Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means "queen of the Ethiopians"). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

In our seventh episode, we discuss personal stories of queer Christians who have reclaimed their faith. Thank you to our guests this week: Marissa Adams, Stephanie A. Budwey, and Madison Stafford.

As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark 5:1-20: They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

In our sixth episode, we discuss personal stories of queer Christians who have reclaimed their faith. Thank you to our guests this week: Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart, M Jade Kaiser and Nicole Garcia.

As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Samuel 18:1-4: "When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt."

In our fifth episode, we discuss personal stories of queer Christians who have reclaimed their faith. Thank you to our guests this week: Ruby Almeida, Rev. Deon Johnson, Rev. Florentino Cordova, Rev. Tim Schafer, Rev. Altagracia Perez Bullard, Rev. Jeanelle Ablola & Rev. M Jade Kaiser.

As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew 5:2-12: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

In our fourth episode, we discuss Jesus, the man, the myth, the legend. Thank you to our guests this week, Rev. Altagracia Perez-Bullard, Rev Naomi Washington-Leapheart, Rev Dion Johnson, Rev. Florentino Cordova, Rev. Jeanelle N. Ablola, Rev. Tim Schaefer, M Jade Kaiser & Rev. Dawn Bennett.

As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

In our third episode, we discuss queerer ways to read the Bible, focusing on a passage that reminds us we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” How can queer folks find healing and liberation through new perspectives on scriptural texts? Thank you to our guests this week, Reverend Florentino Cordova, Reverend M Jade Kaiser, Tim Schaefer, Reverend Jakob Hero-Shaw, Pastor Dawn, Reverend Altagracia Perez-Bullard, and Reverend Jeanelle N. Ablola.

As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our second episode, we discuss the story of the Roman centurion, and explore the queer history of Medieval Christianity. Thank you to our guest this week, Roland Betancourt.

As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leviticus 18:22

In our first episode, we discuss the Clobber Passages and misconceptions about the Bible. Where did they come from? Why are they wrong, and how have they hurt queer folks?

Thank you to our guests this week, Reverend Florentino Cordova, Ruby Almeida, Reverend Jakob Hero-Shaw, Pastor Dawn, Reverend Altagracia Perez-Bullard, and Reverend Jeanelle N. Ablola. Our song this week is Amazing Grace, performed by Ellie & Leesa.

As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

Welcome to season 3! Join us for a quick introduction to Christianity and the Bible.

Thank you to our guests this week, Brian Murphy, Father Shannon Kearns, Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw, Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart, Rev. Florentino Cordova and Pastor Dawn Bennett. 

As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While we get back on schedule for season 3, we'd like to share this episode with you from May last year. It's a conversation between Alyse, Leesa & Carl Joseph-Black about the leaked Roe v Wade papers, the law and religion in America.

We'll be back to our regular programming soon and hope you enjoy this in the meantime.

And May the 4th be with you!