Advent texts, particularly the Old Testament readings, often offer a glimpse into joy, peace, and justice God’s second coming will bring. In this week’s texts, Isaiah describes unlikely animals living in peace with each other. They’re neither dominated by their prey drive or fear. What unlikely pairings might be possible today? Who can we befriend for the betterment of the world God loves? What holds us back from these relationships? In other words, what does God’s shalom look like now, as we anticipate it coming in its fullness?

We’re glad you’re with us for this new liturgical year! I (Seth) forget how much I love Advent until it rolls around again. Then I’m always thankful for its themes; I hope you experience the same.

Are you a "prep-er"? Are you prepared for anything, running through scenarios and 'what-ifs' at work, in life, with friendships, and everything in between? To start the new liturgical year, Paul wants us to wake up and be ready. Jonathan, as someone who is ever-prepared, and Seth, someone who is moderately prepared, talk about what that looks like in the life of faith. They discuss being ready as a state of being and how we can live in light of the expected return of Christ, which will bring with it unexpected joy, reversals, and new life.

We're glad you're with us! This is the 3rd recording of this episode because the sound was not cooperating for Seth. Thank you for your patience; we know our episodes usually release on Mondays, but this one wasn't ready (See what I did there?).

Reign of Christ Sunday, or sometimes called Christ the King Sunday, ends the liturgical year. It asks who is ultimately in charge and worth worshipping. But to know that God is in charge and to act like it is much easier said than done. Jonathan and Seth discuss the challenge of the phrase, "Be still, and know that I am God!"  (Psalm 46:10) and what a faithful stillness might look like in our hurried, news-flooded world. Since this Sunday closes the liturgical year, the discussion seems like a fitting recap of much of their discussion this year.

We're glad you're with us! We hope you'll join us for liturgical year A that takes us to Matthew.

Recorded on election day, November 4th, politics was in the air. In Virginia, the gubernatorial election dominated advertisements. In Pennsylvania, the option to retain state Supreme Court justices was on the ballot. All of this was happening during a government shutdown that was affecting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). And the author of 2 Thessalonians - who may or may not be Paul - writes, "anyone unwilling to work should not eat" (3:10). To say there is a lot to talk about is an understatement! Jonahtn and Seth discuss this verse, which they've heard in the news lately, but also talk about the wider role of tradition when Christianity seems muddled.

We're glad you're with us! Votes are counted, but this episode is still relevant. We'd love to hear how you've heard the phrase, "anyone unwilling to work should not eat." Feel free to email us.

What does a theology look like that has "good bones?" What does a theology rooted in care and concern for people look like? What are its hallmarks? How is it lived? In this week's lectionary text, the Sadducees ask questions about the resurrection. Jesus, however, speaks about resurrection as a way of life so that their question about multiple husbands is moot. Jonathan and Seth discuss this idea of a resurrection faith that takes seriously questions about heaven, but then tries to bring that ideal down to earth. They attempt to find the "good bones" in the Sadducees quiz.

We're glad you're with us! Be on the lookout for a backlog of episodes that are going to post this week. We understand life's busy, and you might not have time to listen to them all, but we wanted to make them available. And they'll be here for years, so you can always listen next time Year C rolls around!

Do you crave praise? In this week's gospel text, Jesus talks about simply doing one's duty without expecting any additional reward. The job itself is the reward. Jonathan and Seth discuss why we might still want praise, but what it looks like not to need it. What does it look like to find contentment in what we're doing? How do we balance commendation and criticism? Is there anything that students and teachers can illuminate for us about that balance?

We're glad you're with us! There are multiple "weird" texts in the lectionary, and I (Seth) think this is one of them. If you'd like to talk more about it, email is; we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Psalms express a particular feeling at a particular time to a particular audience. Because they are so... particular, they can serve as the basis for new psalms and poems. This week, Jonathan and Seth start with Psalm 14 and reverse it. It helps them see the psalm in a new light and to ask questions about professing Christians "do[ing] abominable deeds" (Psalm 14:1). This helps them explore the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin, too. What are we looking for? What is worth all our energy to find? How might Scripture let us ask new, vibrant questions if we "flip" it sometimes?

We're glad you're with us! Jonathan and Seth got to see each other in person the weekend before this episode goes live. We hope that excitement comes through on the podcast.

Approximately 1/3rd of Americans do not get enough sleep. They lack rest. God, on the other hand, never needs to sleep and yet rests on the 7th day of creation. When this week’s Hebrew Bible text picks up, Isaiah is extolling the benefits of the Sabbath. So, Jonathan and Seth talk about the importance of rest. They wonder what a sabbath practice might look like that isn’t overly strict, but is still help. And they use Tricia Hersey’s book Rest is Resistance to help them consider rest more holistically.

We’re glad you’re with us. However, if you skip this episode to get some rest, we won’t fault you. 

In this week's appointed gospel lesson, Jesus says, "Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!" (Luke 12:51). Generally, Jesus has been seen as a great uniter, a unifying force among disparate groups with differing identities of every sort. It's what makes this declaration particularly challenging, at least for Jonath and Seth. So, they ask what Jesus might want to separate us from, what is the historical context of Jesus' statement, and how does it apply to us today? What do we need to be divided from to follow Jesus more closely?

We're glad you're with us! We hope your summer ends well. Keep cool, keep hydrated, keep listening!

Do you have a lot of stuff? In this episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss the items they collect. Seth talks about his Uncle Joe, who was a hoarder (and we use that term seriously), and how he witnessed his uncle's attachment to his belongings, especially towards the end of his life. They talk a little about what we can do about all our "stuff", but more about what it means to be ready for Jesus' return by finding our security in Jesus' love for us rather than our belongings.

We're glad you're with us! We'd love to hear what items you collect; we won't judge! And if you've had success thinning your hoard, we'd love to hear about that too. Because we're glad you're on this journey with us, wrestling with what it means to follow Christ in a complex world.