After Class Podcast

In a world of perpetual violence and military arms races, would you start a community between warring countries with no military defense of your own? What if God told you to? We want to be strong, powerful, and impressive in every imaginable way; does this put us at odds with God's role for his set-apart people? In today's episode, follow the unfolding narrative as we transition from personal viol...

This week the guys continue their walkthrough of scripture on the way to answering a listener's question: How do we respond to a break-in; does God condone killing in self-defense? What about the defense of the country? How seriously is the taking of life to God? In today's episode, Sam, John, and Ron investigate what scripture has to say about land stewardship, the taking of a census, the priest'...

We may become coaxed by rage to act out in hostility, violence, and vengeance. Join the guys as they unpack more of God's response and instruction to His people on how they should be witnesses to and uphold the sacredness of life. Tune in this week for part two of our series on violence, self-defense, and Christian participation in bloodshed.

Sam, John, and Ron begin a new series this week in response to numerous listener requests. It is time to talk about Christian participation in violence. Is violence ever justified for a Christian? What about self-defense? We can agree that unprovoked killing is bad, but what about a killing resulting from self-preservation or retaliation? Join the guys as they trace the theme of God's people and t...

In part two of our bad press miniseries: How should Christians respond to bad press about the brothers and sisters in the faith who are doing wrong? How do we persevere through bad press without growing weary? Can you love God and not love Christians? Tune in this week to hear a perspective on how Christians can deal with bad press and witness to the world. Join Sam, John, and Ron as they unpack f...

New office, new studio, new episode, same podcast! This week the guys engage the important topic of bad press. How do we respond when Christians are on the receiving end of bad press for something they have done? What guiding principles do we have to deal with 'The Media' which often lies or at best paints an imperfect picture?  Do we follow Matthew 18 in a digital age regarding Christians we have...

This week the guys take a break in the action to present their review of the movie Jesus Revolution; a story of Christian Hippies and the church in the 70's at Calvary Chapel in California. What stands out? What resonates? And what flops? Tune in to find out if you should add this movie to your watch list for the summer. 

In previous episodes, Sam, John, and Ron delved into Augustine's doctrine of original sin and explored the Bible passages that either support or push against it. In today's episode, the guys summarize their findings and share their observations and convictions about original sin, and how the doctrine may have more to do with historical theological strongholds than biblical support. The  guys push...

In today's episode, the guys return to Agustin's treatment of Romans 5:12, then investigate passages promoting alternatives to the doctrine of original sin. Will we find strong anti-original sin verses or just a series of general statements and observations? The Bible says all are put to death for their own sin, so does God break his own principle by putting everyone to death for Adam's sin? Who m...

This week Sam, John, and Ron continue to look at what the Bible says about sin. The guys focus this episode on the passages that are routinely used to support the doctrine of original sin and see how they hold up to scrutiny. Of the many passages from the Old Testament that paint the picture of sinful humanity, most come from poetry. Should we be more careful about building doctrine off poetic sou...

This week Sam, and John, try to keep Ron in the Old Testament as they begin laying the biblical foundation for our understanding of original sin. The guys delve into key questions such as the usage of the term "sin" in the Bible, and how the Bible's depiction of figures such as Cain, Enoch, and Noah relates to the notion that every inclination of the heart is evil all the time. The guys posit why...

This week the guys dig deeper into Augustine's history and the prevailing thoughts that influenced his theology. Was Pelagius really a heretic? How to make sense of the immaculate conception? And what do sex and a handshake have in common? All this and more in today's episode of the After Class Podcast!

Do you know the origin of original sin? Join Sam, John, and Ron as they engage the topic by laying some groundwork and distinguishing between two approaches to the discussion of original sin. What did the great theological minds of Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, and Augustin have to say about original sin, and how did they shape our current understanding? Is original sin a core Christian d...

Join Sam, John, and Ron as they welcome their guest, Brian Baldwin, to discuss the goddess Artemis of the Ephesians and how her influence may help us understand Paul's writing and extreme language about women in 1 Timothy. In this episode, the guys unpack Paul's writing about women's dress, their authority over men, the importance of Adam and Eve's birth order, and women being saved through childb...

Join John, Ron, and Sam this week as they examine how the merger of the imperial ruling class & theological influences from leading Christian thinkers impacted the practice and doctrine of baptism, beginning with the 4th century Constantinian turn and progressing through the Reformation, Revivalism, and the Church Growth Revolution. What happened when the Roman Empire embraced Christianity and wha...

While the scriptures serve as a critical foundation, the practice of baptism has also been influenced by a multitude of historical events. In this episode, John, Ron, and Sam explore the Jewish/Christian Schism of 100 AD and second-century Gnosticism's impact on the Church's understanding of baptism. 

In what way does the flood in the time of Noah prefigure baptism? Is baptismal water magically regenerative? Why would a robe be baptized in blood and how does it fit our study? On today's episode of the After Class Podcast, Sam, Ron, and John conclude their reading of the Bible's passages on baptism and present the five dimensions of baptism that have emerged from our study.

Prompted by last weeks cliffhanger, Sam, Ron, and John resume with the question: If we are baptized to a new way of life, what does Paul mean when he wrote to the Corinthians about those who are baptized for the dead? Later in the episode, the guys touch on 're-repentance.' Should we get re-baptized later in life if we have lapsed in our early life? What about if you accepted Christ not knowing th...

This week, Sam, John, and Ron continue the developing theme of baptism as they engage the Pauline letters. The guys continue to navigate the implications of the new life we embrace through baptism and explore key questions: Should we practice group evangelism and corporate baptism? Are there age restrictions on abandoning your old life and embracing the new life? What is the baptism into Moses? An...

This week the guys continue through the book of Acts picking up with the first Gentile baptism and investigating tough questions. How do we make sense of the spirit coming on someone before baptism vs. after the laying on of hands? What are the social implications of baptism?  Tune in with John, Ron, and Sam for part four of their study of the mode, method, and recipient of baptism. 

What do we make of the different accounts of water baptism and those who perform it? Does water baptism come before spirit baptism? Sam, John, and Ron continue the discussion in part three of the series. The guys dive into the book of John and Acts this week and touch on flames, tongues, and the laying on of hands.   

In today's episode, Sam, John, and Ron survey verses that broaden our view of the purpose for and recipient of baptism.  Join the guys this week as they explore Mark and Luke's traditional and non-traditional verses on baptism. 

Students at Great Lakes Christian College are making decisions to take the next steps in their faith, prompting questions surrounding baptism. What types of baptism are spoken about in scripture? What form does it take? Who is the recipient and what purpose does baptism serve? Join the guys this week as they dip into Matthew 3, 21:25, and 26:23.

The interpretation of the lists we find in scripture concerning leadership qualifications can dramatically impact who would serve in specific capacities (if at all). How do we regard these lists and what does it say to us that they are not identical between books of the Bible?  Join the guys as they answer another "mailbag question" in this week's one-shot episode.  Complementary Episodes: Ep. 4.3...

After laying out a framework in episode one, Sam, Ron, and John continue their two-part series on rapture, resurrection, and Revelation. How do we understand the end of days?   Who is gathered for what, and   where does everybody go? How do we see the message of Israel's hope in the context of the end times and the gathering of the elect?  Tune in this week as the guys look up what scripture has t...