Afleveringen
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Pastor Colby is the author of Unclobber and The Shift. Check out Ep 3.26 for our conversation on Unclobber. Today, Pastor Colby and Pastor A.J. unpack some differences between conservative evangelical perspectives and a more Lutheran one, some sacramental theology, and sin from different perspectives. Pastor Colby shares different perspectives on theology and what were things that were âshiftedâ in his discernment away from conservative evangelicalism.
Discussion Questions:
1. What have you been taught about different kind of Christians?
2. What is your working sacramental theology?
3. What do you think humans have done with this knowledge to know what is âgood and evilâ?
4. What is your working definition of sin? How does what Pastor Colby explains about hamartia change your understanding of sin?
5. What does this tell us about God?
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The Queer Bible Study group at the Jacksonville Campus Ministry unpack Paul. They talk about different perspectives on Paul, his personality, his faith, and his potential queerness. Dive into hear these amazing college students share their faith, theology, and perspectives on one of our Biblical writers! Episode guests include: Rev. Sarah Locke, Sam Rakita, Annaliese Trammel, & Geo Peterson.
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever thought about Paulâs personality and how it influences his writings?
2. Can you relate to the queer experience of âthe thorn in my sideâ?
3. How can this queer perspective on Paulâs work help us to make space for peopleâs beliefs and feelings?
4. The group mentions that Paul is a baby Christian, what gives us authority?
5. What does this tell you about God?
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Pastor Carla and Pastor A.J. dive into Philippians 3:17â4:1 for Sunday, March 16, 2025. Paul is talking to Roman colonizers in Philippi and challenging them to look to Christ and the apostles for behavior guidance for living out their calling as followers of Christ. What is their emphasis? Their nation? Their privileges? Or looking towards equity for all people in the body of Christ?
Discussion Questions:
1. How can we use our privilege to move forward the body of Christ?
2. What does it mean to be an ally to you?
3. What is your understanding of equity in the Body of Christ?
4. What would imitating the early church leaders look like to you?
5. What is the Good News?
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Pastor Sarah and Pastor A.J. dive into the âGospel according to Paul in a nutshellâ from 1st Corinthians 15. What does it mean to believe in vain? What does a faith that lives out the Gospel look like? Paul brings us into the word, speaking about how he was lifeless and in the promise of Jesusâ death and resurrection, he is given new life.
Discussion Questions:
How do you understand Paulâs comment of being âlifelessly bornâ?Is your theology rooted more in Jesusâ ministry or in Jesusâ death and resurrection?What would it look like to you to âbelieve in vainâ?How do you view who is included in the Body of Christ?What is the Good News?Other Notes:
Link to Bishop Ortiz response to Bishop Buddeâs sermon: https://metrodcelca.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/As-dawn-broke-over-D.C.%E2%80%94Reflecting-on-Bishop-Buddes-Sermon.pdf
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This week, we are diverging from the Bible to address the most uncomfortable conversation: Religion and Politics. Whatâs going on right now in the religious state of the union? Seems like a lot, what do we listen to and what is even true? I donât know where you get your religious news, but let me introduce you to Jack Jenkins. Hereâs just a little interview with my favorite religion reporter in DC. Jack has access to a lot of events and people to keep us up to date on the current state of our religious situation in the United States. A lot has been happening and we brought Jack in just to give us a little insight into what is going on.
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The story of Josephâs reunion with his brothers is filled with hope, despair, and lots of tears. Dr. Chan and Pastor A.J. dive into this uncomfortable reunion and ask the big questions about Godâs interventions in our midst. We tackle everything from Divine Providence, theodicy, and even predestination theology. Join us for this deep conversation! We discuss Genesis 45:3-11, 15 for Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is your working theology on how God intervenes in our lives?
2. Where is God in the midst of suffering?
3. Does God have a âpredeterminedâ path for our lives?
4. Where do you see hope in Godâs intervention in our lives?
5. Where is the Good News?
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Good News? Pastor Jesse and Pastor A.J. dive into the Sermon on the Plain from the Gospel of Luke. Blessed are you and woe to you! How does this compare to the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew? What is the author of Luke really getting at? And for goodness sakes, where is the hope?! Luke 6:17-26 for Sunday, February 16, 2025.
Discussion Questions:
1. How do you hear the Blessings and Woes? Is it hope or warning?
2. How do you understand this in context of Jesusâ greater message?
3. What do you think the implications of the âyâallâ are in Jesusâ words?
4. What does collective hope mean to you?
5. What is the Good News?
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Surprise episode! Hello from Athens! Pastor A.J. is on a Footsteps of Paul trip in Greece and Turkey this January. During this late night clergy chat episode we dive into what we are learning about Paul and our discernment with Pauline theology. Weâve got some good questions, nuggets of theology to share, and some VERY contagious laughter! Pastor A.J. is joined by the Rev. Samm Melton-Hill, the Revs. Sarah and Daniel Locke, and the Rev. Emily Lloyd as we stare at the Acropolis and work through Pauline theology.
Discussion Questions:
âWhat is your working theology around the doctrine of justification or conversion?âWhere do you discern transformation in your faith journey?âWhat do you take from these pastorsâ comments on this theology?âWhat does this tell us about God? -
Itâs almost Christmas! We dive into the Magnificat. The story where a teenage girl who recently found out sheâs pregnant runs to her bestie to share the news. In the words of Debie Thomas, âletâs linger here for a minute.â Linger with Pastor Allison and Pastor A.J. in this moment of dangerous hope for the world to come! Advent 4, December 22, 2024.
Discussion Questions:
What relationships do you have that are just loving and not competitive? Where do you see God turning things upside down or doing some âholy levelingâ? Where do you see this dangerous hope in the world? What power is in this hope? What does this tell us about God? -
John the Baptist comes to share the good news of some fire and brimstone and pave the way for Jesus. But is John really that harsh? Could it be that John is calling everyone into the kingdom of God rather than calling people out? Check out this conversation with Pastor Becca Seely for Advent 3, December 15, 2024.
Discussion Questions:
What has been your working theology around John the Baptistâs purpose in the beginning of the gospel? Calling out versus calling in When is the Good News uncomfortable for you? What prayerful Advent practices do you have? What do you think John is asking of his listeners compared to Jesus? What does this tell us about God? -
Pastor Lori and Pastor A.J. talk about John the Baptist in our Advent 2 Gospel lesson. We dive into equity, our baptismal promises, and what repentance means in our lives today. Join us for this conversation on Luke 3:1-6 for Sunday, December 8th, 2024.
Discussion Questions:
Where do we see God entering the world? What is significant for our understanding of this text to understand âworldâ as the political, powerful realm? What does repentance mean to you? How often do we look at our own individual repentance? What are your baptismal promises? What do they mean to you? What does this tell us about God? -
We are diving into our Gospel lessons from Luke for the Advent Season. Itâs quite apocalypsy and we are challenged by what Jesus says. Is it the end of everything? Maybe not. Maybe Jesus is just calling for the end of the empire. What is the hope in this? What are we supposed to do with this message? Dive into Luke 21:25-36 with us for Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Discussion Questions:
What can we take from these words of Jesus about our today world? Jesus is the opposite of the empire in this and most of the Gospels. What do we do in our fractured Christianity in regards to government? Where do you see hope in the message? Where do you see Jesus in scripture challenging you? What is our call in a time such as this? What does this tell us about God? -
The pinnacle text of terror, buckle up. Pastor Andrew and Pastor A.J. dive into our last installment of the Judges study with the hardest violence for us to wrestle with: violence where God does not show up. What do we make of this in our faith and our lives? This discussion is about the Leviteâs concubine in Judges 19. Discussion guide is available at www.tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges
Discussion Questions:
Do we accept this treatment of women as just a part of history? Or something systemic still at play? What do you make of the silence of God in this story? What do you make of the question of âtheodicyâ? The age old question of where is God? When and how does God show up? What agency is on us? Do we need to ask for help to receive it from God? How do we use the law to create our own society and what we want even if itâs contrary to what God may want for us? I.e. pick and choose Old Testament laws to enforce? Who is sacrificed at the altar of the phallocentric world? What is your working theology of violence in the bible after this study? What does this tell us about God?Other notes:
âHomophobia and Masculine Domination in Judges 19-21â James Harding, University of Otago, New Zealand, published November 2, 2016 in the journal: The Bible & Critical Theory. https://bibleandcriticaltheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/vol12-no2-2016-homophobia-and-masculine-domination-harding-662-2594-1-PB-1iuc3eo.pdf Dr. Crystal Hallâs Women in Ministry and Money Workshop: https://www.crystalhallphd.com/events
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In our 4th installment of our Judges Study, we take a look at the second part of Samsonâs story: the part where Delilah tricks him, cuts his hair, and he commits mass murder with his own suicide. Where does God fit into all of this? Join Pastor Bre and Pastor A.J. in this heavy conversation about Samsonâs final vindictive act. Discussion guide is available on our website: tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges
Discussion Questions:
If Samsonâs story is a literary story for the need for a hero in exile, what is the point of this story? What do you think Delilahâs agency is in this situation? The Devil? Saving her people? Just between a rock and a hard place as a woman? Does it matter who Delilah is or what her motivations are? Do you think that Samsonâs actions are an act of deliverance? Does God allow these bad things to happen to them? Why? What does this mean for us? What does this tell us about God? -
We are in week 3 of our special Judges study about God-Ordained Violence. We pick up this week with Samson. Samson is a figure that has been held in high regard as a hero of Israel⊠but is he? Tune into this conversation with Pastor Elise to learn more about his story and the violence that surrounds this iconic biblical figure. Study guide for this episode is available at tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges
Discussion Questions:
1. What have you learned about Samson in Sunday School? How did this reading and discussion change your image of Samson?
2. Do you see Samson as a deliverer? Why would God ordain Samsonâs actions of violence?
3. The slippery slope, what is the point of all of these stories in our scripture?
4. Is this violence Godâs way or is it our way?
5. God still cares for Samson through all of his ups and downs. What does this tell us about how God relates to us?
6. What does this tell us about God?
Downloadable discussion guide: tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges
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In week 2 of our Judges: A Study of God-Ordained Violence, we pick up with the judge: Gideon. Gideon has a large army to defeat their enemies but God wants them to do it with a smaller army to get all the glory. Pastor Kyle gives us some great grace-filled insight into God and our relationship with the divine during troubled times. Discussion guide at: www.tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges
Discussion Questions:
1. How have you experienced the conditioning of men versus women and glorifying violence?
2. How do you hear that God wants them to get glory with a small army so they canât have it themselves? Is this God ordaining this violence? Or is it what Pastor Kyle says, âif you want violence, Iâll give it to you,but itâs not what you need.â
3. âPower and violence are the things people want more than they want true wisdom, God offers the better and we keep taking the worse. We have as much free agency as we want and God says you can keep taking the bad as much as you want until you realize itâs just too bad for you.â Are these actions of God actually out of love?
4. Pastor Kyle introduces the threshing floor versus wine press metaphor. Are we trying to do it the wrong way and just missing Godâs instructions?
5. Is God anti-violent or non-violent? Do you get that in the story of Gideon?
6. What does this tell us about God?
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Rabbi Evan and Pastor A.J. dive into the first part of our new study of God-ordained Violence. We outline some background information for Judges, talk about the specific story that takes place under the leadership of the Judge Deborah, including a tent stake through the head. The next 5 weeks will include uncomfortable conversations around violence that happens in the Bible, Godâs role in this, and how do we respond. This episode talks about Judges 4:12-24. You can download the study guide materials at https://www.tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges
Discussion Questions:
1. Before we start, how do you perceive violence in the Bible?
2. How do you theologically understand âGod-ordainedâ violence in the Bible?
3. How do you perceive Jaelâs actions? Hospitality? Hospitality in times of war?
4. What is your theological understanding about the 5th commandment? In times of war?
5. Listening to Rabbiâs perspective on this violence, what differences do you notice in your own theology?
6. What does this tell us about God?
Other notes:
1. Visual for Song of the Sea/Song of Deborah: https://www.museumofthebible.org/magazine/collections/yom-va-yosha-and-the-song-of-the-sea
2. ELCA Social Statement on Peace: https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/PeaceSS.pdf?_ga=2.58500010.1204821829.1726546425-502595238.1726546425
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We have reached the end of season 3 and with it, some tough questions. The "circumcised" or "uncircumcised"? Who is in, who is out, and who is closer to God? Spoiler alert, no one. The author of Ephesians draws us in to ask some very important questions of our time and face head on what it means to put the hostility in our world to death on the cross. This is no small feat.. join with us in this hard conversation. Pastors A.J. and Bishop Gohl discuss Ephesians 2:11-22 for Sunday, July 21, 2024.
Discussion Questions:
1. What hostilities do we (you) need to put to death?
2. What do Paul's words say to us in our current reality?
3. How do we understand the grace that is given to both sides?
4. What is our role in the storm as followers of Jesus?
5. Where is the Good News?
DISCLAIMER: This episode was recorded before the shooting at former President Trump's campaign rally. Though, I think it should be taken into consideration in light of these words from Ephesians.
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Pastors A.J. and Andrew go on some long tangents but bring us home to some super powerful topics. John the Baptist is beheaded on a sacrificial altar of power. Many people in our world are sacrificed on similar altars. Who is sacrificed? What privileges do we have and how do we recognize them and understand them in our world? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus in the world filled with altars of power? We dive into Mark 6:14-29 for Sunday, July 14th, 2024.
Discussion Questions:
1. Who is being sacrificed in the story?
2. Who gets sacrificed in your community?
3. What is your privilege biography?
4. How does this affect how you see the world?
5. What is our call as followers of Christ?
6. What's the Good News?
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Pastor Emily and Pastor A.J. veer away from the lectionary once again to talk about a bit of an uncomfortable topic: the destruction of Sodom. Join in this conversation as we dispel the homophobia in this text and discuss the true issue at play here: hospitality. What does it mean for us to be hospitable as children of God? Dive into our conversation about radical welcome in the name of Christ.
Discussion Questions:
1. What does hospitality mean to you?
2. What does it mean that God values hospitality so highly?
3. What are grey area decisions that we have to make?
4. What does it mean to be hospitable in the church?
5. What covenant would you come up with as a community?
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