Summary

Michael and Jeff discuss the challenges of measuring spiritual maturity and the need for a deeper understanding of faith that goes beyond mere rule-following. 

00:00 Opening

09:04 Exploring Centered Set Church Concepts

30:57 Bounded vs. Centered Churches

38:06 Leadership in Bounded vs. Centered Models

42:28 Blood, Ink, and Pencil Issues in Faith

46:54 Centered Approach to Faith and Community

50:04 The Challenge of Sin Management vs. Image Bearing

51:59 Digging Wells vs. Building Fences

The Eikon team explores the differences between bounded and centered gospels, discussing the implications of church dynamics on inclusion and exclusion. They delve into the nature of bounded churches, the judgmentalism that can arise, and the importance of fostering a community that encourages exploration of faith. The discussion highlights the spectrum of church mentalities, the impact of exclusion on individual identity, and the need for a more inclusive approach that focuses on unity rather than uniformity. 

00:00 Introduction to Bounded and Centered Set Gospels

09:13 Exploring the Concept of Bounded vs. Centered Gospels

19:09 Real-World Applications and Implications of Gospel Types

29:15 Navigating Boundaries in Faith Communities

31:42 Understanding Bounded vs. Centered Gospels

36:47 The Nature of Bounded Churches

40:33 The Role of Judgmentalism in Bounded Groups

45:06 Exploring Inclusion and Exclusion

48:33 Unity vs. Uniformity in Church Dynamics

52:35 The Spectrum of Church Mentalities

57:05 The Impact of Exclusion on Individual Identity

01:01:39 Navigating Personal Beliefs in Church Contexts

01:08:35 Looking Ahead: Centered Gospels

Michael and Jeff explore the themes of living as Christians in a world that often feels like an empire. They discuss the importance of community, the call to live honorably, and the challenge of embodying the way of the cross. The conversation delves into the role of the Christian community in society, the complexities of engaging with government, and the need for humility and love in the face of cultural challenges. They emphasize the ideal of a loving, sacrificial community while acknowledging the difficulties in achieving this vision.

00:00 Introduction and Banter

06:00 The Exile Mindset in the New Testament

11:56 Living as Exiles: Identity and Purpose

18:13 The Tension of Exile: Comfort vs. Distinction

24:13 The Call to Live Differently in a Secular World

29:53 Powerlessness and the Exilic Existence

31:43 Living in the Shadows of Empire

36:51 The Way of the Cross

48:49 The Role of the Christian Community

01:00:08 Engaging with Government and Culture

In this episode of The Other Realm, Michael and Elijah Burns delve into the controversial topic of the flat Earth hypothesis. They explore its historical roots, the resurgence of interest in modern times, and the main arguments put forth by flat-earth proponents. They then dive into the critiques of flat-earth claims. The discussion emphasizes the importance of discernment, truth, and the need for a faithful reading of scripture in the context of scientific understanding.

00:00 Introduction 

03:15 Exploring the Flat Earth Claim

07:55 History of Flat Earth Beliefs

14:40 Main Arguments of Flat Earth Proponents

21:45 Biblical Arguments for Flat Earth

24:33 Appeal of Flat Earth Beliefs

28:01 Historical Perspectives on Earth's Shape

31:32 Scientific Critiques of Flat Earth Theory

49:58 The Moon Landing Debate

53:37 The Role of Scripture in Cosmology

01:01:26 Engaging with Flat Earth Believers

01:12:49 The Importance of Truth and Discernment

Jeff, Gianna, and Michael explore the challenges and responsibilities of living as a Christian community in today's world. They discuss the importance of embodying the teachings of Jesus, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, and the need to focus on community engagement rather than just individual conversion. They highlight the tension between political power and the cross-shaped life that Jesus exemplified, urging listeners to consider how they can live out their faith collectively in a way that reflects the values of Christ.

 CORRECTION:

The email to connect with Bill Barberg was incorrectly given in this episode. The correct email is:

[email protected]

Further information can also be found at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wy4mVExfujEhYj0Uz0t4ARrzNiciZDnhcGdiANY7eDU/edit?tab=t.0

00:00 Understanding Exile in the Christian Community

03:49 The Dual Nature of Exile

15:00 The Exilic Gospel and Community

17:05 Jesus and the Subversion of Power

29:55 Living Out the Exilic Identity

32:51 Building a Christ-Centered Community

34:42 The Challenge of Individualism in Faith

37:51 Preparing for a Life Together

40:52 The Shape of Christian Community

42:43 Living as Exiles in a Political World

46:45 The Power of the Cross vs. Political Power

51:38 Embodying the Teachings of Jesus

55:30 Conversion vs. Community Living

58:49 Trusting in Christ's Alternative Way of Life

S7E209 – Exilic Gospel: Subversive Witness

Gianna, Jeff, and Michael explore the complex relationship between the kingdom of God and the dynamics of empire, particularly in the context of exile. They discuss the importance of understanding one's identity as an exile, the instructions given in Jeremiah 29 for those in Babylon, and the call to seek shalom in a foreign land. The conversation also delves into the various responses to empire, including syncretism, separation, and revolution, and highlights how Jesus embodies a subversive approach to these challenges. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and a Rant

04:36 Exilic Gospel: Understanding Exile

07:37 The Concept of Babylon

10:30 Imperial Mindset and Empire Dynamics

23:53 The Kingdom of God vs. Empire Dynamics

26:42 Navigating Exile: Israel's Identity Crisis

29:33 Jeremiah 29: Instructions for Exiles

37:44 Seeking Shalom in Babylon

41:06 The Role of Exiles in Empire

47:55 Responses to Empire: Syncretism, Separation, and Revolution

58:45 Jesus: The Subversive Exile

The Eikon team explores the themes of exile, identity, and leadership in the context of the gospel and the Old Testament. They delve into the concept of exile as a central theme in the Bible, and examine God's design for kingship, militarism, the economy and status in Israel's history. They consider this as a clarifying metric for the embodied gospel and a conundrum for claims of any country that wishes to claim the status of a Christian nation. 

00:00 Introduction and Banter

05:21 The Concept of Exile in the Gospel

10:11 Understanding Israel's Identity as Exiles

17:46 Kingship and God's Design for Leadership

28:30 Militarism and Its Implications

30:06 Facing Fear in Battle

31:16 God's Perspective on Militarism

32:43 Faith in God's Protection

34:26 The Role of Israel's Land

36:49 Economic Principles in God's Kingdom

39:30 The Role of Priests and Levites

41:33 Caring for the Poor and Foreigners

43:27 The Challenge of Being a Christian Nation

46:22 Social Justice and Equality in God's Kingdom

In this episode, Michael Burns and Thabani welcome special guest, Alfredo Valentin, the BK apologist. They delve into the complex world of urban apologetics, focusing on the Black Hebrew Israelite movement. They explore the theological implications, historical context, and appeal of this ideology, particularly among marginalized communities. The conversation also touches on strategies for engaging with Hebrew Israelites and the importance of understanding their beliefs to effectively communicate the Christian faith. 

00:00 Introduction to Urban Apologetics

06:07 Understanding Black Hebrew Israelites

12:08 The Appeal and Beliefs of Black Hebrew Israelites

18:30 Historical Context and Misinterpretations

24:15 Theological Implications and Responses

34:05 The Role of Law and Identity in Faith

36:31 Struggles of African Identity and Spirituality

39:27 Historical Context of African Christianity

42:56 Debating the Racial Identity of Jesus

46:43 Understanding Incomplete Gospels

52:30 Experiences in Debating Hebrew Israelites

57:25 Advice for Engaging with Hebrew Israelites

01:01:41 Corporate Approaches to Addressing Hebrew Israelite Theology

01:08:55 lifestyle-intro-high-long.wav

In this conversation, the Eikon team explores the themes of allegiance, exile, and the nature of the church in relation to the kingdom of God. They discuss how the early church navigated political subversion and the implications of living as exiles in a world that often contradicts the values of the kingdom. The conversation emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of what it means to pledge allegiance to Jesus and the challenges posed by political idolatry in contemporary society.

Timestamp

00:00 Introduction and Banter

07:50 Introduction to Exiles: Setting the Stage

10:25 Understanding Exiles: A Biblical Perspective

17:16 The Meaning of Repent: A Deeper Look

20:24 Allegiance and Exile: A Kingdom Perspective

23:50 The Political Language of Ecclesia

28:22 Subversion and Allegiance: The Early Church's Challenge

31:18 The Political Task of the Church

38:08 The Cross and the Kingdom: A Different Way of Living

42:31 Imagination and Allegiance: The Challenge of Exile

50:27 Political Idolatry: The Church's Struggle

The Eikon team continues to analyze the whole gospel, which differs from incomplete versions in its formation of community, the role of baptism, and especially what we understand as the primary mission of the church. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections

8:38 The Whole Gospel: Understanding Community and Individuality

13:36 The Challenge of Individualism in the Gospel

19:48 Baptism and the Role of the Church

23:00 The Role of Gospels in Mission

26:22 Embodiment of Justice and Community

35:41 The Shift in Global Christianity

39:17 The Dynamics of Small vs. Large Gatherings

42:35 The Center of Gravity in Church Community

49:34 Balancing Small Groups and Large Gatherings