Tending Our Nets: Recent Episodes
Joshua Sherman
This podcast is focused on exploring the Gospel - the Good News - about Jesus Christ, in as much of its fullness, impact, and beauty as we can. It is aimed at equipping Christians to share the Gospel with everyone they know. Non-Christian explorers are most welcome, too!
This special episode features a discussion about sacrifice and atonement, featuring Spencer Owen, Phil Bray, Troy Yurchak, and Joshua Sherman. This discussion is a response to the recent Bible Project episodes on Atonement and Burnt Offerings, as part of their overview of the Leviticus scroll. Here, we hope to bring additional context to the discussion, that can help people approach the Atonement, especially.
For those that haven't listened to the Bible Project episodes yet, we'd like to recommend listening to this discussion, then listening to their episode on Burnt Offerings first, then their episode on Atonement.
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/what-did-burnt-offerings-really-mean/ https://bibleproject.com/podcast/what-atonement/
Additional Resources
For more helpful resources on Sacrifices and Atonement, we'd recommend checking out the following books and podcasts. Each of them comes at this question from a slightly different point-of-view. For those that really want to dig into the topic, and be prepared to discuss it in detail, it can be very helpful to understand multiple points of view, to both inform our own view, and to enable more effective engagement with those that hold a different view.
Books
- Jacob Milgrom, "Leviticus" (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001I460LK/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1)
- L. Michael Morales, "Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord" (https://www.amazon.com/Who-Shall-Ascend-Mountain-Lord/dp/0830826386/ref=sr_1_1)
- Matthew Thiessen, "Jesus and the Forces of Death" (https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Forces-Death-Matthew-Thiessen/dp/1540964876/ref=sr_1_1)
- Fr. Jeremy Davis, "Welcoming Gifts" (https://store.ancientfaith.com/welcoming-gifts-sacrifice-in-the-bible-and-christian-life)
- NT Wright: The Day the Revolution Began (https://www.amazon.com/Day-Revolution-Began-Reconsidering-Crucifixion-ebook/dp/B01ARKFWSC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0)
Podcasts
- Fr. Jeremy Davis, "Sacrifice in the Bile and Christian Life" (https://www.ancientfaith.com/specials/sacrifice_in_the_bible_and_christian_life)
- The Lord of Spirits podcast - episodes on sacrifice and atonement https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/eating_with_the_gods https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/the_sacrifices_of_righteousness https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/the_priest_shall_make_atonement
- Michael Heiser's Leviticus series [episodes 63-84]: (https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-63-introducing-leviticus/)
- Almost Heretical podcast, episodes 75-90 (https://almostheretical.com/episodes?offset=1573224589178)
Michael Gorman on becoming the Gospel, being conformed to the image of Christ, and theosis.
https://onscript.study/podcast/michael-j-gorman-becoming-the-gospel/
Michael Heiser’s Supernatural covers this in a really helpful way, in later chapters.
https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Bible-Teaches-Unseen-Matters/dp/1577995589
Fr. John Behr’s translation of Athanasius’s “On The Incarnation”, which includes a Foreword by C.S. Lewis, and Fr. Behr’s Introduction, is a great read for exploring the implications of the Incarnation of Christ more deeply.
https://www.amazon.com/Incarnation-Saint-Athanasius-Popular-Patristics/dp/0881414271/ref=sr_1_3
Michael Heiser’s Supernatural covers this in a really helpful way, in later chapters.
https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Bible-Teaches-Unseen-Matters/dp/1577995589
Michael Heiser’s Supernatural covers this in a really helpful way, in later chapters.
https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Bible-Teaches-Unseen-Matters/dp/1577995589
Michael Heiser’s Supernatural covers this in a really helpful way, in later chapters.
https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Bible-Teaches-Unseen-Matters/dp/1577995589
Michael Heiser’s Supernatural covers this in a really helpful way, in later chapters.
https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Bible-Teaches-Unseen-Matters/dp/1577995589
Randy Alcorn has written extensively on what eternal life will be like after Jesus returns, in his book “Heaven.” I’d recommend giving it a read, to get more of a full picture of the things we know from Scripture, and the kinds of things believers have explored in trying to understand all of this.
https://www.christianbook.com/heaven-randy-alcorn/9780842379427/pd/79422
Dr. Michael Heiser approached this topic recently on the Naked Bible Podcast, when going through Revelation 20, around 00:35:25.
https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-393-revelation-20/
Dr. Justin Bass explores an important angle on this - how Christ's resurrection impacted those who were faithful to God, who died before Christ.
https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Keys-Revelation-Underworld-Paternoster/dp/1625648391/ref=sr_1_2
If you want dive into this more, I highly recommend NT Wright's "The Challenge of Jesus":
https://www.amazon.com/Challenge-Jesus-Rediscovering-Who-Was/dp/0830836969/ref=sr_1_1
For more on the Image and Glory of God, see:
Dr. Matthew Bates, “The Gospel Precisely”
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Precisely-Surprisingly-Christ-Theology/dp/1949921662
Dr. Haley Goranson-Jacob, “Conformed to the Image of His Son: Reconsidering Paul’s Theology of Glory in Romans”
https://www.amazon.com/Conformed-Image-His-Son-Reconsidering/dp/0830852107
For more on Bearing God’s Name check out the following resources.
Dr. Carmen Imes’s interview with the Bible Project:
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/taking-gods-name-vain/
Dr. Carmen Imes’s book on this topic:
https://www.amazon.com/Bearing-Gods-Name-Sinai-Matters/dp/0830852697/ref=sr_1_1
For a more detailed look at The Lord’s Prayer, including “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, check out this episode from the After Class Podcast:
https://afterclass.libsyn.com/225-our-fatherupdated
For more on Bearing God’s Name check out the following resources.
Dr. Carmen Imes’s interview with the Bible Project:
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/taking-gods-name-vain/
Dr. Carmen Imes’s book on this topic:
https://www.amazon.com/Bearing-Gods-Name-Sinai-Matters/dp/0830852697/ref=sr_1_1
For more on Bearing God’s Name check out the following resources.
Dr. Carmen Imes’s interview with the Bible Project:
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/taking-gods-name-vain/
Dr. Carmen Imes’s book on this topic:
https://www.amazon.com/Bearing-Gods-Name-Sinai-Matters/dp/0830852697/ref=sr_1_1
For more on the Image of God, check out the following resources:
Dr. Matthew Bates, “The Gospel Precisely”:
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Precisely-Surprisingly-Christ-Theology/dp/1949921662
Dr. Carmen Imes's "Take Two Podcast" on the Image of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7cViaV350o
Dr. Catherine McDowell on the Image of God, on the Alabaster Jar podcast:
https://thealabasterjar.podbean.com/e/the-image-of-god-in-the-garden-of-eden-conversation-with-catherine-mcdowell-aj-8/
Dr. Michael Heiser on the Image of God (paper):
https://drmsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Image-of-God-LBD.pdf
For more on the Image of God, check out the following resources:
Dr. Matthew Bates, “The Gospel Precisely”:
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Precisely-Surprisingly-Christ-Theology/dp/1949921662
Dr. Carmen Imes's "Take Two Podcast" on the Image of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7cViaV350o
Dr. Catherine McDowell on the Image of God, on the Alabaster Jar podcast:
https://thealabasterjar.podbean.com/e/the-image-of-god-in-the-garden-of-eden-conversation-with-catherine-mcdowell-aj-8/
Dr. Michael Heiser on the Image of God (paper):
https://drmsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Image-of-God-LBD.pdf
For more on the Image of God, check out the following resources:
Dr. Carmen Imes's "Take Two Podcast" on the Image of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7cViaV350o
Dr. Catherine McDowell on the Image of God, on the Alabaster Jar podcast:
https://thealabasterjar.podbean.com/e/the-image-of-god-in-the-garden-of-eden-conversation-with-catherine-mcdowell-aj-8/
Dr. Michael Heiser on the Image of God (paper):
https://drmsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Image-of-God-LBD.pdf
For more on the Image of God, check out the following resources:
Dr. Carmen Imes's "Take Two Podcast" on the Image of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7cViaV350o
Dr. Catherine McDowell on the Image of God, on the Alabaster Jar podcast:
https://thealabasterjar.podbean.com/e/the-image-of-god-in-the-garden-of-eden-conversation-with-catherine-mcdowell-aj-8/
Dr. Michael Heiser on the Image of God (paper):
https://drmsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Image-of-God-LBD.pdf
For more on the Image of God, check out the following resources:
Dr. Carmen Imes's "Take Two Podcast" on the Image of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7cViaV350o
Dr. Catherine McDowell on the Image of God, on the Alabaster Jar podcast:
https://thealabasterjar.podbean.com/e/the-image-of-god-in-the-garden-of-eden-conversation-with-catherine-mcdowell-aj-8/
Dr. Michael Heiser on the Image of God (paper):
https://drmsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Image-of-God-LBD.pdf
For more on the Image of God, check out the following resources:
Dr. Carmen Imes's "Take Two Podcast" on the Image of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7cViaV350o
Dr. Catherine McDowell on the Image of God, on the Alabaster Jar podcast:
https://thealabasterjar.podbean.com/e/the-image-of-god-in-the-garden-of-eden-conversation-with-catherine-mcdowell-aj-8/
Dr. Michael Heiser on the Image of God (paper):
https://drmsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Image-of-God-LBD.pdf
Have you ever wondered what it means to be made in the Image of God? In this episode, I give a quick rundown on the main views on what this means, and propose what I think the best understanding of it is. Of course, as we continue this series, I'll discuss a lot more about the Image, and how it ties in with the Gospel.
For more on the Image of God, check out the following resources:
Dr. Carmen Imes's "Take Two Podcast" on the Image of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7cViaV350o
Dr. Catherine McDowell on the Image of God, on the Alabaster Jar podcast:
https://thealabasterjar.podbean.com/e/the-image-of-god-in-the-garden-of-eden-conversation-with-catherine-mcdowell-aj-8/
Dr. Michael Heiser on the Image of God (paper):
https://drmsh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Image-of-God-LBD.pdf
In this episode, a quick summary of the "Gospel of God's Victory" series we just wrapped up, and a look at the upcoming series, "The Purpose of Humanity and the Destiny of Believers."
Note - We’re taking a quick break until the beginning of September. See you then!
Jesus's victory over death - and "him who held the power of death - that is, the devil" (see Hebrews 2), is central to the Gospel. As Paul argues, "if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is futile; you are still dead in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15), and "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4)
The connection between Jesus's death and the Passover Lamb is pretty well understood. In this episode, we take a look at another detail that connects Jesus's death and resurrection with the Old Testament - Luke referring to Jesus's "exodus" in his account of the Transfiguration.
Just as YHWH's victory over pharaoh and the gods of Egypt resulted in freedom for the people of Israel, Jesus's victory over sin, death, and the spiritual powers of darkness would - and did - result in freedom for all people who confess faith in Jesus.
How does better understanding the Gospel, and God's expectations for our response to it, help us think more clearly about how - and how not - to engage in politics?
For more on seeing “Faith” as “Allegiance”, I recommend spending some time with Matthew Bates’s work. “Gospel Allegiance” is a bit briefer, and aimed more at pastors and lay people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CbqMMh_xb8
https://www.amazon.com/Salvation-Allegiance-Alone-Rethinking-Gospel/dp/0801097975
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Allegiance-Misses-Salvation-Christ/dp/1587434296
In this episode, I ask the question, "Is the Gospel good news for everyone?", and look at how it is good news for all people without distinction, but not good news for people without condition. The Gospel is only truly good news for those who respond with faith/trust/allegiance in Jesus.
In this episode, I critique a view that is becoming more common - that we should use the incarnate Christ as our only measuring stick for telling us what God is like. Yes, it is one of our clearest views, but looking only at Jesus' earthly ministry ignores what the Son was doing before the Incarnation, and what the Son will do at the second coming.
In this episode, I mention John Nugent's "Endangered Gospel". For this and other recommended books, podcasts, and resources, check out my recommended resources here:
https://ravencreeksc.com/tendingournets/2021/2/3/recommended-reading-and-resources
For more detail, check out the following resources.
The Naked Bible Podcast describes the process Israelite kings would generally go through to be coronated - a pattern that the Gospels display with Jesus. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-333-the-israelite-king-and-jesus-as-king/
The Bema podcast talks about Mark's Gospel presenting Jesus being coronated "like" a Caesar - putting Jesus in direct opposition to Caesar. https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/85
For more detail on this, check out Mark Ward’s video on the “false friend” (word that we think we understand, but probably don’t) that I’m highlighting here.
In this episode, I take a look at how a better understanding of gospel helps us make sense of the persecution the early church faced.
Note - I mentioned Julius Caesar a few times in this episode. I was intending to talk about Caesar Augustus with those comments, as he is the more immediate, contemporary example of emperors seeing themselves as divine, declaring their own "gospel", etc.
Notes
The OnScript podcast hosted R. Alan Streett recently, where they talked about baptism as a loyalty oath - comparing the oath that Roman soldiers would take, with the way the church approached baptism in the 1st-Century. This was a great discussion!
The Bema Discipleship podcast has a great series covering context like this, and a longer episode discussing this precise point - Alexander the Great’s “gospel” of Hellenism.
This episode starts a new series - on the context of the term "Gospel" in the Bible - starting with the context in the Old Testament.
In this episode, I review what we've covered in the "Big Picture Gospel" series. Next up - the Gospel of God's victory and Kingship.
In this episode, I talk about one specific example of the good news - the reversal of Babel that God brought about at Pentecost. This brings a whole new perspective on the Exile!
In this episode, I talk about the Gospel in the Old Testament - the Good News that God told to Abraham, and how followers of Jesus fit into that story by faith.
In this episode, we talk about the big picture story of the Bible as a chiasm or “sandwich" - that God made creation for a specific purpose, and that God is bringing creation toward that purpose one step at a time. This story centers on Jesus - His incarnation, life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
In this episode, we talk about the good news that God isn't done with creation. The brokenness that we see around us isn't permanent! God has great plans to restore creation and bring people into His family, through Jesus.
In this episode, I pivot to looking at the big picture “good news” - beginning with the recognition that when God made creation, He called it “good”, and when God made humankind, He called us “very good.”
In this episode, I take a quick look at the third facet of the bad news that ultimate Good News needs to address - natural "evil".
In this episode, I continue our look at the "bad news", setting the baseline for our look at the truly Good News - the big picture Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Notes
For a more detailed look at the image of God, check out Dr. Carmen Imes’ “Take Two Podcast” episode on that topic, here.
In this episode, I start our look at the “big picture” Gospel, by giving us a baseline, the “bad news” - the current human condition.
In this episode, I discuss the relationship between the "Romans Road" approach to presenting the Gospel, and the things I'll be discussing as we move forward.
In this episode, we continue our quick look at the Romans Road presentation of the Gospel, looking at some of its limitations, and talk about why it helps to go deeper in our understanding of the Gospel.”
Notes
Teen Missions has a printable version of the “Romans Road” presentation of the Gospel on their website, for those that would like to have a visual, print a copy, etc.
In this episode, we take a quick look at the "Romans Road", exploring the strengths and weaknesses of this presentation of the Gospel.
Check out our website for more resources on engaging with this topic. https://ravencreeksc.com/tendingournets
These are resources we’d recommend for digging into the Gospel in more detail. This is a rolling list that will consolidate the various sources we recommend for digging into the specific topic covered in a particular episode.
Books on the Gospel
- Matthew Bates - “The Gospel Precisely”
- Matthew Bates - “Gospel Allegiance”
- Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick - “Arise O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death“
- John Nugent - “Endangered Gospel”
Books on the Theology and Bible
- Michael Heiser - “What Does God Want?”
- Carmen Imes - “Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters”
- Michael Heiser - “Supernatural”
- Dallas Willard - “The Divine Conspiracy”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer - “The Cost of Discipleship”
- John Barclay - “Paul and the Power of Grace”
- Michael Heiser - “Unseen Realm”
- Randy Alcorn - “Heaven”
- Frank Viola - “Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom”
- NT Wright - “The Challenge of Jesus”
- NT Wright and Michael Bird, “The New Testament in its World”
Podcasts
- Michael Heiser, “The Naked Bible Podcast”
- Marty Solomon, “BEMA Discipleship”
- The Bible Project podcast
- The OnScript podcast
YouTube
- Mike Winger - “Bible Thinker”
- Bible Hacking - “Bible Hacking”
Film
- VidAngel Studios, “The Chosen”
This episode explores some of the big reasons Christians need to be sharing the Gospel. We're familiar with some of these, but I hope something new here catches your attention, and helps Christians step beyond their comfort zones to share the hope they have with those around them.
For a quick description of Spiritual Warfare, check out this episode from Remnant Radio, especially at around 55:45. YouTube
This is also described in Tim Steadman’s “Answers to Giant Questions”, on pp. 312-317
Check out our website for more resources on engaging with this topic.
Creeds
Here at Tending Our Nets, we hold to the basic tenets of the Christian faith, as outlined in the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.)
Basic beliefs
We believe that God is Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus is both fully God and fully human. And we believe that God chose to make salvation available by grace, through faith in Jesus. We believe that the very possibility of this salvation at all, and the fact that God chose to make the availability of salvation hinge not on a person’s place of birth, nationality, or bloodlines - but on faith - are gifts of God. We believe that the incarnation, death, resurrection, kingship, and deity of Jesus are all central to the Gospel, and we believe that trust in Jesus as our Savior, King, and God is necessary for people to receive salvation. We believe in the continuity of truth through both the Old and the New Testament. Though we see different aspects of God’s character revealed in different situations, and clearly see a progression in the details that are revealed about God and His plan to provide salvation to those who seek Him - the same God is revealed in both Testaments. The “I Am”, the “Alpha and Omega”, is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Scripture
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that it contains the clearest, most complete revelation of the truth about God, the universe, and who we are - including our creation, identity, and destiny. We believe that God reveals truth in other ways (through creation, through visions, through prophecy, through messengers, etc.), but that any revelation that is received must be tested in the Spirit, and measured according to the truth revealed in the Bible. We believe that God chose to have the Bible written and revealed to humanity in the context of Ancient Israel (the Old Testament) and 2nd temple Judaism (the New Testament), and that it is best understood when studied prayerfully, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, in a community of faith where a thorough knowledge of the original context is understood.
We believe God chose the specific authors, in their contexts, with their life experiences, to communicate the truth about God to their original audience, and that these communications definitively describe the truth about God for us today - though the original meaning may take some studious efforts, and/or revealing through the Spirit, for us to fully understand, since we do not live in the original context of the Biblical writers/audience, and don’t automatically understand what they left unsaid. We believe the Bible we have today accurately presents the truth that God commissioned and inspired the Biblical authors to convey through the writing of Scripture. Thus, the Bible is BOTH the product of divine inspiration, AND the product of direct, creative, literary human activity. It is the Scripture God intended us to have. Thus, Paul writing his letters was uniquely Paul - but also inspired of the Spirit. We believe this is the only accurate way to account for what we see in the text, across thousands of years and a variety of genres. We believe that passages of the Bible are best interpreted in light of the whole witness and narrative of Scripture - rather than being used as proof-texts without context.
In this episode, we explore reasons why it can be hard for Christians to share the Gospel. These are things we need to overcome, if we're going to be effective witnesses!
This episode introduces the Tending Our Nets podcast. This podcast is focused on exploring the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in as much of its fullness, impact, and beauty as we can. It is aimed at equipping Christians to share the Gospel with everyone they know. Non-Christian explorers are most welcome, too!
"Tending Our Nets" is based on Jesus' statement that He would make His followers "fishers of men."
Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @TendingOurNets