Unbinding the Bible

In this episode, we'll wrap up our mini series on Israel: Yes, God still loves Israel. We'll look at Romans 9-11 and how we can both challenge the state of Israel today and yet still believe God has a place of honor for his people. And then we'll get political and ponder the Christian's relationship to Donald Trump and how our understanding of the kingdom of God ought to impact that relationship. I'm taking a break for the summer and wanted the chance to speak about this election year before things really start to heat up. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

This episode is a sermon I preached Sunday May 5, 2024 in our church from John 15:1-17. I'm inserting it here on the podcast because of how well it ties in to our series on Israel and how the Bible speaks about Israel. In John 15:1, Jesus declares himself to be the "true" vine, in contrast to the false vine that Israel had become. Passages referenced in this sermon: Exodus 15:7; Psalm 80:8; Jeremiah 2:21; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Genesis 12:7; Galatians 3:16; Romans 4:13; Galatians 3:27-29; John 8:31-32. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, starting with 2 Corinthians 1:20 and Galatians 3:16, we'll see that Jesus himself is the fulfillment of all of God's promises, even his promises to his people, Israel. As we saw in episode 190 - Jesus "Fills In" Israel, Jesus serves not only as Israel's representative head, but as Israel itself, thus receiving all of the promises God made to Israel, and then freely offering those blessings to anyone who believes in him - Jew or Gentile. Key passages from today's episode: 2 Corinthians 1:20; Galatians 3:13-14, 16, 27-29; John 10:16; Romans 4:13; 1 Corinthians 10:1; 12:2; Ephesians 1:5; Revelation 19:10. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at how Jesus fulfills all that Israel, as a people, was supposed to be. Jesus acts as Israel's representative head and also embodies the nation itself. Everything really does hinge on the person of Jesus! Get this right, and your ability to correctly interpret the New Testament will skyrocket. Passages referenced in this episode: 2 Corinthians 1:20; Luke 24:44-47; John 11:45-53; Isaiah 49:1-6; Matthew 1-5; John 1:47-51; Genesis 28:12-19; John 4; John 15:1-11 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll continue our mini-series on "the land" of Israel-Palestine. We'll focus our attention specifically on how the Bible itself frames our understanding of "the land," particularly as it relates to both the garden of Eden and to the entire world. In this episode, we'll see that the garden of Eden is to the land what the land is to the entire world. In other words: Garden --> Land --> World Thinking about the biblical story in this way is immensely helpful and makes sense of so much of the Bible's story. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll dive in to what the OT says about the land. Who owns the land? Were there any conditions placed on those living in the land? Do promises of "forever" mean "unending"? And why did God grant the land to Israel in the first place? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we're beginning another mini-series, this time to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a biblical perspective. How should Christians think about this? Who are "God's people"? Does Israel have a divine "right" to the land? Was the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 a fulfillment of biblical prophecy? And how did Jesus think of himself in relation to Israel? We'll address these questions and many others throughout our series. And I invite you to send me questions of your own! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll wrap up our mini-series on heaven by looking at Revelation 21:1-4. In it we'll see the holy city coming down out of heaven from God so that God can forever dwell among his people, like he initially did in the garden of Eden. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In keeping with our mini-series on heaven, I decided to synthesize all my points against the escapist-mindset belief in the Rapture and put them all into one episode. These are my scriptural and philosophical reasons for rejecting this modern imposition on the biblical text, seeing no scriptural reason for interpreting Jesus and Paul as speaking about anything other than Jesus' second coming. The work of redemption, as we've seen, is heaven coming to the earth, not a heavenward trajectory from the earth. But I welcome your feedback! Feel free to email me at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, I tie together several themes that are intersecting in my own life and ministry and do my best to connect them to our series on heaven. I then set us up for where we're headed on the podcast and encourage Christians to allow their faith to get as close to "real life" as possible, for that is where things will make the most sense. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll explore the reality that Christians are citizens of heaven and are called to not only root their identities there, but also choose to live out reality as it exists in "the heavens" in their daily interactions with others on "the earth." There's a huge need today for a true Christian identity to grip the hearts of God's people. And this teaching is where all good identity understanding comes from. This is an episode every Christian needs to listen to! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at John 13:31-14:23 and see just what Jesus means by going to "prepare a place for you" (14:2). We'll address several common assumptions about this passage and what Jesus may or may not be saying and then I'll offer what I believe is a more faithful way of reading this text, which puts Jesus, not heaven, at the center. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll shift our discussion of heaven onto Jesus himself. How do the gospel writers portray Jesus? In what ways does Jesus bring the blessings of the heavens to the earth? We'll consider a few OT passages and compare them with several NT passages to highlight how Jesus himself becomes heaven on the earth. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll start at the very beginning of the Bible by looking at Genesis 1:1. We'll see that at this very early stage (in the world's first temple, called the garden of Eden), God's space (the heavens) overlapped with man's space (the earth). And the trajectory of redemption is that these two spaces would fully overlap once again. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we're starting a new series looking at what the Bible actually teaches about heaven. No, we're not going to do an in-depth examination of what heaven will be like. Rather, I want us to think biblically and with a kingdom perspective as we allow Jesus to define for us what "heaven" means in the first place. And yes, that may lead us to challenge the "Earth now, Heaven and Hell later" narrative that many of us have been taught to believe. Mentioned on this episode were several resources: What if Jesus Was Serious About Heaven? The Skeletons in God's Closet The Temple and the Church's Mission Tim Mackie from The Bible Project - Heaven and Earth (YouTube) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll wrap up Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. We'll look at Matthew's summary of Jesus' teaching from 7:28-29 and tackle the topic of Jesus' authority - what it means and why it matters. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 7:23-27 - his final thoughts in his masterful sermon. We'll spend some time talking about wise and foolish people and why it's so important to recognize that Jesus is in fact talking about DOING SOMETHING with his words besides just listening to them. And we'll end our time looking at Proverbs 9, which will help us understand Jesus' wisdom teaching even better. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, I give an update on my life and ministry. If you found my story intriguing, you can follow me on Instagram: @sacredwholeness - "emphasizing the integration of body, mind, and soul to promote healing and wholeness." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

Unbinding the Bible celebrated 5 YEARS this week!! In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' sobering words from Matthew 7:21-23, and recognize the importance of this truth: "What comes into GOD'S mind when HE thinks about YOU is the most important thing about you." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 7:15-20, where Jesus cautions us against false prophets. In our world today, filled as it is with social media influencers, big-name pastors, and self-proclaimed leaders, we don't have to work hard to understand what Jesus is cautioning us against. The sad reality, though, is how prevalent this "false prophet" status is within Christian circles. I hope to help you navigate through all of that and find leaders truly worth following. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 7:13-14. Here we begin Jesus' concluding thoughts from his entire sermon, wrapping up all that he's taught since 5:3. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 7:6-12. I see this as one continuous section, picking right up on Jesus' words about judging in verses 1-5. I hope this episode encourages you! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

This episode is a sermon I preached in June of 2020 from Matthew 9. I'm inserting it here on the podcast because of its close connection to Jesus' teaching on judging, which we just looked at in Matthew 7:1-5. A great book packed with insights on this topic is Greg Boyd's, Repenting of Religion. I HIGHLY recommend it! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 7:1-5 and tackle just what judging others is all about, why people do it, and why Jesus has forbidden his followers from engaging in it. I personally believe the church has dropped the ball here big time and that there are few areas of Christian discipleship we need to learn more about than this one. Lord, have mercy. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 6:25-34 and hear Jesus' call for us to lay aside our anxieties and focus our attention on God's kingdom and righteousness. I hope you'll hear this week's episode as a huge encouragement, an invitation to be cared for deeply by the One who loves you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll discuss Matthew 6:19-24. I'll read a journal entry from 2019 and let you in on my flow of thought as I wrestled through the logic of this passage and the implications it has for us as disciples of Jesus. I hope this encourages you as you listen! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

This week on the podcast we'll look at Jesus' words about fasting from Matthew 6:16-18. I'll share several ways I see this applying to us today and a number of ways I've personally failed to live up to Jesus' ideal. I think you'll enjoy this week's episode and hope you're encouraged by it. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll talk about Jesus' famous prayer from Matthew 6:5-15, including his rather strange-sounding teaching about (conditional?) forgiveness in verses 14-15. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 6:1-4 and Jesus' words about the motivations behind acts of righteousness. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 5:43-48. We'll see how his idea of righteousness tends to be much different from the average Christian in today's church and what we should do about it. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 5:38-41, his famous "turn the other cheek" teaching. This passage remains one of the most ignored teachings in the entire New Testament and yet provides us with the most opportunity to actually be salt and light in this world, as we'll see. In other news, this episode marks the 200th episode of Unbinding the Bible! If you have an episode or two that have meant a lot to you, I'd love to hear about it. Please email me at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

This week's episode is a conversation I had with Jason Porterfield about his book, Fight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace Throughout Holy Week. This is a book every Christian needs to read!  You can find Jason on Instagram and Facebook, or on his website @ www.jasonporterfield.com/  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 5:33-37. We'll discover why simple "Yes" or "No" statements reflect the heart of God more than appeals to higher authorities and we'll see just how subtly this same practice is still wreaking havoc in the church today. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unbinding-the-bible/support

On this episode, we'll look at Jesus' teaching from Matthew 5:31-32. In order to understand what Jesus is talking about, we'll look at several other passages - Matthew 19:3-10, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Exodus 21:10-11, and Genesis 1-2. This week's topic is one that for many has been full of confusion, questions, and pain, and I hope to offer some encouragement and hope through exploring it.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

This week on the podcast I'm re-releasing the conversation I had with Joshua Ryan Butler on his outstanding book, The Skeletons in God's Closet. Our conversation in August 2020 focused on just the first third of his book, The Mercy of Hell. I decided to re-release this episode here on the podcast because of Jesus' words in Matthew 5:21-30 on hell and how important it is to think rightly about what Jesus means when he uses that word.  I know you'll appreciate Joshua's insights, and I encourage you to read his book if you haven't already.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words about looking at a woman with lustful intent from Matthew 5:27-30. We'll talk about what Jesus means, what Purity Culture has done (or not done) with Jesus' teaching over the years, and how Jesus intends his kingdom to be a safe place for women.  At the close of the episode, I recommended a great book by Jay Stringer called Unwanted. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Unwanted-Sexual-Brokenness-Reveals-Healing/dp/1631466720/ref=sr_1_1?crid=18LN5TYGE7AXE&keywords=unwanted&qid=1677165166&sprefix=unwanted%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

The following is the sermon I preached at our church Sunday February 12, 2023 on Matthew 5:21-26. My sermon for the week fell once again on the exact passage we're on in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, so this week's episode is that sermon.   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

This episode is the sermon I preached to our congregation Sunday February 5, 2023 on Matthew 5:13-20.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 5:13-16 and the two metaphors Jesus uses to describe his disciples. We'll talk about what salt and light mean as well as a few of the ways I believe they've been wrongly understood and applied. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

I'm happy to have Matt Tebbe on the podcast this week! Matt is the co-author (along with Ben Sternke) of the book, Having the Mind of Christ: Eight Axioms to Cultivate a Robust Faith. You definitely want to buy this book and read all of it! It's outstanding!  And if you'd like to find Matt online, you can do so at www.gravityleadership.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 5:10-12 and talk about how true persecution is much different than mere loss of privilege. We'll explore how these two are often confused in the modern western Church and what truly following Jesus (and receiving subsequent persecution for righteousness' sake) might actually look like.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll focus in on Matthew 5:9 - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." We'll talk about what a peacemaker is and contrast it with peace-faking (which is all too common in our world and in the church today).  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll continue our look at the beatitudes and the kinds of people whom the LORD sees in a special way. I'll read an email I received from one of our listeners, Kaitlin, which captures the essence of these thoughts. This is a conversation we need to continually have, and I'm committed to always keeping it before us.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

This episode is the short sermon I preached at our church Christmas Eve 2021. I'm sharing it here in light of Christmas and because of how our understanding of Jesus' glory prepares us to embody his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, which we will resume our study of in the new year.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Unbinding the Bible will resume in January 2023.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll look at Matthew 5:1-12, commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. And we'll discuss the difference between reading these beatitudes descriptively or prescriptively.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll take a look at what Jesus means by repentance and why true repentance is good news for those pursuing Jesus' kingdom.  I referenced several books in today's episode:  Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, by Amy-Jill Levine The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, by Dallas Willard What If Jesus Was Serious? A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore, by Skye Jethani --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we're going right to the heart of Jesus' Power-Under Kingdom: his teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. I'll give a bit of background to these first several chapters of Matthew's gospel and why reading his narrative as a recapitulation is necessary for us as Christians. I also reference several earlier episodes on the podcast (029, 030, 031) that you really should go back and relisten to. They form the grid through which I read and interpret the Bible; a grid that receives far too little attention from Christians today.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, I'll share a few thoughts that I've been wrestling through recently. By sharing these thoughts, I'm hoping to help the church rethink how it approaches those not yet a part of our communities and how we model our lives around Jesus' power-under ways.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, we'll tackle yet another area where so many evangelical Christians have adopted a power-over mindset: the way current partisan political discussions speak about guns. I want us thinking about this issue as kingdom citizens FIRST, Americans SECOND, and see what, if anything, the Bible has to say on the matter.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

Taking our cues from Moses' actions in Exodus 32, we'll spend the next several episodes asking ourselves, "Which deeply held beliefs of ours are rooted in a power-over understanding of God?" It might be hard to detect at times, but we need to probe deeply into the things we believe so we can best represent our God as the power-under, compassionate, servant-like God that he is, revealed most perfectly of course in the person of Jesus Christ. In this episode, we'll talk about abortion. I quoted Ben Cremer several times in this episode. He has a weekly newsletter you can sign up to receive filled with thoughtful reflections on how the Christian faith intersects with politics and culture. You can sign up to receive his newsletter here.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support

In this episode, I'll share a few personal thoughts from the past six years of my life and how that has shaped the way I think about the Christian faith and the way it is expressed by many well-intentioned Christians. I'll list several books that have shaped my thinking in recent years and then explain why I believe Jesus wants to critique any and all forms of power-over ideologies that are held to in his name.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unbinding-the-bible/support