The Restoration Project Podcast

the restoration project. Joshua James. 8 July 2018

Ok. So Hosea is the jumping off point here, but the sermon isn't *really* about Hosea. Instead, we are using some of our work (in Hosea 5–6 and 11) as the necessary background for understanding how the NT authors (Matthew, in particular) are using the Old Testament. And it probably isn't how you envision. the restoration project. Joshua James. 1 July 2018

In this week's teaching, we get a bit historical as we discuss the expansion of the neo-Assyrian empire in the 8th century and the Syro-Ephraimite War. Don't worry ... there's a reason for this. These events stand in the background of Hosea's prophetic work in chapters 5 and 6. If we don't know what's going on in the world at the time, the import of his message will be lost. So this teaching is pa...

the restoration project. Joshua James. 17 June 2018

the restoration project. Suzi Peterson. 10 June 2018

The story of Hosea and Gomer's marriage in chapters 1–3 sets the framework for our understanding of the larger portion of the book that follows—Hosea's prophetic oracles to the people of Israel. In this first oracle, Hosea indicts the people and the priesthood for their failure to follow God alone. the restoration project. Joshua James. 3 June 2018

Chapter 3 of the book of Hosea is often described as Hosea's first person account of his marriage (and its difficulties). Whatever Gomer's "harlotry" consisted of prior to their marriage, it manifests here in adultery. She chooses other lovers, and leaves home. Hosea is given the task to go find her and love her ... just as the Lord loves Israel. the restoration project. Joshua James. 27 May 2018

In this week's teaching, we explore (most of) chapter 2 in the book of Hosea. Set in between the divinely inspired "sign act" of chapter 1 and the reflection of Hosea's own marriage in chapter 3, this prophetic message is an allegorical depiction of the "marriage relationship" between God and Israel. the restoration project. Joshua James. 20 May 2018

Prophetic sign acts are a powerful form of carefully choreographed street theatre meant to move (and convict and challenge) people. In Hosea 1, we are confronted with such an act, as Hosea is told to marry a "woman of harlotry" and to have "children of harlotry." This is to be a lived symbol of the (one-sided) covenantal relationship between God and Israel. In this teaching, Josh explores the imag...

Introducing a new series is always a bit tough, especially when you're introducing one of the Prophets. Each prophetic book is engaging a specific socio-political, socio-religious, and socio-historical context, so it is important to reconstruct this as best as we can. In this first teaching, we don't really do that. (Sorry. That'll come.) Instead, we go back in time about 200 years before Hosea to...

Josh was doing pulpit supply for a friend this morning and the lectionary led him into some strange territory. The basic argument is this: if you want to fully grasp the significance of the Ethiopian eunuch's conversion and baptism, you have to spend some time in the Old Testament. the restoration project. Joshua James. 29 April 2018

In this stand alone teaching, Josh discusses "calling." Admittedly, the target audience is soon-to-be-graduating college students, but really, this is for everyone. We all wrestle with what in the world we are doing, and sometimes, we need to be reoriented to our primary calling—to love God, to love others, to seek first the Kingdom. the restoration project. Joshua James. 22 April 2018

In this final talk of the series, Josh discusses two of the most difficult passages in the Bible regarding the role of women in ministry. His argument is a pretty familiar one ... there is a historical and literary context that we must be aware of before we make our interpretive conclusions. the restoration project. Joshua James. 15 April 2018

In this week's teaching, we revisit Phoebe, a "deacon" in the church of Cenchreae, who was entrusted by Paul with the safe delivery (and potentially, the reading and interpretation) of his letter to the Romans. Not only do we observe in these two verses, the emergence of an unlikely leader in the early church, we also hear of her role as a benefactor. Phoebe's story, though terse, is inspiring and...

Easter is the highest holiday in the Christian Church calendar. Indeed, without Easter, our entire faith falls apart. Instead of having a slightly revamped service, TRP took over the old Parker Place building in downtown Salisbury to host a real deal "celebration" (complete with some Martinelli's and a three-tiered cake!). We did take some time, however, to remind ourselves why we should celebrate...

This text probably doesn't classify as an "untold" story in the Bible, but it is certainly "important." A surface reading demonstrates a clear contrast between Mary's zeal for learning (and maybe better, just being in the presence of Jesus) and Martha's attention to detail—preparing and serving a meal, administering the rites of hospitality, making sure everything is in its place. This comparison...

This week, we were visited by Annapolis pastor and church planter, Donnie Reynolds of Centerpoint Church, who shared his family's story of foster care and adoption. May we be a "cup of cold water." the restoration project. 18 March 2018.

For some women, the poem of the "noble" or "capable wife" has been read as an example to live up to (and for some men, it has been read as a checklist by which to judge their wife or future wife). But this is not the point. And it's a good thing, too, because this woman is crazy busy. In this teaching, Josh first unpacks the imagery of the poem in Proverbs 31:10–31, and then sets the poem within t...

Branden Vanderhoof, a member of TRP and current MDiv student at McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, GA, continues our series on the important and untold stories of women in the Bible by teaching through the story of Deborah and Jael in Judges 4. Once you get into it, you'll find that there is a lot of good stuff to consider here, most notably, the role of Deborah as a judge and prophetess in a p...

In this week's teaching, we go back to the beginning, to Genesis 1–3, to see what we can learn. Even though this text is very familiar, we may be surprised with what we find. the restoration project. Joshua James. 25 February 2018

This is a tough text. Real tough. All told, it's pretty hopeless. Perhaps it is for these reasons that it is an unfamiliar story to most folks in the Church. Despite its tragedy, however, it is a story that needs to be told. the restoration project. Joshua James. 18 February 2018

In this stand-alone teaching, Josh talks about the power of stories—specifically, how they shape and mold us, and also how, in the context of worship, they encourage us to remember (and believe in) God's presence and involvement in our lives. Using Psalm 30 as a guide, this teaching focuses not only on the psalmist's experience, but on its usefulness in the community of TRP. the restoration projec...

Our series on Paul's "angry and passionate letter to the Galatians" concludes with some of the author's final thoughts. One more time, for the people in the back, Paul says it's not about circumcision. (You got that?!) Instead, it's about new creation. And for those who have trusted Christ as Lord, Paul emphasizes that they participate in this new creative work. It may not be the gospel you have h...

In this week's teaching, Josh discusses Paul's final (formal) instructions to the churches of Galatia. Whether it is intentional or not is unknown, but Paul seems to go back and forth between "mutual responsibility" and "individual accountability"—both emphases, however, are united by the continued concern that followers of Jesus live by the Spirit. the restoration project. Joshua James. 28 Januar...

In this week's teaching, Josh discusses the theme of mutual responsibility in Galatians. the restoration project. Joshua James. 21 January 2018