493: Vice & Virtue — Hope

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by special guest Rabbi Dr. David Rudolph, program director and professor at The King’s University, to talk about how the Council of Nicaea affected the dating of Easter and the implications of that for the Church and the Jewish people. Sign Up for the BEMA Messenger “The Council of Nicaea, the Dating of Easter, and Its Implications Concerning the Church’s Relationship to the Jewish People” by David Rudolph, Ph.D. Yachad BeYeshua Introduction to Messianic Judaism (Zondervan), edited by David J. Rudolph et al. A Jew to the Jews by David J. Rudolph Oxford Handbook on Jewish Christianity and Messianic Judaism [coming soon] Messianic Study Bible (Zondervan) [coming soon] “The Science of Worship” (Bulletin of Ecclesial Theology) via David’s website Covenant and the People of God, edited by David J. Rudolph, Jennifer M. Rosner, et al. New Testament after Supersessionism, David Rudolph (series editor) — Wipf and Stock The Voice of the Lord: Messianic Jewish Daily Devotional, edited by David J. Rudolph David’s websiteSpecial Guest: David Rudolph.

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings join Reed Dent to talk about his perspective on the pillar of Text.Drawing Hands by M. C. Escher — WikipediaThe Wall Street Journal, September 12, 2001 (PDF)“September 11” by Scott Cairns“Trump's name to appear on coronavirus stimulus checks sent to Americans” — Fox News“Trump Seeks To Stimulate Economy By Sending Rare Autographed Photo To Every American” — The OnionReviews of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003 film) — Reed Dent, LetterboxdReviews of Wake Up Dead Man (2025 film) — Reed Dent, LetterboxdThe Poetics of Biblical Narrative by Meir SternbergCross Vision by Gregory A. BoydCrucifixion of the Warrior God by Gregory A. Boyd“The Bible Talk: Part 1” by Reed Dent“The Bible Talk: Part 2” by Reed Dent“The Bible Talk: Postscripts” by Reed Dent

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings launch a new 12-part reflection on the Four Pillars of BEMA.BEMA 203: You Are HereBEMA 78: Silent Years — EssenesBrent on Instagram

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Brad Gray and Brad Nelson of Walking the Text to talk about the Lord’s Prayer and all of the projects they have in the works to cover this foundational practice of our faith.Walking the TextThe Sacred ThreadThe Lord’s Prayer (2025 film)Bringing Heaven Here by Brad Gray and Brad NelsonReview of Bringing Heaven Here — Marty Solomon, GoodreadsReview of Bringing Heaven Here — Brent Billings, Goodreads“Space philosopher Frank White on ‘The Overview Effect’ and humanity’s connection with Earth” by Leonard David — SpaceDidache — WikipediaSpecial Guests: Brad Gray and Brad Nelson.

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin Session 10 of the podcast and discuss what comes next.“Patient Trust” by Pierre Teilhard de ChardinJosh’s Memorial Service [occured on February 15, 2026]Impact Campus Ministries

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, Reed Dent, Elle Grover Fricks, and Josh Bossé close out Session 9. This is Josh’s final episode, both in the sense of recording date (October 7, 2025) and release date.The Gospel of Being Human by Marty Solomon and Reed DentAsking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonFiadh Grover-Fricks at 6 monthsFiadh: Like Mother, Like DaughterIntroducing MapleMaple on InstagramJosh Bossé on CaringBridgeBEMA 465: Qohelet’s ReflectionLiving Unoffended by Brant HansenGood Books, Big Questions (Karen Stiller’s new podcast)Walter Brueggemann’s websiteFestschrift — WikipediaGod in the Fray: A Tribute to Walter Brueggemann by Tod Linafelt and Timothy K. BealFinally Comes the Poet by Walter BrueggemannThe Word Militant by Walter BrueggemannHopeful Imagination by Walter BrueggemannOut of Babylon by Walter BrueggemannThe Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann

Brent Billings and Reed Dent close out this series in an unorthodox format, talking about the virtue of love and what it means to be fully known and fully loved.Wishful Thinking by Frederick Buechner

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Josh Bossé talk about hope and the potential it leans into.Four Quartets by T. S. EliotWishful Thinking by Frederick Buechner“Holy, Holy, Holy” by Sufjan Stevens — YouTubeBEMA 430: It’s a Wonderful LifeHope — BibleProjectBEMA 52: Jonah — PotentialSpecial Guest: Mitch Lavender.

Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Reed Dent talk about the virtue of faith and the idea of trusting the story.“Bad Theology: A Quiz” by Scott Cairns — America MagazineWishful Thinking by Frederick BuechnerMere Christianity by C. S. LewisThe Gospel of Being Human by Marty Solomon and Reed DentAsking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty SolomonVelvet Elvis by Rob BellGravity and Grace by Simone WeilZero at the Bone by Christian WimanMark 8 — Reed Dent, Campus Christian Fellowship

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined again by special guest Dr. Sandra Richter to talk about her latest book, Abigail and the Waterfall.Abigail and the Waterfall by Sandra L. RichterStewards of Eden by Sandra L. RichterRev. Dr. Ethan Johnson“My Journey into Coal Country” — Sandra Richter, Substack“My Journey into Coal Country, II” — Sandra Richter, Substack[Part III coming soon]Plant with PurposeThe Great Spiritual Migration by Brian McLarenMount HermonMount Hermon Women’s RetreatsCandy Darter (fish) — WikipediaHellbender Salamander — WikipediaBlack Beauty by Anna Sewell — Project GutenbergSpecial Guest: Sandra Richter.