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Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology is a bona-fide bonus episode because we’ve kicked our normal conversational parameters to the curb and are having a rollicking, revelatory good time with a really special guest today – best-selling author, renowned New Testament scholar, seminary professor, and one of our favorite theologians here on Back Porch Theology, Dr. Scot McKnight. Alli and I have had the privilege of getting to know Dr. McKnight because he’s been one of the keynotes at The Kerygma Summit the past two years so when asked him to be our tour guide as we explore the complex caboose of Holy Writ, the book of Revelation, he graciously agreed. Because of its dramatic imagery of dragons, sea creatures, beasts, and divine heroes blazing through the sky on horseback, this biblical prophecy has fascinated readers since John wrote it under the inspiration of Holy Spirit almost 2,000 years ago. However, because of its apocalyptic tone, it’s also been used to strike fear in the heart of hearers and send dutiful Christians scrambling to Costco to stockpile water and canned food as we prepare for impending doom when the world as we know it implodes. Thankfully, Dr. McKnight gives us a more redemptive hermeneutical lens through which to understand and apply the book of Revelation – one that recognizes John’s prophetic symbolism as timeless theology instead of a specific prediction of events that will take place in a future time. Mind you, he might step on your toes a time or two while doing so because his academic exegesis likely won’t match up with every jot and tiddle of your ingrained eschatology, but it’s totally worth the toe pinch because the takeaway is a compelling charge to better reflect the Living Hope of Jesus Christ in the current Babylon of modern culture. So please grab a cup of coffee and open your Bible to the back – unless you’ve got both hands wrapped around a wee pebble high up on a wall and are wondering how in the world you got talked into a rope-climbing course, of course – and come hang out on the porch with us. 

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During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re going to wade deeply into the doctrine of baptism – sorry, I just couldn’t help using a cheesy wet metaphor! Contrary to popular belief, water baptism didn’t originate with John the Baptist - whose name is better translated John the Baptizer because his ministry was so closely associated with ceremonial soaking - but instead can be traced back centuries before John normalized this sacrament for Christ-followers. In the pre-Christian era, water baptism was frequently connected to ritual purification – both in pagan and Jewish culture – and typically represented one entering a new state, a new community, or a new phase of life. And the same is basically true for Christian baptism; it’s the symbolic gate through which we enter into the newness of salvation by identifying with our Savior’s death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Now, before we press play on this particular episode, I do want to acknowledge that there are more doctrinal nuances when it comes to water baptism than there are carbs to avoid on a Keto diet. Sincere Christians disagree about the amount of water necessary for baptism, what phase in a believer’s life baptism is legitimate, and whether one sprinkling, dunking, or sloshing is sufficient. However, the purpose of our podcast isn’t to ferret out the single, best understanding of baptism through some kind of dogmatic, spiritual Darwinism; instead, our hope is to encourage believers from across the beautiful breadth of Christendom to marinate in the miracle of what it really means to be raised from the sorrow and surety of death that is the consequence of sin into the glorious, divine gift of forgiveness, freedom, and fresh life we have because of Jesus Christ! So please grab a cup of coffee and your Bible – unless you’ve got both hands on the bad bunny who’s been shoplifting tomatoes from your summer garden – and come hang out on the porch with Alli, Dr. Howard and me. 

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During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re going to explore a beautiful oasis called En Gedi, which was the geographical inspiration behind some of the most beloved Psalms that were written by David. Effectively making this spot, that slingshot-wielding hero’s Yoko Ono! En Gedi - which means “Spring of the Young Goat” - is one of only two freshwater springs along the western shore of the Dead Sea, so it’s vital for Israel’s agricultural industry. God allotted this fertile region to the tribe of Judah when the Israelites finally got to the Promised Land after the Exodus and four decades of wandering in the wilderness. But En Gedi really rises to prominence in Old Testament narrative in First Samuel when it becomes one of the main places of refuge for David when he had to flee the jealous madness of King Saul, who was intent on taking him out. Consequently, En Gedi became a safe place for David to pen some really lovely tunes praising God for His provision and protection. John Calvin described the Psalms as “an anatomy of all parts of the soul” because that ancient hymnal in the middle of our Bibles records both the rapture and the rupture of God’s people. And I love the breadth of the Psalms because I think it behooves us to be reminded regularly that we don’t have to curate our emotions on God’s behalf but can instead bring everything to our Creator Redeemer – including the excruciatingly painful, hard, humiliating, and completely unfiltered stuff of life – and trust that it all matters to Him because we matter to Him. Today’s podcast is going to give us a safe place to peel off our emotional Spanx and exhale, so please grab a cup of decaf coffee and your Bible - unless you’re picking banana peels out of your composter, of course – and come hang out on the porch with us. 

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During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re going to peruse a parable about 10 Bridesmaids that Jesus taught on the Mount of Olives – that beautiful hill overlooking Jerusalem - during a series of messages called The Olivet Discourse, which He preached just prior to the first Easter. And while this symbolic tale is set in the context of a wedding party, it’s more of a warning than a warm and fuzzy love story so it’s important to note that our Savior was only talking to His disciples when He shared this sober, eschatological story. This conversation takes place in an intimate family meeting Jesus has with the Twelve less than a week before His crucifixion and resurrection. Only a few days before Peter, James, and John will mirror the exact same unprepared posture depicted by the bevy of sleeping beauties when they fall asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, even after Jesus implored them to stay awake for His sake. Remember, our Redeemer didn’t just save us from, He saved us for. For sharing the Living Hope of the Gospel to the image-bearers we have the privilege of rubbing shoulders with because one day those precious people who don’t yet have a real relationship with Jesus will run out of days to run into His outstretched arms. Today’s podcast is about being both compassionate and ready for our divine Bridegroom’s return, so please grab a ginormous cup of coffee and your Bible – unless you’re cutting up potatoes for a crawfish boil, of course – and come hang out on the porch with us! 

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Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology is going to be a little more animated than usual because we had the pure joy of recording it with a redemptively rowdy sisterhood of Jesus-loving chicks from 46 states & three countries at our recent Kerygma Summit here in Franklin, TN! And it was especially fitting to have this conversation in the middle of a cohesive community of ministry leaders from almost every stream of Christianity because we hurdled over the wee fences of our doctrinal differences and got real and raw about the damage caused by disunity and denominational tribalism within the Body of Christ. Our biblical theology must be reflected by compassionate sociology y’all or our proclamations of faith sound like discordant noise to the world around us. Theologian Francis Schaeffer underscored how believers must pair kindness and humility with a biblical worldview when he wrote, “Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.” Ancient church father Augustine expressed the same theme beautifully when he wrote, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” And our Savior said it best in Mark’s gospel account: For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. Today’s podcast is kind of like spiritual wasabi, it has the potential to cleanse the palate of your heart, but it’s got some bite to it, too! So please grab a cup of coffee and your Bible - unless you’re vacuuming pet hair out of your couch cushions, of course – and come hang out on the porch with Alli, Belle, Dr. Howard, and me! 

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During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology – the final of three podcasts we recorded live in Israel – we’re exposing some stuff to the light that the enemy of our souls would rather us keep hidden because he has a better chance of tormenting us in the dark. Before we go any further, I’d like to encourage you to make sure there aren’t any kiddos listening today because this podcast includes a very vulnerable, ultimately triumphant testimony that includes trauma which might be a bit heavy for little hearts. The catalyst for this bondage-breaking theme was a site we explored in the Golan Heights called Caesarea Philippi – not to be confused with Caesarea By the Sea which we talked about last week. Although, Caesarea Philippi’s beauty is water-based as well because it sits at the foot of Mount Hermon, so the abundance of snow run-off combined with a large spring called Banias makes it a lush green oasis of flora and fauna. But there’s also a big, dark cave carved into the hillside at Caesarea Philippi that was the center of pagan worship in ancient times. Sacrifices were often cast into that cave as offerings to the false god Pan, whom you may remember from Greek mythology as the half-man/half-goat playing a flute and flirting with nymphs. In light of Pan’s secular popularity, it’s especially fitting that Caesarea Philippi is also the place where Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” to which Peter confessed that He was the Messiah. The Christ. The King of all kings who would conquer fear and death once and for all. If you struggle with some level of anxiety, our sincere hope and prayer is that God will use today’s conversation to ease your burden. Your precious shoulders weren’t shaped to carry that crushing load. Paul says it best at the beginning of Galatians 5: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. So please grab a cup of coffee and your Bible – unless you’re re-staining your deck, of course – and come hang out on the porch with us! 

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During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology – the second of three podcasts we recorded live in Israel - we’ll discover how one of Peter’s prophetic dreams was fulfilled in a beautiful city overlooking the Mediterranean called Caesarea By The Sea, or Caesarea Maritima. This bustling harbor town on the coast of Israel was one of the most prominent cities in the ancient Roman world, built by Herod to schmooze his patron, Augustus Caesar, and it’s also where Pontius Pilate spent most of his down time. Remember Roman rulers were from Italy so unlike the Jewish citizens they governed, they much preferred the coast of Israel to the dusty hills of Jerusalem. But Caesarea By The Sea isn’t simply a gorgeous place to soak in the sun and enjoy the surf, it’s also a significant city in biblical history because it’s where the first post-Easter Gentile conversion takes place, meaning it’s where God’s merciful plan to redeem all of humanity – not just Israel – begins to take shape. Which means if you love Jesus and you’re not Jewish, it’s the very spot you can trace your spiritual DNA back to! Therefore, today’s going to be a family reunion of sorts, so please grab a big ole’ cup of coffee and your Bible – unless you’re practicing Around The World on your yoyo, of course – and come hang out on the porch with us! 

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During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology – the first of three podcasts we recorded live in Israel - we’re diving deep – pun intended – into a pair of maritime miracles that took place on The Sea of Galilee, which is also referred to as The Sea of Tiberias, Lake Gennesaret, and Lake Kinneret in biblical narrative. During His earthly ministry Jesus lived, preached, and performed the majority of His miracles near the Sea of Galilee and in its neighboring towns. Mary Magdalene was from Migdal – a fishing village on The Sea of Galilee and three of the disciples were born in the shoreline city of Bethsaida. However, despite its most familiar moniker, the Sea of Galilee is actually a fresh-water lake. It’s about 12 miles long, 8 miles across at the widest and it’s shaped like a harp. And while its waters are neither salty like an ocean or crystal clear like a mountain stream, Galilee has seen more divine grace per gallon than any other body of water in the world! Our hope is that you feel refreshingly soaked by some as a result of our conversation today. So please grab a cup of coffee and your Bible – unless you’re alphabetizing your spice rack, of course – and come hang out on the porch with us!

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During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re exploring how hardship and revival are like peanut butter and jelly in biblical narrative – in other words, they’re often sandwiched together. And Apostle Paul’s life exemplifies the symbiotic relationship between hardship and revival, which he testified to while imprisoned at the end of Acts when he said, “It is for the hope of Israel that I’m wearing this chain.” (Acts 28:20). In other words, Whatever hardship I have to endure pales next to the supernatural hope I’m preaching here, y’all – JESUS is the Messiah we’ve been longing for since the beginning of time and I’m gonna keep sharing this message until there’s no more breath in my lungs! The joy of watching other people’s eyes widen and faces light up like Christmas trees when they heard about the unconditional love of Jesus made all the unfair bumps and bruises he experienced while preaching about it worth the cost. In the spiritual milieu, difficult labors lead to miraculous births! Today’s conversation is going help some of us take bigger risks for the sake of the Gospel so fasten your seat belts, grab a super-sized cup of coffee and your Bible – unless you’re driving or getting spray-tanned for a beach trip, of course – and come hang out on the porch with us! 

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During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re talking about a true story in Acts that sounds like some kind of crazy Quentin Tarantino script. It involves a fortune teller, human trafficking, crooked policemen, an earthquake, and a jailhouse revival. Honestly, when people tell me they think the Bible is boring it’s all I can do not to burst out laughing because this divine love story is more engaging than anything that ever came out of Hollywood! And the theme of the text we’re exploring today is wildly counter-cultural because it reveals how our spiritual ancestors were honored to be dishonored for the sake of the Gospel. Their sacrificial humility reminds me of what Therese of Lisieux said soon before her death in 1897: “My God I choose all! I do not want to be a saint by halves, I’m not afraid to suffer for You, I fear only one thing: to keep my own will, so take it, for I choose all that You will.” Bending our will to His is the opposite of bondage, y’all – it actually leads to breakthrough. I have a hunch this is going to be a chain-breaker of a conversation so please grab a cup of coffee and your Bible – unless you’re driving or putting together an IKEA armoire, of course – and come hang out on the porch with us! 

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