KINGDOM UPGROWTH

In this podcast episode, Kevin Burr helps us to gain a more culturally-informed set of eyes through which we can read and understand the Gospel of John. What are the things that John’s audience would assume, but perhaps not say? There’s a lot of great content here to explore.

Conversation Highlights:

Understanding the type of literature which the Gospels are: Ancient BiographyThe understanding of Wisdom in 1st Century JudaismMoses as a precursor to the work of JesusA deeper understanding of Pharisees and SadduceesThe power dynamics between the Jews and their life under Roman rule

About Kevin Burr

Kevin Burr has served as a minister at the Nicholasville Church of Christ in Nicholasville, KY since August 2016. In March 2020 Kevin will defend his dissertation for the PhD in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY, where he has focused heavily on the Gospels and understanding Jesus in his first-century context.

Recommended Resources

Here are some additional resources, either referenced in the conversation, or especially recommended by Kevin.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (2nd Ed.) by Craig Keener.Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 3rd Ed. by Everett Ferguson.The World of the New Testament by Joel Green.

In this week’s featured conversation about John’s Gospel, Dr. Mark Powell helps us to read John theologically. What does this Gospel teach us about God? Mark shares a lot of significant insights into the nature of God and its implications for the Christian community.

Conversation Highlights

The human tendency to create God in our own images, resulting in a human-centered faithThe importance of a Trinitarian faith in developing a dynamic vision of GodThe “I am” statements of JesusSelected sections from the “farewell discourse” about the importance of the Spirit

The Trinity by Andrei Rublev

In our conversation, Mark reflects on this Russian icon, and how Rublev used the image of Abraham’s three visitors at the table to represent the Trinity. Notice also the communion cup that their bodies form, representing unity among the divine community.

The Trinity a.k.a. The Hospitality of Abraham by Andrei Rublev around 1411. It is the most famous of all Russian icons. It is located in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

About Dr. Mark Powell

Mark Powell is a professor of theology at the Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee. He also serves as a shepherd at the Sycamore View Church of Christ. Mark has authored several books including Centered in God: The Trinity and Christian Spirituality (2014), Papal Infallibility: A Protestant Evaluation of an Ecumenical Issue (2009), and a forthcoming volume with Dr. John Mark Hicks and Greg McKinzie (Spring 2020) that will put forth a theological vision for Churches of Christ.

Recommended Resources

Mark has suggested several works for those who want to go deeper into the subjects we discuss in his podcast episodes.

Top Tier

Mark E. Powell, Centered in God: The Trinity and Christian Spirituality (ACU Press, 2014).Leonard Allen, Poured Out: The Spirit of God Empowering the Mission of God (ACU Press, 2018).

Second Tier

Wesley Hill, Paul and the Trinity: Persons, Relations, and the Pauline Letters (Eerdmans, 2015).Donald Fairbairn, Life in the Trinity: An Introduction to Theology with the Help of the Church Fathers (IVP Academic, 2009)Kelly D. Carter, The Trinity and the Stone-Campbell Movement: Restoring the Heart of the Christian Faith (ACU Press, 2015).

Want to know when the next podcast episode comes out?

Click Here To Learn More

On our Journey Through John, we are moving forward at one chapter per week. Click here for the reading schedule if you’d like to follow along. This week’s featured conversation partner is Dr. Keith Stanglin of the Austin Graduate School of Theology who will share insights into John 4.

About Dr. Keith Stanglin

Keith Stanglin is Professor of Historical Theology at Austin Graduate School of Theology in Austin, Texas, where he is the editor of the journal Christian Studies and is the coordinator of the master’s degree program.  He has written or co-written eight books, including: Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace (Oxford University Press, 2012) and The Reformation to the Modern Church: A Reader in Christian Theology (Fortress Press, 2014).  His most recent book is The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018).

Click here to visit Keith Stanglin’s Amazon Author’s Page.

He specializes in Reformation and post-Reformation theology, the history of biblical interpretation, liturgical theology, and Arminianism.

Keith’s Recommended Resources

The two volumes on John in the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (ed. Elowsky). Volume 1. Volume 2.The volume on John 1-12 in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture (ed. Farmer)Keith Stanglin, The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018)Gary Burge, Commentary on John in NIV Application Commentary

Want to be notified when new episodes are released?

Click Here To Subscribe

Learn more here about the Journey Through John

On our Journey Through John, we are moving forward at one chapter per week. Click here for the reading schedule if you’d like to follow along. This week’s featured conversation partner is Dr. Keith Stanglin of the Austin Graduate School of Theology. 

About Dr. Keith Stanglin

Keith Stanglin is Professor of Historical Theology at Austin Graduate School of Theology in Austin, Texas, where he is the editor of the journal Christian Studies and is the coordinator of the master’s degree program.  He has written or co-written eight books, including: Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace (Oxford University Press, 2012) and The Reformation to the Modern Church: A Reader in Christian Theology (Fortress Press, 2014).  His most recent book is The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018).

Click here to visit Keith Stanglin’s Amazon Author’s Page.

He specializes in Reformation and post-Reformation theology, the history of biblical interpretation, liturgical theology, and Arminianism.

Keith’s Recommended Resources

The two volumes on John in the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (ed. Elowsky). Volume 1. Volume 2.The volume on John 1-12 in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture (ed. Farmer)Keith Stanglin, The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018)Gary Burge, Commentary on John in NIV Application Commentary

Want to be notified when new episodes are released?

Click Here To Subscribe

Learn more here about the Journey Through John

For this featured conversation, Lauren Calvin Cooke speaks to us about how to utilize John’s Gospel for spiritual formation. The reason we have Scripture is that through our encounters with it, God shapes us.

Conversation Highlights

The richness of John’s images, and how a slower approach to John can be rewardingHow glory and glorification in John show us what it looks like to progress in the spiritual lifeA deeper understanding of how Truth works in JohnHow the characters in John provide us with models for our faith journey

About Lauren Calvin Cooke

Lauren holds a B.A. in Theology and Ministry from Lipscomb University with a concentration in Youth Ministry; M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary; and is currently pursuing Ph.D. in Religious Education at Emory University, focusing on Youth Ministry.

Lauren has a blog where she provides wonderful suggestions for healthy youth ministry practices. Here’s one of my favorite posts of hers.

Recommended Resources

Here are a few items recommended by Lauren, with her comments.

Jean Vanier, Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John. This is an excellent book that provides some commentary as well as meditations on the whole Gospel.Parker Palmer, To Know As We Are Known. This is a book on the spirituality of education I reference in talking about relational knowledge.Raymond Brown, The Gospel of John. This is an old but a good commentary in the Anchor Bible series.Feasting on the Gospels is also a good, accessible commentary with the perspectives of multiple authors.

Want to be notified when new episodes are released?

Click Here To Subscribe

Learn more here about the Journey Through John

On our Journey Through John, we are moving forward at one chapter per week. Click here for the reading schedule if you’d like to follow along. This week’s featured conversation partner is Dr. Keith Stanglin of the Austin Graduate School of Theology.

About Dr. Keith Stanglin

Keith Stanglin is Professor of Historical Theology at Austin Graduate School of Theology in Austin, Texas, where he is the editor of the journal Christian Studies and is the coordinator of the master’s degree program.  He has written or co-written eight books, including: Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace (Oxford University Press, 2012) and The Reformation to the Modern Church: A Reader in Christian Theology (Fortress Press, 2014).  His most recent book is The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018).

Click here to visit Keith Stanglin’s Amazon Author’s Page.

He specializes in Reformation and post-Reformation theology, the history of biblical interpretation, liturgical theology, and Arminianism.

Keith’s Recommended Resources

The two volumes on John in the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (ed. Elowsky). Volume 1. Volume 2.The volume on John 1-12 in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture (ed. Farmer)Keith Stanglin, The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018)Gary Burge, Commentary on John in NIV Application Commentary

Want to be notified when new episodes are released?

Click Here To Subscribe

Learn more here about the Journey Through John

For this featured conversation, we are pleased to feature Dr. Kindy De Long of Pepperdine University. Kindy shares insights into some of the things that John’s Gospel uniquely contributes to the Gospels’ telling of the story of Jesus. What might John be showing us that he considers of special importance?

Conversation Highlights

How John’s Gospel is especially concerned with leading people to beliefJesus’ true identity as one who has come from aboveThe present-tense reality of Jesus’ transformative power for those who abide in Christ

Analysis of Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus) by Salvador Dalí

In her explanation of John’s unique view of the crucifixion, Kindy references this work by Salvador Dalí. It’s a unique interpretation of the crucifixion scene, to be sure.

Created in 1954, this is a nontraditional, surrealist portrayal of the Crucifixion of Jesus, depicting Jesus on the polyhedron net of a tesseract. It is one of the better-known pieces from Dalí’s later works.

About Dr. Kindy De Long

Kindalee “Kindy” Pfremmer De Long is a Professor of Religion and the Interim Associate Dean of Seaver College at Pepperdine University. She completed undergraduate and Master of Divinity degrees at Pepperdine Universtiy, and has her Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame.

More by Dr. De Long

Read Dr. De Long’s contributions to the Leaven publication by Pepperdine.Surprised by God: Praise Responses in the Narrative of Luke-Acts. Beihefte zur Zeitschrift fur die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der alteren Kirche 166. New York: Walter de Gruyter, 2009.“Angels and Visions in Luke-Acts.” Pages 79-107 in The Jewish Apocalyptic Tradition and the Shaping of New Testament Thought. Edited by Loren T. Stuckenbruck and Benjamin E. Reynolds. Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 2017.“Luke-Acts.” In T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism. Eds. Loren T. Stuckenbruck and Daniel M. Gurtner. New York: T&T Clark, in press.“Tobit.” In The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Old Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. Edited by Randall Chesnutt. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, in press.“Daniel and the Narrative Integrity of His Prayer in Chapter 9.” Pages 219-249 in Vol. 1 of A Teacher for All Generations: Essays in Honor of James C. VanderKam. Edited by Eric Farrel Mason et al. Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism 153. 2 vols. Boston: Brill, 2012.“‘Ask a Woman’: Childbearing and Ezra’s Transformation in 4 Ezra.” Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha 22 (2012): 114-145.“Responding to the God of Joy.” Pages 81-88 in Finding Their Voices: Sermons by Women in the Church of Christ. Edited by D’Esta Love. Abilene, TX.: Abilene Christian University Press, 2015.

On our Journey Through John, we are moving forward at one chapter per week. Click here for the reading schedule if you’d like to follow along. This week’s featured conversation partner is Dr. Keith Stanglin of the Austin Graduate School of Theology. 

The Isenheim Altarpiece

In our conversation for chapter 1, Keith references this piece by Matthias Grünewald. Notice the way that John the Baptist, holding Scripture, is pointing us toward Jesus.

The Isenheim Altarpiece, created between 1512-1516. It is presently on display at the Unterlinden Museum at Colmar, Alsace, in France.

About Dr. Keith Stanglin

Keith Stanglin is Professor of Historical Theology at Austin Graduate School of Theology in Austin, Texas, where he is the editor of the journal Christian Studies and is the coordinator of the master’s degree program.  He has written or co-written eight books, including: Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace (Oxford University Press, 2012) and The Reformation to the Modern Church: A Reader in Christian Theology (Fortress Press, 2014).  His most recent book is The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018).

Click here to visit Keith Stanglin’s Amazon Author’s Page.

He specializes in Reformation and post-Reformation theology, the history of biblical interpretation, liturgical theology, and Arminianism.

Keith’s Recommended Resources

The two volumes on John in the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (ed. Elowsky). Volume 1. Volume 2.The volume on John 1-12 in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture (ed. Farmer)Keith Stanglin, The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018)Gary Burge, Commentary on John in NIV Application Commentary

Want to be notified when new episodes are released?

Click Here To Subscribe

Learn more here about the Journey Through John

With this podcast, we begin a series on the Gospel of John. In this episode, Dr. Keith Stanglin talks with Mark about John’s Gospel, and specifically about how the church valued and use this book in the earlier years of Christianity. Understanding how it was valuable to them helps us see ways in which it is valuable to us.

Conversation Highlights:

Possible origins of how John’s Gospel was written and sharedEarly church misunderstandings of the nature of Jesus, and how John’s Gospel helps us sort out the distinctionsJohn’s preeminence among the Gospels

About Dr. Keith Stanglin

Keith Stanglin is Professor of Historical Theology at Austin Graduate School of Theology in Austin, Texas, where he is the editor of the journal Christian Studies and is the coordinator of the master’s degree program.  He has written or co-written eight books, including: Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace (Oxford University Press, 2012) and The Reformation to the Modern Church: A Reader in Christian Theology (Fortress Press, 2014).  His most recent book is The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018).

Click here to visit Keith Stanglin’s Amazon Author’s Page.

He specializes in Reformation and post-Reformation theology, the history of biblical interpretation, liturgical theology, and Arminianism.

Keith’s Recommended Resources

The two volumes on John in the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (ed. Elowsky). Volume 1. Volume 2.The volume on John 1-12 in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture (ed. Farmer)Keith Stanglin, The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From Early Church to Modern Practice (Baker Academic, 2018)Gary Burge, Commentary on John in NIV Application Commentary

Want to be notified when new episodes are released?

Click Here To Subscribe

Learn more here about the Journey Through John

Good preaching informs, but great preaching transforms. Dr. Rob O’Lynn shares his research about how preachers can utilize transformative learning theory in helping their congregations to grow spiritually. Carefully crafted applications help the sermon move from the head to the heart, and ultimately to the hands of the listeners who live into the new possibilities which the Word imagines.