Episodes
3 days ago
3 days ago
"Love" gets thrown around all the time. "I love ice cream," says Seth. We've talked many times on this podcast about God's love. 1 John, again, emphasizes love this week. So, too, does the appointed Acts reading that narrates the Ethiopian eunuch's baptism. Jonathan and Seth ask: What does this story tell us about God's limitless love? Who are the eunuchs of today? Who are people who we, despite our best intentions, don't think belong in the church?
We're glad you're with us! We love making this podcast; the fact that anyone listens only adds to our joy.
Monday Apr 15, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year B) - 4/21/24
Monday Apr 15, 2024
Monday Apr 15, 2024
Christian communities have read John’s account of Jesus identifying as the good shepherd for over 1,000 years. Unlike most Sundays, even the psalm relates to the gospel reading (rather than the first reading). So, true to form, Jonathan and Seth ask a lot of questions about shepherds: who are like modern shepherds? Can one identify an uncommitted hired hand? What if we focus on the sheep?
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Monday Apr 08, 2024
Third Sunday of Easter (Year B) - 4/14/24
Monday Apr 08, 2024
Monday Apr 08, 2024
Jesus’ followers are startled, confused, and scared. The one they’ve been following was killed like a common criminal, laid in a tomb, and now lives again - not as a ghost, but someone who really lives, laughs, and lunches. So, what now? Jonathan and Seth discuss this “what now.” What happens after you make a seemingly life-altering mistake? What happens after a loss? What happens after some type of resurrection?
We hope you saw the eclipse safely and we’re so glad you’re with us.
Monday Apr 01, 2024
Second Sunday of Easter (Year B) - 4/7/24
Monday Apr 01, 2024
Monday Apr 01, 2024
Each year, the Gospel reading for the Sunday after Easter is the story of “doubting Thomas.” The other readings, however, emphasize living in a community. Jonathan and Seth discuss why living in community can be so formative, why communities matter, and what the contemporary church might learn from the early Jesus-following movement.
They discuss a framework called “The Life Cycle and Stages of Congregation Development” by George Bullard, which can be found here.
We’re immensely thankful you’re with us; we don’t take it for granted!
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Easter (Year B)- 3/31/24
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Monday Mar 25, 2024
He is risen! He is risen, indeed! On Palm Sunday, we talked about what it looks like to experience joy, about momentarily putting our pains, perils, and problems in the backseat. On Good Friday, we talked about leaning into our pain and that of others. What does it look like to integrate them? How does it look for the disciples in the aftermath of the resurrection? This Sunday's question seems to get at the heart of the Christian life: how are joy and pain mingled and how is God in the midst of them?
We're praying for a meaningful Holy Week, a joyous Easter spent with those you care about, and new life springing up in expected ways. And, as always, we're glad you're with us!
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Good Friday (Year B) - 3/29/24
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Another short and sweet episode, Jonathan and Seth talk about what it looks like to sit in suffering as the disciples. How do we make room for suffering when we're unsure when or if it ends?
Again, we're praying your Holy Week is a blessing.
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Maundy Thursday (Year B) - 3/28/24
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
As promised, this episode is short and sweet. It's primarily a long, beautifully written prayer by Jonathan aimed at helping us move into Holy Week and see Jesus' humble service as a paradigm for our own.
We hope you have a blessed Holy Week.
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Palm Sunday (Year B) - 3/24/24
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Palm Sunday has to do a lot of heavy lifting. To help, most services are divided into the liturgy of the palms and the liturgy of the passion. This isn't true historically, however. Now, most people cannot (or will not) come to church on Good Friday, Palm Sunday has to link Jesus' triumphal entry with his crucifixion and lead into Easter.
Luckily for us, podcasts don't suffer that problem. People can listen whenever, so this episode focuses only on the triumphal entry. We have more, short, sweet episodes coming on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Easter's episode follows the usual rhythm.
Edit: This episode should have gone live on Monday (3/18), but some guy who looks, sounds, thinks, and acts like Seth made a mistake with the upload date. He apologizes!
Monday Mar 11, 2024
The Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year B) - 3/17/24
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Monday Mar 11, 2024
"What happens when it breaks?" asks Jonathan. In this Sunday's readings, covenants break and Jesus' Spirit seems broken too. Jonathan and Seth discuss how God responds to brokenness, why a theology of brokenness matters today, and what the Gospel has to say to those of us whose hearts may be broken. These passages, perhaps more than any other Lenten ones, are dark and reflective. They'll lead us to the (momentary) joy of Palm Sunday.
We're glad you're with us! We'd love it if you'd review us on whatever podcast platform you use; it helps others find the show.
Monday Mar 04, 2024
The Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year B) - 3/10/24
Monday Mar 04, 2024
Monday Mar 04, 2024
The contrast between light and darkness often appears in Scripture, particularly in the appointed passages for Lent 4. These texts and this theme, however, have been used historically to praise whiteness and to denigrate those with dark skin. Jonathan and Seth discuss that pitfall, how it encourages binary thinking, how darkness can be seen as positive, and how God deigns to work with people rather than alone.
As always, we're glad you're with us!