Ep. 47 - Just Your Average Bible Study: The Parables Edition

It may be easy to blink and miss a collect in an Episcopal service, but we hope after this episode that you do not. Our discussion today is a love letter to written prayer, specifically the ancient prayer form we call "collects". These short prayers are packed with theology and goodness, and they often know what we need before we do. We review the traditional structure of collects, ponder what it means to pray as a body (rather than praying as an individual), and why it's important to remind ourselves of God's nature. Bonus: at the end of the episode we debut collects we wrote ourselves (about fridges and robots??). Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

It's a crossover episode!!! Today we are joined by Amber Noel, host of The Living Church podcast. What happens when 3 professional Episcopalian talkers are challenged to… listen? This episode is about the work of listening to God and listening to our neighbors, a task that is critical as members of a worldwide Anglican family. We dissect why we are drawn to the Anglican tradition, reflect on the diversity of the Body of Christ, and discuss how to listen in a way that honors the Christ in each other. We are thrilled to be collaborating with such a historic institution, so don't forget to check out Part 2 later this week, where we discuss what it means to participate in a global Anglican Communion! Check out The Living Church Podcast here: https://livingchurch.org/category/podcasts/ Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

Peel that plastic wrap off of your Bibles, you BCP loyalists! It's time for an average Bible study, complete with big questions, vague conclusions, and more than a few laughs. In this episode, we discuss what it means to really "know" the Bible, and whether or not we feel like we know it. We dive into four different parables, those simple stories that Jesus used to avoid giving us a straight answer-- but that often leave us with an expanded understanding of God. On the agenda for today's discussion: debt forgiveness, covenants, wineskins, patches, money management, and of course: seeds. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

It feels like there's never a water break when it comes to seeking God. The journey to find God and know God is endless and full of unknowns. Today, we've invited fellow seeker and choir enthusiast, Father Martin George, to help us ponder the ever-elusive question: "How do I find God?". Martin, who is a priest at Kate's church St. George's Anglican in Berlin, is a theology professor, world traveler, linguistics-lover, and outdoorsman whose life has taken him from Minnesota to Switzerland and from the Lutheran to the Anglican church. Together, we discuss the value of learning from other denominations, how we can find God in coffee hour, and why the best thing to say about God is often nothing at all. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

Consider this episode your approachable and mostly-accurate introductory course on governance in the Episcopal Church. You might be asking… "Why do churches need structure? Isn't structure the thing that makes religion toxic?" Perhaps, but perhaps not. Professors Annie & Kate laugh their way through the "what" and "why" of each level of oversight in the church, from bishops and conventions to vestry and wardens. We discuss the important roles that laypeople (us!) play in parish governance, why Episcopalians love committees so much, and the ultimate source of authority in the Episcopal Church. Our hope is that this episode gets you pumped to attend your next Annual Parish Meeting! Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

We have officially entered the liturgical season of "Ordinary Time", and we're wondering… does ordinary just mean boring? Our guest today, Rev. Jordan Griesbeck, claims to be just an ordinary priest descended from a long line of accountants, but his insights on this topic are anything but ordinary. In our conversation, we come to the shocking realization that we might love the liturgical calendar too much, we push back on society's expectation that we each strive to be extraordinary, and we reflect on why this overlooked season is so critical to our salvation and to living out our faith. As a bonus, this episode features the most epic, extended, insightful, hilarious, and non-rapid rapidfire segment of all time. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy. This is perhaps one of the most overlooked of the 10 commandments in modern civilization, and that makes it worthy of  a deeper dive. Today, we are attempting to figure out how to make time for rest in a sea of full calendars and endless to-do lists. We remind ourselves that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, and of the "why" behind this ancient ritual. We also discuss the traps of modern-day perspectives on rest, what activities are "allowed" on the Sabbath, and how to achieve inner peace in the Sam's Club parking lot. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

What is worship, and why do we do it? In today's episode we're dissecting the Episcopalian perspective of worship, including questions about sacrifices, reflections on adoration, and our own misconceptions and hesitations. In the end, worship is something that unifies us with God and with one another, and we hope this conversation inspires you to pursue that union with a lifted heart. Bonus: a lengthy tangent about church microphone systems. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

Three nerds walk into an Episcopal church… and begin to question whether or not science and religion are compatible. Is that how the joke goes? In this episode, we welcome fellow Episcopalian podcaster (and fellow nerd) Rev. Ben Wyatt to help us tackle our questions about science and Christianity. Ben's degrees in physics, religion, and counseling are put to the test as we grill him on dinosaurs, evolution, and Biblical fundamentalism. We ask questions like… Can I believe in dinosaurs and in Jesus? What is "truth", and how do we find it? How have scientific discoveries influenced the church throughout history? And is Eucharistic Prayer C scientifically accurate? If you're like us, you'll leave this episode feeling slightly less certain but certainly more curious. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

Sometimes we all need a reminder to choose prayer over despair. In today's episode, we're doing another review of 4 of our favorite prayers from the Book of Common Prayer. These prayers challenge us to be meek (watch out brats, it's Meek Summer 2026) and they remind us that even though it can feel like evil is winning, God sustains. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our webiste & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]