Last week I wrote about the problem the church is perpetuating: we create atheists by dealing with the question of evolution poorly. Young adults continue to leave over the perceived posture of broader church culture toward science (this exists in every tradition to a point, but certainly in my home tradition of evangelicalism). One of the biggest challenges when we come to a topic like creation and evolution is that the rules of the conversation have already been set. Evolution... Read more
Both on The Paulcast: A Podcast All About the Apostle Paul and at Pangea Church (Seattle), I have been walking through series on science and scripture. How I go about that now is quite different than I imagine my methods if I were 19. Back then, evolution was off the table. In fact, it wasn’t even something I gave any thought to until 2008 (mid-20s). I was a creationist by default. I had deconstructed (or at least beginning this process):... Read more
During the Season of Lent at Pangea Church (Seattle), we’ve been walking through a series called “Encounters by the Sea.” The basic idea is that Jesus is the one who defeats evil. Here’s a longer summary of the talks: Much of the New Testament narrative of Jesus’ ministry takes place “by the water” – specifically by the Sea of Galilee. In the gospel of Mark especially, some of the most significant and astonishing events in Jesus’ ministry are on or by... Read more
In this post, I continue a bit of a series on books I recommend on the Apostle Paul. This list isn’t exhaustive, in any way. In fact, I have several others I like (sometimes more, perhaps). But this is still the list that I’d say would be a ‘go to’ for where I’d invite people to start in the category of “intermediate” level reading or “academic but accessible.” Last post, I gave a list of intro-level books. If you are... Read more
In this post, I want to point you toward some of my favorite introduction level books on Paul. This isn’t an exhaustive list, and I do not have the seminary student in mind. I do have a person in mind that has some background in the study of Paul in a general sense, but even if you don’t, these books can catch a person up. I also invite your feedback. What other books could I add to this list. Of... Read more
If you want to buy a great gift for the armchair theologian in your life, especially if they are interested in Paul (who isn’t?! hahah), then this guide will be your friend. I want to save you trouble. You don’t have to guess. If your significant other, friend, or family member loves to read up on theology, these books on Paul will most-likely be a “win!” I’ve created this free resource for you, all I ask is that you share... Read more
Yesterday I had a fun conversation with someone who is checking out our church. The topic of “why pray” came up and thus we chatted about ‘open theism.’ This video is a great introduction to the open view of the future. It is about 8 mins long but gives a wonderful introduction to the key issues. A huge thanks to The Work of the People. Our church subscribes to their resources and uses them weekly in our worship environment. You... Read more
Every time a new version of Logos comes out, I get giddy. This is by far the coolest sermon resource that I have. And the endless commentaries, dictionaries, translations, Greek/Hebrew tools, helpful preaching illustrations, interactive images, and so many other helpful resources are just amazing. I may sound like I’m talking this thing up, but honestly, if one harnesses the power of this digital bible study tool, it really creates an opportunity to dive deeper than ever before into the... Read more
This first video is about the gods of the Roman Empire and their influence on the book of Revelation: This second video, is about some important “big ideas” to keep in mind when reading the text of Revelation: Read more
I discuss the need for *nuance* when talking about Paul and LGBTQ folks. The center for Paul and Jesus is always love, no matter where one lands on the traditional--progressive interpretation spectrum of the controversial passages. Love trumps our theological preferences: every single time. Read more
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