After Class Podcast

If getting to some afterlife existence is not our goal (heaven centered view), and making this world a better place is not our goal (human centered or world centered view), then what is? In order to answer that question we first need to understand the story of the Bible. And so we begin...in the beginning.

In this episode the guys evaluate 2 other approaches to Christian living. If earning heaven is not the goal, then how should Christians live and approach this world?

In this episode the guys bring their discussion of heaven to a close, locating "heaven" as a restoration of the created world, rather than an eternal existence somewhere else.

In this episode, the guys interview Jerry Harris--Lead Minister of The Crossing and Publisher of the Christian Standard and the Lookout. He regales us with tales from the Restoration Movement's past and challenges us to seek unity, especially with our African-American Church of Christ brothers and sisters.

In this episode, the guys invite Professor Kate Blakely on to talk about the Restoration Movement--its core values and impact on us as Christians. ***Due to technical difficulties, the sound quality is less than optimal (thus the "unplugged"). Be assured that our sound engineer has been reprimanded and promises to do better.

In this episode the guys discuss different views that Christians have of heaven and the afterlife, and then compare those views to those found in the New Testament. Are our views biblical or are then informed by something else?

In this episode, the guys tackle the "heaven centered" view of the gospel by discussing the Old Testament's view of the afterlife. What did heaven mean to the ancient writers? How is it the same or different than our modern understanding?

In this episode, the guys interact with John's book, Endangered Gospel and set the foundation for future discussions about what it means for the church and Christians to live out their kingdom mission, especially in a "Christian nation."

In this final episode on the topic of Satan, the guys survey the rest of the New Testament and try to come to some conclusions and application from the rest of the study.

After surveying the data from the OT and Intertestamental literature in previous episodes, the guys finally make it to the New Testament. In this episode they examine how the gospels portray Satan and determine if his function has changed significantly or remains similar to the OT.

In this episode the guys continue their study of Satanology, focusing on the intertestamental literature (the stuff written between the testaments). Finally we begin to get a glimpse of this figure that many associate with Satan.

If the Devil is in the details, then what does the Old Testament actually say about Satan? This podcast explores references to the often enigmatic hasatan especially in Job and Zechariah.

Picking up their discussion that began debunking Satan's presence in the Garden of Eden, the guys turn their sights to two Old Testament passages that are often used to describe Satan's origins. *This is part one of a multi-episode topic

Tennessee Legislators passed a bill in March that will require government buildings, especially pubic schools, to display the phrase "In God We Trust." In this episode, the guys discuss whether this is a victory for the church and how far we should push for legislation that reflects Christian values.

Our last episode debunking misunderstandings regarding the Bible was so popular that we decided to do another! This podcast includes the following segments: What is love? (Does John's use of different love words in John 21 matter?) That's hilarious dynamite (Original word fallacies) Nice snake you got there. Is it a satan? (Is the serpent in Genesis 3 the Devil?)

"Contemporary Christian Music" began in the 70s, grew in the 80s, and exploded in the 90s as Christians began to answer Larry Norman's question, "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?" with, "He doesn't!" But where is the state of Christian Music today and does it matter? All this and more will be discussed in our latest podcast.

Who doesn't like and need a good vacation every once in a while? Vacations were made for catching up on podcasts. But does the Bible have anything to say about vacations? You might be surprised what the guys discuss in this podcast.

In this episode the guys discuss the nature of biblical allegiance as Christians attempt to navigate the difficult path between Kingdom citizenship and nationalism.

In this episode the guys discuss the King James Version, it's legacy, and the need for new translations.

In this episode, the guys examine biblical texts about foreigners, aliens, and immigrants to get a clearer picture of the overall message AND responsibilities that faith communities might have. They end by trying to suggest some ways for the Church to move forward on this issue. ***You are encouraged to review the alien passages for yourself by downloading a document here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/afterclass/The_Place_of_Aliens_According_to_Torah.docx

In part 2 of their discussion of the current immigration situation, the guys look at the role of the government, especially in light of Jeff Sessions referencing Romans 13. **SPOILER ALERT - we don't like how we end and so have recorded a third episode that comes out at our regularly scheduled time on Monday.**

As the debate over immigration and illegal immigration ramps up, the Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, released an explanation regarding the current administration's actions. In this episode the guys discuss what is going on and try to navigate non-partisan politics.

Sometimes pastors and teachers unknowingly perpetuate incorrect information. From word fallacies to poor readings of texts, these urban myths are passed down. In this episode, the guys try to set a few of them right.

After spending considerable time and energy discussing how the OT laws should impact modern Christians, the guys tackle a very specific law - the Sabbath. Are Christians bound to keep the Sabbath or was it just a border law whose purpose has passed away? Find out where each of the guys stand in this episode.

After discussing Andy Stanley's approach to the Old Testament in the last 2 episodes, the guys try to present a way forward in which Christians can view the Old Testament as more than an outdated section with little application.

In this follow up episode to last week, the guys discuss Andy Stanley's treatment of the Acts 15 passage, attempting to correct some misunderstandings and poor interpretations that contributed to his conclusions regarding the Old Testament.

After listening to a sermon by Andy Stanley based on Acts 15, the guys from After Class discuss whether Andy has a point or whether he should be excommunicated. You can listen to Andy's Sermon here: https://youtu.be/pShxFTNRCWI

Have you ever wondered what students and professors at a Christian College might talk about After Class? At Great Lakes Christian College, Professors Sam Long, Ron Peters, and John Nugent often are engaged by students with deep, meaningful, engaging, and sometimes challenging conversations. Become a fly on the wall and listen in as the guys unpack various topics that impact the church and wider culture. The guys handle the scriptures with great care and respect and have an appreciation for the historical movements that have informed our understanding of the Word of God. Each comes from their own church background and exposure to various practices and has come to align with the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. The heart of the movement is to have no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible, no law but love, and no name but the divine. In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things love. And to strive to Do Bible things in Bible ways, and Call Bible things by Bible names. But how do these professors pull that off? With a great deal of humility and by leaning hard on a biblical hermeneutic that reads the Bible from the beginning, in its context, and forward to our time. What is the fruit of this labor? Tune in to the After Class Podcast, and find out why, "The best conversations happen, After Class." In this inaugural episode, the guys discuss a topic from the Stone-Campbell Journal conference - is Allah the same as Yahweh?