After Class Podcast

One of many, or the the one and only? If there is only one God, and we come to know Him by what He does, then any preconceived notions of who or what a deity is need to be cast aside, along with the notion that there are any other gods. The net might be cast wider than you think. What governs your life? What do you allow to come between you and your obedience or service to the Lord? No other gods....

We have come a long way from carving images and bowing down to them, but is that all idol worship is about? Today, the guys dig into the commandment not to worship idols and provide insight into how we may be prone to drift into idol worship in today's day and age. In fact, you may be worshiping an idol right now! Tune in to today's episode to be challenged, convicted, and encouraged as we seek to...

Heather Gorman, Professor of New Testament at Abilene Christian University and a guest speaker during Restoration Week at Great Lakes Christian College, makes a guest appearance on ACP to talk about unity.  What exactly is Jesus praying for in John 17 when he speaks about us being one, and how do we live out a unity that is rooted in the unity of the father and the son? Are we achieving this or do...

Is profanity just about curse words, or is there something more to it? Does an oath taken in the name of the Lord elevate our words or degrade His reputation? Should we avoid using the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) out of reverence, or does the common name "Lord" fail to honor the Creator of the heavens and the earth? In today's episode, the guys examine Commandment #3: "Do not take the Lord's name in vai...

Take one day off a week to do no work and such… Done! Wait, is the Sabbath just about a day? Does Sabbath rest get in the way of our ability to thrive, or is the practice itself the basis of our thriving? Tune in to today's episode to explore the wider implications of Sabbath rest for our lives, the lives of animals, and all of creation. Ritualistically resting on Sunday may be more in line with t...

When it comes to disciplining a child, there is debate over how effective spanking is. But what about death as a punishment for dishonoring your parents? Today, the guys dig into the command to honor your parents—the first commandment with a promise. How far-reaching is the promise that "it may go well with you," and how severe are the consequences? Tune in to today's episode to find out how we mi...

Do not murder! Easy enough. Or is it? The biblical worldview just might stand in contrast to how we view hunting, justice, revenge, self-defense, and more. Today, the guys dig into the distinction between authorized and unauthorized killing and the sanctity of blood. Tune in to today's episode to gain some key insights into the sanctity of life and worship in warfare. How, in Christ, does this com...

In a culture that embraces a wide expression of sexual ethics, the prohibition against adultery is more than simply a call not to cheat on a spouse. It is a call to a kind of relationship that promotes human flourishing and becomes a source of blessing that reflects God's Kingdom. Breaking this command can open the door to a host of consequences—not only personally, but socially and even societall...

Do not steal. Simple enough, right? But what if stealing meant feeding your family? Surely that is understandable… But what if you lived in a community where you never had to steal in the first place?  When it comes to theft, God's people are called to a higher standard—not only in how we treat what belongs to others, but also in how we uphold justice in our communities. Tune in to today's episode...

Have you ever asked someone to lie on your behalf? Have you ever lied on behalf of another? Have you ever let the masses dictate how you act, even when you knew  it was wrong? Today, the guys dig into commandment number nine: "Do not bear false witness." Has God called us to a higher standard of truth than we might apply in our day-to-day lives? Tune in to today's episode to hear the guys discuss...

God has given you everything you need, and He is all you need. If you said "Amen," then why do you covet? The Ten Commandments are more than a generic law code that anyone can live by. They are the reference point to a wider, set-apart way of life, and that set-apartness comes with a few rules on how to conduct oneself in a new identity as a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.  Today, the guys begi...

How do we present the very political biblical worldview without doing it in a worldly political way? Do Moses, Joseph, Daniel and company, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther prove that Christians should seek top political positions to influence policy? Does God call us to be on the right or the left of the political aisle? What level of involvement with the governing authorities is appropriate?  Today, th...

Do you believe Christians should control the outcome of political and state decisions? Should Christians fear governing authorities? How do Christians engage and interact with the wider political culture and the powers of the age? Today, the guys engage with some of the most cited passages as they wind down their series on politics and faith, focusing on the Christian's relationship with governing...

Do Christians have dual citizenship? Are Christians called to utilize their earthly citizenship as leverage? Is the Christian expression of a new Kingdom reality one that seeks to take control of worldly politics and policies? If you said yes, your vision of the Kingdom might be too small… Are you spending your time and energy on inferior  conflicts, fights, and weaponry? Maybe there really is a d...

Are you removing tension from your life by sacrificing the way of the Kingdom of God? Today the guys conclude their series by exploring the final seven tensions between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. By nature, the State is myopic, but the Kingdom of God is cosmopolitan. It is not enough to partner with the world in a Christian way. We are called to a separate way of life that...

As we continue exploring the contrast between the Kingdom of God  and the Kingdom of the World , we begin asking the practical questions that expose where our true allegiance lies. How do we speak about ourselves? Do we seek recognition, status, and influence—or do we quietly point others to Christ? How do we treat the undeserving, the overlooked, and the downcast? Do we show the same honor to the...

Jesus commands us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. But how should citizens of the Kingdom of God engage with the kingdoms of this world? In today's episode, the guys explore the tension between the Kingdom of God and earthly kingdoms.  Are you ready for some tension? Growth rarely comes without resistance. Just as perseverance strengthens our character, wrestling with diffic...

Is the world ultimately transformed through the voting booth, or through a people who faithfully live out the "strange" teachings of Christ? Do Christians need governments to enforce God's standards, or is a holy, set-apart life sufficient? What comes to people's minds when they think about you? Your politics? Your opinions? Your accomplishments? Or do they think of Christ? If your life points mor...

Who Has Your Allegiance? Your Nation... or the Kingdom of God? Can a Christian faithfully serve both their country and the Kingdom of God? Or, when push comes to shove, must one always come first? Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters." But what if your nation's values appear to align with God's? Can patriotism and discipleship coexist? Where does your ultimate allegiance belong? Building on l...

Continuing last week's conversation, we explore how God's set-apart people are to relate to the nations. Israel was forbidden from making alliances with the nations, and its way of life stood in stark contrast to the surrounding cultures. Kings, prophets, and priests each served a unique role in advancing God's purposes. But that was then. This is now. Did Christ's fulfillment of the prophecies ov...

Up to this point, we've identified who the powers and principalities are and the role they play. Today, the guys shift the conversation to how God's set-apart people should relate to them. Who are we? What is our role in the world in relation to the nations? How did God begin with His covenant people and shape them for a fundamentally different purpose? And how does that purpose grow into our call...

If God holds the nations accountable, shouldn't we, in the spirit of the prophets, join Him in calling the nations to account for their actions? But what does God actually hold the nations accountable for? The answer may not be what you think. Join the guys as they explore the prophetic witness of Scripture and examine how God judges nations, rulers, and empires— Is your nation at risk of God's ju...

All things were created through Him and for Him. Above all creation, this includes the powers and principalities of this world. Christians proclaim a God who is above all governors, governments, nations, rulers, and even angelic beings. This is a deeply subversive message—and a dangerous one. Throughout history, earthly powers have demanded ultimate allegiance, loyalty, and recognition. The early...

Who really rules the nations? God, governments, or something else entirely? Today, the guys continue their discussion on governing authorities by looking at one of the Bible's most intriguing and often misunderstood themes: powers and principalities. Are earthly governments merely human institutions, or is there something deeper at work behind the scenes? What did Paul mean when he spoke of rulers...

Is God on your political side? Scripture may say otherwise. Sam, John, and Ron continue their series on governing authorities by challenging one of the most common assumptions Christians make: that God automatically supports "our" nation, party, or political tribe. From Isaiah's shocking blessing of Egypt and Assyria, to Nahum's judgment against violent empires, to Daniel's warning that even admir...