John Barclay

John M. G. Barclay is Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University in England, one of the most highly regarded professorships in the theological world.John is President of TRS-UK, the body that represents and coordinates all the Departments of Theology and Religion/Religious Studies in the UK, together with twelve subject associations. Out of the study, he enjoys cycling, music, and watching rugby. Having spent three sabbatical periods in New Zealand (where Dan, the editor of Seminary Dropout is based), he is also a fan of their national rugby team, the All Blacks!John is married to Diana, and they have three grown children. In this book esteemed Pauline scholar John Barclay presents a strikingly fresh reading of grace in Paul’s theology, studying it in view of ancient notions of “gift” and shining new light on Paul’s relationship to Second Temple Judaism. Paul and the Gift centers on divine gift-giving, which for Paul, Barclay says, is focused and fulfilled in the gift of Christ. He offers a new appraisal of Paul’s theology of the Christ-event as gift as it comes to expression in Galatians and Romans, and he presents a nuanced and detailed discussion of the history of reception of Paul. This exegetically responsible, theologically informed, hermeneutically useful book shows that a respectful, though not uncritical, reading of Paul contains resources that remain important for Christians today.From the PublisherSubscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple PodcastsGet 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

John M. G. Barclay is Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University in England, one of the most highly regarded professorships in the theological world.John is President of TRS-UK, the body that represents and coordinates all the Departments of Theology and Religion/Religious Studies in the UK, together with twelve subject associations. Out of the study, he enjoys cycling, music, and watching rugby. Having spent three sabbatical periods in New Zealand (where Dan, the editor of Seminary Dropout is based), he is also a fan of their national rugby team, the All Blacks!John is married to Diana, and they have three grown children.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Gift-John-M-Barclay/dp/0802868894" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a><blockquote> In this book esteemed Pauline scholar John Barclay presents a strikingly fresh reading of grace in Paul’s theology, studying it in view of ancient notions of “gift” and shining new light on Paul’s relationship to Second Temple Judaism. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Gift-John-M-Barclay/dp/0802868894" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Paul and the Gift</a> centers on divine gift-giving, which for Paul, Barclay says, is focused and fulfilled in the gift of Christ. He offers a new appraisal of Paul’s theology of the Christ-event as gift as it comes to expression in Galatians and Romans, and he presents a nuanced and detailed discussion of the history of reception of Paul. This exegetically responsible, theologically informed, hermeneutically useful book shows that a respectful, though not uncritical, reading of Paul contains resources that remain important for Christians today.From the Publisher</blockquote><h4><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h4><h4><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h4>

John Barclay on Paul and divine gift-giving

Kyuboem Lee

Dr. Kyuboem “Kyu” Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. He was educated in evangelical and reformed institutions in the US. He has lived, church planted, and ministered cross-culturally in Philadelphia since 1993. He has also taught urban mission at the graduate level since 2006, has edited the Journal of Urban Mission since 2010, and serves as a leading voice with Missio Alliance. Kyuboem is married to Christe and is the father of two sons, Amoz and Theo.You can follow Kyuboem on Twitter, @kyuboem.In this episode, Kyu and Shane talk all things seminary – from the challenges Christian higher-ed currently faces, to its importance for the local Church… and not shying away from the irony of appearing on a podcast hosted by someone who dropped out of seminary.Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple PodcastsGet 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

Dr. Kyuboem “Kyu” Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. He was educated in evangelical and reformed institutions in the US. He has lived, church planted, and ministered cross-culturally in Philadelphia since 1993. He has also taught urban mission at the graduate level since 2006, has edited the Journal of Urban Mission since 2010, and serves as a leading voice with Missio Alliance. Kyuboem is married to Christe and is the father of two sons, Amoz and Theo.You can follow Kyuboem on Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/kyuboem" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">@kyuboem</a>.In this episode, Kyu and Shane talk all things seminary – from the challenges Christian higher-ed currently faces, to its importance for the local Church… and not shying away from the irony of appearing on a podcast hosted by someone who dropped out of seminary.<h4><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h4><h4><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h4>

Kyuboem Lee on the disruptions to Christian higher ed, especially theological education

John Walton

John H. Walton is a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School. Previously he was a professor of Old Testament at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for twenty years.Some of Walton’s books include The Lost World of Adam and Eve, The Lost World of Scripture, The Lost World of Genesis One, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament, The Essential Bible Companion, The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis, and The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (with Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas).Walton’s ministry experience includes church classes for all age groups, high school Bible studies, and adult Sunday school classes, as well as serving as a teacher for “The Bible in 90 Days.” John and his wife, Kim, live in Wheaton, Illinois, and have three adult children. The church has too often lost its way in reading the Old Testament for lack of sound principles of interpretation. When careless habits get us off track, we can lose sight of what the Bible is really saying, derailing our own spiritual growth and even risking discredit to God’s word. We need a consistent approach to give us confidence as faithful interpreters. In Wisdom for Faithful Reading, the trusted Old Testament scholar John Walton lays out his tried-and-true best practices developed over four decades in the classroom. His principles are memorable, practical, and enlightening, including:  The Bible is written for us, but not to us. Reading the Bible instinctively is not reliable and risks imposing a foreign perspective on the text. More important than what the characters do is what the narrator does with the characters and what God is doing through the characters. Not everything has a “biblical view.”  Along with identifying common missteps, Walton’s insights point the way to stay focused on what the Old Testament text communicated to its original audience—and what it has to say for us today. When we submit ourselves to be accountable to the authors’ intentions we experience the true authority of Scripture, and faithful reading fuels a faithful life. Using numerous examples across the breadth of the Old Testament and its genres, Walton equips thoughtful Christians to read more knowledgeably, to pay attention to God’s plans and purposes, to recognize good interpretations, and to truly live in light of Scripture. You may never read the Old Testament the same way again.From the PublisherSubscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple PodcastsGet 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

John H. Walton is a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School. Previously he was a professor of Old Testament at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for twenty years.Some of Walton’s books include The Lost World of Adam and Eve, The Lost World of Scripture, The Lost World of Genesis One, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament, The Essential Bible Companion, The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis, and The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (with Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas).Walton’s ministry experience includes church classes for all age groups, high school Bible studies, and adult Sunday school classes, as well as serving as a teacher for “The Bible in 90 Days.” John and his wife, Kim, live in Wheaton, Illinois, and have three adult children.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Faithful-Reading-Principles-Interpretation-ebook/dp/B0B8Q6DMJT" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a><blockquote> The church has too often lost its way in reading the Old Testament for lack of sound principles of interpretation. When careless habits get us off track, we can lose sight of what the Bible is really saying, derailing our own spiritual growth and even risking discredit to God’s word. We need a consistent approach to give us confidence as faithful interpreters. In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Faithful-Reading-Principles-Interpretation-ebook/dp/B0B8Q6DMJT" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Wisdom for Faithful Reading</a>, the trusted Old Testament scholar John Walton lays out his tried-and-true best practices developed over four decades in the classroom. His principles are memorable, practical, and enlightening, including: <ul> <li>The Bible is written for us, but not to us.</li> <li>Reading the Bible instinctively is not reliable and risks imposing a foreign perspective on the text.</li> <li>More important than what the characters do is what the narrator does with the characters and what God is doing through the characters.</li> <li>Not everything has a “biblical view.”</li> </ul> Along with identifying common missteps, Walton’s insights point the way to stay focused on what the Old Testament text communicated to its original audience—and what it has to say for us today. When we submit ourselves to be accountable to the authors’ intentions we experience the true authority of Scripture, and faithful reading fuels a faithful life. Using numerous examples across the breadth of the Old Testament and its genres, Walton equips thoughtful Christians to read more knowledgeably, to pay attention to God’s plans and purposes, to recognize good interpretations, and to truly live in light of Scripture. You may never read the Old Testament the same way again.From the Publisher</blockquote><h4><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h4><h4><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h4>

John Walton’s Wisdom for Faithfully Reading the Old Testament

Matt Tebbe

Ben Sternke

Both Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe have over two decades of Christian ministry experience and they’ve been coaching, consulting, and training leaders since 2010. Together, they co-founded Gravity Leadership, where they coach and consult pastors and ministry leaders worldwide in transformational leadership and discipleship. Ben and Matt are co-pastors at The Table, an Anglican church in Indianapolis (which is where they both live with their families and dogs.You can follow Ben on Twitter here, Matt on Twitter here, and visit Gravity Leadership’s website for details on coaching, workshops, and resources.“Why doesn’t the Christian life work like I thought it would?”While we often start with good intentions, it feels like real transformation is elusive at best, and maybe even impossible. We deeply want to live in the freedom that Christ offers, but we are acutely aware of the gap between a transformed life and our reality. Having the Mind of Christ tackles the issues of lasting life change.When we feel some kind of inspiration or need to seek change in our lives, we start with behaviors: new to-dos, tactics, techniques, or spiritual disciplines that we hope will bring about the transformation we desire. While these behavioral changes can bear good results, they just as often fail to produce the lasting change we deeply desire. That’s because transformation requires more than a change in practice – it requires a change in paradigm.Pastors Matt Tebbe and Ben Sternke share eight axioms that help reframe the way that we see God, ourselves, and others. By seeing through new lenses, we can open ourselves to the transformational change that God wants for our lives.From the PublisherSubscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple PodcastsGet 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

<a href="https://gravityleadership.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>Both Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe have over two decades of Christian ministry experience and they’ve been coaching, consulting, and training leaders since 2010. Together, they co-founded Gravity Leadership, where they coach and consult pastors and ministry leaders worldwide in transformational leadership and discipleship. Ben and Matt are co-pastors at The Table, an Anglican church in Indianapolis (which is where they both live with their families and dogs.You can follow <a href="https://twitter.com/bensternke" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Ben on Twitter here</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/matttebbe" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Matt on Twitter here</a>, and <a href="https://gravityleadership.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">visit Gravity Leadership’s website</a> for details on coaching, workshops, and resources.<a href="https://gravityleadership.com/book/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a><blockquote>“Why doesn’t the Christian life work like I thought it would?”While we often start with good intentions, it feels like real transformation is elusive at best, and maybe even impossible. We deeply want to live in the freedom that Christ offers, but we are acutely aware of the gap between a transformed life and our reality. Having the Mind of Christ tackles the issues of lasting life change.When we feel some kind of inspiration or need to seek change in our lives, we start with behaviors: new to-dos, tactics, techniques, or spiritual disciplines that we hope will bring about the transformation we desire. While these behavioral changes can bear good results, they just as often fail to produce the lasting change we deeply desire. That’s because transformation requires more than a change in practice – it requires a change in paradigm.Pastors Matt Tebbe and Ben Sternke share eight axioms that help reframe the way that we see God, ourselves, and others. By seeing through new lenses, we can open ourselves to the transformational change that God wants for our lives.From the Publisher</blockquote><h4><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h4><h4><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h4>

Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe on Having the Mind of Christ (and getting kids to eat vegetables)

Nijay Gupta

Dr. Nijay Gupta teaches New Testament courses at Northern and working closely with the Master of Arts in New Testament and the Doctor in Ministry in New Testament Context cohorts. Dr. Gupta has been teaching and writing for more than a decade, and currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Bulletin for Biblical Research, Co-Editor of The Bible in God’s World series with Scot McKnight, and as a member of the Editorial Board of both Ex Auditu and and of the Biblical Interpretation Series. He is a graduate of Miami of Ohio University, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, and the University of Durham.  In 15 New Testament Words of Life, biblical scholar Nijay Gupta explores some of the most important New Testament words; familiar terms in the Christian vocabulary, but there are many who don’t know the original background and theological importance of these words, and how they can be life-giving for Christian faith and life today. To access the deep meaning of these words in the theological vocabulary of the New Testament writers, Gupta discusses each word within a key text and interprets it in three contexts: Canonical—how the New Testament is grounded in the Old, Literary—the meaning developed within the key text, and Historical—the Jewish and Greco-Roman world of the first century.For those first hearers of the gospel who chose to follow Jesus, these words were the words of life, and they can be once again for Jesus-followers in the modern world. With Gupta’s skilled guidance, readers will find their engagement with the New Testament revitalized as they begin to understand how these inspiring ancient words can still be captivating, thought-provoking, and worldview-shaping words for real life today.– From the publisher  (Formerly In Faith &amp; Doubt) Dr. AJ Swoboda and Dr. Nijay Gupta are co-hosts of Slow Theology: Simple Faith for Chaotic Times. Topics include Scripture, theology, and anything and everything under the sun that gives life meaning. Find the podcast here, or in your favourite podcast app. Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

<a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/cruxsola/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Nijay Gupta</a> teaches New Testament courses at Northern and working closely with the Master of Arts in New Testament and the Doctor in Ministry in New Testament Context cohorts. Dr. Gupta has been teaching and writing for more than a decade, and currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Bulletin for Biblical Research, Co-Editor of The Bible in God’s World series with Scot McKnight, and as a member of the Editorial Board of both Ex Auditu and and of the Biblical Interpretation Series. He is a graduate of Miami of Ohio University, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, and the University of Durham. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/15-New-Testament-Words-Life/dp/0310109051" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>In 15 New Testament Words of Life, biblical scholar Nijay Gupta explores some of the most important New Testament words; familiar terms in the Christian vocabulary, but there are many who don’t know the original background and theological importance of these words, and how they can be life-giving for Christian faith and life today. To access the deep meaning of these words in the theological vocabulary of the New Testament writers, Gupta discusses each word within a key text and interprets it in three contexts: Canonical—how the New Testament is grounded in the Old, Literary—the meaning developed within the key text, and Historical—the Jewish and Greco-Roman world of the first century.For those first hearers of the gospel who chose to follow Jesus, these words were the words of life, and they can be once again for Jesus-followers in the modern world. With Gupta’s skilled guidance, readers will find their engagement with the New Testament revitalized as they begin to understand how these inspiring ancient words can still be captivating, thought-provoking, and worldview-shaping words for real life today.– From the publisher</blockquote> <a href="https://slowtheology.buzzsprout.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> (Formerly In Faith &amp; Doubt) Dr. AJ Swoboda and Dr. Nijay Gupta are co-hosts of Slow Theology: Simple Faith for Chaotic Times. Topics include Scripture, theology, and anything and everything under the sun that gives life meaning. <a href="https://slowtheology.buzzsprout.com" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Find the podcast here</a>, or in your favourite podcast app. <h3><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h3> <h3><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h3>

Nijay Gupta’s 15 Words of Life from the New Testament

Bonnie Kristian

Bonnie is the author of A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today. As a journalist, she writes opinion pieces on foreign policy, religion, electoral politics, and more. Her column, “The Lesser Kingdom,” appears in print and online at Christianity Today. She is a fellow at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think tank, and her work has been published at outlets including The New York Times, The Week, USA Today, CNN, Politico, Reason, and The Daily Beast. A graduate of Bethel Seminary, she lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and twin sons. Her new book, Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community is out now. You can follow Bonnie on Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter on Substack.  Which media outlets will help me be a responsible news consumer? How do I know what is true and whom I can trust? What can I do to combat all the misinformation and how it’s impacting people I love?Many Americans are agonizing over questions such as these, feeling unsure and overwhelmed in today’s chaotic information environment.American life and politics are suffering from a raging knowledge crisis, and the church is no exception. In Untrustworthy, Bonnie Kristian unpacks this crisis and explores ways to combat it in our own lives, families, and church communities.Drawing from her extensive experience in journalism and her training as a theologian, Kristian explores social media, political and digital culture, online paranoia, and the press itself. She explains factors that contribute to our confusion and helps Christians pay attention to how we consume content and think about truth. Finally, she provides specific ways to take action, empowering readers to avoid succumbing to or fueling the knowledge crisis.From the Publisher Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

Bonnie is the author of A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today. As a journalist, she writes opinion pieces on foreign policy, religion, electoral politics, and more. Her column, “The Lesser Kingdom,” appears in print and online at Christianity Today. She is a fellow at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think tank, and her work has been published at outlets including The New York Times, The Week, USA Today, CNN, Politico, Reason, and The Daily Beast. A graduate of Bethel Seminary, she lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and twin sons. Her new book, Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community is out now. You can follow <a href="https://twitter.com/bonniekristian" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Bonnie on Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://bonniekristian.substack.com/about" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">subscribe to her newsletter on Substack</a>. <a href="https://a.co/d/2g1laCy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>Which media outlets will help me be a responsible news consumer? How do I know what is true and whom I can trust? What can I do to combat all the misinformation and how it’s impacting people I love?Many Americans are agonizing over questions such as these, feeling unsure and overwhelmed in today’s chaotic information environment.American life and politics are suffering from a raging knowledge crisis, and the church is no exception. In Untrustworthy, Bonnie Kristian unpacks this crisis and explores ways to combat it in our own lives, families, and church communities.Drawing from her extensive experience in journalism and her training as a theologian, Kristian explores social media, political and digital culture, online paranoia, and the press itself. She explains factors that contribute to our confusion and helps Christians pay attention to how we consume content and think about truth. Finally, she provides specific ways to take action, empowering readers to avoid succumbing to or fueling the knowledge crisis.From the Publisher</blockquote> <h4><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h4> <h4><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h4>

Bonnie Kristian on the ‘Untrustworthy’ News Media

Richard Hays

Richard Hays Duke Divinity School faculty    Richard B. Hays is internationally recognized for his work on the Gospels, the letters of Paul, and on New Testament ethics. His scholarly work has bridged the disciplines of biblical criticism and literary studies, exploring the innovative ways in which early Christian writers interpreted Israel’s Scripture. He has also consistently sought to demonstrate how close reading of the New Testament can inform the church’s theological reflection, proclamation, and ministry. His book The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation was selected by Christianity Today as one of the 100 most important religious books of the twentieth century. Dr Hays has lectured widely in North America, Europe, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Japan. An ordained United Methodist minister, he has preached in settings ranging from rural Oklahoma churches to London’s Westminster Abbey. Professor Hays has chaired the Pauline Epistles Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, as well as the Seminar on New Testament Ethics in the Society for New Testament Studies, and has served on the editorial boards of several leading scholarly journals.  “All these essays illustrate, in one way or another, how I have sought to carry out scholarly work as an aspect of discipleship—as a process of faith seeking exegetical clarity.”Richard Hays has been a giant in the field of New Testament studies since the 1989 publication of his Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul. His most significant essays of the past twenty-five years are now collected in this volume, representing the full fruition of major themes from his body of work:– the importance of narrative as the “glue” that holds the Bible together– the figural coherence between the Old and New Testaments– the centrality of the resurrection of Jesus– the hope for New Creation and God’s eschatological transformation of the world– the importance of standing in trusting humility before the text– the significance of reading Scripture within and for the community of faithReaders will find themselves guided toward Hays’s “hermeneutic of trust” rather than the “hermeneutic of suspicion” that has loomed large in recent biblical studies. – From the Publisher Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

Richard Hays Duke Divinity School faculty Richard B. Hays is internationally recognized for his work on the Gospels, the letters of Paul, and on New Testament ethics. His scholarly work has bridged the disciplines of biblical criticism and literary studies, exploring the innovative ways in which early Christian writers interpreted Israel’s Scripture. He has also consistently sought to demonstrate how close reading of the New Testament can inform the church’s theological reflection, proclamation, and ministry. His book The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation was selected by Christianity Today as one of the 100 most important religious books of the twentieth century. Dr Hays has lectured widely in North America, Europe, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Japan. An ordained United Methodist minister, he has preached in settings ranging from rural Oklahoma churches to London’s Westminster Abbey. Professor Hays has chaired the Pauline Epistles Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, as well as the Seminar on New Testament Ethics in the Society for New Testament Studies, and has served on the editorial boards of several leading scholarly journals. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Grain-Scripture-Richard-Hays/dp/0802878458https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Grain-Scripture-Richard-Hays/dp/0802878458" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>“All these essays illustrate, in one way or another, how I have sought to carry out scholarly work as an aspect of discipleship—as a process of faith seeking exegetical clarity.”Richard Hays has been a giant in the field of New Testament studies since the 1989 publication of his Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul. His most significant essays of the past twenty-five years are now collected in this volume, representing the full fruition of major themes from his body of work:– the importance of narrative as the “glue” that holds the Bible together – the figural coherence between the Old and New Testaments – the centrality of the resurrection of Jesus – the hope for New Creation and God’s eschatological transformation of the world – the importance of standing in trusting humility before the text – the significance of reading Scripture within and for the community of faithReaders will find themselves guided toward Hays’s “hermeneutic of trust” rather than the “hermeneutic of suspicion” that has loomed large in recent biblical studies. – From the Publisher</blockquote> <h4><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h4> <h4><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h4>

Richard Hays’ Encouragement to Read with the Grain of Scripture

Vince Bantu

Dr. Vince Bantu (PhD in Semitic and Egyptian Languages, CUA) is the Ohene (President) of the Meachum School of Haymanot and is Assistant Professor of Church History and Black Church Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is also the Ohene of the Society of Gospel Haymanot (SGH), an academic society of theological Gospelism—Afro-rooted theology committed to the universal Lordship of Jesus, biblical authority and the liberation of the oppressed. Vince, his wife Diana, and their daughters live and minister in St. Louis and they love to travel, watch movies and bust some spades.You can follow Vince on Twitter.Christianity is not becoming a global religion. It has always been a global religion. The early Christian movement spread from Jerusalem in every direction, taking on local cultural expression all around the ancient world. So why do so many people see Christianity as a primarily Western, white religion?In A Multitude of All Peoples, Vince Bantu surveys the geographic range of the early church’s history, revealing an alternate, more accurate narrative to that of Christianity as a product of the Western world. He begins by investigating the historical roots of the Western cultural captivity of the church, from the conversion of Constantine to the rise of European Christian empires. He then shifts focus to the too-often-forgotten concurrent development of diverse expressions of Christianity across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.In the process, Bantu removes obstacles to contemporary missiological efforts. Focusing on the necessity for contextualization and indigenous leadership in effective Christian mission, he draws out practical lessons for intercultural communication of the gospel. Healing the wounds of racism, imperialism, and colonialism will be possible only with renewed attention to the marginalized voices of the historic global church. The full story of early Christianity makes clear that, as the apostle Peter said, “God does not show favoritism, but accepts those from every people who fear him and do what is right.” – From the PublisherSubscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple PodcastsGet 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

Dr. Vince Bantu (PhD in Semitic and Egyptian Languages, CUA) is the Ohene (President) of the Meachum School of Haymanot and is Assistant Professor of Church History and Black Church Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is also the Ohene of the Society of Gospel Haymanot (SGH), an academic society of theological Gospelism—Afro-rooted theology committed to the universal Lordship of Jesus, biblical authority and the liberation of the oppressed. Vince, his wife Diana, and their daughters live and minister in St. Louis and they love to travel, watch movies and bust some spades.You can follow Vince on <a href="https://twitter.com/bantu_hustle" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Multitude-All-Peoples-Christianitys-Missiological/dp/0830851070" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a><blockquote>Christianity is not becoming a global religion. It has always been a global religion. The early Christian movement spread from Jerusalem in every direction, taking on local cultural expression all around the ancient world. So why do so many people see Christianity as a primarily Western, white religion?In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Multitude-All-Peoples-Christianitys-Missiological/dp/0830851070" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">A Multitude of All Peoples</a>, Vince Bantu surveys the geographic range of the early church’s history, revealing an alternate, more accurate narrative to that of Christianity as a product of the Western world. He begins by investigating the historical roots of the Western cultural captivity of the church, from the conversion of Constantine to the rise of European Christian empires. He then shifts focus to the too-often-forgotten concurrent development of diverse expressions of Christianity across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.In the process, Bantu removes obstacles to contemporary missiological efforts. Focusing on the necessity for contextualization and indigenous leadership in effective Christian mission, he draws out practical lessons for intercultural communication of the gospel. Healing the wounds of racism, imperialism, and colonialism will be possible only with renewed attention to the marginalized voices of the historic global church. The full story of early Christianity makes clear that, as the apostle Peter said, “God does not show favoritism, but accepts those from every people who fear him and do what is right.” – From the Publisher</blockquote><h3><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h3><h3><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h3>

Engaging Ancient Christianity’s Global Identity with Vince Bantu

Aaron Niequist

Aaron Niequist is a liturgist, writer, in New York City. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), Aaron created A New Liturgy- a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. Shortly after, Aaron started a discipleship-focused, formational, ecumenical, practice-based community at Willow Creek called The Practice. Since writing ‘The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning’, he’s continued to create resources to help us all flesh it out.You can find Aaron’s book, music, and other resources on his website, and you can follow him on Twitter, @aaronieq.This retreat is for exhausted spiritual leaders who are looking for holy space, godly spiritual guidance, and new personal practices. Many of us spiritual leaders spend so much time helping others participate, that we miss out on the fullness of the invitation. In an attempt to help our communities live “unforced rhythms of grace”, we accidentally stumble into “forced rhythms of stress”. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s been said that “The way we do anything is the way we do everything”, and Jesus Christ humbly invites us to baptize our entire lives—even the work of ministry—into God’s deep streams of Life.Learn more about the Pastors, Priests, and Guides Retreat here.Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple PodcastsGet 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

<a href="https://www.aaronniequist.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Aaron Niequist</a> is a liturgist, writer, in New York City. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), Aaron created A New Liturgy- a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. Shortly after, Aaron started a discipleship-focused, formational, ecumenical, practice-based community at Willow Creek called The Practice. Since writing <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Current-Practice-Based-Faith-Drowning/dp/0735291160/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">‘The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning’</a>, he’s continued to create resources to help us all flesh it out.You can find Aaron’s book, music, and other resources <a href="https://www.aaronniequist.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on his website</a>, and you can follow him on Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/aaronieq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@aaronieq</a>.This retreat is for exhausted spiritual leaders who are looking for holy space, godly spiritual guidance, and new personal practices. Many of us spiritual leaders spend so much time helping others participate, that we miss out on the fullness of the invitation. In an attempt to help our communities live “unforced rhythms of grace”, we accidentally stumble into “forced rhythms of stress”. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s been said that “The way we do anything is the way we do everything”, and Jesus Christ humbly invites us to baptize our entire lives—even the work of ministry—into God’s deep streams of Life.<a href="https://www.pastorspriestsandguides.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about the Pastors, Priests, and Guides Retreat here</a>.<h3><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h3><h3><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h3>

Aaron Niequist on Why Pastors, Priests, and Guides Deserve a Retreat

Kellye Fabian

Kellye Fabian serves at Willow Creek Community Church as the Pastor of Biblical Oversight &amp; Support and is the author of Holy Vulnerability: Spiritual Practices for the Broken, Ashamed, Anxious, and Afraid and Sacred Questions: A Transformative Journey Through the Bible. A former trial attorney turned pastor, Kellye’s experiences have equipped her to work closely with people struggling and learning how to cope with hard things. Kellye provides leadership, develops content, and fills various roles at Willow Creek, including teaching and leading the community through spiritual practices. Kellye also teaches spiritual discipline workshops. Kellye has a Certificate of Spiritual Formation through the Transforming Center and a master of arts degree in New Testament from Northern Seminary. Kellye and her husband, Steve, have three daughters between them and live in the Chicago area. You can read more of Kellye’s thoughts on her blog, and follow her on Twitter.  Life can seemingly be fine on the surface. But for any of us who scratch that surface, we recognize anxiety, shame, disappointment, and regret. And yet, in the depths of these feelings, in the things we hate about ourselves, others, and this world, we can invite God’s presence.This is the essence of holy vulnerability. To enter into holy vulnerability is to intentionally expose our raw wounds so that God can heal and mend and transform us.What happens when we refuse this depth of healing? Something that author Kellye Fabian calls “unholy leakage”—that thing that happens when we are afraid, ashamed, or anxious, and instead of facing the reality of what we’re experiencing, we just spill it on everyone around us. Where is anxiety occupying our hearts and minds? Where is fear hindering our relationships and limiting our faith and joy? Where is shame causing us to question our self-worth? Is there another way? Yes.Holy Vulnerability unpacks six atypical, unexpected spiritual practices intended to open us to God’s healing and transformation. Through practices like laughter, community, and tangible engagement with creation, Kellye guides us to notice where brokenness is breaking into our lives. And as we intentionally seek God in the midst of these practices—as we step out in holy vulnerability—God will meet us there. – From the Publisher Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

Kellye Fabian serves at Willow Creek Community Church as the Pastor of Biblical Oversight &amp; Support and is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631469320/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_XRQKC664B91G3WQP2GPM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Holy Vulnerability: Spiritual Practices for the Broken, Ashamed, Anxious, and Afraid</a> and Sacred Questions: A Transformative Journey Through the Bible. A former trial attorney turned pastor, Kellye’s experiences have equipped her to work closely with people struggling and learning how to cope with hard things. Kellye provides leadership, develops content, and fills various roles at Willow Creek, including teaching and leading the community through spiritual practices. Kellye also teaches spiritual discipline workshops. Kellye has a Certificate of Spiritual Formation through the Transforming Center and a master of arts degree in New Testament from Northern Seminary. Kellye and her husband, Steve, have three daughters between them and live in the Chicago area. You can read more of Kellye’s thoughts <a href="https://kellyefabian.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">on her blog</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MomentsoftheSoul" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">follow her on Twitter</a>. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631469320/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_XRQKC664B91G3WQP2GPM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>Life can seemingly be fine on the surface. But for any of us who scratch that surface, we recognize anxiety, shame, disappointment, and regret. And yet, in the depths of these feelings, in the things we hate about ourselves, others, and this world, we can invite God’s presence. This is the essence of holy vulnerability. To enter into holy vulnerability is to intentionally expose our raw wounds so that God can heal and mend and transform us. What happens when we refuse this depth of healing? Something that author Kellye Fabian calls “unholy leakage”—that thing that happens when we are afraid, ashamed, or anxious, and instead of facing the reality of what we’re experiencing, we just spill it on everyone around us. Where is anxiety occupying our hearts and minds? Where is fear hindering our relationships and limiting our faith and joy? Where is shame causing us to question our self-worth? Is there another way? Yes. Holy Vulnerability unpacks six atypical, unexpected spiritual practices intended to open us to God’s healing and transformation. Through practices like laughter, community, and tangible engagement with creation, Kellye guides us to notice where brokenness is breaking into our lives. And as we intentionally seek God in the midst of these practices—as we step out in holy vulnerability—God will meet us there. – From the Publisher</blockquote> <h3><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts</a></h3> <h3><a href="https://shaneblackshear.com/discount-code/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get 40% off Shane’s book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.</a></h3>

Kellye Fabian on Holy Vulnerability

Interviews with Christian authors, leaders, and thinkers.

One of my favorite podcasts.  Well done.  Keep up the great work Shane.

Great guests, great conversations!

Shane asks the best questions and is amazingly intuitive with his guests. I recommend to anyone.

Best questions on the web

Seminary Dropout

Jonathan Warren

Tish Harrison Warren

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org  Our sponsor: Compassion International Check out the new(ish) podcast OnRamp Tish Harrison Warren &amp; Jonathan Warren talking about women in ministry and ordination. William Witt’s articles on women and holy orders: http://willgwitt.org/category/theology/womens-ordinationWilliam Webb, Slaves, Women, and HomosexualsJohn Stackhouse, Finally FeministBen Witherington, Women in the Earliest Christian ChurchesNT Wright’s essay on women in holy orders: http://ntwrightpage.com/2016/07/12/womens-service-in-the-church-the-biblical-basis/Kevin Madigan, Ordained Women in the Early ChurchGary Macy’s Hidden History of Women’s OrdinationGordon Hugenberger’s ‘Women in Church Office’ essay.If you liked this episode then you might also like… Seminary Dropout 99: Jackie Roese on Reshaping Our View of Women in the Church Seminary Dropout 89: Carolyn Custis James, Author of Malestrom: Manhood Swept Into the Currents of a Changing World Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://www.missioalliance.org/podcasts/estheremery/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our sponsor: <a href="http://compassion.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Compassion International</a> Check out the new(ish) podcast <a href="http://onramppodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OnRamp</a><a href="http://onramppodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> Tish Harrison Warren &amp; Jonathan Warren talking about women in ministry and ordination. William Witt’s articles on women and holy orders: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwillgwitt.org%2Fcategory%2Ftheology%2Fwomens-ordination%2F&amp;h=ATODTVaG0EIvmJSRQEdNFXSy4N3E_i6qe21TW0t0mTy6cbXba8eeZ4OK0pTAY604FJBXwdh-y7CIpu15D5fQwaqKyiTkwuJpWjz__aU1vJhFdpmV6Tj5C3Q3EP93xhOn6H2JatxDNg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://willgwitt.org/category/theology/womens-ordination</a>William Webb, Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals John Stackhouse, Finally Feminist Ben Witherington, Women in the Earliest Christian Churches NT Wright’s essay on women in holy orders: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fntwrightpage.com%2F2016%2F07%2F12%2Fwomens-service-in-the-church-the-biblical-basis%2F&amp;h=ATODTVaG0EIvmJSRQEdNFXSy4N3E_i6qe21TW0t0mTy6cbXba8eeZ4OK0pTAY604FJBXwdh-y7CIpu15D5fQwaqKyiTkwuJpWjz__aU1vJhFdpmV6Tj5C3Q3EP93xhOn6H2JatxDNg" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://ntwrightpage.com/2016/07/12/womens-service-in-the-church-the-biblical-basis/</a> Kevin Madigan, Ordained Women in the Early Church Gary Macy’s Hidden History of Women’s Ordination Gordon Hugenberger’s <a href="http://womeninthechurch.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/hugenberger%20women%20in%20church%20office%20re%20husbands%20and%20wives%20issue%20in%201%20timothy%202.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">‘Women in Church Office’ essay</a>. If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/jackieroese/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 99: Jackie Roese on Reshaping Our View of Women in the Church</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/carolyncustisjames/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 89: Carolyn Custis James, Author of Malestrom: Manhood Swept Into the Currents of a Changing World</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

157- Tish Harrison Warren & Jonathan Warren: A Biblical, Historical, and Pastoral Defense of Women in Ministry

Curt Thompson

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. Thanks to all who gave to make Seminary Dropout in 2018 possible! Be sure register to attend the Rethinking Hell Conference, March 9-10. I’d love to see you there. RethinkingHellConference.com This Week on Seminary Dropout…  Curt Thompson, M.D., is a psychiatrist in private practice in Falls Church, Virginia and founder of Being Known, which develops teaching programs, seminars and resource materials to help people explore the connection between interpersonal neurobiology and Christian spirituality which lead to genuine change and transformation. He and his wife, Phyllis, are the parents of two children and reside in Arlington, Virginia. He serves as an elder at Washington Community Fellowship in Washington, D.C. His duties there have included preaching, teaching, and participation in the fellowship’s healing prayer ministry. He and his wife (a licensed clinical social worker) frequently provide premarital counseling services for couples in their congregation.  Do you want to improve your relationships and experience lasting personal change? Join Curt Thompson, M.D., on an amazing journey to discover the surprising pathways for transformation hidden inside your own mind. Integrating new findings in neuroscience and attachment with Christian spirituality, Dr. Thompson reveals how it is possible to rewire your mind, altering your brain patterns and literally making you more like the person God intended you to be. Explaining discoveries about the brain in layman’s terms, he shows how you can be mentally transformed through spiritual practices, interaction with Scripture, and connections with other people. He also provides practical exercises to help you experience healing in areas where you’ve been struggling. Insightful and challenging, Anatomy of the Soul illustrates how learning about one of God’s most miraculous creations―your brain―can enrich your life, your relationships, and your impact on the world around you. -From the Publisher If you liked this episode then you might also like… 143: Mike McHargue aka “Science Mike”, Author of “Finding God In The Waves” Seminary Dropout 52: James Bryan Smith, Author of The Apprentice Series Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/johnmarkmcmillan2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: <a href="http://compassion.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sponsor a Child</a> — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. Thanks to all who gave to make Seminary Dropout in 2018 possible! Be sure register to attend the Rethinking Hell Conference, March 9-10. I’d love to see you there. <a href="http://www.rethinkinghellconference.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RethinkingHellConference.com</a> This Week on Seminary Dropout… <a href="https://www.beingknown.com/about-curt-thompson/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Curt Thompson</a>, M.D., is a psychiatrist in private practice in Falls Church, Virginia and founder of <a href="https://www.beingknown.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Being Known</a>, which develops teaching programs, seminars and resource materials to help people explore the connection between interpersonal neurobiology and Christian spirituality which lead to genuine change and transformation. He and his wife, Phyllis, are the parents of two children and reside in Arlington, Virginia. He serves as an elder at Washington Community Fellowship in Washington, D.C. His duties there have included preaching, teaching, and participation in the fellowship’s healing prayer ministry. He and his wife (a licensed clinical social worker) frequently provide premarital counseling services for couples in their congregation. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141433415X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=141433415X&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=cd5be947e65b9acc1ef4be705c83251b" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>Do you want to improve your relationships and experience lasting personal change? Join Curt Thompson, M.D., on an amazing journey to discover the surprising pathways for transformation hidden inside your own mind. Integrating new findings in neuroscience and attachment with Christian spirituality, Dr. Thompson reveals how it is possible to rewire your mind, altering your brain patterns and literally making you more like the person God intended you to be. Explaining discoveries about the brain in layman’s terms, he shows how you can be mentally transformed through spiritual practices, interaction with Scripture, and connections with other people. He also provides practical exercises to help you experience healing in areas where you’ve been struggling. Insightful and challenging, Anatomy of the Soul illustrates how learning about one of God’s most miraculous creations―your brain―can enrich your life, your relationships, and your impact on the world around you. -From the Publisher</blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/mikemchargue/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">143: Mike McHargue aka “Science Mike”, Author of “Finding God In The Waves”</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/jamesbryansmith/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 52: James Bryan Smith, Author of The Apprentice Series</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

181 – Curt Thompson, Author of “Anatomy of the Soul” on Christianity & Science, Why We Keep Sinning, and More

N.T. Wright

This Week on Seminary Dropout… N. T. Wright is the Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is the award-winning author of many books, including After You Believe, Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, The Challenge of Jesus, and The Meaning of Jesus (coauthored with Marcus Borg), as well as the series Christian Origins and the Question of God. Finally: an introduction that captures the excitement of the early Christians, helping today’s readers to think like a first-century believer while reading the text responsibly for today.The New Testament in Its World is your passageway from the twenty-first century to the era of Jesus and the first Christians. A highly-readable, one-volume introduction placing the entire New Testament and early Christianity in its original context, it is the only such work by distinguished scholar and author N. T. (Tom) Wright.An ideal guide for students, The New Testament in Its World addresses the many difficult questions faced by those studying early Christianity. Both large and small, these questions include: What is the purpose of the New Testament?What was the first-century understanding of the kingdom?What is the real meaning of the resurrection in its original context?What really were the Gospels?Who was Paul and why are his letters so controversial?As twenty-first-century people, how do we recover the excitement of what it was like to live as Christians in the first or second centuries? In short, The New Testament in Its World brings together decades of ground-breaking research, writing, and teaching into one volume that will open readers’ eyes to the larger world of the New Testament. It presents the New Testament books as historical, literary, and social phenomena located in the world of Second Temple Judaism, amidst Greco-Roman politics and culture, and within early Christianity.Written for both classroom and personal use, the benefits of The New Testament in Its World include: A distillation of the life work of N. T. Wright on the New Testament with input from Michael BirdHistorical context that situates Jesus and the early church within the history, culture, and religion of Second Temple Judaism and the Greco-Roman worldMajor sections on the historical Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, and Paul’s chronology and theologySurveys of each New Testament book that discuss their significance, critical topics like authorship and date, and that provide commentary on contents along with implications for the Christian lifeUp-to-date discussions of textual criticism and the canonization of the New TestamentA concluding chapter dedicated to living the story of the New TestamentAvailable Video and Workbook companion resources to enhance learning and experience the world of the New TestamentIllustrated with visually rich pictures, maps, charts, diagrams, and artwork; plentiful sidebars provide additional explanations and insights -From the Publisher Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

This Week on Seminary Dropout… <a href="http://ntwrightpage.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">N. T. Wright</a> is the Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is the award-winning author of many books, including After You Believe, Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, The Challenge of Jesus, and The Meaning of Jesus (coauthored with Marcus Borg), as well as the series Christian Origins and the Question of God. Finally: an introduction that captures the excitement of the early Christians, helping today’s readers to think like a first-century believer while reading the text responsibly for today.The New Testament in Its World is your passageway from the twenty-first century to the era of Jesus and the first Christians. A highly-readable, one-volume introduction placing the entire New Testament and early Christianity in its original context, it is the only such work by distinguished scholar and author N. T. (Tom) Wright. An ideal guide for students, The New Testament in Its World addresses the many difficult questions faced by those studying early Christianity. Both large and small, these questions include: <ul><li>What is the purpose of the New Testament?</li><li>What was the first-century understanding of the kingdom?</li><li>What is the real meaning of the resurrection in its original context?</li><li>What really were the Gospels?</li><li>Who was Paul and why are his letters so controversial?</li><li>As twenty-first-century people, how do we recover the excitement of what it was like to live as Christians in the first or second centuries?</li></ul> In short, The New Testament in Its World brings together decades of ground-breaking research, writing, and teaching into one volume that will open readers’ eyes to the larger world of the New Testament. It presents the New Testament books as historical, literary, and social phenomena located in the world of Second Temple Judaism, amidst Greco-Roman politics and culture, and within early Christianity. Written for both classroom and personal use, the benefits of The New Testament in Its World include: <ul><li>A distillation of the life work of N. T. Wright on the New Testament with input from Michael Bird</li><li>Historical context that situates Jesus and the early church within the history, culture, and religion of Second Temple Judaism and the Greco-Roman world</li><li>Major sections on the historical Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, and Paul’s chronology and theology</li><li>Surveys of each New Testament book that discuss their significance, critical topics like authorship and date, and that provide commentary on contents along with implications for the Christian life</li><li>Up-to-date discussions of textual criticism and the canonization of the New Testament</li><li>A concluding chapter dedicated to living the story of the New Testament</li><li>Available Video and Workbook companion resources to enhance learning and experience the world of the New Testament</li><li>Illustrated with visually rich pictures, maps, charts, diagrams, and artwork; plentiful sidebars provide additional explanations and insights</li></ul> -From the Publisher <h3><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

212 – N.T. Wright on The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians

Ken Wytsma

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsors:  Arizona indie rock band WILD EARTH have just released their brand new full-length album HOLY FOOLS on August 11th. This sophomore album aims to unite pop, experimental alt-rock sounds with spiritual formation in Christ. Listen to the wild, vulnerable and contemplative journey of HOLY FOOLS, online now on your favorite digital streaming like iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify or visit http://wildearthmusic.com Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. If you like Seminary Dropout, be sure to check out OnRamp. This Week on Seminary Dropout…   Ken Wytsma is a leader, innovator, and social entrepreneur. He is the president of Kilns College, where he teaches courses on philosophy and justice. He is the founder of The Justice Conference–a yearly international conference that exposes men and women to a wide range of organizations and conversations relating to justice and the biblical call to give our lives away. Ken is also a church planter and the lead pastor at Antioch Church. He and his wife, Tamara, have four daughters and live in Bend, Oregon.  It’s clear that issues of race and equality have come to the forefront in our nation’s consciousness. Every week yet another incident involving racial tension splashes across headlines and dominates our news feeds. But it’s not easy to unpack the origins of these tensions, and perhaps we wonder whether any of these issues really has anything to do with us. Ken Wytsma, founder of the Justice Conference, understands these questions. He has gone through his own journey of understanding the underpinnings of inequality and privilege. In this timely, insightful book Wytsma unpacks what we need to know to be grounded in conversations about today’s race-related issues. And he helps us come to a deeper understanding of both the origins of these issues and the reconciling role we are called to play as ministers of the gospel. Inequality and privilege are real. The Myth of Equality opens our eyes to realities we may have never realized were present in our society and world. And we will be changed for the better as a result. -From the Publisher  Be sure to check out the justice conference at TheJusticeConference.com   If you liked this episode then you might also like… 159 – Efrem Smith, Author of “Killing Us Softly: Reborn in the Upside-Down Image of God” OnRamp 005: Privilege Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/kenwytsma" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsors: Arizona indie rock band WILD EARTH have just released their brand new full-length album HOLY FOOLS on August 11th. This sophomore album aims to unite pop, experimental alt-rock sounds with spiritual formation in Christ. Listen to the wild, vulnerable and contemplative journey of HOLY FOOLS, online now on your favorite digital streaming like iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify or visit <a href="http://wildearthmusic.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://wildearthmusic.com</a> Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. If you like Seminary Dropout, be sure to check out <a href="http://onramppodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OnRamp.</a><a href="http://onramppodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> This Week on Seminary Dropout… Ken Wytsma is a leader, innovator, and social entrepreneur. He is the president of Kilns College, where he teaches courses on philosophy and justice. He is the founder of The Justice Conference–a yearly international conference that exposes men and women to a wide range of organizations and conversations relating to justice and the biblical call to give our lives away. Ken is also a church planter and the lead pastor at Antioch Church. He and his wife, Tamara, have four daughters and live in Bend, Oregon. <blockquote><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830844821/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0830844821&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=a8fc72bb0d2567c2e1bcdd8bce2a9fef" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a> It’s clear that issues of race and equality have come to the forefront in our nation’s consciousness. Every week yet another incident involving racial tension splashes across headlines and dominates our news feeds. But it’s not easy to unpack the origins of these tensions, and perhaps we wonder whether any of these issues really has anything to do with us. Ken Wytsma, founder of the Justice Conference, understands these questions. He has gone through his own journey of understanding the underpinnings of inequality and privilege. In this timely, insightful book Wytsma unpacks what we need to know to be grounded in conversations about today’s race-related issues. And he helps us come to a deeper understanding of both the origins of these issues and the reconciling role we are called to play as ministers of the gospel. Inequality and privilege are real. The Myth of Equality opens our eyes to realities we may have never realized were present in our society and world. And we will be changed for the better as a result. -From the Publisher <h2> Be sure to check out the justice conference at <a href="https://www.thejusticeconference.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheJusticeConference.com</a></h2> </blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/efremsmith2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">159 – Efrem Smith, Author of “Killing Us Softly: Reborn in the Upside-Down Image of God”</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/privilege/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OnRamp 005: Privilege</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

167 – Ken Wytsma, Author of ‘The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege’

*Originally published at missioalliance.org  N.T. WRIGHT is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world’s leading Bible scholars. He is now serving as the Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews. For twenty years he taught New Testament studies at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities. As being both one of the world’s leading Bible scholars and a popular author, he has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, The Colbert Report, and Fresh Air. His award-winning books include The Case for the Psalms, How God Became King, Simply Jesus, After You Believe, Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, Scripture and the Authority of God, The Meaning of Jesus (co-authored with Marcus Borg), as well as being the translator for The Kingdom New Testament. He also wrote the impressive Christian Origins and the Question of God series, including The New Testament and the People of God, Jesus and the Victory of God, The Resurrection of the Son of God and most recently, Paul and the Faithfulness of God.  The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion The renowned scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author widely considered to be the heir to C. S. Lewis contemplates the central event at the heart of the Christian faith—Jesus’ crucifixion—arguing that the Protestant Reformation did not go far enough in transforming our understanding of its meaning. In The Day the Revolution Began, N. T. Wright once again challenges commonly held Christian beliefs as he did in his acclaimed Surprised by Hope. Demonstrating the rigorous intellect and breathtaking knowledge that have long defined his work, Wright argues that Jesus’ death on the cross was not only to absolve us of our sins; it was actually the beginning of a revolution commissioning the Christian faithful to a new vocation—a royal priesthood responsible for restoring and reconciling all of God’s creation. Wright argues that Jesus’ crucifixion must be understood within the much larger story of God’s purposes to bring heaven and earth together. The Day the Revolution Began offers a grand picture of Jesus’ sacrifice and its full significance for the Christian faith, inspiring believers with a renewed sense of mission, purpose, and hope, and reminding them of the crucial role the Christian faith must play in protecting and shaping the future of the world. -From The Publisher    ntwrightonline.org is your official site for information regarding online classes that are being developed by Prof. N.T. Wright of St. Andrews University, Scotland. It is our hope that you would have the best on-line learning experience featuring courses based on the teaching of N.T. Wright. The courses contain video lecture material, written material to augment the videos, textbook recommendations, assessment tools (i.e., quizzes), and discussion sections so you can dialogue on-line with fellow students from around the world. This will help us to ‘be transformed by the renewing of the mind’. Courses offered at ntwrightonline.org are made possible through the collaboration between N.T. Wright, Professor at St. Andrews University, Scotland, and David Seemuth, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Wisconsin Center for Christian Study. The courses are not affiliated with St. Andrews University and carry no formal credit, but are meant to be sources of enrichment for those who choose to participate in the classes. Take Wright’s online class on The Day the Revolution Began for 50% off by clicking HERE! Our Sponsor:  Intervarsity Press has an exclusive for Seminary Dropout listeners. Go to ivpress.com/dropout to get 30% off The Broken Way. If you liked this episode then you might also like… Seminary Dropout 84: NT Wright 140: Frank James, Logos Video Course: “Introducing Church History” Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally published at <a href="http://missioalliance.org/seminarydropout/ntwright" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">missioalliance.org</a> N.T. WRIGHT is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world’s leading Bible scholars. He is now serving as the Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews. For twenty years he taught New Testament studies at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities. As being both one of the world’s leading Bible scholars and a popular author, he has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, The Colbert Report, and Fresh Air. His award-winning books include The Case for the Psalms, How God Became King, Simply Jesus, After You Believe, Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, Scripture and the Authority of God, The Meaning of Jesus (co-authored with Marcus Borg), as well as being the translator for The Kingdom New Testament. He also wrote the impressive Christian Origins and the Question of God series, including The New Testament and the People of God, Jesus and the Victory of God, The Resurrection of the Son of God and most recently, Paul and the Faithfulness of God. <blockquote><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062334387/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0062334387&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=304f42cc4f581bb60798bebd2eac8325" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0062334387/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0062334387&amp;linkCode=am2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=dc9e3fc46d9c5e9a7d6346350347290f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion</a> The renowned scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author widely considered to be the heir to C. S. Lewis contemplates the central event at the heart of the Christian faith—Jesus’ crucifixion—arguing that the Protestant Reformation did not go far enough in transforming our understanding of its meaning. In The Day the Revolution Began, N. T. Wright once again challenges commonly held Christian beliefs as he did in his acclaimed Surprised by Hope. Demonstrating the rigorous intellect and breathtaking knowledge that have long defined his work, Wright argues that Jesus’ death on the cross was not only to absolve us of our sins; it was actually the beginning of a revolution commissioning the Christian faithful to a new vocation—a royal priesthood responsible for restoring and reconciling all of God’s creation. Wright argues that Jesus’ crucifixion must be understood within the much larger story of God’s purposes to bring heaven and earth together. The Day the Revolution Began offers a grand picture of Jesus’ sacrifice and its full significance for the Christian faith, inspiring believers with a renewed sense of mission, purpose, and hope, and reminding them of the crucial role the Christian faith must play in protecting and shaping the future of the world. -From The Publisher</blockquote> <a href="http://ntwrightonline.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ntwrightonline.org</a> is your official site for information regarding online classes that are being developed by Prof. N.T. Wright of St. Andrews University, Scotland. It is our hope that you would have the best on-line learning experience featuring courses based on the teaching of N.T. Wright. The courses contain video lecture material, written material to augment the videos, textbook recommendations, assessment tools (i.e., quizzes), and discussion sections so you can dialogue on-line with fellow students from around the world. This will help us to ‘be transformed by the renewing of the mind’. Courses offered at <a href="http://ntwrightonline.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ntwrightonline.org</a> are made possible through the collaboration between N.T. Wright, Professor at St. Andrews University, Scotland, and David Seemuth, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Wisconsin Center for Christian Study. The courses are not affiliated with St. Andrews University and carry no formal credit, but are meant to be sources of enrichment for those who choose to participate in the classes. <h3>Take Wright’s online class on The Day the Revolution Began for 50% off by clicking <a href="https://www.udemy.com/the-day-the-revolution-began/?couponCode=SHANETHE_DAY_OCT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE!</a></h3> Our Sponsor: Intervarsity Press has an exclusive for Seminary Dropout listeners. Go to <a href="http://ivpress.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ivpress.com/dropout</a> to get 30% off The Broken Way. If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/ntwright/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 84: NT Wright</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/frankjames/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">140: Frank James, Logos Video Course: “Introducing Church History”</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

147: N.T. Wright Talks about The Day the Revolution Began

Michelle Ferrigno Warren

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout…   Michelle Ferrigno Warren is the advocacy and policy engagement director for the Christian Community Development Association. She is an immigration, education, and human service policy specialist and is an adjunct faculty member at Denver Seminary. With over twenty years experience working in Christian community development, Michelle is a part of the national Evangelical Immigration Table and helps consult for the National Immigration Forum. She is a founding staff member of Open Door Ministries, a large community development corporation. Michelle, her husband, David, and their three children live in an immigrant neighborhood in Denver, Colorado. Noel Castellanos has worked in full-time ministry in Latino, urban communities since 1982, serving in youth ministry, church planting, advocacy and community development in San Francisco, San Jose and Chicago. He is chief executive officer of Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) and was the founding pastor of Chicago’s La Villita Community Church. In addition to being a popular speaker, Castellanos mentors young leaders across the United States and directs the CCDA Institute, training emerging leaders in the Christian Community Development philosophy. He was appointed to serve on President Obama’s Council for Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships and has served as the chaplain for the Chicago Cubs. He has a deep passion to serve and invest in the lives of leaders committed to serving the poor. Noel is the coauthor of A Heart for the Community and New Models for Urban and Suburban Ministry and has contributed to various other books and publications including Deep Justice in a Broken World, A Heart for the City, and Crazy Enough to Care. He and his wife, Marianne, have three children and make their home in the barrio of La Villita in Chicago.  We can see evidence of injustice all around us, whether in continuing incidents of racial inequality or in the systemic forces that disenfranchise people and perpetuate poverty. It’s important to learn about the world’s inequities and to be a voice for the voiceless any way we can. But in an age of hashtag and armchair activism, merely raising awareness about injustice is not enough. Michelle Warren knows what is needed. She and her family have chosen to live in communities where they are “proximate to the pain of the poor.” This makes all the difference in facing and overcoming injustice. When we build relationships where we live, we discover the complexities of standing with the vulnerable and the commitment needed for long-term change. Proximity changes our perspective, compels our response, and keeps us committed to the journey of pursuing justice for all. Move beyond awareness and experience the power of proximity. -From the Publisher   If you liked this episode then you might also like… Seminary Dropout 170 – Russell Jeung, Author of “At Home in Exile” on Living in Solidarity with the Poor and Taking his Children Along for the Ride Seminary Dropout 158 – David P. Leong, Author of “Race and Place: How Urban Geography Shapes the Journey to Reconciliation” Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/michelleferrignowarren" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout… Michelle Ferrigno Warren is the advocacy and policy engagement director for the Christian Community Development Association. She is an immigration, education, and human service policy specialist and is an adjunct faculty member at Denver Seminary. With over twenty years experience working in Christian community development, Michelle is a part of the national Evangelical Immigration Table and helps consult for the National Immigration Forum. She is a founding staff member of Open Door Ministries, a large community development corporation. Michelle, her husband, David, and their three children live in an immigrant neighborhood in Denver, Colorado. Noel Castellanos has worked in full-time ministry in Latino, urban communities since 1982, serving in youth ministry, church planting, advocacy and community development in San Francisco, San Jose and Chicago. He is chief executive officer of Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) and was the founding pastor of Chicago’s La Villita Community Church. In addition to being a popular speaker, Castellanos mentors young leaders across the United States and directs the CCDA Institute, training emerging leaders in the Christian Community Development philosophy. He was appointed to serve on President Obama’s Council for Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships and has served as the chaplain for the Chicago Cubs. He has a deep passion to serve and invest in the lives of leaders committed to serving the poor. Noel is the coauthor of A Heart for the Community and New Models for Urban and Suburban Ministry and has contributed to various other books and publications including Deep Justice in a Broken World, A Heart for the City, and Crazy Enough to Care. He and his wife, Marianne, have three children and make their home in the barrio of La Villita in Chicago. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830843906/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0830843906&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=6ce3bdee769e0577dfd6ae48b0e18e35" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>We can see evidence of injustice all around us, whether in continuing incidents of racial inequality or in the systemic forces that disenfranchise people and perpetuate poverty. It’s important to learn about the world’s inequities and to be a voice for the voiceless any way we can. But in an age of hashtag and armchair activism, merely raising awareness about injustice is not enough. Michelle Warren knows what is needed. She and her family have chosen to live in communities where they are “proximate to the pain of the poor.” This makes all the difference in facing and overcoming injustice. When we build relationships where we live, we discover the complexities of standing with the vulnerable and the commitment needed for long-term change. Proximity changes our perspective, compels our response, and keeps us committed to the journey of pursuing justice for all. Move beyond awareness and experience the power of proximity. -From the Publisher</blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.missioalliance.org/podcasts/russelljeung/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 170 – Russell Jeung, Author of “At Home in Exile” on Living in Solidarity with the Poor and Taking his Children Along for the Ride</a> <a href="http://www.missioalliance.org/podcasts/davidpleong/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 158 – David P. Leong, Author of “Race and Place: How Urban Geography Shapes the Journey to Reconciliation”</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

172 – Michelle Ferrigno Warren, Author of ‘The Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action’

Derek Vreeland

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout…     Derek Vreeland is the Discipleship Pastor at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. He is the author of Through the Eyes of N.T. Wright: A Reader’s Guide to Paul and the Faithfulness of God and Primal Credo: Your Entrance into the Apostles’ Creed. Derek lives in St. Joe with his wife, Jenni, and three boys, Wesley, Taylor, and Dylan. He earned a M.Div. from Oral Roberts University and a D.Min. from Asbury Theological Seminary.  The death of Jesus is the foundation of our faith, but what do we mean when we confess that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture? N.T. Wright’s book The Day the Revolution Began offers compelling answers to that question. His book is nothing less than a game changer. Just as Wright’s book Surprised By Hope changed our view of the end, so this book is changing our view of the cross. This reader’s guide offers a clear summary of Wright’s interpretation of the cross in the context of both history and the big story told by the Bible. Using this reader’s guide prayerfully will open up vistas of the love of God as you see the revolutionary cross with new eyes. Such a renewed vision will stir your thinking, prompt new conversations about the cross, cause your love for Christ to grow, and equip the Church to carry forth her gospel-shaped mission.-From the Publisher From the show…  “The Christian Mission is to implement the victory that Jesus won on the cross.” -N.T. Wright “First and foremost it looks like communities of followers of Jesus that deeply love one another, in spite of our differences. It has to be first within the household of God. We are a demonstration of the age to come, so within the church we have to love one another we have to practice forgiveness and reconciliation with one another. If we’re going to have any credibility in the wider culture we have to show them what love and reconciliation looks like then we will be the shining light on the hill.” – Derek Vreeland  If you liked this episode then you might also like… 147: N.T. Wright Talks about The Day the Revolution Began Seminary Dropout 84: NT Wright Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/derekvreeland" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: <a href="http://compassion.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sponsor a Child</a> — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout… <a href="https://derekvreeland.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Derek Vreeland</a> is the Discipleship Pastor at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. He is the author of Through the Eyes of N.T. Wright: A Reader’s Guide to Paul and the Faithfulness of God and Primal Credo: Your Entrance into the Apostles’ Creed. Derek lives in St. Joe with his wife, Jenni, and three boys, Wesley, Taylor, and Dylan. He earned a M.Div. from Oral Roberts University and a D.Min. from Asbury Theological Seminary. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1973839415/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1973839415&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=5f59278bd948872dc76bf90ac21cadef" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>The death of Jesus is the foundation of our faith, but what do we mean when we confess that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture? N.T. Wright’s book The Day the Revolution Began offers compelling answers to that question. His book is nothing less than a game changer. Just as Wright’s book Surprised By Hope changed our view of the end, so this book is changing our view of the cross. This reader’s guide offers a clear summary of Wright’s interpretation of the cross in the context of both history and the big story told by the Bible. Using this reader’s guide prayerfully will open up vistas of the love of God as you see the revolutionary cross with new eyes. Such a renewed vision will stir your thinking, prompt new conversations about the cross, cause your love for Christ to grow, and equip the Church to carry forth her gospel-shaped mission.-From the Publisher</blockquote> <h4>From the show…</h4> <blockquote> “The Christian Mission is to implement the victory that Jesus won on the cross.” -N.T. Wright “First and foremost it looks like communities of followers of Jesus that deeply love one another, in spite of our differences. It has to be first within the household of God. We are a demonstration of the age to come, so within the church we have to love one another we have to practice forgiveness and reconciliation with one another. If we’re going to have any credibility in the wider culture we have to show them what love and reconciliation looks like then we will be the shining light on the hill.” – Derek Vreeland </blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/ntwright2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">147: N.T. Wright Talks about The Day the Revolution Began</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/ntwright/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 84: NT Wright</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

191 – Derek Vreeland, on NT Wright, Atonement Theories, and The Day The Revolution Began

Tara Beth Leach

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout…   Tara Beth Leach is senior pastor of First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena in Southern California. She is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University (BA, youth ministry) and Northern Theological Seminary (MDiv). She is a regular writer for Missio Alliance and has contributed to other publications such as Christianity Today, Christian Week, The Jesus Creed, The Table Magazine, Reflecting the Image Devotional, Renovating Holiness, and most recently a chapter in The Apostle Paul and the Christian Life. She has two beautiful and rambunctious sons, and has been married to the love of her life, Jeff, since 2006.    Throughout Scripture and church history, women have been central to the mission of God. But all too often, women have lacked opportunities to minister fully. Many churches lack visible examples of women in ministry and leadership. Tara Beth Leach, senior pastor of her denomination’s flagship church, issues a stirring call for a new generation of women in ministry: to teach, to preach, to shepherd, and to lead. God not only permits women to minister; he emboldens, empowers, and unleashes women to lead out of the fullness of who they are. The church cannot reach its full potential without women using their God-given gifts. Leach provides practical expertise for how women can find their place at the table, escape imposter syndrome, face opposition, mentor others and much more. Women who read this book will be inspired to use their gifts to edify the body of Christ and advance the kingdom of God. Men who read it will be inspired to embolden the women in their midst. When women teach, preach, lead, evangelize, pastor, and disciple, the church’s imagination expands to better reflect God’s story and hope for the world. -From the Publisher If you liked this episode then you might also like… Seminary Dropout 171 – Mandy Smith, Author of ‘The Vulnerable Pastor’ and Director of SheLeads 2017 Seminary Dropout 157- Tish Harrison Warren &amp; Jonathan Warren: A Biblical, Historical, and Pastoral Defense of Women in Ministry Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/tarabethleach" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout… Tara Beth Leach is senior pastor of First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena in Southern California. She is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University (BA, youth ministry) and Northern Theological Seminary (MDiv). She is a regular writer for Missio Alliance and has contributed to other publications such as Christianity Today, Christian Week, The Jesus Creed, The Table Magazine, Reflecting the Image Devotional, Renovating Holiness, and most recently a chapter in The Apostle Paul and the Christian Life. She has two beautiful and rambunctious sons, and has been married to the love of her life, Jeff, since 2006. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830845240/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0830845240&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=5c35a66d1cb63eeaf10cf64216139d14" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>Throughout Scripture and church history, women have been central to the mission of God. But all too often, women have lacked opportunities to minister fully. Many churches lack visible examples of women in ministry and leadership. Tara Beth Leach, senior pastor of her denomination’s flagship church, issues a stirring call for a new generation of women in ministry: to teach, to preach, to shepherd, and to lead. God not only permits women to minister; he emboldens, empowers, and unleashes women to lead out of the fullness of who they are. The church cannot reach its full potential without women using their God-given gifts. Leach provides practical expertise for how women can find their place at the table, escape imposter syndrome, face opposition, mentor others and much more. Women who read this book will be inspired to use their gifts to edify the body of Christ and advance the kingdom of God. Men who read it will be inspired to embolden the women in their midst. When women teach, preach, lead, evangelize, pastor, and disciple, the church’s imagination expands to better reflect God’s story and hope for the world. -From the Publisher</blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.missioalliance.org/podcasts/mandysmith/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 171 – Mandy Smith, Author of ‘The Vulnerable Pastor’ and Director of SheLeads 2017</a> <a href="http://www.missioalliance.org/podcasts/tishharrisonwarrenjonathanwarren/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 157- Tish Harrison Warren &amp; Jonathan Warren: A Biblical, Historical, and Pastoral Defense of Women in Ministry</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

177 – Tara Beth Leach, Author of Emboldened: A Vision for Empowering Women in Ministry

Jo Saxton

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout…     Jo Saxton is a pastor, a church-planter, an author, and a speaker who travels the globe to address leadership organizations, children’s conferences, women’s events, and Christian festivals. She also serves on the advisory board for Today’s Christian Woman, co-hosts the Lead Stories podcast, and spends much of her time mentoring and training leaders through 3DMovements, an international discipleship operation. She lives with her husband and their two daughters near Minneapolis.  Let’s be honest, the life you lead isn’t what you’ve always dreamt. And maybe the person you’ve become isn’t who you’ve always imagined. Sure, you can clean it up. You can work longer, love harder, and eat better. You can scrub the surface of your life until it gleams and still never address the fact that somehow you lost sight of who you really are and what you’re living for. Is this the life you were meant to live? As the child of Nigerian immigrants in the UK, author and speaker Jo Saxton knows firsthand how quickly the world can cause us to doubt our dreams and question who we are. She understands how easily we can exchange our true child-of-God selves for an identity built on lies, guilt, and brokenness. In this powerful book, Jo examines Biblical figures and shares her personal story as she invites you to turn to the One who knows you intimately and loves you deeply. He sees all you’ve struggled to hide. He hears the voice inside you that others have silenced. He knows the potential and purpose that no one valued. He longs to redeem the story of your life and set you on the path to reclaim The Dream of You.Are you ready?  -From the Publisher  From the show…  “I’ve seen how often women can edit their callings in the presence of guys, even if they know those guys are for them…”  If you liked this episode then you might also like… Seminary Dropout 179 – Amena Brown, Author of “How to Fix a Broken Record” on Poetry, Marriage, and Princesses Seminary Dropout 177 – Tara Beth Leach, Author of Emboldened: A Vision for Empowering Women in Ministry Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/danielhill" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: <a href="http://compassion.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sponsor a Child</a> — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout… Jo Saxton is a pastor, a church-planter, an author, and a speaker who travels the globe to address leadership organizations, children’s conferences, women’s events, and Christian festivals. She also serves on the advisory board for Today’s Christian Woman, co-hosts the Lead Stories podcast, and spends much of her time mentoring and training leaders through 3DMovements, an international discipleship operation. She lives with her husband and their two daughters near Minneapolis.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735289824/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0735289824&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=000e9d5355d8120053defdb6d265e5da" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>Let’s be honest, the life you lead isn’t what you’ve always dreamt. And maybe the person you’ve become isn’t who you’ve always imagined. Sure, you can clean it up. You can work longer, love harder, and eat better. You can scrub the surface of your life until it gleams and still never address the fact that somehow you lost sight of who you really are and what you’re living for. Is this the life you were meant to live? As the child of Nigerian immigrants in the UK, author and speaker Jo Saxton knows firsthand how quickly the world can cause us to doubt our dreams and question who we are. She understands how easily we can exchange our true child-of-God selves for an identity built on lies, guilt, and brokenness. In this powerful book, Jo examines Biblical figures and shares her personal story as she invites you to turn to the One who knows you intimately and loves you deeply. He sees all you’ve struggled to hide. He hears the voice inside you that others have silenced. He knows the potential and purpose that no one valued. He longs to redeem the story of your life and set you on the path to reclaim The Dream of You.Are you ready? -From the Publisher </blockquote> <h4>From the show…</h4> <blockquote> <h3>“I’ve seen how often women can edit their callings in the presence of guys, even if they know those guys are for them…”</h3> </blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.missioalliance.org/podcasts/amenabrown/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 179 – Amena Brown, Author of “How to Fix a Broken Record” on Poetry, Marriage, and Princesses</a> <a href="http://www.missioalliance.org/podcasts/tarabethleach/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 177 – Tara Beth Leach, Author of Emboldened: A Vision for Empowering Women in Ministry</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

190 – Jo Saxton, on Being Who We Are Meant to Be, Not Who People Want Us to Be

AJ Swoboda

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout…  My guest A. J. Swoboda pastors Theophilus Church in urban Portland, Oregon. He is executive director of the Seminary Stewardship Alliance, a consortium of Christian higher education institutions dedicated to reconnecting Christians with the biblical call to care for God’s creation. Swoboda also teaches biblical studies, theology, and church history at Portland Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary, among others. He is an award-winning author or editor of nine books and speaks regularly at conferences, retreats, churches, and seminars. Visit his website and blog at www.ajswoboda.com.  We live in a 24/7 culture of endless productivity, workaholism, distraction, burnout, and anxiety–a way of life to which we’ve sadly grown accustomed. This tired system of “life” ultimately destroys our souls, our bodies, our relationships, our society, and the rest of God’s creation. The whole world grows exhausted because humanity has forgotten to enter into God’s rest. This book pioneers a creative path to an alternative way of existing. Combining creative storytelling, pastoral sensitivity, practical insight, and relevant academic research, Subversive Sabbath offers a unique invitation to personal Sabbath-keeping that leads to fuller and more joyful lives. A. J. Swoboda demonstrates that Sabbath is both a spiritual discipline and a form of social justice, connects Sabbath-keeping to local communities, and explains how God may actually do more when we do less. He shows that the biblical practice of Sabbath-keeping is God’s plan for the restoration and healing of all creation. The book includes a foreword by Matthew Sleeth. -From the Publisher If you liked this episode then you might also like… Seminary Dropout 54: Walter Brueggemann Talking – Reality, Grief, Hope 147: N.T. Wright Talks about The Day the Revolution Began Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/ajswoboda" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: <a href="http://compassion.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sponsor a Child</a> — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout… My guest A. J. Swoboda pastors Theophilus Church in urban Portland, Oregon. He is executive director of the Seminary Stewardship Alliance, a consortium of Christian higher education institutions dedicated to reconnecting Christians with the biblical call to care for God’s creation. Swoboda also teaches biblical studies, theology, and church history at Portland Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary, among others. He is an award-winning author or editor of nine books and speaks regularly at conferences, retreats, churches, and seminars. Visit his website and blog at <a href="http://ajswoboda.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.ajswoboda.com</a>. <blockquote>We live in a 24/7 culture of endless productivity, workaholism, distraction, burnout, and anxiety–a way of life to which we’ve sadly grown accustomed. This tired system of “life” ultimately destroys our souls, our bodies, our relationships, our society, and the rest of God’s creation. The whole world grows exhausted because humanity has forgotten to enter into God’s rest. This book pioneers a creative path to an alternative way of existing. Combining creative storytelling, pastoral sensitivity, practical insight, and relevant academic research, Subversive Sabbath offers a unique invitation to personal Sabbath-keeping that leads to fuller and more joyful lives. A. J. Swoboda demonstrates that Sabbath is both a spiritual discipline and a form of social justice, connects Sabbath-keeping to local communities, and explains how God may actually do more when we do less. He shows that the biblical practice of Sabbath-keeping is God’s plan for the restoration and healing of all creation. The book includes a foreword by Matthew Sleeth. -From the Publisher</blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/walterbrueggemann/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 54: Walter Brueggemann Talking – Reality, Grief, Hope</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/ntwright2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">147: N.T. Wright Talks about The Day the Revolution Began</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

186 – AJ Swoboda on ‘Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World’, Plus the Best NT Wright Introduction You’ve Ever Heard

Lucy Peppiatt

Lucy Peppiatt (PhD, Otago) is the principal of Westminster Theological Centre. Her research interests are Christ and the Spirit, charismatic theology, discipleship, and 1 Corinthians, and her books include Unveiling Paul’s Women and Women and Worship in Corinth. This Week on Seminary Dropout…Lucy Peppiatt (PhD, Otago) is the principal of Westminster Theological Centre. Her research interests are Christ and the Spirit, charismatic theology, discipleship, and 1 Corinthians, and her books include Unveiling Paul’s Women and Women and Worship in Corinth.Rediscovering Scripture’s Vision for Women: Fresh Perspectives on Disputed Texts Does God call women to serve as equal partners in marriage and as leaders in the church?The answer to this straightforward question is deeply contested. Into the fray, Lucy Peppiatt offers her work on interpretation of the Bible and Christian practice. With careful exegetical work, Peppiatt considers relevant passages in Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Peter, 1 Timothy, and 1 Corinthians. There she finds a story of God releasing women alongside men into all forms of ministry, leadership, work, and service on the basis of character and gifting, rather than biological sex. Those who see the overturning of male-dominated hierarchy in the Scriptures, she argues, are truly rediscovering an ancient message―a message distorted by those who assumed that a patriarchal world, which they sometimes saw reflected in the Bible, was the one God had ordained. -From the Publisher Unveiling Paul’s Women: Making Sense of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16Whether people realize it or not, the ideas in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 have had a huge impact on the role of Christian women in the church through the centuries. These fifteen verses have shaped worship practices, church structures, church leadership, marriages, and even relationships between men and women in general. They have contributed to practices that have consistently placed women in a subordinate role to men, and have been used to justify the idea that a woman should not occupy a leadership or teaching position without being under the authority or “covering” of a man. It is strange, therefore, that academics and pastors alike continue to note how confusing and difficult it continues to be to make sense of these very verses. In this little book, Lucy Peppiatt not only highlights the problems associated with using this text to justify the subordination of women, but offers a clear and plausible re-reading of the text that paints the apostle Paul as a radical, visionary, church planter who championed women in all forms of leadership.-From the Publisher Women and Worship at Corinth: Paul’s Rhetorical Arguments in 1 CorinthiansMaking sense of Paul’s arguments in 1 Corinthians 11-14 regarding both the role of women in public worship and the value of tongues and prophecy for the unbeliever has long posed challenges for any lay reader or scholar. Despite numerous explanations offered over the years, these passages remain marked by inconsistencies, contradictions, and puzzles. Lucy Peppiatt offers a reading of 1 Corinthians 11-14 in which she proposes that Paul is in conversation with the Corinthian male leadership regarding their domineering, superior, and selfish practices, including coercing the women to wear head coverings, lording it over the “have-nots” at the Lord’s Supper, speaking in tongues all at once, and ordering married women to keep quiet in church. Through careful exegesis and theological comment this reading not only brings internal coherence to the text, but paints a picture of the apostle gripped by a vision for a new humanity “in the Lord” resulting in his refusal to compromise with the traditional views of his own society. Instead, as those who should identify with the crucified Christ, he exhorts the Corinthians to make “love” their aim, and thus to restore dignity and honor to women, the outsider, and the poor.-From the Publisher Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

Lucy Peppiatt (PhD, Otago) is the principal of Westminster Theological Centre. Her research interests are Christ and the Spirit, charismatic theology, discipleship, and 1 Corinthians, and her books include Unveiling Paul’s Women and Women and Worship in Corinth. This Week on Seminary Dropout…Lucy Peppiatt (PhD, Otago) is the principal of Westminster Theological Centre. Her research interests are Christ and the Spirit, charismatic theology, discipleship, and 1 Corinthians, and her books include Unveiling Paul’s Women and Women and Worship in Corinth. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rediscovering-Scriptures-Vision-Women-Perspectives/dp/0830852719/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=lucy+peppiatt&amp;qid=1559141639&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rediscovering Scripture’s Vision for Women: Fresh Perspectives on Disputed Texts</a> Does God call women to serve as equal partners in marriage and as leaders in the church?The answer to this straightforward question is deeply contested. Into the fray, Lucy Peppiatt offers her work on interpretation of the Bible and Christian practice. With careful exegetical work, Peppiatt considers relevant passages in Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Peter, 1 Timothy, and 1 Corinthians. There she finds a story of God releasing women alongside men into all forms of ministry, leadership, work, and service on the basis of character and gifting, rather than biological sex. Those who see the overturning of male-dominated hierarchy in the Scriptures, she argues, are truly rediscovering an ancient message―a message distorted by those who assumed that a patriarchal world, which they sometimes saw reflected in the Bible, was the one God had ordained. -From the Publisher <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unveiling-Pauls-Women-Making-Corinthians/dp/1498289223/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=lucy+peppiatt&amp;qid=1559141639&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unveiling Paul’s Women: Making Sense of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16</a>Whether people realize it or not, the ideas in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 have had a huge impact on the role of Christian women in the church through the centuries. These fifteen verses have shaped worship practices, church structures, church leadership, marriages, and even relationships between men and women in general. They have contributed to practices that have consistently placed women in a subordinate role to men, and have been used to justify the idea that a woman should not occupy a leadership or teaching position without being under the authority or “covering” of a man. It is strange, therefore, that academics and pastors alike continue to note how confusing and difficult it continues to be to make sense of these very verses. In this little book, Lucy Peppiatt not only highlights the problems associated with using this text to justify the subordination of women, but offers a clear and plausible re-reading of the text that paints the apostle Paul as a radical, visionary, church planter who championed women in all forms of leadership. -From the Publisher <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Women-Worship-Corinth-Rhetorical-Corinthians/dp/1498201466/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=lucy+peppiatt&amp;qid=1559141639&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Women and Worship at Corinth: Paul’s Rhetorical Arguments in 1 Corinthians</a> Making sense of Paul’s arguments in 1 Corinthians 11-14 regarding both the role of women in public worship and the value of tongues and prophecy for the unbeliever has long posed challenges for any lay reader or scholar. Despite numerous explanations offered over the years, these passages remain marked by inconsistencies, contradictions, and puzzles. Lucy Peppiatt offers a reading of 1 Corinthians 11-14 in which she proposes that Paul is in conversation with the Corinthian male leadership regarding their domineering, superior, and selfish practices, including coercing the women to wear head coverings, lording it over the “have-nots” at the Lord’s Supper, speaking in tongues all at once, and ordering married women to keep quiet in church. Through careful exegesis and theological comment this reading not only brings internal coherence to the text, but paints a picture of the apostle gripped by a vision for a new humanity “in the Lord” resulting in his refusal to compromise with the traditional views of his own society. Instead, as those who should identify with the crucified Christ, he exhorts the Corinthians to make “love” their aim, and thus to restore dignity and honor to women, the outsider, and the poor. -From the Publisher <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

205 – Did Paul Believe Husbands Are the ‘Head’ of Their Wives or that Women Should Wear Head Coverings? Lucy Peppiatt Has Some Answers.

Russell Jeung

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsors:  Arizona indie rock band WILD EARTH have just released their brand new full-length album HOLY FOOLS on August 11th. This sophomore album aims to unite pop, experimental alt-rock sounds with spiritual formation in Christ. Listen to the wild, vulnerable and contemplative journey of HOLY FOOLS, online now on your favorite digital streaming like iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify or visit http://wildearthmusic.com Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. If you like Seminary Dropout, be sure to check out OnRamp. This Week on Seminary Dropout…   Dr. Russell Jeung is a leading sociologist of Asian Americans, race, and religion. He is professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and author of Sustaining Faith Traditions: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion among the Latino and Asian American Second Generation (with Carolyn Chen) and Faithful Generations: Race, Religion, and Asian American Churches. Dr. Jeung is also executive producer of Prophetic Voices, a social media project addressing key social issues of the Asian American community within and in the public square. He serves as Board Chair of New Hope Covenant Church and lives with his family in East Oakland, CA. Along with his wife, Dr. Dr. Joan Jeung, they have two foster daughters from Burma and a son.  Russell Jeung’s spiritual memoir shares the joyful and occasionally harrowing stories of his life in East Oakland’s Murder Dubs neighborhood—including battling drug dealers who threatened him, exorcising a spirit possessing a teen, and winning a landmark housing settlement against slumlords with 200 of his closest Cambodian and Latino friends. More poignantly, At Home in Exile weaves in narratives of longing and belonging as Jeung retraces the steps of his Chinese-Hakka family and his refugee neighbors. In the face of forced relocation and institutional discrimination, his family and friends resisted time and time again over six generations. With humor and keen insight, At Home in Exile will help you see how living in exile will transform your faith. -From the Publisher If you liked this episode then you might also like… Seminary Dropout 121: Shawn Duncan, on Truly Helping those in Poverty, Gentrification, and the Role of the Church 167 – Ken Wytsma, Author of ‘The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege’ Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/russelljeung" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsors: Arizona indie rock band WILD EARTH have just released their brand new full-length album HOLY FOOLS on August 11th. This sophomore album aims to unite pop, experimental alt-rock sounds with spiritual formation in Christ. Listen to the wild, vulnerable and contemplative journey of HOLY FOOLS, online now on your favorite digital streaming like iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify or visit <a href="http://wildearthmusic.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">http://wildearthmusic.com</a> Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. If you like Seminary Dropout, be sure to check out <a href="http://onramppodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OnRamp.</a><a href="http://onramppodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> This Week on Seminary Dropout… Dr. Russell Jeung is a leading sociologist of Asian Americans, race, and religion. He is professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and author of Sustaining Faith Traditions: Race, Ethnicity, and Religion among the Latino and Asian American Second Generation (with Carolyn Chen) and Faithful Generations: Race, Religion, and Asian American Churches. Dr. Jeung is also executive producer of Prophetic Voices, a social media project addressing key social issues of the Asian American community within and in the public square. He serves as Board Chair of New Hope Covenant Church and lives with his family in East Oakland, CA. Along with his wife, Dr. Dr. Joan Jeung, they have two foster daughters from Burma and a son. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031052783X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=031052783X&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=19626e23a5cd64a71caeca6bafaa9735" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>Russell Jeung’s spiritual memoir shares the joyful and occasionally harrowing stories of his life in East Oakland’s Murder Dubs neighborhood—including battling drug dealers who threatened him, exorcising a spirit possessing a teen, and winning a landmark housing settlement against slumlords with 200 of his closest Cambodian and Latino friends. More poignantly, At Home in Exile weaves in narratives of longing and belonging as Jeung retraces the steps of his Chinese-Hakka family and his refugee neighbors. In the face of forced relocation and institutional discrimination, his family and friends resisted time and time again over six generations. With humor and keen insight, At Home in Exile will help you see how living in exile will transform your faith. -From the Publisher</blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/shawnduncan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 121: Shawn Duncan, on Truly Helping those in Poverty, Gentrification, and the Role of the Church</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/kenwytsma/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">167 – Ken Wytsma, Author of ‘The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege’</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

170 – Russell Jeung, Author of “At Home in Exile” on Living in Solidarity with the Poor and Taking his Children Along for the Ride

Shane speaks about why we as a community ordain women into pastoral leadership and ministry. Book Resources The Blue Parakeet -Scott McKnightEmboldened: A Vision for Empowering Women in Ministry -Tara Beth LeachHalf the Church: Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women -Carolyn Custis JamesTwo Views on Women in Ministry (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology)Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals -William WebbFinally Feminist -John StackhouseWomen in the Earliest Christian Churches -Ben WitheringtonOrdained Women in the Early Church -Kevin MadiganHidden History of Women’s Ordination -Gary Macy Websites//Blogs//Podcasts NT Wright’s Essay: Women’s Service in the Church: The Biblical BasisWilliam Witt: Women’s OrdinationGordon Hugenberger: Women in Church OfficeSeminary Dropout 157- Tish Harrison Warren &amp; Jonathan Warren: A Biblical, Historical, and Pastoral Defense of Women in MinistryMissio Alliance

Shane speaks about why we as a community ordain women into pastoral leadership and ministry. <h3>Book Resources</h3> <ul><li>The Blue Parakeet -Scott McKnight</li><li>Emboldened: A Vision for Empowering Women in Ministry -Tara Beth Leach</li><li>Half the Church: Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women -Carolyn Custis James</li><li>Two Views on Women in Ministry (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology)</li><li>Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals -William Webb</li><li>Finally Feminist -John Stackhouse</li><li>Women in the Earliest Christian Churches -Ben Witherington</li><li>Ordained Women in the Early Church -Kevin Madigan</li><li>Hidden History of Women’s Ordination -Gary Macy </li></ul> <h3>Websites//Blogs//Podcasts</h3> <ul><li>NT Wright’s Essay: <a href="http://ntwrightpage.com/2016/07/12/womens-service-in-the-church-the-biblical-basis/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Women’s Service in the Church: The Biblical Basis</a></li><li>William Witt: <a href="http://willgwitt.org/category/theology/womens-ordination/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Women’s Ordination</a></li><li>Gordon Hugenberger: <a href="https://womeninthechurch.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/hugenberger%20women%20in%20church%20office%20re%20husbands%20and%20wives%20issue%20in%201%20timothy%202.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Women in Church Office</a></li><li>Seminary Dropout 157- <a href="https://www.missioalliance.org/podcasts/tishharrisonwarrenjonathanwarren/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tish Harrison Warren &amp; Jonathan Warren: A Biblical, Historical, and Pastoral Defense of Women in Ministry</a></li><li><a href="https://www.missioalliance.org/search/women/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Missio Alliance</a></li></ul>

Seminary Dropout Sermon Special: Women in Ministry

Amena Brown

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout…   Amena Brown is an author, spoken word poet, speaker, and event host. The author of five spoken word albums and two non-fiction books, Amena performs and speaks at events from coffeehouses to arenas with a mix of poetry, humor, and storytelling. She and her husband, DJ Opdiggy, reside in Atlanta, GA.     Your soul holds a massive record collection: melodies, rhythms, and bass lines. Memories that ask you to dance and memories that haunt you in a minor key. Lies that become soundtracks to your days while truths play too softly to be heard. Spoken word poet Amena Brown’s broken records played messages about how she wasn’t worthy to be loved. How to Fix a Broken Record chronicles her journey of healing as she’s allowed the music of God’s love to replace the scratchy taunts of her past. From bad dates to marriage lessons at Waffle House, from learning to love her hair to learning to love an unexpected season of life, from discovering the power of saying no and the freedom to say yes, Amena offers keep-it-real stories your soul can relate to. The hurtful words of others and the failures of your past often determine what record you play the most in your mind. Those painful repetitions can become loud at the most inopportune time, keeping you from speaking up, pursuing your dreams, and growing closer to God. Recognize the negative messages that play on repeat every day in your mind. Learn how to replace them with the truth that you are a beloved child of God. And discover how to laugh along the way as you find new joy in the beautiful music of your life.  -From the Publisher If you liked this episode then you might also like… Seminary Dropout 100: Jo Saxton on Post-Christendom, Discipleship, and Being a Woman of Color in Church Leadership 132: Jonathan Martin, Author of “How to Survive a Shipwreck: Help Is on the Way and Love Is Already Here” Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/amenabrown" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout… <a href="http://www.amenabrown.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amena Brown</a> is an author, spoken word poet, speaker, and event host. The author of five spoken word albums and two non-fiction books, Amena performs and speaks at events from coffeehouses to arenas with a mix of poetry, humor, and storytelling. She and her husband, DJ Opdiggy, reside in Atlanta, GA. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310349338/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0310349338&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=272bdca478195931cdc04fe66a3f7359" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>Your soul holds a massive record collection: melodies, rhythms, and bass lines. Memories that ask you to dance and memories that haunt you in a minor key. Lies that become soundtracks to your days while truths play too softly to be heard. Spoken word poet Amena Brown’s broken records played messages about how she wasn’t worthy to be loved. How to Fix a Broken Record chronicles her journey of healing as she’s allowed the music of God’s love to replace the scratchy taunts of her past. From bad dates to marriage lessons at Waffle House, from learning to love her hair to learning to love an unexpected season of life, from discovering the power of saying no and the freedom to say yes, Amena offers keep-it-real stories your soul can relate to. The hurtful words of others and the failures of your past often determine what record you play the most in your mind. Those painful repetitions can become loud at the most inopportune time, keeping you from speaking up, pursuing your dreams, and growing closer to God. Recognize the negative messages that play on repeat every day in your mind. Learn how to replace them with the truth that you are a beloved child of God. And discover how to laugh along the way as you find new joy in the beautiful music of your life. -From the Publisher</blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/josaxton/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 100: Jo Saxton on Post-Christendom, Discipleship, and Being a Woman of Color in Church Leadership</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/jonathanmartin2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">132: Jonathan Martin, Author of “How to Survive a Shipwreck: Help Is on the Way and Love Is Already Here”</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

179 – Amena Brown, Author of “How to Fix a Broken Record” on Poetry, Marriage, and Princesses

Greg Boyd

Greg Boyd is an internationally recognized theologian, preacher, teacher, apologist and author. He has been featured on the front page of The New York Times, The Charlie Rose Show, CNN, National Public Radio, the BBC and numerous other television and radio venues. Greg received his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary (summa cum laude 1988), his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School (cum laude 1982), and his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota (1979). He was a professor of theology for 16 years at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN) where he received the Teaching Excellence Award and Campus Leadership Award. Greg is the co-founder of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota where he serves as Senior Pastor, speaking to thousands each week. Greg has authored or co-authored 20 books and numerous academic articles, including his best-selling and award-winning Letters From a Skeptic and his recent books Repenting of Religion and The Myth of a Christian Nation. His apologetic writings and public debates on the historical Jesus and the problem of evil have helped many skeptics embrace faith, and his writings and seminars on spiritual transformation have had a revolutionary, freeing impact on thousands of believers. Check out Greg’s website here. For several blog post recommendations check out the links below: Greg on Politics Doing the Kingdom, Not Voting It In Greg Boyd and Jim Wallis Discuss Politics &amp; Faith Defending the Poor Living With a Kingdom Consciousness When we return to the simplicity and difficulty of the kingdom of God, the question that defines us is no longer, What are the Christian policies and candidates? No, when love is placed above all kingdom-of-the-world concerns (Col. 3:14; 1 Peter 4:8), the kingdom-of-the-world options placed before us dwindle in significance. -Greg Boyd Our Sponsor:    Intervarsity Press has an exclusive for Seminary Dropout listeners. Go to ivpress.com/dropout to get 30% off The Road Back to You. If you liked this episode then you might also like… 145: Voting, Part 1 with Greg Boyd 147: N.T. Wright Talks about The Day the Revolution Began Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

Greg Boyd is an internationally recognized theologian, preacher, teacher, apologist and author. He has been featured on the front page of The New York Times, The Charlie Rose Show, CNN, National Public Radio, the BBC and numerous other television and radio venues. Greg received his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary (summa cum laude 1988), his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School (cum laude 1982), and his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota (1979). He was a professor of theology for 16 years at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN) where he received the Teaching Excellence Award and Campus Leadership Award. Greg is the co-founder of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota where he serves as Senior Pastor, speaking to thousands each week. Greg has authored or co-authored 20 books and numerous academic articles, including his best-selling and award-winning Letters From a Skeptic and his recent books Repenting of Religion and The Myth of a Christian Nation. His apologetic writings and public debates on the historical Jesus and the problem of evil have helped many skeptics embrace faith, and his writings and seminars on spiritual transformation have had a revolutionary, freeing impact on thousands of believers. Check out Greg’s website <a href="http://reknew.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. For several blog post recommendations check out the links below: <a href="http://reknew.org/2014/11/greg-on-politics/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Greg on Politics</a> <a href="http://reknew.org/2014/09/doing-the-kingdom-not-voting-it-in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Doing the Kingdom, Not Voting It In</a> <a href="http://reknew.org/2006/10/greg-boyd-and-jim-wallis-discuss-politics-faith-10-26-06/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Greg Boyd and Jim Wallis Discuss Politics &amp; Faith</a> <a href="http://reknew.org/2012/10/qa-if-you-really-want-to-defend-the-poor-from-caesar-shouldnt-we-use-the-political-means-that-exist-its-easy-to-make-your-argument-when-you-are-in-a-position-of-privilege/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Defending the Poor</a> <a href="http://reknew.org/2008/12/living-with-a-kingdom-consciousness/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Living With a Kingdom Consciousness</a> <blockquote>When we return to the simplicity and difficulty of the kingdom of God, the question that defines us is no longer, What are the Christian policies and candidates? No, when love is placed above all kingdom-of-the-world concerns (Col. 3:14; 1 Peter 4:8), the kingdom-of-the-world options placed before us dwindle in significance. -Greg Boyd</blockquote> Our Sponsor: Intervarsity Press has an exclusive for Seminary Dropout listeners. Go to <a href="http://ivpress.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ivpress.com/dropout</a> to get 30% off The Road Back to You. If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/gregboyd2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">145: Voting, Part 1 with Greg Boyd</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/ntwright2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">147: N.T. Wright Talks about The Day the Revolution Began</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

151: Greg Boyd on How to Live in a Trump Presidency

Vito Aiuto

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout…   The Welcome Wagon is a married couple, the Reverend Thomas Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique, who execute a genre of gospel music that is refreshingly plain. Their hymns are modest and melodic takes on a vast history of sacred song traditions, delivered with the simple desire to know their Maker—and to know each other—more intimately.  Light Up The Stairs, continues The Welcome Wagon’s tradition of sacred material, while adding more songs that incorporate original lyrics. The album is an urgent, lively endeavor, largely made so by the work of producer Jeremy McDonald. If you liked this episode then you might also like… Seminary Dropout 112: Sara Groves on Depression, and Her New Album FLOODPLAIN Seminary Dropout 97: Jon Foreman on His Solo work, Switchfoot, and Fatherhood Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/thewelcomewagon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout… The Welcome Wagon is a married couple, the Reverend Thomas Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique, who execute a genre of gospel music that is refreshingly plain. Their hymns are modest and melodic takes on a vast history of sacred song traditions, delivered with the simple desire to know their Maker—and to know each other—more intimately. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075L31ZDQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B075L31ZDQ&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=5d4aa9998b874457a7198dcd11538f0c" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <blockquote>Light Up The Stairs, continues <a href="http://www.gospelsongrecords.com/the-welcome-wagon/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Welcome Wagon’s</a> tradition of sacred material, while adding more songs that incorporate original lyrics. The album is an urgent, lively endeavor, largely made so by the work of producer Jeremy McDonald.</blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/saragroves/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 112: Sara Groves on Depression, and Her New Album FLOODPLAIN</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/jonforeman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seminary Dropout 97: Jon Foreman on His Solo work, Switchfoot, and Fatherhood</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

175 – Monique & Vito Aiuto of The Welcome Wagon, on Their New Album: Light Up The Stairs

Carolyn Custis James

This Week on Seminary Dropout…  Carolyn Custis James is an award-winning author and international speaker. She blogs at www.carolyncustisjames.com, as a Leading Voice at MissioAlliance, and at Huffington Post, is an adjunct faculty member at Biblical Theological Seminary, and a consulting editor for Zondervan’s Exegetical Commentary Series on the New Testament. Her books include Malestrom―Manhood Swept into the Currents of a Changing World, Half the Church―Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women, and The Gospel of Ruth―Loving God Enough to Break the Rules. She speaks regularly at church conferences, colleges and other Christian organizations and is a visiting lecturer at theological seminaries. In 2013, Christianity Today named her one of the 50 evangelical women to watch.   In four short episodes, readers encounter refugees, undocumented immigrants, poverty, hunger, women’s rights, male power and privilege, discrimination, and injustice. In Finding God in the Margins, Carolyn Custis James reveals how the book of Ruth is about God, the questions that surface when life falls apart, and how God reaches into the margins and chooses two totally marginalized women who, in the eyes of the patriarchal culture, are zeros. Against the backdrop of disturbing issues in today’s world, this bracing narrative puts on display a radical gospel way of living together as human beings that shouts the Kingdom of God, foreshadows Jesus’ gospel, and raises the bar for men and women, then and now. -From the Publisher  Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

This Week on Seminary Dropout… Carolyn Custis James is an award-winning author and international speaker. She blogs at <a href="http://www.carolyncustisjames.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.carolyncustisjames.com</a>, as a Leading Voice at MissioAlliance, and at Huffington Post, is an adjunct faculty member at Biblical Theological Seminary, and a consulting editor for Zondervan’s Exegetical Commentary Series on the New Testament. Her books include Malestrom―Manhood Swept into the Currents of a Changing World, Half the Church―Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women, and The Gospel of Ruth―Loving God Enough to Break the Rules. She speaks regularly at church conferences, colleges and other Christian organizations and is a visiting lecturer at theological seminaries. In 2013, Christianity Today named her one of the 50 evangelical women to watch. <blockquote> In four short episodes, readers encounter refugees, undocumented immigrants, poverty, hunger, women’s rights, male power and privilege, discrimination, and injustice. In Finding God in the Margins, Carolyn Custis James reveals how the book of Ruth is about God, the questions that surface when life falls apart, and how God reaches into the margins and chooses two totally marginalized women who, in the eyes of the patriarchal culture, are zeros. Against the backdrop of disturbing issues in today’s world, this bracing narrative puts on display a radical gospel way of living together as human beings that shouts the Kingdom of God, foreshadows Jesus’ gospel, and raises the bar for men and women, then and now. -From the Publisher </blockquote> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

Seminary Dropout 199 – Carolyn Custis James, Author of ‘Finding God in the Margins: The Book of Ruth’

Dominique Gilliard

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout…     Dominique DuBois Gilliard is the director of racial righteousness and reconciliation for the Love Mercy Do Justice (LMDJ) initiative of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). He serves on the board of directors for the Christian Community Development Association and Evangelicals for Justice. In 2015, he was selected as one of the ECC’s “40 Under 40” leaders to watch, and the Huffington Post named him one of the “Black Christian Leaders Changing the World.” An ordained minister, Gilliard has served in pastoral ministry in Atlanta, Chicago, and Oakland. He was executive pastor of New Hope Covenant Church in Oakland, California and also served in Oakland as the associate pastor of Convergence Covenant Church. He was also the campus minister at North Park University and the racial righteousness director for ECC’s ministry initiatives in the Pacific Southwest Conference. With articles published in the CCDA Theology Journal, The Covenant Quarterly, and Sojourners, Gilliard has also blogged for Christianity Today, Faith &amp; Leadership, Red Letter Christians, Do Justice, and The Junia Project. He earned a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in history from East Tennessee State University, with an emphasis on race, gender, and class in the United States. He also earned an MDiv from North Park Seminary, where he served as an adjunct professor teaching Christian ethics, theology, and reconciliation.   The United States has more people locked up in jails, prisons, and detention centers than any other country in the history of the world. Mass incarceration has become a lucrative industry, and the criminal justice system is plagued with bias and unjust practices. And the church has unwittingly contributed to the problem. Dominique Gilliard explores the history and foundation of mass incarceration, examining Christianity’s role in its evolution and expansion. He then shows how Christians can pursue justice that restores and reconciles, offering creative solutions and highlighting innovative interventions. The church has the power to help transform our criminal justice system. Discover how you can participate in the restorative justice needed to bring authentic rehabilitation, lasting transformation, and healthy reintegration to this broken system. -From the Publisher   Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/dominiquegilliard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: <a href="http://compassion.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sponsor a Child</a> — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout… <a href="https://dominiquegilliard.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dominique DuBois Gilliard</a> is the director of racial righteousness and reconciliation for the Love Mercy Do Justice (LMDJ) initiative of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). He serves on the board of directors for the Christian Community Development Association and Evangelicals for Justice. In 2015, he was selected as one of the ECC’s “40 Under 40” leaders to watch, and the Huffington Post named him one of the “Black Christian Leaders Changing the World.” An ordained minister, Gilliard has served in pastoral ministry in Atlanta, Chicago, and Oakland. He was executive pastor of New Hope Covenant Church in Oakland, California and also served in Oakland as the associate pastor of Convergence Covenant Church. He was also the campus minister at North Park University and the racial righteousness director for ECC’s ministry initiatives in the Pacific Southwest Conference. With articles published in the CCDA Theology Journal, The Covenant Quarterly, and Sojourners, Gilliard has also blogged for Christianity Today, Faith &amp; Leadership, Red Letter Christians, Do Justice, and The Junia Project. He earned a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in history from East Tennessee State University, with an emphasis on race, gender, and class in the United States. He also earned an MDiv from North Park Seminary, where he served as an adjunct professor teaching Christian ethics, theology, and reconciliation. <blockquote> The United States has more people locked up in jails, prisons, and detention centers than any other country in the history of the world. Mass incarceration has become a lucrative industry, and the criminal justice system is plagued with bias and unjust practices. And the church has unwittingly contributed to the problem. Dominique Gilliard explores the history and foundation of mass incarceration, examining Christianity’s role in its evolution and expansion. He then shows how Christians can pursue justice that restores and reconciles, offering creative solutions and highlighting innovative interventions. The church has the power to help transform our criminal justice system. Discover how you can participate in the restorative justice needed to bring authentic rehabilitation, lasting transformation, and healthy reintegration to this broken system. -From the Publisher</blockquote> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

195: Dominique Gilliard on How the Church Can Rethink Incarceration & Advocate for Justice That Restores

Austin Channing Brown

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org Our Sponsor:  Sponsor a Child — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout…     AUSTIN CHANNING BROWN is a writer, speaker, and practitioner who helps schools, nonprofits, and religious organizations practice genuine inclusion. Her writing has appeared in outlets like Christianity Today, Relevant, Sojourners, and The Christian Century.   Austin Channing Brown’s first encounter with a racialized America came at age 7, when she discovered her parents named her Austin to deceive future employers into thinking she was a white man. Growing up in majority-white schools, organizations, and churches, Austin writes, “I had to learn what it means to love blackness,” a journey that led to a lifetime spent navigating America’s racial divide as a writer, speaker and expert who helps organizations practice genuine inclusion. In a time when nearly all institutions (schools, churches, universities, businesses) claim to value “diversity” in their mission statements, I’m Still Here is a powerful account of how and why our actions so often fall short of our words. Austin writes in breathtaking detail about her journey to self-worth and the pitfalls that kill our attempts at racial justice, in stories that bear witness to the complexity of America’s social fabric–from Black Cleveland neighborhoods to private schools in the middle-class suburbs, from prison walls to the boardrooms at majority-white organizations. For readers who have engaged with America’s legacy on race through the writing of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Michael Eric Dyson, I’m Still Here is an illuminating look at how white, middle-class, Evangelicalism has participated in an era of rising racial hostility, inviting the reader to confront apathy, recognize God’s ongoing work in the world, and discover how blackness–if we let it–can save us all. -From the Publisher   Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/austinchanningbrown" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our Sponsor: <a href="http://compassion.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sponsor a Child</a> — At Compassion we take a committed, long-term approach to fighting child poverty. Our Holistic Child Development Model is made up of four comprehensive programs investing in children from the beginning of their lives until they’ve reached adulthood, and covering everything from prenatal care to university-level education. This Week on Seminary Dropout… <a href="http://austinchanning.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AUSTIN CHANNING BROWN</a> is a writer, speaker, and practitioner who helps schools, nonprofits, and religious organizations practice genuine inclusion. Her writing has appeared in outlets like Christianity Today, Relevant, Sojourners, and The Christian Century. <blockquote> Austin Channing Brown’s first encounter with a racialized America came at age 7, when she discovered her parents named her Austin to deceive future employers into thinking she was a white man. Growing up in majority-white schools, organizations, and churches, Austin writes, “I had to learn what it means to love blackness,” a journey that led to a lifetime spent navigating America’s racial divide as a writer, speaker and expert who helps organizations practice genuine inclusion. In a time when nearly all institutions (schools, churches, universities, businesses) claim to value “diversity” in their mission statements, I’m Still Here is a powerful account of how and why our actions so often fall short of our words. Austin writes in breathtaking detail about her journey to self-worth and the pitfalls that kill our attempts at racial justice, in stories that bear witness to the complexity of America’s social fabric–from Black Cleveland neighborhoods to private schools in the middle-class suburbs, from prison walls to the boardrooms at majority-white organizations. For readers who have engaged with America’s legacy on race through the writing of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Michael Eric Dyson, I’m Still Here is an illuminating look at how white, middle-class, Evangelicalism has participated in an era of rising racial hostility, inviting the reader to confront apathy, recognize God’s ongoing work in the world, and discover how blackness–if we let it–can save us all. -From the Publisher</blockquote> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

193 – Austin Channing Brown, on Her New Book “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness”, Why White People Have So Many Cats, and What Makes “Insecure” Such an Amazing Show

Charles Moore

*Originally Posted at MissioAlliance.org  Our sponsor: Compassion International Check out the new(ish) podcast OnRamp This Week on Seminary Dropout…     Charles E. Moore is a member of the Bruderhof community and teaches at the Mount Academy in New York. He writes for Plough Quarterly and has compiled and edited several acclaimed books, including Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard, Everyone Belongs to God: Discovering the Hidden Christ, and Bearing Witness: Stories of Martyrdom and Costly Discipleship.   • Gold Medal Winner, 2017 Illumination Book Awards, Christian Living • Silver Medal Winner, 2017 Benjamin Franklin Award in Religion from Independent Book Publishers Association Why, in an age of connectivity, are our lives more isolated and fragmented than ever? And what can be done about it? The answer lies in the hands of God’s people. Increasingly, today’s Christians want to be the church, to follow Christ together in daily life. From every corner of society, they are daring to step away from the status quo and respond to Christ’s call to share their lives more fully with one another and with others. As they take the plunge, they are discovering the rich, meaningful life that Jesus has in mind for all people, and pointing the church back to its original calling: to be a gathered, united community that demonstrates the transforming love of God. Of course, such a life together with others isn’t easy. The selections in this volume are, by and large, written by practitioners – people who have pioneered life in intentional community and have discovered in the nitty-gritty of daily life what it takes to establish, nurture, and sustain a Christian community over the long haul. Whether you have just begun thinking about communal living, are already embarking on a shared life with others, or have been part of a community for many years, the pieces in this collection will encourage, challenge, and strengthen you. The book’s fifty-two chapters can be read one a week to ignite meaningful group discussion. -From the Publisher If you liked this episode then you might also like… 73: David Jenzen, Author of ‘The Intentional Christian Community Handbook’ 161 – Tsh Oxenreider, Author of At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes

*Originally Posted at <a href="http://missioalliance.com/podcasts/CharlesMoore" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MissioAlliance.org</a> Our sponsor: <a href="http://compassion.com/dropout" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Compassion International</a> Check out the new(ish) podcast <a href="http://onramppodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OnRamp</a><a href="http://onramppodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> This Week on Seminary Dropout… Charles E. Moore is a member of the Bruderhof community and teaches at the Mount Academy in New York. He writes for <a href="http://www.plough.com/en/subscriptions/quarterly" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Plough Quarterly</a> and has compiled and edited several acclaimed books, including <a href="http://www.plough.com/en/topics/faith/discipleship/provocations" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard</a>, <a href="http://www.plough.com/en/topics/faith/discipleship/everyone-belongs-to-god" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Everyone Belongs to God: Discovering the Hidden Christ</a>, and <a href="http://www.plough.com/en/topics/faith/witness/bearing-witness-stories-of-martyrdom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bearing Witness: Stories of Martyrdom and Costly Discipleship</a>. <blockquote><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0874867436/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0874867436&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=shaneblackshe-20&amp;linkId=9dcf1e09c19e5d162945b585175cc177" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"></a> • Gold Medal Winner, 2017 Illumination Book Awards, Christian Living • Silver Medal Winner, 2017 Benjamin Franklin Award in Religion from Independent Book Publishers Association Why, in an age of connectivity, are our lives more isolated and fragmented than ever? And what can be done about it? The answer lies in the hands of God’s people. Increasingly, today’s Christians want to be the church, to follow Christ together in daily life. From every corner of society, they are daring to step away from the status quo and respond to Christ’s call to share their lives more fully with one another and with others. As they take the plunge, they are discovering the rich, meaningful life that Jesus has in mind for all people, and pointing the church back to its original calling: to be a gathered, united community that demonstrates the transforming love of God. Of course, such a life together with others isn’t easy. The selections in this volume are, by and large, written by practitioners – people who have pioneered life in intentional community and have discovered in the nitty-gritty of daily life what it takes to establish, nurture, and sustain a Christian community over the long haul. Whether you have just begun thinking about communal living, are already embarking on a shared life with others, or have been part of a community for many years, the pieces in this collection will encourage, challenge, and strengthen you. The book’s fifty-two chapters can be read one a week to ignite meaningful group discussion. -From the Publisher</blockquote> If you liked this episode then you might also like… <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/davidjenzen/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">73: David Jenzen, Author of ‘The Intentional Christian Community Handbook’</a> <a href="http://www.shaneblackshear.com/tshoxenreider/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">161 – Tsh Oxenreider, Author of At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe</a> <h3><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seminary-dropout/id582049752?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes</a></h3>

163 – Charles Moore, Author of ‘Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People’

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