The BEMA Podcast

BEMA Discipleship

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The BEMA Podcast is a walk-through of the context of the Bible and the Text itself, as well as surrounding history. We deconstruct our common readings of the Bible and attempt to reconstruct them through the lens of historical context. The main body of work is contained in Seasons 1–5, and we encourage you to start with episode 0 (or even -1) and continue in order through episode 204. Beyond that, we explore new topics, revisit old topics, and dive deeper into practical ways of living out the things we have learned together. BEMA Discipleship is a ministry of Impact Campus Ministries.

438: Talmudic Matthew — Truly(?) I Say to You

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks search out what life can be found in two short verses from the Sermon on the Mount.Halakha — WikipediaBEMA 95: Abolish or FulfillBook of Tobit — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Feb 20, • 36:54

437: Talmudic Matthew — Mainstream or Marginal

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings join Elle Grover Fricks to lay the groundwork for another series of Talmudic conversations in Matthew.“Dei Verbum” — Pope Paul VI, November 18, 1965Magisterium — WikipediaA Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Volume I, by John P. MeierEarly Jewish Messianism in the New Testament — “Introduction” by Serge RuzerJudah ha-Nasi — WikipediaBEMA 107: Donkeys and RabbisSupport The BEMA Podcast

Feb 13, • 40:29

436: Brant Hansen — 3D Chiastic Chess

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Brant Hansen, author, nationally syndicated radio host, and advocate for healing children through CURE International.CURE InternationalTenth Avenue North — WikipediaUnoffendable by Brant HansenLinchpin by Seth GodinLife Is Hard, God Is Good, Let's Dance by Brant HansenKingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Farrar CaponBrant Hansen on Good Morning America — YouTubeThe Men We Need by Brant HansenThe (Young) Men We Need by Brant Hans

Feb 6, • 50:10

435: Hosea — The Hope of Healing

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings conclude an examination of Hosea, finding out what actually gets the last word. Featuring a special appearance by Elle Grover Fricks.1994 Minister’s Manual (HarperCollins, 1993). Series by Roger Lovette (Preaching from Hosea: A Gospel for Broken Things). Edited by James W. CoxTradition for Crisis by Walter BrueggemannAmos/Hosea by James M. WardHosea: A Commentary by James Luther MaysThe Interpreter’s Bible, Volume VI by George Arthur ButtrickSupport The

Jan 30, • 40:11

434: Hosea — Who Among Us?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings approach the penultimate chapter of Hosea’s prophecy, hearing him issue a final challenge to take stock of our idolatrous condition.1994 Minister’s Manual (HarperCollins, 1993). Series by Roger Lovette (Preaching from Hosea: A Gospel for Broken Things). Edited by James W. CoxSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jan 23, • 40:10

433: Hosea — Doomed to Repeat It

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings watch the prophet parallel the experience of God’s people with the history of their Patriarch Jacob.“Back to the Future” by Brad Gray (14 minutes) — Walking the Text“Back to the Future” by Brad Gray (55 minutes) — Central Holland Church, YouTube1994 Minister’s Manual (HarperCollins, 1993). Series by Roger Lovette (Preaching from Hosea: A Gospel for Broken Things). Edited by James W. CoxSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jan 16, • 39:06

432: Hosea — God’s Avatar

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are with Elle Grover Fricks to venture into Hosea 11, seeing a shift in the prophet’s tone as he talks about who God is and how God feels.Your God Is Too Small by J. B. PhillipsSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jan 9, • 46:49

431: Hosea — Stubborn Soil

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are with Josh Bossé to travel through Hosea 10, finding instructions for what can be done in the face of such idolatrous vanity.BEMA 109: Which Soil?BEMA 12: A Mission RealizedSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jan 2, • 57:35

430: It’s a Wonderful Life

Brent Billings and Reed Dent drive this podcast into a tree and find out how many friends we actually have.It’s a Wonderful Life — WikipediaIt’s a Wonderful Life — JustWatchReed on LetterboxdBrent on LetterboxdPlanet Money Movie Club: It’s a Wonderful Life — NPRCPI Inflation Calculator — US Bureau of Labor StatisticsScorigamiSupport The BEMA Podcast

Dec 26, 2024 • 59:27

429: Catherine McNiel — Fearing Bravely

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Catherine McNiel, author of Fearing Bravely.Fearing Bravely by Catherine McNielReview of Fearing Bravely — Marty Solomon, GoodreadsReview of Fearing Bravely — Brent Billings, GoodreadsLong Days of Small Things by Catherine McNielAll Shall Be Well by Catherine McNielMid-Faith Crisis by Catherine McNielWomen’s Devotional BibleCatherine McNiel’s websiteCatherine McNiel on Twitter/XCatherine McNiel on ThreadsCatherine McNiel on Fa

Dec 19, 2024 • 41:07

428: Hosea — Consequences

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss Hosea 9 and the consequences of participating in imperial rebellion against the Lord.1994 Minister’s Manual (HarperCollins, 1993). Series by Roger Lovette (Preaching from Hosea: A Gospel for Broken Things). Edited by James W. CoxBEMA 362: Isaiah — Prophetic PathosHyacinth — WikipediaWater Hyacinth — Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionSupport The BEMA Podcast

Dec 12, 2024 • 46:04

427: Hosea — How Empty Is Empty?

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Reed Dent discuss the futility of reaping a whirlwind, and why we would keep going back to empty expecting to find anything else.Presentation for Hosea — How Empty Is Empty? (PDF)Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 5, 2024 • 41:02

426: The Chosen S4E8 — “Humble” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up discussion of Season 4 of The Chosen with the emotional events of episode 8.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbBEMA 283: John — Missing God in the Name of GodBEMA 124: Statement of TriumphSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 25, 2024 • 49:10

425: Hosea — Fruit in Keeping with Repentance

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the conversation from the previous episode, considering the call to be different following our repentance.1994 Minister’s Manual (HarperCollins, 1993). Series by Roger Lovette (Preaching from Hosea: A Gospel for Broken Things). Edited by James W. CoxSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 21, 2024 • 29:01

424: The Chosen S4E7 — “The Last Sign” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss Season 4 of The Chosen and the dramatic events of episode 7.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbAddendum: James Who? — Marty Solomon, YouTubeGospel of Mary — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 18, 2024 • 46:20

423: Hosea — Forgiveness

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings use the first portion of Hosea 6 to examine the relationship between God’s forgiveness and our repentance.BEMA 242: Spiritual Abuse — Commodities and VariablesSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 14, 2024 • 39:48

422: The Chosen S4E6 — “Dedication” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the discussion of Season 4 of The Chosen with episode 6.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbFestival Edition: Hiding Miracles — Marty Solomon, YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 11, 2024 • 39:15

421: Hosea — When God Goes Missing

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Josh Bossé to consider Hosea 5 and the wisdom it holds, exhorting us to remember the dangers of trying to use God for our own agendas.1994 Minister’s Manual (HarperCollins, 1993). Series by Roger Lovette (Preaching from Hosea: A Gospel for Broken Things). Edited by James W. CoxSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 7, 2024 • 47:02

420: The Chosen S4E5 — “Sitting, Serving, Scheming” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the discussion of Season 4 of The Chosen with the struggles of Jesus in episode 5.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDb

Nov 4, 2024 • 42:11

419: A. J. Sherrill — Rediscovering Christmas

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Dr. A. J. Sherrill, who has more than twenty years of experience as a pastor, including his current role as lead pastor at St. Peter’s Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He has served as adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, and he is the author of a new book called Rediscovering Christmas.Rediscovering Christmas by AJ SherrillBeing with God by AJ SherrillThe Enneagram for Spiritual Formation by AJ SherrillExpansive by A

Oct 31, 2024 • 37:22

418: The Chosen S4E4 — “Calm Before” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the discussion of Season 4 of The Chosen with a big finally in episode 4.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbTel Dor — Wikipedia

Oct 28, 2024 • 40:54

417: Hosea — Staring Brokenness in the Face

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Reed Dent look to Hosea 4 to answer the question of how we can find ourselves in a mess like this.BEMA 386: Psalms — The Whole Human Experience“Lord’s Supper” by Frederick BuechnerSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 24, 2024 • 51:02

416: The Chosen S4E3 — “Moon to Blood” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the discussion of Season 4 of The Chosen with the controversial episode 3.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDb“Leading Like Jesus” sermon by Megan Trischler — University Christian Church

Oct 21, 2024 • 41:00

415: Hosea — Living Metaphor

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings venture into the biblical Text of Hosea, letting the prophetic story of Hosea lead us into some reflections on wisdom for our day.Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 17, 2024 • 50:59

414: The Chosen S4E2 — “Confessions” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss some Chosen announcements, offer a mea culpa for episode 1, and continue into Season 4 of The Chosen with episode 2.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDb

Oct 14, 2024 • 43:05

413: Hosea — Context and Caution

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Elle Grover Fricks begin a series on Hosea, considering a framework we can use to approach a passage with a fresh lens.The 6-Column Sheet (PDF)BEMA 49: Hosea — Prostitute“Israeli Archaeologists Find Enigmatic 2,500-year-old Burials in the Desert” by Ariel David — HaaretzThe Oxford Handbook of Hosea by Brad E. KelleThe Latter Prophets: A Feminist Companion to the Bible by Athalya Brenner-IdanTexts of Terror by Phyllis TribleGender and Difference in Ancient Israe

Oct 10, 2024 • 51:28

412: The Chosen S4E1 — “Promises” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finally commence the discussion of Season 4 of The Chosen, starting things off with episode 1.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbBEMA 310: The Nativity Story

Oct 7, 2024 • 41:58

411: Session 9 Intro

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin Session 9 of the podcast and discuss what comes next and what we can look forward to in the months to come.The Story of BEMA

Oct 3, 2024 • 37:34

410: Session 8 Capstone

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings close out Session 8 with Reed Dent, Elle Grover Fricks, and Josh Bossé.Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 26, 2024 • 42:56

409: Sandra Richter — The Epic of Eden

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Dr. Sandra Richter, the Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College, a graduate of Harvard University, and of course the author of The Epic of Eden, including a new study in that series covering Deborah.Deborah by Sandra L. RichterThe Epic of Eden by Sandra L. RichterIsaiah by Sandra L. RichterPsalms by Sandra L. RichterThe Story of God, the Story of Us by Sean GladdingThe Story by Zondervan, Max Lucado, and Randy FrazeeNIV Co

Sep 19, 2024 • 57:35

408: Practical Shabbat — Deepening

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the depths of Shabbat with Josh Bossé.The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel

Sep 12, 2024 • 48:33

407: Practical Shabbat — Breaking

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are breaking Shabbat with Josh Bossé.The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelSupport The BEMA Podcast

Sep 5, 2024 • 52:00

406: Practical Shabbat — Remembering

Brent Billings and Reed Dent join Josh Bossé in remembering Shabbat.The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelRRR (2022 film)I Asked for Wonder by Abraham Joshua Heschel and Samuel H. DresnerWho Is Man? by Abraham J. Heschel

Aug 29, 2024 • 1:30:54

405: Practical Shabbat — Keeping

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks keep Shabbat with Josh Bossé.The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelBEMA 331: Sanctuary — Resting with the MishkanNerts — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Aug 22, 2024 • 55:16

404: Mariko Clark — The Book of Belonging

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks are joined by special guest Mariko Clark, author of The Book of Belonging. She is a mother and a storyteller, and her time as an editor of National Geographic Learning enabled her to make complex topics accessible and engaging. She and her husband live outside of Indianapolis with their three kids.The Book of Belonging by Mariko Clark and Rachel EleanorThe Book of Belonging — SubstackThe Book of Belonging websiteSpecial Guest: Mariko Clark.Support The BEMA P

Aug 15, 2024 • 55:43

403: Talmudic Matthew — But Actually John

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings join Elle Grover Fricks to close out this series from the Talmud and return to a well where Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman.Cairo Geniza — WikipediaUmm el-Qanatir — WikipediaPesher — WikipediaTargum — WikipediaPeshitta — WikipediaOnkelos — Wikipedia“Here’s Something about the Bible of the First Christians I Bet Many of You Didn’t Know (You’re Welcome)” by Peter Enns — PatheosOrigin of the Old Testament — The Bible for Normal People“Tell all the truth but tell

Aug 8, 2024 • 46:46

402: Talmudic Matthew — Lightly Salted

Brent Billings, Elle Grover Fricks, and Josh Bossé examine one more perspective on the ideas of salt and light found in the Sermon on the Mount.BEMA 257: John — Wells and HusbandsBEMA 313: Parables — The Good Samaritan

Aug 1, 2024 • 55:31

401: Talmudic Matthew — Light

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings join Elle Grover Fricks to consider Jesus’s teaching on light through the lens of the Talmud.BEMA 94: Hope of the WorldBava Batra — Wikipedia1 Corinthians 3: Building a Temple — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipNumbers: The Wilderness Years, volume 4 of Covenant & Conversation by Rabbi Jonathan SacksSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 25, 2024 • 50:21

400: Talmudic Matthew — Salt

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks unearth a deeper meaning of salt through a Talmudic lens.“The Salt of the Land and the Light of the World” — BibleProject PodcastBEMA 248: Joy and Lot’s Untitled Wife

Jul 18, 2024 • 38:43

399: Talmudic Matthew — Household of God

Brent Billings, Elle Grover Fricks, and Josh Bossé browse through the Beatitudes one by one.Purity of Heart Is to Will One Thing by Søren KierkegaardLive Q&A with Josh Bossé (April 2024) — YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 11, 2024 • 1:36:58

398: Talmudic Matthew — Blessing

Brent Billings, Elle Grover Fricks, and Josh Bossé crack open the question of what a biblical blessing is.To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’DonohueEvery Moment Holy, Volume I by Douglas Kaine McKelveyEvery Moment Holy, Volume II by Douglas Kaine McKelvey

Jul 4, 2024 • 1:05:07

397: Mitch Lavender — Respect and Dignity

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Mitch Lavender, longtime BEMA listener and group facilitator, and now Lead Campus Minister in Cincinnati with Impact Campus Ministries, about his experiences with a community dealing with the challenges of diversity and how that can lead to transition with family, friends, and faith.A Church Called Tov by Scot McKnight and Laura BarringerSpecial Guest: Mitch Lavender.Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 27, 2024 • 59:04

396: Talmudic Matthew — Desert and Sea

Brent Billings, Elle Grover Fricks, and Reed Dent revisit Matthew 4 with a Talmudic lens.BEMA 92: How to Bring Order Out of ChaosEthics Ratings of Nearly All Professions Down in U.S. — GallupScutching — WikipediaTractate Sanhedrin — Sefaria“Questions About Angels” (poem) by Billy CollinsGospel of Matthew Summary (Part 1) — BibleProjectGospel of Matthew Summary (Part 2) — BibleProject

Jun 20, 2024 • 1:17:47

395: Talmudic Matthew — Jordan

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks take a closer look at the work of John the Baptist.BEMA 91: Tavilah T'ShuvahBEMA 92: How to Bring Order Out of Chaos

Jun 13, 2024 • 52:41

394: Talmudic Matthew — Stars and Magic

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks take a closer look at the magi and the star of the nativity.BEMA 89: Written in the StarsBEMA 257: Wells and HusbandsSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 6, 2024 • 45:46

393: Talmudic Matthew — Dreams

Brent Billings, Elle Grover Fricks, and Reed Dent explore how the Talmudic conversation might shed new light on the account of Joseph’s angelic visitation in Matthew 1.BEMA 22: Under the ChuppahBEMA 85: Mark — Roman GospelBEMA 89: Written in the StarsBerakhot 56 (Talmud) — Sefaria

May 30, 2024 • 1:11:29

392: Talmudic Matthew — Legacy

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are with Elle Grover Fricks to kick off a new series on Talmudic conversations in Matthew.Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonSefaria: A Living Library of Jewish TextsBrad Gray on the Genealogy of Matthew — Real Life on the Palouse“Matthew’s Begats” by Andrew Peterson — YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

May 23, 2024 • 49:29

391: Tommy Brown — The Ache for Meaning

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Tommy Brown, author of The Ache for Meaning. He is a pastor and contemplative teacher with a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry and master’s degrees in divinity and management, and a former little league baseball coach.The Ache for Meaning by Tommy BrownWhat Is the Palouse?Dark Night of the Soul — WikipediaThe Seven Money Types by Tommy BrownThe Torah for Dummies by Arthur KurzweilThe Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelSabbath as Resistan

May 16, 2024 • 44:38

390: Psalms — Feeling Dumb with a Great Cloud of Witnesses

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Elle Grover Fricks conclude the series on the Psalms and offer a final bit of encouragement to carry with us into the future.Festival of Faith & Writing — Calvin UniversityMy Bright Abyss by Christian WimanInside Out (2015 film) — JustWatch“Despite My Efforts Even My Prayers Have Turned into Threats” from Pilgrim Bell by Kaveh Akbar“The Only Animal” from Walking to Martha’s Vineyard by Franz Wright“Ulysses” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson — Poetry Foundation“Bles

May 9, 2024 • 1:01:54

389: Psalms — 23 & Me

Brent Billings, Elle Grover Fricks, and Josh Bossé take a second stroll through the words of Psalm 23.The Gorge AmphitheatreSaving Paradise by Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker

May 2, 2024 • 1:14:25

388: Psalms — Are You Listening?

Brent Billings and Reed Dent listen to the voice of Psalm 19.Firefly [Lightning Bug] — WikipediaWishful Thinking by Frederick BuechnerPsalm 19: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God — Aleph BetaReflections: Christianity Makes Sense of the World — C. S. Lewis Institute“The Merton Prayer” — Reflections, Yale Divinity SchoolSupport The BEMA Podcast

Apr 25, 2024 • 1:09:59

387: Psalms — More Distant Reflections

Brent Billings and Reed Dent mull over the words of Psalm 32.Bad Words Series — BibleProjectSupport The BEMA Podcast

Apr 18, 2024 • 51:38

386: Psalms — The Whole Human Experience

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Reed Dent compare and contrast Psalms 51 and 139.Psalm 139: Take 1 — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipPsalm 139: Take 4 — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipThe Crucifixion by Fleming RutledgeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Apr 11, 2024 • 45:33

385: Psalms — Ultimate Mario Star

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Reed Dent discuss Psalm 91.Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 4, 2024 • 49:15

384: Derek Vreeland — Centering Jesus

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Derek Vreeland, author of Centering Jesus. He is the discipleship pastor at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, MO, where he lives with his wife, Jenni.Centering Jesus by Derek VreelandReview of Centering Jesus — Marty Solomon, GoodreadsMan Enough by Nate PyleGod’s Empowering Presence by Gordon D. FeeBenefit of the Doubt by Gregory A. BoydSalvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew W. BatesDaily Office Lectionary by Derek VreelandBook of Common

Mar 28, 2024 • 49:52

383: Psalms — Praying Hate

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Elle Grover Fricks discuss the words of Psalm 137.BEMA 380: Psalms — The Hidden FaceAnswering God by Eugene H. PetersonBEMA 36: The Redemption CycleThe Message of the Psalms by Walter BrueggemannSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 21, 2024 • 1:10:49

382: Psalms — Small, Not Insignificant

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Elle Grover Fricks consider the words of Psalm 8.The Message of the Psalms by Walter BrueggemannVisual Commentary on Psalm 8 — BibleProjectThe Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelReflections on the Psalms by C. S. Lewis“Rabbi Simcha Bunem's Favorite Sayings” by Julie Danan — SefariaMidrash Tehillim on Psalm 8 — SefariaPsalm 8 — Wikipedia“Stars” by Switchfoot — YouTube“Friend of God” by Israel Houghton — YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 14, 2024 • 52:00

381: Psalms — A Sheep in the Mirror

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Josh Bossé discuss Psalm 23.“House of God Forever” by Jon Foreman — YouTubePsalm 23 — WikipediaThe Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary by Robert Alter

Mar 7, 2024 • 56:03

380: Psalms — The Hidden Face

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Josh Bossé discuss Psalm 13.The Message of the Psalms by Walter BrueggemannTelling the Truth by Frederick BuechnerBEMA 282: John — The Dance of GriefSupport The BEMA Podcast

Feb 29, 2024 • 1:01:15

379: Psalms — Every Season of Life

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings join Reed Dent as he launches a series on the Psalms.Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonFree at Last by dc Talk — YouTube“[Psalm] 40” by dc Talk — YouTubeThe Art of Biblical Poetry by Robert AlterThe Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert AlterThe Art of Bible Translation by Robert AlterPreaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible by Thomas G. LongBEMA 349: The Chosen S3E8 — “Sustenance” (Bonus Episode)The Message of the Psalms by Walter Brueggema

Feb 22, 2024 • 1:02:06

378: Lea Schrumpf — Entering Our Stories

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Lea Schrumpf, Director of Pastoral Care at Purdue Christian Campus House, to discuss how we are shaped by harm, but how we are created for delight and honor, and how we can enter our stories with compassion and kindness.BEMA 242: Spiritual Abuse — Commodities and VariablesThe Allender CenterAnatomy of the Soul by Curt ThompsonBeing Known PodcastAdam Young CounselingThe Place We Find Ourselves podcastThe Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der KolkMy

Feb 15, 2024 • 1:00:55

377: Isaiah — The Fruit of Faithfulness

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings conclude the journey through Isaiah by looking at his prophetic visions for the future and how hope changes the substance of our conversations, desires, and experiences.BEMA 137: A Dry TreeBEMA 71: The Prophetic TableBEMA 332: Andrew DeCort — Flourishing on the Edge of FaithFriend or Foe #1: The Truth and Proper Place of Guilt sermon — YouTubeOverview of Isaiah — BibleProjectKing Chizkiah, the Almost Messiah — Rabbi David Fohrman, Aleph BetaAleph Beta AcademySubs

Feb 8, 2024 • 1:14:56

376: Isaiah — Maternal Images of God

Brent Billings, Elle Grover Fricks, and Reed Dent discuss the maternal images seen throughout Isaiah.Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Behavior of a Pallas’s cat — YouTube

Feb 1, 2024 • 54:43

375: Isaiah — What Perseverance Produces

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings press on into the final chapters of Isaiah’s servant discourse, hearing the famous passage of God’s suffering servant and searching for the fruit of those trials.Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 25, 2024 • 34:01

374: Isaiah — When Suffering Is the Way

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings enter a new season of Isaiah’s prophecy. Times have changed, circumstances are different, but God’s love remains the same.Tikkun Olam — WikipediaBEMA 192: Telling a StoryBEMA 64: 3 Isaiah — ServantBEMA 289: John — Loved to the End

Jan 18, 2024 • 55:28

373: Preston Ulmer — Deconstruct Faith, Discover Jesus

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Preston Ulmer, author of Deconstruct Faith, Discover Jesus, founder and director of the Doubters’ Club, pastor at North Point Church in Springfield, MO, and many pastoral roles before that.Deconstruct Faith, Discover Jesus by Preston UlmerThe Doubters’ Club (website)The Doubters’ Club (book) by Preston UlmerEncanto (2021 film)Conversational Intelligence by Judith E. GlaserPreston on InstagramSpecial Guest: Preston Ulmer.Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 11, 2024 • 59:32

372: Isaiah — History and Redaction

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are with Elle Grover Fricks to discuss the historical portion of Isaiah that bridges the two parts of the prophetic work, considering the possibilities for voices and redactions.BEMA 82: The Text — When, Where, Who, and WhyDocumentary Hypothesis — WikipediaAsking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty Solomon“The Re-Emergence of Source Criticism: The Neo-Documentary Hypothesis” by Joel S. Baden — Yale Divinity SchoolBEMA 71: The Prophetic TableThe Docume

Jan 4, 2024 • 1:12:02

371: Isaiah — The Hulk Factor

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings consider the reality of God’s anger in the next portion of Isaiah.The Jewish Study Bible: Second Edition“JPS Bible Translation Enters Digital Era with Sefaria” — The Jewish Publication SocietyJPS Tanakh 1917 — BibleHubNew Jewish Publication Society of America Tanakh — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Dec 21, 2023 • 33:25

370: Isaiah — Woes

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the next portion of Isaiah to see God’s message aimed directly as His own people.BEMA 176: Revelation — Smyrna and Their CrownBeth Moore on the Church in History — TwitterBEMA 136: Each OneSupport The BEMA Podcast

Dec 14, 2023 • 54:06

369: Isaiah — The Choice Is Yours

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the universal pronouncement of God’s care and judgment in Isaiah, and then see the response of the prophet to what could lie ahead.Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 7, 2023 • 34:13

368: Elisa Bosley — Spiritual Eldercare

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks are joined by Elisa Bosley, founder of Spiritual Eldercare. Elisa has decades of experience leading worship services and Bible studies, and also working with adults who have dementia. Combining those efforts, she became a chaplain in 2016 and serves at a long-term memory care community in Boulder, Colorado.Spiritual EldercareAdditional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Guest: Elisa Bosley.Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 30, 2023 • 55:09

367: Isaiah — Burdens

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear Isaiah communicate the comprehensive and exhaustive nature of how God carries the burdens of all nations, not just the ones that bear His name.Presentation for Isaiah — Burdens (PDF)NIV Archaeological Study BibleNIV Cultural Backgrounds Study BibleThe Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary by Robert AlterCross Vision by Gregory A. BoydCrucifixion of the Warrior God by Gregory A. BoydSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 16, 2023 • 47:11

366: Isaiah — Let the Man Cook!

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings venture further into Isaiah and the days of Ahaz to see God’s invitation to trust the story—and warnings for what might happen if that invitation is not accepted.Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 9, 2023 • 52:51

365: Isaiah — Prophet vs. Wizard Priests

Brent Billings, Elle Grover Fricks, and Josh Bossé dig a little deeper into the cultural context of Isaiah 6.“Isaiah's Impure Lips and Their Purification in Light of Akkadian Sources” by Victor (Avigdor) Hurowitz — JSTORMyths & Legends of Babylonia & Assyria by Lewis SpenceBārû — WikipediaBāru (Mesopotamian priest) — BritannicaBārûtu — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 2, 2023 • 1:01:16

364: Isaiah — Opening Provocations

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey into the text of Isaiah, hearing the call of a father to his stubborn children.The Ache for Meaning by Tommy BrownThe Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary by Robert AlterBEMA 51: 1 Isaiah — VineyardIsaiah: Holy, Holy, Holy — Derrick Rohr, Campus Christian Fellowship

Oct 26, 2023 • 53:32

363: Isaiah — Prophetic Imagination

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are back with Reed Dent to continue the introduction to the prophecy of Isaiah and consider Walter Brueggemann’s ideas about the prophetic imagination.The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann“What Prophecy Is For” — BibleProject PodcastThought of the Day: Prophetic Imagination — Marty Solomon, YouTube

Oct 19, 2023 • 50:04

362: Isaiah — Prophetic Pathos

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are with Reed Dent to begin a journey deep into the prophecy of Isaiah by considering what we can learn from Abraham Joshua Heschel about the prophetic pathos.The Prophets by Abraham Joshua HeschelIsaiah: History — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipA Collision or (3+4=7) by David Crowder*BandCollected Poems of W. H. Auden (see Part IX)Lost in the Cosmos by Walker PercyNIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible“I Have a Dream” (Martin Luther King Jr. speech) — Wikip

Oct 12, 2023 • 56:18

361: Session 8 Intro

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings return to “Ordinary Time” on the podcast and prepare for some fresh studies of the Text.BEMA 190: Session 4 CapstoneBEMA News & EventsImpact Campus MinistriesBEMA DiscordSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 5, 2023 • 49:15

360: Session 7 Capstone

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up Session 7 of the podcast by hearing about Marty’s sabbatical experience and reflecting on what we’ve all been through in this season of rest.“Closing Time” (Marty’s sabbatical recap blog post)Meet the Solomons: Sabbatical Recap — Marty Solomon, YouTubeIgnatius of Loyola — WikipediaBEMA 350: Kat Armstrong — Storyline BibleBEMA 351: Sabbath Reflection Music“Birdsongs alleviate anxiety and paranoia in healthy participants” by E. Stobbe, J. Sundermann, L. Asc

Sep 28, 2023 • 32:30

359: Dallas Jenkins — Humanity and Historicity (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are back with Dallas Jenkins to mull over the questions that arose from Seasons 2 and 3 of The Chosen.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDb5&2 T-Shirt — The ChosenAncient Israel by Roland de VauxGrafted on YouTubeAdditional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Guest: Dallas Jenkins.Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 25, 2023 • 1:19:04

358: Sabbath Practice — Prayer

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Elle Grover Fricks pontificate on the practice of prayer.Presentation for Sabbath Practice — Prayer (PDF)“Patient Trust” by Pierre Teilhard de ChardinSpiritual Direction by Henri NouwenPrayer by Richard J. FosterThis Is Water by David Foster WallaceEvery Moment Holy, Volume I by Douglas Kaine McKelveyEvery Moment Holy, Volume II by Douglas Kaine McKelveyTo Bless the Space Between Us by John O’DonohueThe Ignatian Examen — Jesuits.org“How to Make Ringtones for iPhone

Sep 21, 2023 • 57:42

357: Sabbath Practice — Fasting

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks traverse the topic of fasting.Didache — WikipediaBasil of Caesarea — WikipediaJohn Wesley (Holy Club section for fasting) — WikipediaJewish Fast Days — Chabad.org“Fasting for Religious Observance” — Brandeis University“Intermittent Fasting 101: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide” — HealthlineSupport The BEMA Podcast

Sep 14, 2023 • 59:54

356: Sabbath Practice — Friendship w/ Derrick James Rohr III

Brent Billings is considering the practice of friendship with Reed Dent and his best friend and ministry partner Derrick James Rohr III.CCF Truman StaffThe Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich BonhoefferThe Four Loves by C. S. LewisAdditional audio production by Gus SimpsonSupport The BEMA Podcast

Sep 7, 2023 • 49:14

355: Sabbath Practice — Discipline

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore Marty’s spiritual practices and see what has changed or evolved for him over the last seven years.BEMA 24: Creating a SpaceThought of the Day: Two Hands of Faith — Marty Solomon, YouTubeThe Universal Christ by Richard RohrAsking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty Solomon“Is It Time to Quit ‘Quiet Time’?” by Dru Johnson and Celina Durgin — Christianity TodayHudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor (via Jim Feicht)A Day in

Aug 31, 2023 • 48:11

354: Sabbath Practice — Flow

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé discuss his spiritual practices and how they have evolved throughout his journey with God.Schottenstein Interlinear Complete Chumash by Rabbi Menachem DavisSupport The BEMA Podcast

Aug 24, 2023 • 1:10:51

353: Sabbath Practice — Heart

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks chat about her spiritual practices.Notebook Classic — LEUCHTTURM1917SHARPIE S-Gel Pen, Medium Point (0.7mm), Black Ink“Advantage of Handwriting Over Typing on Learning Words” by Aya S. Ihara et al. — Frontiers in Human Neuroscience“Is the News Making Us Unhappy?” by Natascha de Hoog and Peter Verboon — British Journal of PsychologySupport The BEMA Podcast

Aug 17, 2023 • 51:00

352: Sabbath Practice — Attentiveness

Brent Billings and Reed Dent consider a different framework for spiritual practice and explore how Reed engages his own practices.BEMA 24: Creating a SpaceGrasslands National Park — WikipediaVisiting Grasslands National Park — Brent BillingsBig Bend National Park — WikipediaFour Quartets by T. S. EliotThe Books of Scott CairnsDaily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community by Pádraig Ó TuamaPoetry Unbound PodcastMaking All Things New by Henri NouwenEat This Book by Eugene H. PetersonCommon P

Aug 10, 2023 • 56:52

351: Sabbath Reflection Music (Bonus Episode)

Brent Billings offers an extended track of music and sounds for spending time in reflection. To maintain a reasonable file size for downloads, this music is presented at a slightly reduced quality compared to the original Sabbath Reflection episodes.Source Music for Session 7 — SoundstripeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Aug 7, 2023 • 2:34:40

350: Kat Armstrong — Storyline Bible

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Kat Armstrong, a Bible teacher and ministry leader who holds a master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. She is the author of the Storyline Bible Studies and is the cofounder of the Polished Network.Mountains by Kat ArmstrongStoryline Bible Studies by Kat ArmstrongThe Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan T. PenningtonTree of Life Series — BibleProject PodcastThe Art of Reading Scripture by Ellen F. Davis and Ri

Aug 3, 2023 • 47:32

349: The Chosen S3E8 — “Sustenance” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the ultimate episode of Season 3 of The Chosen.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbBEMA 71: The Prophetic TableAddendum to BEMA 80 [on Pharisees] — Marty Solomon, YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 31, 2023 • 53:05

348: Sabbath Reflection VII — Trust

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings conclude this series of reflection by working to apply the lessons of trust from the Mishkan.Presentation for Sabbath Reflection VII — Trust (PDF)BEMA 331: Sanctuary — Resting with the MishkanStoryline Bible Studies by Kat Armstrong

Jul 27, 2023 • 35:30

347: The Chosen S3E7 — “Ears to Hear” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the events of the penultimate episode of Season 3 of The Chosen.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 24, 2023 • 49:18

346: Sabbath Reflection VI — Wonder

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue this series of reflection, considering the wonder of God’s redemptive, saving work, which isn’t ours to control.Presentation for Sabbath Reflection VI — Wonder (PDF)BEMA 330: Sanctuary — Traversing the MishkanSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 20, 2023 • 51:02

345: The Chosen S3E6 — “Intensity in Tent City” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are introduced to Pilate and watch with the crowd as Jesus does everything except get John the Baptist out of jail.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbRabbi Akiva — Wikipedia

Jul 17, 2023 • 49:18

344: Sabbath Reflection V — Place

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a series of reflection, considering our approaches to sin and how we occupy different places.Presentation for Sabbath Reflection V — Place (PDF)BEMA 329: Sanctuary — Moving the MishkanSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 13, 2023 • 46:27

343: The Chosen S3E5 — “Clean, Part 2” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see Jesus engage the act of healing in new ways.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbBEMA 103: Healing in His WingsSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 10, 2023 • 44:11

342: Sabbath Reflection IV — Teaching

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue this series of reflection, working to consider the different ways in which we teach others.Presentation for Sabbath Reflection IV — Teaching (PDF)BEMA 328: Sanctuary — Listening by the MishkanSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 6, 2023 • 44:53

341: The Chosen S3E4 — “Clean, Part 1” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see the disciples utilize their healing power and then process what happened.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbBEMA 332: Andrew DeCort — Flourishing on the Edge of FaithBEMA 124: Statement of TriumphBanias Archaeological Dig of 2020 — YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 3, 2023 • 39:15

340: Sabbath Reflection III — Community

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue this series of reflection, working to apply the lessons of community from the Mishkan.Presentation for Sabbath Reflection III — Community (PDF)BEMA 327: Sanctuary — Feasting at the MishkanSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 29, 2023 • 34:44

339: The Chosen S3E3 — “Physician, Heal Yourself” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings watch as Jesus returns to Nazareth to become a prophet without honor in his hometown.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 26, 2023 • 50:06

338: Sabbath Reflection II — Love

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue through this series of reflection, working to apply the lessons of love from the Mishkan.Presentation for Sabbath Reflection II — Love (PDF)BEMA 326: Sanctuary — Entering the MishkanSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 22, 2023 • 33:10

337: The Chosen S3E2 — “Two by Two” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings return to The Chosen to watch as the disciples are commissioned as apostles and sent out in pairs.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbCohortes Urbanae — WikipediaThe Kingdom (Teaching Series) — Marty Solomon, YouTubeAddendum: James Who? — Marty Solomon, YouTubeBEMA 259: Kevan Chandler — We Carry KevanSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 19, 2023 • 45:01

336: Sabbath Reflection I — Truth

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings start a series of reflection, working to apply the lessons of the Mishkan once again.Presentation for Sabbath Reflection I — Truth (PDF)BEMA 325: Sanctuary — Waking Up in the MishkanSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 15, 2023 • 33:26

335: The Chosen S3E1 — “Homecoming” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings jump back into The Chosen with the first episode of Season 3.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbBEMA 21: With All Your Soul & “Very”Machaerus — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 12, 2023 • 51:31

334: Session 7 Intro

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings venture into new territory and approach the podcast with a different perspective for a season.“The Sabbath Year” by Marty SolomonSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 8, 2023 • 30:57

333: Session 6 Capstone

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up Session 6 of the podcast and reflect on where we’ve been.Marty on GoodreadsThe Kingdom (Teaching Series) — Marty Solomon, YouTubeBook Tour Recap blog postBook Tour Recap on YouTubeBEMA 307: Tohu va Vohu (State of the Podcast)

Jun 1, 2023 • 48:11

332: Andrew DeCort — Flourishing on the Edge of Faith

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Andrew DeCort, author of Flourishing on the Edge of Faith. He holds a Ph.D. in Religious and Political Ethics and is the founder of the Neighbor-Love Movement and the Institute for Faith and Flourishing. Andrew has taught at a variety of universities around the world, and he and his wife, Lily, live and work between Ethiopia and Chicago.Flourishing on the Edge of Faith by Andrew DeCortBEMA 275: Kate Schmidgall — BitterSweetThe

May 25, 2023 • 54:57

331: Sanctuary — Resting with the Mishkan

Brent Billings, Josh Bossé, and Elle Grover Fricks muse on the mysteries of rest and holiness, and conclude the anthology on the tabernacle.Presentation for Sanctuary — Resting with the Mishkan (PDF)Strong Bad Email #58: Dragon — YouTubeThe Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel“When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt — YouTube“Doubting Doubts” by Citizens & Saints — YouTube

May 18, 2023 • 1:47:09

330: Sanctuary — Traversing the Mishkan

Brent Billings, Josh Bossé, and Elle Grover Fricks gather once again around the fire and wrestle with the radical implications of putting the Divine Image into practice.Presentation for Sanctuary — Traversing the Mishkan (PDF)“Man as the Image of God in Genesis in the Light of Ancient Near Eastern Parallels” by Edward Mason Curtis — University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommonsImage of God — WikipediaBEMA 248: Joy and Lot’s Untitled Wife w/ Elle Grover FricksSupport The BEMA Podcast

May 11, 2023 • 1:58:10

329: Sanctuary — Moving the Mishkan

Brent Billings is with Josh Bossé and Reed Dent to see how God’s presence shows up in surprising ways throughout the tabernacle.Presentation for Sanctuary — Moving the Mishkan (PDF)BEMA 294: John — Sacrifice, Suffering, and JoySupport The BEMA Podcast

May 4, 2023 • 1:40:41

328: Sanctuary — Listening by the Mishkan

Brent Billings is with Josh Bossé and Reed Dent to consider the role of priests in the tabernacle through their clothing.Presentation for Sanctuary — Listening by the Mishkan (PDF)A Commentary on the Book of Exodus by U. CassutoDiary of a Country Priest (1951 film)Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 27, 2023 • 2:00:54

327: Sanctuary — Feasting at the Mishkan

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé examine the communal life and stability found in the sacrificial altar.Presentation for Sanctuary — Feasting at the Mishkan (PDF)Ship of Theseus — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Apr 20, 2023 • 1:29:43

326: Sanctuary — Entering the Mishkan

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are back with Josh Bossé to consider the boundaries established for the tabernacle and the love hidden within them.Presentation for Sanctuary — Entering the Mishkan (PDF)Symbolism of the Biblical World by Othmar KeelInspiration and Incarnation by Peter EnnsJoin the BEMA SlackSupport The BEMA Podcast

Apr 13, 2023 • 1:11:53

325: Sanctuary — Waking Up in the Mishkan

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Josh Bossé to begin a series on the tabernacle of Exodus and the parallels it has to the Creation story, turning those spiritual principles into tangible practices.Presentation for Sanctuary — Waking Up in the Mishkan (PDF)Tabernacle — Wikipedia“What’s So Special About the Tabernacle?” — BibleProject PodcastBEMA 286: John — The Test of BreadSupport The BEMA Podcast

Apr 6, 2023 • 1:16:38

324: Anita Grace Brown — Finding Christ in Yoga

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Anita Grace Brown. She has been using yoga for 25 years to heal from trauma, fear, and spiritual struggles. She engages nature and uses art to help others find redemption.Grooveology WebsiteIt’s 5 o’clock Somewhere PodcastKamikaze Yogi by Anita Grace BrownChristians Practicing YogaThe Yoga AbbeyI’m Gonna Stress You Out — Online CourseAdditional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Guest: Anita Grace Brown.Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 30, 2023 • 44:03

323: The Forgotten Women of the Apocalypse

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks finish out the series by turning their attention to two figures in the book of Revelation.Cinnabar — WikipediaLitter (vehicle) [palanquin] — WikipediaEpiphanius of Salamis — WikipediaHippolytus of Rome — WikipediaIsis — WikipediaBEMA 300: John — The Migdal

Mar 23, 2023 • 1:00:57

322: The Forgotten Women of the New Testament

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Elle Grover Fricks to survey the forgotten women of the New Testament.Learning Greek with Elle — Servant (PDF)Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonTrireme — WikipediaDidache — WikipediaJunia (New Testament person) — WikipediaBEMA News & EventsSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 16, 2023 • 57:24

321: The Forgotten Women of the Tanakh

Brent Billings, Elle Grover Fricks, and Josh Bossé draw their chairs closer to the fire of the accounts of women who may have been overlooked in the Hebrew Bible.Binders Full of Women — Know Your MemeBEMA 209: Midrash — Noah’s Backstory and the Nephilim

Mar 9, 2023 • 1:05:40

320: The Forgotten Women — Sages and Wise Women

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks study sages and wise women of the Text.Nadītu — Wikipedia

Mar 2, 2023 • 47:21

319: The Forgotten Women — Presentism and Primitivism

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Elle Grover Fricks to discuss how to navigate the dangers of presentism and primitivism as we start a series on the forgotten women of the Bible.Presentation for The Forgotten Women — Presentism and Primitivism (PDF)Sapiens by Yuval Noah HarariHomo Deus by Yuval Noah HarariBEMA 240: Sin and the Archaeology of Joshua w/ Elle Grover FricksLevant — WikipediaThe Red Tent by Anita DiamantBEMA 308: The Chosen S2E9 — “The Messengers”BEMA 310: The

Feb 23, 2023 • 46:43

318: Alonzo Felder — Discovering A. S. J. Allen

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Alonzo Felder, author of Discovering A. S. J. Allen. Over the course of his career as an IT analyst at Duke University, Alonzo became an expert in a number of research methods and has done extensive work on his own family history.Discovering A. S. J. Allen by Alonzo Felder“Do You Know” ScaleReview of Discovering A. S. J. Allen — Marty Solomon, GoodreadsComing soon: Online Course for Family History ResearchComing soon: Document

Feb 16, 2023 • 1:06:45

317: Asking Better Questions of the Bible w/ Erin Geiselman

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Erin Geiselman, leader of the launch team for Marty’s book Asking Better Questions of the Bible, to discuss what the experience of writing a book was like for Marty.Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonBEMA 207: J. R. Briggs — The Sacred OverlapThe Writing Life Course — Kairos PartnershipsFrom Novice to Expert by Patricia BennerBEMA 57: Lamentations — Lament and HopeErin Geiselman on TwitterAdditional audio pro

Feb 9, 2023 • 1:08:36

316: Parables — The Unforgiving Servant

Brent Billings and Reed Dent talk about the story of the unforgiving servant and the end of bookkeeping and seeing our enemies as ourselves.BEMA 121: The Key to Your Own PrisonThe Parable of the Unforgiving Servant — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipNIV Cultural Backgrounds Study BibleFree of Charge by Miroslav VolfJoin the BEMA Slack

Feb 2, 2023 • 1:14:42

315: Parables — The Lost Son

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are back with Reed Dent to discuss the lost son of Luke 15 and what it means to be lost.The Pharisees by Joseph Sievers and Amy-Jill LevinePoet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth E. BaileyKingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Farrar Capon

Jan 26, 2023 • 1:14:38

314: Parables — The Barn Builder

Brent Billings and Reed Dent talk about the story of the rich fool and the dynamics of money and relationships.Tell It Slant by Eugene PetersonHope: The Prophet Candle — The BEMA Liturgy“Tripping Billies” by Dave Matthews Band — YouTubePoet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth E. BaileyThe Parable of the Rich Fool — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipJoin the BEMA SlackSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jan 19, 2023 • 49:16

313: Parables — The Good Samaritan

Brent Billings is joined by Reed Dent and Elle Grover Fricks to talk about the story of the Good Samaritan and what it looks like to love people we’d rather not.Elle Meets John Piper“On Priests and Jericho in the Second Temple Period” by Joshua Schwartz — ResearchGateThe Parable of the Good Samaritan — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jan 12, 2023 • 1:23:29

312: Parables — Dissecting a Swallow

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are bringing in Reed Dent to launch a miniseries on parables, starting with a discussion about what a parable is and why anyone would want to teach in that way.Tell It Slant by Eugene PetersonThe Great Spiritual Migration by Brian McLarenKingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Farrar Capon“Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins from The Apple That Astonished ParisPoet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth E. BaileyThe Orthodox Heretic by Peter Rolli

Jan 5, 2023 • 1:09:36

311: Keith Simon — Truth Over Tribe

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Keith Simon, co-author of Truth Over Tribe, who co-planted The Crossing, a politically diverse church where he is the co-lead teaching pastor. He hosts a podcast by the same name, Truth Over Tribe, and teaches on Ten Minute Bible Talks.Truth Over Tribe by Patrick Miller and Keith SimonTruth Over Tribe PodcastTen Minute Bible TalksBEMA 309: On Social MediaAdditional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Guest: Keith Simon.Supp

Dec 29, 2022 • 48:57

310: The Nativity Story

The Nativity Story (2006 film)The Nativity Story on JustWatchBEMA 89: Written in the StarsWhen God Was a Boy by C. T. GilesFestival Edition: The Birth (w/ Katie Del Rocco) [Adaptation from Frederick Buechner] — Marty Solomon, YouTubeSpecial Guest: Maggi Billings.Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 22, 2022 • 46:53

309: On Social Media (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings address the Twitter-sized elephant in the room, talk about how each of them use social media, and consider ways all of us can engage this part of our world in a healthy way.BEMA Poll/Survey (valid through 26 April 2023)“Twitter suspends @ElonJet plane-tracking bot after Musk pledged to leave it up” — Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica“Elon Musk offloads another $3.6 billion of Tesla stock” — Dave Lee, Financial Times/Ars Technica“One More for the ‘Everything Is G

Dec 19, 2022 • 39:00

308: The Chosen S2E9 — “The Messengers”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Maggi Billings to discuss The Chosen S2E9 (the 2021 Christmas special), “The Messengers.”The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbFestival Edition: The Birth (w/ Katie Del Rocco) [Adaptation from Frederick Buechner] — Marty Solomon, YouTubeThe Nativity Story (2006 film)The Nativity Story on JustWatchSpecial Guest: Maggi Billings.Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 15, 2022 • 50:00

307: Tohu va Vohu (State of the Podcast)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Brian Truschinger, Elle Grover Fricks, Reed Dent, and Josh Bossé, all together for the very first time to discuss what is happening with BEMA and what we hope for the future.BEMA Poll/Survey (valid through 26 April 2023)The BEMA LiturgyTell It Slant by Eugene PetersonElle’s Website for Hebrew ClassesThe Text In Us PodcastJosh’s Beard Progress (surgery > shaved > 1 month > 3 months)Sermon with Brian’s Toilet Story“How to Speed Listen (for Students or

Dec 8, 2022 • 1:03:51

306: Brian David — Chiasms in John

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Brian David, who spent 37 years coaching people in software, and 25 years coaching high school sports, but now finds himself “coaching” the Text.Chiasms in John by Brian DavidBEMA 28: Images of the Desert — Ar'ar and TamariskPoet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth E. BaileyStar Wars Ring Theory by Mike KlimoJesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard BauckhamJoin the BEMA SlackAdditional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Gues

Dec 1, 2022 • 59:49

305: Gary Burge — Interpreting the Gospel of John

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Dr. Gary Burge, author of Interpreting the Gospel of John, and one of the foremost authorities on John. He was a professor at Wheaton College for 25 years and now serves as a New Testament scholar at Calvin Theological Seminary.Gary M. Burge, Professor of New Testament — Calvin Theological SeminaryInterpreting the Gospel of John by Gary M. BurgeJames Dunn — WikipediaThe Anointed Community by Gary M. BurgeSociety of Biblical Li

Nov 17, 2022 • 1:04:14

304: The Construction of the Gospel of John

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the different elements of John’s construction and consider some of the scholarly theories and observations that have been made over the years, seeing what there might be to learn in those possibilities.Interpreting the Gospel of John by Gary M. BurgeAsking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 10, 2022 • 46:04

303: The History and Style of the Gospel of John

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a tour through the history of textual criticism that surrounds the Gospel of John and we look at the unique styles and attributes of John’s writing.Interpreting the Gospel of John by Gary M. BurgeHistorical Tradition and Sources in JohnSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 3, 2022 • 46:48

302: John — Do You Even Like Me?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings listen in on the restoration of Peter and consider the conclusion John writes for his Gospel account.BEMA 131: BetrayalPre-order: Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 27, 2022 • 41:45

301: John — On Doubting and Locked Doors

Brent Billings and Reed Dent discuss Thomas—a seemingly strange disciple—and question the nature of doubt and belief.“The Seeing Heart” by Frederick Buechner — YouTube“Frederick Buechner, Novelist With a Religious Slant, Dies at 96” by Robert D. McFadden — The New York TimesWishful Thinking by Frederick Buechner“St. Thomas Didymus” by Denise LevertovThe Stream & the Sapphire by Denise LevertovJoin the BEMA SlackSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 20, 2022 • 1:12:42

300: John — The Migdal

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks witness the resurrection of Jesus and consider the figure of Miriam the Migdal, more commonly known as Mary Magdalene.Isis — WikipediaEarly Christian Women and Pagan Opinion by Margaret Y. MacDonaldThe Resurrection of Mary Magdalene by Jane SchabergThe Woman Jesus Loved by Antti MarjanenSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 13, 2022 • 1:15:58

299: John — One Pierced

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings pick up after the moment of Jesus’s death on the cross, looking at the preparations for his burial and the work of two unexpected characters who take their own stand in honoring Jesus.Arimathea — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 6, 2022 • 29:59

298: John — Not Forsaken

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings dive into John’s account of Jesus’s crucifixion.The Case for Christ by Lee StrobelShmuel Safrai — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Sep 29, 2022 • 43:05

297: Kat Armas — Abuelita Faith

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Kat Armas, author of Abuelita Faith, whose earliest theological formation came from her grandmother and ultimately inspired her to tell the stories of those we find on the margins. She teaches people to reflect on the abuelitas in their lives and shows us how to live out this kind of faith on a daily basis.The ProtagonistasAbuelita Faith by Kat ArmasAbuelita Fe by Kat ArmasSacred Belonging by Kat ArmasBEMA 52: Jonah — PotentialKat Arma

Sep 22, 2022 • 47:34

296: John — I Am He

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see Jesus arrested, finding himself questioned, Peter questioned, finding himself lacking in courage, and Pilate drawn into an argument, finding himself cornered.Join the BEMA SlackSupport The BEMA Podcast

Sep 15, 2022 • 45:31

295: John — Strategy

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at Jesus’s famous prayer for unity. Why is this his foremost concern before he goes to the cross?Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 8, 2022 • 41:17

294: John — Sacrifice, Suffering, and Joy

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks consider the various words for sacrifices in Hebrew before moving on to the second half of John 16 as we work our way through the Farewell Discourses.Learning Hebrew with Elle — Sacrifices (PDF)Consider the Birds by Debbie BlueMichael Pakaluk — The Catholic University of AmericaGeorge Parsenios — Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of TheologyUrban von Wahlde — Loyola University ChicagoRaymond E. Brown — WikipediaBurton Visotzky — Wikipedia“Wine, Women, and the

Sep 1, 2022 • 1:10:00

293: John — Sin, Righteousness, Judgment

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue Jesus’s discussion about the place of persecution in the coming days, decades, and centuries. What is the Holy Spirit’s job (or at least one of them) in this process of glorification?Join the BEMA SlackSupport The BEMA Podcast

Aug 25, 2022 • 34:09

292: John — The Pruning Work of Persecution

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings spend time in one of the staple passages of Impact Campus Ministries, and a foundational text for intimacy with God. Jesus is the true vine—what can we learn by taking this truth seriously?BEMA 24: Creating a SpaceAbout — Impact Campus MinistriesSupport The BEMA Podcast

Aug 18, 2022 • 48:27

291: John — Parakletos

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue into Jesus’s discourse in preparation for his death, where he promises the Advocate, the Helper, the Counselor—the Holy Spirit.Holy Spirit — BibleProjectJoin the BEMA Slack

Aug 11, 2022 • 38:01

290: John — This Is the Way

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin Jesus’s final discourse in John as he prepares for his imminent arrest, considering what it means that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.BEMA 22: Under the ChuppahThe Jewish Annotated New Testament by Oxford University Press (NRSV)BEMA 87: John — GraftedBEMA 137: A Dry TreeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Aug 4, 2022 • 48:10

289: John — Loved to the End

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin an examination of the “Book of Hours” or the “Book of Glory.” What does it look like to believe in Jesus?John — Loved to the End Presentation (PDF)BEMA 131: BetrayalThe Fidelity of Betrayal by Peter Rollins

Jul 28, 2022 • 36:07

288: Steve Park — Little Lights

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Steve Park, founder of Little Lights Urban Ministries in Washington, DC. He teaches race literacy for Christians, provides after-school and summer programs, adult and employment programs, Christian mentoring and Bible studies, and so much more.Little LightsThe Road Less Traveled by M. Scott PeckThe World’s Religions by Huston SmithRace: The Power of an Illusion — PBSRace Literacy 101 ClassLittle Lights on YouTubeLittle Lights on Facebo

Jul 21, 2022 • 1:02:31

287: John — The Test of Meat

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé resume an reexamination of John 6 as Jesus continues to subvert the expectations of the people as the second Moses.Josh Bossé on CaringBridgeJoin the BEMA SlackSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 14, 2022 • 1:08:22

286: John — The Test of Bread

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé examine John 6 for a second time, looking at the test Jesus gives to his disciples as they prepare to feed the 5000.BEMA 281: John — You Are GodsJosh Bossé on CaringBridgeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jul 7, 2022 • 50:12

285: John — Book of Signs

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finish John’s “Book of Signs” and the concluding examination of belief and disbelief.BEMA 64: 3 Isaiah — ServantThought of the Day: Two Hands of Faith — Marty Solomon, YouTubeThe Universal Christ by Richard RohrSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 30, 2022 • 34:10

284: John — The Hour Has Come

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings work toward the closing of the Book of Signs in the Gospel of John as Jesus states that his hour has come.BEMA 124: Statement of TriumphThe Jewish Annotated New Testament by Oxford University Press (NRSV)Voice of God — Wikipedia

Jun 23, 2022 • 33:45

283: John — Missing God in the Name of God

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings consider the Pharisees’ reaction to the raising of Lazarus, as well as the story of Mary anointing Jesus for burial.“Missing God in the Name of God” sermon — University Christian Church, YouTubeThe Jewish Annotated New Testament by Oxford University Press (NRSV)Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 16, 2022 • 37:56

282: John — The Dance of Grief

Brent Billings and Reed Dent discuss a story about Mary and Martha and Jesus, which also happens to contain an episode about the death and resurrection of Lazarus.“Lazarus Come Forth” by Carmen — YouTube“The Way of Suffering: A Reasoning of the Heart” by Jerome A. MillerExistence of God by John R. JacobsonSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 9, 2022 • 1:22:28

281: John — You Are Gods

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé discuss spiritual leadership and the conversations with Jesus in the temple courts at the Festival of Dedication.Join the BEMA SlackJosh Bossé on CaringBridgeSupport Josh BosséSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 2, 2022 • 54:35

280: The Road Back to Eden

Brent Billings provides an introduction for Marty Solomon to lead us in a special conversation that means a lot to him personally, meant to help us consider one of the things God is inviting us to as we partner with Him to put the world back together. How do we make it back to Eden?BEMA 6: A Tale of a TowerThe Beast that Crouches at the Door by Rabbi David Fohrman (Amazon)The Beast that Crouches at the Door by Rabbi David Fohrman (Aleph Beta)

May 26, 2022 • 46:00

279: John — My Sheep, My Voice

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at Jesus’s claim to be the true gate and the good shepherd for his sheep.John — My Sheep, My Voice Presentation (PDF)BEMA 87: John — GraftedBEMA 26: Images of the Desert — ShepherdBEMA 105: An Explosive KingdomThe 7 Great I Ams #3: I Am the Door sermon — YouTubeThe 7 Great I Ams (Sermon Series) — YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

May 19, 2022 • 36:54

278: John — Only the Blind Can See

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the healing of a blind man and Jesus’s subsequent teaching on a different kind of blindness.Everyman’s Talmud by Abraham CohenThe Prophetic Imagination by Walter BrueggemannAddendum to BEMA 80 — Marty Solomon, YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

May 12, 2022 • 45:59

277: John — Before Abraham Was

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings consider a provocative teaching of Jesus that nearly got him executed.Support The BEMA Podcast

May 5, 2022 • 29:33

276: John — Who Is Your Father?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the dispute Jesus has with those who believed him about who their father is.Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 28, 2022 • 52:22

275: Kate Schmidgall — BitterSweet

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Kate Schmidgall, the founder and director of BitterSweet Creative, and the founder and editor of BitterSweet Monthly.National Community Church, Lincoln Theatre CampusNCC Lincoln Theatre Campus StaffContemplations Series with Walter BrueggemannAn Other Kingdom by Peter Block, Walter Brueggemann, and John McKnightBreaking Ground by Anne Snyder and Susannah BlackComment MagazineResident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas and William H. W

Apr 21, 2022 • 49:18

274: John — Light of the World

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear Jesus talk about his own identity and testimony in the face of those who grapple with his teachings.BEMA 85: Mark — Roman Gospel“Written in the Dust” sermon (Brad Gray) — YouTubeInterpreting the Gospel of John by Gary M. BurgeJesus Within Judaism by James H. CharlesworthSupport The BEMA Podcast

Apr 14, 2022 • 34:14

273: John — Pericope of an Honor Contest

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks talk about the cultural context of Jesus being confronted in the courts with the woman accused of adultery in John 8.The Daniel Scene Brent Could Not Remember (from April 1986)Hebrew Classes with Elle“John 7:53-8:11: A Study in Misreading” by Gail R. O’Day — JSTORBEMA 82: The Text — When, Where, Who, and WhyMisreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes by E. Randolph Richards and Richard JamesThe Pericope Adulterae, the Gospel of John, and the Litera

Apr 7, 2022 • 51:34

272: The Chosen S2E8 — “Beyond Mountains” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings conclude a review of Season 2 of The Chosen with a discussion on the eighth episode.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbDallas Regrets This One Thing (Season Finale Reaction) — The Chosen, YouTubeBEMA 93: BlessedBEMA 99: Fruit of Fools

Apr 4, 2022 • 42:18

271: John — The Greatest Day of the Feast

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finish John 7, discussing the differing opinions about the identity of Jesus.Miracles of Messiah by Ron MillerBEMA 76: Silent Years — SadduceesBEMA 130: The Plot to Kill JesusSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 31, 2022 • 45:28

270: The Chosen S2E7 — “Reckoning” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue reviewing The Chosen with a discussion on the seventh episode of Season 2.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 28, 2022 • 42:50

269: John — Any Time Will Do

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings jump into John 7, discussing Jesus’s engagement with the Festival of Tabernacles.Sukkot & Simchat Torah — Chabad.orgRabbi Jesus by Bruce Chilton

Mar 24, 2022 • 31:32

268: The Chosen S2E6 — “Unlawful” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings return to The Chosen with a discussion on the sixth episode of Season 2.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbEpisode 6: "This line wrecks me." (Director Reaction) — The Chosen, YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 21, 2022 • 32:53

267: John — The Far Side of a Tumultuous Sea

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Reed Dent to finish examining the sixth chapter of John, and attempt to bring some closure to this challenging portion of the Text.I Asked for Wonder by Abraham Joshua HeschelPrototype by Jonathan MartinBEMA 230: Mandy Smith — UnfetteredUnfettered by Mandy SmithThe Experience of God by David Bentley HartJoin the BEMA SlackSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 17, 2022 • 1:11:47

266: The Chosen S2E5 — “Spirit” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a review of The Chosen with a discussion on the controversial fifth episode of Season 2.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbZealot by Reza AslanI'm firing back about one criticism — The Chosen, YouTubeWhoa! Episode 5 was controversial (Director reacts) — The Chosen, YouTubeOur Bible consultants discuss our most controversial moment — The Chosen, YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 14, 2022 • 38:29

265: John — Make Him King

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrestle with the potential interpretations of what is happening in the beginning of John 6.A Harmony of the Gospels (NASB) by Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. GundryThe NIV Harmony of the Gospels by Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. GundryA Harmony of the Gospels by A. T. RobertsonBEMA 115: 5 Loaves, 2 Fish, and 1 Big LessonBoaty McBoatface — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 10, 2022 • 44:01

264: The Chosen S2E4 — “The Perfect Opportunity” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings venture further into a review of The Chosen with a discussion on the fourth episode of Season 2.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbPool of Bethesda — WikipediaBEMA 261: John — What Do You Want?Cohortes Urbanae — WikipediaOur best ever? Episode 4 Director Reaction — The Chosen, YouTube100 Fold StudioSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 7, 2022 • 45:51

263: John — Weighty Testimony

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings consider the reactions to Jesus healing on the Sabbath in John 5, and discuss the authority of and testimonies about Jesus.Impact Staff Opening at the University of OregonBEMA 95: Abolish or FulfillGod Was in This Place & I, I Did Not Know by Rabbi Lawrence KushnerBEMA 190: Session 4 CapstoneSupport The BEMA Podcast

Mar 3, 2022 • 49:45

262: The Chosen S2E3 — “Matthew 4:24” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue reviewing The Chosen with a discussion on the third episode of Season 2.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbOur most talked about scene ever? Chosen director reacts — The Chosen, YouTubeStory by Robert McKee“Who Would Have Dreamed” by Sovereign Grace Music — YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Feb 28, 2022 • 48:48

261: John — What Do You Want?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Kevan Chandler of We Carry Kevan to continue through the Gospel of John, exploring the healing of the official’s son and the healing at the pool of Bethesda.BEMA 102: Son of ManAddendum to BEMA 102 — Marty Solomon, YouTubeWe Carry Kevan (Nonprofit Organization)Additional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Guest: Kevan Chandler.Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 24, 2022 • 1:00:26

260: The Chosen S2E2 — “I Saw You” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a review of The Chosen with a discussion on the second episode of Season 2.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbBEMA 78: Silent Years — EssenesBEMA 253: John — Come and SeeBEMA 119: The Gates of HellBanias Archaeological Dig of 2020 — YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Feb 21, 2022 • 37:24

259: Kevan Chandler — We Carry Kevan

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Kevan Chandler, author of the book We Carry Kevan, and founder of the nonprofit organization We Carry Kevan.We Carry Kevan by Kevan ChandlerWe Carry Kevan (Nonprofit Organization)Andrew PetersonThe Wingfeather Saga by Andrew PetersonAdditional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Guest: Kevan Chandler.Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 17, 2022 • 1:04:00

258: The Chosen S2E1 — “Thunder” (Bonus Episode)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are breaking ground with a first-time-ever Monday episode of BEMA, beginning the continuation of our review of The Chosen with a discussion on the first episode of Season 2.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbBEMA 167: James — MitzvothAddendum on James — Marty Solomon, YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Feb 14, 2022 • 48:45

257: John — Wells and Husbands

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Elle Grover Fricks to continue through the Gospel of John, exploring who the Samaritans are, the place of women in Jewish and Christian practice around the first century, and a sprinkling of midrash to top it all off.Samaritans Cooking for PassoverTargum — WikipediaTargum Jerusalem, Genesis 28:10 — SefariaThe Samaritan Woman Story: An Alternative View — Israel Institute of Biblical Studies“Women Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue” by Bernadette J. Br

Feb 10, 2022 • 56:06

256: John — The One from Above

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the journey through the Gospel of John, looking at the testimony of John the Baptist as he ratifies the identity and ministry of Christ.Map of the Regions of Israel in Ancient TimesThought of the Day: Imposter Syndrome — Marty Solomon, YouTubesphragizo — Blue Letter BibleSupport The BEMA Podcast

Feb 3, 2022 • 42:03

255: John — Water, Spirit, Darkness, Light

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé continue the journey through the Gospel of John, discussing the meeting of Jesus and Nicodemus, and the themes of their conversation.BEMA 226: The Chosen S1E7 — “Invitations”The Great British Bake Off — WikipediaThe Tree of Life (2011 film)God in Search of Man by Abraham Joshua HeschelMan Is Not Alone by Abraham Joshua HeschelSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jan 27, 2022 • 1:09:16

254: John — A Wedding and Some Housekeeping

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continuing the journey through the Gospel of John with the wedding at Cana and the clearing of the temple courts.BEMA 79: Silent Years — ZealotsBEMA 224: The Chosen S1E5 — “The Wedding Gift”The Jewish Annotated New Testament by Oxford University Press (NRSV)Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 20, 2022 • 39:22

253: John — Come and See

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the journey through the Gospel of John with the testimony of John the Baptist and Jesus’s call to his first disciples.Targum — WikipediaCreation Series: John 1 — BibleProjectIn the Beginning: John 1 — BibleProject PodcastBEMA 78: Silent Years — EssenesSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jan 13, 2022 • 41:53

252: John — What’s in a Logos?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings start a verse-by-verse journey through the Gospel of John, beginning with a discussion about how John introduces us to Jesus.Reading the Gospel of John Through Palestinian Eyes by Yohanna KatanachoThe Fifth Gospel: Interview with Gary Burge — GTI Tours Podcast #4Why Context Matters: Interview with Dr. Gary Burge — GTI Tours Podcast #45Interpreting the Gospel of John by Gary M. BurgePublications of Gary M. BurgeBEMA 87: John — GraftedWord Pictures by Brian GodawaN

Jan 6, 2022 • 38:00

251: John Roberts — A Griever’s Guide to Life

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest John Roberts to discuss his book, A Griever’s Guide to Life.A Griever’s Guide to Life by John McNeely Roberts“September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire — YouTubeHome Video: La Paz, Bolivia Vol. 1 — Olivia Roberts, YouTube“Not for Me to Say” by Johnny Mathis — YouTubeB-Olivia LibraryJohn’s family in 2015 | Olivia in 2016Additional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Guest: John Roberts.Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 30, 2021 • 49:00

250: The Chosen S1E0 — “The Shepherd”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings go back to where it all started for The Chosen, reviewing what essentially became the pilot episode. “The Shepherd” was created as a short film for Dallas’s church in 2017 and took off like a wildfire.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbThe Nativity Story (2006 film)Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 23, 2021 • 38:11

249: Michael Burns — Escaping the Beast

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Michael Burns, a teaching minister in the Two Cities Church in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He taught high school history in the central city of Milwaukee for nearly ten years before graduating from Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. He is a national and international biblical teacher at churches, schools of mission, and workshops. He has authored many books, including Crossing the Line; All Things to All People; and Escaping the Beas

Dec 16, 2021 • 1:02:25

248: Joy and Lot’s Untitled Wife w/ Elle Grover Fricks

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks go through a Hebrew lesson on joy and explore the account of Lot’s wife, examining what is said and what is not said about this character.Learning Hebrew with Elle — Joy (PDF)Elle’s WebsiteText in Us PodcastLot’s Wife (crag) — WikipediaSanhedrin (tractate) — Wikipedia“Lot’s Wife” by Kristine Batey“Women and Torah: Ancient and Modern Midrashim” by Janelle GlickSupport The BEMA Podcast

Dec 9, 2021 • 45:38

247: Sleepless in Susa w/ Josh Bossé

Brent Billings is joined by Josh Bossé to examine Esther’s plan for getting into the king’s throne room and what she is actually trying to accomplish once she’s there.Discussion Video for BEMA 247BEMA 70: Esther — PurimJoin the BEMA SlackSupport The BEMA Podcast

Dec 2, 2021 • 58:12

246: Eugenia Ortega — A Look into Our Window

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Eugenia Ortega to discuss her experience raising a child with autism, and encouraging all of us to have curiosity and empathy for people whose experiences are different than our own.Discussion Video for BEMA 246A Look into Our Window by Eugenia OrtegaJohn WhittakerBibleProjectEugenia Ortega on FacebookAdditional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Guest: Eugenia Ortega.Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 18, 2021 • 44:20

245: Spiritual Abuse — Liturgy for Repentance and Healing

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Elle Grover Fricks to provide a liturgical space for repentance and healing.This episode is adapted from “Prayers of the Faithful” from the Archdiocese of Chicago.Discussion Video for BEMA 245Rape, Assault & Incest National NetworkNational Domestic Violence HotlineSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 11, 2021 • 23:00

244: Spiritual Abuse — The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Elle Grover Fricks to discuss The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast.The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast“Unintended Consequences of Failure Porn” — Liam Thatcher“Sharing Many of the Same Flaws as its Subject ‘The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill’ Podcast Puts Blame Anywhere But Where It Belongs” — Religion Dispatches“Trouble” by Taylor Swift (Angry Mark Driscoll Edition)Marty’s Interview with Joshua BrownSupport The BEMA Podcast

Nov 4, 2021 • 1:11:55

243: Spiritual Abuse — The Place We Find Ourselves

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings reflect on a conversation between Rachel Clinton Chen and Adam Young that provided some helpful notes to illuminate the journey into the world of spiritual abuse.Discussion Video for BEMA 243The Place We Find Ourselves 89: Spiritual AbuseSpiritual Abuse Archives — The Allender CenterSpiral Dynamics — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 28, 2021 • 47:04

242: Spiritual Abuse — Commodities and Variables

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin a series that reflects on the heartbreaking realities of spiritual abuse, using notes from a recent conference to guide the conversation.Discussion Video for BEMA 242Thought of the Day: Imposter Syndrome — Marty Solomon, YouTubeCampus House at PurdueJoin the BEMA SlackFind a BEMA GroupSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 21, 2021 • 47:49

241: Becky Solomon — Don’t Exasperate Your Kids

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the state of the podcast, and then Marty is joined by Becky Solomon to talk about parenting.“How 936 Pennies Will Forever Change How You Parent” — Eryn Lynum Special Guest: Becky Solomon.

Oct 14, 2021 • 52:40

240: Sin and the Archaeology of Joshua w/ Elle Grover Fricks

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks discuss sin and the archaeology of Joshua.Learning Hebrew with Elle — Sin (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 240List of Archaeological Periods (Levant) — WikipediaHistory of the Ancient Levant — WikipediaDoron Ben-Ami — WikipediaElle’s WebsiteSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 7, 2021 • 34:38

239: Abraham Considers a Catechism w/ Reed Dent

Brent Billings is joined by Reed Dent to discuss the meaning of faith and the fears associated with deconstruction, both within a person and for those around them.Discussion Video for BEMA 239Join the BEMA SlackYou Have Permission PodcastSupport The BEMA Podcast

Sep 30, 2021 • 56:05

238: Jewish Roots — What Difference Does It Make?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings follow up on listener feedback from the episode with Jen Rosner before exploring the final three chapters of Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity, discussing the Jewish character of the Church and puzzling through what difference it makes to our lives as Christians.Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity by Gerald McDermottThe Rise and Fall of Mars Hill — Christianity TodayMark S. KinzerArchbishop Foley Beach at the Anglican Church in North Ameri

Sep 23, 2021 • 56:08

237: Jewish Roots — Ways Parted for a Dark History

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the seventh and eighth chapters of Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity, discussing the divergence of Judaism and Christianity, and analyzing the relationship between the two groups in the centuries since.Jewish Roots — Ways Parted for a Dark History Presentation (PDF)Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity by Gerald McDermottIsaac W. Oliver at Bradley University“Seeing What’s Next” (Technology Adoption Rates) — AsymcoRabbi Dr. E

Sep 16, 2021 • 51:46

236: Jewish Roots — Paul, Jewish Law, and Atonement in Hebrews

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the fourth and fifth chapters of Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity, discussing Paul’s relationship to Jewish Law and the atonement process we see in Hebrews.Discussion Video for BEMA 236Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity by Gerald McDermottDavid Rudolph at The King’s UniversityDavid M. Moffitt at the University of St. AndrewsBEMA 147: Galatians — Two Women, Two CovenantsBEMA 165: Hebrews — Running a Better RaceBEMA 166: H

Sep 9, 2021 • 55:29

235: Jewish Roots — Tanakh and Religion

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings venture further into the ideas from the book Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity, discussing chapters 2–3 on how the authors of the New Testament used Tanakh and whether Jesus intended to establish a new religion.Discussion Video for BEMA 235Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity by Gerald McDermottMark S. Gignilliat at Beeson Divinity SchoolInspiration and Incarnation by Peter EnnsMatthew Thiessen at McMaster UniversityMatthew Thiesse

Sep 2, 2021 • 43:20

234: Jen Rosner — The Jewish Roots of Christianity

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Dr. Jennifer Rosner, Affiliate Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. She also holds academic posts at The King’s University, Azusa Pacific University, and the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute. Her passion is to explore the relationship with Judaism and Christianity, and she spent time living in Jerusalem with her husband, Yonah, before returning to the States. They have two children.D

Aug 26, 2021 • 1:04:25

233: Introducing the Team — Striking the Rock w/ Josh Bossé

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by the next new host, Josh Bossé, to discuss his expanded role on the BEMA team. Josh is the Lead Campus Minister with Impact Campus Ministries in Cincinnati, a newly established team for ICM. He is passionate about digging deep into the Text and finding practical, psychological, cultural, and mystical ways of weaving ourselves into God's story. He and his wife, Sophia, have just purchased a home in College Hill and look forward to building a

Aug 19, 2021 • 1:01:09

232: Introducing the Team — Jephthah’s Daughter w/ Elle Grover Fricks

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by their next new host, Elle Grover Fricks. Elle has undergraduate degrees in psychology and music from Washington State University, spent four years in mental health as a state-certified behavioral therapist, has a Master of Arts in the Bible & the Ancient Near East from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and is the pastor of Refuge Church in Pullman, Washington. They discuss her new role on the BEMA team, the different words for laws and rules in th

Aug 12, 2021 • 41:12

231: Introducing the Team — Deconstruction w/ Reed Dent

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined again by Reed Dent, staff member with Campus Christian Fellowship at Truman State University in Missouri, to discuss his new role on the BEMA team and consider the idea of deconstruction.Discussion Video for BEMA 231Reed’s Handcrafted KayakImpossible Constructions — M. C. EscherThe Architecture of Dr. Seuss, a Brief History — ArchitizerKingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Farrar CaponCampus Christian Fellowship, Truman State UniversitySupport Th

Aug 5, 2021 • 1:02:21

230: Mandy Smith — Unfettered

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Mandy Smith, pastor, author, and speaker. She is a regular contributor to Christianity Today and Missio Alliance, and a part of the Ecclesia Network. She and her husband, Jamie, a New Testament professor, have two kids.Discussion Video for BEMA 230St. Lucia Uniting ChurchThe Vulnerable Pastor by Mandy SmithUnfettered by Mandy SmithThe Wordless Book by Charles H. SpurgeonThe Whole Good News — Missio Alliance [this event happene

Jul 29, 2021 • 52:12

229: Dallas Jenkins — Manna Program, Part 2

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a conversation with special guest Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of The Chosen, on Season 1 of this breakout series.Thank you to Drew Schmitz of Harvest Bible Church in Phoenix for helping us set up this interview.(No) Discussion Video for BEMA 229“Can you trust The Chosen?” — The Chosen, YouTubeThe Chosen’s Channel on YouTubeThe ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbAdditional audio production by Gus Si

Jul 22, 2021 • 48:09

228: Dallas Jenkins — Manna Program, Part 1

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of The Chosen, to discuss all of the burning questions from Season 1 of this breakout series.Thank you to Drew Schmitz of Harvest Bible Church in Phoenix for helping us set up this interview.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbAdditional audio production by Gus SimpsonSpecial Guest: Dallas Jenkins.Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 15, 2021 • 47:33

227: The Chosen S1E8 — “I Am He”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue reviewing The Chosen with a discussion on the eighth and final episode of Season 1.(No) Discussion Video for BEMA 227The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbThe Gifts of the Jews by Thomas CahillForever Changed #3: The Woman at the Well sermon — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 227Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 8, 2021 • 1:01:12

226: The Chosen S1E7 — “Invitations”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a review of The Chosen with a discussion on the seventh episode.(No) Discussion Video for BEMA 226The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDb180-degree rule — WikipediaTodd Vaziri on the 180 Line — TwitterTranscript for BEMA 226Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 1, 2021 • 38:55

225: The Chosen S1E6 — “Indescribable Compassion”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a review of The Chosen with a discussion on the sixth episode.(No) Discussion Video for BEMA 225The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbTranscript for BEMA 225Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 24, 2021 • 46:18

224: The Chosen S1E5 — “The Wedding Gift”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a review of The Chosen with a discussion on the fifth episode.(No) Discussion Video for BEMA 224The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbTranscript for BEMA 224

Jun 17, 2021 • 1:01:12

223: The Chosen S1E4 — “The Rock on Which It Is Built”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a review of The Chosen with a discussion on the fourth episode.(No) Discussion Video for BEMA 223The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbTranscript for BEMA 223Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 10, 2021 • 39:23

222: The Chosen S1E3 — “Jesus Loves the Little Children”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a review of The Chosen with a discussion on the third episode.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbSupport The BEMA Podcast

Jun 3, 2021 • 36:27

221: The Chosen S1E2 — “Shabbat”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a review of The Chosen with a discussion on the second episode.Eishet Chayil — Aleph BetaAleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbSupport The BEMA Podcast

May 27, 2021 • 54:16

220: The Chosen S1E1 — “I Have Called You by Name”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings commence a review of The Chosen, starting with an overview of what the series is and discussing the first episode.(No) Discussion Video for BEMA 220The ChosenThe Chosen (TV Series) — WikipediaThe Chosen (2017 TV Series) — IMDbEveryman’s Talmud by Abraham CohenTranscript for BEMA 220Support The BEMA Podcast

May 20, 2021 • 57:50

219: Becky Solomon — Loving the Adventure

Marty Solomon is joined by his wife, Becky. They talk about what it is like to live their lifestyle, and how that plays out in their marriage and their parenting.Discussion Video for BEMA 219Family Culture Project (website)Family Culture Project (email)Use code bemalistener for 15% off.Marty’s Holiday Series — YouTubeSupersessionism — WikipediaCultural Appropriation — WikipediaBEMA 25: A Kingdom of What?The Beast that Crouches at the Door by Rabbi David Fohrman (Amazon)The Beast that Cr

May 13, 2021 • 51:57

218: Midrash — Death at Dinner

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey back into the story of Eliezer finding Rebekah as a wife for Isaac. What is happening at dinner that evening? Why is Laban acting with such authority if the father, Bethuel, is alive and well?Discussion Video for BEMA 218Map of Abraham’s Servant Finding Isaac a Wife — Headwaters Christian ResourcesBEMA 12: A Mission RealizedSefaria: A Living Library of Jewish TextsTranscript for BEMA 218Support The BEMA Podcast

May 6, 2021 • 32:45

217: Midrash — Isaac’s Bad Eyes

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings dive into some of the midrash surrounding the story of the “binding of Isaac.” What really happened to Isaac on that mountain, and what does this have to do with Isaac’s blindness?Discussion Video for BEMA 217BEMA 11: Here I AmMap of Abraham’s Servant Finding Isaac a Wife — Headwaters Christian ResourcesAleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Sefaria: A L

Apr 29, 2021 • 42:40

216: Porshe Chiles — Can We Talk?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Porshe Chiles. She holds a master’s degree in higher education from the University of North Texas, and she is currently the associate director of global research at Wake Forest University. Moving from Texas to Japan to North Carolina, and other places in between, Porshe has a wealth of experience in language and intercultural studies.Discussion Video for BEMA 216Jude 3 Project PodcastThe Disrupters Podcast (Esau McCaulley)Epip

Apr 22, 2021 • 50:46

215: Character Study — Joseph, Part 2

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings merge the studies of Joseph and Jacob. As Joseph eventually experiences a reunification of his family, what more is left to do? Shouldn’t they sit back and enjoy the redemption in Egypt? Apparently not, according to Jacob.Discussion Video for BEMA 215The Exodus You Almost Passed Over by Rabbi David FohrmanGenesis: A Parsha Companion by Rabbi David FohrmanAleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one mo

Apr 15, 2021 • 32:43

214: Character Study — Joseph, Part 1

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the arguments surrounding who bought Joseph from his brothers.Discussion Video for BEMA 214The Exodus You Almost Passed Over by Rabbi David FohrmanGenesis: A Parsha Companion by Rabbi David FohrmanAleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Rashi — WikipediaMaimonides — WikipediaNachmanides — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 214

Apr 8, 2021 • 37:06

213: Character Study — Jacob, Part 2

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finish the conversation for this particular character study of Jacob. They suggested in the last episode that God was with Jacob, even if He did not approve of his actions. Why does God delay justice and/or punishment?Genesis: A Parsha Companion by Rabbi David FohrmanAleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Rashi — WikipediaSefaria: A Living Library of Jewish Texts

Apr 1, 2021 • 45:58

212: Character Study — Jacob, Part 1

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a deeper look at the character of Jacob and share some things they’ve learned since the previous episodes on Jacob from 2017.Discussion Video for BEMA 212Genesis: A Parsha Companion by Rabbi David FohrmanAleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Transcript for BEMA 212Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 25, 2021 • 53:48

211: John Whittaker — Blue Jeans Theology

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest John Whittaker. He holds degrees in theology and ministry from Boise Bible College and Cincinnati Bible Seminary, plus a doctorate in preaching from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He served as a professor of preaching and the New Testament for 19 years, spent 11 years planting and pastoring a church, and has taught and preached at various places around the world. He has been teaching people to follow Jesus by learning to

Mar 18, 2021 • 52:00

210: Midrash — The Man in the Fur Coat

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a look at even more midrash that surrounds the character of Noah. Some commentary describes Noah as the man in the fur coat. What is this all about?Genesis: A Parsha Companion by Rabbi David FohrmanAleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 11, 2021 • 37:32

209: Midrash — Noah’s Backstory and the Nephilim

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a look at the backstory of Noah and talk about the midrash surrounding the Nephilim from Genesis 6.Discussion Video for BEMA 209BEMA 5: A Misplaced Curse“Pete & Jared on Genesis” — The Bible for Normal People Podcast, Episode 100Genesis for Normal People by Peter Enns and Jared ByasTallest Person Living — Guinness World RecordsHurtaly — WikipediaNoah (2014 film)Parshat Noach — Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use c

Mar 4, 2021 • 49:11

208: Midrash — Iscah, Sarai, and Birth Orders

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a deeper dive into one of the topics they hear about from listeners the most—midrash—and answer the most commonly asked question from the entire run of the podcast: What is going on with the genealogy of Abraham?Discussion Video for BEMA 208BEMA 8: Buried in a GenealogyBEMA FAQ: Midrash — Marty Solomon, YouTubeJewish Women’s ArchiveBEMA 173: Jude — False TeachersTranscript for BEMA 208Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 25, 2021 • 39:35

207: J. R. Briggs — The Sacred Overlap

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Dr. J. R. Briggs, the founder and director of Kairos Partnerships. His list of ministries and projects spans the gamut of possibility: from coaching pastors to instructing university students, from authoring books to hosting podcasts, J. R. brings a wealth of experience wherever he goes. He and his wife, Megan, have two boys and live just outside of Philadelphia.Discussion Video for BEMA 207About J. R. Briggs — Kairos Partners

Feb 18, 2021 • 45:03

206: Reed Dent — The Nature of Truth

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Reed Dent. He’s been on staff with Campus Christian Fellowship at Truman State University in Missouri for the last twelve years. He and his wife, LeAnn, have three boys, who provide some great sermon illustrations.Discussion Video for BEMA 206Campus Christian Fellowship, Truman State UniversityTruman State University — WikipediaStaff — Campus Christian FellowshipThe Parable of the Unforgiving Servant — Reed Dent, Campus Christ

Feb 11, 2021 • 57:36

205: Session 6 Intro

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about Session 6, what they hope to accomplish, and some of the things you can expect to find in the next chapter of the BEMA Podcast.BEMA Merchandise — TeePublicJoin the BEMA SlackNews — BEMA DiscipleshipMarty Solomon on YouTubeGroups — BEMA DiscipleshipTranscript for BEMA 205Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 4, 2021 • 48:30

204: Session 5 Capstone

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings officially wrap up the journey through history and talk about what comes next for BEMA…Out of Sorts by Sarah BesseyJesus Feminist by Sarah BesseyJoin the BEMA SlackMarty Solomon on YouTubeSign Up for the BEMA MessengerBible Book Timeline by Roger SchmidgallWhole Bible Story — BibleTelling, YouTube (via Roger Schmidgall)Transcript for BEMA 204

Jan 28, 2021 • 36:24

203: You Are Here

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings try to evaluate the great takeaways from this five-session journey through the Bible and the world of faith, talking about “The Four Pillars of BEMA” and imagining a world that returns to partake in some of the same things those early followers did thousands of years ago.Discussion Video for BEMA 203Out of Babylon by Walter Brueggemann“Time in Babylon” by Emmylou Harris — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 203Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 21, 2021 • 22:05

202: AD 1925 to Today

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings bring the story to our current day, seeing what this last century has done to the world of faith that we call our own. What is Christian fundamentalism and where did it come from? And how does evangelicalism fit into all of this? As believers, we make many assumptions about the world around us, but knowing why it exists is often helpful in accepting what it is.AD 1925 to Today PresentationDiscussion Video for BEMA 202“Jacob Neusner, Judaic Scholar Who Fo

Jan 14, 2021 • 19:24

201: AD 1800–1925

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings leave the French Revolution behind and move into the modern era. How was the newfound land of freedom and independence handled? How did it impact the theology and ecclesiology of the people?AD 1800–1925 Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 201Union in Truth by James B. NorthTranscript for BEMA 201

Jan 7, 2021 • 23:13

200: AD 1650–1800

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey up to the end of the eighteenth century and follow the world of Protestant history as it moves out of the Reformation and through the Age of Enlightenment.AD 1650–1800 PresentationDiscussion Video for BEMA 200Rediscovering Discipleship by Robby GallatyTranscript for BEMA 200

Dec 31, 2020 • 17:15

199: AD 1550–1650

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings walk through one century of history that experienced an unbelievable amount of change and progress. Even outside of church history, this evolving world was fertile soil for the Reformation.AD 1550–1650 Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 199Geocentric Model — WikipediaHeliocentrism — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 199Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 17, 2020 • 26:22

198: AD 1300–1550

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey from the Crusades and head toward the Protestant Reformation—but on the way, it is good to recognize some names that are often underappreciated. These figures truly paved the way for some of the formative changes coming to Christendom.AD 1300–1550 PresentationSupport The BEMA Podcast

Dec 10, 2020 • 20:37

197: AD 1000–1300

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine one of the darkest chapters in the history of Christendom.AD 1000–1300 PresentationDiscussion Video for BEMA 197Blue Like Jazz by Donald MillerBlue Like Jazz (2012 film)The Battle for God by Karen ArmstrongTranscript for BEMA 197Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 3, 2020 • 18:47

196: AD 700–1000

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings walk through three centuries to see the great and famous East-West Schism, look at the idea of icons, and meet Charlemagne as a major character of this era of history.AD 700–1000 PresentationDiscussion Video for BEMA 196Byzantine Iconoclasm — WikipediaBEMA 0: Introductory LessonThe Genesis of Science by James HannamTranscript for BEMA 196Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 19, 2020 • 26:24

195: AD 500–700

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey through the sixth and seventh centuries, examining the early monastic movements.AD 500–700 PresentationDiscussion Video for BEMA 195The Source by James A. MichenerTranscript for BEMA 195

Nov 12, 2020 • 14:26

194: AD 300–500

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the fourth and fifth centuries and the period of the ecumenical councils of early Christendom.AD 300–500 Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 194Transcript for BEMA 194Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 5, 2020 • 23:41

193: AD 100–300

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings walk through the second and third centuries of Church history. Why are we so not-Jewish in our Christian practice today? What happened to cause such a schism between Jews and Christians?AD 100–300 Presentation (PDF)Bar Kokhba revolt — WikipediaDidache — WikipediaSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 29, 2020 • 26:12

192: Telling a Story

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss what history is, what it isn’t, and give some disclaimers about the intentions of Session 5.Discussion Video for BEMA 192Making an Impact: Message — Covered in His DustConstantine’s Sword by James CarrollChurch History in Plain Language by Bruce ShellyThe History of Christian Thought by Justo L. GonzálezChristian History ProjectThe Fall of Rome PodcastTikkun olam — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 192Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 22, 2020 • 25:49

191: Session 5 Intro

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings prepare for the beginning of Session 5 and our journey through church history by taking one last look in our rearview mirror.Session 5 Intro Presentation (PDF)Bible Book Timeline by Roger SchmidgallWhole Bible Story — BibleTelling, YouTube (via Roger Schmidgall)Sign Up for the BEMA MessengerDiscussion Groups MapJoin the BEMA SlackTranscript for BEMA 191

Oct 15, 2020 • 21:24

190: Session 4 Capstone

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hold the usual capstone conversation, concluding our journey through the remainder of Scripture and reviewing the entirety thereof.Session 4 Capstone Presentation (PDF)Bible Book Timeline by Roger SchmidgallWhole Bible Story — BibleTelling, YouTube (via Roger Schmidgall)Join the BEMA SlackSign Up for the BEMA MessengerDiscussion Groups MapTranscript for BEMA 190Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 15, 2020 • 51:29

189: Revelation — The End Is a New Beginning

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the book of Revelation and the final verses of our journey through the New Testament, hearing the moving description of a new heaven and a new earth and an old world that has been made new.Discussion Video for BEMA 189Transcript for BEMA 189Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 8, 2020 • 19:51

188: Revelation — The Fall of Greatness

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings confront the great beast of Babylon as it appears in Revelation and consider which part of the story we should align with the most.Revelation #14: Babylon’s Demise sermon — YouTubeSupport The BEMA Podcast

Oct 1, 2020 • 42:46

187: Revelation — The Blessed and Faithful Fallen

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the voices of those who stood against Empire and paid for it with their lives, and are reminded that Revelation is not a book of futuristic code, but an encouragement to those trying to remain faithful almost 2,000 years ago.Discussion Video for BEMA 187BEMA Discipleship — NewsTranscript for BEMA 187Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 24, 2020 • 28:44

186: Revelation — Mother and Dragons

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see dragons and beasts and women riding on them. Who is this beast of land and sea? The same hermeneutic we’ve used throughout Revelation will help us know more.Revelation — Mother and Dragons Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 186Transcript for BEMA 186Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 17, 2020 • 23:30

185: Revelation — Bittersweet Prophecy

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings press further into Revelation and this epic showdown and holy competition between Empire and Shalom.Discussion Video for BEMA 185Transcript for BEMA 185Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 10, 2020 • 20:42

184: Revelation — Let the Games Begin

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings put some context behind a cultural device that is setting up John’s Apocalypse, seeing the ancient Olympic Games and wrestling with John’s intent for the letter of Revelation.Discussion Video for BEMA 184Transcript for BEMA 184Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 3, 2020 • 27:57

183: Revelation — Seals from Scripture

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine some of the context behind the seals of the scroll that are opened and what happens when they are, taking note of the apocalyptic chaos that ensues.Discussion Video for BEMA 183Transcript for BEMA 183Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 27, 2020 • 21:16

182: Revelation — The Throne Room

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings head into the rest of Revelation and the apocalyptic vision that John is sharing with his persecuted audience, standing in the throne room and paying careful attention to what is seen.Revelation — The Throne Room Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 182Transcript for BEMA 182

Aug 20, 2020 • 22:50

181: Revelation — Lukewarm Laodicea

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings travel to the last of the seven churches of John’s apocalypse: Laodicea. We’ve heard the warning against being a “lukewarm Christian.” Is there more context to this idea?Revelation — Lukewarm Laodicea Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 181The Early Church — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.Transcript for BEMA 181Support The

Aug 13, 2020 • 26:29

180: Revelation — Philadelphia and Their New Name

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine John’s apocalyptic letter to the church of Philadelphia and look for context, as well as Text spoken into that context.Discussion Video for BEMA 180BEMA 161: 1 Thessalonians — ParousiaTranscript for BEMA 180Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 6, 2020 • 15:01

179: Revelation — Waking Up in Sardis

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wake up in the ancient city of Sardis to see her history and glory, which should help us understand the message in the letter to her church.Revelation — Waking Up in Sardis Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 179Transcript for BEMA 179Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 30, 2020 • 38:57

178: Revelation — Thyatira and Her Jezebel

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings consider the idea that John has been deliberately drawing off of apocalyptic prophets while speaking directly into culture, and we add one more layer to our hermeneutical toolbox as it relates to the book of Revelation.Discussion Video for BEMA 178Transcript for BEMA 178

Jul 23, 2020 • 27:28

177: Revelation — Pergamum and Satan’s Throne

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the ancient city of Pergamum and hear the letter to their church in its original context.Revelation — Pergamum and Satan’s Throne Presentation (PDF)Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 16, 2020 • 33:42

176: Revelation — Smyrna and Their Crown

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue to hone a hermeneutical prowess in the realm of apocalyptic literature, taking a look at the letter to Smyrna and asking, “What is the context?”Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 9, 2020 • 19:55

175: Revelation — Ephesus and Their First Love

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings travel to Ephesus, hearing the first of John’s seven letters in its context.Discussion Video for BEMA 175BEMA 158: Ephesians — Family MembershipJoin the BEMA SlackTranscript for BEMA 175Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 2, 2020 • 16:52

174: Revelation — A Book for Its Time

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings prepare for a journey through the book of Revelation, remembering the function and method of apocalyptic literature and trying to remove the “crazy” from the study.Discussion Video for BEMA 174BEMA 68: Zechariah — Apocalyptic LiteratureChrist and the Caesars by Ethelbert StaufferThe Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years — A Pinch of Incense by the Christian History ProjectThe Seven Cities of the Apocalypse and Roman Culture by Roland H. Worth, Jr.Th

Jun 25, 2020 • 29:11

173: Jude — False Teachers

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the short, often forgotten, and confusing book of Jude. Just what is Jude talking about?Discussion Video for BEMA 173BEMA 169: 2 Peter — The Other Side of a ConversationBEMA 156: 1 Corinthians — Broken BodyThe Book of Enoch — WikipediaThe Book of Enoch — Academy of Ancient TextsThe Assumption of Moses — WikipediaThe Assumption of Moses (text and audio)Jude — BibleProjectTranscript for BEMA 173

Jun 18, 2020 • 23:39

172: 3 John — Diotrephes

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a brief but meaningful and reflective journey through the short letter of 3 John, hearing the apostle warn the church about those who are trying to discredit and dismantle the faith.Discussion Video for BEMA 172BEMA 39: A King After God’s Own HeartTranscript for BEMA 172Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 11, 2020 • 14:35

171: 2 John — The “Woman”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the words of 2 John and toy with the question of who the woman is that John addresses his letter to.Discussion Video for BEMA 171Transcript for BEMA 171Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 4, 2020 • 13:32

170: 1 John — Love and Truth

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the letter of 1 John and his insistence on the role that love plays in truth—and not the other way around.Discussion Video for BEMA 170Docetism — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 170Support The BEMA Podcast

May 28, 2020 • 20:11

169: 2 Peter — The Other Side of a Conversation

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the second letter from the Apostle Peter to see how he utilizes the Midrash to encourage the early believers to keep walking in faithfulness and not give in to the temptation to return to the cultural norms around them.Discussion Video for BEMA 169Sefaria: A Living Library of Jewish TextsThe Bible as It Was by James L. KugelNoah (2014 film)Transcript for BEMA 169Support The BEMA Podcast

May 21, 2020 • 30:53

168: 1 Peter — Living Stones and a Spiritual House

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the first of two letters penned by Peter, hearing the heart of a man who had went everywhere with Jesus—including betrayal and restoration.Discussion Video for BEMA 168Transcript for BEMA 168Support The BEMA Podcast

May 14, 2020 • 16:44

167: James — Mitzvoth

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the book of James and its challenging contents. Love it or hate it, this letter often provokes very strong reactions.Addendum on James — Marty Solomon, YouTubeDiscussion Video for BEMA 167Transcript for BEMA 167Support The BEMA Podcast

May 7, 2020 • 29:04

166: Hebrews — Atonement 101

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the many different theories and explanations of atonement that have arisen throughout the centuries—a very critical conversation for theology in our day and how we interact with the story.Discussion Video for BEMA 166A Better Atonement by Tony JonesDid God Kill Jesus? by Tony JonesThe Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. LewisThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. LewisCrucifixion of the Warrior God by Gregory A. BoydThe Jesus Driven Life by Mic

Apr 30, 2020 • 45:47

165: Hebrews — Running a Better Race

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin to examine the letter of Hebrews and learn from its potential context, hearing the call for us to be people who suffer well and persevere in the faith and struggle authored by Jesus himself.Discussion Video for BEMA 165Hebrews (Sermon Series) — Real Life on the PalouseHebrews InfographicTranscript for BEMA 165Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 23, 2020 • 34:23

164: Philemon — Faith Works

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey through a tiny letter from Paul with a big message to Philemon, enjoying Paul’s light-hearted encouragement to live as Jesus would have us live.Discussion Video for BEMA 164Transcript for BEMA 164

Apr 16, 2020 • 25:43

163: Pastoral Epistles — Timid Timothy & Tough Titus

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the lives of two very different pastors discipled by Paul—Timothy in Ephesus and Titus on Crete—and hear of their different personalities and how Paul uses each of them in his ministry.Addendum to BEMA 163 — Marty Solomon, YouTubeDiscussion Video for BEMA 163Walk as Jesus Walked — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.Kingdom, Grace, Judgm

Apr 9, 2020 • 23:21

162: 2 Thessalonians — Man of Lawlessness

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the second letter to Thessalonica, learn about the “Man of Lawlessness,” and wrestle with the implications of this mysterious character.Discussion Video for BEMA 162Transcript for BEMA 162Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 2, 2020 • 16:59

161: 1 Thessalonians — Parousia

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings step into the context of the church in Thessalonica and examine the theme of “parousia.”Discussion Video for BEMA 161In Search of Paul by John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan L. ReedSurprised by Hope by N. T. WrightTranscript for BEMA 161Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 26, 2020 • 21:43

160: Colossians — Gnostic Heresy

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the letter to the Colossians, pointing out the unique context that seems to surround the people there and the false thinking that seeks to pervade their lives of worship.Discussion Video for BEMA 160The Cave: An Adaptation of Plato’s Allegory in Clay — YouTubeSurprised by Hope by N. T. WrightTranscript for BEMA 160Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 19, 2020 • 23:14

159: Philippians — Joy

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear Paul’s warm letter to the Philippians and see him express joy at their faith, love, and generosity as they follow Christ.Discussion Video for BEMA 159Kingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Farrar CaponTranscript for BEMA 159Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 12, 2020 • 14:42

158: Ephesians — Family Membership

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings travel to the second largest city in the Roman Empire and hear the words Paul wrote to the Ephesians.Discussion Video for BEMA 158Transcript for BEMA 158Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 5, 2020 • 28:48

157: 2 Corinthians — Apostleship

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the second letter to the Corinthians and see their continued struggle to live out the gospel in their unique context.Discussion Video for BEMA 157Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes by Kenneth E. BaileyTranscript for BEMA 157

Feb 27, 2020 • 18:35

156: 1 Corinthians — Broken Body

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a trip to Corinth for an examination of the first letter to that complex city.Discussion Video for BEMA 156Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes by Kenneth E. BaileyJoin the BEMA SlackTranscript for BEMA 156Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 20, 2020 • 33:05

155: Romans — God’s Mission, Paul’s Mission

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the verse-by-verse journey through the book of Romans and look back to see Paul’s big argument buried in this brilliant letter.Romans — God’s Mission, Paul’s Mission Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 155Transcript for BEMA 155Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 13, 2020 • 38:18

154: Romans — Therefore

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings watch Paul transition from a larger argument to the massive implications for how we interact in this new Kingdom.An Outline of RomansDiscussion Video for BEMA 154Transcript for BEMA 154Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 6, 2020 • 18:27

153: Romans — The Potter

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings tackle the pesky idea of predestination and election.Discussion Video for BEMA 153In the Dust of the Rabbi — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.BEMA 19: A Strengthened HeartTranscript for BEMA 153Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 30, 2020 • 54:22

152: Romans — The Struggle

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings let Paul teach us from the metaphor of covenants and death. If part of us died at baptism, why would we live as if we were bound?Discussion Video for BEMA 152sarx — Blue Letter BibleJoin the BEMA SlackTranscript for BEMA 152Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 23, 2020 • 33:53

151: Romans — Buried Alive

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings listen to what Paul says about walking in righteousness.Discussion Video for BEMA 151The Evolution of Adam by Peter EnnsElementary Principles by D. Thomas LancasterDidache — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 151Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 16, 2020 • 29:47

150: Romans — Righteousness from God

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the journey through Romans, addressing the question of where we find righteousness.Discussion Video for BEMA 150Prototype by Jonathan MartinTranscript for BEMA 150

Jan 9, 2020 • 26:50

149: Romans — Blended Family

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings enter into a verse-by-verse journey through the book of Romans, looking at Paul’s introductory section as he addresses this diverse group of believers.Discussion Video for BEMA 149Romans (Sermon Series) — Real Life on the PalousePederasty — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 149Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 2, 2020 • 38:17

148: Galatians — Set Free to Be Free

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the study of Galatians and try to grapple with the implications of this gospel for Jews and Gentiles.Discussion Video for BEMA 148The Holy Epistle to the Galatians by D. Thomas LancasterTranscript for BEMA 148Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 19, 2019 • 25:38

147: Galatians — Two Women, Two Covenants

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about the importance of covenants and how they are relevant to different audiences.Galatians — Two Women, Two Covenants Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 147The Epic of Eden by Sandra L. RichterTranscript for BEMA 147Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 12, 2019 • 25:41

146: Galatians — The Curse

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the third chapter of Galatians, unpacking big ideas about Gentiles, their relation to the family of God, and a “curse” that Paul seems to suggest the Law brings.Discussion Video for BEMA 146Gezerah Shavah — WikipediaThe Holy Epistle to the Galatians by D. Thomas LancasterTranscript for BEMA 146

Dec 5, 2019 • 32:38

145: Galatians — Right Hand of Fellowship

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings spend time in the second chapter of Galatians, bringing some context to a much misunderstood and often misrepresented passage.Addendum on James — Marty Solomon, YouTubeDiscussion Video for BEMA 145Backyard Tap HouseTranscript for BEMA 145Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 21, 2019 • 35:13

144: Galatians — Paul’s Gospel

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, listening to Paul describe a gospel he received straight from Jesus, not from any human teaching.Discussion Video for BEMA 144The Holy Epistle to the Galatians by D. Thomas LancasterTranscript for BEMA 144Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 14, 2019 • 25:29

143: The Epilogue

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings set everything we have studied about Acts back into the context of the larger Textual narrative, wrapping up the greater story and setting the stage for the inspired letters of the New Testament.The Epilogue Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 143BEMA 7: The PrefaceJesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell and Don GoldenBEMA Messenger #3A New Kind of Christianity by Brian D. McLarenTranscript for BEMA 143

Nov 7, 2019 • 27:29

142: Calling of a Prophet

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings circle back to a question from a few episodes ago: Did Paul experience a conversion, a repentance, or something else entirely?Discussion Video for BEMA 142BEMA 138: Unclean SheetsTranscript for BEMA 142Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 31, 2019 • 21:54

141: Mathetes or Talmidim?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see how Paul’s methodology changes and then draw some conclusions about what we see happening in his ministry.Discussion Video for BEMA 141Theater at EphesusTranscript for BEMA 141Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 24, 2019 • 38:57

140: Not to Burden You

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine how the early church community handled applying the gospel to a major cultural problem, seeking to learn from their methods and seeing what we might be able to take into our own unique settings.Addendum on James — Marty Solomon, YouTubeDiscussion Video for BEMA 140Latest Information on BEMA TripsIn Search of Paul by John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan L. ReedBooks by N. T. WrightBooks by E. P. SandersBooks by James D. G. DunnBooks by Mark D. NanosTranscript

Oct 17, 2019 • 44:55

139: Theosabes

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings come back to the story of Saul and see what is impacting his experience and how that is calling him to impact the Greco-Roman world.Discussion Video for BEMA 139Paul’s First Missionary Journey — Bible History OnlineTranscript for BEMA 139Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 10, 2019 • 42:05

138: Unclean Sheets

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings meet Saul, persecutor of Jesus, and wrestle with the questions of his identity and his experience; they also encounter the entrance of some unlikely characters into God’s narrative.Discussion Video for BEMA 138The Jewish Annotated New Testament by Oxford University Press (NRSV)Transcript for BEMA 138Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 3, 2019 • 44:52

137: A Dry Tree

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings challenge listeners to consider our methods of advancing God’s agenda and the implications of this new king and new kingdom.Discussion Video for BEMA 137BEMA 64: 3 Isaiah — ServantTranscript for BEMA 137

Sep 26, 2019 • 31:42

136: Each One

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings make observations about what this early church community was accomplishing together with the help of the Holy Spirit.Discussion Video for BEMA 136The Story #28: New Beginnings (‘Each One’ Rant) sermon — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 136Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 19, 2019 • 33:37

135: Uncut Corners

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the opening of the book of Acts and the beginning of the Spirit-filled movement changing the course of human history.Discussion Video for BEMA 135Caesar’s Comet — WikipediaBEMA 22: Under the ChuppahBEMA 37: A Love StoryTranscript for BEMA 135Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 12, 2019 • 28:57

134: Session 4 Intro

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin to see how God’s people apply the reality of Christ into their first-century contexts.Session 4 Intro Presentation (PDF)Donate to BEMA MinistryDonate to Marty or the General FundTranscript for BEMA 134Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 5, 2019 • 19:59

133: Session 3 Capstone

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hold the usual capstone conversation, concluding a journey through the gospels, and reviewing the story from Genesis to John.Session 3 Capstone Presentation (PDF)Bible Book Timeline by Roger SchmidgallHow to Survive a Shipwreck by Jonathan MartinTranscript for BEMA 133

Sep 5, 2019 • 44:09

132: Go

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings bring the discussion of the Gospels to a close with a brief look at the resurrection and the great commission.Discussion Video for BEMA 132Living Hope sermon — YouTubeThe Final Week #7: Just One Hope sermon — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 132Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 29, 2019 • 30:06

131: Betrayal

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the betrayals of Jesus and discuss which characters are involved in it.Discussion Video for BEMA 131BEMA 79: Silent Years — ZealotsFidelity of Betrayal by Peter RollinsTranscript for BEMA 131

Aug 22, 2019 • 30:50

130: The Plot to Kill Jesus

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the question of who brought about Jesus’s execution, acknowledging the different characters at play and the role they each had.Discussion Video for BEMA 130BEMA 76: Silent Years — SadduceesThe Last Week by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic CrossanTranscript for BEMA 130Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 15, 2019 • 31:30

129: The Final Week

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings set the stage for the final week of Jesus’s earthly ministry.Discussion Video for BEMA 129The Case for Christ by Lee StrobelThe Last Week by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic CrossanA Better Atonement by Tony JonesDid God Kill Jesus? by Tony JonesA Community Called Atonement by Scot McKnightTranscript for BEMA 129Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 8, 2019 • 37:49

128: Faithful and Wise Steward

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at one of the most perplexing passages of Jesus’s ministry, asking if this is about the end times or ancient times.Faithful and Wise Steward Presentation (PDF)Addendum to BEMA 128 — Marty Solomon, YouTubeDiscussion Video for BEMA 128Transcript for BEMA 128Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 1, 2019 • 43:00

127: Six or Seven?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings dive into the list of woes Jesus gives to the Pharisees and ask what kind of person Jesus is describing.Discussion Video for BEMA 127The Last Week by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic CrossanTranscript for BEMA 127Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 25, 2019 • 28:31

126: Trapped by a Question

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see the religious leadership of both Pharisees and Sadducees attempting to trap Jesus with a series of testing questions, and witness the rabbinical brilliance of Jesus as a Jewish teacher.Discussion Video for BEMA 126Trapped by a Question Presentation (PDF)The Parables by Brad H. Young (cites Flusser extensively)The Parable of the Good Samaritan — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipTranscript for BEMA 126Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 18, 2019 • 44:28

125: Are You Talking to Me?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see Jesus go on the offensive, confronting the corrupt priesthood that rules in Jerusalem.Discussion Video for BEMA 125BEMA 80: Silent Years — PhariseesBEMA 76: Silent Years — SadduceesBEMA 51: 1 Isaiah — VineyardTranscript for BEMA 125

Jul 11, 2019 • 32:36

124: Statement of Triumph

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the triumphal entry and Jesus’s confrontation of religious corruption on all sides.Discussion Video for BEMA 124Caesarea Maritima — WikipediaMap of Israel in New Testament Times — Wikimedia CommonsTranscript for BEMA 124Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 4, 2019 • 41:28

123: The Heat of the Day

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the parable of the vineyard, a generous God, and the interactions that follow as Jesus makes his way towards Jerusalem.Discussion Video for BEMA 123Rabbi Jesus by Bruce ChiltonTranscript for BEMA 123Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 27, 2019 • 33:26

122: A Naked Thing

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings find our understanding of divorce challenged by Jesus, and an ancient discussion taking place between the rabbis about the importance and value of people.Discussion Video for BEMA 122The Ten Commandments — Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Transcript for BEMA 122

Jun 20, 2019 • 32:24

121: The Key to Your Own Prison

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the many teachings of Matthew 18, including some parables and rabbinic insights from Jesus.Discussion Video for BEMA 121Love Wins by Rob BellErasing Hell by Francis ChanBEMA 36: The Redemption CycleThe Queen You Thought You Knew by Rabbi David FohrmanBEMA 70: Esther — PurimThe Parable of the Unforgiving Servant — Reed Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipTranscript for BEMA 121

Jun 13, 2019 • 45:38

120: Truth and Light

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings join Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration as Jesus talks about his exodus with Moses and Elijah.Discussion Video for BEMA 120The BEMA MessengerShaping Faith #5: Fasting sermon — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 120Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 6, 2019 • 41:15

119: The Gates of Hell

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine Peter’s great confession at Caesarea Philippi and the intense conversation that follows.The Gates of Hell Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 119On the Early Church: Conquering the Gates of Hell — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.The BEMA MessengerTranscript for BEMA 119

May 30, 2019 • 39:09

118: Eyes That Cannot See

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the story of the feeding of the four thousand and watch the disciples struggle to apply its meaning.Discussion Video for BEMA 118Map of Tyre and Sidon in relation to the GalileeSign Up for the BEMA MessengerTranscript for BEMA 118Support The BEMA Podcast

May 23, 2019 • 28:51

117: Jesus Resorts to Name Calling

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, with special guest Dr. Christopher Gambino, talk about Jesus’s critique of rabbinic traditions and the surprise he encounters in the region of Phoenicia.Discussion Video for BEMA 117Dr. Christopher Gambino on TwitterThe Shuvah ProjectTranscript for BEMA 117Support The BEMA Podcast

May 16, 2019 • 30:36

116: She Giggled

Brent Billings introduces the story of Peter walking on water and Marty Solomon interacts with it by sharing some of his thoughts originally written years ago.Discussion Video for BEMA 116In the Dust of the Rabbi — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.Velvet Elvis by Rob BellNOOMA 008: Dust by Rob BellShe Giggled (Part 1) — Covered in His DustShe Giggled (Part 2) — Cove

May 9, 2019 • 23:34

115: 5 Loaves, 2 Fish, and 1 Big Lesson

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, with special guest Dr. Christopher Gambino, look at Jesus’s time in Nazareth, pass briefly through the beheading of John the Baptist, and land in the story of feeding the 5000.Discussion Video for BEMA 115Dr. Christopher Gambino on TwitterThe Evangelists’ Calendar by M. D. GoulderThe Shuvah ProjectTranscript for BEMA 115Support The BEMA Podcast

May 2, 2019 • 38:27

114: Fish in a Net

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, with special guest Corey Knadler, look at the final parable in the string of teachings found in Matthew 13, searching for the p’shat, remez, and drash found in the story of fish caught in a net.Discussion Video for BEMA 114Corey Knadler on TwitterWhy the Midrash Has Abraham Thrown into Nimrod’s Furnace — TheTorah.comTranscript for BEMA 114Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 25, 2019 • 29:59

113: Treasures and Pearls

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, with special guest Corey Knadler, discuss the next two parables of Jesus in Matthew 13.Discussion Video for BEMA 113Corey Knadler on TwitterTranscript for BEMA 113Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 18, 2019 • 24:45

112: Explanations That Don’t Explain

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings try to learn from Jesus’s puzzling explanation for the parable of the weeds.Discussion Video for BEMA 112Transcript for BEMA 112Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 11, 2019 • 35:50

111: A Farmer and a Woman

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at two intimately connected parables in the stories of a crazy farmer and his mustard seed, and a credulous woman and her baked goods.Discussion Video for BEMA 111BEMA 11: Here I AmThe Parable of the Leaven — LeAnn Dent, Campus Christian FellowshipSermons — Campus Christian Fellowship, Truman State UniversityTranscript for BEMA 111Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 4, 2019 • 31:04

110: Jewish Hermeneutics

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings learn how to engage the methods of rabbinical teaching and unpack what a rabbi is trying to accomplish with his cryptic instructions.Addendum to BEMA 110 — Marty Solomon, YouTubeDiscussion Video for BEMA 110Hayamim: A Proposal [this event happened in 2019]BEMA 12: A Mission RealizedJewish Hermeneutics — Covered in His DustTranscript for BEMA 110

Mar 28, 2019 • 38:48

109: Which Soil?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin an exciting trip through the parables of Jesus, starting with his conversation about four different soils.Discussion Video for BEMA 109Hayamim: A Proposal [this event happened in 2019]BEMA 27: Images of the Desert — Rotem and AcaciaTranscript for BEMA 109Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 21, 2019 • 29:30

108: The Fruit of Beelzebul

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the critique of the Pharisees who want to write off Jesus’s ministry as the work of evil. They also see Jesus field their request for a sign.Discussion Video for BEMA 108Beelzebub — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 108Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 14, 2019 • 32:33

107: Donkeys and Rabbis

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a verse-by-verse examination of the gospel of Matthew by dealing with the Sabbath and rabbinical arguments surrounding Torah.Discussion Video for BEMA 107Sefaria: A Living Library of Jewish TextsBEMA 25: A Kingdom of What?Transcript for BEMA 107Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 7, 2019 • 44:37

106: Jury Duty in Sodom

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine Jesus as he moves on from John the Baptist and begins to confront the religious worldview around him.Discussion Video for BEMA 106Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth E. BaileySitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois TverbergWalking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus by Lois TverbergReading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus by Lois TverbergNew Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David BivinThe Secret Message of Jesus by

Feb 28, 2019 • 33:43

105: An Explosive Kingdom

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear what appears to be the doubt of John the Baptist and the challenging response of Jesus that honors him.An Explosive Kingdom Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 105BEMA 91: Tavilah T’Shuvah“Sheep going through a gate, North Yorkshire moors” — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 105Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 21, 2019 • 44:26

104: Innocent as Doves

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings listen to the second major discourse given by Jesus as he sends out his disciples on a mission to bring the Kingdom.Discussion Video for BEMA 104Matthew — BibleProjectMatthew Poster — BibleProjectBEMA 50: Micah — JudgeTranscript for BEMA 104Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 14, 2019 • 39:59

103: Healing in His Wings

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finish the ninth chapter of Matthew, seeing a handful of stories where Jesus brings shalom to the chaos of others.Healing in His Wings Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 103Transcript for BEMA 103Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 7, 2019 • 38:42

102: Son of Man

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the story of a paralyzed man and his faithfully determined friends who inspire his healing.Addendum to BEMA 102 — Marty Solomon, YouTubeDiscussion Video for BEMA 102BEMA 80: Silent Years — PhariseesJesus H. Christ, Part 11: And Now the H — The RobCast, Episode 221BEMA 62: Daniel — Son of ManTranscript for BEMA 102Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 31, 2019 • 44:06

101: The Other Side

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue in Matthew’s narrative by jumping to the gospel of Mark, traveling to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.Discussion Video for BEMA 101BEMA 88: Setting the StageTranscript for BEMA 101Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 24, 2019 • 39:56

100: Healing at Great Cost

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings watch as Jesus brings the Kingdom to the brokenness of the world around him, observing the surprising responses of those who encounter it.Discussion Video for BEMA 100Transcript for BEMA 100Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 17, 2019 • 44:20

99: Fruit of Fools

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finish the Sermon on the Mount, talking about gates, trees, fools, and houses.Discussion Video for BEMA 99Sermon on the Mount #10: Trees and Fruit sermon — YouTubeBEMA 29: Images of the Desert — Wadi and En GediTranscript for BEMA 99Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 10, 2019 • 34:52

98: A Good Eye

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discover how worry leads to judgment, and judgment leads to muddy pearls.Discussion Video for BEMA 98Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus by Lois TverbergSitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois TverbergThe Divine Conspiracy by Dallas WillardTranscript for BEMA 98Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 3, 2019 • 40:12

97: Done in Secret

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the journey through the Sermon on the Mount, looking at Jesus’s teachings on generosity, prayer, and fasting.Discussion Video for BEMA 97Donate to Impact Campus MinistriesSermon on the Mount #6: Prayer and Fasting sermon — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 97Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 20, 2018 • 36:27

96: But I Say Unto You

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finish the fifth chapter of Matthew, surveying the many examples Jesus gives for properly interpreting the Text.Discussion Video for BEMA 96The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas WillardJesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris HawThe Irresistible Revolution by Shane ClaiborneBEMA 25: A Kingdom of What?Transcript for BEMA 96

Dec 13, 2018 • 38:15

95: Abolish or Fulfill

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the next few verses in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus speaks of the relationship between his teaching and the teachings of the Hebrew scriptures.Discussion Video for BEMA 95BEMA 64: 3 Isaiah — ServantTranscript for BEMA 95Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 6, 2018 • 37:55

94: Hope of the World

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings resume looking at the opening teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and how he sets the stage for his interpretation of Torah.Discussion Video for BEMA 94BEMA 35: Crossroads of the EarthBEMA 56: Jeremiah — WeepingLove Wins by Rob BellTranscript for BEMA 94

Nov 29, 2018 • 25:56

93: Blessed

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the journey through the gospel of Matthew and into the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.Discussion Video for BEMA 93Rabbi Jesus by Bruce ChiltonBEMA 74: Silent Years — SynagogueThe Divine Conspiracy by Dallas WillardTranscript for BEMA 93Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 15, 2018 • 37:50

92: How to Bring Order Out of Chaos

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the stories of Jesus’s baptism and temptation.How to Bring Order Out of Chaos Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 92BEMA 1: Trust the StoryBEMA 2: Knowing When to Say “Enough”BEMA 4: His Bow in the CloudsBEMA 5: A Misplaced CurseBEMA 20: With All Your HeartBEMA 21: With All Your Soul & “Very”Transcript for BEMA 92

Nov 8, 2018 • 27:25

91: Tavilah T'Shuvah

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings dive into the third chapter of the gospel of Matthew, uncovering the ministry of John the Baptist.Discussion Video for BEMA 91Complete Jewish Bible by David SternJewish New Testament Commentary by David SternBEMA 42: The Fire of ElijahTranscript for BEMA 91

Nov 1, 2018 • 37:41

90: A Gospel of Two Kingdoms

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finish looking at the story of the birth of Jesus, juxtaposing two kings and the kingdoms that they bring.A Gospel of Two Kingdoms Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 90Herod the Great — WikipediaMasada — WikipediaHerodium — WikipediaCaesar’s Comet — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 90Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 25, 2018 • 23:42

89: Written in the Stars

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin the trek through the gospel narrative of Matthew and the life and ministry of Jesus, starting with a look at the story of the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Magi.Discussion Video for BEMA 89Prepare the Way #5: In Our Present sermon — YouTubeMen Askaenos in Antioch of Pisidia — WikipediaThe Real Meaning of the Zodiac by D. James KennedyThe Nativity Story (2006 film)Picture of the Bull in the HouseTranscript for BEMA 89Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 18, 2018 • 44:09

88: Setting the Stage

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings set the stage for our journey through the gospels by looking at the geographical region of the Galilee where Jesus did most of his ministry.Setting the Stage Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 88Transcript for BEMA 88

Oct 11, 2018 • 26:59

87: John — Grafted

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings spend time in the gospel of John, investigating the different tools he uses in speaking to his particular audience.Discussion Video for BEMA 87Map of Asia and Asia MinorTranscript for BEMA 87Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 4, 2018 • 40:35

86: Luke — Ordered

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the gospel of Luke and wrestle with the many perspectives regarding his audience and his agenda.Discussion Video for BEMA 86The Evangelists’ Calendar by M. D. GoulderPoet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes by Kenneth E. BaileyTranscript for BEMA 86Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 27, 2018 • 22:12

85: Mark — Roman Gospel

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the gospel narrative of Mark, noting his distinct audience and the intentional methods he used to communicate the euangelion to them.Discussion Video for BEMA 85Transcript for BEMA 85Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 20, 2018 • 39:32

84: Matthew — Mumzer

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the record of Matthew, attempting to understand his unique agenda as he presents the life and ministry of his Rabbi Jesus.Discussion Video for BEMA 84Didache — WikipediaMamzer — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 84Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 13, 2018 • 32:12

83: Gospel Narrative

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a look at the ancient use of gospel (euangelion in Greek) and how the New Testament writers are subversively playing off of this Greco-Roman idea.Discussion Video for BEMA 83The NIV Harmony of the Gospels by Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. GundryRoman air conditioning — Twitter (thread)Transcript for BEMA 83

Sep 6, 2018 • 32:09

82: The Text — When, Where, Who, and Why

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrestle with the questions surrounding the authorship of the Text.Discussion Video for BEMA 82Documentary Hypothesis — WikipediaBEMA 71: The Prophetic TableBEMA 62: Daniel — Son of ManSilent Years — Welcome to Hellenism Presentation (PDF)Transcript for BEMA 82Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 30, 2018 • 49:21

81: Silent Years — Association

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the perfect timing spoken of in Galatians 4:4 in reference to the coming of Jesus in his cultural context. We also wrestle with the personal implications of the different responses to Hellenism in our world today.Discussion Video for BEMA 81Rising Strong by Brené BrownTranscript for BEMA 81Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 16, 2018 • 36:08

80: Silent Years — Pharisees

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, with special guest Megan Gambino, near the end of our journey through the silent years and the context of Jesus’s ministry, examining the Pharisees.Silent Years — Pharisees Presentation (PDF)Addendum to BEMA 80 — Marty Solomon, YouTubeDiscussion Video for BEMA 80Megan Gambino on InstagramMegan’s Website [no longer available]BEMA 74: Silent Years — SynagogueTranscript for BEMA 80Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 2, 2018 • 24:37

79: Silent Years — Zealots

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, joined by special guest Megan Gambino, continue the journey through the silent years and the context of Jesus’s ministry, examining the group known as the Zealots.Silent Years — Zealots Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 79Megan Gambino on InstagramMegan’s Website [no longer available]Transcript for BEMA 79Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 19, 2018 • 40:49

78: Silent Years — Essenes

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a look at the responses to Hellenism in the world of first-century Judaism, this time examining the group known as the Essenes.Silent Years — Essenes Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 78Qumran — WikipediaDead Sea Scrolls — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 78Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 5, 2018 • 21:45

77: Silent Years — Herodians

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue a look at the responses to Hellenism in the world of first-century Judaism, this time examining the group known as Herodians.Silent Years — Herodians Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 77Sepphoris (Zippori) — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 77Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 21, 2018 • 31:15

76: Silent Years — Sadducees

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin an in-depth look at the five different responses to Hellenism in the first-century world of Judaism by examining the priestly group known as the Sadducees.Silent Years — Sadducees Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 76Transcript for BEMA 76Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 7, 2018 • 32:24

75: Silent Years — Welcome to Hellenism

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings, joined by special guest Jim Feicht, continue their examination of the context of the world of Jesus. The last episode covered the context of Judaism specifically, whereas this episode covers the context of the surrounding culture.Silent Years — Welcome to Hellenism Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 75Jim Feicht on TwitterHellas — WikipediaEmpire of Alexander the Great — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 75

May 24, 2018 • 31:17

74: Silent Years — Synagogue

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Jim Feicht. They begin the journey into the historical context of the world of Jesus, looking at the new Judaism that arose from the ashes of exile.Silent Years — Synagogue Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 74Jim Feicht on TwitterIn the Dust of the Rabbi — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.NOOMA 008: Dust

May 10, 2018 • 42:00

73: Session 3 Intro

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings introduce the third session of the BEMA Podcast with special guest Jim Feicht, discussing what to expect in the upcoming session and reviewing where we have been to this point.Session 3 Intro Presentation (PDF)Jim Feicht on TwitterNOOMA 019: Open by Rob BellTranscript for BEMA 73

Apr 26, 2018 • 18:05

72: Session 2 Capstone

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings give a summary of the prophets and the writings at the conclusion of Session 2 of the podcast.Session 2 Capstone Presentation (PDF)Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory BoyleImpact Campus MinistriesTranscript for BEMA 72Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 26, 2018 • 26:32

71: The Prophetic Table

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the multifaceted dialogue and the many voices found within the prophets that represent the battling perspectives found in the world of God’s people as they attempt to respond to the effects of exile.Discussion Video for BEMA 71Out of Babylon by Walter BrueggemannTranscript for BEMA 71Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 19, 2018 • 22:30

70: Esther — Purim

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the book of Esther and the story that lies behind the celebration of Purim.Discussion Video for BEMA 70The Queen You Thought You Knew by Rabbi David FohrmanThe Story #20: The Queen of Beauty and Courage sermon — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 70Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 12, 2018 • 34:43

69: Malachi — Q&A

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the message of Malachi, seeing how he utilizes a question-and-answer format to prophetically speak to the people of God.Discussion Video for BEMA 69Out of Babylon by Walter BrueggemannTranscript for BEMA 69Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 5, 2018 • 17:59

68: Zechariah — Apocalyptic Literature

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings study the apocalyptic message of Zechariah, a contemporary to Haggai, who sought to encourage God’s people with image-driven messages of forthcoming hope.Discussion Video for BEMA 68Transcript for BEMA 68Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 29, 2018 • 15:53

67: Haggai — Build!

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings read through the prophecy of Haggai and find that the real issues rarely change—past, present, or future.Discussion Video for BEMA 67Transcript for BEMA 67

Mar 22, 2018 • 23:07

66: Ezra/Nehemiah — Passionate Leadership

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the different leadership styles seen during the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.Discussion Video for BEMA 66BEMA Discipleship on FacebookTranscript for BEMA 66Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 15, 2018 • 23:06

65: 4 Isaiah — Hope

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings move into the fourth voice of Isaiah, seen in chapters 55–66. We hear the compelling promise of restoration for God’s people and the invitation for them to become the people they were meant to be.Discussion Video for BEMA 651 Isaiah — Vineyard Presentation (PDF)Faith Unraveled by Rachel Held EvansSabbath as Resistance by Walter BrueggemannTranscript for BEMA 65Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 8, 2018 • 24:52

64: 3 Isaiah — Servant

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings challenge the typical understanding of the voice of Isaiah, taking a look at the servant discourse in chapters 40–54.Discussion Video for BEMA 64Out of Babylon by Walter BrueggemannTranscript for BEMA 64Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 1, 2018 • 25:43

63: Job — Perspective

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discover that the famous story of Job is so much more than we ever realized.Discussion Video for BEMA 63NOOMA 012: Matthew by Rob BellLiterary Structure (Chiasm) of the BibleNOOMA 024: Whirlwind by Rob BellTranscript for BEMA 63Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 22, 2018 • 26:26

62: Daniel — Son of Man

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the book of Daniel and its persistent and sometimes hidden message of perseverance.Daniel — Son of Man Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 62Double Rainbow — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 62

Feb 15, 2018 • 21:05

61: Ezekiel — Strength

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the apocalyptic visions of Ezekiel and his message of encouragement to a people trapped in exile.Discussion Video for BEMA 61Transcript for BEMA 61

Feb 8, 2018 • 24:03

60: Joel — Locusts

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the words of prophet Joel speaking to God’s people about the hope that exists, even in the midst of utter destruction.Discussion Video for BEMA 60Transcript for BEMA 60

Feb 1, 2018 • 25:38

59: Obadiah — Petra

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the shortest prophet in Tanakh—the book of Obadiah—and its condemnation of the nation of Edom for their lack of care for their brother and their neighbor.Obadiah — Petra Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 59Transcript for BEMA 59Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 25, 2018 • 21:20

58: Habakkuk — Watchtower

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings dive into one of Marty’s favorite prophecies: the book of Habakkuk. They examine the complaints submitted by the prophet and his ensuing dialogue with God.Discussion Video for BEMA 58Transcript for BEMA 58Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 18, 2018 • 26:31

57: Lamentations — Lament and Hope

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the often-avoided book of Lamentations and the shocking space it creates for the dark things that need to be grieved.Discussion Video for BEMA 57Learning to Lament, Part 1: The Culture of Denial — The RobCast, Episode 92Learning to Lament, Part 2: Widow, Slave, Mother — The RobCast, Episode 93Learning to Lament, Part 3: She’s Finding Her Voice — The RobCast, Episode 94Learning to Lament, Part 4: As Deep as the Sea — The RobCast, Episode 95Learnin

Jan 11, 2018 • 25:48

56: Jeremiah — Weeping

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin our journey through the Babylonian prophets, examining the famous weeping prophet: Jeremiah.Discussion Video for BEMA 56The Disciple Scroll by Allan RabinowitzLove Wins by Rob BellErasing Hell by Francis ChanTranscript for BEMA 56Support The BEMA Podcast

Jan 4, 2018 • 40:23

55: 2 Isaiah — Woe

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the Assyrian period of history by looking at one of the most distressing prophets: the voice of 2 Isaiah as he delivers numerous woes to the nations of the world, including God’s people. Yet even this is not void of hope as we see it scattered throughout today’s portion of Text.Discussion Video for BEMA 55Transcript for BEMA 55

Dec 14, 2017 • 32:01

54: Zephaniah — T'shuvah

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the voice of Zephaniah as he warns the kingdom of Judah of impending judgment.Discussion Video for BEMA 54Transcript for BEMA 54Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 7, 2017 • 35:12

53: Nahum — Diyn

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings juxtapose the book of Jonah against the other Assyrian prophet to Israel—the book of Nahum—looking at the other side of the equation of how God deals with evil.Discussion Video for BEMA 53Information on BEMA Trips [Marty doesn’t need more emails]Transcript for BEMA 53

Nov 30, 2017 • 22:56

52: Jonah — Potential

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the book of Jonah and try to uncover the message buried in this most unusual prophet.Jonah — Potential Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 52Challenging God: Why Did Jonah Run? — Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Transcript for BEMA 52Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 16, 2017 • 35:11

51: 1 Isaiah — Vineyard

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the first of four voices found in Isaiah — the pre-Assyrian voice that condemned the greed and injustice of the people of Judah.NB: Due to a malfunction with our original recording, this episode was recorded in 2021. Our environments and equipment setups have changed, but we did our best to present it as it was in 2017.1 Isaiah — Vineyard Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 51Out of Babylon by Walter BrueggemannThe Prophets by Abraham Jos

Nov 9, 2017 • 37:32

50: Micah — Judge

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the warning of the prophet Micah as he speaks to the people of Judah about what God truly desires.NB: Due to a malfunction with our original recording, this episode was recorded in 2021. Our environments and equipment setups have changed, but we did our best to present it as it was in 2017.Discussion Video for BEMA 50Transcript for BEMA 50Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 2, 2017 • 42:06

Verastikh (Hosea)

A simplified version of the daily prayer from Hosea 2. This recording is meant to follow Episode 49. Verastikh le l'olam Verastikh lib'tzedek      uve'mishpat, uve'chesed, uve'rachamim Verastikh lib'emuna, v'yadat et Adonai I will betroth you to myself forever. I will betroth you to myself in righteousness,      and in justice, and in love, and in compassion. I will betroth you to myself in faithfulness, and

Oct 26, 2017 • 1:08

49: Hosea — Prostitute

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the message of Hosea as depicted in the prophetic theater of his own life through his marriage to the prostitute Gomer.Verastikh — Learn HebrewDiscussion Video for BEMA 49Transcript for BEMA 49Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 26, 2017 • 27:01

48: Amos — Plumb Line

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the book of Amos on a quest to find the heart of God as expressed in the first of His many mouthpieces.Amos — Plumb Line Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 48The Prophets by Abraham Joshua HeschelPlumb Line — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 48Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 19, 2017 • 38:05

47: The Lord’s Mouthpiece

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the remaining books in Tanakh, most of which are prophets, attempting to understand prophetic history as a whole and the setting for each period of history.The Lord’s Mouthpiece Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 47Out of Babylon by Walter BrueggemannTranscript for BEMA 47

Oct 12, 2017 • 19:39

46: Song of Sexuality

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the underaddressed book called Song of Songs and explore the ramifications of avoiding the topic of sexuality.Discussion Video for BEMA 46Sex God by Rob BellNOOMA 002: Flame by Rob BellThe Zimzum of Love by Rob and Kristen BellTranscript for BEMA 46

Oct 5, 2017 • 33:11

45: Wisdom and Meaning

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and special guest Kevin Luo continue our study of wisdom literature, examining the collection of Proverbs and the teaching of Ecclesiastes.Discussion Video for BEMA 45Kevin Luo on TwitterA Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held EvansLess Is More Than Enough by Chris McNaught“How Great Leaders Inspire Action” by Simon Senek — TEDNOOMA 012: Matthew by Rob BellTranscript for BEMA 45Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 28, 2017 • 27:00

44: Our Harps in the Trees

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and special guest Kevin Luo discuss the collection of ancient songs known as the Psalms.Discussion Video for BEMA 44Classifying the Psalms by GenreKevin Luo on TwitterTranscript for BEMA 44Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 21, 2017 • 31:49

43: Go in Peace

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up a look at the kings of Israel, exploring the story of Naaman and its implications for us today.Discussion Video for BEMA 43Transcript for BEMA 43

Sep 14, 2017 • 34:24

42: The Fire of Elijah

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the story of Elijah and the lessons learned by one of Israel’s greatest prophets.Discussion Video for BEMA 42Where God Was Born by Bruce FeilerMap of Phoenicia, Late Bronze Age — WikipediaTranscript for BEMA 42

Sep 7, 2017 • 43:27

41: The Story Behind the Story

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings revisit the two sources comprising this portion of the biblical narrative, analyzing the agendas found in each. They attempt to look at the differences between the sources to understand the reigns of David and Solomon and the split of the nation of God’s people, ultimately helping us figure out what went wrong.The Story Behind the Story Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 41Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell and Don GoldenTranscript for B

Aug 31, 2017 • 36:30

40: One Story, Two Sources

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin the journey to understanding the historical record of the united kingdom of Israel by taking a look at the two sources comprising this biblical narrative.One Story, Two Sources Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 40Transcript for BEMA 40Support The BEMA Podcast

Aug 24, 2017 • 32:56

39: A King After God’s Own Heart

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue to examine the life of David, looking at the defeat of Goliath and making some general observations about the character of David.Discussion Video for BEMA 39Promised Land — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.“The Unheard Story of David and Goliath” by Malcolm Gladwell — TEDValley of Elah — WikipediaJesus Wants to Save Christia

Aug 10, 2017 • 32:03

38: A Donkey Herder to Lead Us

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a look at Israel’s first two kings and try to see what the Text is showing us in these two characters.Discussion Video for BEMA 38A Tale of Three Kings by Gene EdwardsTranscript for BEMA 38Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 27, 2017 • 28:29

37: A Love Story

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings zoom in on the mini-narrative of Ruth — one story where the mission of God is realized in the way Israel treats the alien, the orphan, and the widow.Discussion Video for BEMA 37Map of Moab and the Surrounding RegionTranscript for BEMA 37Support The BEMA Podcast

Jul 13, 2017 • 32:32

36: The Redemption Cycle

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the book of Judges and the cycle found therein.Discussion Video for BEMA 36The Forgiving Flow, Part 2: Drop the Jawbone — The RobCast, Episode 39Make Your Mark by Brad GrayTranscript for BEMA 36Support The BEMA Podcast

Jun 29, 2017 • 35:04

35: Crossroads of the Earth

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the discussion of Joshua and bridge the gap toward the book of Judges, pondering the mission of God and His choice of real estate for His people.Crossroads of the Earth Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 35The Source by James A. MichenerTranscript for BEMA 35

Jun 15, 2017 • 35:37

34: The Hardest Story in the Bible (for me)

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings address the nagging questions about the book of Joshua and its stories of mass slaughter and genocide.The Hardest Story in the Bible (for me) Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 34The Hardest Story in the Bible (for me) — Covered in His DustStele — WikipediaThe Forest in the Trees: Jesus — Woodland Hills (Greg Boyd)[no longer available] Why Is the Old Testament So Violent? (blog post)What Is the Bible? by Rob BellThe Source by James A. MichenerTr

Jun 1, 2017 • 43:10

33: Session 2 Intro

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings set the stage for Session 2 of the podcast. We review our journey through Torah to bring everyone up to speed for what we will study next.Session 2 Intro Presentation (PDF)BEMA Discipleship SupportBEMA Discipleship on FacebookBEMA Discipleship on TwitterTranscript for BEMA 33

May 18, 2017 • 20:09

32: Session 1 Capstone

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings give a summary of the books of Moses at the conclusion of Session 1 of the podcast.Session 1 Capstone Presentation (PDF)BEMA Discipleship on FacebookBEMA Discipleship on TwitterTranscript for BEMA 32Support The BEMA Podcast

May 18, 2017 • 28:01

31: Remember Where You Came From

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings bring our study of Torah to a close by exploring the book of Deuteronomy, examining its call to remember our stories.Remember Where You Came From Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 31The Epic of Eden by Sandra L. RichterTopic: Deuteronomy 32 — Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Transcript for BEMA 31Support The BEMA Podcast

May 11, 2017 • 40:45

30: Lead with Your Voice

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the discussion of the desert and the book of Numbers with the story of Moses striking the rock and subsequently having his entrance to the Promised Land denied.Lead with Your Voice Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 30Transcript for BEMA 30

May 4, 2017 • 46:15

29: Images of the Desert — Wadi and En Gedi

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the series on images found in the desert. We will see God’s continual use of the desert to minister to us and to teach us how to minister to others.Images of the Desert — Wadi and En Gedi Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 29Lulav — Chabad.orgFlash Floods in Wadi Peres — YouTubeFlash Flood in Israel — YouTubeIsrael: Flash Floods Hit Negev Desert — AP Archive, YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 29

Apr 27, 2017 • 33:18

28: Images of the Desert — Ar'ar and Tamarisk

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the series on images found in the desert, discussing the ar'ar and tamarisk trees and what they teach us about living in our own deserts.Images of the Desert — Ar'ar and Tamarisk Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 28BEMA Schedule (no longer active) — See our current Groups pageNoga Hareuveni — WikipediaWritten Works of Noga HareuveniHebrew University — WikipediaBEMA 24: Creating a SpaceTranscript for BEMA 28Support The BEMA Podcast

Apr 20, 2017 • 22:01

27: Images of the Desert — Rotem and Acacia

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue the series on images found in the desert, discussing the rotem and acacia trees and what they teach us about living in our own deserts.Images of the Desert — Rotem and Acacia Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 27The Story #28: New Beginnings (‘Each One’ Rant) sermon — YouTubeWalking with God in the Desert — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off

Apr 13, 2017 • 24:35

26: Images of the Desert — Shepherd

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the first in a series of images found in the desert — what it means to be a shepherd in the biblical world.Images of the Desert — Shepherd Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 26Walking with God in the Desert — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.Walking the Bible by Bruce FeilerThe Good Shepherd by Kenneth BaileyTranscri

Apr 6, 2017 • 36:22

25: A Kingdom of What?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings give an overview of the book of Leviticus.A Kingdom of What? Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 25Leviticus: A Call to Priesthood (Sermon Series) — Real Life on the PalouseTranscript for BEMA 25

Mar 30, 2017 • 40:28

24: Creating a Space

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings consider the implications of the story of the Tabernacle in our own pursuits of God.Creating a Space PresentationDiscussion Video for BEMA 24Walter Brueggemann, “An Alternative Way” — The Work of the PeopleThe Practice of the Presence of God by Brother LawrenceOne Thousand Gifts by Ann VoskampFinding Our Way Again by Brian McLarenTranscript for BEMA 24Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 23, 2017 • 55:22

23: Falling on Joyful Faces

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the construction of the Tabernacle and its call to be a place of rest, covering Exodus 24–40.Falling on Joyful Faces Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 23With All Your Heart — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.Transcript for BEMA 23Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 16, 2017 • 23:08

22: Under the Chuppah

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss Israel’s arrival at Sinai and the ensuing covenant relationship with their God, covering Exodus 19–23.Under the Chuppah Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 22NIV Archaeological Study BibleTranscript for BEMA 22

Mar 9, 2017 • 40:03

“Jesus Shema”

A simplified version of the daily prayer from Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19. This recording is meant to follow Episode 21. Sh'ma Israel, adonai elohenu, adonai echad Ve'ahavta et adonai eloiekah      b'khol levavkah      uve'khol naphshekah      uve'khol meodeikah Ve'ahavta reyacha c'mocha Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. Love the Lord your God      with all your heart,  

Mar 2, 2017 • 1:18

21: With All Your Soul & “Very”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the next two tests of God’s people on their way to Mount Sinai in Exodus 16–17.With All Your Soul & “Very” Presentation (PDF)“Jesus Shema” — Learn HebrewDiscussion Video for BEMA 21Transcript for BEMA 21Support The BEMA Podcast

Mar 2, 2017 • 40:04

20: With All Your Heart

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea in Exodus 14, and then dissect their first test on the way to Mount Sinai in Exodus 15.With All Your Heart Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 20Transcript for BEMA 20

Feb 23, 2017 • 31:17

19: A Strengthened Heart

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings dive into the story of the Passover and its plagues, God’s interaction with Pharaoh, and the call of God’s rescued people.Discussion Video for BEMA 19The Exodus You Almost Passed Over by Rabbi David Fohrmankavad — Blue Letter Biblehazak — Blue Letter BibleTranscript for BEMA 19Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 16, 2017 • 35:01

18: A Tale of Two Kingdoms

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings set up the narrative of God’s story as a contrast between empire and shalom.Discussion Video for BEMA 18That the World May Know — Faith Lessons, Volumes 1–12 (Amazon)God Heard Their Cry — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchase. Details.God Heard Their Cry, Lesson 1 — YouTubeTranscript for BEMA 18Support The BEMA Podcast

Feb 9, 2017 • 43:36

17: A God Who Hears the Cry

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the introduction to God’s story and set up the narrative of the remainder of Scripture in an effort to understand what God is rescuing His people from.A God Who Hears the Cry Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 17That the World May Know — Faith Lessons, Volumes 1–12 (Amazon)God Heard Their Cry — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)BEMA listeners can use code BEMA12 for 20% off of one purchas

Feb 2, 2017 • 43:34

16: Out of the Pit

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings finish the study of the life of Joseph, covering Genesis 41–50.Out of the Pit Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 16Rabbi David Fohrman — TorahAnytimeThe Joseph Story — Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Transcript for BEMA 16

Jan 26, 2017 • 46:16

15: Into the Pit

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin a study of the life of Joseph, covering Genesis 37–40.Into the Pit Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 15Transcript for BEMA 15

Jan 19, 2017 • 46:54

14: Grappling with God, Part 2

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue to look at the life of Jacob, covering Genesis 32–35.Discussion Video for BEMA 14Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Transcript for BEMA 14

Jan 12, 2017 • 38:17

13: Grappling with God, Part 1

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin a look at the life of Jacob, covering Genesis 25–31.Discussion Video for BEMA 13Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.God Was in This Place & I, I Did Not Know by Rabbi Lawrence KushnerTranscript for BEMA 13

Jan 5, 2017 • 36:42

12: A Mission Realized

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings cover the life of Isaac as told in Genesis 24 and 26, where we begin to see the initial realization of God’s promise to Abraham.Discussion Video for BEMA 12History of male circumcision — WikipediaGeorge DeJong, Under the Fig TreeThe Epic of Eden by Sandra L. RichterSandra Richter, Ph.D.The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Volume IImpact Campus MinistriesTranscript for BEMA 12

Dec 15, 2016 • 38:14

11: Here I Am

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue to look at the kind of partner God has chosen in Abraham.Here I Am Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 11Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Transcript for BEMA 11Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 8, 2016 • 53:47

10: Walking the Blood Path

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings work through Genesis 15–17, continuing to look at the evolving partnership between God and Abram.Walking the Blood Path Presentation (PDF)Discussion Video for BEMA 10Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Transcript for BEMA 10Support The BEMA Podcast

Dec 1, 2016 • 49:49

9: Letting Go

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about Genesis 12–14: the call of Abram and his initial adventures in the land of Canaan.Discussion Video for BEMA 9Transcript for BEMA 9Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 17, 2016 • 40:59

8: Buried in a Genealogy

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings ask the same question the Rabbis have asked over the centuries: Why did God choose Abraham?Buried in a Genealogy Presentation (PDF)Follow-up 1: BEMA 208: Midrash — Iscah, Sarai, and Birth OrdersFollow-up 2: BEMA FAQ: Abram, Sarai & Iscah — Marty Solomon, YouTubeDiscussion Video for BEMA 8The Epic of Eden by Sandra L. RichterTranscript for BEMA 8Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 10, 2016 • 27:08

7: The Preface

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look back over the first eleven chapters of Genesis and work to understand their significance to the greater narrative of the scriptures.The Preface Presentation (PDF) Study Tools Discussion Video for BEMA 7 The Companion for BEMA 7 Take Your Own Notes Transcript for BEMA 7 Legacy Episode Content Episode updated 17 February 2025 Original audio from 3 November 2016 Transcript for BEMA 6 of 3 November 2016 Support The BEMA Podcast

Nov 3, 2016 • 18:59

6: A Tale of a Tower

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about the tower of Babel and some of the observations we can take away from the story.Discussion Video for BEMA 6Transcript for BEMA 6Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 27, 2016 • 19:42

5: A Misplaced Curse

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Reed Dent to talk about Noah’s departure from the ark and the tragedy that ensues.Campus Christian Fellowship, Truman State UniversityBEMA 231: Introducing the Team — Deconstruction w/ Reed Dent Study Tools Discussion Video for BEMA 5 The Companion for BEMA 5 Take Your Own Notes Transcript for BEMA 5 Legacy Episode Content Episode updated 3 February 2025 Original audio from 20 October 2016 Transcript for BEMA 3 of 20 October 2016 Suppo

Oct 20, 2016 • 36:59

4: His Bow in the Clouds

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the story of Noah and the Flood, digging through a wide variety of buried treasure from the author.Discussion Video for BEMA 4Transcript for BEMA 4Support The BEMA Podcast

Oct 6, 2016 • 30:56

3: Master the Beast

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about Cain and Abel and the idea of how fear and shame ruin the story.Discussion Video for BEMA 3The Beast that Crouches at the Door by Rabbi David Fohrman (Amazon)The Beast that Crouches at the Door by Rabbi David Fohrman (Aleph Beta)Aleph Beta AcademySubscribe to Aleph Beta AcademyBEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.Transcript for BEMA 3Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 22, 2016 • 25:16

2: Knowing When to Say “Enough”

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and what the story might really be getting at.The Exodus You Almost Passed Over by Rabbi David Fohrman Study Tools Discussion Video for BEMA 2 The Companion for BEMA 2 Take Your Own Notes Transcript for BEMA 2 Legacy Episode Content Episode updated 13 January 2025 Original audio from 15 September 2016 Transcript for BEMA 2 of 15 September 2016 Support The BEMA Podcast

Sep 15, 2016 • 52:58

1: Trust the Story

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about the creation story in Genesis 1 and the foundation it lays for understanding the scriptural narrative correctly.Trust the Story Presentation (PDF)Sabbath as Resistance by Walter BrueggemannThe Sabbath by Abraham Joshua HeschelBEMA Discipleship — GroupsJoin the BEMA SlackBrent on Twitter/XBEMA Discipleship on Twitter/XBEMA Discipleship on FacebookMarty on InstagramBrent on InstagramBEMA Discipleship on InstagramBEMA Discipleship — Subscribe (Re

Sep 8, 2016 • 53:08

0: Introductory Lesson

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings have an introductory conversation about the world of the Bible, investigating the differences between Eastern and Western perspectives.Introductory Lesson Presentation (PDF) Study Tools The Companion for BEMA 0 Take Your Own Notes Transcript for BEMA 0 Legacy Episode Content Episode updated 30 December 2024 Original audio from 1 September 2016 Transcript for BEMA 0 of 1 September 2016 Special music by Logan DailySupport The BEMA Podcast

Sep 1, 2016 • 48:02

-1: What Is BEMA?

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about how BEMA came to be, what it is, and how it works.That the World May Know with Ray Vander LaanImpact Campus MinistriesJacob Neusner — WikipediaBEMA FAQ: How to ‘Do’ BEMABEMA Discussion GroupsThe BEMA Story — Impact Campus MinistriesWhat Is the Palouse? Study Tools The Companion for BEMA -1 Take Your Own Notes Transcript for BEMA -1 Legacy Episode Content Episode updated 2 December 2024 Original audio from 25 August 2016 Transcript for BEM

Aug 25, 2016 • 43:02