The theology of God’s salvation is contained in three enormous Christ-events: The Incarnation, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection; or Christmas, Good Friday, Easter. The Incarnation launches everything and ultimately determines everything. Once the...

Songs of Messiah: The Angels' Song (Audio)

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ABOUT THIS PODCAST Brian Zahnd, Cole Novak, and Derek Vreeland discuss the wild images and stunning message of the book of Revelation. This episode continues conversation based on Brian's new book The Wood Between The Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross. Follow for more episodes each Thursday in Lent. 
 GET THE BOOK - The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd https://wolc.com/twbtw 


BZ Basement Tapes -  Episode 6 -  The Lamb upon the Throne

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Brian Zahnd, Cole Novak, and Jacob Taylor discuss the role of beauty in the Christian faith. This conversation continues to discuss themes from Brian's new book The Wood Between The Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross. Follow for more episodes each Thursday in Lent. 
 Watch this episode on at Youtube.com/wolctv. 
 FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wordoflifechurch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wordoflifechurch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/wolctv 
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 CONNECT WITH A PASTOR Do you need prayer? Are you new to Word of Life Church? One of our pastors would love to connect with you. Fill out the form at https://www.wolc.com/connect 
 ABOUT WORD OF LIFE CHURCH Word of Life is located in St. Joseph, MO. We are seeking to be an authentic expression of the Kingdom of Jesus in the 21st Century. You can learn more at https://www.wolc.com 
 GIVE To make a financial contribution to the ministry work of Word of Life Church visit https://www.wolc.com/give

BZ Basement Tapes - Episode 4 - A Grotesque Beauty

The book of Ruth is a short-story vignette stuck between Judges and Samuel. From Genesis to Judges the Bible's story is dominated by larger than life characters—Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Gideon. The great heroes of Israel. All of these heroes of faith experienced miracles and were marked by greatness. But at last, with the book of Ruth, we meet some ordinary people. Some people, not like Moses, but more like us. In the story of Ruth there are no miracles, no angels, no tales of daring-do. Yet God is very present in Ruth’s story. At work as God usually is, quietly, behind the scenes.

Ruth: A Love Story

"All the kitsch to be found in Christian life and Christian art arises from a failure to take the Incarnation seriously." -Hans Urs von Balthasar

(kitsch: mass produced art in poor taste; often characterized by an excessive sentimentality)

If we think of Christmas as God donning a human costume to playact as a person, we treat the Incarnation as kitsch. If we think of Jesus being born just so he can grow up and can die for our sins, we treat the Incarnation as kitsch. If we think of Jesus as Superman flying around being God all over the place, we treat the Incarnation as kitsch. And if we have a kitschy view of the Incarnation, we will have a kitschy and cartoonish, cheap, and sentimental Christian life. But if we can approach the mystery of the Incarnation as the greatest wonder of all, we can find the door to the substantive faith that is the object of our deepest longing.

The Greatest Wonder of All

The eschatological vision of the Bible is the answer to our constant prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” So at the end of the Bible we are shown a prophetic picture of the arrival on earth of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem; a garden city that embodies fidelity and justice.

Songs of Messiah: The Angels' Song (Audio)

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