The BEMA Podcast

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Dr. J. R. Briggs, the founder and director of Kairos Partnerships. His list of ministries and projects spans the gamut of possibility: from coaching pastors to instructing university students, from authoring books to hosting podcasts, J. R. brings a wealth of experience wherever he goes. He and his wife, Megan, have two boys and live jus...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Reed Dent. He’s been on staff with Campus Christian Fellowship at Truman State University in Missouri for the last twelve years. He and his wife, LeAnn, have three boys, who provide some great sermon illustrations. Discussion Video for BEMA 206 Campus Christian Fellowship, Truman State University Truman State University — Wikip...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about Session 6, what they hope to accomplish, and some of the things you can expect to find in the next chapter of the BEMA Podcast. BEMA Merchandise — TeePublic Join the BEMA Slack News — BEMA Discipleship Marty Solomon on YouTube Groups — BEMA Discipleship Transcript for BEMA 205

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings officially wrap up the journey through history and talk about what comes next for BEMA… Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey Join the BEMA Slack Marty Solomon on YouTube Sign Up for the BEMA Messenger Bible Book Timeline by Roger Schmidgall Whole Bible Story — BibleTelling, YouTube (via Roger Schmidgall) Transcript for BEMA 204

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings try to evaluate the great takeaways from this five-session journey through the Bible and the world of faith, talking about “The Four Pillars of BEMA” and imagining a world that returns to partake in some of the same things those early followers did thousands of years ago. Discussion Video for BEMA 203 Out of Babylon by Walter Brueggemann “Time in Babylon” by Emmylo...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings bring the story to our current day, seeing what this last century has done to the world of faith that we call our own. What is Christian fundamentalism and where did it come from? And how does evangelicalism fit into all of this? As believers, we make many assumptions about the world around us, but knowing why it exists is often helpful in accepting what it is. AD...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings leave the French Revolution behind and move into the modern era. How was the newfound land of freedom and independence handled? How did it impact the theology and ecclesiology of the people? AD 1800–1925 Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 201 Union in Truth by James B. North Transcript for BEMA 201

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey up to the end of the eighteenth century and follow the world of Protestant history as it moves out of the Reformation and through the Age of Enlightenment. AD 1650–1800 Presentation Discussion Video for BEMA 200 Rediscovering Discipleship by Robby Gallaty Transcript for BEMA 200

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings walk through one century of history that experienced an unbelievable amount of change and progress. Even outside of church history, this evolving world was fertile soil for the Reformation. AD 1550–1650 Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 199 Geocentric Model — Wikipedia Heliocentrism — Wikipedia Transcript for BEMA 199

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey from the Crusades and head toward the Protestant Reformation—but on the way, it is good to recognize some names that are often underappreciated. These figures truly paved the way for some of the formative changes coming to Christendom. AD 1300–1550 Presentation Discussion Video for BEMA 198 Transcript for BEMA 198

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine one of the darkest chapters in the history of Christendom. AD 1000–1300 Presentation Discussion Video for BEMA 197 Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller Blue Like Jazz (2012 film) The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong Transcript for BEMA 197

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings walk through three centuries to see the great and famous East-West Schism, look at the idea of icons, and meet Charlemagne as a major character of this era of history. AD 700–1000 Presentation Discussion Video for BEMA 196 Byzantine Iconoclasm — Wikipedia BEMA 0: Introductory Lesson The Genesis of Science by James Hannam Transcript for BEMA 196

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey through the sixth and seventh centuries, examining the early monastic movements. AD 500–700 Presentation Discussion Video for BEMA 195 The Source by James A. Michener Transcript for BEMA 195

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the fourth and fifth centuries and the period of the ecumenical councils of early Christendom. AD 300–500 Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 194 Transcript for BEMA 194

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings walk through the second and third centuries of Church history. Why are we so not-Jewish in our Christian practice today? What happened to cause such a schism between Jews and Christians? AD 100–300 Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 193 Bar Kokhba revolt — Wikipedia Didache — Wikipedia Transcript for BEMA 193

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss what history is, what it isn’t, and give some disclaimers about the intentions of Session 5. Discussion Video for BEMA 192 Making an Impact: Message — Covered in His Dust Constantine’s Sword by James Carroll Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelly The History of Christian Thought by Justo L. González Christian History Project The Fall of Rome Podca...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings prepare for the beginning of Session 5 and our journey through church history by taking one last look in our rearview mirror. Session 5 Intro Presentation (PDF) Bible Book Timeline by Roger Schmidgall Whole Bible Story — BibleTelling, YouTube (via Roger Schmidgall) Sign Up for the BEMA Messenger Discussion Groups Map Join the BEMA Slack Transcript for BEMA 191

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hold the usual capstone conversation, concluding our journey through the remainder of Scripture and reviewing the entirety thereof. Session 4 Capstone Presentation (PDF) Bible Book Timeline by Roger Schmidgall Whole Bible Story — BibleTelling, YouTube (via Roger Schmidgall) Join the BEMA Slack Sign Up for the BEMA Messenger Discussion Groups Map Transcript for...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the book of Revelation and the final verses of our journey through the New Testament, hearing the moving description of a new heaven and a new earth and an old world that has been made new. Discussion Video for BEMA 189 Transcript for BEMA 189

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings confront the great beast of Babylon as it appears in Revelation and consider which part of the story we should align with the most. Discussion Video for BEMA 188 Revelation #14: Babylon’s Demise sermon — YouTube Transcript for BEMA 188

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the voices of those who stood against Empire and paid for it with their lives, and are reminded that Revelation is not a book of futuristic code, but an encouragement to those trying to remain faithful almost 2,000 years ago. Discussion Video for BEMA 187 BEMA Discipleship — News Transcript for BEMA 187

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see dragons and beasts and women riding on them. Who is this beast of land and sea? The same hermeneutic we’ve used throughout Revelation will help us know more. Revelation — Mother and Dragons Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 186 Transcript for BEMA 186

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings press further into Revelation and this epic showdown and holy competition between Empire and Shalom. Discussion Video for BEMA 185 Transcript for BEMA 185

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings put some context behind a cultural device that is setting up John’s Apocalypse, seeing the ancient Olympic Games and wrestling with John’s intent for the letter of Revelation. Discussion Video for BEMA 184 Transcript for BEMA 184

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine some of the context behind the seals of the scroll that are opened and what happens when they are, taking note of the apocalyptic chaos that ensues. Discussion Video for BEMA 183 Transcript for BEMA 183