Deconstructing the Bible

What does it mean to have faith when life is more mundane and slow? How can we learn from Mary's story...a story of deep faith...through a long and mostly lonely journey towards the birth of Jesus?

The first Sunday of Advent is the week of HOPE. And instead of starting in the gospels, we often are called back to the prophets. Why? What can the prophets teach us about Hope.

Advent also starts in the dark. We don't have all the bells and carols and ornaments just yet. First we slow down and move into darkness. Why? What do we learn when we embrace the darkness?

In this episode we hear some quotes from Walter Brueggemann's book The Prophetic Imagination. You can find this book here: https://www.amazon.com/Prophetic-Imagination-2nd-Walter-Brueggemann/dp/0800632877

Inspiration for this episode was also drawn from conversations between Alexander Shia and Rob Bell. You can find one such conversation here: https://robbell.podbean.com/e/episode-60-the-christmas-radiance-at-night-with-alexander-shaia/ 

Thanks!

Welcome to the final episode of season 2. We are looking at the parable of The Persistent Widow from Luke 18. 

There are lessons to learn...but there is also some frustration about the slowness of justice. Why doesn't it happen immediately? Why isn't it more sweeping?

How does hope factor in?

Thanks for joining us on this season.

Next week will start our first week of Advent! Stay tuned for more.

In this bonus episode, we hear a sermon preached at The Well on Sunday, November 21st that wrapped up a series on the book of Ephesians. In this message, we unpack the Armor of God... the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness or justice, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

What if this passage isn't just about spiritual warfare, but about fighting the systems of our world that often go unchallenged, un-critiqued, and often silence those on the margins? How do we bring God's Kingdom in the midst of such overwhelming obstacles?

In this episode, the book Dear White Peacemakers by Osheta Moore is quoted. You can find this book HERE.

Enjoy!

In Episode 8 of Season 2, we unpack the parable of The Rich Fool from Luke 12.

It seems fairly straight-forward. But is it? How do we unpack how we deal with wealth and power in a society that seems to put a premium on those things? What does it mean to have a rich relationship with God?

To discuss this episode further, join us on zoom this Thursday at 1pm at the link below...

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7074040333

What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit? This verse has haunted me forever. But what is Jesus saying in Mark 3?

In Episode 7 of Season 2, we explore this challenging text with the help of scholar Bob Stein, who's commentary on Mark was not only influential in understanding this text, but he personally helped model what Jesus was all about.

What does it mean to hold space for someone? How do we build a world where love and forgiveness and grace are more prevalent than vengeance and threats and systems of oppression?

Also...join us on zoom, this Thursday at 1pm to take the conversation deeper.

Here is the LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7074040333 

The Old vs. The New. It's always been presented as a competition...but is it?

What if Jesus isn't telling people to throw out the old patterns and the old practices, but instead is inviting the old to respect and recognize that God's Spirit is still up to something?

What if Jesus isn't telling the people who are enraptured by the new move of God's Spirit to disregard and throw out the traditions, but to see the beauty and the hope and the important form that those have taken for the betterment of the world?

Episode 6 of Season 2 is about old wineskins and new wineskins. Jesus is helping us see that there is a better way forward. Matthew 9:14-17.

Join us on Zoom this Thursday at 1pm if you would like to discuss this parable further:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7074040333

Enjoy!

The Parable of the Workers in the Field from Matthew 20:1-16 is the focus of Episode 5 of Season 2 of Deconstructing the Bible.

It could be a parable about God's grace...this always present gift of hope and love and belonging. No matter when we turn to it, no matter when we return to the good, it's there.

It could be a parable about scarcity and abundance...how some people operate like there might not be enough in the world to go around, but really God is about abundance and plenty.

It could be a parable about the exploitation of the poor and how the rich elite of the world keep people in a lower social class in order to maintain power and position.

It's a complicated parable.

How do you read it?!

Join us on zoom this Thursday to discuss further.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7074040333

In Episode 4 of Season 2, we explore the parable of the Two Sons.

Jesus is challenging the authority of the political and religious leaders. They have missed the announcement and the invitation to participate in God's Kingdom. Instead, they are actively dismissing those who have been transformed and sustaining a broken system that continually marginalizes those who need grace and love the most.

Where are we all talk and no action?
Where are we sustaining and propping up broken systems?
Where are we unable to see what new is being birthed in the world?

If you want to join us on zoom this Thursday at 1pm...following the link below!

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7074040333

In episode 3 of season 2, Jason dives into the parable of the Good Samaritan. To set it up, we explore a passage of the Apostle Paul about how our battle is not against flesh and blood, other people, but against the principalities and the powers. What could this mean?

We also dive into Ephesians 2, how Christ removes the wall of hostility and invites us to the reconciling work of the Spirit.

It's a Scripture heavy week...but an encouraging week.

To join us on zoom this Thursday at 1pm, follow the the link HERE:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7074040333