The Strange Ending to Samuel’s Story
John and Ron conclude their series on the pivotal character of Samuel. In this episode, Saul falls and David rises, but Samuel’s story ends with a strange scene: a medium conjures his spirit for Saul at Endor.
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The Creeds, pt 2: Apostles’ Creed Ron and John
Bible
Samuel the Kingmaker
The nation of Israel demanded a king, and it fell to Israel’s prophet-judge and acting priest Samuel to fulfill their demand. In this episode John and Ron address the quandary Samuel faced and the way this pivotal character led the nation through a fundamental leadership change.
Samuel: Prophet and Leader
John and Ron move deeper into the story of Samuel. Now it becomes the story of two families, Samuel and his parents on one side, Eli and his sons on the other. In one of the most moving scenes of the entire cycle, the boy prophet Samuel hears directly from God and […]
Samuel: Born to Make a Difference
Samuel’s story in the Old Testament begins with a birth narrative that highlights his importance in God’s redemptive work. In fact, he is a key figure in Israel’s transition to the monarchy that begins with Saul and David. His early story bears similarities to other stories from Israel’s history. It is […]
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Straining at the Oars: Mark 6
After feeding more than 5,000 people, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him in a boat while he stayed behind. But when they ran into trouble, Jesus walked out to them on the water. Mark tells us that Jesus went to “pass by” them, but that probably means much more than […]
Temptation of Jesus, part 2
Ron and John conclude their short series on the temptation of Jesus. They examine closely the exchange between the devil and Jesus because it is packed with allusions, parallels, and direct references to the history of the ancient nation of Israel.
Temptation of Jesus, part 1
There are fascinating connections between the Old Testament and the New in the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. In this episode, Ron and John look closely at this scene in the gospels. They look for what’s going on with each of the offers that the devil makes, […]
Genesis 1-3: Conclusion
This is the final episode in the series that covers the first three chapters of Genesis. Guided by a close reading in the original context, John and Ron look back and ask: What is essential from this story?
Genesis 1-3: The Fall
The story of the fall in Genesis 3 may be one of the most widely recognized sections of scripture. John and Ron push past millennia of interpretation, reinterpretation—and outright misinterpretation!—to consider just what original readers of Genesis might have perceived in the story.
