Humans as Middle Management • Image of God Ep. 1
What does it mean that humans were created in "the image of God." Jon and Tim discuss this biblical theme and its implications for Jesus followers.
The Plague of the Firstborn • Firstborn Ep. 5
How does the plague of the firstborn from Exodus fit into the biblical theme of the firstborn? And what does it mean when Yahweh calls Israel his firstborn son? In this episode, Tim and Jon explore the theme of the firstborn in the Exodus scroll.
Holiness Q+R
Jon and Tim answer listener questions on the subject of Holiness.
Power Grabs and Patriarchs • Firstborn Ep. 4
Early in the story of the Bible, God chooses the family of Abraham, his son Isaac, and Isaac’s son Jacob as his chosen representatives to bless other peoples. But these families are full of the same rivalry, envy, and division present in any other family. What is God doing with these less-than-ideal candidates? Join Tim and Jon as they trace the theme of the firstborn in the narratives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Heaven and Earth Q+R
Jon and Tim respond to questions about the theme of Heaven and Earth in the Bible.
Rivalry Among Brothers • Firstborn Ep. 3
Only a few pages into the story of the Bible, the story starts to get really bleak. Cain kills his brother Abel, Cain’s descendants become famous murderers, and Noah’s youngest son violates his father and mother. And all of it happens because humans decide that power is worth the cost of harming others. In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the dark side of human nature and the God who favors the powerless—the people who choose to trust him for blessing and exaltation.
What Happens When We Die According to the Bible? • Heaven and Earth Ep. 4
The Bible doesn't use the phrase "go to heaven" to describe what happens after death. In fact, Jesus says some things about heaven that can seem confusing to us. Join Tim and Jon as they continue their conversation about the biblical themes of Heaven and Earth. In this episode, you'll learn ... 1. What Jesus was trying to communicate about Heaven in the Gospel of John 2. What it means for Heaven and Earth to overlap 3. What it means for Jesus' followers to be "not of this world" Browse our entire channel for more podcast episodes and animated videos that help people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.
Seizing vs. Receiving Power • Firstborn Ep. 2
It’s not explicitly stated, but the theme of the firstborn first appears in the opening narratives of the Hebrew Bible. In Genesis 1 and 2, Yahweh elevates humans, the latecomers of creation, to rule the land. In Genesis 3, a snake, who is some kind of spiritual being, tricks the humans despite their authority as God’s image bearers. This story is echoed in other accounts of sibling rivalry that continue throughout the Hebrew Bible. Join Tim and Jon as they discuss the land rulers and sky rulers and the theme of the firstborn in Genesis 1-3.
Jesus Followers and the Connection Between Heaven and Earth • Heaven and Earth Ep. 3
Jesus claimed to replace God's temple, rebuilding it first in the form of his resurrected body and then in the community of his followers. Join Tim and Jon as they continue their conversation about the biblical themes of Heaven and Earth. In this episode, you'll learn ... 1. How we know that God's presence exists in followers of Jesus 2. What the implications are for Christians having the presence of God within them 3. What happens when we die according to Jesus and the New Testament authors Browse our entire channel for more podcast episodes and animated videos that help people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.
God's Response to Human Power Structures • Firstborn Ep. 1
In ancient Near Eastern societies, firstborn sons were prized above all other children and inherited special privileges and authority simply because of their birth order. In this episode, Tim and Jon start a new theme study covering the theme of the firstborn. Spoiler alert: The God of the Bible opposes lots of human ideas about power, and the privilege of the firstborn is no exception. Again and again, we’ll see Yahweh picking younger siblings and people we wouldn’t expect to be his chosen representatives.