The BEMA Podcast

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings bring the discussion of the Gospels to a close with a brief look at the resurrection and the great commission. Discussion Video for BEMA 132 Living Hope sermon — YouTube The Final Week #7: Just One Hope sermon — YouTube Transcript for BEMA 132

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the betrayals of Jesus and discuss which characters are involved in it. Discussion Video for BEMA 131 BEMA 79: Silent Years — Zealots Fidelity of Betrayal by Peter Rollins Transcript for BEMA 131

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the question of who brought about Jesus’s execution, acknowledging the different characters at play and the role they each had. Discussion Video for BEMA 130 BEMA 76: Silent Years — Sadducees The Last Week by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan Transcript for BEMA 130

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings set the stage for the final week of Jesus’s earthly ministry. Discussion Video for BEMA 129 The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel The Last Week by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan A Better Atonement by Tony Jones Did God Kill Jesus? by Tony Jones A Community Called Atonement by Scot McKnight Transcript for BEMA 129

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at one of the most perplexing passages of Jesus’s ministry, asking if this is about the end times or ancient times. Faithful and Wise Steward Presentation (PDF) Addendum to BEMA 128 — Marty Solomon, YouTube Discussion Video for BEMA 128 Transcript for BEMA 128

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings dive into the list of woes Jesus gives to the Pharisees and ask what kind of person Jesus is describing. Discussion Video for BEMA 127 The Last Week by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan Transcript for BEMA 127

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see the religious leadership of both Pharisees and Sadducees attempting to trap Jesus with a series of testing questions, and witness the rabbinical brilliance of Jesus as a Jewish teacher. Discussion Video for BEMA 126 Trapped by a Question Presentation (PDF) The Parables by Brad H. Young (cites Flusser extensively) The Parable of the Good Samaritan — Reed Dent, C...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see Jesus go on the offensive, confronting the corrupt priesthood that rules in Jerusalem. Discussion Video for BEMA 125 BEMA 80: Silent Years — Pharisees BEMA 76: Silent Years — Sadducees BEMA 51: 1 Isaiah — Vineyard Transcript for BEMA 125

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the triumphal entry and Jesus’s confrontation of religious corruption on all sides. Discussion Video for BEMA 124 Caesarea Maritima — Wikipedia Map of Israel in New Testament Times — Wikimedia Commons Transcript for BEMA 124

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the parable of the vineyard, a generous God, and the interactions that follow as Jesus makes his way towards Jerusalem. Discussion Video for BEMA 123 Rabbi Jesus by Bruce Chilton Transcript for BEMA 123

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings find our understanding of divorce challenged by Jesus, and an ancient discussion taking place between the rabbis about the importance and value of people. Discussion Video for BEMA 122 The Ten Commandments — Aleph Beta Academy Subscribe to Aleph Beta Academy BEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership. Transcript for...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the many teachings of Matthew 18, including some parables and rabbinic insights from Jesus. Discussion Video for BEMA 121 Love Wins by Rob Bell Erasing Hell by Francis Chan BEMA 36: The Redemption Cycle The Queen You Thought You Knew by Rabbi David Fohrman BEMA 70: Esther — Purim The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant — Reed Dent, Campus Christian Fellowshi...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings join Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration as Jesus talks about his exodus with Moses and Elijah. Discussion Video for BEMA 120 The BEMA Messenger Shaping Faith #5: Fasting sermon — YouTube Transcript for BEMA 120

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine Peter’s great confession at Caesarea Philippi and the intense conversation that follows. The Gates of Hell Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 119 On the Early Church: Conquering the Gates of Hell — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon) TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family) The BEMA Messenger Transcript for BEMA 119

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the story of the feeding of the four thousand and watch the disciples struggle to apply its meaning. Discussion Video for BEMA 118 Map of Tyre and Sidon in relation to the Galilee Sign Up for the BEMA Messenger Transcript for BEMA 118

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, with special guest Dr. Christopher Gambino, talk about Jesus’s critique of rabbinic traditions and the surprise he encounters in the region of Phoenicia. Discussion Video for BEMA 117 Dr. Christopher Gambino on Twitter The Shuvah Project Transcript for BEMA 117

Brent Billings introduces the story of Peter walking on water and Marty Solomon interacts with it by sharing some of his thoughts originally written years ago. Discussion Video for BEMA 116 In the Dust of the Rabbi — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon) TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family) Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell NOOMA 008: Dust by Rob Bell She Giggled (Part 1) — Covered in His Dust S...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, with special guest Dr. Christopher Gambino, look at Jesus’s time in Nazareth, pass briefly through the beheading of John the Baptist, and land in the story of feeding the 5000. Discussion Video for BEMA 115 Dr. Christopher Gambino on Twitter The Evangelists’ Calendar by M. D. Goulder The Shuvah Project Transcript for BEMA 115

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, with special guest Corey Knadler, look at the final parable in the string of teachings found in Matthew 13, searching for the p’shat, remez, and drash found in the story of fish caught in a net. Discussion Video for BEMA 114 Corey Knadler on Twitter Why the Midrash Has Abraham Thrown into Nimrod’s Furnace — TheTorah.com Transcript for BEMA 114

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, with special guest Corey Knadler, discuss the next two parables of Jesus in Matthew 13. Discussion Video for BEMA 113 Corey Knadler on Twitter Transcript for BEMA 113

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings try to learn from Jesus’s puzzling explanation for the parable of the weeds. Discussion Video for BEMA 112 Transcript for BEMA 112

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at two intimately connected parables in the stories of a crazy farmer and his mustard seed, and a credulous woman and her baked goods. Discussion Video for BEMA 111 BEMA 11: Here I Am The Parable of the Leaven — LeAnn Dent, Campus Christian Fellowship Sermons — Campus Christian Fellowship, Truman State University Transcript for BEMA 111

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings learn how to engage the methods of rabbinical teaching and unpack what a rabbi is trying to accomplish with his cryptic instructions. Addendum to BEMA 110 — Marty Solomon, YouTube Discussion Video for BEMA 110 Hayamim: A Proposal [this event happened in 2019] BEMA 12: A Mission Realized Jewish Hermeneutics — Covered in His Dust Transcript for BEMA 110

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin an exciting trip through the parables of Jesus, starting with his conversation about four different soils. Discussion Video for BEMA 109 Hayamim: A Proposal [this event happened in 2019] BEMA 27: Images of the Desert — Rotem and Acacia Transcript for BEMA 109

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the critique of the Pharisees who want to write off Jesus’s ministry as the work of evil. They also see Jesus field their request for a sign. Discussion Video for BEMA 108 Beelzebub — Wikipedia Transcript for BEMA 108