After Class Podcast

In today's episode of After Class, the guys step into the world of philosophical and biblical truth, tracing how the Western tradition once held philosophy and Christianity together, and how Scripture itself speaks about truth in ways that don't always match our modern assumptions. This conversation leans into a key distinction: facts and truth are not the same thing.  As believers, can we unite a...

AI is changing how people think about truth and how they fact-check information. While AI has immense access to information and processing power, someone with a bias had to train it—and someone with a bias uses it. Grok, ChatGPT, and others may not be as reliable as one might think, but of course, you were thinking that already. But is scholarly consensus any more reliable? In today's episode, Sam...

Get ready for some holy hilarity! The guys are dishing out their hot take on The Promised Land, a new show that's basically a biblical mockumentary. Tune in to hear their review and try not to LOL too hard. https://afterclass.libsyn.com/849-the-promised-land . And if you haven't checked it out yet, what's taking you so long?  https://thepromisedlandseries.tv/

"Jesus wasn't born on December 25th!" Are you mad? Faith shattered? Christmas ruined? May it never be! With the actual birth date of Jesus a mystery, why did Christians gravitate toward December 25th? Did we rob and reface a Roman holiday? Are we coopting the winter solstice? Is it just a borrowed holiday from some other pagan religion? And what about... the tree? Are the critics right? And does i...

Empty worship, copies of temples, and priests in rooms full of… nothing. Have you ever felt like you were going through the motions, but God wasn't there? In today's episode, Sam, John, and Ron welcome Frank Viola and pepper him with questions about his Restoration Appreciation presentation at Great Lakes Christian College. Hear why Frank claims, 'The old work of God usually attacks or dismisses t...

Is an elder always an Elder, or are they simply an elder—and how does that change what Peter says about them in chapter five? Tune in to today's episode to make sense of that sentence and to dive into the closing remarks of 1 Peter, with a view of leadership that resists the worldly temptation to wield authority over others. Instead, see how submitting to one another out of obedience to the Lord e...

Turn from evil and grow in love and devotion toward one another, brothers and sisters in the faith. Following Christ does not mean we will always get along. In fact, we may be abused, or even betrayed from those whom we serve with. Maybe you have dealt with this, or are currently dealing with this. Tune in to today's episode to hear the guys unpack Peter's words to us—the family of faith—and how w...

Opening your life and home to others comes with imperfections and gripes. But as Christians, we are to do all things without complaining and guard our hearts and minds against the temptation to mutter against each other when we part company. Instead, let us lead as servant examples and strengthen ourselves in the challenge of faithful witness. Tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast...

Have you put sin behind you? Hurray! Way to go! Now it's time to suffer! Wait—what? Are you at the point where you're making tough decisions because of your faith? Do your ways seem strange to the watching world? Are you suffering and wrestling in your walk with Christ? Tune in to today's episode on 1 Peter chapter 4, where the guys unpack the "suffering, faithful witness" and the gospel proclaime...

How do we respond to opposition from unbelievers who don't treat us well? Can we still offer a God-honoring witness through our suffering? And what does that look like within the context of marriage to an unbeliever? Tune in today as the guys explore how Peter calls believers to live faithfully, even when faced with unfair treatment or difficult relationships.

Tune in to today's episode as we dive deeper into the crumbling power dynamics of our world. We're continuing our discussion on aliens and exiles , moving from how we relate to governing structures to how we respond to employers—and even slave owners in the ancient context, and...today?  What do we do with Peter's call to submit to those in charge, even when they're less than desirable? Are we suf...

New episode, new section in the book of 1 Peter as we dig into the idea of a cruciformed witness among the nations. (1 Peter 2:11 onward). We are in the world, but not of it—resident aliens representing the Kingdom of God wherever we go. How do we relate properly to non-believers and the powers of the world? Tune in today as the guys explore what Peter calls us to, and how this call challenges the...

Picking up in chapter 2 of 1 Peter, we return to the theme of love. Not all babies go to the nursery—so what keeps us from growing? Could malicious talk, insincerity, or selfish motives be getting in the way of your witness? In today's digital world, where division often dominates the conversation, we're reminded how easy it is to return to old habits and worldly concerns—like a dog returning to i...

Does God call us to love everyone in a universal way, or are we called to love in a specific, concentrated way? For some, this is an easy answer; for others, it's a point of contention. Which is it for you? In an age of polarizing tension, the world could really use some love. In today's episode, the guys explore what it means to purify ourselves—and what that has to do with love. So, tune in toda...

Continuing in chapter 1, verse 17, we resume our study of 1 Peter . God will judge each person according to their works, yet we are saved by grace through faith—not by works. Do Paul and Peter preach different gospels? How do we synthesize these messages? Join the guys as they wade into deep theological waters. Works, faith, predestination, and more await you in this installment of the  After Clas...

The world distorts, persecutes, lies, and tempts us to be distracted. Despite this, are you experiencing the indescribable joy found in Christ? When we embrace the vision of the Kingdom of God inaugurated in Christ, it produces a joy that looks ahead to the fullness we will one day experience — yet can already taste now. As Peter writes: "Even though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you...

Today the guys continue our study and examine 1 Peter 1:3–9. To choose allegiance to Christ and His Kingdom is to enter into conflict and enmity with the world wherever you may roam. What does it mean that our inheritance is kept in heaven? Are we Livin' on a Prayer, or is it true that the world Can't Touch This salvation we hope for as we follow The Man, the Lord Jesus Christ? Don't Stop Believin...

We break from our scheduled study to speak about the tragic death of a brother in Christ.  As the media engine turns out various narratives tuned to match the algorithms of the viewer,  how do we process what has happened in a distinctly Christian way—one that seeks to glorify Christ and strengthen our walk together as witnesses to the Kingdom of God? 

The guys are cruising into a brand-new series, ready to park in 1 Peter for a while. Rooted in the Old Testament, this letter shows us how the gospel still speaks directly into our lives today. As exiled brothers and sisters in Christ, scattered across the globe, 1 Peter delivers a timely word for each of us. In this episode, the guys check the mirrors with some historical context and then shift g...

After 8 years or so of podcasts, we thought it might be a good idea to remind our listeners of what we do and why we do it. But instead of just telling you, we thought a top 10 list would be appropriate. So this episode pays homage to David Letterman and gives you "The Top 10 Ways NOT to listen to the After Class Podcast."

Today's episode wraps up our "Holy Humor" series. We finish with a few stories and statements in the New Testament and then end with each of the guys name what they think is the funniest book, story, and line. Prepare to roll right out of your chair with laughter.

Some of the best Bible stories can be found in Acts. Many of those stories include a humorous element – drunkenness, defying authority, left at the front door, and more! Check them out as we continue our Holy Humor series.

Today our series introduces some awkward humor into the discussion. Nothing like a streaker running around naked to make you laugh. Plus we get Luke's unique contributions to the gospel story, many of which are pretty humorous. Tune in as we continue our Holy Humor series.  

Imagine if Jesus had a side gig as a stand up comedian. What kind of jokes would he tell? Where would he draw his material from? While there is no evidence that Jesus was a comic, he did like to entertain his audience with a joke here or there. As our Holy Humor series moves into the New Testament, we get a glimpse into "funny Jesus" who used humor to illustrate deeper theological points.

The Bible regularly decries idolatry, especially be prohibiting the use of idols. But what happens when an author decides to get clever and attempts a take down of idolatry? Humor ensues! Today's episode continues through different humorous episodes in the Bible and includes a satire of idolatry, humorous proverbs, and more!