Ponder Anew Podcast

"But the book of James says that faith without works is dead!"  So goes the classic critique of Lutheran theology.  Turns out, actually, that Luther acknowledged faith without works is dead!  Alas, we will need to muddy the waters before we clean up this mess! As we continue to work our way through the Bible, one book at a time, some discussion questions 1)  What verses challenged you in the book...

Hebrews can be a tough book to read because it makes a lot of dense arguments that rely on a heavy dose of Old Testament quotes.  However, it gets at two basic questions: How do we deal with people who have lost the passion in their faith? Will people who leave the faith be saved? Some questions to ponder 1)  Have you ever known someone who was a "backslider" who walked away from the faith?  What...

In honor of the shortest of Paul's letters, we take up the biggest of questions:  How do Christians respond to evil?  Should and can this response be political?   1) I argue that although Jesus challenged political leaders, he was not interested in change through political means. Does this seem fair? How might you describe Jesus' attitude towards politics to a non-Christian?  2) What are issues --...

Is obedience a virtue?  How do we square the modern command: "Be yourself" with Paul's strong sense of social order, obedience and self-restraint?  As we continue reading through the New Testament, we come to Titus.  It is a short letter, but it gets at a question of vital importance for us in the age of authenticity:  What do we do with the Bible's uplifting of obedience? 1)  Would you agree we a...

Paul didn't write just one, but wrote two letters to Timothy.  We use this opportunity to reflect on Paul's relationship with Timothy, namely, that of a mentor.  We reflect on what it means to be a mentor, especially a spiritual mentor? 1)  Who have been key mentors in your life?  What made them good mentors? 2)  Whom have you mentored? What have you learned about yourself, life or even your "trad...

Why do people not get along on teams, in businesses and in organizations or even churches? As we work through the Bible in a Year, we turn to Paul's first letter to Timothy.  In this letter, Paul is seeking to help his mentee, Timothy, manage the church.  It may surprise us to consider that so early on in the church life, they needed to develop clarity around church leadership positions.  However,...

The oldest written evidence of what the first Christian communities look like is... Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians! One of the themes that emerges in this letter is Paul's concern for Christians returning/assimilating to the broader culture around them.  He quite often reflects on the idea of holiness in the letter. 1)  What do you think about when you hear the word "holiness"? 2)  What...

Probably the briefest book of the Bible that will get its own podcast in our reading of the Bible:  Colossians.  But, wow, there is so much in this short epistle! Some questions: 1)  What did you make of Pastor Rob's claim that Christianity demands theology? 2)  Do you consider the Gospel writers to be theologians?  How might you answer the question:  How do Matthew, Mark, Luke and John distinctly...

"Paul seems different than Jesus!"  Sometimes Paul says things in his letters that don't quite resonate.  In fact, they confuse, if not even offend us.  As we continue working through the Bible, one book at a time, we come to Ephesians.  We will use this letter to take up the question of what we make of Paul today, when some of the things he says seem to come from a galaxy far, far away and a long...

As we head into Easter, we resume our weekly podcast, picking up with the book of Philippians.  This is admittedly not the directly next book in the Bible, but Philippians 2 is part of the Holy Week readings and as the podcast reveals, Pastor Rob has an argument to make:  Paul is not responsible for American Christianity's focus on the individual, the transactional nature of religion and its escap...

Two weeks ago, we heard about Paul telling Christians in Corinth that just because Jesus had come doesn't mean they could throw aside all ethical considerations.  This week, as we read Galatians, we hear Paul telling Christians that the ethical doesn't amount to much. What is going on?  This week we delve into the brilliant theology of Paul in his letter to the Galatians, but also begin to unpack...

As we work our way through the Bible, one book each week, we come to 2nd Corinthians.  In some ways, the book reads as an awkward apology and fundraising letter at the same time.  Ouch!  On the other hand, it reads as a very personal reflection, by Paul, on what it means to have Jesus with us in times of suffering, challenge and division.  Paul writes about the cross in 1st Corinthians.  But in 2n...

"Love is patient, love is kind."  These are familiar words.  But the original audience wasn't a couple on their wedding day, but a dysfunctional and divided congregation! 1st Corinthians presents us with a society and congregation divided by wealth, status and religious background.  Paul will have to marshal all the theological resources he has to reorient these people back toward Christ and towar...

I confess, we didn't make it through the Bible in a Year.  We did finish the Old Testament though.  The culprit is the group that meets locally to discuss these podcasts feasted on them and didn't want to miss episodes when the group couldn't meet during the summer and the holidays. But we pick back up with Romans!  For this podcast, I want to tie together the personal impact of Paul's letter to t...

The most important book for the church in the 21st century?  That is my claim!   As we continue to work through the Bible, one book per week, we move into the book of Acts.  This book records what happened after Jesus was risen from the dead and how the church began to spread throughout the Roman Empire.   I offer this book is supremely important for us in the 21st century, when the church again f...

In the Beginning was the Word.  The Gospel of John presents Jesus as an intimate friend who is caring, strong and compassionate.  Yet, the Gospel of John also has layers of symbolism and theology that make it a source of unending reflection. As we continue reading through the Bible in a year, we enjoy the Gospel of John this week.  I have included a few more suggested readings because there will b...

Perhaps the greatest storyteller the world has ever known -- Luke, the Gospel writer!  Pastor Rob reflects on what makes Luke so unique (his emphasis on women!) and also compelling. We continue reading the bible, one book, each week.  This week we work through the Gospel of Luke.  Seven chapters to read: Chapter 1 (Jesus birth); Chapter 4 (Temptation and first sermon); Chapter 5 (Call of Simon); C...

There is a reason the medieval times depicted the Gospel writer Mark with a lion!!  The Jesus we meet is on the prowl, ready for battle. As we work through the "Reading the Bible in a Year" I would encourage you, actually, not so much as to read Mark's Gospel, but listen to it.  It is meant to be read, perhaps even around a camp fire.  You will hear the intensity much more than you will read it. ...

The greatest story ever begins with ... a geneaology? As we continue moving through the Bible, we finally get to turn to the New Testament, starting with the Gospel of Matthew.  Since we spent the last year reading through the Old Testament, Pastor Rob shows how the Gospel writer Matthew brilliantly weaves together the Old and New Testaments throughout his Gospel, starting with this genealogy of J...

Is Jonah a story about a great big fish? Hardly -- it is a story about a great big God and the great big love of that God. Which sounds great, except that God's love is sometimes experienced like ... well... vomit of a fish that puts us back on the right path. We've been working through one book of the Bible each week this year, but we are doing a bit of cherry picking here with the minor prophets...

We finally come to the 12 Minor Prophets:  Hosea, Joel, Amos, etc. Does this mean 12 podcasts?  Pastor Rob finds a cosmic loop hole to avoid this... we think! This podcast will focus on the anger that often appears in the prophets, including the 12 "Minor" prophets, which we will treat as one book. Suggested readings Amos 5:1-24  Joel 2  Micah 4:1-5  Micah 5  Micah 6:1-8  Malachi 3  Malachi 4 Hose...

"Read the writing on the wall!"  From Paul Simon to even Bob Marley, the stories and images from the book of Daniel make their way into pop culture.   Yet, this book is rarely studied, especially in mainline or Catholic churches.  Why is that?  Because it fell victim to the modernist-fundamentalist debates.  After some commentary on how we might transcend that (nasty) fight, we look at what the bo...

Ezekiel saw 'da wheel, way up in the middle of the sky! As we move ahead in reading the Bible, one book at a time, we come to the great prophet Ezekiel.   The book has many harsh words and terrifying images; yet it also has powerful visions of hope and new life, such as the story of dry bones coming to life.  How do we move beyond being bewildered though?  I offer that knowing the story of Ezekiel...

An entire book of...lament!!   As we work through the Bible, one book at a time, we come to Lamentations.  It feels a bit out of place here, in the midst of the prophets, but we will get into that in the podcast.  More importantly, we will learn what this book can teach us today about lament. I have not highlighted parts of the book to read, because you can easily read one chapter a day! Questions...

Note:  The podcast has an extra section after the "last trumpet."  This is more historical background on how the book of Jeremiah was formed.  This may or may not be for Biblical history buffs. Next up as we walk through the Bible in a Year:  Jeremiah.   Jeremiah runs high on emotions, as the Word of Lord consumes the prophet.  Because this Word brings the deepest judgment and the most too-good-to...