Whiskey and the Writings

or many of us, reading the Bible came with pressure. Bible in a year plans. Daily quotas. Guilt when we fell behind. Shame when we stopped altogether. Over time, the Bible became less about wisdom and more about obligation. In this episode of Whiskey in the Writings, I want to offer a different starting point. Instead of reading the Bible like a rulebook or an answer key, we explore what it means...

What happens when you create a space for honest questions, deep faith, and thoughtful conversation, and commit to showing up every single week? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, I’m looking back on our first full year together. We talk about why this channel exists, what worked in 2025, what didn’t, and what I learned along the way. From church hurt and doubt to growth, discipline, and...

Every Christmas we sing about baby Jesus in the manger. But have you ever stopped to ask, why did Jesus come at all? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings we slow down, pour a drink, and wrestle with a big question behind the nativity story. Was Jesus’ mission just about your “personal salvation” and getting you to heaven when you die. Or is the Bible actually telling a much bigger story abo...

What if the earliest Christians saw power in a completely different way than most churches do today. In this episode of Whiskey in the Writings, we slow down with Philippians 2 and look at one of the oldest Christian poems about Jesus.

What does it really mean to think like the Messiah? And where did Paul believe he would go when he died? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we continue our journey through Philippians and explore how Paul invites his community to adopt the mind of Christ. We look at why he refuses to sweat the small stuff, why he believes his life still has meaningful work to do, and why the way we live...

What does it really mean to be a servant of Jesus. Is it blind obedience or something deeper. In this episode we slow down with the letter to the Philippians and look at how Paul understood servanthood, prayer, wisdom, and love. If you have ever wondered how to follow Jesus without losing yourself, or how to read the Bible in a way that makes sense for a modern thinker, this conversation is for yo...

Before you ever read the letter to the Philippians, there is a wild origin story sitting in Acts 16. In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we slow down, pour a glass of Blantons, and look at how a wealthy woman named Lydia, a slave girl, and a Roman jailer all become part of the very first Jesus community in Philippi. We will trace how Paul first arrived in this proud Roman colony, why Lydi...

If you have ever opened the Bible and wondered where to start or how to make sense of it, this one is for you. I share a simple way to read the Bible slowly and well, we explore two historic views of God’s judgment (punitive and restorative), and I answer a viewer’s question about who I am and why this channel exists. We look at Mark’s Gospel, context, footnotes, and the kind of reading that leads...

Most people think the Bible teaches a fiery place of eternal torture called “hell.” But what if that image didn’t actually come from Scripture? In this episode, we trace how three ancient words Sheol, Hades, and Gehenna — got blended together through centuries of translation and theology to form the modern idea of hell. We’ll look at what the Hebrew writers actually believed, what Jesus meant by “...

Progressive Christianity is growing—and so is the controversy around it. Some say it’s breathing new life into faith by asking hard questions and re-centering Jesus. Others argue it’s diluting Christianity and leaving behind historic truth. In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings , we’ll explore what’s really behind the debate: Why progressive Christianity is seen as threatening to conservativ...

Most of us look for God in the big moments—miracles, worship, answers to prayer. But what if God has been quietly showing up in the ordinary all along? In the laughter of friends, the morning coffee ritual, the walk through falling leaves. In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings , we talk about what it means to notice God in the everyday moments we often overlook. We’ll look at stories from Sc...

Have you ever sat in silence, wanting to pray but not knowing what to say? You’re not alone. For many of us, prayer can feel awkward, forced, or even pointless when we’re not sure God is listening. But what if prayer was never meant to be perfect words or polished thoughts? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings , we talk about what it means to pray when you feel lost for words. We’ll look at...

Why do so many people feel like church isn’t a safe place to bring their struggles, doubts, or pain? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings , we’ll take an honest look at the ways churches sometimes fail to be spaces of grace and safety. From fear of judgment, to leaders who minimize pain, to a culture that prizes appearance over authenticity—these realities can leave people hiding in silence...

Apologetics is often seen as the frontline defense of the Christian faith. But what if this practice of proving, debating, and defending is actually doing more harm than good? In this video, we’ll explore why apologetics may be unintentionally damaging Christianity, how it can miss the heart of faith, and what a better way forward could look like. Whether you’re skeptical, spiritually curious, or...

Is the Bible inerrant? Christians often debate whether Scripture is without error, but the real question is deeper than that. What do we even mean when we say the Bible is “inerrant” or “inspired”? Does believing in God’s Word mean we have to ignore history, science, or contradictions? In this video, we’ll explore the origins of the idea of biblical inerrancy, how early Christians thought about Sc...

This video is different from my usual format. Instead of reviewing or teaching in the same way, I want to pause and process the heartbreaking events unfolding in our country. This is not about politics. It is about Jesus, His kingdom, and what it means to follow Him in the middle of violence, fear, and division. We’ll look at Scriptures that show us how Christians are called to respond—with kindne...

When most people think about church, they think about what they can get out of it—good music, inspiring sermons, or a sense of belonging. But what if church was never meant to be centered around you? In this video, we’ll explore what the Bible actually says about the purpose of church and why that’s good news for those who feel disillusioned by it. If you’ve been burned by church or you’re wonderi...

Why do so many church leaders fail the very people they are supposed to serve? From scandals to burnout, from power struggles to broken trust, the crisis in church leadership has left countless people questioning their faith and walking away from the church altogether. In this video, we’ll look honestly at what’s going wrong with church leaders today, why so much brokenness comes from those in pow...

A lot of us have wrestled with the question: Do I really need to go to church to follow Jesus? In this video, I dive into what the Bible actually says about church, community, and what it means to live out faith today. We’ll look at the word ekklesia in the New Testament, explore how the earliest Christians practiced their faith, and ask whether modern church culture really lines up with Jesus’ vi...

You’ve probably asked it before: Why am I here? What am I supposed to do with my life? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we go back to the very beginning—Genesis 1 and 2—to explore what the Bible really says about human vocation. Spoiler: it’s not just about getting into heaven. It’s about building something beautiful here and now. We’ll uncover how your purpose is deeply connected to b...

What if your identity didn’t begin with your failures — but with something sacred? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings , we explore what it really means to be made in the image of God. From the ancient Hebrew words tselem and demut in Genesis 1, to how Jesus restores what was broken, this video unpacks the biblical story of human dignity, divine purpose, and the true path to healing. Wheth...

Why do pain and suffering exist if God is good? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, Joe Oliver explores a deeper perspective on the problem of evil. Drawing from the prophet Habakkuk, Romans 8, and real-world examples of natural and human-caused suffering, Joe wrestles honestly with one of the biggest questions of faith. What if God’s answer to suffering… is you? Discover how the biblical...

Why does the Bible end the way it does—and what does it actually mean for us today? In Part 3 of this Bible overview series, we explore the final act of the story: the arrival of Jesus, the rise of a new kind of humanity, and a vision of heaven that’s not about escaping earth—but restoring it. If you’ve ever felt lost reading the Bible or unsure how it all fits together, this video is for you. We’...

Ever opened your Bible to the middle and wondered, “What is going on here?” You’re not alone. From strange laws to violent stories, the middle section of Scripture can feel like a theological minefield — even contradictory to the message of Jesus. In this episode, we explore Act Two of the Bible’s larger narrative: the Law, the Rule, and the Loss. Why did Israel want a king like everyone else? Wha...

Most people read the Bible like it’s a rulebook—or they avoid it altogether because it just doesn’t make sense. But what if you’ve been missing the bigger story? In this episode of Whiskey and the Writings, we take a 30,000-foot view of the entire Bible—from Genesis to Revelation—and break it down into a simple three-act structure: The Setup, The Conflict, and The Resolution. This is the framework...