "the earth."
There's a huge need today for a true Christian identity to grip the hearts of God's people. And this teaching is where all good identity understanding comes from. This is an episode every Christian needs to listen to!
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In this episode, we'll look at John 13:31-14:23 and see just what Jesus means by going to "prepare a place for you" (14:2). We'll address several common assumptions about this passage and what Jesus may or may not be saying and then I'll offer what I believe is a more faithful way of reading this text, which puts Jesus, not heaven, at the center.
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In this episode, we'll shift our discussion of heaven onto Jesus himself. How do the gospel writers portray Jesus? In what ways does Jesus bring the blessings of the heavens to the earth? We'll consider a few OT passages and compare them with several NT passages to highlight how Jesus himself becomes heaven on the earth.
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In this episode, we'll start at the very beginning of the Bible by looking at Genesis 1:1. We'll see that at this very early stage (in the world's first temple, called the garden of Eden), God's space (the heavens) overlapped with man's space (the earth). And the trajectory of redemption is that these two spaces would fully overlap once again.
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In this episode, we're starting a new series looking at what the Bible actually teaches about heaven. No, we're not going to do an in-depth examination of what heaven will be like. Rather, I want us to think biblically and with a kingdom perspective as we allow Jesus to define for us what "heaven" means in the first place. And yes, that may lead us to challenge the "Earth now, Heaven and Hell later" narrative that many of us have been taught to believe.
Mentioned on this episode were several resources:
What if Jesus Was Serious About Heaven?
The Skeletons in God's Closet
The Temple and the Church's Mission
Tim Mackie from The Bible Project - Heaven and Earth (YouTube)
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In this episode, we'll wrap up Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. We'll look at Matthew's summary of Jesus' teaching from 7:28-29 and tackle the topic of Jesus' authority - what it means and why it matters.
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In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 7:23-27 - his final thoughts in his masterful sermon. We'll spend some time talking about wise and foolish people and why it's so important to recognize that Jesus is in fact talking about DOING SOMETHING with his words besides just listening to them. And we'll end our time looking at Proverbs 9, which will help us understand Jesus' wisdom teaching even better.
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In this episode, I give an update on my life and ministry. If you found my story intriguing, you can follow me on Instagram: @sacredwholeness - "emphasizing the integration of body, mind, and soul to promote healing and wholeness." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support
Unbinding the Bible celebrated 5 YEARS this week!! In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' sobering words from Matthew 7:21-23, and recognize the importance of this truth: "What comes into GOD'S mind when HE thinks about YOU is the most important thing about you." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 7:15-20, where Jesus cautions us against false prophets. In our world today, filled as it is with social media influencers, big-name pastors, and self-proclaimed leaders, we don't have to work hard to understand what Jesus is cautioning us against. The sad reality, though, is how prevalent this "false prophet" status is within Christian circles. I hope to help you navigate through all of that and find leaders truly worth following. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 7:13-14. Here we begin Jesus' concluding thoughts from his entire sermon, wrapping up all that he's taught since 5:3.
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In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 7:6-12. I see this as one continuous section, picking right up on Jesus' words about judging in verses 1-5. I hope this episode encourages you!
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This episode is a sermon I preached in June of 2020 from Matthew 9. I'm inserting it here on the podcast because of its close connection to Jesus' teaching on judging, which we just looked at in Matthew 7:1-5. A great book packed with insights on this topic is Greg Boyd's, Repenting of Religion. I HIGHLY recommend it!
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In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 7:1-5 and tackle just what judging others is all about, why people do it, and why Jesus has forbidden his followers from engaging in it. I personally believe the church has dropped the ball here big time and that there are few areas of Christian discipleship we need to learn more about than this one. Lord, have mercy.
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In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 6:25-34 and hear Jesus' call for us to lay aside our anxieties and focus our attention on God's kingdom and righteousness. I hope you'll hear this week's episode as a huge encouragement, an invitation to be cared for deeply by the One who loves you.
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In this episode, we'll discuss Matthew 6:19-24. I'll read a journal entry from 2019 and let you in on my flow of thought as I wrestled through the logic of this passage and the implications it has for us as disciples of Jesus. I hope this encourages you as you listen!
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This week on the podcast we'll look at Jesus' words about fasting from Matthew 6:16-18. I'll share several ways I see this applying to us today and a number of ways I've personally failed to live up to Jesus' ideal. I think you'll enjoy this week's episode and hope you're encouraged by it.
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In this episode, we'll talk about Jesus' famous prayer from Matthew 6:5-15, including his rather strange-sounding teaching about (conditional?) forgiveness in verses 14-15. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 6:1-4 and Jesus' words about the motivations behind acts of righteousness. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 5:43-48. We'll see how his idea of righteousness tends to be much different from the average Christian in today's church and what we should do about it. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 5:38-41, his famous "turn the other cheek" teaching. This passage remains one of the most ignored teachings in the entire New Testament and yet provides us with the most opportunity to actually be salt and light in this world, as we'll see. In other news, this episode marks the 200th episode of Unbinding the Bible! If you have an episode or two that have meant a lot to you, I'd love to hear about it. Please email me at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support
This week's episode is a conversation I had with Jason Porterfield about his book, Fight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace Throughout Holy Week. This is a book every Christian needs to read! You can find Jason on Instagram and Facebook, or on his website @ www.jasonporterfield.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 5:33-37. We'll discover why simple "Yes" or "No" statements reflect the heart of God more than appeals to higher authorities and we'll see just how subtly this same practice is still wreaking havoc in the church today. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
On this episode, we'll look at Jesus' teaching from Matthew 5:31-32. In order to understand what Jesus is talking about, we'll look at several other passages - Matthew 19:3-10, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Exodus 21:10-11, and Genesis 1-2. This week's topic is one that for many has been full of confusion, questions, and pain, and I hope to offer some encouragement and hope through exploring it. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
This week on the podcast I'm re-releasing the conversation I had with Joshua Ryan Butler on his outstanding book, The Skeletons in God's Closet. Our conversation in August 2020 focused on just the first third of his book, The Mercy of Hell. I decided to re-release this episode here on the podcast because of Jesus' words in Matthew 5:21-30 on hell and how important it is to think rightly about what Jesus means when he uses that word. I know you'll appreciate Joshua's insights, and I encourage you to read his book if you haven't already. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words about looking at a woman with lustful intent from Matthew 5:27-30. We'll talk about what Jesus means, what Purity Culture has done (or not done) with Jesus' teaching over the years, and how Jesus intends his kingdom to be a safe place for women. At the close of the episode, I recommended a great book by Jay Stringer called Unwanted. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Unwanted-Sexual-Brokenness-Reveals-Healing/dp/1631466720/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18LN5TYGE7AXE&keywords=unwanted&qid=1677165166&sprefix=unwanted%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
The following is the sermon I preached at our church Sunday February 12, 2023 on Matthew 5:21-26. My sermon for the week fell once again on the exact passage we're on in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, so this week's episode is that sermon. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
This episode is the sermon I preached to our congregation Sunday February 5, 2023 on Matthew 5:13-20. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 5:13-16 and the two metaphors Jesus uses to describe his disciples. We'll talk about what salt and light mean as well as a few of the ways I believe they've been wrongly understood and applied.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
I'm happy to have Matt Tebbe on the podcast this week! Matt is the co-author (along with Ben Sternke) of the book, Having the Mind of Christ: Eight Axioms to Cultivate a Robust Faith. You definitely want to buy this book and read all of it! It's outstanding! And if you'd like to find Matt online, you can do so at www.gravityleadership.com--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 5:10-12 and talk about how true persecution is much different than mere loss of privilege. We'll explore how these two are often confused in the modern western Church and what truly following Jesus (and receiving subsequent persecution for righteousness' sake) might actually look like. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll focus in on Matthew 5:9 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." We'll talk about what a peacemaker is and contrast it with peace-faking (which is all too common in our world and in the church today). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll continue our look at the beatitudes and the kinds of people whom the LORD sees in a special way. I'll read an email I received from one of our listeners, Kaitlin, which captures the essence of these thoughts. This is a conversation we need to continually have, and I'm committed to always keeping it before us. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
This episode is the short sermon I preached at our church Christmas Eve 2021. I'm sharing it here in light of Christmas and because of how our understanding of Jesus' glory prepares us to embody his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, which we will resume our study of in the new year. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Unbinding the Bible will resume in January 2023. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 5:1-12, commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. And we'll discuss the difference between reading these beatitudes descriptively or prescriptively. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll take a look at what Jesus means by repentance and why true repentance is good news for those pursuing Jesus' kingdom. I referenced several books in today's episode: Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, by Amy-Jill LevineThe Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, by Dallas WillardWhat If Jesus Was Serious? A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore, by Skye Jethani--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we're going right to the heart of Jesus' Power-Under Kingdom: his teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. I'll give a bit of background to these first several chapters of Matthew's gospel and why reading his narrative as a recapitulation is necessary for us as Christians. I also reference several earlier episodes on the podcast (029, 030, 031) that you really should go back and relisten to. They form the grid through which I read and interpret the Bible; a grid that receives far too little attention from Christians today. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, I'll share a few thoughts that I've been wrestling through recently. By sharing these thoughts, I'm hoping to help the church rethink how it approaches those not yet a part of our communities and how we model our lives around Jesus' power-under ways.
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In this episode, we'll tackle yet another area where so many evangelical Christians have adopted a power-over mindset: the way current partisan political discussions speak about guns. I want us thinking about this issue as kingdom citizens FIRST, Americans SECOND, and see what, if anything, the Bible has to say on the matter.
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Taking our cues from Moses' actions in Exodus 32, we'll spend the next several episodes asking ourselves, "Which deeply held beliefs of ours are rooted in a power-over understanding of God?" It might be hard to detect at times, but we need to probe deeply into the things we believe so we can best represent our God as the power-under, compassionate, servant-like God that he is, revealed most perfectly of course in the person of Jesus Christ. In this episode, we’ll talk about abortion.
I quoted Ben Cremer several times in this episode. He has a weekly newsletter you can sign up to receive filled with thoughtful reflections on how the Christian faith intersects with politics and culture. You can sign up to receive his newsletter here.
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In this episode, I'll share a few personal thoughts from the past six years of my life and how that has shaped the way I think about the Christian faith and the way it is expressed by many well-intentioned Christians. I'll list several books that have shaped my thinking in recent years and then explain why I believe Jesus wants to critique any and all forms of power-over ideologies that are held to in his name.
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In this week's episode, we're looking again at Exodus 32 and the Israelites' crafting of the golden calf. Here's the theme we'll be exploring: Who you think God is will determine how you choose to image him; how you choose to “represent” him as one of his priests. And we have a front-row seat to see the ways both Moses and Aaron "represent" God as one of his priests. This is an episode you don't want to miss!
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We're back with Season 5! On this week's episode, I'll share a bit about my summer off and what I've been up to and then we'll dive into the context a bit of what led Israel to thinking the creation of a golden calf in Exodus 32 made any kind of sense. I think that today's episode will give you insight and understanding to just how easy committing idolatry can actually be, and I'm confident this will properly frame the way we need to think about grinding down our own golden calves.
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In this episode, I'll share with you a few ramblings of what's been going on with me and then read a few additional ramblings that I wrote out concerning golden calves and roots, both of which are plaguing the evangelical church.
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This episode is the final one of our 4-part THROWBACK THURSDAY series. Originally published as episode 038, we'll talk about a strange verse from Colossians 1 where Paul says, "in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" (v. 24). What could he possibly mean here? And what relevance does it have for Christians? These are great questions! And I'll answer them and others during the episode.
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In this THROWBACK THURSDAY episode, we'll look at how the NT speaks of the solidarity that the followers of Jesus share with Jesus himself. The main theme of this week's episode is: All Christians become, “in Christ,” the very things Christ was while on earth. It is one of the NT's most important themes, and yet one that I've noticed is absent from the awareness of most Christians. Hopefully this episode will help clear things up.
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In this episode, we're going to address one of the gospel's fundamental questions: Why does the one coming to restore justice to the world end up suffering? We'll take a close look at the mission of Jesus as well as his offer of (and our need for) the forgiveness of sins.
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This week's episode is the first in a series of 4 THROWBACK THURSDAY episodes (034, 035, 037, 038). These four episodes immediately preceded our study of the book of Revelation; and in large part, they were responsible for my decision to tackle Revelation in the first place! These four episodes go together, and they are central if we want to understand Jesus' purpose and his purpose for the church.
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The following is a first-person narrative sermon I preached at our church Sunday May 1, 2022. It is my imaginative supposal of what the final night of Jesus' life might have been like for Peter as well as his eventual encounter with Jesus after his resurrection. I offer this sermon to you as an encouragement of the way that Jesus meets us at our worst with his grace and love. John mentions a charcoal fire in both chapter 18 and chapter 21 of his gospel, and I believe he does so quite intentionally. He's capturing something about the transforming nature of God's grace and he doesn't want anyone to miss it! From the sermon: "Jesus met me in the place of my most painful memory and turned it into the place of communion and welcome!"
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In this episode, I'll read an article written by Joel Lawrence titled, "The Lion Who is the Lamb: Reflections on Revelation 5 in a Time of War." I plan to make several comments about Joel's insights and to connect them to what I believe is the church's failure to stand firm against the powers and authorities.
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In this episode, we'll talk about what the resurrection of Jesus did to change the world, specifically how the church testifies to the resurrection by its communal life and practices. We'll touch on how the principalities and powers disrupt this calling and why it is that so few Christians seem to even be aware of this episode's topic.
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In this episode, we'll look at Ephesians 4:17-32 to see Paul's logic regarding the church faithfully following the way of Christ and living out their status as God's new humanity. We'll talk about what this "new humanity" means and why it's so important for the church to grasp. This conversation is desperately needed in the church today and I hope you'll find it encouraging.
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This episode is a sermon I preached Palm Sunday 2021. In Mark 11, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey while receiving acclamations of "Save us!" from the crowds. His way of salvation, though, is not what many people were expecting. When given the choice between Jesus and Barabbas (an insurrectionist), the people choose Barabbas as the one who more fully represents their ideals. And the challenge the church continually faces is deciding whether to follow the peaceful kingship of Jesus (displayed with palm branches) or the militant kingship of Caesar (displayed with swords through Pontius Pilate and embodied in Barabbas).
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In this episode, we'll look at the big picture of Ephesians, specifically at how "THROUGH THE CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places" (Eph. 3:10). When the church, like Paul, embodies the pattern of Jesus in their communal life, they testify to the rulers and authorities that Jesus' ways of living are superior to theirs and that, in Christ, the rulers and authorities have been defeated. The church very well may need to hear this message more than anything else in the modern world.
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In this episode, I'm simply going to read the book of Ephesians in its entirety. Paul has lots to say about the rulers and authorities as well as God's triumph over them in Christ and then how the church carries out that triumph in its communal life. Listening to Scripture read aloud and in large sections helps position us to best receive its message. And Ephesians has a beautiful message! You may want to listen to this episode more than once to get the flow of Paul's thought.
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In this episode, we'll take a look at the similarities between the creation of the world in Genesis 1-2 and how Paul describes God's new creation people throughout the book of Ephesians. References to conquering the forces of chaos and building temples dominate both passages. And the importance for understanding this relationship cannot be stressed enough if the church wishes to faithfully witness to the victory God has won through Jesus Christ.
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In this episode, I will read a chapter from Tim Gombis' book, The Drama of Ephesians, to help us understand the reality and the influence of the powers and rulers in our world. Tim's insights are succinct, clear, and invaluable, as he clears away the confusion surrounding this topic and provides practical and relatable examples of the way the powers and rulers wreak havoc in God's good world. Special thanks to Tim for the permission to read an entire chapter of his book on my podcast! Find The Drama of Ephesians at an independent bookstore and read it all the way through for yourself.
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In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' understanding of his own mission from Luke 4:18-19. In these words we'll see his multi-dimensional purpose and how it is that the rulers, authorities, powers, and dominions enslave humanity. Then we'll turn to two passages of Paul's (2 Timothy 2 and Colossians 2) to begin seeing how Paul fleshes out these realities for his churches.
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In this Throwback Thursday episode, we're going to go back to the beginning of our Revelation series to episode 046 and take a close look at what it actually means to worship the LORD. The themes discussed in this episode will set us up perfectly to dive into the New Testament over the next several weeks to understand more clearly the calling for the church to embody the characteristics of the LORD in the midst of a fallen world.
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In this episode, we'll look at three OT passages: Psalm 82, Daniel 4, and Daniel 7. In these passages, we'll notice the connection between the divine council being rebuked for their injustices and how the nations of the earth participate in those same injustices. What takes place in the heavens (among the sons of God) mirrors what takes place on the earth (among the earth's inhabitants).
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In this episode, we'll look at 2 Kings 5:1-19, the healing of Naaman the Syrian. This narrative will help us understand a theme we discussed last week: that after the Tower of Babel, the LORD allotted the sons of God jurisdiction over the nations of the earth, but that He chose Israel to be the nation over which He would rule (Deuteronomy 32:8-9). Divine "space" is a significant theme throughout the OT, and this particular narrative highlights it directly.
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In this episode, we're going to look at God's divine council - a topic that, sadly, is foreign in many evangelical circles. And we'll look at Genesis 6:1-4, a strange narrative involving the sons of God and the daughters of man, and how the corruption that takes places there mirrors the fall of man from Genesis 3. This is an episode you don't want to miss!
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This episode is a sermon I preached on June 7, 2020 from Matthew 9:9-13, where Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners and it draws the attention of the Pharisees. I'm inserting it here on the podcast because the "sickness" displayed by the Pharisees stems directly from the fall in Genesis 3. And sadly, what Jesus defines as "sickness" many religious people define as "righteousness."
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In this THROWBACK THURSDAY episode, we're still looking at Genesis 3:1-7, only this time focusing in on shame and what it has done (and continues doing) to the human race. This episode was originally published January 10, 2019 as episode 017 - What Went Wrong?
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On this Throwback Thursday, we're going back to episode 016 - published January 3, 2019 - where we discussed the fall of man from Genesis 3:1-7. Man's fall into sin is still one narrative that has tremendous explanatory power to help us understand why our world looks the way it does. And while there are always new lenses through which to view the fall of man, this episode forms a good foundation upon which to continue building.
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This week on the podcast I have a conversation with Randall Balmer on his book, Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right. We'll look at the real reason Christians rallied around the Republican party in the early 80's; and (spoiler) it wasn't over abortion, as is often the circulated narrative. We'll talk about this history and why it matters for the church today.
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The following is a sermon I preached on Christ the King Sunday, November 21, 2021. Taken from John 18, we focused in on Jesus' repeated phrase to Pilate, "my kingdom is not of this world." My aim throughout the message was on getting Christians to rightly understanding what Jesus' DID NOT mean by these words as well as what he DID mean. The message concluded with an attempt to apply these insights to how Christians ought to relate to political and social realities in our world today, particularly in America.
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The following is a sermon I preached in our church on November 14, 2021 on Mark 13:14-23 - Jesus telling his disciples about the coming destruction of their temple. I've chosen to use the term "institution" because it helps those of us unfamiliar with temples to see that organizations, nations, and even empires fit this category too. Israel had turned their temple (an institution set up by God himself) into an idol. In fact, all idolatry in the Bible is simply the inappropriate association of something created by humans with the one true God. And if Israel could do that with their temple, then there's no telling what other "institutions" people throughout history have inappropriately associated with the one true God. In America, some have even tried to associate the nation itself with the one true God. And it is that idolatrous association that I try to disentangle in this sermon.
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On this week's episode, we'll look at Jesus' apocalyptic-sounding words from Luke 21 and discuss why these "end-time" passages kick off the Advent season in many liturgical churches. We'll properly define "apocalypse" and discuss why it calls us to look for Jesus-revealing-God and NOT Jesus-destroying-the-world.
You can email me at: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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This week's episode is the first in a new series I plan to sprinkle throughout the podcast. THROWBACK THURSDAY will be replays of past Unbinding the Bible episodes that have generated the most discussion and response or ones that I believe address the most important concepts or themes presented throughout the podcast. I believe THROWBACK THURSDAY will quickly become a favorite, even reminding you of significant episodes that you've forgotten about! If one episode in particular was meaningful or beneficial to you, please let me know. You may find it on a future THROWBACK THURSDAY!
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This week's episode is a conversation I had with Ruth Everhart on her book, The #MeToo Reckoning: Facing the Church's Complicity in Sexual Abuse and Misconduct. This is a topic that is sadly avoided in many Christian contexts. And it's time that changed! This conversation is a great introduction to the entire topic and I'm thankful to be having it with Ruth. Please consider sharing this episode with a friend or on your social media page. There are no doubt thousands of abuse survivors carrying their pain themselves and struggling through it and this conversation may help them find hope.
www.rutheverhart.com (you can purchase Ruth's book from here as well).
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On this episode, we'll look at a great book I'm currently reading, The Covenanted Self, by Walter Brueggemann, and what it actually means to "covenant" with both God and our neighbor. Learning to assert oneself as well as abandon oneself are both an integral part of what it means to relate well with others. And for me, this one insight is beginning to reshape the way I understand not only mankind's relationship with God, but also several elements of dysfunction in my own life.
You can buy Brueggemann's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Covenanted-Self-Walter-Brueggemann/dp/0800631765/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1DZXJJPMZM188&dchild=1&keywords=the+covenanted+self&qid=1635963619&sprefix=the+covenanted+self%2Caps%2C863&sr=8-2
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This episode is a sermon I preached in our shared ministry September 12, 2021. Taken from Mark 8:27-38, this sermon focuses on what it means to allow Jesus to be both the source of our salvation as well as the shape of it. This is a challenging message for the church today, but it is vitally important that we get it right!
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In this episode, I'd like to discuss what the relationship is between the law and the gospel, the letter versus the spirit of the law, and the concept of the old and new covenants. What was Jesus' relationship to the law and how should Christians today think of it for their own lives? I plan to read an entry from a journal of mine where I attempted to work out some initial thoughts to all these questions. I hope you'll find this a helpful look at what has become a rather confusing topic.
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For this week's episode, I have Tim Gombis back on the show to talk about his new book, Power in Weakness: Paul's Transformed Vision for Ministry. Tim was my guest for the very first By the Book episode and, after listening to this episode, you'll understand why I wanted to talk with him again. You will be encouraged, strengthened, challenged, and convicted from our conversation. I highly recommend going out and buying Tim's book! Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Weakness-Transformed-Vision-Ministry/dp/0802871259/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=power+in+weakness&qid=1634142379&sr=8-1.
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In this episode, we'll look at Paul's words to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:10, paying particular attention to the relationship between what Paul calls the "ministry of reconciliation" and the "message of reconciliation." Rooted in the life of Jesus himself, Paul demonstrates how his "ministry of reconciliation" perfectly embodies his "message of reconciliation" and calls the Corinthians "not to receive the grace of God in vain" by failing to see this connection.
Helpful earlier episodes mentioned in this episode: 034 - The Servant of the LORD 035 - Why Does the Servant Suffer? 037 - THE Servant Creates Servants 038 - "Filling Up What is Lacking" 083 - REVALATION: "My Two Witnesses" 084 - REVELATION: Embodying the Pattern of the Christ
Email any comments or questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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Unbinding the Bible is back! And to kick things off, we'll talk about my 3-month break, an old (and new) hobby I'm engaged in, a bit about the Enneagram, and where I'm hoping to take the podcast in the weeks and months to come. It's exciting to be back with you all!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 22:17-21 - the closing verses of the book! We've come such a long way and in these verses we'll hear John's (and Jesus') final plea for the Bride to embody the posture of the kingdom. Drawing on one OT passage and one from the NT, we'll hear God's heart of compassion and how it, quite literally, far exceeds our own. This will be the final episode of Unbinding the Bible for several months. I'm in need of a Sabbath rest from the podcast and want to refresh myself so I can bring more episodes to you in the future. Ending the book of Revelation seemed like a fitting time to insert a break. But I encourage you to reach out; I'm not taking a break from those of you who listen in! Email me and share with me how Jesus has used this podcast to begin his work of transformation in you: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com. And share this video with others who might be intrigued by what Unbinding the Bible has to offer: https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
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In this By the Book episode, I have a conversation with Tim Muehlhoff about a book he co-authored (with Richard Langer) called, Winsome Conviction: Disagreeing Without Dividing the Church. Tim and I had a blast talking together about a topic that is incredibly needed in the church today. This is one By the Book episode you don't want to miss!
You can follow Tim, gather resources, or be linked to his podcast at www.winsomeconviction.com.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 22:12-16. We'll address several themes already covered on the podcast and then focus in on Jesus' words that this testimony (the ENTIRE book of Revelation, by the way) is "for the churches." The church today desperately needs to understand this, as the all-too-common assumption is that our job is to tell those in the wider world how to live. Not so! Our calling, as followers of Jesus, is to put into practice what Jesus said in our own communities and individual lives. We'll look at Psalm 51 to help us understand how we might consider going about this for our own blessing as well as the blessing of the world.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 22:6-9, paying particular attention to John's use of the words "keep the words of this book," which echo (or bookend) words he began the book with from Revelation 1:3. We'll talk a bit about what "keeping" the words of this book means and what it might look like for churches to faithfully do so.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this week's episode, I have a conversation with Kaitlyn Schiess about her book, The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor. Kaitlyn brings together spiritual formation with political concerns in a way that faithfully expresses the reality of the kingdom of God and invites the church to live out its common life with others in a way that is faithful to that kingdom. Kaitlyn is someone whose voice the church will greatly benefit from for years to come.
Get Kaitlyn's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Liturgy-Politics-Spiritual-Formation-Neighbor/dp/0830848304/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+liturgy+of+politics&qid=1620742970&sr=8-1
You can follow Kaitlyn on Twitter and Instagram: @KaitlynSchiess; or through her website and blog: https://www.kaitlynschiess.com/
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 22:1-5. In it John speaks of the tree of life and the river of the water of life. We'll look at several OT and NT passages to help us understand the significance of both and what they mean for the calling of the church and the flourishing of the world.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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This week's episode is a sermon I preached at our church two weeks ago - where Jesus meets with his disciples in Luke 24 and shows them his hands and his feet. I'm inserting it here on the podcast for its connections between Jesus' resurrection and the eventual resurrection of all things, which John describes in Revelation 21-22, paying particular attention to the fact that even in the resurrection, Jesus still bears the marks of his humiliation and suffering - and why that ought to serve as an encouragement to us.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 21:22-27 and focus in on the purpose of "gates" in the heavenly city. Contrasting this scene with Jesus' description of hell's gates in Matthew 16 will shed immense light on the posture God has toward the world as well as the posture of the New Jerusalem. The "kings of the earth will bring their glory into" this heavenly city. We'll end the episode by exploring what this means and why it matters.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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This episode is a By the Book conversation with Sandra Richter about her book, Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters. As an Old Testament scholar, Sandra looks closely at God's expectations for his image-bearers and what that means about the way we, as 21st century Americans, think about and treat the world God has entrusted to our care.
Toward the end of our conversation, Sandra referenced some of her scholarly work, particularly a look at the treatment of women from the Deuteronomic Law. You can read her work here: https://hebraicthought.org/deuteronomic-law-women-marry-rapists/.
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In this episode, we'll look at several themes John is weaving together in how he chooses to describe this holy city, New Jerusalem, the bride of the Lamb. These insights will help tie together large swaths of biblical material and will encourage Christians to understand who we've been called to be and how Jesus has made it all possible.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, I'll read Revelation 21-22 aloud so that we can fully experience John's final vision: a vision of the presence of God dwelling with his people. A fitting end not only to the book of Revelation but also the entire Bible, these final two chapters of Revelation root our hopes firmly in the God who has revealed himself in the person of Jesus Christ.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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This episode is a By the Book conversation with Justin Bailey on his book, Reimagining Apologetics: The Beauty of Faith in a Secular Age. Justin's approach to apologetics for our day is such a breath of fresh air! It's all about the imagination, both what it is and why it matters that we engage people imaginatively. Holding in perfect tension truth, goodness, and beauty, Justin's book addresses how our imaginations can and need to be engaged at all three levels. This is a conversation you don't want to miss!
Justin's website: www.pjustin.com; or follow him on Twitter: @jarielbailey
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 21:1-4, paying particular attention to God dwelling with his people. We'll see that the holy city, new Jerusalem (which represents the people of God) comes "down" out of heaven from God, not, as is often imagined, people going "up" to heaven. This insight, coupled with Jesus' teachings about his Father's house from John 14, can reorient us to see the hope of Jesus as truly good news.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 20:7-15, paying particular attention to the one seated on the throne as well as the fire and his perfect judgment that issues from his throne. We'll highlight why final judgment is hopeful for those who've been tormented by sin and death and how having our names written in the Lamb's book of life is meant to transform us while we await that glorious day.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 20:1-6. We'll focus in on the "meaning" of the millennium and the function it serves for the book as a whole, particularly the hope it gives those who've lost their lives at the hand of the beast.
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This episode is a sermon I preached May 24, 2020 (during an outdoor worship gathering) on Jesus' prayer for his followers from John 17. I'm inserting it here on the podcast as a reminder that the biblical storyline is aimed at God once again dwelling with his people. As we near the end of the book of Revelation, it's important to remember these final chapters are describing the shalom between God and his people; people from every tribe, language, people, and nation. The "gift" we receive in salvation is the person of Jesus, for life is found only in him. I hope you'll find this sermon an encouragement.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 19:11-21, hoping to rightly understand what Jesus judging "in righteousness" means. This passage, perhaps more than any other in Revelation, forces us to confront whether we are imposing our own ideas onto Jesus about what his judgment will look like or allowing Jesus to define for us what his judgment will look like. But if we remain open to Jesus defining for us what his judgment looks like, we will be transformed both in how we see him as well as how we live.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, I'll give a brief update regarding recent developments in my life and ministry, and ways for listeners to pray with and for me. Over the remainder of the episode, we'll look at Revelation 19:1-10, the marriage supper of the Lamb. Drawing our attention to history's close, John paints a beautiful scene of the Lamb with his bride; a bride who has made herself ready by clothing herself "with fine linen, bright and pure," which John tells us are "the righteous deeds of the saints" (v. 8).
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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This week's episode is a By the Book conversation with Chuck DeGroat about his book, When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse. Chuck is a gifted counselor whose insights into the insecurities and fears of narcissists can breathe new life into the church. Writing to both the abusers and the abused, Chuck's heart for human flourishing comes out on every page. His voice is one you want to start listening to. You can connect with Chuck on Facebook or visit his website at: www.ChuckDeGroat.net.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 18:9-24, the destruction of the great city, Babylon. We'll see the main differences between the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God as well as why and how judgment for one is salvation for the other.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 18:1-8 - the fall of Babylon and the exhortation John gives to Christians to "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues" (18:4). Christians in all times and places need John's exhortation, particularly at times when we join ourselves with ideologies, systems, or structures that will, in the end, be judged by God as unworthy of his kingdom. In the second half of the episode, we'll talk about the events at our nation's Capitol from January 6 and what the response of the Church ought to be going forward.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
The following is a sermon I preached Christmas Eve 2019. Drawing on Isaiah's language regarding the Messiah's government resting on his shoulders, this sermon explores why and how that promise should not be made to mean that "America's" government will rest on his shoulders. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! See you in 2021.
Unbinding the Bible Video: https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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This week's episode is a By the Book Conversation w/Lee Camp, author of the book, Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians. Looking at the Christian faith as a "politic" and not merely as "religious," Scandalous Witness tackles head-on how the Christian faith interacts with the political world, particularly in American partisan politics. This is a conversation you don't want to miss! https://www.amazon.com/Scandalous-Witness-Political-Manifesto-Christians/dp/0802877354/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=scandalous+witness&qid=1603908637&sr=8-1 www.TokensShow.com/podcast www.LeeCCamp.com for the online course on Lee's book.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support
In this episode, I will be reading Timothy Dalrymple's Christianity Today article, Why Evangelicals Disagree on the President (published November 2, 2020). I'm inserting it here on the podcast for its helpfulness in understanding what the title of the article suggests: why there can be so much polarization and division between Christians in their responses toward our current president. Identifying the primary issue in how one defines the kingdom of God, Dalrymple defines two helpful categories most Christians find themselves in and then exhorts us to be engage one another in love, aware of these differences.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 17:9-18. Here, John continues his description of what Rome's military might and resulting economic prosperity look like from God's perspective: a prostitute riding on the back of a giant beast. We'll see how this offers the nations one version of a kingdom while the Lamb and his followers offer the nations another. And then finally we'll see how God's judgment often manifests itself in simply allowing kingdoms of darkness to implode: to turn on one another in destruction. Unbinding the Bible Video: https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094 Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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The following is a sermon I preached October 4, 2020 from Matthew 21:33-44 - Jesus' parable of the tenants. I'm inserting it here on the podcast as a follow-up to last week's By the Book episode with Christopher Wright. I preached this sermon the week I finished Wright's book on idolatry and his insights shape how I understand Jesus' parable.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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This week's episode is a By the Book Conversation w/Christopher Wright about his book, Here Are Your Gods: Faithful Discipleship in Idolatrous Times. Chris and I talk about idolatry throughout the Old Testament: what it was, why it was so tempting for Israel, and how even Christians today find themselves caught up in many of the same realities. Chris is such a gift to the church and I'm thankful to have him on the show! www.langham.org
Here's the link to Chris' book: https://www.amazon.com/Here-Are-Your-Gods-Discipleship/dp/0830853359/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=here+are+your+gods&qid=1605030639&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTzZXWlpKSlZXWDAmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAwOTYyNjcxQTdZSkI0TkE5RTFGJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA4MTM2NjIzQ1A3VlFLNE81NDQ0JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 17:1-8, John's description of judgment depicted as a woman riding on a red beast. We'll compare John's language here with how he describes the bride of the Lamb in Revelation 21. And we'll see the importance both of what this image represents as well as how the economic exploitation being depicted is often driving much of society's broken sexuality, particularly in sex trafficking and prostitution.
Nefarious: Merchant of Souls (documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFaDHgXPbUg&t=5257s.
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In this episode, we'll finish Revelation 16, the final three bowls of God's wrath. We'll see how corrupt systems of darkness and corruption will themselves be thrown into darkness. And we'll pay close attention to John's exhortation for the Christians to whom he is writing not to imagine they stand "above" such critiques, but that any of their own loyalties or beliefs, if found to be in line with the ways of darkness, will also be plunged into darkness. We'll spend the second half of the episode talking about the darkness and corruption that finds its way into "Christian" organizations and churches and how, as followers of Jesus, we are meant to shine light into those dark places.
Unbinding the Bible Video: https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, I have a conversation with David Swanson about his book, Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity. As a pastor in Chicago, David regularly navigates racial concerns and is a true gift to the white church, helping us reorient our discipleship practices in such a way that they help better prepare us to face racial brokenness in our world. This is a conversation you don't want to miss!
Rediscipling the White Church
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094
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This episode is a sermon I preached September 27 of this year while preaching through the gospel of Matthew. The passage is Matthew 20:1-16 - Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard. I preached this same text three years ago and inserted it as a sermon on this podcast as episode 020 - "Do You Begrudge My Generosity?"* I'm publishing this year's version on the podcast as an experiment, as a way of seeing how, over time, our understanding of Scripture deepens and becomes richer. I definitely encourage you to re-listen to episode 020 before listening to this episode, as what I preached then forms the foundation of what I preached this time around.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 16:1-9 - the pouring out of the first four bowl judgments. We'll pay particular attention to how the judgments of God work themselves out in a "let the punishment fit the crime" kind of way. We'll also highlight the ways in which these judgments mirror the plagues the LORD poured out on Egypt; and in doing so we'll see how the gods of various nations are ultimately judged for their oppressive, destructive, and death-producing ways. In contrast, worship of the LORD produces blessing for all peoples and nations, not merely for one nation over and against others.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 15 and focus in on the character of God, as one who is both just and true in his ways. Highlighting Jesus as the way God most faithfully revealed his righteousness to the nations, we'll honestly assess how God's judgment is a good thing, particularly for those who've been treated unjustly.
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In this episode, I have a conversation with Rory Shiner about his book, One Forever: The Transforming Power of Being in Christ. As the title suggests, Rory's book is all about our union with Christ, arguably the single-greatest theological reality there is for the Christian. I've spoken loads on this podcast about how connected the church is to Jesus and Rory's book is an outstanding introduction to that connection. You want to buy this book and read it! I simply cannot recommend it highly enough!
Buy Rory's book here: https://matthiasmedia.com/products/one-forever?_pos=1&_sid=7fb7feea9&_ss=r.
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In this episode, we'll look at a pattern of sorts that makes up the structure of the book of Revelation. Having already used this pattern repeatedly to help us interpret Revelation, this episode will state it explicitly to further clarify what John is doing. We will find that reading the book in strict chronological order is not the most effective (or correct) way to understand Revelation. Rather, through repeated phrases and recognizable patterns, we will see that entire sections of the book are simply retelling earlier ones from a different (and oftentimes more intense and focused) perspective.
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In this episode, we'll finish Revelation 14, looking at verses 14-20. We'll bring in a few passages from the gospels and the book of Hebrews to help us navigate a rather tricky (and somewhat gruesome) passage. Taking what we know of the way God has chosen to reveal himself, we'll attempt to understand how his judgment works.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 14:6-13. In it we'll see how the coming judgment of God can be considered "good news" by focusing on the way Jesus referred to his own "hour" and the glory he would share with his Father through it. We'll also pay close attention to the language John uses to describe this coming judgment and why these words are given primarily to the church.
Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.
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This episode is a sermon I preached January 20, 2019 from John 2: Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. I'm inserting it here on the podcast because of how it highlights Jesus honoring the bridegroom as well as how the imagery of wine and blood are often connected throughout the NT. As we approach Revelation 14-18, we'll see wine in connection with judgment: how some people's "feasting" came at the expense of others, and how their oppression and violence will be given them to drink in return. Jesus' miracle at Cana will help us think in the right categories as we approach many of these disturbing images in Revelation.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 14:1-5, where John describes the community of the faithful. The metaphors John uses to describe those "who follow the Lamb wherever he goes" contrast sharply with the metaphors used in chapter 13 to describe the followers of the beast. Revelation 14:1-5 gives the church tremendous hope and encouragement, especially when considering the union and intimacy they portray between Christ and his Bride.
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In this episode, I have a conversation with Josh Butler about his book, The Skeletons in God's Closet: The Mercy of Hell, the Surprise of Judgment, the Hope of Holy War. Josh and I discuss just the first third of his book, The Mercy of Hell. What I love most about Josh's approach is how he emphasizes our need to root our understanding of hell in Scripture's narrative. Too often hell is spoken about from a few isolated verses of Scripture with little or no connection to the rest of the biblical story. Josh avoids this error and then takes us on a journey into just how it is that hell itself may best be understood in the context of mercy. This is a conversation you don't want to miss!
Connect with Josh @ www.joshuaryanbutler.com.
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In this episode, we'll focus in on Revelation 13:16-18 - John's description of the mark of the beast and the number of its name. Probably the single most well-known idea in the entire book, we'll look at how John has already been developing this idea throughout Revelation so far. And we'll draw on the OT's most famous passage (at least in Jesus' mind) to help us understand the language John uses in describing this "mark" of the beast.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 13:11-18, John's description of the second beast. We'll see how this beast utilizes religion to encourage "those who dwell on the earth" to worship the first beast: the political power of empire. And we'll also see just how deceitful and tempting (not to mention destructive) it is to mix the kingdom of God with the ways of the empire. And as we'll see, John's message needs to be heeded even in our day, especially among Christian churches.
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The following is a sermon I preached this past Sunday (July 26, 2020) from Matthew 13, where Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed. Jesus' teaching, believe it or not, is intensely political in nature and he wants his followers to think of the kingdom he's come to bring in political terms. What Jesus means, though, is different from what many people in our world today (including Christians) imagine that he means.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 13:1-10 and pay particular attention to three things that the dragon gives to the beast: his power, his throne, and his great authority. And then we'll compare how power, thrones, and authority have been spoken about in reference to God and the Lamb. We'll end this week's episode discussing why these oppressive kingdoms are called "beasts" and where we might expect to find other beast-like structures or institutions today.
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In this episode, we'll finish our look at Revelation 12, paying particular attention to the dragon's rage toward "those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 12:17). John provides us with incredible explanatory power to understand not only what followers of Jesus can expect in this world, but also the way in which we can persevere in the midst of it.
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This week's episode is a By the Book conversation with Rob Reimer, author of the book, Soul Care. Rob and I talk about how identity issues, fears, hurts, and other matters of the soul can be access points for either God or the enemy. We talk about addictions, shame, fundamentalism, spiritual accountability, and confession. The truth is, everyone needs a healthy soul; and Jesus very well may choose to use Rob's book to strengthen your soul, as he has used it to help reshape mine.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 12. Drawing on C.S. Lewis's and J.R.R. Tolkien's understanding of "myth" and the power of the imagination, we'll see how John means for us to interpret the Christian story as the greatest "myth" ever conceived. And in a day where Christian "truth" is thought to be primarily cognitive, we'll discover the power that our imaginations play in gripping our emotions and hearts, as well as our minds.
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This episode is a sermon I preached this past Sunday (June 28, 2020) on Matthew 10:34-39. Simply preaching through the Lectionary, I was surprised at how relevant Jesus' teachings are to our current cultural moment. While I didn't set out this week to address the underlying causes of society's unrest, Jesus' words to his disciples spoke to it anyway. So I decided to share my message on the podcast as a BONUS episode. I offer to you, then, my most recent sermon: Not Peace, But A Sword*.
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This week's episode is a By the Book conversation with Michael Gorman, author of the book Reading Revelation Responsibly. If you've listened to the Revelation series on this podcast, you've heard me reference this book quite a bit. Dr. Gorman and I discuss interpretive approaches to the book of Revelation, the state of the church, the dangers of civil religion, and a Lamb-centered understanding of power. This is a conversation you don't want to miss!
Reading Revelation Responsibly
Cruciformity: Paul's Narrative Spirituality of the Cross
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In this episode, we'll finish Revelation 11, looking specifically at verses 15-19. In this song of praise, we'll see how the LORD's coming is both faithfulness to his covenant promises for his people as well as judgment on those opposed to God and his ways. And we'll look at how God "destroying the destroyers of the earth" is a fitting way to describe how "the punishment fits the crime" (see Deuteronomy 19:15-21; Psalm 7:14-16).
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This week's episode is a By the Book conversation with Dan Kent, author of Confident Humility. Dan and I talk about his book, how Jesus defines humility, how both religious and irreligious people are prone to defining humility wrongly, and what steps we all might take to reorient our lives around reality as Jesus defines it. Dan is a clear and insightful thinker, has a deep grasp of reality, and navigates challenging truths with ease. You can follow Dan on Facebook and Twitter. Dan has also released a FREE Confident Humility study guide, which you can find here: https://thatdankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/CH-workbook-free-download-sm.pdf. Consider purchasing his book along with a few friends and working through this workbook together. And he is offering an online class on his book through Zoom beginning June 20. You can register here: https://thatdankent.com/confident-humility-online-course/.
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In this episode, we'll look closely at how the Bible portrays the reality of "Babylon" - the ideologies rooted in the fall and in Babel and how those same ideologies often thrive unchecked in the hearts of religious people. Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094 Email any questions/comments to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, we'll look at the two witnesses' prophetic message: a way of being that embodies the pattern of the Christ. The word "embody" simply means to give a tangible expression of or a visible form to an idea; in this case, the gospel of Jesus Christ. When Christians embody the pattern of the Christ, the nations see the glory of the gospel and, in repentance, give glory to the God of heaven. What judgments alone failed to achieve, the self-sacrificial, dying-for-one's enemies, embodied love of Christians can bring about the salvation of the nations! Unbinding the Bible Video Email any comments to UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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Today's episode is a conversation I had with my good friend, Corey, about all things apocalyptic. How should Christians interpret these strange times we're in today? Is the book of Revelation unfolding before us? And what does the word, "apocalypse," mean anyway? We cover all this and more in our conversation. And I hope you'll use our conversation as a launching point to have meaningful conversations of your own. Unbinding the Bible Video
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In this episode, I'm excited to have Tim Gombis on the podcast. Tim is a professor of New Testament at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. On the show, we talk about his book, The Drama of Ephesians, and the power that rightly reading Ephesians should have on the church. We also touch on issues of Christian identity and what the gospel does to free us from fear, insecurities, defensiveness, and control. You can also read more of what Tim has written and interact with him through his blog, Faith Improvised, through Facebook, or by visiting www.timgombis.com.
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In this episode, we'll walk through the opening several verses of Revelation 11 - the revealing of the contents of the scroll. What the scroll reveals is that the faithful witness and death of Christians - of followers of Jesus - will prove instrumental in converting the nations of the world. Such self-sacrificial witness can, and does, produce repentance among the nations; repentance that judgments alone could never bring about.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 10:1-11. If judgments alone are unable to produce repentance among the nations, what will? The answer to this question forms the heart of the contents of the scroll that 1) the Lamb receives from the one seated on the throne in Revelation 5, and 2) that John is told to eat in Revelation 10. We'll talk specifically on this episode about just what it means to "take into oneself" this kind of prophetic message.
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“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you” (Mortimer J. Adler). Many books over the years have gotten "through to [me]" in profound ways, changing both my thinking and my life. I'd like to share some of them with you. And so with this episode, we're beginning a new series within the podcast called By the Book. Sprinkled periodically throughout the podcast I plan to interview authors whose writings have impacted my thinking, giving you access into other minds and other perspectives. If, for whatever reason, I am unable to connect with an author, I will review significant books for you myself. In this way, I hope to encourage all of us to become better readers of the Bible.
Unbinding the Bible Video
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In this episode, we'll look at the opening section of the sixth trumpet: Revelation 9:13-21. We'll see how intertwined demons and idols become in the hearts of their worshipers and why it is that judgments alone fail to produce repentance in those who dwell on the earth.
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This episode is a sermon I preached June 25, 2017 on Matthew 10:16-33. I'm inserting it here in the podcast because of its connection to the destroyer language of Revelation 9 that we discussed in episode 078. Jesus' words also pull back the veil on what's really going on in the world, particularly as it relates to our calling to be his witnesses - the very point John is at pains to get across in the book of Revelation. Jesus exhorts his followers to be wise as serpents and as innocent as doves, an exhortation we desperately need today, as fear is rapidly gripping the hearts of millions.
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The following is a sermon I preached on June 18, 2017 from Matthew 9:35-10:15. I'm inserting it here on the podcast because it helps shape the church's response to the destruction the evil one is unleashing on our world, as demonstrated so clearly through the locust plague from Revelation 9. Rightly understanding what authority means and why Jesus gives his disciples authority "over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19) will help shape our role as his witnesses in the world, particularly in light of the torment and bondage the world is in outside of Christ.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 8:13-9:12 - the first "woe" directed toward "those who dwell on the earth." We'll spend some time clarifying just who this group of people are and why they are referred to this way in Revelation. Hint: they are contrasted with those who "dwell in heaven" (Rev. 13:6). And using many passages throughout the New Testament, we will also come to see why locusts are such a perfect metaphor for the tormenting and destroying work of the evil one.
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In this episode, we'll look at the first four trumpet judgments from Revelation 8:5-12. In them we'll see close connections between Egypt's oppressive rule over the Israelites - and the subsequent plagues of judgment that came as a result - as well as Jeremiah's identification of the judgment awaiting Babylon for its cruelty and oppression. Taken together, both Egypt and Babylon shape John's understanding of the judgment that awaits any nation who sets itself up against God and his ways for the world, seen most clearly in the economic exploitation of the vulnerable in the building of their "great" kingdoms.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 8:1-5, as the Lamb opens the seventh seal. In this section, we'll notice that the normally noisy heaven goes completely silent; silent enough for God to hear the prayers of his faithful people. We'll see how prayer relates to God's working in the world and what the relationship is between praying for justice to be done in our world and being just as open to God's work of justice being done in our own hearts.
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This episode is a sermon I preached July 21, 2019 from Luke 10:38-42. In it I address the relationship between being served by Jesus and going out and serving others. The main idea is this: We need to allow Jesus to serve us before we try to serve others. This sermon is closely connected to How Do YOU Read the Law, which I inserted as episode 049 on this podcast. You may want to listen to them together.
Unbinding the Bible Video
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In this episode, we'll finish Revelation 7 by looking at verses 9-17. Using apocalyptic language, we'll clarify just who Christians are as God's people and the power Jesus' shed blood has on our lives. There are few passages in the Bible as beautiful as this one!
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 7:4-8 and try to discern what to make of the list of the tribes of Israel. Drawing on themes found in the message to the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia, we'll attempt to understand Israel's relationship to the Church and how Jesus functions as the hinge on which everything swings.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 7:1-4, paying particular attention to what being "sealed" means. We'll compare the language Jesus uses with the church in Philadelphia from Revelation 3 along with John's description of the "mark of the beast" in Revelation 13 to help us out, and we'll see why being sealed with the Holy Spirit is some of the best news there is!
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 6:12-17 as the Lamb opens the sixth seal. We'll see what appears to be a description of the absolute end of all things, but we'll see that the events being described are simply what happens when the presence of the LORD comes to the earth. This, of course, can be seen as a good or terrible reality, depending on how one sees the LORD.
Unbinding the Bible Video
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In this episode, we'll tackle Revelation 6:9-11 and watch as the Lamb opens the fifth seal. We'll look again at the judgments of God as they proceed "from the throne" and distinguish this type of judgment from the way earthly rulers carry out judgments of their own. And then we'll see how the Lord himself encourages those who have been mistreated for bearing witness to his name. Unbinding the Bible Video The Voice of the Martyrs Email any questions or comments you have to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, we'll see the Lamb begin to open the first few seals of the scroll. We'll spend the majority of our time talking about the rider on the first horse and what the first four seals communicate to us. We'll compare the destruction that comes from these four horses with the blessings that come from the Lamb, paying attention to these two trajectories:
Beast: Conquest --> Bloodshed (others) --> Famine --> Death
Lamb: Conquest --> Bloodshed (his own) --> Hunger Satisfied --> Life
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In this episode, we'll finish our look at Revelation 5, highlighting once again that the image of the Lamb belongs to the way God rules the world. We'll see that the worship offered to the Creator in chapter 4 mirrors the worship offered to the Redeemer in chapter 5, once again confirming that salvation is best understood as new creation. And we'll end our time comparing and contrasting the ways in which the Lamb's kingdom differs from Rome's. Unbinding the Bible Video
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In this episode, we'll jump straight into the heart of the gospel itself, the heart of the book of Revelation, and the interpretive lens through which to understand the rest of the book. Revelation 5:1-10 will be our passage, and we'll see the power of apocalyptic language once again push us into new worlds of thinking and just how it is God intends to both judge and save the world.
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In this episode, we'll wrap up our look at Revelation 4, paying particular attention to the repeated adjective "holy" to describe the Lord God Almighty. We'll see why God as Creator is a fitting reason for worshiping the one who lives forever and ever as well as why God alone is at the center of all worship.
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In this episode, we'll continue our look at Revelation 4, noticing all of the images and creatures being described that surround the throne. We'll also look at David's Song of Deliverance from 2 Samuel 22 to consider just what it might mean that lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder are coming from God's throne (Rev. 4:5).
Unbinding the Bible Video
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In this episode, we'll continue our look at Revelation 4, paying particular attention to its focus on thrones and why the church would find such a vision significant. We'll compare Revelation 4 with Revelation 13 and discuss how both God and Rome lay claim to a throne, to power, to authority, and to the right of worship. The church's success as faithful witnesses depends heavily on who they will choose to believe is really on the throne.
Unbinding the Bible Video
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 4:1 and address the issue of time as we transition to a new section in the book. John's use of the words "after this" seem to invite a lot of speculation regarding the contents of the next several chapters taking place solely in the future. And so we'll talk about what "after this" means in the context of the Bible as well as discuss the relationship between "heaven" and "earth."
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In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea from Revelation 3:14-22. This self-sufficient church boasted, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing," not realizing that translates all too easily into their not needing Jesus either. The only church not to receive any commendation, the proud Laodiceans are still loved by Jesus and are exhorted to repent of their self-sufficiency and to allow Jesus back into their midst.
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In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words to the church in Philadelphia from Revelation 3:7-13. Despite their smallness and seemingly insignificant influence, these Christians are deeply loved by the Holy One of Israel himself, Jesus Christ. This week's Unbound Truth: God's protection and blessing come to those who faithfully witness to Jesus.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 3:1-6, Jesus' words to the church in Sardis. A church that has a reputation for being alive, Jesus labels it as dead. That such an accusation could be leveled against any church leads us to this week's Unbound Truth: The presence of the Holy Spirit is what gives life to a church.
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In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words to the church in Thyatira from Revelation 2:18-29. Jesus continues clarifying for all of his followers what faithfully witnessing to him truly looks like as well as new difficulties each church will face in their situation. Following this week's Unbound Truth, that the influence of Baal can be present even in communities that are faithfully loving, serving, and enduring hardship, we'll see that faithful witness to Jesus demands love AND right teaching. We'll end our time exploring just what it might mean for believers to join Jesus in ruling over the nations with a rod of iron.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 2:12-17 - Jesus' words to the Christians in Pergamum, a church mixed with faithful followers and unfaithful ones. We'll see how Jesus addresses both and what that means for our own lives as his followers.
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This episode is a sermon I preached June 17, 2018 while preaching through the gospel of Mark. I'm inserting it here in the podcast because what we know of Israel's temptations toward trusting in other kingdoms can help shape our awareness of the same things. Jesus' explanation of the kingdom of God is formed in large part from the Old Testament. And understanding that world better helps us understand our own.
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In this episode, we'll take a look at just what Christians are up against in the various Empires in which they live. We'll pay particular attention to the idea of America as a "Christian nation," just what that means, and why it is an unhelpful (not to mention untrue) label in terms of the kingdom of God. We'll end our time talking about why the religious community may end up opposing a true Christian expression of the kingdom of God more than any other group of people.
This week's Unbound Truth: The kingdom of God is altogether different from a religious version of the kingdom of the world.
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In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' address to the church in Smyrna, what it was like living in that city at the time Revelation was written, and why it was that they faced persecution. We'll end the podcast discussing a bit about what our attitude toward persecution ought to be, according to Jesus.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 2:1-7 - Jesus' words to the church in Ephesus. Drawing on Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we'll see the importance that love plays in the life of the church, if we wish to be effective lampstands.
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In this episode, we'll focus in on the OT origins of Jesus' repeated refrain, "He who has an ear, let him hear." This episode will center exclusively on idolatry, and the subtle ways that our views of God affect the way that we live and the way that we hear. For Jesus to show us the way, he must expose the false ways we've been living. And this applies to his followers even more than to the world.
Scriptures used in this episode: Exodus 32; Exodus 34:6-7; 1 Kings 12:26-30; Psalm 135:15-18; Isaiah 6:9-10; Jeremiah 2:5; Ezekiel 14:1-5; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 24; 2 Corinthians 3:18.
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In this episode, we'll look at a few of the patterns in Jesus' addresses to each of the seven churches. We'll see just how vital it is that believers have a clear picture of Jesus because their witness of him depends entirely on it. We'll also look at how our witness to Jesus - the faithful witness (Rev. 1:5) - may very well embody the "pattern of the Christ" - faithful witness leading to suffering/death leading to vindication/resurrection.
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In this episode, we'll finish Revelation 1, looking closely at the first words Jesus speaks and their significance. His message for John and for his church: "Fear not." The hope we have in him not to fear: "I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades." Jesus has freed us from every conceivable fear we can come up with, but we'll have to face our fears directly if we want to be free from them.
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In this episode, we'll finish our look at Revelation 1:12-16 - the description of the "one like a son of man." In the second half of the episode, we'll dive in specifically to what the sharp two-edged sword protruding from Jesus' mouth represents and how it challenges the way many people think about God's judgment.
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This episode is a sermon I preached July 14, 2019 from Luke 10:25-37. I'm inserting this message here for two reasons: 1) we need to understand that who we are as people and how we approach the Bible very powerfully shapes what we think the Bible says; and 2) we need to embrace this fact as good interpreters of the Bible, especially when we try to interpret John's imagery in the book of Revelation. So I offer this sermon for your encouragement; a sermon that radically reshaped the way I approach the Bible. And just so you know: I'm a learner right along with you!
I'd love to hear from you! Please email me any questions you have: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 1:12-16, paying particular attention both to the way John sees the churches and how he sees Jesus. We'll look at some of the genius of apocalyptic language and a bit about how it works. And we'll learn a lot about the purpose of the church when we see what the lampstand was originally for in Israel's tabernacle.
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In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 1:9-11 and what it means that John is "your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that is in Jesus." These three verses really propel us forward into the book of Revelation, particularly as its message relates to the circumstances surrounding John's exile on the island of Patmos. Follow me on Instagram: @theunbindingthebiblepodcast Email me any questions you have to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, we'll take a close look at Revelation 1:8 and what the significance is of the divine self-declaration by God that we find there. We'll need the Old Testament to make sense of it, but we'll bring it all back to Jesus before we're finished. The book I reference, The Theology of the Book of Revelation by Richard Bauckham, can be found here. Here are the Scripture references this episode addressed: Revelation 1:8, 17; 21:6; 22:13; 1 Kings 18; Deuteronomy 10:17-18; Zechariah 7:9-10; Jeremiah 9:23-24; John 8:57-59; 6:35; 8:12; 10:9, 13; 11:25; 14:6, 9; 15:1; 20:28; Philippians 2:9-11; Isaiah 45:21-23; John 1:1, 14, 18. Please email any comments or questions you have to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, we'll take a close look at Revelation 1:7, paying particular attention to the OT passage where the phrase, "coming with the clouds" is from - Daniel 7. We'll see how Jesus' kingdom deals with both individuals as well as entire nations. And we'll take a look at what it means to say that "all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him." A lot is packed into this week's episode, but in these opening verses of Revelation, it's important to have in our minds many different themes working simultaneously. While we're not getting very far very quickly, you'll appreciate these introductory episodes once we get in to the heart of the book.
Scriptures in this episode: Revelation 1:7; John 1:4; Daniel 7:2-14; Jeremiah 50:17; Revelation 1:1; Daniel 2; Revelation 1:19; Ephesians 3:1-6; Colossians 1:27; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 5:4; Revelation 21:3-4; Revelation 18:7-19; Matthew 25; Luke 12:2-3.
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In this episode, we'll continue through the opening verses of Revelation 1, paying particular attention to verse 5: "[Jesus] freed us from our sins by his blood." What does it mean to be "freed from our sins"? And how does that work itself out practically in our lives? John's intention in telling us this is so that we can act most effectively as the kingdom of priests Jesus has made us to be. Follow me on Instagram: @theunbindingthebiblepodcast Email me any questions or comments: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
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In this episode, we'll look at the first five verses of Revelation 1. John greets the Christians to whom he writes in the name of their God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We'll see how this view of God is meant to shape the lives of Jesus' followers. Be prepared, though: Revelation also presents us with an alternative three-person "god" vying for our allegiance as well. And an honest reading of Revelation (and of ourselves) will encourage us to examine which "god" we're really worshiping based on the ideals that have most gripped our hearts. Please follow me on Instagram: TheUnbindingTheBiblePodcast. And if you have any questions, please email me at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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This episode is a sermon I preached December 2, 2018 from Luke 21:25-33. I'm inserting it here because I want you to see how Jesus reshapes our understanding of the "end times." There are few areas in need of clarification more than this one, especially as we approach the book of Revelation. We will get in to the actual text of Revelation 1 soon, but we first need to grasp how Jesus thought about the end and how he understood just what it was he came to do. Feel free to email me any comments or questions you have to UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll finish our read-through of the book (chapters 12-22). Take the time to just listen to the flow of the book. You may not understand everything you hear, and that's okay. Just listen and allow what you hear to begin working on you. And, as always, feel free to email me any questions or comments at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!
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In this episode, we'll take John's words in Revelation 1:3 seriously that those who read aloud the words of this prophecy AND those who hear will both receive blessing. This episode, then, is a reading aloud of Revelation 1-11. Take the time to just listen to the flow of the book. You may not understand everything you hear, and that's okay. Just listen and allow what you hear to begin working on you.
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In this episode, we'll introduce the book of Revelation. Written as a pastoral letter, a prophecy, and an apocalypse simultaneously, Revelation is a book unlike anything most modern readers of Scripture are familiar with. This, of course, comes as no surprise, considering the many widely varying interpretations of the book. But, using "Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth" (Rev. 1:5) as our interpretive guide, the book of Revelation will come to life for the strengthening of the church.
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In this episode, we'll look at Colossians 1:24-29 - Paul's understanding of his ministry to the church, an understanding that carries with it potentially offensive, maybe even heretical-sounding connotations. We'll see that this is not the case at all, but we'll examine just what Paul means by the words "in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body, that is, the church" (Col. 1:24). In seeking clarity at just this point, we'll see an often overlooked but incredibly vital characteristic of the church that we need to see more of today.
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In this episode, we'll take a look at the book of Acts, paying particular attention to Paul after he meets Jesus on his way to Damascus. We'll talk about the ways Paul refers to himself, especially in relation to the Servant of the LORD descriptions from the book of Isaiah. In the second half of the episode, we'll talk about how closely connected many of the themes and images are between the way Jesus is described in the New Testament and the way his followers are described. Hopefully your entire perspective on just who the church is will be strengthened.
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This episode is a sermon I preached April 28, 2019 on John 20:19-31. I'm inserting it here because of its powerful connection to both setting the captives free and the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins that we looked at in episode 035. Jesus very much wants to meet people in their own places of captivity so that, after setting them free, they can be used by him to set other captives free.
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In this episode, we're going to address one of the gospel's fundamental questions: why does the one coming to restore justice to the world end up suffering? We'll take a close look at the mission of Jesus as well as his offer of (and our need for) the forgiveness of sins.
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In this episode, we'll explore Isaiah's four "Servant Songs" and how they help us grasp a bit about the way biblical prophecy works. We'll then explore how misunderstanding the role of the Servant of the LORD played a major part in so many Jews missing Jesus when he came. Grasping these ideas will also help shape what the Christian life ought to look like for those who wish to follow Jesus.
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This episode is a sermon I preached in May 2018 from John 3:1-17 - Jesus' interaction with a religious man named Nicodemus. I'm inserting it here to round out Jesus' teaching on the gospel from episode 032, lest anyone conclude that the way someone becomes a member of God's kingdom is simply by doing the will of God. No, Jesus is not advocating a "do your best" understanding of salvation. He knows that only when we receive life "from above" will we rightly see and understand anything in the kingdom of God.
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In this episode, we'll take a look at Mark 3:20-35 - a clash of kingdoms between Jesus and the religious leaders as well as between Jesus and his biological family. In doing so, we'll discover a unique perspective regarding who rightfully can claim to be part of God's "family."
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This episode is a sermon I've given on two separate occasions, inviting listeners to experience the reality of the resurrection from a slightly different perspective. I'm inserting it on Easter Sunday as a BONUS episode in the hopes that it will encourage and strengthen you as you celebrate Jesus' resurrection.
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This episode is a sermon I preached on Good Friday of last year. In it I trace the theme of thorns used throughout Scripture to help us make the most sense of Jesus being forced to wear a "crown" of thorns. I hope this episode encourages you as you celebrate Jesus' death this Good Friday.
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In this episode, we'll take a look at the first 5 chapters of Matthew's gospel, paying particular attention to the way Matthew tells the story of Jesus. For many modern readers of the Bible, these subtle connections are easily missed, but powerfully illuminating once you know what you're looking for. Through this episode, I hope you'll come to see how much meaning is packed not only into what Jesus says and does, but into who he is.
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In this episode, we'll continue looking at Jesus' temptation in the wilderness from Matthew 4:1-11, paying particular attention to the connection his temptations have with Israel's temptations in their wilderness experience. What we learn from this recapitulation will help shape vast portions of the Bible, especially how we read the OT as faithful Christ followers.
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In this episode, we'll look at the meaning of the word "recapitulation" and the significance understanding it has on our lives. We'll look primarily at Jesus' wilderness temptation from Matthew 3:16-4:11 and dig into just what is taking place there.
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This episode is a sermon I preached June 24, 2018 from Mark 4:35-41. I'm inserting it here because of its helpful connection with the "representative head" idea introduced in episode 027. This sermon had a profound impact on me, particularly as it related to a passage from Isaiah 17 that I will reference during the message. Jesus invites us to see him as the world's true representative head and also to adopt his stance toward the nations. There's an unavoidable connection with Jonah in this passage (as I hope you'll see); one that demands we consider what makes Jesus better.
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In this episode, we'll take a look at Exodus 32 - the creation and worship of the golden calf - and what it shows us about Israel's need for a priest. We'll compare the way Moses and Aaron act as priests and what that teaches us about God and his covenant people, considering the fact that they are called to be a "kingdom of priests." We'll end the episode pondering the kind of priest we would want as well as the kind of priests we are becoming.
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In this episode, we'll tackle the opening chapter in Thomas Foster's fantastic little book, How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids. Through the recognition that the Bible is the greatest piece of literature ever written, we can adopt Foster's observations about "Quest" stories in how we read and understand the Bible, helping us to understand that the revelation of self-knowledge is one of life's most precious gifts.
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In this episode, we'll talk about what it means to say that the Bible is "relevant"? We'll use The Karate Kid to help us answer that question. In the second half of the episode, we'll look at how reading Scripture at not just one but on three levels simultaneously will enable us to understand it's message much clearer. The principles shared in this episode are crucial to any good work of biblical interpretation, so this is an episode you don't want to miss!
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In this episode, we’ll take a look at the Bible’s storyline from 30,000 feet. We’ll trace the theme of the kingdom of God as one of the clearest ways of understanding the Bible’s message as well as Jesus’ entire ministry. By reading Scripture through this lens, you’ll have a helpful framework for understanding passages from every part of the Bible.
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This episode is a sermon I preached September 17, 2017 while working through the gospel of Matthew (18:21-35). I’m inserting it here because of its connection between Lamech’s seventy times seven justification for revenge in Genesis 4 and Jesus’ words to Peter to forgive seventy times seven. The single greatest antidote to sin ruling over you is to forgive when others sin against you. This sermon explores what forgiveness is, as well as what it isn’t, so that we can experience the freedom it offers.
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In this episode, we'll look at sin's trajectory and how easily mankind finds himself justifying the worst of behaviors. We'll compare this way of living to "walking with God," which will take us one step closer to understanding the way the biblical story takes shape.
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In this episode, we'll take a look at life outside the garden (Genesis 4:1-16), paying particular attention to how sin continues its destruction of God's good world. We'll see that, according to the LORD, sin actually takes on the characteristics of a player in the narrative, one that works hard to undo the goodness of God's intentions for his world. We'll end our episode focusing on the mercy and compassion of the LORD, as he once again responds to human sinfulness in surprisingly kind ways.
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This episode is a sermon I preached September 24, 2017 while working through the gospel of Matthew. My primary text is Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the workers in the vineyard. I'm inserting it here because of its close connection to deciding for ourselves what is good and what is evil. The challenge to my congregation was to recognize that good and evil, right and wrong exist as categories outside of ourselves and that life works best when we substitute our way of looking at the world with Jesus'.
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In this episode, we'll look at how sin brings about a reversal of creation's ordered blessings. We'll give particular attention to how God's goodness and mercy influence his judgment and why it is actually kind of him to drive Adam and Eve out of the garden. If you have any questions or comments, please email them to me at: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!
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In this episode, we'll look closely at the LORD God's response to the first man and woman's fall into sin. We'll see what happened to each of mankind's fundamental relationships within a good creation and how the LORD, in his kindness and goodness, deals with them (and us).
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In this episode, we'll look closely at shame and why it is that we hide from God (and others) when we've done what we know is wrong. We'll also look at the pattern that the first man and woman established when committing the first sin and how that pattern still plays itself out in people's lives today.
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In this episode, we'll take a close look at Genesis 3:1-7. Taking our cues from many of the themes already explored in Genesis 1-2, we'll discover just what sin is as well as how temptation works. This topic is incredibly relevant in making sense of every one of our lives today, as these same temptations are alive and well still.
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In this episode, we'll conclude our look at God's good world in the garden from Genesis 1-2. We'll take a close look at marriage, man's perfect relationships with God, creation, one another, and himself, and how the metaphor of marriage perfectly describes God's relationship with his people. We'll finish up by examining shame, and trying to imagine a time when it didn't exist.
People to be Loved: Why Homosexuality is Not Just an Issue - https://www.amazon.com/People-Be-Loved-Homosexuality-Issue/dp/0310519659/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543930120&sr=8-1&keywords=people+to+be+loved+preston+sprinkle
Please email me any questions or comments you have: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!
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In this episode, we'll look at Genesis 2:18-23, paying particular attention to what "a helper fit for him" means. We'll look at a few of the places where the LORD God himself is said to be a "help" to man, giving us insight into why the man being alone was considered "not good". We'll wrap things up by focusing on the significance of naming things (people, places, even God) in the Bible.
As always, I'd love to hear from you! If you have any comments or questions, please email me at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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This episode is a sermon I preached July 22, 2018 while working through the gospel of Mark. The primary passage is Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, but 2 Samuel 7 gets attention as well. I've inserted it here because of how succinctly it ties together many of the garden, temple, priestly, and rest themes from previous episodes. The sermon ends in Ephesians 2, which I hope will allow you to see the Church in a brand new way.
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In this episode, we'll pull together some of the themes already mentioned to highlight the fact that the garden in Eden was the first temple. And then we'll see why knowing this matters and how it helps shape the way we think about the church's role in the world.
I'd love to hear from you! Please email your questions or comments to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll focus in on Genesis 2:15-17 and the task the LORD gives to man in the garden. We'll see that man's purpose is both to expand and to cultivate the garden as well as maintain and preserve the good already inherent in it.
Please email me any questions or comments you have to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll look at Genesis 2:8-14 - the description of a garden in Eden. We'll talk about good and evil, beauty, trees, the book of Psalms, and the significance of four rivers flowing out of the garden. These verses will even help clarify for us the way the rest of the Bible speaks about dwelling in the presence of God.
Please email any questions you have to UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!
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In this episode, we'll look closely at Genesis 2:7 - the creation of man - focusing specifically on what becoming a "living creature" actually means. The word itself is "nephesh", and we'll look at many of the places throughout the OT where the term is used. What we discover may surprise you.
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In this episode, we'll look at Genesis 2:4, the first verse in the Bible that uses "LORD" in connection with "God". We'll look at the book of Exodus to understand the word's meaning and how its insertion in Genesis 2 helps tie together Genesis 1 with Genesis 2.
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In this episode, we're going to answer some of the questions that listeners have sent in. My good friend, Corey Reeder, will be joining us and will help keep me on track.
I'd love to hear even more questions! If you would like to have some of your questions answered in a future episode, please email them to me at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll take a close look at Genesis 2:1-3 and what it means for God to rest. We'll look at how day seven of the creation compares with the first six and make note of a few differences. We'll also explore how Israel's responsibility to keep the Sabbath was connected both to God as creator as well as redeemer.
Please email any questions or comments you may have to: unbindingthebible@gmail.com.
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This episode is a sermon I preached in October 2017 while working through the gospel of Matthew. The text is Matthew 22:15-22 where Jesus is asked whether it is right to pay taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus' answer, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's" silenced his critics. I've included this sermon here because of its connection to Genesis 1:26-27.
I'd love to hear from you! If you have any comments, questions, or feedback, you can email me at unbindingthebible@gmail.com.
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In this episode, we'll look closely at Genesis 1:26-28, what it means to be made in God's image, and how that helps us understand humanity's role in the world.
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In this episode, we'll take a look at another creation narrative that was well-known to the ancient Israelites. By comparing this story with Genesis, we'll be able to uncover some of the underlying motives behind the kingdoms of this world, and how the world God has set up is meant to be different.
You can read the Enuma Elish for yourself here: https://www.csun.edu/~rlc31920/documents/History%20110/Enuma_Elish.pdf
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In this episode, we'll look at the first few verses of Genesis 1, paying particular attention to "how" the creation is described and the role that the Spirit plays in bringing order to it.
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In this episode, we'll talk about the nature of the gospel - is it individualistic or something bigger? How does our answer to that question inform how we read the Bible? And how does how we read the Bible inform what we think the gospel is?
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In this first episode, we'll take a look at some of the ways the Bible (particularly the Old Testament) is typically read and understood. Then we'll look at how Jesus says it should be read, based on a conversation he has with two men on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24.
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Episode 1 coming September 20. Spread the word.
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