The Alabaster Jar

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews visual artist and Marketing Manager at Zondervan Academic, Dr. Emily H. Bruff, about the intersection of art and spirituality. She shares her personal journey as an artist and discusses the role of art in spiritual formation and worship. They also explore the biblical perspective on art and address concerns about idolatry. Dr. Bruff talks about her...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Christina Embree discuss the importance of intergenerational ministry and passing on faith through relationships. She shares her journey of starting Refocus Ministry , a nonprofit that connects generations in meaningful relationships. Dr. Embree also highlights the key findings from her dissertation research on age segregation in churches and the need...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito discuss the distractions that can pull Christians away from the gospel and how to stay focused on following Jesus. They are joined by Rev. Tracy Bianchi, the pastor of Adult Ministries at Christ Church Oak Brook near Chicago, Illinois, who shares pastoral strategies for navigating these distractions. They discuss the challenges of living in...

In this two-part interview on the Alabaster Jar podcast, Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing discusses her book Lead Like the Real You: Wisdom for Women on Finding Your Voice, Pursuing God's Calling, and Leading with Courage with Dr. Lynn Cohick. This book explores women's challenges and opportunities in male-dominated spaces and offers practical advice on finding and using their voices. It also delves into the top...

In this two-part interview on the Alabaster Jar podcast, Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing discusses her book Lead Like the Real You: Wisdom for Women on Finding Your Voice, Pursuing God's Calling, and Leading with Courage with Dr. Lynn Cohick. This book explores women's challenges and opportunities in male-dominated spaces and offers practical advice on finding and using their voices. It also delves into the top...

In this conversation, Dr. Carol M. Kaminski joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss the spiritual significance of the Old Testament and the importance of understanding it in light of the New Testament. Dr. Kaminski offers principles for interpreting Old Testament scriptures and discusses the importance of context in interpreting blessings and curses and finding hope in the Psalms. This conversation highl...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Kelly Dippolito sit down with Karen Smith to discuss her journey as an artist and how her theological education has influenced her art. She shares how studying scripture has influenced her paintings and how she uses art to explore the stories of women in the Bible. Karen also talks about her experience of church hurt and how she used Ta...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Michelle Keener discuss the traumatic events in Judges 19 and the importance of a trauma-informed reading of the passage. They explore the themes of betrayal, silence, and the failure of religious authority. They emphasize the need to give trauma survivors the space to tell their own stories and the importance of acknowledging their pai...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito discuss the stories of Phoebe, Priscilla, and Junia, mentioned in Romans 16. They emphasize the importance of hermeneutics, the art and science of interpreting the Bible, and its ethical ramifications. Dr. Cohick also explores the narratives behind these names and highlights the biases and prejudices that can influence our u...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Carmen Imes discuss Miriam's role as a worship leader, drummer, and moral guide in the Exodus story. They highlight her agency and affirmation of God's actions while acknowledging the cultural context of women's drumming and dancing in ancient times. They also offer a nuanced understanding of Miriam's leadership and moral responsibility...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito discuss the importance of historical context when interpreting scripture, specifically focusing on 1 Timothy 2. They emphasize that understanding Ephesus's cultural and religious context in the first century is crucial to understanding Paul's message. They debunk the idea that Paul is establishing a gender hierarchy or limit...

In this episode of the Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito discuss the interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:3 and the role of women in the church. They explore the Wesleyan quadrilateral as a tool for studying scripture and the importance of tradition and theology. They also examine the passage's meaning of the term 'head' and its implications for hierarchical relationships. Dr. Cohic...

In this special episode of the Alabaster Jar, the podcast features a recent panel discussion hosted at Regent College during their summer series featuring Dr. Lynn Cohick, Dr. Beth Allison Barr, and Dr. Lissa Wray Beal with the conversation hosted by Dr. Brittan Melton. This discussion explores the roles of women in ancient and recent Christian history. The panelists also share their personal jour...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito discuss the creation story in Genesis 1 and 2 and explore the hermeneutical approach of speech act theory. They highlight the importance of understanding and interpreting scripture well, especially in relation to women and women in leadership. They delve into the concept of being made in God's image and how it is significant in the Old and...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito discuss the topic of hermeneutics, which is the study of interpreting and understanding the Bible. They explore the challenges of interpreting scripture and the importance of considering the lens through which we read it. They also discuss various approaches to hermeneutics, such as the Wesleyan quadrilateral and historical criticism. Dr. C...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito discuss the view of childhood in the ancient world and how the gospel message shaped the idea of children and childhood. They explore the challenges of understanding children in the first century, including the lack of information and the differences in cultural assumptions. They highlight the importance of education in the early church and...

In this conversation, Dr. Carmen Imes joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss the hardening of Pharaoh's heart in the book of Exodus, exploring the different Hebrew words used and their nuanced meanings. They highlight the idea that God is not overriding Pharaoh's free will, but rather strengthening his resolve to carry out his own desires. They also discuss the cultural context of ancient Egypt and the...

In this conversation, Dr. Carmen Imes joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss their involvement in creating a study Bible for women, addressing problematic passages, and answering objections to the Bible and Christianity. They explore the misconceptions surrounding the Proverbs 31 woman and the purity laws in Leviticus, providing insights into the cultural and historical context. They emphasize the impor...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito discuss the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity, an online database showcasing women in church leadership roles through curated images. Dr. Cohick discusses the portrayal of Mary Magdalene in Italian art, her significance in Christian history, and interpretations of her character. They delve into her presence during Jesus' ministry, cruc...

In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Keener joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss her upcoming book “Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors” and her study of the Book of Job through the lens of trauma. She explains that trauma is a response to an event that overwhelms our ordinary coping capacity and leaves a wound that remains unhealed. Dr. Keener explores the...

In this conversation, Dr. Carol M. Kaminski joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss the importance of women's Bible studies and the need for deeper biblical teaching. She emphasizes the beauty and artistry of the Old Testament and how it can inspire women to study the Scriptures. Dr. Kaminski also explores the themes of humility and seeking God's face in the book of 2 Chronicles while highlighting the si...

The first season of the Visual Museum podcast series is officially wrapping up as Kelly Dippolito and Christine Calareso Bleecker share their favorite moments from this season while also discussing the impact the episodes already have. The goal of this podcast has always been to help listeners orient themselves in time, space, and location from first-century art to pieces from the 14th and 15th ce...

In this conversation, Lisa Harper joins Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito to discuss the importance of theological education and the role of women in ministry. Lisa shares her journey of overcoming limitations and embracing her calling. They also discuss the need for a redemptive hermeneutic and a compassionate understanding of God's character as Lisa emphasizes the importance of learning from p...

In this conversation, Dr. Bruce Hindmarsh joins Kelly Dippolito to discuss his involvement with the Luce Foundation and the grant that kickstarted the Visual Museum project. He highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the challenges of digital humanities. He emphasizes the potential impact of the Visual Museum in providing a user-friendly experience and rectifying the void...

In this conversation, Dr. Lanta Davis joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss her book, Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation, as they talk about the concept of spiritual formation through the imagination and the role of art in shaping our faith. They explore the idea that forming the soul means forming the imagination and how ancient Christians viewed the imagination...