Unbinding the Bible

In this episode, I'll read Revelation 21-22 aloud so that we can fully experience John's final vision: a vision of the presence of God dwelling with his people. A fitting end not only to the book of Revelation but also the entire Bible, these final two chapters of Revelation root our hopes firmly in the God who has revealed himself in the person of Jesus Christ.  Unbinding the Bible Video - https:...

This episode is a By the Book conversation with Justin Bailey on his book, Reimagining Apologetics: The Beauty of Faith in a Secular Age. Justin's approach to apologetics for our day is such a breath of fresh air! It's all about the imagination, both what it is and why it matters that we engage people imaginatively. Holding in perfect tension truth, goodness, and beauty, Justin's book addresses ho...

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 21:1-4, paying particular attention to God dwelling with his people. We'll see that the holy city, new Jerusalem (which represents the people of God) comes "down" out of heaven from God, not, as is often imagined, people going "up" to heaven. This insight, coupled with Jesus' teachings about his Father's house from John 14, can reorient us to see the hope...

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 20:7-15, paying particular attention to the one seated on the throne as well as the fire and his perfect judgment that issues from his throne. We'll highlight why final judgment is hopeful for those who've been tormented by sin and death and how having our names written in the Lamb's book of life is meant to transform us while we await that glorious day. ...

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 20:1-6. We'll focus in on the "meaning" of the millennium and the function it serves for the book as a whole, particularly the hope it gives those who've lost their lives at the hand of the beast. 

This episode is a sermon I preached May 24, 2020 (during an outdoor worship gathering) on Jesus' prayer for his followers from John 17. I'm inserting it here on the podcast as a reminder that the biblical storyline is aimed at God once again dwelling with his people. As we near the end of the book of Revelation, it's important to remember these final chapters are describing the shalom between God...

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 19:11-21, hoping to rightly understand what Jesus judging "in righteousness" means. This passage, perhaps more than any other in Revelation, forces us to confront whether we are imposing our own ideas onto Jesus about what his judgment will look like or allowing Jesus to define for us what his judgment will look like. But if we remain open to Jesus definin...

In this episode, I'll give a brief update regarding recent developments in my life and ministry, and ways for listeners to pray with and for me.  Over the remainder of the episode, we'll look at Revelation 19:1-10, the marriage supper of the Lamb. Drawing our attention to history's close, John paints a beautiful scene of the Lamb with his bride; a bride who has made herself ready by clothing herse...

This week's episode is a By the Book conversation with Chuck DeGroat about his book, When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse. Chuck is a gifted counselor whose insights into the insecurities and fears of narcissists can breathe new life into the church. Writing to both the abusers and the abused, Chuck's heart for human flourishing comes out on ev...

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 18:9-24, the destruction of the great city, Babylon. We'll see the main differences between the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God as well as why and how judgment for one is salvation for the other.  Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d094.  Email comments/questions to: UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com. 

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 18:1-8 - the fall of Babylon and the exhortation John gives to Christians to "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues" (18:4). Christians in all times and places need John's exhortation, particularly at times when we join ourselves with ideologies, systems, or structures that will, in the end, be judged by...

The following is a sermon I preached Christmas Eve 2019. Drawing on Isaiah's language regarding the Messiah's government resting on his shoulders, this sermon explores why and how that promise should not be made to mean that "America's" government will rest on his shoulders.  I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! See you in 2021.  Unbinding the Bible Video: https://vimeo.com/381235030/868320d0...

This week's episode is a By the Book Conversation w/Lee Camp, author of the book, Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians. Looking at the Christian faith as a "politic" and not merely as "religious," Scandalous Witness tackles head-on how the Christian faith interacts with the political world, particularly in American partisan politics. This is a conversation you don't want...

In this episode, I will be reading Timothy Dalrymple's Christianity Today article, Why Evangelicals Disagree on the President (published November 2, 2020). I'm inserting it here on the podcast for its helpfulness in understanding what the title of the article suggests: why there can be so much polarization and division between Christians in their responses toward our current president. Identifying...

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 17:9-18. Here, John continues his description of what Rome's military might and resulting economic prosperity look like from God's perspective: a prostitute riding on the back of a giant beast. We'll see how this offers the nations one version of a kingdom while the Lamb and his followers offer the nations another. And then finally we'll see how God's judg...

The following is a sermon I preached October 4, 2020 from Matthew 21:33-44 - Jesus' parable of the tenants. I'm inserting it here on the podcast as a follow-up to last week's By the Book episode with Christopher Wright. I preached this sermon the week I finished Wright's book on idolatry and his insights shape how I understand Jesus' parable.  Unbinding the Bible Video - https://vimeo.com/38123503...

This week's episode is a By the Book Conversation w/Christopher Wright about his book, Here Are Your Gods: Faithful Discipleship in Idolatrous Times. Chris and I talk about idolatry throughout the Old Testament: what it was, why it was so tempting for Israel, and how even Christians today find themselves caught up in many of the same realities. Chris is such a gift to the church and I'm thankful t...

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 17:1-8, John's description of judgment depicted as a woman riding on a red beast. We'll compare John's language here with how he describes the bride of the Lamb in Revelation 21. And we'll see the importance both of what this image represents as well as how the economic exploitation being depicted is often driving much of society's broken sexuality, partic...

In this episode, we'll finish Revelation 16, the final three bowls of God's wrath. We'll see how corrupt systems of darkness and corruption will themselves be thrown into darkness. And we'll pay close attention to John's exhortation for the Christians to whom he is writing not to imagine they stand "above" such critiques, but that any of their own loyalties or beliefs, if found to be in line with...

In this episode, I have a conversation with David Swanson about his book, Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity. As a pastor in Chicago, David regularly navigates racial concerns and is a true gift to the white church, helping us reorient our discipleship practices in such a way that they help better prepare us to face racial brokenness in our world. This is a conv...

This episode is a sermon I preached September 27 of this year while preaching through the gospel of Matthew. The passage is Matthew 20:1-16 - Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard. I preached this same text three years ago and inserted it as a sermon on this podcast as episode 020 - "Do You Begrudge My Generosity?"* I'm publishing this year's version on the podcast as an experiment, as a w...

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 16:1-9 - the pouring out of the first four bowl judgments. We'll pay particular attention to how the judgments of God work themselves out in a "let the punishment fit the crime" kind of way. We'll also highlight the ways in which these judgments mirror the plagues the LORD poured out on Egypt; and in doing so we'll see how the gods of various nations are u...

In this episode, we'll look at Revelation 15 and focus in on the character of God, as one who is both just and true in his ways. Highlighting Jesus as the way God most faithfully revealed his righteousness to the nations, we'll honestly assess how God's judgment is a good thing, particularly for those who've been treated unjustly. 

In this episode, I have a conversation with Rory Shiner about his book, One Forever: The Transforming Power of Being in Christ. As the title suggests, Rory's book is all about our union with Christ, arguably the single-greatest theological reality there is for the Christian. I've spoken loads on this podcast about how connected the church is to Jesus and Rory's book is an outstanding introduction...

In this episode, we'll look at a pattern of sorts that makes up the structure of the book of Revelation. Having already used this pattern repeatedly to help us interpret Revelation, this episode will state it explicitly to further clarify what John is doing. We will find that reading the book in strict chronological order is not the most effective (or correct) way to understand Revelation. Rather,...