No Experts Allowed

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany (Year C) - 2/16/25

Luke’s narration of the beatitudes is more down to earth, more concrete. It also includes “woes” for the rich, satiated, and praised. Are Luke’s words harder for us to hear? What difference does it make that Jesus “stood on a level place” (Lk. 6:17)? Jonathan and Seth talk about how Jesus’ word can provide hope that’s similarly concrete.

It’s flows naturally from the previous episode, but listening to that is not a prerequisite. Each can stand on their own. We’re even happier you’re with us than we are with an Eagles Super Bowl victory. 

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (Year C) - 2/9/25

Hope takes the long view. It's not merely living in expectation of the following day but for an indeterminate time some distance away. The psalmist knows about this extended hope, declaring, "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever" (138.8). For me (Seth, here), hope is in short supply. The news is as depressing as it's been. A bishop is attacked for asking for mercy. ICE raids took place in my hometown. January was a year long. What does it look like to have hope for the future? What does hope look like that is longer than 4 years? And how can we support each other so no one has to manufacture their hope alone?

I hope you have more hope than I do right now. Either way, we're so glad you're with us. Feel free to email us about what is giving you hope at: noexpertsallowed@gmail.com

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (Year C) - 2/2/25

This week we talk about… math? Seth describes the distributive property when Jonathan asks about the transitive property. Jonathan gently corrects him. The transitive property allows for substitutions and that opens new ways of reading 1 Corinthians 13, the classic “love text.” What can it tell us about God’s character? What aspects are often underemphasized? And what can we hear anew thanks to the transitive property? You won’t need a calculator for this episode; we promise!

We’re glad you’re with us! Because Easter is relatively late this year, the time after Epiphany stretches, so we’re hearing texts we do not often get in the lectionary. We hope you’re enjoying them as much as we are.

Third Sunday after Epiphany (Year C) - 1/26/25

Ezra reads the law. It seems simple enough. But what if there was a little more to it? Nehemiah notes that "they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading" (8:8, NRSV). It's not merely recitation, but explanation. Ezra and Nehemiah attempt to make it accessible to those listening. What does that look like today? What are some ways to empower people to read the Bible? How might this podcast be part of that mission? What are some of the factors that keep people from reading Scripture or reading it in ways that might be harmful? This episode strikes the heart of what we're trying to do with No Experts Allowed.

We're glad you're with us! It's snowy and cold in Pennsylvania, for Seth, and still very cold in Virginia for Jonathan. We hope the weather is more pleasant wherever you are.

 

Second Sunday after Epiphany (Year C) - 1/19/25

There is a controversial book When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself. Written by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, it argues that providing relief and rehabilitation for others can create an unhealthy dependency. I (Seth, here) think these claims are overblown. However, helping can sometimes do more harm than good; I agree with that premise. Jonathan and Seth discuss that. What happens when someone accuses us of hurting when we think we're helping? How do we feel? What do we do next? Who do we listen to? And, if our gifts are "for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:7), how do we ensure they're not self-serving?

Thanks for listening! We hope you're settling into 2025 and your resolutions are going strong. If someone told you they thought you were hurting when you thought you were helping, we'd love to hear about it at: noexpertsallowed@gmail.com.

Baptism of Our Lord (Year C) - 1/12/25

At Jesus’s baptism, a voice from heaven declared him “beloved.” In Isaiah, God calls Israel “precious.” These special designations about the value of God’s people occur throughout scripture. So, Jonathan and Seth discuss what’s precious to them. They also talk about seeing others as precious and specific, concrete ways to help do that. This theme of preciousness will continue to pop up throughout Epiphany too.

We’re glad you’re with us, as always. We hope life has settled a little from the Christmas season. And we’d be thankful if you’d write us a review or send this podcast to someone you know. It really does help us grow. 

Second Sunday of Christmas (Year C) - 1/5/25

Many people go home for Christmas. Home may look different, but it's home nonetheless. Hence, the Christmas classic "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays." The prophet Jeremiah also describes a homecoming. The scattered, exiled remnant of Israel will return to the land where their descendants lived, cultivated farmland, raised animals, and built homes. Jonathan and Seth discuss homecomings. What is their appeal? How does a promised homecoming give us hope for the future? What does going home look like today?

We hope your Christmas was what you needed it to be, whether you went home or not. And, as always, we're glad you're with us. We know this season is often busy, so if you skipped a few episodes, we're thrilled you're back, too!

Christmas Day Special (Year C)

If you've ever wondered about Jonathan and Seth's favorite Christmas memories, whether they got a gift they still cherish, or if they gave a gift that landed poorly, tune in to find out! We hope this episode gives you a glimpse into Jonathan and Seth's lives, humanizes them, and makes you nostalgic for your own Christmas memories, too.

As always, we're glad you're with us. Email us your favorite Christmas memories; we'd love to read them. Jesus Christ is with us and will be forever!

First Sunday of Christmas (Year C) - 12/29/24

Jesus is lost; his parents take three days to notice and find him. He's in "His Father's house," as if to say, "Where else would I be?!" This snippet of Jesus as a child forms what little we know about Jesus' childhood. Matthew records Jesus' birth, but not the period between his birth and ministry. (Admittedly, some scholars have argued that the Magi reach Jesus when he is older and no longer a newborn.) Mark starts his story later in Jesus' life as well. John, as always, is doing his own "thing" and begins his at the beginning of time. We're left with just this story about Jesus as a child. Why would Luke include it? What can we learn from it? What does it tell us about listening and asking questions and, generally, having a childlike faith? Jonathan and Seth dig up these questions from well-known stories for Advent.

We're glad you're with us! A special Christmas episode will soon appear on your feed. We hope it brings you joy.

Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C) - 12/22/24

As we've declared on the podcast before, Mary knows. But how is she feeling? What is going through her mind? What does she think about herself when she hears the wonderful news of giving birth to Jesus Christ, the son of God? The text tells us little about Mary's internal dialogue, which is common in ancient texts. What is Elizabeth's role? And what might it tell us about community? Jonathan and Seth discuss Mary, a little about her song, and what Mary might teach us as we, too, wait expectantly for the coming of Christ into the world.

Be on the lookout for a special Christmas episode. We hope you'll listen to that one, too. And, as always, thanks for listening! Please consider leaving us a review; it helps others find us.