Epiphany Church Podcast

There is no other God who keeps his promises like the God of the Bible, and Jesus's death and resurrection is proof of this. Also: Pastor Bryan watches a kid's show and can't hold back the tears. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Truth without love is cruel. Love without truth is sentimentality. Love and truth together is forgiveness. In Mark 14, Jesus offers premature forgiveness to his disciples, as everyone is exposed for their unworthiness compared to his obedience. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

One of the key themes of Mark's gospel, and one of the key principles in reading the Bible, is that Jesus is unique. We can't identify with him like every other character or person in every other story. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Stay awake! Be on guard! Don't stray! Jesus tells his disciples that the end is near, and their faith and trust in him has never been more important. Also: Pastor Bryan misses the bus. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Winged eyeballs, chaos dragons, zombie lambs, and resurrected skeletons. The Bible has it all! Here's a bit of background behind some of the zanier parts of the Bible, and why even they contain good news for Christians in every age. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

If you've ever been a part of a bad church, Jesus can relate. Nearly three full chapters of Mark's gospel, over 20% of the book, catalogues Jesus's condemnation of the corrupt and worthless worship of Jerusalem's temple. Here are Jesus's main critiques, which every church should read with sobering humility. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

An introduction into why Christians can rely on the modern Bible as an accurate source for the apostle's teachings and God's word. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Jesus has revealed his plan to save the world through his death and resurrection, but the disciples don't get it. When it comes to many of life's most intimate matters - such as marriage, family and finances - God's kingdom changes everything. The disciples (and we who read Mark's gospel!) find these texts to be challenging. But stick with them - behind Jesus's ethical framework lies is a glimpse into the kingdom of God. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Our reading from Mark this week presents a challenge - what happens when nobody understands the meaning of one of Jesus's sayings? Here's why it's OK to say "I don't know," and why Christians don't have to be anxious about these few tricky verses. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

If Jesus's words "Take up your cross and follow me" don't shock us, it's because time has softened his attention-grabbing words. Also: Jesus is not Diet Coke, nor is he a Drill Seargent. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Exploring how a Christian should understand Jesus's ministry and work when they have access to four primary accounts of his life. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Jesus's frustration at the Pharisees boils over, and in the process, he reveals one of Christianity's great countercultural teachings. The source of human suffering and worldly ills is not what we think it is. Also: how Cheap Trick's 1977 hit I Want You to Want Me has more theological insight than they could possibly have known. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Is Jesus really calling a woman a dog? Does the Lord and Savior have a sexist streak? These are the questions someone might ask if they are reading the Bible like a book of pithy sayings instead of a narrative about history. This week, four tips on how to better understand the context of a passage, and by proxy, understand God's love for the world (and you too!). To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

One of the key aspects of Israel's social life was God's designation between status of clean and unclean. And for our reading this week in Mark 4-6, the miracles that Jesus offers take on a deeper significance when you remember this important social structure. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Famed artiest Vincent Van Gogh had hoped to be a minister, but things didn't go so well for him. A lesson for him, and for anyone doing Christian ministry, from Mark 4. Also, St. Monica, and Pastor Bryan's garden. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

In the dictionary, the definition of the word "parable" includes a mention of Jesus. If we're going to understand Mark's gospel, or any of the gospels, we'll need to make sure we understand how to read the parables. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Jesus famously argued that "a house divided cannot stand," but in Mark's gospel, that truth applies to his own household as much as anyone else's. Also: what we learn from buckets full of crabs. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

Jesus does not mince words when the scribes attribute his power and ministry to Satan instead of God. The result: a condemnation from Jesus so strong it makes Christians squirm even in 2023. Should we be worried about an unforgivable sin? To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

In this section of Mark's gospel, Jesus addresses five religious practices that the crowds, especially the scribes and Pharisees, have misunderstood. Also: why Footloose (1984) is the greatest film ever made about Pharisees. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

In our reading this week, Jesus corrects the Pharisees five separate times. The Pharisees are the staunchest and most direct opponents of Jesus's teaching, and so learning more about this denomination within ancient Judaism will help us understand more about Jesus too. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

When Jesus heals a leper for the first time, it gives us insight into how things are made "clean" in his ministry. Also, Dr. Seuss phones it in with the ending to one of his lesser known children's books.

Imagine turning off The Wizard of Oz in the first 20 minutes of the film - how much would you have missed? The transition to color film, the famous friends, the battle against the Wicked Witch of the West... Jesus's ministry has just started, and people are already forming opinions about who he is and what he's come to accomplish. But by looking at a particular theme in Mark's gospel, we see that Jesus doesn't want people to be so hasty with their assessments. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/). Fredson Falls by Mr Smith is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/fever-dreams-1/fredson-falls/).

As Jesus is baptized, the fabric of reality is torn, and we get a brief glimpse of God in three persons. How Mark's Gospel, C.S. Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, and new wave punk rocker Billy Idol help us understand the Trinity. Also: Pastor Bryan's first dance with a girl. To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/). Fredson Falls by Mr Smith is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/fever-dreams-1/fredson-falls/).

To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/).

To learn more about Learning from the Lion, visit Epiphany's website (https://www.epiphanyligonier.org/2023/05/18/mark/). To sign up for Learning from the Lion emails, join Epiphany's email list (https://epiphanyligonier.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6deab5ff3fb36b536f224d4a7&id=e67d04679b), and unsubscribe anytime. Say Grace For Me by Derek Clegg is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Derek_Clegg/old-town-worry/say-grace-for-me/). Fredson Falls by Mr Smith is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License, and can be found at freemusicarchive.org (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/fever-dreams-1/fredson-falls/).

The ink on the paper has barely dried, but Israel does the unthinkable and breaks their contract with God. The stakes could not be higher. Also: the relationship between disobedience and fear.

Israel and God sign on the dotted line: He is their God, they are his people. Time to feast! It turns out lots of great contracts are celebrated with feasts. but in today's reading, Israel sits down to feast with God himself.

The Tzars of Russia adored their decorative Easter eggs made by the House of Faberge. In the same way, God counts the people he rescued from Egypt to be his treasured people. Also: Pastor Bryan accidentally invades CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. True story.

Moses reunites with his father-in-law Jethro after the people escaped from Egypt. When this archbishop of paganism hears the story of God's saving work, he ditches his idols and worships the one true God. The story of the Bible's first convert, a joyous Dreamworks film, and evidence that God cares about mission in both Old and New Testaments.

Moses and Israel learn that God can provide food and water - but what about safety? A word about prayer and leadership and the saving work of two men whose arms, as Creed sang back in 1999, are indeed wide open.

God can provide food and water, but how about safety? Moses gets a little help from his friends, and Pastor Bryan's family wins a security system.

Israel puts God to the test for a third time, and when the Bible repeats something three times, it's good to pay attention. Also: a look at David Zahl's book #LowAnthropology.

When they can't find food in the wilderness, Israel is angry with Moses. Or are they? An exploration of transference, a psychological concept identified by modern scientists and explained God himself.

After the plagues, after the Passover, after the partying, Israel is daunted by the challenges of life as God's free people. Sure, God can part the Red Sea, but what about water in the desert? Part 1 of Prone to Wander, a sermon series exploring the life of Israel after The Exodus.

Epiphany welcomes The Rev. Claire Megles, director of spiritual care at Kindred Hospice in New Castle, PA. There's a difference between giving God "thanks" and "praise," and that difference has profound consequences for the spiritual life. Also: a sketchy piece of advice from a 1980's church marriage retreat.

After John gets a vision of the great destiny of all Christians, Jesus gives him Funkytown instructions: talk about it! Also: Pippin and Gandalf dream of the world to come.

Don't let the archaic language of "curse" fool you. Ours is a world of curses, but the next world will be defined by a lack of "everything accursed." Also: Pastor Bryan spoils Citizen Kane.

Epiphany welcomes Mr. Greg Davis to the pulpit. Greg is the director of Pine Springs Camp in Jennerstown PA, and today he shares with the church about the power of sacrifice in building a Christian community.

Did you know that famous jazz number has no discernable origin? People just started singing it back around 1900. But Revelation 7 is the source, and frankly, don't we all want to be "in the number"?

A conversation about worthiness. Wayne and Garth are not worthy to party with Alice Cooper. Nobody, save Arthur, was worthy to pull the sword from the stone. And we are not worthy to open The Scroll. Shout out to our special guests this week from Light of Life Rescue Mission.

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" ask the angels on the first Easter Sunday. That's like trying to find chicken drumsticks at Lowes, or cheeseburgers at Chick Fil A. Only in the Resurrected Jesus is there Zoeh life.

Pastor Bryan gives up his Protestant card. Defeat is the plan all along. Also: where do we find Jesus in a warzone in Ukraine?

Napoleon redefines the coronation ceremony. Jesus redefines the Passover. Malcus has a simple request.

We often think of the righteous as being heralded as kings and receiving all the social blessings therein. Jesus demonstrates that the opposite is most often true: the righteous are most often targets for our resentments and anger.

The Rev. Karen Stevenson revisits a classic Christian text. Just because we're moral doesn't mean we aren't lost. But God loves his lost children and will go to any length to bring them him.

Moses and Aaron face a rebellion in the ranks, and God is not to happy about it. Also - it is human nature to fight against laws.

Jesus talks about hell an awful lot. But let's be honest - a lot of people ask him about hell too. Also: how to get into secular heaven in 2022.

The disciples get a true vision of who Jesus really is, like a reverse version of The Wizard of Oz. But Jesus is content to hide his glory and come down the mountain, returning to a humble ministry. Also: prayers for peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Sticks and Stones may break our bones, but words have the power to save a soul. Also: a quote St. Francis never said, a passage about preaching that St. Paul actually said, and the difference between a spiritual experience and kayaking endorphins.

Graham Sutherland's portrait of Winston Churchill was not well received by its subject. Jeremiah's words about the human heart were not well received by his people.

Nobody likes to be told what to do. But after an encounter of grace with Jesus, Peter has a change of heart, and a change of language.