No Experts Allowed

Mary’s song declares that God has looked with favor on the lowly and will confound the mighty. As the one chosen to carry the Messiah in her womb, Mary experiences this reversal, which convinces her that God will upend social systems too. Jonathan and Seth discuss -in person- the tendency to emphasize either her personal or communal statements. She is viewed either as a mother or a social revoluti...

After 84 episodes, Jonathan and Seth record their first episode in person. John the Baptist proclaims a coming Messiah greater than him, but the crowd questions "whether he might be the Messiah” (3:15). Jonathan and Seth discuss how we can tell messengers from the Messiah, who we follow as political messiahs, and how leaders can ensure that people do not mistake them for the One coming after. Sinc...

Malachi addresses people post-exile who remember an extravagant, vibrant Jerusalem. They also anticipate a coming messenger. They live in an interim time. So, following last week's episode, Jonathan and Seth discuss the technical terms "anamnesis" (a holy remembering) and "prolepsis" (looking forward). The pair discusses what worship practices help us remember, help us look forward, and how those...

The beginning of the Church year starts with a passage about the end times. Advent is apocalyptic because, while it looks back at the historical birth of Jesus Christ, it also anticipates Jesus' return. Apocalyptic texts present some challenges, however. Most notably, what to do with them? Jonathan and Seth discuss this passage as people living in the interim period, like Luke's audience, who are...

Humphrey Bogart's final words were, "I should have never switched from Scotch to martinis." In this week's episode, we have David's last words. Like Bogart's, however, the reports may not be accurate; nonetheless, they are true. Memories of last words and memories themselves are tricky; a gap always exists between the memory and the historical event. Jonathan and Seth discuss the effect of memory-...

As is often a biblical theme, Hannah is unable to have a child but wants one deeply. In the temple, she prays silently for a son, which makes Eli presume she's drunk. But God has heard her. Jonathan and Seth discuss the effect of hearing, how it can ease anxieties, and reassure us that we're safe. Each of them shares a story about being heard. Because these stories involve emotional distress, they...

The psalmist exclaims, "Don’t trust leaders; / don’t trust any human beings— / there’s no saving help with them!" (v. 3). This past Tuesday, however, was election day across the United States. Can Christians engage with political institutions? If so, how do they do so? What about institutions that are not political but are businesses? Jonathan and Seth take on this broad topic, talk about engaging...

The ecumenical Revised Common Lectionary offers an optional reading for Reformation Sunday. Always used by Lutherans, but never used by Catholics, the text is the same every year. Jonathan and Seth use this passage as a springboard to talk about being “free” and the baggage that accompanies freedom for Christians living in America. Like last episode, this one follows the new format. Because of tha...

A blind beggar named Bartimaeus yells loudly to get Jesus' attention. Jesus stops to heal his eyesight, causing the man to follow Jesus. The crowd, however, was less welcoming to Bartimaeus, telling him to "shush." Jonathan and Seth talk about who they connect with in the text. They also discuss how society ordinarily treats beggars at a roadside. They talk about the connections between this text...

James and John want to sit at Jesus' right and left hands. After they ask Jesus for this privilege, he radically redefines greatness. The disciples are asking the wrong question at the wrong time. They're, however, not alone. Jonathan and Seth discuss how questions create the opportunity to re-examine what we believe and rebuild. Rethinking happens for Jesus' disciples; it can happens for Jesus-fo...

The writer of Hebrews makes many connections and allusions to the Jewish Scriptures and sees Jesus as the culmination of Israel's high priests. If Jesus is the high priest, mediator, and Word of God, where does that leave the Bible? Jonathan and Seth tackle this question head-on. Seth talks about Luther; Jonathan about the topic at hand. They also discuss how to interpret the Bible and how their t...

A modern proverb claims that college students can either sleep, receive good grades, or have a social life but can only pick two. In Job, one can either believe in a retributive God, Job's righteousness, or Job's suffering, but can only pick two. This episode roughly outlines Job, as does the Revised Common Lectionary over the next 4 weeks. Jonathan and Seth discuss the role of the Adversary, Job'...

In Esther, the king signs an edict so that on the 13th day of Adar, Jews throughout Persia would be killed. Esther's bravery prevents this from happening, the Jews are allowed to fight back, and the orchestrator of the massacre dies instead. Thus, the book presents the origin of the Jewish festival of Purim. Jonathan and Seth cover the story in more detail since this is the podcast's first dive in...

Of the Gospels, Mark casts the disciples in the poorest light. In this week's passage, for instance, they argue about who is the greatest. When Jesus asks them what they're talking about, "they kept quiet" (9:34). This silence allows Jesus to speak about what accounts for greatness, welcoming little children, and the inclusive character of the kin-dom. Jonathan and Seth discuss first-century views...

Using a series of analogies, James notes the relatively small tongue has oversized power. One's tongue can utter evil one moment and seemingly praise God in the next (3:9-10). Like the tongue, however, the good and the bad are entangled when people speak truth that is difficult to hear. Jonathan and Seth consider how uncomfortable truths can be difficult to receive and may also be liberating. Some...

Perhaps more than any other gospel story, Jesus' encounter in Mark with the Syrophoenician woman paints Jesus in a poor light. In a surface-level reading, Jesus appears to compare the woman and Gentiles to dogs. Her sassy retort that "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs" (7:28) appears to change Jesus' opinion of her so that he heals her daughter. Scholars have debated this tex...

Martin Luther's distaste for James neither prevents the lectionary from including it nor Jonathan and Seth from discussing the book. James has historically received little attention or been disparaged because of its apparent differences with Paul's work. Jonathan and Seth, however, discuss what it looks like to read biblical texts and look for narrative and counter-narratives. The stories are not...

The armor of God may have given strength to latent Jesus-followers. As a ragtag, small, minoritized group, protection would have sounded helpful. The author, however, states that battles fought with God’s armor are not physical ones; conflicts are against unseen enemies. Jonathan and Seth discuss how this can help Christians consider institutions and systems and prevent demonizing individuals.   T...

After following Jesus and being amazed when 5,000 are fed on the shoreline, Jesus comments that "If you don't eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves (Jn. 6:53) cause many to stop following him. This phrase and the early Jesus-followers' practice of communion caused the emerging Church to be called cannibals and barbarians by outsiders. Jonathan and Set...

Scholars debate the audience of Ephesians. Since little in the letter addresses a specific congregational issue, it may have been written to Ephesus or Jesus-followers elsewhere. No matter the audience, the end of Ephesians is instructive: the author describes not only what not to do but also what one should do. Jonathan and Seth discuss how the Church has historically focused on rules without off...

The Revised Common Lectionary's compilers occasionally splice stories in unexpected places. They cut verses five through eight in this case because they were repetitive: the Israelites complain again. They are starving and lament the fact that there is nothing to eat in the wilderness. God responds by providing manna. The manna appears magically each morning, but the announcement of this new food...

Instead of using the term "miracle," John's Gospel refers to these supernatural occurrences as "signs." When Jesus feeds 5,000 people and walks on water, John combines the two events into a single sign. Jonathan and Seth discuss how these two stories connect, how to understand Jesus' miraculous multiplication of loaves, as well as how we think about scarcity or a lack thereof.

We return from a hiatus to what may be the most well-known Psalm from the most popular translation of the English Bible. Jonathan leads the discussion on Psalm 23, prompting them to think about the difference between comfort and consolation. As they both (but mostly Seth) returned to the rhythm of podcasting, some technical hiccups occurred in this episode. We hope none spoil the content.

No Experts Allowed returns with a new episode next Saturday, July 17th. Until then, Seth and Jonathan are practicing self-care, traveling, and reading. They each selected their favorite episodes of the first year to highlight: Claiming that "Jesus Christ is Lord" denies lordship to Caesar. The differences between the two, however, contrast with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Caesar rides the finest...

No Experts Allowed returns with a new episode on July 17th. Until then, Seth and Jonathan are practicing self-care, traveling, and reading. They each selected their favorite episodes of the first year to highlight: Isaiah writes to the exiles in Babylon about a God who never tires. God has been there since earth's founding and will continue to be present, thereby empowering the exiles to persevere...