TextingBackandForth

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Landon Hildebrand discuss which gospel is their personal favorite (1:44), censuses past and present (4:36), challenging the "inn" interpretation (10:52), the union of heaven and earth (21:03), Luke's Easter egg within the narrative (25:38), and shepherds today (27:07). Then Nate and Landon discuss the current heavy emphasis on the Christmas season (31:36), contrasting the claims of empire and the heavenly host (36:16), whether Matthew and Luke's birth narratives should be combined (39:24), and what "the good news of great joy" actually is (41:09).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Kate Reid discuss the best class they took at CBC (1:11), naming process for John (7:15), Zechariah's Psalm (14:13), task of God's people (18:40), role of John (21:28), and a reminder of who God is (23:17). Then Nate and Kate discuss how much attention we should give to ancient promises (29:25), how an airplane conversation would go (31:52), what question to ask an elderly Elizabeth (33:52), and what theological language we can utilize further in the church (36:36).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Katherine Wight discuss reading one Bible book daily for a year (1:24), role of Jesus (7:55), Mary's response to the message of Gabriel (14:40), a family reunion (20:30), this is personal (27:46), and the big picture (33:06). Then Nate and Katherine discuss angelic experiences (42:08), whether Mary is underappreciated (44:58), imagining Mary's greeting to Elizabeth (47:18), and how Mary's song fits with Advent themes (49:10).

In part two of their conversation, host Nate Tiessen and guest Jon Isaak discuss a once in a life time opportunity (2:50), John's job description (7:45), silencing of Zechariah (12:43), and Elizabeth's response (20:05). Then Nate and Jon discuss the role of angels in Luke's Gospel (23:52), predestination and God-given roles (29:48), the reason for Elijah's prominence in the New Testament (36:15), and how Luke would have communicated his message today (44:46).

In part one of their conversation, host Nate Tiessen and guest Jon Isaak discuss being restricted to one NT book for 5 years (2:53), who was 'Luke' and who was 'Theophilus' (4:38), whether Luke was a historian or a theologian (10:42), the center of Luke's theology (15:59), a really long Greek sentence (19:31), and the introduction to the getting-older-Israelite-couple (28:20).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Ryan Klassen discuss the Lord's supper (2:35), why we should not read Jude (4:31), why we should read Jude (7:17), introduction to the letter (17:29), the use of three OT examples (22:03), issues with unnamed persons (32:26), a depressing poem (37:56), heart of the letter (43:20), and then they read the letter (49:25). Then Nate and Ryan discuss the onerous task of preaching Jude (54:30), whether non-canonical books are useful (59:09), the use of Jude's benediction out of context (1:03:38), and advice for reading difficult texts (1:07:13).

In a special scramble episode, host Nate Tiessen and guest Shawn Neumann read the book of Philemon and then ask each other surprise questions. The discussion includes the pre-story to the letter (8:24), private or public correspondence (13:03), if Onesimus was not a Christian (17:27), the use of military language (21:49), what does 'refreshing' mean (26:33), choice (with no choice) (29:49), who do I resonate with (34:40), Paul's request (39:20), canonicity (42:33), Paul and slavery (47:06), Paul speaking to relationship's today (51:40), reading Colossians anew (55:59), and one word summaries (57:41).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Ron Voth discuss Ron's favorite course during 33 years of teaching (1:46), why we should read the book of Haggai today (7:47), the modern equivalent of 'paneled houses' (24:01), the use of 'stirred up' vocabulary (31:55), a mini-sermon by Ron (42:43), Haggai's riddle (50:33), and Zerubbabel's family legacy (58:22). Then Nate and Ron discuss the current emphasis on church buildings (1:02:58), the Haggai's of the contemporary North American church (1:05:38), missing pieces of background information (1:08:39), and God's power over political forces (1:10:48).

In a special scramble episode, host Nate Tiessen and guest Joe Kraftchick read the book of Jonah, and then ask each other surprise questions. The discussion includes establishing the protagonist (10:07), the captain and sailors as underrated characters (12:44), whether the book is a historical narrative (16:39), the original audience and their equivalent today (22:05), a messenger saying no to the call of God (26:28), the past tense of Jonah's psalm (28:33), Nineveh's role as the foreign city in this story (31:40), God changing his mind (34:58), Jonah's influence on the Gospels (40:43), the theology of Jonah (44:57), which Jonah chapter is best to preach on (47:57), and the final 'takeaway' from the book (51:06).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Reuban Schamehorn discuss Reuban's personal experience with 1 and 2 Samuel (2:08), the ark in Dagon's house (4:41), abnormal tissues of growth (11:46), the meaning of "7 months" in the text (18:13), discerning with the cart and cow method (25:25), and the cows and Eleazar as the most faithful characters (34:09). Then Nate and Reuban discuss reading the text in theological isolation (41:02), considering the ark narrative within exile (43:07), the difference between their 15-year old selves interpreting the text and their current 30-year old selves (49:32), and whether or not the ark narrative is overlooked (59:09).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Kate Reid discuss Kate's personal experience with 1 and 2 Samuel (2:50), the elders wartime theological problem and solution (8:40), reactions to the ark's arrival (11:13), thoughts of a fleeing Israelite soldier (16:04), Eli's anxious waiting (19:40), and the sad birth story of Ichabod (23:53). Then Nate and Kate discuss why this unusual narrative was retained (28:30), names for the ark narrative movie (32:29), what should be included in children's Bible's (34:11), and what would happen if the ark was found today (41:44).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Landon Hildebrand discuss 3-pronged forks and cash tithing in the church parking lot (4:07), Samuel the young padawan (6:32), the sexual misconduct of Eli's sons (9:58), the prophetic oracle (17:05), humour in the text (24:08), and Samuel's message for Eli (30:44). Then Nate and Landon discuss pastoral compensation (37:14), how Samuel's calling narrative is used today (44:32), how the church can do better in regards to 'evil dealings' (47:28), and Landon's choice of client for 10 hours of counselling (54:08).

In part two of a double episode, host Nate Tiessen and guest Michael Szuk discuss the answer to Hannah's prayer (2:47), a generous sacrifice (7:01), the triad of theological non-comparison (13:47), series of reversals (16:18), the concept of sheol (21:31), prayer that gets political (24:50), and the Magnificat from Luke 1:46-55 (36:34). Then Nate and Michael discuss wrestling with contemporary infertility (40:40), a modern-day Hannah interrupting a church service (44:28), bargaining with God (47:50), and preaching the main point of Hannah's song (52:00).

In part one of a double episode, host Nate Tiessen and guest Michael Szuk discuss Michael's favorite biblical studies course to teach (2:27), why we should read the book of Samuel today (5:56), why Hannah's story starts the book (12:12), polygamy and the OT (20:50), the worship site at Shiloh (24:31), Elkanah's obtuseness as a husband (31:02), Hannah seeking justice (35:48), and sanctioned and unsanctioned forms of prayer (39:51).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Kate Reid discuss the upside-down kingdom (01:10), sexual sin and greed (4:57), dehumanizing speech (14:05), the flattening of social categories (17:32), the challenges of church community (19:45), the three sets of household relationships (27:33), Paul's prayer request (36:59), and the family photo-album (39:27). Then Nate and Kate discuss whether the church in the Fraser Valley reflects equality (41:33), modern-day examples of Tychicus (47:04), discerning marriage as egalitarians and complementarians (49:45), and the most popular campfire song at Camp Likely (55:59).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Landon Hildebrand discuss their childhood experiences of Pauline writing (00:45), the desire for application (02:58), idolatry versus Christ (07:14) spiritual circumcision (18:19), Landon's baptism story (20:42), the problem of sin solved (25:37), the problem of the powers solved (28:03), human tradition today (31:33), and Paul's use of "air quotes" (34:23). Then Nate and Landon talk about how the church best fulfills the mandate of thanksgiving (37:20), fortifying our imaginations (41:21), power structures that beckon (46:49), the good news within inner-city Edmonton (49:08), and the use of the cross image (51:34).    

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Joe Kraftchick discuss overlooked biblical texts (00:54), Joe's personal experience of Colossians (2:16), estrangement and reconciliation (6:02), proclamation to "every creature" (11:16), the suffering of Paul, Christ, and the church (16:29), the mystery of Christ (24:06), and biblical wisdom (32:08). Then Nate and Joe discuss what is means to be steadfast in faith (37:38), missing background pieces to the book of Colossians (40:51), plausible arguments in 2018 (42:38), and how to be a community of hope (47:54).

In part two of a double episode, host Nate Tiessen and guest Shawn Neumann discuss their initial reactions to the Christ hymn (1:51), empire and Paul's prophetic task (5:18), the contrast between Caesar and Christ Jesus (8:46), the battle for our imaginations (12:30), how to use the tools of technology (15:02), ownership of creation and humanity (17:45), and the question of what love looks like (23:45). Then Nate and Shawn discuss the church's engagement of substantial theology (29:13), intercessory prayer for maturity (32:07), today's prophetic voices (34:39), and challenging concepts from Colossians 1:1-20 that remain (37:52).

In part one of a double episode, host Nate Tiessen and guest Shawn Neumann discuss podcast recommendations (2:28), why we should read Colossians (4:38), authorship and church setting (9:35), the letter's introduction (13:23), faith, love, and hope (17:20), how to say the name "Epaphras" (24:13), Paul's intercession on behalf of the Colossians (28:27), the fruitfulness metaphor in the Bible (30:31), and the shift that changed how we thought the world worked (35:34).

Host Nate Tiessen is rejoined by guest Jodie Smith to discuss their favorite biblical studies course's (00:34), the new government administration (2:37), Daniel's prayer life (7:25), the person of King Dairus (11:20), post-den confession of faith (17:10), human rule and empire (21:48), subversive prayer (26:44), and the message that martyrdom proclaims. Then Nate and Jodie discuss their followup questions for Daniel (33:34), God's people and political office (34:25), platforms for modern-day decree's (37:46), and how to respond to a child as a parent-theologian (39:38).

Host Nate Tiessen is rejoined by Michael Suzk to discuss their desert island biblical book choices (00:46), a Babylonian party (2:22), disembodied hand writing (8:00), Rembrandt's painting "Belshazzar's Feast" (13:35), the Queen Mum's speech (21:43), Daniel's prophetic judgment (28:18), the riddle's meaning (32:32), and the fall of empire(s) (34:55). Then Nate and Michael discuss why Belshazzar warranted unique communication from God (45:30), the identity of modern-day enchanters (50:15), scenes for Albus Dumbledore's Pensieve (52:47), and how to "Dare to be a Daniel" (55:42).

Host Nate Tiessen is joined by guest Kate Reid to discuss a letter to the whole world (3:50), a disruptive dream (8:02), a big tree (14:03), Daniel's pastoral advice (19:30), deposed ruler (22:21), restoration and doxology (25:32), Nebuchadnezzar's conversion or lack thereof (31:24), and how to consider those in positions of power (33:18). Then Nate and Kate discuss whether or not God communicates in dreams today (37:12), how to teach God's sovereignty in a camp setting (40:45), biblical Inception choices (46:00), and how to preach to earthly rulers in only 30 seconds (48:25).

Host Nate Tiessen is joined by guest Jodie Smith to discuss a mandatory pledge of allegiance (6:46), Israelite civil disobedience (9:26), theological trash talk (14:30), Nebuchadnezzar's brain and behavior (18:43), divine revelation within fire (24:30), test of obedience (32:05), and chapter 3 as great storytelling (34:52). Then Nate and Jodie discuss the golden statues of today (39:37), martyrdom (43:19), church and storytelling (46:39), and each give one sentence of theology (49:21).

Host Nate Tiessen is joined by guest Joe Kraftchick to discuss their preferred biblical dinner companions (1:03) Nebuchadnezzar's response to a bad dream (4:00), Babylonian secret service coming for the Israelites (9:07), Psalm of Daniel (12:38), 4 kingdoms (22:11), a new kind of kingdom (26:46), and how the text oddly switches languages mid-verse (34:42). Then Nate and Joe ponder contemporary power dynamics (38:54), the perils of applying Daniel's dream interpretation to current kingdoms (42:07), what follow-up question to ask Daniel (43:41), and how impressive human projects fall short (45:36).

Host Nate Tiessen is joined by guest Michael Szuk to discuss why we should read the book of Daniel (2:16), authorship and dating (9:26), Babylonian education for the elite (20:10), why Daniel chose food as his point of resistance (25:15), successful Israelite final exams (29:42), and the chapter's theological vocabulary (32:35). Then Nate and Michael consider why food is so consistently important to God's people (38:33), a potential Daniel television mini-series (41:05), whether or not the church is in exile (42:56), and each attempt to make a thesis statement (45:21).

Host Nate Tiessen is rejoined by guest Maureen Klassen to discuss ancient Israel's John Doe (3:29), Boaz's legal manuvering (7:02), Tamar the righteous woman (12:14), Naomi's response to communal blessing (16:33), genealogies as portable information (20:49), and the theological center of Ruth (24:27). Then Nate and Maureen discuss the suggestion that Boaz passed away on his wedding night (30:40), specific contemporary applications (33:07), female authorship (35:50), and the preferred Ruth chapter for preaching (37:57). Maureen then concludes the series by reading a beautiful sonnet she wrote on the book of Ruth (40:10).

Host Nate Tiessen and guest Landon Hildebrand discuss Naomi's desire and instructions for Ruth (3:05), story of Tamar in Genesis 38 (9:27), uncovering of Boaz (13:01), Ruth proclaimed a "woman of worth" (20:01), and Boaz giving Ruth $5000 cash. Then Nate and Landon discuss NT Gospel connections (35:24), whether or not the story of Ruth is unhelpful in empowering women (38:30), God's agents being asked to do even more (40:16), and the relevance of the book of Ruth for North American Christianity (45:20).

Host Nate Tiessen is joined by guest Maureen Klassen to discuss Ruth taking initiative (3:50), early Israelite impressions of Ruth (8:36), Boaz invoking "the wings of God" (16:40), lunch time 3000 years ago (20:55), and Namoi's reaction to Ruth's day (26:15). Then Nate and Maureen discuss the 4 burning questions including the camera worthy moments (34:30), whether or not Ruth 2 has substantial theology (37:01), Boaz's motivations (39:15), and each attempt to summarize the chapter using only one word (41:30).

Host Nate Tiessen is joined by guest Joe Kraftchick to discuss authorship (3:00), chaos of the Judges era (7:20), Naomi's bitterness against Yahweh (21:40), Ruth's remarkable covenant commitment (23:40), Naomi's question of whether or not Yahweh can be trusted (27:10), state of lament in church (29:49), prospects offered by barley harvest (33:30), Job-Naomi comparison (35:43), grieving in the church (38:15), wedding text rankings (41:45), and the good news of Ruth 1 (43:00).