Orthodocs.faith

John and Ron conclude their short series with an episode on John, chapter 4.  It's the story of Jesus and the woman at the well, and in certain ways it is a stark contrast to chapter 3.

This series covered John 3-4, some of the best known passages of scripture.  It is easy to miss how very "Johannine" those chapters are.  They clearly reflect the distinct voice of the Gospel of John, and this episode explores what those features are.

John and Ron are back!  This time they address a passage that includes one of the most quoted verses in the Bible.  This isn't the first time they've looked at the Gospel of John, though, and the themes they identified before are clearly evident when Nicodemus visits Jesus.

John and Ron conclude their series on the imprecatory psalms asking this question: Can Christians pray these psalms in light of Jesus' command to love our enemies?

It will come as no surprise that they conclude Christians have to take the Bible as a whole, and there is no skipping the hard parts!

Some psalms go beyond simply asking God for help. They demand judgment—and they do it in violent terms. In this episode, John and Ron approach these imprecatory psalms head-on. What are these prayers doing in the Psalms? Why do Christians struggle with them? And, how do we read them without either excusing vengeance or pretending Jesus canceled these Psalms when he taught, "love your enemies."

Ron and John kick off Season 7 by revisiting some Orthodocs.faith basics. They reintroduce themselves as your hosts, clarify what the podcast aims to do, and explain why so much energy goes into the “heavy lifting” of careful reading, solid context, and clear theology. Along the way, you’ll get a peek at how an episode comes together—and a quick preview of what’s next this season.

In this episode John and Ron conclude Season 6 of Orthodocs.faith with a story about St. Benedict.  In the wilds of northern Europe, Benedict cut down a sacred oak dedicated to Thor to make a point and get his message out!

In Part 2 of Missionary Work, Medieval Style, John and Ron trace Gregory the Great’s mission to Britain in the early 600s. At the center is King Ethelbert of Kent and the monks who arrive in his territory asking to preach. How does a pagan king respond—and what unfolds next?

Ron and John are back with a new series: Missionary Work, Medieval Style. In this premiere, they tell some stories that you likely haven't heard. The accounts range from chilling to inspiring, but the guiding question is, "Where is the Holy Spirit at work?" Travel with them into the mysterious world of the early Middle Ages, and see how Christians tried to live out their witness.

How has the Church understood and practiced wisdom across the centuries? In this series finale, Ron and John move from Acts 6 and the Wisdom of Solomon, through Augustine and Aquinas, to Luther and Calvin. From there, they turn to today’s church to show how wisdom shapes our common life: what does a wise church look like?

What does the New Testament have to say about wisdom—and how does it build on the rich tradition of the Old Testament? In this episode, Ron and John explore Jesus and wisdom, from the Sermon on the Mount to Paul’s claim that Christ crucified is “the wisdom of God.” Along the way, they trace how New Testament wisdom moves from parable to cross to creation itself.