Jesus at 2AM | A Humorous, Intelligent Introduction to the Bible, Theology, Church History & the Spiritual Life

As we conclude this series in modern church history, we examine the intellectual challenges that confronted the church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Perhaps the most obvious of these was the rapid progress of scientific discovery – things like James Hutton’s work in geology (radically redefining the age of the universe) and […]

It would be nearly impossible to overestimate the impact of John and Charles Wesley on contemporary American Protestantism.  From the hymns we sing, to the small groups we attend, to the empowerment of the laity to teach and preach, to the eventual ordination of women into professional ministry, the Wesleys – and the Methodist tradition […]

The religious zeal that marked the first Puritan colonies was destined to wane.  As new generations were born, and new waves of settlers arrived, new priorities and visions of the good life began to take shape.  Many professed a Christian faith and had connection to the church, but not with the same rigor as those […]

Why I hate Ash Wednesday, the illegality of death in Irvine, and the comfort of Psalm 23.  

The Reformation gave birth not to a solitary Protestantism, but to a wide variety of Protestantisms.  (The Reformers came to quick agreement that the Bible – and not the traditions or authorities of the Catholic Church – was the ultimate arbiter of truth.  What they could not agree upon was what the Bible intended to […]

When Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses outside the door of the campus church in Wittenberg, he had no intention of dividing the Catholic Church.  But within a decade of that event, such acts of protest had gained irreversible momentum, and  “Protestantism” was officially born. Throughout the 16th century new church governments were formed, new […]

One of the greatest challenges to understanding the message of Jesus is knowing how to categorize him as a speaker.  When those first audiences gathered, who did they think they were going to hear?   A teacher?  A philosopher?  A political leader?  Or something else? In this fifth installment in the Next Steps into the Gospels course […]

Few elements of the biblical story cause contemporary readers more difficulty than talk of demons and devils. To our (post-?)modern sensibilities, they seem, at best, misdiagnoses of psychiatric conditions, and, at worst, conjure images of the church at its most misguided (witch trial, anyone?). And yet, Jesus' confrontation with demonic powers is a fundamental dimension of the Gospels. Indeed, it is his assertion that the "real" enemy is spiritual (not physical - e.g., Rome) that drives much of his messianic ministry (forgiving enemies instead of launching revolutions). And his ability to overpower that enemy - to "bind the strongman" - displays his divine authority. In this episode we examine the story of Jesus' encounter with a man "possessed" by demonic forces and discover the many layers of meaning revealed in Jesus' healing. If you wish to read more on the subject of "Satan" specifically, see my recent blog post at www.jesusat2am.com.

Much of Jesus' ministry - and the Gospel descriptions thereof - revolve around his "miracles" (the Gk. word is best translated "works of power"). But what was their purpose? Did they simply serve to impress his audience, to demonstrate his might or authority? Or are they part and parcel of the declaration that "the kingdom of God has come near"? In this episode we examine Jesus' healing of a paralyzed man as a window into the larger ministry of salvation - of setting God's creation right (both physically and judicially). In particular we explore Jewish expectations - rooted in the Hebrew scriptures - of what salvation would entail, and how Jesus' fulfills and expands this vision.

To read the Gospels is to be drawn in to a world of great complexity. Immediately we encounter passionate political conflicts, religious sects vying for power, palace intrigues, and the mounting threat of violence in the streets. It is into this world - the world of Israel in exile, grasping for a means of deliverance - that Jesus enters and announces "good news" (literally: the word of victory). And it is this world that we must understand if we are to comprehend Jesus' message and the responses of those who witnessed him. In this second installment of the "Next Steps...Gospels" series, we explore the inter-testamental period of Jewish history: the political developments, the religious responses the various parties that competed for power, and Israel's vision of what "salvation" would entail. Join us as we learn more about the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Essenes and Zealots, Herod, Rome, exile, and the long-awaited fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham.

What defines a "gospel"? How and why were they composed? And how does this knowledge help us begin to interpret the message and ministry of Jesus?