8.48 - Christmas and Critics

"Jesus wasn't born on December 25th!" Are you mad? Faith shattered? Christmas ruined? May it never be! With the actual birth date of Jesus a mystery, why did Christians gravitate toward December 25th? Did we rob and reface a Roman holiday? Are we coopting the winter solstice? Is it just a borrowed holiday from some other pagan religion? And what about... the tree? Are the critics right? And does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? What are we actually celebrating as Christians at Christmas? Tune in to today's episode as we dig into the reason for the season—and maybe embolden your faith for the holidays. Merry Christmas! 🎄

Empty worship, copies of temples, and priests in rooms full of… nothing. Have you ever felt like you were going through the motions, but God wasn't there? In today's episode, Sam, John, and Ron welcome Frank Viola and pepper him with questions about his Restoration Appreciation presentation at Great Lakes Christian College. Hear why Frank claims, 'The old work of God usually attacks or dismisses the new work of God,' and how we can be careful not to be part of that old work which attacks the new. How can we discern God's movements so that we are not left going through the motions in empty rooms?  We encourage you to check out more from Frank on YouTube  

Is an elder always an Elder, or are they simply an elder—and how does that change what Peter says about them in chapter five? Tune in to today's episode to make sense of that sentence and to dive into the closing remarks of 1 Peter, with a view of leadership that resists the worldly temptation to wield authority over others. Instead, see how submitting to one another out of obedience to the Lord elevates our life together and amplifies our witness to the watching world. In this episode, the guys tie all the verses together to show how these concepts are lived out today, and challenge some translation choices along the way. Join us for the conclusion of our series on the book of 1 Peter, and feel free to drop any unanswered questions about the series on Facebook! 

Turn from evil and grow in love and devotion toward one another, brothers and sisters in the faith. Following Christ does not mean we will always get along. In fact, we may be abused, or even betrayed from those whom we serve with. Maybe you have dealt with this, or are currently dealing with this. Tune in to today's episode to hear the guys unpack Peter's words to us—the family of faith—and how we should respond to evil within the body. Furthermore, how this relates to suffering in the faith and giving the reason for the hope you have, in every and every situation. 

Opening your life and home to others comes with imperfections and gripes. But as Christians, we are to do all things without complaining and guard our hearts and minds against the temptation to mutter against each other when we part company. Instead, let us lead as servant examples and strengthen ourselves in the challenge of faithful witness. Tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast to hear how the guys unpack the end of 1 Peter 4. Let us discipline ourselves for the sake of our prayers, so that our witness to unbelievers might be patterned after Christ. 

Have you put sin behind you? Hurray! Way to go! Now it's time to suffer! Wait—what? Are you at the point where you're making tough decisions because of your faith? Do your ways seem strange to the watching world? Are you suffering and wrestling in your walk with Christ? Tune in to today's episode on 1 Peter chapter 4, where the guys unpack the "suffering, faithful witness" and the gospel proclaimed to the dead.

How do we respond to opposition from unbelievers who don't treat us well? Can we still offer a God-honoring witness through our suffering? And what does that look like within the context of marriage to an unbeliever? Tune in today as the guys explore how Peter calls believers to live faithfully, even when faced with unfair treatment or difficult relationships.

Tune in to today's episode as we dive deeper into the crumbling power dynamics of our world. We're continuing our discussion on aliens and exiles, moving from how we relate to governing structures to how we respond to employers—and even slave owners in the ancient context, and...today?  What do we do with Peter's call to submit to those in charge, even when they're less than desirable? Are we suffering for doing good, or are we suffering because we're bringing trouble on ourselves? Also, a quick shoutout to A Beck Creations—the amazing coffee gifted to the guys in a previous episode! You can check them out at: 👉 https://abeckcreations.square.site/

New episode, new section in the book of 1 Peter as we dig into the idea of a cruciformed witness among the nations. (1 Peter 2:11 onward). We are in the world, but not of it—resident aliens representing the Kingdom of God wherever we go. How do we relate properly to non-believers and the powers of the world? Tune in today as the guys explore what Peter calls us to, and how this call challenges the way we live and love in our modern context.

Picking up in chapter 2 of 1 Peter, we return to the theme of love. Not all babies go to the nursery—so what keeps us from growing? Could malicious talk, insincerity, or selfish motives be getting in the way of your witness? In today's digital world, where division often dominates the conversation, we're reminded how easy it is to return to old habits and worldly concerns—like a dog returning to its vomit. Tune into today's episode as the guys unpack how our love for one another can be tested, challenged, and sometimes compromised—and how to guard against it in faith and truth.