Context Matters

Brad Nelson and Brad Gray from Walking the Text continue their conversation about the rich theology embedded in every phrase of the Lord's Prayer. How does "Holy be Your name" involve the community of believers? Why is receiving and giving forgiveness so essential? This is only a taster for their new film called "The Lord's Prayer" and their recently released  book titled Bringing Heaven Here. 

Explore the wealth of resources at Walking the Text

Watch the movie trailer for The Lord's Prayer

Purchase the book Bringing Heaven Here

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So many of us memorized the Lord's Prayer. Some congregations quote it together every week. It is so familiar that we don’t always stop to think about the theologically rich statements it is making. Today, helping us slow down to think about the prayer are  Brad Gray and Brad Nelson from Walking the Text. They recently released a film called "The Lord's Prayer" and wrote a book titled Bringing Heaven Here. 

Explore the wealth of resources at Walking the Text

Watch the movie trailer for The Lord's Prayer

Purchase the book Bringing Heav...

 Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but that is not the only significant location in the Christmas story. Dr. Jack Beck joins us again to talk about how the geography matters in the way we understand how Luke introduces his readers to Jesus. The origin story continues all the way to Jerusalem where we meet Simeon and Anna. We talk about why the location of this encounter matters and the beauty of the words spoken matter to all of us. 

Discover more about Dr. Beck, his books, and videos  HERE

Watch the wealth of options on Dr...

It is Christmas time and we are discovering the fullness of the Origin Story of Jesus. Matthew and Luke tell us so much more than the moment of Jesus' birth. Dr. Jack Beck joins us again to talk about how the geography matters in the way we understand who Mary and Joseph are. This week we start with Nazareth. How big was it? Where was it located? Did the geography influence what people expected from life? 

Discover more about Dr. Beck, his books, and videos  HERE

Watch the wealth of options on Dr. Beck's YouTube ch...

Dr. Nicholas Schaser introduces us to the fascinating world of rabbinic interpretation. Today we talk about how similar Jesus is to his contemporary sages like Hillel and Shammai. What were their views of interpretation? What kind of humor did the sages use? 

Find out more about Dr. Schaser HERE

Explore his book: A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthew

Read short articles by Dr. Schaser on Israel Bible Center's website HERE

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As we set the context for the birth of Jesus, we explore the dominant voices of Jewish thought and practice at the beginning of the 1st Century CE. Dr. Nicolas Schaser from Macalester College introduces us to the sages of Hillel and Shammai - who are they? What were their philosophies? This will lead us into more conversations next week about how these two compare to the teachings of Jesus. 

Find out more about Dr. Schaser HERE

Explore his book: A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthew

Contact Cyndi Parker t...

We are in the process of exploring the context of the birth narrative of Jesus, and we have arrived at the time of the rise of Octavian. He will lead the Roman Republic into its Empire stage. But how does he do that and how does this change the Judean context of Bethlehem where Jesus is born? 

Explore more about all the projects Dr. Smith is involved in:

Great Commission Bible Institute

Christian Travel Study Programs

Outreach Ministry: www.globalvisionoutreach.org

Through the Bible: 1hour1book.com

Co...

Dr. Randal Smith is the Director of Christian Travel Study Program and a virtual encyclopedia about biblical context. We are in the process of exploring the context of the birth narrative of Jesus, and while we assume Roman domination, it wasn't always that way! Today we discuss how Rome emerged from squalor to an empire that dominated the Mediterranean, outmaneuvering the Greeks and innovating military, economic, and political systems.

Explore more about all the projects Dr. Smith is involved in:

Great Commission Bible Institute

Christian Travel Study Programs

Outreach Ministry: www...

As we start to anticipate the time of Advent and ultimately the birth of Jesus, what are some of the contextual things we should be aware of? Each historical period had an influence on God's people. To kick off the "Advent of Advent" mini-series, we are going back to a conversation I had last year with Dr. George Athas. He is a professor at Moore College and the author of an excellent book Bridging the Testaments. Today we revisit his overview of the major time periods leading up to the Roman Empire's arrival on the scene along with his...

Today is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Melesse Woldetsadik. We are following up on the need for discernment when blaming problems on the spiritual realm. In our post-modern world we have a tendency to dismiss spiritual beings to focus on science, and yet there are moments and situations that cannot be solved through the medical world or psychiatry. But others can, right? So how do we hold all these tools and how do we know which tool is needed for a particular problem? How do we know when medicine is a valuable part of the solution and when...

Melesse Woldetsadik is the Pastor at Beta Selam Evangelical Church in North Carolina. He has a fascinating context of growing up in Coptic Christianity and walking away from the faith only for God to pull him back through dreams and specific spiritual experiences. He had many encounters with the spiritual realm even before he decided to train to be a pastor. Come sit around the podcast table a Melesse shares with us his many experiences and what he has learned about the spiritual realm.

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We pick up the conversation with Fr. Andrew talking about Demons. Who or what are they? You may be surprised to know that the term 'demon' originally referred to lesser spiritual beings (neither positive nor negative), but the early Christians used it pejoratively to describe pagan gods. In the Bible, these beings create chaos  and involved in both oppression and possession. 

Today's episode also includes a short analysis of the movie 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' (With Spoilers!) highlighting its themes of redemption, self-sacrifice, and the portrayal of demonic influences.

Find out more about Fr. Andrew St...

Fr. Andrew joins the Context Matters podcast again to talk about his wildly popular podcast series called The Lord of Spirits. We talk about the biblical and traditional texts to lead to this study of the unseen realm as well as why people in modern world should be aware of this world. We start by exploring who and what angels are -- their ranks and appearances, and how they interact with the physical and spiritual realms. This episode bridges the gap between ancient mythological perspectives and modern scientific thinking, revealing a world that's more enchanted than we might realize.<...

This is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Dan Darko about his book Against Principalities and Powers.Today we talk about the concept of salvation and spiritual warfare as depicted in the book of Ephesians. Dr. Darko also ellaborates on the relationship between Spiritual Powers with the community's identity as part of God's family. We end the episode with the correct understanding of spiritual warfare. 

Read more about Dr. Dan Darko HERE

Explore his book Against Principalities and Powers HERE

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Dr. Dan Darko takes us on a journey from Ghana to post-war Croatia, England, and the United States. Each place adds to his unique questions he asked of the biblical text. This leads us to explore the role of the spiritual realm in the letter to the Ephesians. Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion on the power of faith, the presence of spiritual realms, and the challenges of modern religious consciousness.

Read more about Dr. Dan Darko HERE

Explore his book Against Principalities and Powers HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Writer, Producer, and Filmmaker Nicholas Ma joins us to talk about his latest documentary titled "Leap of Faith". In today's episode we explore the unspoken topics that often divide communities and underscore the universal quest for mutual belonging. The participants in the documentary were invited to meaningful dialogue around race, homelessness, and socioeconomic disparities, but the conversation they returned to over and over again was about sexuality. Even through uncomfortable disagreements, the documentary helps the viewer notice the relevance of love and empathy, the power of small actions to create positive change, and the profound effect of being seen...

Writer, Producer, and Filmmaker Nicholas Ma joins us to talk about his latest documentary titled "Leap of Faith". We explore why documentaries captivate him and how they represent human encounter and vulnerability. In an ever-increasing divided world where people talk about those they disagree with as being an "enemy", is it possible for a group of pastors to come together to speak into the huge chasms that divide us? Is there space there for the gospel?  Listen in as Nicholas shares behind-the-scenes insights and moments of discomfort that turned into profound learning experiences. Join us for a heartfelt discussion o...

Today is Part 2 of the conversation with Dr. John Inazu about his book Learning to Disagree. We live in an increasingly divided world in which we resist nuance and have definitive opinions. If you look at public discourse, those who have differing opinions are not only adversaries but increasingly described as evil. We  disagre with one another in destructive ways. Can we right the ship? Today we talk about disagreeing with people in a religious context. Is it toxic to disagree? Is it destructive? Can we still engage one another without describing people as Evil?

Find out m...

Do you feel like it is hard to have proper conversations with people about challenging subjects? It seems to be getting harder! This is why we all need to read today's guest newest book: Learning to Disagree. Dr. John Inazu is a lawyer who brings us along into his law review classroom to learn how to disagree with others while not giving up on our convictions. And along the way, we find out how this is a necessary skill for people in the church to engage: the ongoing task of LEARNING and the process of healthy DISAGREEMENT. 

F...

Join us for part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Jack Beck. Learn how themes like divine identity and historical events are intertwined with specific locations like Mount Herman and Shechem. Discover how geography can illuminate scripture, bringing fresh perspectives and profound understanding. This episode also explores how Jack's work with Our Daily Bread Ministries makes biblical geography accessible to millions worldwide.

Discover more about Dr. Beck, his books, videos, or to sign up for his newsletter, click HERE

Watch the wealth of options on Dr. Beck's YouTube channel HERE

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Dr. Jack Beck is biblical geographer, professor, and prolific author. He is also and avid outdoorsman and the first person I have known to build and fly his own plane. From sailing and traveling to working on a dairy farm, he reflects on how these adventures fueled a restless curiosity that later shaped his approach to studying the Bible. We'll also explore the concept of literary geography and how understanding the geography of biblical texts can reveal deeper meanings. Whether you're a geography enthusiast or a Bible scholar, this episode promises thrilling insights and connections!

Discover more...

Dr. Mia Chung joins us for Part 2 of the conversation about the power of classical music to help with human flourishing. Today we explore the decline of musical education and its repercussions on holistic child development. Our discussion emphasizes how early training in music can prime the brain for better cognitive and social skills, addressing issues like executive function and intuitive learning. Today we also talk about links musical experience to spiritual growth, highlighting the harmonic similarity between music and language, and the deep emotional resonance music can bring.

Find out more about Dr. Mia Chung HERE<...

Dr. Mia Chung joins us to talk about how classical music is a foundational aspect of human flourishing. Dr. Chung is an internationally renowned pianist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician.  She was on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and she is now a professor at Harvard. Additionally she is the founder and executive director of the Octet Collaborative, which is a community of students, faculty, and staff at MIT who are dedicated to human flourishing. And if that is not enough, she writes and speaks on the transformative impact of music on cognition, learning, a...

Scott Erickson is an artist who uses many mediums to communicate with this audience. Today we talk about his collaborative book project with Justin McRoberts, 'In the Low, Honest Prayers for Dark Seasons,' which provides spiritual support for those experiencing depression. Scott then shares personal anecdotes, including an impactful experience at the Wailing Wall, illustrating how art can serve as a medium for expressing inexpressible emotions. Scott's art, which has resonated widely to the extent of being tattooed by numerous fans, aims to communicate the complexities of faith and the human condition

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Scott Erickson joins us to talk about the power of art in our spiritual lives. Scott talks about growing up in a religious family with significant exposure to Christian traditions but feeling out of place due to his inclination towards art in a tradition that lacked visual representation. But then he found the old European cathedrals and realized art can be used as a significant medium for spiritual development. 

Today we talk about how he describes his job, the benefit of art in the church, and the "haunted" role of the artist.

Find out more a...

Today is part 2 of the conversation with Rachel Clinton Chen about healing from spiritual abuse. Rachel discusses ways our cultural values have influenced leadership in churches, often valuing charisma over genuine pastoral care, which sometimes leads to spiritual abuse. We also discuss what to do in the case of people unintentionally contributing to spiritual abuse - sometimes due to their own unresolved trauma. Love and Humility have to be a part of the conversation! Finally we talk about the new online course available through the Allender Center. See the links below for significant resources available for you. 

R...

Today we are talking about the sticky subject of spiritual abuse in the church. To lead us on the journey is Rachael Clinton Chen. Rachael is devoted to addressing the harm of abuse – especially spiritual abuse – at the intersection of trauma, healing, embodiment and spiritual formation. She leads the Story Workshop for Spiritual Abuse & Healing and recently developed the Allender Center’s Spiritual Abuse & Healing Online Course, inviting survivors of spiritual abuse to journey together towards healing and reclamation.

RESOURCES:

Find out more about the Allender Center at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology with a...

In Part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Justin Reed about his new book The Injustice of Noah's Curse, we focus on the "presumption of Canaanite guilt" and what kind of influence that has on interpreters. How can we learn to ask better questions of the text? This is yet another example of why it is so important to study the Bible with people who bring different lenses to their study! Dr. Reed helps us explore the broader implications of these interpretations for understanding compassion, justice, and morality in ancient texts, highlighting the dynamic and often ironic narratives within Genesis.<...

Dr. Justin Reed teaches at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and is here to talk about his new book The Injustice of Noah's Curse. Dr. Reed starts by introducing us to his context growing up and the influence of his mother and father on his faith and academic work. Then we dive into the strange text of Genesis 9. The timing is strange, the absence and presence of characters is strange, and the curse uttered against Canaan is very perplexing. Read the story, listen to the episode, and bring your ideas with you to the podcasting table!

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Dr. Dana Harris joins us for part 2 of our conversation about preaching and the book of Hebrews. We explore the book's theology and its profound connection to the Old Testament (equally dispelling misconceptions that the book is anti-Semitic). The preacher of Hebrews uses Midrash to use weave scripture into a meaningful narrative for the contemporary audience. How can we learn from the audience of Hebrews about developing a stronger sense of biblical narrative by immersing ourselves in the Bible?

Find out more about Dr. Harris HERE

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Dr. Dana Harris joins us to talk about the profound experiences that shaped her outlook on teaching and faith. We discuss God's presence in nature and the importance of theological education. Dr. Harris specializes in the book of Hebrews, so we dive into the riddle of that book. Is it a  transcript of a sermon? Is it an epistle? Who is the author, and who are the Hebrews to whom this is addressed? Most of all, what can we learn about teaching scripture from this writing? 

You may want to go read Psalm 95 and think of its us...

This is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Rebecca Idestrom about her book Show Me Your Glory. Today Dr. Idestrom discusses God's glory in the Temple. This leads us to a conversation of the visions of God's glory in the book of Ezekiel and how they relate the God's divine kingship and the hopeful restoration promised at the end of the book. 

Find out more about Rebecca Idestrom HERE

Explore the book Show Me Your Glory HERE

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We sit with Dr. Rebecca Idestrom to discuss the themes of her latest book, Show Me Your Glory, which explores the concept of God's glory throughout the Old Testament. Dr. Idestrom explains how the notion of "glory" is multifaceted and context-dependent, involving both tangible and intangible elements of God's presence and character. We also talk about how Israel's perception of God's glory evolved across different historical and physical contexts. 

Find out more about Rebecca Idestrom HERE

Explore the book Show Me Your Glory HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

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We start today's episode talking about all the different Marys in the gospels and how that influences the way people interpret Mary Magdalene. Dr. McNutt also untangles how the Gospels describe Mary Magdalene and then  offers insights into her significance, not just as a follower, but as a pivotal figure financially supporting Jesus's ministry. 

Read more about Jennifer Powell McNutt HERE

Read more about her book HERE

Read about McNuttshell Ministries HERE

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Rev. Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt talks about her new book called The Mary We Forgot: What the apostle to the apostles teaches the church today. To be honest, Mary Magdalene's story is rarely told well in churches, which leads  us to dismiss her as a teacher for people in the church. Her portrayal in popular media like The Da Vinchi Code or Jesus Christ Superstar tantalizingly focuses on her sex appeal and possible love interest of Jesus. Others highlight her deviant behavior. Is any of this true? If not, why do we think it is? 

Read more ab...

Today's episode flips the tables and places me in the hot seat. Wesley Arning and Ryan Presley interviewed me about the book of Deuteronomy for their podcast called The Wayside Podcast. So I am rebroadcasting it for you here to help us think about storytelling and transformation as we enter this Advent season.

Listen to more of the Wayside Podcast HERE

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When scholars examine the writing, copying, and editing of biblical text, they can discern a complexity in the Hebrew Bible. There is scribal activity at the copying AND editing levels. What does this tell us about the development of Scripture? And what do we do with Dead Sea scrolls like Jeremiah that show us a complexity within the Jewish communities through the complexity of the scrolls themselves? Our guide through this is Dr. Karl Kutz who is a recently retired professor of biblical languages and Bible at Multnomah University and also a voracious explorer of the biblical text. 

Textual criticism is about. offering a critique about what the best reading of the biblical text is, because before you can translate it, you need to know that you've got the best reading possible. And to engage in textual criticism, you need to have a fascination with biblical languages and biblical culture and biblical history. If it sounds complicated, it sort of is. But we have a great guide to walk us through what textual criticism is and why it matters. 

Dr. Karl Kutz is a recently retired professor of biblical languages and Bible at Multnomah University, a...

In today's episode with the Rev. Dr. George Athas, we pick up the historic overview of what is incorrectly called the 400 years of silence. We dive into the significant historical influence of Greek culture and thought on Jewish society, especially during the Hellenistic period. In the Hasmonean period, we find the rise of anti-Dividic position of silencing the prophetic voice. What does that mean for the way we understand who Jesus is? 

Find out more about Dr. Athas HERE

Read more about his book HERE

See his many other writings HERE

C...

We casually talk about 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments, but why do we say that? Who was the first to coin that phrase? What if that is an anti-Messianic statement? Then shouldn't we be more aware of the history and the development of Jewish thought to develop better vocabulary to talk about this time period? 

The short answer is, "Yes!", and the Rev. Dr. George Athas can help. His excellent new book Bridging the Testaments is a treasure trove of historic details. Today he joins us to talk about vocabulary. What is the d...

Dr. Heath Thomas is back to talk more about his book The Minor Prophets: A Theological Introduction. Often the prophets are not addressing the individual's sin but the whole community's sin. So what does it mean to live as a distinctive community that represents a distinctive God? How do the writings of the prophets create expectations for the coming Messiah? How can these writings instruct the church today?

Read more about Dr. Heath Thomas HERE

Find the book HERE

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Dr. Heath Thomas grow up as a pastor's kid, thought he'd be an English teacher but ended up  specializing in Hebrew Poetry. He is now the president of Oklahoma Baptist University and somehow found time to co-write a book with Craig Bartholomew titled the Minor Prophets: A Theological Introduction.  We talk about what the role of the prophet is, the content of their messages, and why they seem so angry all  of the time. 

Read more about Dr. Heath Thomas HERE

Find the book HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Jo...

Although cherubim in European art are cute, small, and angelic, the ancient world thought of them as terrifying protectors. In today's conversation, Dr. Gray continues to describe what we can learn about the ancient world by looking at their art. What did these people believe about hybrid creatures like the cherubim, seraphim, and sea serpents play? What role do these creatures play in the Bible?

Find out more about Dr. Gray HERE

See depictions of cherubim HERE

See depictions of seraphim HERE

See the sea serpent on Kudurru boundary stones HERE<...

If the imagination influences spiritual formation, then what can we discover about how people in the ancient world thought of the spiritual realm by looking at their art? Today's guest is Dr. Taylor Gray, and we will discuss how exploring iconography helps us understand ancient customs, stories, and ways of thinking about the divine world. 

Find out more about Dr. Gray HERE

See Pillar Figurines HERE

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Today we continue our conversation about Dr. Lanta Davis' new book called Becoming by Beholding. We begin with "bestiaries" - what they are and what their purpose was in early Christian art. We also talked about art and architecture. Does the shape and design of a church building indicate how worship is practiced inside? And how can ancient depictions of historic figures in the church reveal who significant leaders were? And what if they were women?

You can find Lanta Davis' book HERE

See examples of Bestiaries HERE

Read more about Dr. Davis...

Dr. Lanta Davis joins us today to talk about her new book called Becoming by Beholding.  Her book will prompt you to think about the connection between art, imagination, and theology. How did the historic church think about the imagination and spiritual formation, and can we do a better job of that in today's environment? Are we aware enough of what we "behold" and how that creates an impression on our lives? And how did the Protestant church lose its ability to gaze on images and allow them to stoke our imagination?

You can find Lanta Davis' b...

Dr. Ryan Vroegindewey joins us once again to talk about the global food system, how animal welfare matters, and how to think about "organic", "mono cropping", and "genetically modified food". 

Helpful books referenced in today's episode:

Stewards of Eden by Sandra Richter

Scripture Culture and Agriculture by Ellen Davis

The collected works publications by Katharine Hayhoe

Learn more about the movie Kiss the Ground

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How does the Bible instruct us to treat the world, our food, and our ground? Today we talk with Dr. Ryan Vroegindewey about how he became aware of the complexities in our global food systems and what we can all do to become more informed with the choices we make. 

Helpful books referenced in today's episode:

Stewards of Eden by Sandra Richter

Scripture Culture and Agriculture by Ellen Davis

The collected works publications by Katharine Hayhoe

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me a...

Dr. Stephen Ko is an interdisciplinary writer at the intersection of faith, medicine, and public health. He is also the Senior Pastor of New York Chinese Alliance Church. In his new book Faith Embodied, Dr. Ko explores the intersection of his medical knowledge with his spiritual insights. Using our senses can we learn to see Scripture in a new way and can we learn to fully embody our worship?  

You can learn more about Dr. Stephen Ko HERE where you can also subscribe to his newsletter and follow him on social media.

Explore his book F...

Dr. Stephen Ko is an interdisciplinary writer at the intersection of faith, medicine, and public health. He is also the Senior Pastor of New York Chinese Alliance Church. In his new book Faith Embodied, Dr. Ko explores the intersection of his medical knowledge with his spiritual insights. Using our senses can we learn to see Scripture in a new way and can we learn to fully embody our worship?  

You can learn more about Dr. Stephen Ko HERE where you can also subscribe to his newsletter and follow him on social media.

Explore his book F...

Dr. Mark Glanville joins us today from his piano to talk with me about his newly released book titled Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm and Soul. We start with a conversation about the need for churches to develop according to their local context - the flavor of the places they are in. We then talk about worship in polyrhythms and the jazz-sound of the heart of the church.

Read more about the book Improvising Church HERE

Read more about Dr. Mark Glanville HERE

watch a great introduction to his...

Dr. Mark Glanville joins me from his piano to talk about his new book Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul. What is it about jazz and scripture that make them natural conversation partners regarding the modern church? Is there a way to create churches that are characterized by being leader-full, where the imagination, the energy, and the thoughtfulness goes beyond the capacity of any one leader? 

Read more about the book Improvising Church HERE

Read more about Dr. Mark Glanville HERE

watch a great introduction to his book w...

This is part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Ericka Dunbar who is an Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Baylor University. We talk about noticing the small characters in a narrative. Who are the unnamed women taken from throughout the Persian empire? What was their experience like? We also talk about how challenging engaging in conversation that shift our perspectives and assumptions can be. 

Read more about Dr. Dunbar HERE

Read more about her book Trafficking Hadassah

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In part 1 of our conversation on the book of Esther, Dr. Ericka Dunbar introduces us to contextual influences in her life that changed how she read the book of Esther. Far from a story about queens and beauty pageants, Dr. Dunbar highlights the problematic issues around gender, ethnicity, violence, and sexualized abuse that are in the text that we cannot ignore.

Read more about Dr. Dunbar HERE

Read more about her book Trafficking Hadassah

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Dr. Nadya Williams is a Classics Historian who brings her knowledge of the culture and writings generated in the Greco-Roman world to bear on the early church. This is Part 2 of our conversation regarding her book Cultural Christians in the Early Church. Dr. Williams discusses popular, best-selling Roman literature and how that illuminates how radical the teachings of Jesus are and how challenging living counter-culturally was for the early church. While we explore the earliest church, the persecuted church, and the connected-to-empire church, we hear echoes of all of these cultural movements in the modern church. 

Explore t...

Dr. Nadya Williams is a Classics Historian who brings her knowledge of the culture and writings generated in the Greco-Roman world to bear on the early church. While modern people in their struggle against institutionalized church tend to look back at the earliest Christians as those who wear halos, Dr. Williams says, "Not so fast." In this conversation, Dr. Williams introduces us to her own multi-country, multi-lingual, and multi-faith context growing up and how that shaped her view of God today. Then we dive into the types of Greco-Roman cultural norms that proved challenging for the earliest Christians to...

Part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Myrto Theocharous takes us into new perspectives on Deuteronomy. How do we think about Imago Dei, not in the faces of those around us, but reflected in our own actions? What does the book say about becoming complacent in a good economy? What responsibility do we have for communal care? 

Find out more about Dr. Theocharous HERE

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Join C...

In part 1 of our conversation, Dr. Myrto Theocharous explains her love for connecting Deuteronomy’s theology with the practical actions in the world. There is so much this book still has to teach us!

Find out more about Dr. Theocharous HERE

Find out about New Zoi

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

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Rev. Dr. Eun Strawser describes her journey as a church leader transforming small discipleship group into multiple communities. How did they do it? They focused on intentional discipleship, community engagement, and the markers of mature disciples. How can these practices be adopted by other churches?

Find out more about the book here: www.centeringdiscipleship.com

Explore the 4-week online training program for Centering Discipleship HERE

Follow Dr. Strawser on Instagram: @ekstrawser 

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Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours o...

Rev. Dr. Eun Strawser joins us to talk about what it means for churches to think about discipleship. What is it? How do you do it? Can you design a church structure around discipleship? Dr. Strawser was faced with all of these questions when she started a new church plant. After some experimentation, she discovered that when  discipleship becomes central to your leadership and community, then discipleship becomes central to congregational mission and cultural renewal.

Find out more about the book here: www.centeringdiscipleship.com

Explore the 4-week online training program for Centering Discipleship HERE Duration: 00:28:49

What does the book of Revelation have to say to the modern church? In Part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Scot McKnight, we examine the visual propaganda machine of the Roman empire and how the author of Revelation makes great use of those images to mock the arrogance of Rome. But this is also a book about becoming dissident disciples. When we read this book as a letter to the churches who were dangerously close to allowing the "Babylon Creep" into the church, we hear a strong warning to the Western Church. 

Find out more about Dr. M...

Dr. Scot McKnight recently published a book called Revelation for the Rest of Us. But it is the subtitle that is intriguing: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple.  Dissident disciples? The book of Revelation? Politics and theology coming together in one episode? In part 1 of our conversation we learn about why Dr. McKnight felt like he needed to write this particular book in this time in history. And he throws in an amazing comment about the author, John, when describing how many allusions he makes to Old Testament imagery: "[John's] soul inebriated with Scripture that h...

This is Part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Michael Rhodes. He is a professor in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College in Aukland, New Zealand, and we are discussing his book Just Discipleship. If we are to people concerned about Justice and concerned about BECOMING people of justice, what does that say about the topic of reparations? Can the biblical concept of Jubilee shed light on how modern countries can name and identify the sins of the previous generation, and where appropriate, identify your continuity with them? We even get to talk about the relevance of some very random...

Is it possible that Western Christianity and modern American life is shaping us to become people who are NOT good at doing justice, and loving mercy, and showing kindness? We know of such concepts but do we embody such concepts in the world around us? This week kicks off a several week conversation with scholars about different aspects of discipleship. We start today with a fellow Old Testament scholar, Dr. Michael Rhodes. He is a professor in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College in Aukland, New Zealand. He is the author of Formative Feasting and Practicing the King's Economy.  Duration: 00:37:52

This is Part 2 of a conversation with Rev. Dr. Helen Paynter about her new book titled: Blessed are the Peacemakers: A Biblical Theology of Human Violence. Today we discuss what to do when it seems like God is calling his people to violence, or what happens when the Israelites are violent with one another. How does the Bible give voice to those who suffer from violent attacks? And for those who study violence, where do they find a type of hope that can sustain them and their work?

Find out more about Dr. Paynter HERE

...

We are in a time of global conflict and violence, and so this is a great time to pay careful attention  the newest book released by Rev. Dr. Helen Paynter called Blessed are the Peacemakers: A Biblical Theology of Human Violence. Today we talk about why Dr. Paynter ended up studying a biblical view of violence and what her Center for Study of Bible and Violence is all about.

Find out more about Dr. Paynter HERE

Some of the resources and links mentioned on this episode:

https://www.facebook.com/CSBVBristolBaptistCollege/

T...

This is Part 2 of a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Holberg about her recently released called Nourishing Narratives. Dr. Holberg is a Professor and chair of the English department at Calvin University and co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith and Writing. Today we talk about how to imagine the real humanness of people in the biblical text and how that shapes our theology.

Discover more about Dr. Holberg HERE

Find her book Nourishing Narratives HERE

Read about the Calvin Center for Faith and Writing HERE

Watch a trailer for the film "...

Dr. Jennifer Holberg recently released a book that talks about the power of story to shape our faith. Dr. Holberg is a Professor and chair of the English department at Calvin University and co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith and Writing. This week we talk about how important context is for understanding people and story. Then we talk about how people not only gravitate towards narratives, but they are shaped by narratives. And what does that mean when we talk about faith?

Discover more about Dr. Holberg HERE

Find her book Nourishing Narratives HERE<...

How does medieval history teach us more about Christianity? We get a glimpse into the past with in this week's episode with Dr. Grace Hamman. Dr. Hamman is a medievalist who specializes in Middle English. She has a new book called Jesus Through Medieval Eyes. She also hosts a podcast called Old Books with Grace. We have hosted a couple of episodes around the context of the split between the Eastern and Western Churches, but this week we get to talk about how the context of the western, European church influenced how the church talked about Jesus. 

C...

This is part 2 of a conversation with Dr. Gordon McConville who is Professor Emeritus at the University of Gloucestershire. We are discussing his book The Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53 for the Life of the Church. In this episode we explore the context and impact of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53. What is unique about the suffering? What is the role of the servant? And how did New Testament writers use Isaiah to help them understand who Jesus was?

Find his book The Suffering Servant HERE

Find his commentary on Isaiah HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker...

Gordon McConville grew up in Northern Ireland, and studied Modern Languages at Cambridge and Theology in Edinburgh, before doing a PhD in Old Testament with Prof Gordon Wenham at Queen's University, He has taught at Trinity College, Bristol and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and is now Professor Emeritus at the University of Gloucestershire.

Find his book The Suffering Servant HERE

Find his commentary on Isaiah HERE

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We are taking advantage of the end of the year to take a reflective look back on where we have been in 2023. There are so many amazing guests that sat with us around the podcast table. We took a fresh look at books of the Bible we rarely hear sermons on, and we had a masterclass on how to interpret the Bible contextually. Each guest brought a nuanced view of scripture, and helped us think about how valuable it is to read the Bible with people who have diverse perspectives. What a gift it is to be in conversation...

Why is this concept of Being God’s Image a challenging concept to wholeheartedly believe not only about yourself but also other people. This is not really the messaging from society, right? But can you imagine if the modern church REALLY lived into this? How would this transform how we treated others, how we understand God, and what we think about beauty? Dr. Carmen Imes takes us through some significant themes of identity from her newest book. 

Find Dr. Imes book here: https://www.ivpress.com/being-god-s-image 

Find out more about Dr. Imes here: https://www...

Why is this concept of Being God’s Image a challenging concept to wholeheartedly believe not only about yourself but also other people. This is not really the messaging from society, right? But can you imagine if the modern church REALLY lived into this? How would this transform how we treated others, how we understand God, and what we think about beauty? Dr. Carmen Imes takes us through some significant themes of identity from her newest book. 

Find Dr. Imes book here: https://www.ivpress.com/being-god-s-image 

(repost this episode on social media and tag @narr...

Technology can be an amazing and helpful tool. It can also get in the way of how we learn if we do not pay attention. Today I am joined by two creative entrepreneurs from Basil Technology. Kevin Kim is the co-founder and CEO and Sang Tian is the Chief Technology Officer. A part of their vision is to unlock the depths of scripture for everyone. Using dynamic and interactive tools, anyone can learn to use the tools of reading and understanding the Bible well.

Find out more about Basil Tech

Keep your eye on Bible...

Technology can be an amazing and helpful tool. It can also get in the way of how we learn if we do not pay attention. Today I am joined by two creative entrepreneurs from Basil Technology. Kevin Kim is the co-founder and CEO and Sang Tian is the Chief Technology Officer. 

Find out more about Basil Tech

Keep your eye on Bible Dojo!

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...

Joshua Stamper joins us again to tell us about what kind of soundscape made him rethink his own art. How can we as the church learn from these lessons and disciple artists as artists? 

Find out more about Joshua Stamper and his many projects here:  https://www.joshuastamper.com

Explore Walter Brueggemann's Prophetic Imagination

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Find out more about Joshua Stamper and his many projects here:  https://www.joshuastamper.com

Explore Walter Brueggemann's Prophetic Imagination

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

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Learn more about Dr. Massad HERE

Watch Dr. Massad's online lecture titled “Polemicist, Apologist, or Missionary: Rashīd Riḍā’s Ṭarīq al-Da‘wa” for the Center for Muslim and Christian Studies Oxford (YouTube Video)  HERE

“Toward Enriched Ways of Knowing: The Multiple Roles of Aesthetics in Interreligious Encounters” with William Dyrness in The Georgetown Companion to Interreligious Studies

“Who is the ‘Other?’ Reconsidering Salvation Through Classical Islamic Thought.” In Muslims, The Religious Other: Towards A Biblical Understanding of Islam, the Qur’an and Muhamma

Dr. Massad mentioned the book Heavenly Participation.

And also t...

Learn more about Dr. Massad HERE

Watch Dr. Massad's online lecture titled “Polemicist, Apologist, or Missionary: Rashīd Riḍā’s Ṭarīq al-Da‘wa” for the Center for Muslim and Christian Studies Oxford (YouTube Video)  HERE

“Toward Enriched Ways of Knowing: The Multiple Roles of Aesthetics in Interreligious Encounters” with William Dyrness in The Georgetown Companion to Interreligious Studies

“Who is the ‘Other?’ Reconsidering Salvation Through Classical Islamic Thought.” In Muslims, The Religious Other: Towards A Biblical Understanding of Islam, the Qur’an and Muhamma

Dr. Massad mentioned the book Heavenly Participation.

And also t...

Discover more about Holy Trinity HTX and follow them on Instagram @holyfamilyhtx

Read more about Father Jacob Breeze

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Discover more about Holy Trinity HTX and follow them on Instagram @holyfamilyhtx

Read more about Father Jacob Breeze

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

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Read more about the Wildman's ministry Rain Ministries

Explore the book Terry Wildman referenced called Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future

Follow Terry on Instagram @fnv.nt and on Facebook @FirstNationsVersion or @TerryMWildman

Explore the First Nations Translation of the New Testament and get 30% off when you use the code PLACE23 at checkout.

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Read more about the Wildman's ministry Rain Ministries

Explore the book Terry Wildman referenced called Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future

Explore the First Nations Translation of the New Testament and get 30% off when you use the code PLACE23 at checkout.

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Find out more about BioLogos Here and listen to their podcast The Language of God Here

Learn more about Dr. Deb Haarsma HERE and follow her on Instagram @deb_haarsma

Read the article she mentioned The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences

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Find out more about BioLogos Here and listen to their podcast The Language of God Here

Learn more about Dr. Deb Haarsma HERE and follow her on Instagram @deb_haarsma

Read the article she mentioned The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

For books about exploring the world with people with disabilities, check out My Body is not a Prayer Request and also What Can a Body Do?

Find Dr. Fraser on Facebook (@letiah.fraser), Instagram (@revletiah), and Twitter (@revletiah).

Explore The Millennial Pastor podcast HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

For books about exploring the world with people with disabilities, check out My Body is not a Prayer Request and also What Can a Body Do?

Find Dr. Fraser on Facebook (@letiah.fraser), Instagram (@revletiah), and Twitter (@revletiah).

Explore The Millennial Pastor podcast HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Next time you are reading a book to your kids or nephews and neices, pay attention to the illustrations. Who is in the picture, how are they presented, and what does the landscape look like? And then go take a look at the resources through Fresh Wind studios.

Explore Fresh Wind Studios here:  https://www.freshwindstudios.com

Find their list of books here:  https://www.freshwindstudios.com/ourbooks

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

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Join Cy...

I really am curious if you’ve paid attention to what is in or left out of Children’s bibles. And I have lingering questions! Do children's Bibles influence how teenagers engage the Bible? Have you ever compared a story in the children’s bible to the story in the adult bible?

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We start off our new season of Context Matters with a bag! And all of this will influence the rest of the series. Join for the conversation and then take notes on this mini-masterclass on hermeneutics. 

From May 11-31 2023 you can receive 30% the print or ebook and free shipping by going to www.ivpress.com and use the code PLACE23 at checkout. 

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

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We start off our new season of Context Matters with a bag! And all of this will influence the rest of the series. Join for the conversation and then take notes on this mini-masterclass on hermeneutics. 

From May 11-31 2023 you can receive 30% the print or ebook and free shipping by going to www.ivpress.com and use the code PLACE23 at checkout. 

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Find the full episodes of The Wayside Podcast HERE. Our conversation is in episodes 22 and 23. 

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Dr. Wendy Widder is the author of several books, including Living Whole Without a Better Half and two commentaries on the book of Daniel. She is a freelance editor and a teacher with two master’s degrees and a PhD in biblical studies. Her newest book, Every Road Goes Somewhere is a memoir that recounts her journey of trying to follow God when he doesn’t follow the script.

You will find Dr. Widder's books HERE

Her new memoir is HERE

Her online lectures on Daniel are HERE

And she blogs at  ...

Dr. Wendy Widder is the author of several books, including Living Whole Without a Better Half and two commentaries on the book of Daniel. She is a freelance editor and a teacher with two master’s degrees and a PhD in biblical studies. Her newest book, Every Road Goes Somewhere is a memoir that recounts her journey of trying to follow God when he doesn’t follow the script.

You will find Dr. Widder's books HERE

Her new memoir is HERE

Her online lectures on Daniel are HERE

And she blogs at  ...

Dr. Constantine Campbell is the Professor and Associate Research Director at the Sydney College of Divinity, and also a jazz saxophonist and a visiting instructor at The Australian National University School of Music.

You can find out more about his projects HERE

Find his commentary on 1, 2, 3 John HERE

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Dr. Constantine Campbell is the Professor and Associate Research Director at the Sydney College of Divinity, and also a jazz saxophonist and a visiting instructor at The Australian National University School of Music.

You can find out more about his projects HERE

Find his commentary on 1, 2, 3 John HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!

Dr. May Young is an Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and the Program Director of Biblical Studies at Taylor University. She has written extensively on the subject of Lament. You can find out more about her HERE.

Her upcoming book is Recovering Biblical Lament that will be out later in 2023. 

You can explore more about the Psalms of Lament in a Yale Bible Study guide HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Pa...

Dr. May Young is an Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and the Program Director of Biblical Studies at Taylor University. She has written extensively on the subject of Lament. You can find out more about her HERE.

Her upcoming book is Recovering Biblical Lament that will be out later in 2023. 

Dr. Young's book on Reading the Psalms Theologically is found HERE

You can explore more about the Psalms of Lament in a Yale Bible Study guide HERE

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and s...

Dr. Brogdon is executive director of the Institute for Black Church Studies and the Associate Professor of Preaching and of Black Church Studies at Baptist Seminary of Kentucky. See his faculty page HERE.

Explore Dr. Brogdon's new Book The Bible in the Ashes of Social Chaos.

Read his study on Philemon in A Companion to Philemon.

Contact Cyndi Parker through Narrative of Place.

Learn more about me and sign up for upcoming tours of Israel/Palestine.

Join Cyndi Parker's  Patreon Team!