No Experts Allowed

Psalm 25:1-10

Psalms evidence and form theology. The Israelites sang what they believed and, in turn, believed what they sang. The same is true for psalms and hymnody today. So it is no wonder that images of following God's path are popular. Jonathan and Seth, however, discuss whether there is only one path to follow and how one can decide when to change course.

Mark 9:2-10

Jesus' transfiguration confuses Peter, James, and John. Peter even blurts out that they should immediately build memorials. The story has been equally as confusing to later interpreters. Jonathan and Seth discuss it in light of Jesus' baptism and ask many questions, some of which they answer.

Isaiah 40:21-31

Isaiah proclaims to the exiles in Babylon that no one compares to God. God does not grow weary, while even "young men stumble and fall" (40:30). Seth and Jonathan wonder how this was received. Isaiah's words could be painful for people living under a foreign empire, but the tireless God can also empower people to be tireless in their perseverance.

Galatians 1:11-20

Paul summarizes his résumé for the Galatians. His words, however, irk Seth and Jonathan, who read this section as Paul bragging about himself and his accomplishments. They discuss whether arrogance is humanity’s chief sin and what it looks like to see ourselves as God sees us.

Mark 1:14-20

Jesus calls his disciples and tells them they will be “fishers of men.” The term “evangelizing,” however, often has negative connotations, but Jonathan and Seth hope to reframe, rethink, and reimagine evangelism.

We mention Leonard Sweet’s book Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God Who’s Already There, which is available from an independent bookseller here.

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Samuel hears God's voice at night, repeatedly mistaking it for Eli's. When Eli realizes God is speaking to Samuel, he tells him to respond to God. Thus begins Samuel's prophetic and administrative duties for Israel. Jonathan and Seth talk about their own call stories, the nudges they've felt pulling them toward ministry, and the grumbles that have pushed them away.

Genesis 1:1-5

Historically, the Church has claimed God creates ex nihilo (Latin for out of nothing). Genesis, however, assumes chaos already exists when God begins creating. In a turbulent world, Jonathan and Seth discuss the chaos they want to see transformed in their own lives and pray to the One who can dispel chaos with a word.

John 21:20-25

A short section on the Beloved Disciple (traditionally John himself) and whether he will die ends John's gospel. It is a strange passage, perhaps the strangest one we've covered so far. It leads Jonathan and Seth to talk about how they want to be remembered in their eulogies.

Luke 2:22-40

In Jerusalem for Jesus' circumcision, Mary and Joseph are approached by Simeon and Anna, who recognize Jesus as a redeemer. Jonathan and Seth discuss how Jesus' identity begins to spread, the purpose of stories about Jesus' early life, and teenage Jesus.

Since this episode releases on December 26th, we hope your Christmas was full of the joy that God's incarnate Son brings.

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

King David's desire to build a temple is curtailed by God's desire to stay in the moveable tabernacle. God wants to be mobile, moving with God's people. Jonathan and Seth discuss how this passage relates to Advent and Jesus Christ, the walking talking God-with-flesh-on.