The BEMA Podcast

Marty Solomon and Brent Billings officially wrap up the journey through history and talk about what comes next for BEMA…

Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey

Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey

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Marty Solomon on YouTube

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Bible Book Timeline by Roger Schmidgall

Whole Bible Story — BibleTelling, YouTube (via Roger Schmidgall)

Transcript for BEMA 204

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings try to evaluate the great takeaways from this five-session journey through the Bible and the world of faith, talking about “The Four Pillars of BEMA” and imagining a world that returns to partake in some of the same things those early followers did thousands of years ago.

Discussion Video for BEMA 203

Out of Babylon by Walter Brueggemann

“Time in Babylon” by Emmylou Harris — YouTube

Transcript for BEMA 203

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings bring the story to our current day, seeing what this last century has done to the world of faith that we call our own. What is Christian fundamentalism and where did it come from? And how does evangelicalism fit into all of this? As believers, we make many assumptions about the world around us, but knowing why it exists is often helpful in accepting what it is.

AD 1925 to Today Presentation

Discussion Video for BEMA 202

“Jacob Neusner, Judaic Scholar Who Forged Interfaith Bonds, Dies at 84” — The New York Times

Jacob Neusner — Wikipedia

Transcript for BEMA 202

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings leave the French Revolution behind and move into the modern era. How was the newfound land of freedom and independence handled? How did it impact the theology and ecclesiology of the people?

AD 1800–1925 Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 201

Union in Truth by James B. North

Transcript for BEMA 201

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey up to the end of the eighteenth century and follow the world of Protestant history as it moves out of the Reformation and through the Age of Enlightenment.

AD 1650–1800 Presentation

Discussion Video for BEMA 200

Rediscovering Discipleship by Robby Gallaty

Transcript for BEMA 200

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings walk through one century of history that experienced an unbelievable amount of change and progress. Even outside of church history, this evolving world was fertile soil for the Reformation.

AD 1550–1650 Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 199

Geocentric Model — Wikipedia

Heliocentrism — Wikipedia

Transcript for BEMA 199

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey from the Crusades and head toward the Protestant Reformation—but on the way, it is good to recognize some names that are often underappreciated. These figures truly paved the way for some of the formative changes coming to Christendom.

AD 1300–1550 Presentation

Discussion Video for BEMA 198

Transcript for BEMA 198

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine one of the darkest chapters in the history of Christendom.

AD 1000–1300 Presentation

Discussion Video for BEMA 197

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Blue Like Jazz (2012 film)

The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong

Transcript for BEMA 197

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings walk through three centuries to see the great and famous East-West Schism, look at the idea of icons, and meet Charlemagne as a major character of this era of history.

AD 700–1000 Presentation

Discussion Video for BEMA 196

Byzantine Iconoclasm — Wikipedia

BEMA 0: Introductory Lesson

The Genesis of Science by James Hannam

Transcript for BEMA 196

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey through the sixth and seventh centuries, examining the early monastic movements.

AD 500–700 Presentation

Discussion Video for BEMA 195

The Source by James A. Michener

Transcript for BEMA 195

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the fourth and fifth centuries and the period of the ecumenical councils of early Christendom.

AD 300–500 Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 194

Transcript for BEMA 194

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings walk through the second and third centuries of Church history. Why are we so not-Jewish in our Christian practice today? What happened to cause such a schism between Jews and Christians?

AD 100–300 Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 193

Bar Kokhba revolt — Wikipedia

Didache — Wikipedia

Transcript for BEMA 193

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss what history is, what it isn’t, and give some disclaimers about the intentions of Session 5.

Discussion Video for BEMA 192

Making an Impact: Message — Covered in His Dust

Constantine’s Sword by James Carroll

Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelly

The History of Christian Thought by Justo L. González

Christian History Project

The Fall of Rome Podcast

Tikkun olam — Wikipedia

Transcript for BEMA 192

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings prepare for the beginning of Session 5 and our journey through church history by taking one last look in our rearview mirror.

Session 5 Intro Presentation (PDF)

Bible Book Timeline by Roger Schmidgall

Whole Bible Story — BibleTelling, YouTube (via Roger Schmidgall)

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Discussion Groups Map

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Transcript for BEMA 191

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hold the usual capstone conversation, concluding our journey through the remainder of Scripture and reviewing the entirety thereof.

Session 4 Capstone Presentation (PDF)

Bible Book Timeline by Roger Schmidgall

Whole Bible Story — BibleTelling, YouTube (via Roger Schmidgall)

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Discussion Groups Map

Transcript for BEMA 190

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the book of Revelation and the final verses of our journey through the New Testament, hearing the moving description of a new heaven and a new earth and an old world that has been made new.

Discussion Video for BEMA 189

Transcript for BEMA 189

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings confront the great beast of Babylon as it appears in Revelation and consider which part of the story we should align with the most.

Discussion Video for BEMA 188

Revelation #14: Babylon’s Demise sermon — YouTube

Transcript for BEMA 188

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the voices of those who stood against Empire and paid for it with their lives, and are reminded that Revelation is not a book of futuristic code, but an encouragement to those trying to remain faithful almost 2,000 years ago.

Discussion Video for BEMA 187

BEMA Discipleship — News

Transcript for BEMA 187

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings see dragons and beasts and women riding on them. Who is this beast of land and sea? The same hermeneutic we’ve used throughout Revelation will help us know more.

Revelation — Mother and Dragons Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 186

Transcript for BEMA 186

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings press further into Revelation and this epic showdown and holy competition between Empire and Shalom.

Discussion Video for BEMA 185

Transcript for BEMA 185

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings put some context behind a cultural device that is setting up John’s Apocalypse, seeing the ancient Olympic Games and wrestling with John’s intent for the letter of Revelation.

Discussion Video for BEMA 184

Transcript for BEMA 184

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine some of the context behind the seals of the scroll that are opened and what happens when they are, taking note of the apocalyptic chaos that ensues.

Discussion Video for BEMA 183

Transcript for BEMA 183

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings head into the rest of Revelation and the apocalyptic vision that John is sharing with his persecuted audience, standing in the throne room and paying careful attention to what is seen.

Revelation — The Throne Room Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 182

Transcript for BEMA 182

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings travel to the last of the seven churches of John’s apocalypse: Laodicea. We’ve heard the warning against being a “lukewarm Christian.” Is there more context to this idea?

Revelation — Lukewarm Laodicea Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 181

The Early Church — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)

TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)

Transcript for BEMA 181

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine John’s apocalyptic letter to the church of Philadelphia and look for context, as well as Text spoken into that context.

Discussion Video for BEMA 180

BEMA 161: 1 Thessalonians — Parousia

Transcript for BEMA 180

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wake up in the ancient city of Sardis to see her history and glory, which should help us understand the message in the letter to her church.

Revelation — Waking Up in Sardis Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 179

Transcript for BEMA 179

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings consider the idea that John has been deliberately drawing off of apocalyptic prophets while speaking directly into culture, and we add one more layer to our hermeneutical toolbox as it relates to the book of Revelation.

Discussion Video for BEMA 178

Transcript for BEMA 178

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings explore the ancient city of Pergamum and hear the letter to their church in its original context.

Revelation — Pergamum and Satan’s Throne Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 177

Transcript for BEMA 177

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings continue to hone a hermeneutical prowess in the realm of apocalyptic literature, taking a look at the letter to Smyrna and asking, “What is the context?”

Discussion Video for BEMA 176

Transcript for BEMA 176

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings travel to Ephesus, hearing the first of John’s seven letters in its context.

Discussion Video for BEMA 175

BEMA 158: Ephesians — Family Membership

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Transcript for BEMA 175

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings prepare for a journey through the book of Revelation, remembering the function and method of apocalyptic literature and trying to remove the “crazy” from the study.

Discussion Video for BEMA 174

BEMA 68: Zechariah — Apocalyptic Literature

Christ and the Caesars by Ethelbert Stauffer

The Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years — A Pinch of Incense by the Christian History Project

The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse and Roman Culture by Roland H. Worth, Jr.

The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse and Greco-Asian Culture by Roland H. Worth, Jr.

Imperial Cult and Commerce in John’s Apocalypse by J. Nelson Kraybill

The Letters to the Seven Churches by William M. Ramsay

The Days of Vengeance by David Chilton

The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era by James S. Jeffers

Transcript for BEMA 174

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the short, often forgotten, and confusing book of Jude. Just what is Jude talking about?

Discussion Video for BEMA 173

BEMA 169: 2 Peter — The Other Side of a Conversation

BEMA 156: 1 Corinthians — Broken Body

The Book of Enoch — Wikipedia

The Book of Enoch — Academy of Ancient Texts

The Assumption of Moses — Wikipedia

The Assumption of Moses (text and audio)

Jude — BibleProject

Transcript for BEMA 173

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a brief but meaningful and reflective journey through the short letter of 3 John, hearing the apostle warn the church about those who are trying to discredit and dismantle the faith.

Discussion Video for BEMA 172

BEMA 39: A King After God’s Own Heart

Transcript for BEMA 172

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear the words of 2 John and toy with the question of who the woman is that John addresses his letter to.

Discussion Video for BEMA 171

Transcript for BEMA 171

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the letter of 1 John and his insistence on the role that love plays in truth—and not the other way around.

Discussion Video for BEMA 170

Docetism — Wikipedia

Transcript for BEMA 170

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the second letter from the Apostle Peter to see how he utilizes the Midrash to encourage the early believers to keep walking in faithfulness and not give in to the temptation to return to the cultural norms around them.

Discussion Video for BEMA 169

Sefaria: A Living Library of Jewish Texts

The Bible as It Was by James L. Kugel

Noah (2014 film)

Transcript for BEMA 169

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the first of two letters penned by Peter, hearing the heart of a man who had went everywhere with Jesus—including betrayal and restoration.

Discussion Video for BEMA 168

Transcript for BEMA 168

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the book of James and its challenging contents. Love it or hate it, this letter often provokes very strong reactions.

Addendum on James — Marty Solomon, YouTube

Discussion Video for BEMA 167

Transcript for BEMA 167

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the many different theories and explanations of atonement that have arisen throughout the centuries—a very critical conversation for theology in our day and how we interact with the story.

Discussion Video for BEMA 166

A Better Atonement by Tony Jones

Did God Kill Jesus? by Tony Jones

The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

Crucifixion of the Warrior God by Gregory A. Boyd

The Jesus Driven Life by Michael Hardin

A Community Called Atonement by Scot McKnight

Transcript for BEMA 166

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings begin to examine the letter of Hebrews and learn from its potential context, hearing the call for us to be people who suffer well and persevere in the faith and struggle authored by Jesus himself.

Discussion Video for BEMA 165

Hebrews (Sermon Series) — Real Life on the Palouse

Hebrews Infographic

Transcript for BEMA 165

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings journey through a tiny letter from Paul with a big message to Philemon, enjoying Paul’s light-hearted encouragement to live as Jesus would have us live.

Discussion Video for BEMA 164

Transcript for BEMA 164

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the lives of two very different pastors discipled by Paul—Timothy in Ephesus and Titus on Crete—and hear of their different personalities and how Paul uses each of them in his ministry.

Addendum to BEMA 163 — Marty Solomon, YouTube

Discussion Video for BEMA 163

Walk as Jesus Walked — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)

TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)

Kingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Farrar Capon

Transcript for BEMA 163

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the second letter to Thessalonica, learn about the “Man of Lawlessness,” and wrestle with the implications of this mysterious character.

Discussion Video for BEMA 162

Transcript for BEMA 162

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings step into the context of the church in Thessalonica and examine the theme of “parousia.”

Discussion Video for BEMA 161

In Search of Paul by John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan L. Reed

Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright

Transcript for BEMA 161

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings examine the letter to the Colossians, pointing out the unique context that seems to surround the people there and the false thinking that seeks to pervade their lives of worship.

Discussion Video for BEMA 160

The Cave: An Adaptation of Plato’s Allegory in Clay — YouTube

Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright

Transcript for BEMA 160

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings hear Paul’s warm letter to the Philippians and see him express joy at their faith, love, and generosity as they follow Christ.

Discussion Video for BEMA 159

Kingdom, Grace, Judgment by Robert Farrar Capon

Transcript for BEMA 159

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings travel to the second largest city in the Roman Empire and hear the words Paul wrote to the Ephesians.

Discussion Video for BEMA 158

Transcript for BEMA 158

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the second letter to the Corinthians and see their continued struggle to live out the gospel in their unique context.

Discussion Video for BEMA 157

Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey

Transcript for BEMA 157

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings take a trip to Corinth for an examination of the first letter to that complex city.

Discussion Video for BEMA 156

Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey

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Transcript for BEMA 156

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Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the verse-by-verse journey through the book of Romans and look back to see Paul’s big argument buried in this brilliant letter.

Romans — God’s Mission, Paul’s Mission Presentation (PDF)

Discussion Video for BEMA 155

Transcript for BEMA 155

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