The BEMA Podcast

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Brian Truschinger, Elle Grover Fricks, Reed Dent, and Josh Bossé, all together for the very first time to discuss what is happening with BEMA and what we hope for the future. Discussion Video for BEMA 307 BEMA Poll/Survey (valid through 26 April 2023) The BEMA Liturgy Tell It Slant by Eugene Peterson Elle’s Website for Hebrew Classes The Text In Us Po...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Brian David, who spent 37 years coaching people in software, and 25 years coaching high school sports, but now finds himself “coaching” the Text. Chiasms in John by Brian David (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 306 BEMA 28: Images of the Desert — Ar'ar and Tamarisk Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey Star Wars...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Dr. Gary Burge, author of Interpreting the Gospel of John , and one of the foremost authorities on John. He was a professor at Wheaton College for 25 years and now serves as a New Testament scholar at Calvin Theological Seminary. Discussion Video for BEMA 305 Gary M. Burge, Professor of New Testament — Calvin Theological Seminary In...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the different elements of John’s construction and consider some of the scholarly theories and observations that have been made over the years, seeing what there might be to learn in those possibilities. Discussion Video for BEMA 304 Interpreting the Gospel of John by Gary M. Burge Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty Solomon

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a tour through the history of textual criticism that surrounds the Gospel of John and we look at the unique styles and attributes of John’s writing. Discussion Video for BEMA 303 Interpreting the Gospel of John by Gary M. Burge Historical Tradition and Sources in John

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings listen in on the restoration of Peter and consider the conclusion John writes for his Gospel account. Discussion Video for BEMA 302 BEMA 131: Betrayal Pre-order: Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty Solomon

Brent Billings and Reed Dent discuss Thomas—a seemingly strange disciple—and question the nature of doubt and belief. Discussion Video for BEMA 301 “The Seeing Heart” by Frederick Buechner — YouTube “Frederick Buechner, Novelist With a Religious Slant, Dies at 96” by Robert D. McFadden — The New York Times Wishful Thinking by Frederick Buechner “St. Thomas Didymus” by Denise Levertov The Stre...

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks witness the resurrection of Jesus and consider the figure of Miriam the Migdal, more commonly known as Mary Magdalene. Discussion Video for BEMA 300 Isis — Wikipedia Early Christian Women and Pagan Opinion by Margaret Y. MacDonald The Resurrection of Mary Magdalene by Jane Schaberg The Woman Jesus Loved by Antti Marjanen

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings pick up after the moment of Jesus’s death on the cross, looking at the preparations for his burial and the work of two unexpected characters who take their own stand in honoring Jesus. Discussion Video for BEMA 299 Arimathea — Wikipedia

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings dive into John’s account of Jesus’s crucifixion. Discussion Video for BEMA 298 The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel Shmuel Safrai — Wikipedia

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Kat Armas, author of Abuelita Faith , whose earliest theological formation came from her grandmother and ultimately inspired her to tell the stories of those we find on the margins. She teaches people to reflect on the abuelitas in their lives and shows us how to live out this kind of faith on a daily basis. Discussion Video for BEMA 297...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see Jesus arrested, finding himself questioned, Peter questioned, finding himself lacking in courage, and Pilate drawn into an argument, finding himself cornered. Discussion Video for BEMA 296 Join the BEMA Slack

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at Jesus’s famous prayer for unity. Why is this his foremost concern before he goes to the cross? Discussion Video for BEMA 295

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks consider the various words for sacrifices in Hebrew before moving on to the second half of John 16 as we work our way through the Farewell Discourses. Learning Hebrew with Elle — Sacrifices (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 294 Consider the Birds by Debbie Blue Michael Pakaluk — The Catholic University of America George Parsenios — Holy Cross Greek Orthodox...

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue Jesus’s discussion about the place of persecution in the coming days, decades, and centuries. What is the Holy Spirit’s job (or at least one of them) in this process of glorification? Discussion Video for BEMA 293 Join the BEMA Slack

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings spend time in one of the staple passages of Impact Campus Ministries, and a foundational text for intimacy with God. Jesus is the true vine—what can we learn by taking this truth seriously? Discussion Video for BEMA 292 BEMA 24: Creating a Space About — Impact Campus Ministries

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue into Jesus’s discourse in preparation for his death, where he promises the Advocate, the Helper, the Counselor—the Holy Spirit. Discussion Video for BEMA 291 Holy Spirit — BibleProject Join the BEMA Slack

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin Jesus’s final discourse in John as he prepares for his imminent arrest, considering what it means that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Discussion Video for BEMA 290 BEMA 22: Under the Chuppah The Jewish Annotated New Testament by Oxford University Press (NRSV) BEMA 87: John — Grafted BEMA 137: A Dry Tree

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin an examination of the “Book of Hours” or the “Book of Glory.” What does it look like to believe in Jesus? John — Loved to the End Presentation (PDF) Discussion Video for BEMA 289 BEMA 131: Betrayal The Fidelity of Betrayal by Peter Rollins

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Steve Park, founder of Little Lights Urban Ministries in Washington, DC. He teaches race literacy for Christians, provides after-school and summer programs, adult and employment programs, Christian mentoring and Bible studies, and so much more. Discussion Video for BEMA 288 Little Lights The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck The World’...

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé resume an reexamination of John 6 as Jesus continues to subvert the expectations of the people as the second Moses. Discussion Video for BEMA 286/287 Josh Bossé on CaringBridge Join the BEMA Slack

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé examine John 6 for a second time, looking at the test Jesus gives to his disciples as they prepare to feed the 5000. Discussion Video for BEMA 286/287 BEMA 281: John — You Are Gods Josh Bossé on CaringBridge

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finish John’s “Book of Signs” and the concluding examination of belief and disbelief. Discussion Video for BEMA 285 BEMA 64: 3 Isaiah — Servant Thought of the Day: Two Hands of Faith — Marty Solomon, YouTube The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings work toward the closing of the Book of Signs in the Gospel of John as Jesus states that his hour has come. Discussion Video for BEMA 284 BEMA 124: Statement of Triumph The Jewish Annotated New Testament by Oxford University Press (NRSV) Voice of God — Wikipedia

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings consider the Pharisees’ reaction to the raising of Lazarus, as well as the story of Mary anointing Jesus for burial. Discussion Video for BEMA 283 “Missing God in the Name of God” sermon — University Christian Church, YouTube The Jewish Annotated New Testament by Oxford University Press (NRSV)