The BEMA Podcast

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings head into the rest of Revelation and the apocalyptic vision that John is sharing with his persecuted audience, standing in the throne room and paying careful attention to what is seen. Revelation — The Throne Room Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 182 Transcript for BEMA 182

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings travel to the last of the seven churches of John’s apocalypse: Laodicea. We’ve heard the warning against being a “lukewarm Christian.” Is there more context to this idea? Revelation — Lukewarm Laodicea Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 181 The Early Church — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon) TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family) Transc...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine John’s apocalyptic letter to the church of Philadelphia and look for context, as well as Text spoken into that context. Discussion Video for BEMA 180 BEMA 161: 1 Thessalonians — Parousia Transcript for BEMA 180

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wake up in the ancient city of Sardis to see her history and glory, which should help us understand the message in the letter to her church. Revelation — Waking Up in Sardis Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 179 Transcript for BEMA 179

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings consider the idea that John has been deliberately drawing off of apocalyptic prophets while speaking directly into culture, and we add one more layer to our hermeneutical toolbox as it relates to the book of Revelation. Discussion Video for BEMA 178 Transcript for BEMA 178

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the ancient city of Pergamum and hear the letter to their church in its original context. Revelation — Pergamum and Satan’s Throne Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 177 Transcript for BEMA 177

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue to hone a hermeneutical prowess in the realm of apocalyptic literature, taking a look at the letter to Smyrna and asking, “What is the context?” Discussion Video for BEMA 176 Transcript for BEMA 176

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings travel to Ephesus, hearing the first of John’s seven letters in its context. Discussion Video for BEMA 175 BEMA 158: Ephesians — Family Membership Join the BEMA Slack Transcript for BEMA 175

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings prepare for a journey through the book of Revelation, remembering the function and method of apocalyptic literature and trying to remove the “crazy” from the study. Discussion Video for BEMA 174 BEMA 68: Zechariah — Apocalyptic Literature Christ and the Caesars by Ethelbert Stauffer The Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years — A Pinch of Incense by the Christia...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the short, often forgotten, and confusing book of Jude. Just what is Jude talking about? Discussion Video for BEMA 173 BEMA 169: 2 Peter — The Other Side of a Conversation BEMA 156: 1 Corinthians — Broken Body The Book of Enoch — Wikipedia The Book of Enoch — Academy of Ancient Texts The Assumption of Moses — Wikipedia The Assumption of Moses (tex...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a brief but meaningful and reflective journey through the short letter of 3 John, hearing the apostle warn the church about those who are trying to discredit and dismantle the faith. Discussion Video for BEMA 172 BEMA 39: A King After God’s Own Heart Transcript for BEMA 172

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the words of 2 John and toy with the question of who the woman is that John addresses his letter to. Discussion Video for BEMA 171 Transcript for BEMA 171

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the letter of 1 John and his insistence on the role that love plays in truth—and not the other way around. Discussion Video for BEMA 170 Docetism — Wikipedia Transcript for BEMA 170

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the second letter from the Apostle Peter to see how he utilizes the Midrash to encourage the early believers to keep walking in faithfulness and not give in to the temptation to return to the cultural norms around them. Discussion Video for BEMA 169 Sefaria: A Living Library of Jewish Texts The Bible as It Was by James L. Kugel Noah (2014 film) Transcript f...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the first of two letters penned by Peter, hearing the heart of a man who had went everywhere with Jesus—including betrayal and restoration. Discussion Video for BEMA 168 Transcript for BEMA 168

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the book of James and its challenging contents. Love it or hate it, this letter often provokes very strong reactions. Addendum on James — Marty Solomon, YouTube Discussion Video for BEMA 167 Transcript for BEMA 167

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the many different theories and explanations of atonement that have arisen throughout the centuries—a very critical conversation for theology in our day and how we interact with the story. Discussion Video for BEMA 166 A Better Atonement by Tony Jones Did God Kill Jesus? by Tony Jones The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Ward...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin to examine the letter of Hebrews and learn from its potential context, hearing the call for us to be people who suffer well and persevere in the faith and struggle authored by Jesus himself. Discussion Video for BEMA 165 Hebrews (Sermon Series) — Real Life on the Palouse Hebrews Infographic Transcript for BEMA 165

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey through a tiny letter from Paul with a big message to Philemon, enjoying Paul’s light-hearted encouragement to live as Jesus would have us live. Discussion Video for BEMA 164 Transcript for BEMA 164

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the lives of two very different pastors discipled by Paul—Timothy in Ephesus and Titus on Crete—and hear of their different personalities and how Paul uses each of them in his ministry. Addendum to BEMA 163 — Marty Solomon, YouTube Discussion Video for BEMA 163 Walk as Jesus Walked — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon) TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the second letter to Thessalonica, learn about the “Man of Lawlessness,” and wrestle with the implications of this mysterious character. Discussion Video for BEMA 162 Transcript for BEMA 162

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings step into the context of the church in Thessalonica and examine the theme of “parousia.” Discussion Video for BEMA 161 In Search of Paul by John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan L. Reed Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright Transcript for BEMA 161

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the letter to the Colossians, pointing out the unique context that seems to surround the people there and the false thinking that seeks to pervade their lives of worship. Discussion Video for BEMA 160 The Cave: An Adaptation of Plato’s Allegory in Clay — YouTube Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright Transcript for BEMA 160

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear Paul’s warm letter to the Philippians and see him express joy at their faith, love, and generosity as they follow Christ. Discussion Video for BEMA 159 Kingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Farrar Capon Transcript for BEMA 159

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings travel to the second largest city in the Roman Empire and hear the words Paul wrote to the Ephesians. Discussion Video for BEMA 158 Transcript for BEMA 158