Shows
One Good Story PodcastGetting Outside of Your Tribe (with Tim Gombis)Tim and Justin sit down with Tim Gombis, a bible professor with over two decades of experience at the undergraduate and seminary level. He is also the author of several books, including The Story of God Commentary on the book of Mark. Dr. Gombis received his PhD in New Testament Studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky. You can find his published work here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tim...
2024-06-031h 20
Faith ImprovisedTim Gets Some PerspectiveIn this episode, Steve and I talk about a bunch of different topics, but especially some recent lessons in perspective.
2023-12-1253 minFaith ImprovisedConspiracies, Intellectual Humility, and ArroganceIn this episode, Steve and I talk about some articles we've read recently on conspiracy theories, and relate those to intellectual humility and arrogance. We also mention the following books and articles: "Google Isn't Grad School," by Arthur Brooks, from The Atlantic, July 2023; "What Conspiracy Theorists Don't Believe," by Tim Harford, from The Atlantic, July 2023; The Death of Expertise, by Tom Nichols; Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman; The Origins of Creativity, by Edward O. Wilson.
2023-10-0346 minFaith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 14In this episode, I talk about the early church and how that fits into the biblical story.
2023-02-0758 minFaith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 13In this episode, I talk about Jesus and how he fits into the biblical story.
2023-01-311h 00Faith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 12In this episode, I try to provide some backdrop to the historical dynamics that shaped the culture to which Jesus arrived.
2023-01-2435 minFaith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 11In this episode, I finish talking about God’s call of Israel and what that means for God’s aim to reclaim the world for his glory.
2023-01-1757 minFaith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 10I recommend Bono’s new memoir called Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story (Knopf, 2022), and I talk about God’s call of Israel and what that means for God’s aim to reclaim the world for his glory.
2023-01-1051 minFaith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 9In this episode, I talk about God’s call of Israel and what that means for God’s aim to reclaim the world for his glory.
2022-11-2943 minFaith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 8I begin talking about God's plan to reclaim what was lost when humans failed in their commission to manage creation's flourishing.
2022-11-151h 03Faith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 7I recommend the book by Justin E. H. Smith, The Internet is Not What You Think It Is: A History, A Philosophy, A Warning (Princeton University Press, 2022), and I talk a bit more about the big story of the Bible.
I also mention the soon-to-be-released book by Isaac B. Sharp, The Other Evangelicals: A Story of Liberal, Black, Progressirve, Feminist, and Gay Christians--and the Movement that Pushed Them Out (Eerdmans: 2023).
2022-11-0854 minFaith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 6I relay some of the excellent meals I've enjoyed recently, and I continue talking about the big story of the Bible and how humans made a mess of things in Genesis 3.
2022-11-011h 03Faith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 5I recommend Jenny Odell's wonderful book, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy (Melville House, 2020), and I draw out some implications about humanity from Genesis 1-2.
2022-10-251h 05Faith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 4In this episode, I recommend Mel Brooks's wonderful memoir, All About Me! My Remarkable Life in Show Business (Ballantine Books, 2021), and I talk about the opening chapter of the biblical story (Genesis 1-2).
2022-10-181h 07Faith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 3In this episode, I continue talking about the opening chapter of the Bible’s big story.
2022-10-041h 09Faith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 2I recommend Merve Emre's book, The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing (Anchor Books, 2019), and I talk a bit more about the narrative dynamics going on in Genesis 1-2.
2022-09-271h 38Faith ImprovisedThe Big Story of the Bible, Pt. 1I respond to some questions I've received, I recommend Katelyn Beaty's new book, Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits are Hurting the Church (Brazos Press, 2022), and I begin talking about the big story of the Bible.
2022-09-2059 minFaith ImprovisedPutting the Testaments TogetherIn this episode, I recommend a wonderful work of fiction, called Dear Committee Members: A Novel (Doubleday, 2015), and I talk about two approaches to Scripture: Lectio Divina and the Law/Gospel contrast.
2022-08-161h 03Faith ImprovisedThinking with ScriptureIn this episode, I recommend Hillary McBride's wonderful new book, The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection through Embodied Living (Brazos Press, 2021), and I talk about critical thinking when it comes to engaging with Christian Scripture.
2022-07-2649 minFaith ImprovisedIntroducing Season 4After a longer layoff than I had anticipated, I begin this fourth season by talking about what I've been up to over the last 3 1/2 months, note some of the books I've been reading, and give an overview of what I intend to explore in the upcoming season.
2022-07-1951 min
Faithful Politics"Christianity & Culture" w/Tim Gombis, Ph.D.Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comJoin Josh and Will as they interview New Testament Scholar Dr. Tim Gombis. Their conversation ranges from cruciformly (yes that IS a word) to the race relationships in the church. You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation. Learn more about time by visiting his website: https://timgombis.comFrom Tim Gombis:I call my blogging home Faith Improvised because it represents what I do as a student of the New Te...
2022-05-171h 03
The Eikon PodcastS4E101: Have We Been Misreading the Parable of the Sower? w/Tim Gombis; Mark 4:1-20Author and Theologian, Tim Gombis, joins the Eikon Living team to discuss the Parable of the Sower. When Jesus first taught the Parable of the Sower, he made clear that not only was it pivotal to understanding his ministry, but also that many who would hear would misunderstand it and not put it into practice. Gombis walks through this foundational parable, showing how it provides a textual map for the rest of Mark, how we can miss important elements of it just as Jesus' disciples did, and how we can rightly understand and rightly respond to the challenge of...
2022-04-1159 min
Faith ImprovisedWrapping Up RomansIn this episode, I wrap up season 3 and the exploration of Paul's Letter to the Romans.
2022-03-291h 08Faith ImprovisedThe Closing of Paul's Letter to the RomansA brief update on two books I'm reading--The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity, by David Graeber and David Wengrow, and The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community, by Stephanie Spellers. I also talk about the closing section of Paul's letter to the Roman Christians.
2022-03-2257 minFaith ImprovisedThe Rhetorical Climax of RomansIn this episode, I recommend J. Richard Middleton's wonderful and compelling new book, Abraham’s Silence: The Binding of Isaac, The Suffering of Job, and How to Talk Back to God (Baker Academic, 2021), and I talk about Romans 14:1-15:13, which is the climax of Paul's argument in the letter.
Middleton's book is available with free shipping from Baker Book House (https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/260831). Support independent bookstores!
2022-03-151h 10Faith ImprovisedSubmission to Worldly Powers in Romans 13In this episode, I recommend Daniel Silliman's wonderful new book, Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith (Eerdmans), and I talk about Paul's exhortations in Romans 13.
I also mention Stephen Colbert's thoughts about the relationship of his Christian faith to his comedy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUaWDqDOWPk), and the brilliant fake conspiracy theory 'Birds Aren't Real' (https://birdsarentreal.com/).
2022-02-221h 20Faith ImprovisedBeing God's New Creation Community (Romans 12)I share a few reflections about exploring how to be Christian, I recommend the PBS documentary on Billy Graham, and I talk about Paul's exhortations to the Roman Christians in Romans 12.
You can find the documentary here: https://www.pbs.org/video/billy-graham-tp3vqn/.
2022-02-151h 08Faith ImprovisedHow to Be Christian and Stay Christian (Even When LGBTQ+ People Exist)In this episode, I share a few more reflections about conspiracy theories, I recommend Kiese Laymon's book, Heavy: An American Memoir (Scribner), and I talk about what it means to be Christian and how to remain Christian when relating to people who identify as LGBTQ+ inside and outside the church.
2022-02-081h 21Faith ImprovisedGod's Commitment to Save Israel (Romans 11)In this episode I recommend Randall Balmer's new book, Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right (Eerdmans), and I talk about the conclusion to Paul's argument regarding Israel in Romans 11.
2022-02-0151 minFaith ImprovisedHow the Church Harms LGBTQ ChristiansIn this shorter-than-normal episode, I share a few reflections and recommend Bridget Eileen Rivera’s book, Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church (Brazos Press).
2022-01-2517 minFaith ImprovisedIsrael and the Gentiles in RomeI share some updates on what I've been doing over the break, I recommend Gregory Alan Thornbury's really interesting book, Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock (Convergent), and I talk about Paul’s argument regarding Israel in Romans 10.
I also mentioned this article: "'An American Tradition': Lessons from a year covering conspiracy theories," Jose A. Del Real, The Washington Post, Dec. 29, 2021.
2022-01-181h 02
Looking DeeperGuest Speaker Tim Gombis - Advent Week 2 (Mark 4:1-20)Our apologies for the delay in getting the last two sermons posted. This is the message from December 5 when Tim Gombis spoke on the parable of the sower, the seeds and the soils.
2021-12-1649 minFaith ImprovisedElection and God's Prerogative in Romans 9I recommend J. Russell Hawkins's excellent new book, The Bible Told Them So: How Southern Evangelicals Fought to Preserve White Supremacy, and I talk about Paul's argument in Romans 9.
2021-12-141h 15Faith ImprovisedThe Climax of Paul's Argument in Romans 8I offer some reflections on random topics, but especially about the notion of 'kayfabe' as a way of understanding behaviors in the world. I refer to Gregory Thornbury's article "On Metaphor and Kayfabe," which can be found here (https://daviddark.substack.com/p/on-metaphor-and-kayfabe). And I talk about the conclusion to Paul's second major movement in Romans 8.
2021-12-071h 14
Theology in the Raw#925 - Power and Privilege in Paul, Mark, and White Evangelicalism: Dr. Tim GombisOkay, so if you’re easily offended (and white), then you might want to change the channel. Dr. Tim Gombis is a no-holds-barred honest scholar, who’s not afraid to go to the hard places and challenge the status quo. And that’s exactly what we do in this episode. We discuss the undiscussables; say the quiet things out loud, and push over sacred cows as we seek to get to know Jesus all over again. This episode is a mix of exegetical exploration and cultural analysis (or critique). Tim is a long-time friend, a fellow biblical scholar...
2021-12-0600 min
Theology in the RawS9 Ep925: Power and Privilege in Paul, Mark, and White Evangelicalism: Dr. Tim GombisOkay, so if you’re easily offended (and white), then you might want to change the channel. Dr. Tim Gombis is a no-holds-barred honest scholar, who’s not afraid to go to the hard places and challenge the status quo. And that’s exactly what we do in this episode. We discuss the undiscussables; say the quiet things out loud, and push over sacred cows as we seek to get to know Jesus all over again. This episode is a mix of exegetical exploration and cultural analysis (or critique).
Tim is a long-time friend, a fellow biblical scholar...
2021-12-061h 23Faith ImprovisedQuestions about Romans and MarkIn this episode I offer some thoughts on whether Romans 7 can help Christians who struggle with addictions, and consider Jesus' abrasive and insulting statement to the Syrian-Phoenician woman in Mark 7.
2021-11-3036 minFaith ImprovisedThe Mosaic Law and the Cosmic Power of Sin (Romans 7)I recommend Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry's insightful book, Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, and I talk about Paul's argument in Romans 7.
2021-11-161h 03Faith ImprovisedThe Cosmic Scope of Paul's Exhortations in Romans 6I recommend Danté Stewart's brilliant memoir, Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle, and I talk about the communal and cosmic shape of Paul's exhortations in Romans 6.
2021-11-101h 03Faith ImprovisedThe Roman Conflict in Cosmic PerspectiveIn this episode, I give an update of what I've been up to on my little hiatus, I list a few books I'm currently enjoying, and I begin talking about the second major movement of Paul's argument, which starts in Romans 5:12-21.
2021-11-021h 43Faith ImprovisedA Brief HiatusI'm taking a little break from the podcast and plan to be back at it soon!
2021-09-2100 minFaith ImprovisedThe Roman Christians' Transformed IdentityI recommend Tim Otto's beautiful and hope-filled book, Oriented to Faith: Transforming the Conflict Over Gay Relationships, and I talk about the final passage in the first major movement of Paul’s argument in Romans (Rom 5:1-11).
2021-09-141h 03Faith ImprovisedPaul Sends Abraham to RomeI recommend Rebekah Eklund's wonderful new book, The Beatitudes Throughout The Ages, and I talk about how Paul argues for the unity of the Roman Christians by citing Abraham in Romans 4.
2021-09-071h 08
Dismantle Podcast218. "Bigger Churches & Billy Graham" with Tim GombisWhat did the early church gather around? What was their focus? And why did Billy Graham screw it up for us? Tim Gombis joins us to describe the meal of the church and the power it truly holds for transformation!
CONNECT:
@timgombis
2021-09-0528 minFaith ImprovisedPaul Unites the Romans in JustificationI recommend The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race (Yale University Press), one of the most brilliant and breathtaking books I've ever read, and I talk about Paul's argument in Romans 3:21-31.
2021-08-311h 07Faith ImprovisedPaul Unites the Romans in Cosmic EnslavementI recommend Spencer Ackerman's new book, Reign of Terror: How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump, and I talk about the conclusion to Paul's opening argument in Romans 3:1-20.
2021-08-241h 33Faith ImprovisedPaul Confronts the Judging Group in Rome (Romans 2)I recommend Michael Gormans excellent book Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation, and I talk about how Paul's argument progresses in Romans 2, in which he confronts the group in the Roman churches that is passing judgment from a sense of moral superiority.
2021-08-171h 30Faith ImprovisedPaul's Rhetorical Trap (Romans 1:18-32)I recommend an excellent work on the Book of Acts, Kavin Rowe's World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age (Oxford University Press), and I talk about Paul's opening rhetorical move in Romans 1:18-32.
2021-08-101h 08Faith ImprovisedThe Narrative Sub-Structure of RomansI recommend Beverly Roberts Gaventa's wonderful book, When In Romans: An Invitation to Linger with the Gospel According to Paul (Baker Academic), and I start talking about Paul's opening rhetorical move in Romans 1:18-32.
I also mention the following podcasts and books:
"The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill"
"The Ezra Klein Show"
Stanley Stowers, A Rereading of Romans: Justice, Jews, and Gentiles (Yale University Press).
Sigve K. Tonstad, The Letter to the Romans: Paul Among the Ecologists (Sheffield Phoenix Press).
2021-08-031h 29Faith ImprovisedPaul Greets The RomansIn this episode, I recommend Chuck DeGroat's timely and wonderful book, When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse, and I talk about the introduction of Paul's letter to the Romans.
I also talk a bit about identity politics, responding to Charles Murray's article, “Identity Crisis: How the Politics of Race Will Wreck America,” published this month in The Spectator.
2021-07-271h 43Faith ImprovisedAn Overview of RomansIn this episode I recommend David Fromkin's masterful and fascinating work, A Peace To End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East, and I give an overview of how I see the major movements of Paul's argument in his letter to the Roman house churches.
2021-07-201h 13Faith ImprovisedWandering Through RomansI recommend Lisa Bowens's compelling new book, African American Readings of Paul: Reception, Resistance, and Transformation (Eerdmans), and I talk about where I intend to go with the podcast in this third season (and beyond), reporting on my research in Paul's letter to the Romans.
2021-07-131h 06Faith ImprovisedThe Church Is God's Social JusticeIn this episode, I recommend a great new book by Brian Brock called, Disability: Living Into The Diversity Of Christ's Body, and I talk about social justice, the gospel, and how the church does not merely have some kind of relationship to social justice, but rather, according to Paul, the church is God’s social justice.
2021-06-081h 43Faith ImprovisedDeath of God, Etc.I have a discussion with my friend Steve Watkins about a load of stuff, but especially about some of the impulses behind death of God thinkers, which I find really fascinating.
2021-06-021h 17Faith ImprovisedThe Grammar of the GospelI recommend an excellent new book, Reparations: A Call for Repentance and Repair, by Duke L. Kwon and Gregory Thompson, and I talk about the grammar of the gospel and compare that to the grammar of evangelicalism.
2021-05-251h 14Faith ImprovisedThe Problem of Men in MinistryI recommend Ijeoma Oluo’s new book, Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America, and I respond to a question about women in ministry by sort of flipping the script and reflecting on the problem of men in ministry.
I also recommend Nijay Gupta's excellent blog series, "Why I Believe in Women in Ministry," an index to which is found here (https://www.patheos.com/blogs/cruxsola/2019/06/why-i-believe-in-women-in-ministry-gupta/).
2021-05-182h 07Faith ImprovisedLove the Evangelical, Hate the EvangelicalismI recommend a magisterial work by Frances FitzGerald, The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America, and I reflect a bit on some recent articles on the cultural dynamics of evangelicalism.
I refer to these three articles:
Timothy Dalrymple, "The Splintering of the Evangelical Soul: Why We're Coming Apart, and How We Might Come Together Again," Christianity Today, April 16, 2021.
J. Kameron Carter, "Behind Christianity Today’s Editorial is a Deeper Crisis of America’s Religion of Whiteness," Religion News Service, December 24, 2019.
Isaac B. Sharp, "Race, Gender, and the Limits of Evangelical Identity," Berk...
2021-05-111h 18Faith ImprovisedThinking Again, AgainI recommend Ta-Nehisi Coates's brilliant book, Between the World and Me, an absolutely powerful memoir that’s a personal letter to his son, and I intended to talk about a few recent articles on the contemporary state of American evangelicalism, but ended up extending some thoughts on the sorts of things I routinely re-think.
2021-05-0458 minFaith ImprovisedWhat Did Jesus Know & When Did He Know It?I recommend Jared Yates Sexton's compelling new book, American Rule: How A Nation Conquered the World but Failed Its People, and I talk about reckoning with the narrative shape of the Gospels, how they theologize about Jesus as a character, and how certain theological conceptions can get in the way of our understanding, especially an assumption about God's "omniscience."
I also mention Jeannine Brown's excellent book, The Gospels as Stories: A Narrative Approach to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
2021-04-271h 00Faith ImprovisedThe Joy of Being WrongI talk about Adam Grant's new book, Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know, and how it sheds light on creative Christian postures of humility and curiosity. I also mention Beth Allison Barr's new release, The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth. And I make minor note of Daniel Boorstin's classic work, The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events in America.
2021-04-201h 16Faith ImprovisedBaseball & Golf, Science & FaithIn this short episode I talk about the Cubs' brutal start to the season, the Masters tournament from last week, and I recommend Edward Larson's brilliant book, Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion.
2021-04-1313 minFaith ImprovisedReconnecting with a FriendI reflect a bit about why this is my favorite week of the year, I talk about Molly Worthen’s book, Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism, and I share a personal story about reconnecting with an old friend.
2021-04-0650 min
Crackers and Grape JuiceEpisode 302 - Tim Gombis : Power in WeaknessTim Gombis joins the pod to talk about his newest book, 'Power in Weakness: Paul’s Transformed Vision for Ministry.' Tim and Teer explore a model for church leadership as old as Paul's letter to the Romans.From the publisher:After Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, he turned from coercion and violence to a ministry centered on the hope of Christ’s resurrection. In earthly terms, Paul had traded power for weakness. But—as he explained in his subsequent letters—this “weakness” was actually the key to flourishing community that is able t...
2021-04-0239 minFaith ImprovisedExvangelicals & DeconstructionI recommend a powerful new book by Anthea Butler called White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, and I reflect for a bit about the terms “exvangelical” and “deconstruction.”
I also mention a few other books: Adam Grant, Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know; Crystal M. Fleming, How To Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy, and the Racial Divide; Ijeoma Oluo, Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America.
2021-03-301h 12Faith ImprovisedThe Church as God's Public JusticeI share some random observations from the past week, I recommend Educated: A Memoir, which is a brilliant and quite compelling coming of age narrative, and I talk about Paul’s vision of the church as God’s public justice.
2021-03-231h 11Faith ImprovisedThe Conversion of Paul's Ministry ImaginationI share some thoughts from the past week, I recommend Heather McGhee's brilliant new book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, in which she elaborates the zero-sum logic that distorts our racial and political imaginations, and I share some ideas from my book, Power in Weakness: Paul's Transformed Vision for Ministry, especially how Paul experienced a conversion of his ministry imagination.
2021-03-161h 14Faith ImprovisedWhite Evangelicals & Abortion PoliticsIn this episode I share some random observations, I recommend Jason Hickel's brilliant book, The Divide: Global Inequality from Conquest to Free Markets, and I talk about the politics of abortion and how this issue has shaped the culture of white evangelicalism in America.
2021-03-091h 12Faith ImprovisedJust BrieflyIn this brief episode, I share some thoughts from the past week and I recommend Jason Stanley's fascinating book How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them.
2021-03-0220 minFaith ImprovisedSovereignty, Suffering, Sports, Etc.I offer some reflections on music, sports, and the challenge of self-awareness among athletes, I recommend Daniel Radosh's fun and enlightening book, Rapture Ready!: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture, and I respond to some questions about what I've been saying about God's sovereignty and what that looks like in our world.
2021-02-231h 22Faith ImprovisedMore on Sovereignty and SufferingI respond to a bunch of questions I received based on the previous episode, and I recommend Kate Bowler's wonderful memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved, which is a personal and theological reflection on so many of the poor ways Christians have come to think about God in relation to human suffering.
2021-02-161h 18Faith ImprovisedGod's Sovereignty and Human SufferingI reflect on the character of antagonism and how patterns in evangelical culture make evangelicals susceptible to being drawn easily into antagonistic postures and patterns in the larger culture. I also recommend Manoush Zomorodi's fascinating book, Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self, and I talk about how the Bible depicts God's sovereignty and how that relates to human suffering, among other dynamics in our experience.
2021-02-091h 21Faith ImprovisedPappy O'Daniel Power HourI have a conversation with my friend Steve Watkins about a variety of topics: how our thinking has developed over the years, what to do about misinformation and conspiracy theories, and we drop some Coen references along the way. I also recommend Anne Applebaum's important new book, Twilight of Democracy.
2021-02-021h 01Faith ImprovisedThe Importance of Listening to *Others*I offer some ruminations from the past week, I talk about Bruce Longenecker's wonderful book, The Lost Letters of Pergamum, which is one of the best resources for getting into the world of the New Testament, and I reflect on the strategic importance of listening to those our culture *others*, especially when it comes to realities like cruciformity.
2021-01-261h 11Faith ImprovisedIt's a Putsch!In this first episode of season 2, I answer a question about evangelical engagement with the Bible, I talk about my new book, Power in Weakness, which is about Paul as a pastor, and I reflect a bit on current events, especially the attempted putsch on January 6 and what that portends for America in coming days.
2021-01-191h 05Faith ImprovisedPaul's Apparently "Clear" Teaching About Christian FamiliesI offer a few observations and reflections from the past week, I recommend Seth Dowland's fascinating book, Family Values and the Rise of the Christian Right, and I talk about the Household Code in Ephesians 5-6 as an instance of how modern Bible readers can misread an apparently clear passage when they don't understand ancient and modern historical contexts.
2020-12-2242 minFaith ImprovisedThe (un)Gospel of Mark, Pt. 8I reflect a bit on evangelical faulty logic that keeps us from loving our neighbors, I talk about a wonderful resource for understanding Mark in its Jewish context, and I conclude my series on Mark's Gospel.
2020-12-151h 05Faith ImprovisedRace, Patriarchy, the SBC, and Lessons We Don't LearnI talk about the statement issued by SBC seminary presidents rejecting Critical Race Theory and why that signals a resistance to the difficult but life-giving work of gospel-oriented justice. I also talk about Beth Allison Barr’s upcoming book, The Making of Biblical Womanhood, which is a brilliant analysis of how evangelical patriarchy uses the Bible to endorse gender hierarchies that the gospel deconstructs.
2020-12-0853 minFaith ImprovisedThe (un)Gospel of Mark, Pt. 7I offer a few reflections and observations from the past week, I recommend Luke Timothy Johnson's new book on Paul's letters and theology, and I talk about the narrative dynamics of what is going on in chapter 14 of Mark's Gospel.
2020-12-011h 05Faith ImprovisedThe (un)Gospel of Mark, Pt. 6I talk about some events of the recent week, along with offering a few other random thoughts, I recommend Scot McKnight's book, Reading Romans Backwards, and I explore some of what is going on in Mark 13, which has huge implications for being Christian while a pandemic is raging.
2020-11-241h 01Faith ImprovisedThe (un)Gospel of Mark, Pt. 5I share some thoughts about the bizarre nature of the past week, I commend Esau McCaulley's excellent new book, Reading While Black, and I talk about some of the narrative dynamics of Mark 11-12.
2020-11-171h 10Faith ImprovisedThe (un)Gospel of Mark, Pt. 4I share some reflections from the past week's events, respond to an interesting question about relating to God, talk a little about Grand Rapids Theological Seminary where I teach, and I draw out some of the narrative dynamics up and running in Mark 8-10.
2020-11-101h 39Faith ImprovisedThe (un)Gospel of Mark, Pt. 3I reflect a bit on events of the past week, I recommend Jill Lepore's excellent and insightful work, These Truths: A History of the United States, and I talk about the narrative dynamics of Mark 4-8.
2020-11-031h 24Faith ImprovisedThe (un)Gospel of Mark, Pt. 2I recommend Jeannine Brown's excellent new book on the Gospels and I continue talking about the subversive Gospel of Mark, focusing on how Jesus's parable of the sower and the seed in 4:1-20 sets the table for the rest of the narrative.
2020-10-271h 14Faith ImprovisedThe (un)Gospel of Mark, Pt. 1I talk about Matthew Avery Sutton's brilliant book, American Apocalypse, which is now the standard work on the history of modern fundamentalism / evangelicalism in America, and I start a series exploring Mark's mystifying and thoroughly unsettling Gospel.
2020-10-201h 02Faith ImprovisedHow Christian Identity Works, Pt. 3I share some random thoughts and reflections, answer a few emails, talk about Harry Frankfurt's brilliant book, On Bullshit, and wrap up a discussion of how cruciformity determines the identity of Christians.
2020-10-1358 minFaith ImprovisedHow Christian Identity Works, Pt. 2I share some reflections, including a lament about the Cubs' early departure from the baseball postseason, I talk about Pankaj Mishra's excellent and insightful book, Age of Anger, and I continue describing the way Scripture constructs Christian identity, focusing on cruciformity.
2020-10-061h 09Faith ImprovisedHow Christian Identity Works, Pt. 1I offer a few random observations, recommend Robert P. Jones's excellent new book, White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, and begin a series about Christian identity, focusing on cruciformity.
2020-09-291h 14Faith ImprovisedThe Powers and Authorities and Christian Discernment of CultureI share a few random observations, I talk about a lovely book I've read recently, and I elaborate on the larger theological framework that shapes my engagement with cultural criticism and gives some background as to why I think Critical Race Theory is so helpful for Christians.
2020-09-221h 38Faith ImprovisedCritical Race Theory and Evangelical FearI respond to an interesting question about my posture toward the church, I talk about probably my all-time favorite book, and I elaborate a bit on Critical Race Theory, why evangelical leaders are sowing fear about it, and why Christians have nothing to fear about this or any other analytical tool for discerning power dynamics of oppression in our culture.
2020-09-151h 12Faith Improvised“Make America Great Again” is a Call to Turn Our Backs to the GospelI respond to a question about the nature of salvation, I talk about Nijay Gupta's great new book on how Paul uses "faith" language in his letters, and I reflect on how the resonance among white evangelicals with the current president's campaign slogan reveals something fundamentally problematic about the culture of white evangelicalism.
2020-09-081h 12Faith ImprovisedHow To Be HumbleI catch up on some discussion and questions about evangelism, talk about Tom Nichols's wonderful book, The Death of Expertise, and I reflect a bit on the character of humility and arrogance.
2020-09-011h 43Faith ImprovisedAlpha Male Myths & Violence in Our WorldIn this episode, I reflect on the role that "the Great Commission" plays in evangelical culture, I talk about Sarah Posner's brilliant new book, "Unholy: Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump," and I share a conversation with my friend Steve Watkins. He's a former Navy SEAL whose experience and study has changed his thinking about the military and violence. We also talk about Alpha & Beta males and there's a Fargo reference dropped in for good measure.
2020-08-251h 22Faith ImprovisedIs the “Great Commission” Even a Thing!?A conversation with Kristen Johnson on the surprising history of the phrase that has been so central to evangelical identity, mission, and practice. It's perhaps time to reassess the outsize role Matthew 28:19-20 plays in our thinking, and just as importantly, to actually look at what the passage says!
2020-08-181h 17Faith ImprovisedJesus and John Wayne, with Kristin Du MezThis week, I respond to a few questions about individualism, I talk a little about Bruce Longenecker's book, In Stone and Story, and I have a discussion with Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of the new book, Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.
2020-08-111h 11Faith ImprovisedChristian Nationalism is IdolatryIn this episode I respond to some questions I received, commend the super-fun book Cringeworthy: A Theory of Awkwardness, by Melissa Dahl, and talk about the idolatrous notion that America is a Christian nation.
2020-08-041h 16Faith ImprovisedBLM, the Kingdom of God, and White Evangelicalism's Gospel ProblemIn this episode I share a few ideas in response to a question asking what we can do about our individualized gospel, I recommend Lee Camp's sparkling new book, Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians, and I elaborate some of the dynamics of the Kingdom of God in Scripture that conservative white evangelicals are missing, captive as that culture is to a shrunken version of the gospel.
2020-07-281h 03Faith ImprovisedChristian Identity & RaceIn this episode I respond to some questions I received about evangelism from the first episode, I talk about Kristin Kobes Du Mez's wonderful new book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, and I share a conversation I had about race with Max Botner, my New Testament colleague at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. We hit a few things we've learned from the book White Fragility and about some criticisms of it, and we touched on some aspects of Christian identity that drive us to learn about and discuss matters of race.
2020-07-211h 09