The Alabaster Jar

Places matter and they have a story to tell. Have you ever wondered if it is important that Jesus grew up in Nazareth but moved his public ministry to Capernaum, even though Jerusalem was the capital of Jewish thought? Does it seem strange to you that Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes held significantly divergent religious views, even though they were all Jewish? In Encountering Jesus in the Real World of the Gospels, Cyndi Parker guides us through the intriguing drama of history that created the context of first-century Judaism. She and Lynn Cohick invite you to take a new look at the long drama of God’s interactions with humanity that reach a climax in the life of Jesus. 📖 Purchase a copy of Cyndi's book - https://bit.ly/AJPodcast_CyndiParker 🎓 Learn more about Cyndi's work and her trips to Israel - www.narrativeofplace.com

Something is not right. The witness of the church in North America is eroding. Many Christians are alarmed by the decline in church attendance and seek a culprit. Too often, we point the finger away from the church, make culture the enemy, and build walls between us and others. But our antagonism and enemy-making are toxins that further eat away at our witness. Is there a better way? Tara Beth Leach joins Lynn Cohick and Sareen Musselman to give practical advice on how the church can reclaim her witness. Tara Beth Leach could easily be one of those millennials giving up on the church. Instead, she is a pastor who loves the church and is paradoxically hopeful for its future. In an era where the church has lost much of its credibility, Leach casts a radiant vision for Christians to rediscover a robust, attractive witness. We need to name the toxic soil we've grown in, repent for past wrongs, and lean into a better way to become the church that Jesus proclaimed we would be.

It doesn't take long for Jesus' life to be threatened by the evil of this world. Lynn Cohick talks with Tracey Bianchi about how to navigate sorrow and difficulties with great strength. Jesus shows us that God is present with us in the vulnerability of a baby. It was not easy for Mary and Joseph to survive in the oppressive system that tried to take so much from them. Discover how you can continue to find hope in God's presence.

There is a long list of women who have been faithful to God. Lynn Cohick and Sareen Musselman explore the example of Elizabeth and other early church martyrs who faithfully embodied the fullness of God's mission. There is so much everyone can learn about the faithful witness of these women. They encourage, inspire, and challenge us all to love God and the world around us. Explore more of Lynn's academic work: www.lynncohick.com

Jesus taught, entrusted, and mobilized women for every form of His Kingdom's mission. Nijay Gupta didn't always hold this belief. Lynn Cohick talks with Nijay about his journey of coming to Christ in a context that didn't endorse women in Church leadership and how he discovered many examples of faithful women leading as early Jesus followers. The unfortunate reality is that many of these front-line ministry voices of women have been silenced. In this episode, Nijay gives an early glimpse of what his new book on the hidden Christian figures will look like. Explore more about Nijay's work: Crux Sola Blog - https://bit.ly/AJPodcast_CruxSolaBlog In Faith & Doubt Podcast - https://bit.ly/AJPodcast_InFaithandDoubt

Matthew's Gospel has a strong Jewish and male-orientated outlook, why are the 4 women incorporated in Jesus' Genealogy? In particular, why include these 4 Old Testament women alongside Mary? Rejecting traditional as well as feminist views, Anne Clements unpacks with Lynn Cohick how she undertakes a close literary reading of the narratives to discern how each woman is characterized and presented. All are significant scriptural figures on the margins of Israelite society. From this intertextual world established by Matthew, Clements explores why Matthew may have named these women in the opening genealogy and what implications their inclusion may have for the ongoing gospel narrative. Purchase your copy of Mothers on the Margin: https://bit.ly/AJPodcast_AnneClements

Would you like to meet the real Mary of Nazareth? The real Mary was an unmarried, pregnant teenage girl in first-century Palestine. She was a woman of courage, humility, spirit and resolve, and her response to the angel Gabriel shifted the tectonic plates of history. Scot McKnight & Lynn Cohick explore the contours of Mary's life from the moment she learned of God's plan for the Messiah to the culmination of Christ's ministry on earth. Dismantling the myths and challenging our prejudices, the author introduces us to a woman who is a model for faith and who points us to her son. Purchase The Real Mary - https://bit.ly/AJPodcast_TheRealMary

Words are powerful tools that can create whole other worlds. Poets are specially gifted at using their words. Jill Baumgaeertner sits down with Lynn Cohick and shares her journey and inspiration as a poet. They cover everything from how the process of writing a poem starts with an image to how writing poetry can help with writing. Poets have an awareness of human experience as part of a grand narrative. You'll even get to hear some of her own favorite pieces read. Learn more about Jill's work here > https://bit.ly/AJPodcast_JillBaumgaertner

Life can seemingly be fine on the surface. But for any of us who scratch that surface, we recognize anxiety, shame, disappointment, and regret. And yet, in the depths of these feelings, in the things we hate about ourselves, others, and this world, we can invite God’s presence. Kellye Fabian Story & Lynn Cohick unpack how this is the essence of holy vulnerability. To enter into holy vulnerability is to intentionally expose our raw wounds so that God can heal and mend and transform us. Purchase Holy Vulnerability - https://bit.ly/AJPodcast_HolyVulnerability Follow Kellye's blog - https://kellyefabian.com

The way of Jesus is the ultimate way to foster emotional health. Becky Castle Miller has recently returned to the United States from the Netherlands after spending 8 years ministering in the multiethnic church in Maastricht Netherlands. Pastoring people from all different experiences led her to start getting curious about the intersection of Biblical and emotions. Becky, Sareen, & Lynn discuss what it means for the church to foster emotional wellness. Becky is pursuing a Ph.D. on this topic. They explore all this and more in their conversation today. Learn more about Becky's work mentioned in this episode: https://bit.ly/AJPodcast_BeckyCastleMiller @bcastlemiller on Twitter and Instagram https://seminarynow.com