Strange New World

In this episode, we explore Vincent’s “Almond Blossom” painting, setting his vision of an almond tree alongside Jesus’ parable of a fig tree. Two trees, two parables, each shedding light on the other… Drop us a line at community@saltproject.org.

In this episode, we dive into Vincent's famous "Sunflowers" paintings, and discover connections to Icelandic fisherman, a woman at a cradle, and Jesus' image of himself as a mother hen. Drop us a line at community@saltproject.org.

The son of a Christian pastor, Van Gogh trained for ministry before becoming a painter - and both his letters and his canvases are full of theological ideas. Can Van Gogh help us understand the Bible? Can the Bible help us understand Van Gogh's work? The answer to both questions, as it turns out, is a resounding Yes.

As we approach one of the most polarized, divisive elections in American history, what wisdom, what light can the Bible provide?

Culminating this six-part series, we explore the true meaning of the cross in Mark's Gospel, and what Jesus really had in mind by "a ransom for many." Drop us a line at community@saltproject.org.

It's one of the most controversial, radioactive, personal, pressing topics around: money and wealth, how much we should have and how much we should give away. Turns out Jesus had a lot to say about it, and in this episode, we take a deep dive. Drop us a line at community@saltproject.org.

In this episode, we tackle the specific question of Jesus' teaching about divorce (it’s not what you think!), and the general question of how Jesus reads Scripture. Drop us a line at community@saltproject.org.

"Blessed are the peacemakers," Jesus said - and as it turns out, peacemaking is a key to understanding what it means to follow him. Along the way, we explore a famous story about A. J. Muste, the Christian peacemaker sometimes called, "The American Gandhi."

What's the essence of Jesus' mission? What's the "signature move," the choreography at the heart of his work? In this episode, we explore these questions - and along the way, discover his vision for what "true greatness" is all about.

It's part one of our six-part series, "Understanding Jesus," a fresh look at the most provocative, influential, and misunderstood figure in human history. In this episode, we introduce the series, and then dive in to his famous, deceptively simple question, "Who do you say that I am?"

This episode tackles the challenge of Palm Sunday, a story brimming with an ancient idea about how scripture works, and what it’s for.

This episode zeroes in on the meaning — and the purpose — of resurrection, arguably the greatest mystery of them all.

The Easter story is full of big, bold reversals — but there’s one in particular that’s hidden under the skin of the story, and it just might be the most subversive of them all.

Why was Jesus killed? Why did the Roman empire, arguably the most powerful force in the world, execute an unarmed, peasant rabbi from Nazareth? Turns out this mystery goes all the way back to the story of Cain and Abel...

The mystery of the cross is like a cathedral with many entrances and side chapels, and exploring it can both enrich the season and deepen our understanding.

A deep dive into the meaning of Easter, starting at the very beginning (even before the beginning!), with the creation stories, the story of Noah and the ark, and the opening lines of the oldest New Testament Gospel.

Woven through the biblical library is a vibrant tradition of humility, making possible the practice of genuine love — and revealing how the essence of Christmas includes a critique of… Christmas as we know it today!

Isaiah’s legendary proclamation of “good news to the poor,” how Jesus understood scripture as “script,” St. Francis of Assisi’s second conversion (plus the anniversary of one of his inventions!), and more.

How Mark’s quotation of Isaiah’s call to “prepare the way of the Lord” reveals one of the key ingredients the Bible is made of — and how “peace” is at the heart of the Christmas season.

How Isaiah’s call on God to “tear open the heavens” points to.an ancient practice central to the Bible, and crucial to Christmas - but often overlooked by Christians today.

In this concluding episode of the four-part series, we turn to the most well-known stories of the season, from Mary to the Magi to the shepherds and the angels, and find them shimmering with meanings that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Drop us a line at community@saltproject.org. Merry Christmas!

In this episode, we arrive at the heart of the matter. Featuring Mary, Hannah, Jael, Judith, Elizabeth - and John the Baptizer. We promise: you’ll never think about “the wheat and the chaff” the same way again! Drop us a line at community@saltproject.org.

In this episode, we dive into Luke’s story of John the Baptizer, and explore how it’s both a Christmas story and a war story - all for the sake of God’s peace.

It’s Part One of our four-part series, “Understanding Christmas” — a fresh look at the deeper meanings of one of the world’s biggest holidays, and what it says about Jesus, hope, and the ancient library we call “the Bible.”

In the concluding episode of our seven-part series, “Understanding Easter,” we rethink the holiday from the ground up, with help from Mary Magdalene and one of the most harrowing, fascinating stories in scripture: the story of Rizpah. Drop us a line at community@saltproject.org.