Ryan and Brian's Bible Bistro

This week Brian and I are talking about the theology of God. If that sounds scary to you, no worries, it simply means we are talking about who God is and what he has revealed to us about himself. It’s a great conversation that is for everyone.

In early 2020, Ryan called Brian to discuss the book “Justification” by N.T. Wright, whom they have mentioned several times. Last week they talked at length about what the word can mean and how it was used in scripture and this week, they continue that conversation by looking at Roman chapter 8. As mentioned in the previous episode, the can be a controversial topic but the Bistro is a place for co...

This week, we're talking about the book and topic that led us to start this podcast. In early 2020, Ryan called Brian to discuss the book "Justification" by N.T. Wright, they we have mentioned several times. This is a heavy topic and one that comes with its fair share of controversy. If you’ve been to church or read your Bible, you’ve probably heard or read the word "justification" or "justify." I...

This week, Ryan and Brian are taking about Bible study preparation. They both share the tools they use and processes they go through to make sure they are getting to the Biblical authors' true intent. These are methods they use for their personal discipleship as well as when they are teaching, preaching, or facilitating discussions.  Book Recommendations Hearers and Doers: A Pastor's Guide to...

This week, Ryan and Brian are discussing archaeological evidence that proves the historical value of the Gospel of John. As they highlighted in Episode 18 ("The Gospels are Different -- Is That a Problem?"), the Gospel of John is different from the Synoptic Gospels, which has led some to believe that part of the content in John is not historical. However, recent discoveries are pushing against tha...

This week, Ryan and Brian discussing some recent discoveries in biblical archaeology and how they help us understand scripture. While some of these discoveries are literally small things, they continue to affirm and show the validity of the narratives in the Bible. There have been some fascinating discoveries that we think you will enjoy hearing about. Related Episodes The One about Our Israel-Pal...

For this episode, Ryan and Brian are staying in the Gospels and looking at the book of Mark, specifically at the vineyard imagery in Mark 12. They look at how Jesus uses Isaiah to make His point, how the original audience would have understood it, and what some of the verses mean about God's nature and relationship with humanity. Related Episodes The One where We Rethink John 14 The Bonus One abou...

This week the Bistro is welcoming Dr. Jon Weatherly to the podcast. Jon is a New Testament professor at Johnson University in Knoxville, TN. One of his areas of study is the books of Luke and Acts. In this episode, he focuses on the Gospel of Luke, discussing the revolutionary nature of what and how Luke wrote. Such a good conversation -- be sure to listen in! Related Episode Episode 018 -  T...

In this weeks episode, Ryan and Brian are talking all about the gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. If you’ve read them all you probably noticed that Matthew, Mark and Luke share a lot of similarities in their stories and structures, which is why they are referred to as the Synoptic gospels because of how in sync they are, while John, is an outlier as it’s structure is distinct.&nbsp...

In this episode, Ryan and Brian explore symbolism in the gospel of John. This conversation is centered around a book " Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel: Meaning, Mystery, Community " by Craig Koester. They discuss how some individuals are representative of larger groups, the pairing of stories contrasting light and dark, and a myriad of other things. Links Book: Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel: Meani...

This week Ryan and Brian are introducing something they call Pastor Chat, which is just that, a chat with a pastor serving in the church and In this episode, they talk with Greg Taylor the lead minister of Second Church of Christ in Danville, Illinois. They talk with him about what’s going in his church and how they, as a church, are responding to this cultural moment. As Ryan and Brian have menti...

In this episode, we answer a question from Mike, one of our listeners. Mike emailed and asked, “With Brian specializing in John, what are the most impactful parts to him in the book of Revelation?” So as requested, we are answering that question as Brian leads us through several verses in chapters 5 & 6 of the book of Revelation.

This time, Ryan and Brian are taking a look at the book of Revelation. Brian tells us a bit about the book, why it’s called Revelation, and what the book can mean for us in the church today.

In this episode, Brian has us examine one of the Jewish festivals that serves as the backdrop for the Gospel of John. We look to some ancient historians and Jewish writers for what this festival might have looked like. We talk a little bit about Greek language -- what it included and, just as important, what it doesn’t include. Taking all of that into account, it makes us look at what Jesus says i...

In this episode, Ryan and Brian look at the entirety of the Gospel of John and see how the temple theme is developed. We look at how even the order of the stories in the Gospel of John point towards this idea that Jesus is replacing the physical temple in Jerusalem - an idea carried through the book of Revelation. 

This time, Ryan and Brian are talking with Ryan Burge, author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going. In his book, Ryan looks at survey data to give us more insight into "the nones” — those who don’t declare any specific religious affiliation. While Ryan is accomplished in statistical research, he is also a pastor, which gives him a unique perspective. The discu...

In this episode, Ryan and Brian are talking about worldview. Learning about the worldview of groups of people at the time of the biblical writings is key to interpreting and gaining a greater understanding of scripture. They are discussing specific elements that shape cultures and how viewpoints and behaviors are affected, both historically and today.

Ryan and Brian are exited to welcome their first guest to the Bistro, Mark Ziese. Mark frequently leads trips through Israel-Palestine and has participated in archeological digs as well. In this episode, he discusses his involvement in biblical archeology and shares what has been meaningful to him throughout the course of his work.

This week, Ryan and Brian are doing something a little bit different. They've both been to Israel-Palestine, and in this episode, they discuss what they experienced on those trips and what stood out to them as they journeyed through the Holy Land. They talk about how the experience has impacted their understanding of some of the stories and the messages that are in Scripture.

Have you ever wondered what happened between the Old and New Testament? Ryan and Brian talk about the leaders, wars, and culture that Jesus was born into and why the Jewish nation struggled to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

In this follow-up episode, Ryan asks Brian some of his lingering questions about John 14:1-4. Ryan asks about the "many rooms" referred to in these verses and what they may mean. Brian also gives us some insight into the Greek words used and the importance of "remaining" in the Gospel of John. If you haven't listened to the previous episode, you should do that first.

John 14 contains some very popular verses that are used in a variety of songs and movies; you'll hear them often at funerals as well. Ryan and Brian discuss the first four verses of John 14 and explore a meaning that just might be different than the typical interpretation.

Ryan and Brian discuss a recent Gallup poll, which states that for the first time in surveying history, less than 50% of people in the United States affiliate themselves with a church, synagogue, or mosque. They're talking about the data, some potential causes, and how the church can respond going forward.

In this episode, Ryan and Brian continue their conversation regarding the Bible. They're discussing how the Holy Spirit and the biblical authors worked together, how we know that the Bible we have today is what God intended, and how historical context helps give us a better understanding of what is being communicated.

  Ryan and Brian discuss the Bible as a collection of books and consider the different genres. They talk about how the books were written, the influence of the Holy Spirit on the authors, and how the Old Testament Jews and early Christians started putting together the books that became the Bible as we know it today. If you have been a student of the scriptures, this topic might seem a bit ele...