Story / Symbol / Spirit

Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the power to help us know God and better understand our lives, identity, meaning, and purpose. But for many people, reading the Bible is difficult. The ancient and confusing nature of the stories within the Bible are often prohib...

This week we finish up Genesis 35. Rachel gives birth to Jacob’s 12th and final son, Benjamin, but tragically dies in during childbirth. What is important going forward about the birth of Benjamin? Why does Jacob change his name? What does this have to do with Reuben’s betrayal of Jacob? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sens...

Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the power to help us know God and better understand our lives, identity, meaning, and purpose. But for many people, reading the Bible is difficult. The ancient and confusing nature of the stories within the Bible are often prohib...

Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the power to help us know God and better understand our lives, identity, meaning, and purpose. But for many people, reading the Bible is difficult. The ancient and confusing nature of the stories within the Bible are often prohib...

Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the power to help us know God and better understand our lives, identity, meaning, and purpose. But for many people, reading the Bible is difficult. The ancient and confusing nature of the stories within the Bible are often prohib...

Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the power to help us know God and better understand our lives, identity, meaning, and purpose. But for many people, reading the Bible is difficult. The ancient and confusing nature of the stories within the Bible are often prohib...

This week Esau finally confronts Jacob. All of these years, all of that bad blood, all of this time to stew in anger, bitterness, and resentment. What will happen in this long-awaited showdown between the two brothers? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the power...

This week we see Jacob making his trip to the Promised Land, but there is one problem… He has to get past Esau first. He sends a delegation to Esau and then wrestles with a man until daybreak. Who is this man? Why does Jacob think it is YHWH? Why does this interaction leave Jacob with a limp? What does this mean symbolically? All that and more this week! Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitch...

Happy New Year! On this special 50th episode of Story Symbol Spirit, we finish up the dramatic saga with Laban. Laban catches up to Jacob and his family and has hopes of taking back what he considers his. How does the courtroom scene go for Laban? For Jacob? What is Rachel doing with the stolen idols? How will the story with Laban end? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Sy...

On this week’s special Christmas Day episode, we discuss the timing of the historical birth of Jesus. December 25 has more to do with the historical church calendar of feasts than actual historical day of Jesus’ birth, but there are historical clues that can be pieced together to come to a very educated estimate. Alexander Patterson walks us through several extra-biblical texts that can shed light...

This week we see Jacob’s final decision to leave Laban. After a tumultuous 20 year relationship, Jacob and his wives decide to flee to Canaan, the land promised by God. Yet another foreshadowing of the exodus, Jacob and his family are on their way home. Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beau...

After having served at least 14 years in service to Laban, Jacob is ready to go home. But Laban has other plans, so Jacob cuts a deal with him regarding livestock. What is the deal with the spotted and speckled sheep? What is going on with the sticks in the water troughs? All of this and more this week! Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about...

This week we see the complicated beginnings of the children of Jacob. Jacob now has two wives and in this chapter we see both wives bear children. These children will become the 12 tribes of Israel. What is significant about the names of the children? How is the relational dynamic between Leah and Rachel? What in the world is going on with the mandrakes? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitch...

Jacob has been sent to Rebekah’s kinfolk to find a wife and begin his family, but he is soon immersed in way more than he bargained for… What will his relationship be to his uncle, Laban? Will he find a wife? Why are we still talking so much about water and wells? All this and more, this week on Story / Symbol / Spirit. Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is...

We have gone through 28 chapters so far this calendar year. As we approach Thanksgiving, a holiday specifically designed to orient our minds towards gratitude, Jackie and John discuss the following question: How has what we have gone through so far in the Bible heightened our gratitude for God? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to ma...

This week we see Jacob, blessed by Isaac, go to Rebekah’s family to find a wife. As he travels towards Harran, he has a strange dream where he sees a staircase go from the ground into the heavens. What are these stairs? What is the meaning of this dream? Why does Jacob build an altar? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense o...

This week we see what is commonly described as Jacob’s deception of Esau. But as we will see, it is pretty clear that it is Rebekah’s idea. Why does she move to ensure Jacob is the one who receives the blessing? Why does Isaac want to give the blessing to Esau? What will this mean for the relationship between Jacob and Esau going forward? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story /...

This week we see more drama between the family of Abraham and Abimelech. How will the seed, Isaac, fare in a famine? Will he walk faithfully and patiently in the midst of persecution like his father? If Isaac does well, the rescue mission of God is on track! Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a...

This week we see the birth of Isaac’s twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Which one will the promise go through? What are these boys like? Who can God trust with the covenant? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the power to help us know God and better understand our lives,...

This week we go through the first 18 verses of Genesis 25. We say goodbye to Abraham as he is buried in the Promised Land, and we see the Genealogy of Abraham’s other son, Ishmael. What is the significance of Ishmael’s genealogy? What does this genealogy have in common with the genealogy of Abraham’s brother, Nahor, in Gen. 22? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / S...

This week we see Abraham’s senior servant find a wife for Isaac. God’s promises start to materialize as the promised seed (Isaac) begins his family. Why is the servant instructed to go to this specific place and these specific people? Why does this event happen at a well? All that and more this week on Story / Symbol / Spirit! Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Sp...

This week we pause and recap the Story / Symbol / Spirit hermeneutic, revisit the story that we have covered so far (Gen. 1-22), and answer some listener questions. Next week, we will continue our journey through the Bible! Hosted by Jackie Mitchell and John McCambridge. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the p...

This week, we say goodbye to Abraham’s wife, Sarah. What will Abraham’s response be? What does this mean for the continuation of the promise? And why does Abraham insist on buying her burial plot, instead of being gifted one?  Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God wi...

This week, the faith of Abraham is tested in maybe the ultimate way: through a command to sacrifice his son. Will Abraham obey? If he does, what will happen to the promised seed? And why is this chapter so Christological? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the pow...

This week we finally see the birth of Isaac - the true seed is here! What does Isaac mean for Ishmael and Hagar? How will God treat them now that the true seed has arrived? Hosted by John McCambridge and Jackie Mitchell. --- Story / Symbol / Spirit is a podcast about how to make sense of Scripture. The Bible is a beautiful gift from God with the power to help us know God and better understand our...