Bible Love: A Scripture Podcast

Today we're joined by the Rev. Greg Millikin, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in New Lenox, Illinois. We talk about God's amazing love for us, our call to love one another, the importance of wrestling with (and taking seriously) scripture, and how sometimes we get a little too focused on the wrong things.

Questions for reflection this week:
- What is it about Leviticus, and these hard texts in particular, that terrifies us?
- How can we wrestle serious with scripture, but through the lens of love? For example, how do we see Lev 18 and 20 with an understanding that chapter 19 ("love your neighbor...") is the fulcrum?
- How can we engage in dialogue around LGBTQ, sexuality, and similar topics, using whatever privilege and authority we have in our contexts?

Links mentioned in today's episode:
- Grace Episcopal Church, New Lenox (https://gracenewlenox.org/)
- Being Called, Being Gay, by the Rev. Greg Millikin (https://www.churchpublishing.org/beingcalledbeinggay)
- Holy Imagination, by the Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams (https://bookshop.org/books/holy-imagination-a-literary-and-theological-introduction-to-the-whole-bible/)
- Leviticus scene from The West Wing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSXJzybEeJM)
- Check us out on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQt8M5fw3DImMNZKCHgBRNw)

Today we talk about clean and unclean. From foods, to clothes, to bodily discharge, let's talk about how God sets up standards and conditions for us to pursue holiness. And let's remember the goodness of God in the plentiful forgiveness offered to us!

Questions for reflection this week:
- Who are the people in your life with whom you can be open and honest? Think about those relationships, and how you can support each other.
- Think about your food choices this week. How can our eating and drinking be a spiritual practice?

Links mentioned in today's episode:
- Every Moment Holy: New Liturgies for Daily Life (https://www.everymomentholy.com/
- The Old Testament, by Michael Coogan (https://bookshop.org/books/the-old-testament-a-historical-and-literary-introduction-to-the-hebrew-scriptures/9780190608651)
- Exodus and Leviticus for Everyone (https://bookshop.org/books/exodus-and-leviticus-for-everyone/9780664233761)
- How to Read the Bible Book by Book, by Gordon Fee (https://www.zondervan.com/9780310518082/how-to-read-the-bible-book-by-book/)
- Check us out on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQt8M5fw3DImMNZKCHgBRNw)

Today we're joined by the Rev. Worth Stuart, Priest Associate at Church of the Nativity in Huntsville, Alabama. We talk about the priesthood, God's consistent call (and command) to us, and that time a couple of priests were killed for messing up the liturgy.

Questions for reflection this week:
- Think back to an ordination you've attended. What stood out? For clergy, who do you remember being there?
- What are some times you feel God pushing you to do something, even when you don't think you want to?

Links mentioned in today's episode:
- Church of the Epiphany in Huntsville, Alabama https://nativity.dioala.org/
- How to Read the Bible Book by Book https://www.zondervan.com/9780310518082/how-to-read-the-bible-book-by-book/
- Check us out on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQt8M5fw3DImMNZKCHgBRNw

Today we talk about the five offerings, what God requires of us, and how we are responsible for our actions (or inactions).

Questions for reflection this week:
- What is our offering? What is God asking us to sacrifice right now?
- Am I speaking up when I see injustice? What can I do to speak up?

Links mentioned in today's episode:
- How to Read the Bible Book by Book
https://www.zondervan.com/9780310518082/how-to-read-the-bible-book-by-book/
- Check us out on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQt8M5fw3DImMNZKCHgBRNw

Today we're joined by the Rev. (nearly) Dr. David Barr, Associate Rector at St. George's, Nashville. David helps walk us through an overview of Leviticus, examining how we respond to God's graciousness and what it costs us (and God) to pursue holiness.

Questions for reflection:
- How do we respond to what God has done in our life?
- What might we be called to sacrifice in our pursuit of following Jesus?

Resources mentioned in today's episode:
- Leviticus "Bible Brief"
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1geI-_M4sTtJXYN8Rn_5lEE_91tWbd_8s/view
- St. George's, Nashville (where David, and Mary Balfour's dad, work) https://www.stgeorgesnashville.org/

Today we talk about where we've been (plagues, commandments, sabbath, and struggles) and where we're going (Leviticus, difficult scripture, and God's unyielding hope).

Questions for reflection this week:
- How do we see God's commandments (for behavior, worship, etc.) as gifts rather than restrictions?
- What does "the cloud of the Lord" mean to you? How do you envision God's presence?

Links mentioned in today's episode:
- Episcopal Church Evangelism Team
- Check us out on YouTube

Today we talk about our idols, God's anger, and how we rebuild the covenant.

Questions for reflection:
- What do you think about prayer? Does our wrestling with God, through prayer, change things? Can God's mind be changed?
- What are your idols? What are those things, or people, or parts of ourselves, in which we put too much trust and faith?

We'd love to hear your responses! Click here to drop us an email!

Links mentioned in today's episode:
- Episcopal Church Evangelism Team
- Check us out on YouTube

Today we talk about God's instructions for worship, our vocation, and the continual need for sabbath.

Links mentioned in today's episode:
- Check us out on YouTube
- Pastor, by Eugene Peterson

We'd love to hear from you! Click here to drop us an email!

Today we talk about slavery, murder, and the law code. But more importantly, we talk about wrestling with hard things and celebrating God's faithfulness.

Questions to ponder:
- How will you celebrate what God is doing in your life this week?
- How do you wrestle with difficulties in your life?

Links mentioned in today's show:
- Every Moment Holy (the book of prayers from which Mary Balfour read)
- Reverse Lectionary (so you can see the difficult scripture we skip on Sundays)

Today we read through Exodus 19-20, and talk about covenant, the law, and God's ever-present forgiveness when we mess up.
Links mentioned in today's episode:

• Luther's Summary of the Law
• Episode 1.05 - Covenant

Today we get through Exodus 15-18, and talk about God's continued provision, how we stay reminded of that provision, and how we share the Good News of that provision.

Today we are joined by Dr. Tony Hopkins, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Greenwood, S.C. We talk about God's faithfulness, our trust, and walking through the parted waters.

Today we talked about the death of the first born, the Passover meal, and how our gatherings help us remember God's story (and our own).

Today we are joined by the Rev. Canon Dorian Del Priore, Canon for Mission & Evangelism at Trinity Cathedral in Columbia, S.C. We talk about the ways God calls people at every age and stage of life, how the Devil really doesn't like it when we pursue justice, and how God works in and through the chaos that often surrounds us.

Links mentioned in today's episode:

• Did the 10 Plagues of Egypt Really Happen? (article from Time magazine)
• His Truth is Marching On (biography of the Hon. John Lewis)

Today we talk about Moses' faith, our response to trouble, and God's faithfulness.

Links mentioned in today's episode:

• The Hebrew Bible translation by Robert Alter
• The NIV Student Bible (old timey version...)
• Wedgwood Baptist Church (Fort Worth) shooting

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This week we're joined by The Rev. Sara C. Ardrey-Graves, Associate Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. We talk about Moses and God, our power (and God's), and God using us because of (not in spite of) our limitations.

Today we talk about burning bushes, holy ground, and God's promise to Moses (and us).

Links mentioned in today's episode:

• Good News Bible
• Annie Vallotton (illustrator of the Good News Bible)
• Dr. Tony Hopkins, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Greenwood
• Chrismons (the Christmas ornaments that Mary Balfour is making)
• President Joe Biden's Bible

Today we move in to Exodus, with the story of Moses birth (and the events that led up to it). We talk about defying unjust leadership, the power of water, and the courage of women.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's sermon on Shiphrah and Puah
• Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith & Art, by Madeleine L'Engle

We're back after a short Christmas break, and ready to go weekly! This week we look at Joseph's story, our dreams and prayers, and how God is with us in the midst of it all.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers (by Anne Lamott)
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The Rev. Geoff Evans, rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Auburn, Alabama, joined us today to talk about Abram, his call, and God's call on our lives.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Two Priests in a Pod (Geoff's podcast)
• The NIV Concordia Self-Study Bible
• Desire of the Everlasting Hills, by Thomas Cahill

Connect with us:

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• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify