The Mountain E1 — What comes to mind when you think of mountains? Is it a strenuous climb or a feeling of smallness as you gaze on the majesty of nature? The biblical authors had similar connotations with mountains, presenting them as sublime, in-between spaces—that are also treacherous! This tension between majesty and danger led ancient Israel and their su ... Show More
Aug 10
The Spirit and Prophecy in the Hebrew Bible
Spirit of God E4 — So far in this series, we've looked at how the Spirit is connected to life and wisdom in the Hebrew Bible. The third most consistent idea associated with the Spirit is God's word, or speech, happening through a human; the Bible calls this prophecy. While most a ... Show More
48m 16s
Jul 27
The Spirit of Life and Death
Spirit of God E2 — The word we translate in English as “spirit” is ruakh in the Hebrew Bible, and it can mean spirit, wind, breath, and mind. In multiple passages where ruakh functions as “breath,” the biblical authors invite us to reflect on God’s life-giving power and also on o ... Show More
52m 20s
Jun 2024
The Mountains of Scripture
The story of the Bible is a story of mountains. From the Garden-temple of Eden to Ararat, Horeb, Sinai, and Zion—mountains play an important role in the story of the Bible. Time and time again, God chooses mountains as the place of special communion with his people. In this episo ... Show More
38m 56s
Oct 2023
Classic Sunday Sermons: The Summit of the Christian Life
<p>Friends, the mountain is a great image throughout the Bible. It is the place where we go up and where God comes down to meet us. Today’s first reading from Isaiah orients us to three holy mountains of the Lord: first, the historical Mount Zion; second, its fulfillment in the h ... Show More
14m 33s
Mar 2022
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2022)
Today, Fr. Mike points out how the boundaries of the land of Canaan in Numbers remind us that the Promised Land is not a nice idea, but a real tangible place. He also reveals that Psalm 120 begins the Psalms of Ascent, or the Psalms that people would pray as they went up to the T ... Show More
19m 13s
Mar 2023
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2023)
Today, Fr. Mike points out how the boundaries of the land of Canaan in Numbers remind us that the Promised Land is not a nice idea, but a real tangible place. He also reveals that Psalm 120 begins the Psalms of Ascent, or the Psalms that people would pray as they went up to the T ... Show More
19m 13s
Mar 2024
Day 79: Psalms of Ascent (2024)
Today, Fr. Mike points out how the boundaries of the land of Canaan in Numbers remind us that the Promised Land is not a nice idea, but a real tangible place. He also reveals that Psalm 120 begins the Psalms of Ascent, or the Psalms that people would pray as they went up to the T ... Show More
20m 2s