9.19 - The Government, the Gospel, and the Christian: Introduction

How does the language of the Bible talk about how God's people should relate to governing authorities and the level of our engagement with them? What do we do when differing groups of Christians land on different sides regarding the same administration? Split? μὴ γένοιτο ("May it never be!"). Today the guys begin investigating different approaches Christians take when approaching government and politics.  But to what extent is it okay to participate in the system; endorse certain styles of government, parties, candidates, or policies; or preach and teach on government policies? To what extent should these things occupy our minds, and to what extent should we hold a position? Will you join the conversation, or land on an opposing side? Tune in to find out.  

Today, the guys wrap up the series and share some final observations and takeaways. But first, Paul writes that in the Supper we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes, through the bread and the cup. But how often do we do this? And what does it mean to proclaim His death? Who is guilty of eating in an unworthy manner when they come together for the Lord's Supper? Are we doing the right thing in the wrong way? Tune in today to find out!

So far guys have covered the following aspects in the Lord's Supper series: * Building on OT sacred meals * Commemorating key events in sacred history * Meal practices with Jesus and His disciples * An experience of the Kingdom of God—"a Kingdom meal" Today the guys dive into the body of the Lord's Supper—specifically, "this is my (Christ's) body." So, are Christians cannibals, or is this some form of symbolic gesture? Or is there more to it than that? What are you actually partaking of?  Tune in to find out!

Today, the guys look into the Last Supper accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, investigating the differences and what they reveal about the Lord's Supper, the influence of Passover, and how it impacts our practice today. What do Passover and the Last Supper have in common? And what don't they? Tune in today to find out.

Ritual? Meal? Nourishment? Remembrance? Micro-banquet? Flesh and blood? What is the Lord's Supper—and how are we meant to practice it? What does it have to do with the other meals we share as believers, and how do the practices of the early church shape our understanding today? Join the guys as they dig into the meaning behind the meal—and how it reveals Christ and His Kingdom, and the first fruits of the banquet to come. 

Who do you eat with? Sinners? Tax collectors? Church leaders and influencers? Today, the guys survey the wider narrative of meals presented in the New Testament in hopes of enriching our understanding of the Last Supper.

What is the Lord's Supper? Who can partake in it? What is it about? In today's episode, the guys set the table for how the Bible speaks about food, festival, and feast. Pull up a chair and prepare to dig into what the Bible has to say about food, as we begin to unpack the Lord's Supper.

When another Christian falls in a big way on the public stage, what is the responsibility of the broader Christian community? Do we have an obligation to respond right away and offer our perspective? And what is the Christian perspective? Do we do it publicly or privately? How do we handle the unfortunate moral failings of our brothers and sisters in the faith in a way that still offers a Christian witness that ultimately glorifies Christ? Francis Chan has weighed in on a major event, and in today's episode the guys explore a biblical approach to responding to the events of our time. After laying that groundwork, Sam, John, and Ron weigh in on Francis Chan's stance and run it through the broader scriptural witness. Tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast and see if your gut reactions align with what Scripture calls us to be as witnesses.

Is the truth in you?  Are you one who loves in deed and truth, obeying what Jesus has commanded? Or do you find yourself often falling into the trap of lip service and well-meaning thoughts instead? Truth is action, and in today's episode the guys follow suit with some of the stronger warnings in Scripture that call us to a way of life grounded in truth. But where is life found? With so many voices proclaiming the best way to live out your journey of life to the fullest, how do we discern what is true? Like the Greek philosophers, do you seek a truth and way of life that can be applied to all people? Join the guys in today's episode as they conclude the series on truth and zero in on how it reveals itself in our lives—or how it doesn't.

Today the guys reach the completion of John's Gospel. Truth is framed through the new revelation brought to us in Christ as we grow beyond the need for a pedagogue under the law and into the living way. But how did Christ, in His conversation with the Jewish people, communicate this—and how did they receive it? Perhaps more importantly, what do we do with it today? Why did Jesus unite the way, the truth, and the life? We are told the Spirit of truth will come, speak, and instruct us. The question is: are you paying attention—or just thinking about Rome?