Christian Formation Series

Father Jordan Griesbeck. Originally recorded on October 12, 2025.

This session covers an in-depth exploration of Genesis, emphasizing covenant, genealogy, ancient Near Eastern context, and the theological arc that connects Noah, Abraham, and the patriarchs to God’s unfolding promise. It also addresses difficult modern questions, encourages honest engagement with the text, and highlights how these early stories shape themes of faith, identity, and God’s redemptive plan. Originally recorded on October 12, 2025.

Review Genesis 4–9. What condition do we find ourselves in amidst a post-Fall world? Autonomy ("a law unto oneself") result in pride, shame, anxiety, and disordered relationships with creation. Witness the slow decline of humanity leading up to the Flood.

In this final session, Bp. Brewer opens the floor for questions from the class.Originally recorded on Sunday, 9/28/25.

Why are there two creation accounts between Genesis 1 and 2? What is the "two-ness of Scripture"? Dr. Stephen Bagby continues the conversation.Originally recorded on Sunday, 9/28/25.

In this episode, Bp. Brewer discusses generosity with money — Jesus talked about it a lot, so what did he teach on it? The wise Rabbi knew that use of money is connected to our hearts.Originally recorded on Sunday, 9/21/25.

Walk through the Genesis creation account to glean theological truths from each day that God created.

In this episode of Called to Give, Bp. Greg Brewer teaches on the importance of self-sacrificial giving in a way that benefits others (and not us) — this is uniquely Christian.Originally recorded on Sunday, 9/14/25.

In this next episode of Read, Mark, Learn, and Inwardly Digest, Dr. Stephen Bagby discusses the goal of creation. We see it more clearly when coordinated with Colossians 1:15-17 — "all things were created through him and for him."Originally recorded on Sunday, 9/14/25.

In our Called to Give series, Bishop Greg Brewer, our interim rector, teaches on the Christian's call to live generously as a response to God's generosity shown to us in the gospel of Christ.Book list:The Generosity ProjectTo Love As God Loves: Conversations with the Early Church, by Roberta C. BondiFully Alive, by Elizabeth OldfieldCommentary on First, Second, and Third John, by Judith Lieu, from the New Testament LibraryOriginally recorded on Sunday 9/7/25.

Our Sunday School series, "Read, Mark, Learn, and Inwardly Digest" begins here with a course on Genesis. Dr. Stephen Bagby, in our Adult Formation department, lays the foundation for understanding the Book of Genesis.Originally recorded on Sunday, 9/7/25.

Fr. Matt closes up the series with an overview of the Letter to the Hebrews and John's Revelation. These two wrap up the series nicely, as they incorporate so much of the biblical narrative and imagery into their content, and sum all things up in Christ.

Fr. Matt walks us through the good news that Paul preached — salvation through Christ.

Fr. Joe Dewey walks us through the next part of the biblical narrative. Is it Acts of the Apostles or Acts of the Holy Spirit?

Fr. Cody Turned walks through the four-fold witness to Christ that the Gospel accounts offer us. What does it mean that we have four witnesses to the life of Christ? How are they the same and where are they different?

Fr. Matt Rossi and Fr. Cody Turner sit down to work through the questions you submitted about the Bible. Questions fall into two main categories:I. General quesiotns about reading Bible and what it isII. Questions about the Old Testament specificallyI. General questions about the Bible[00:00]Q1: On Canonization: We believe that the Word of God is true, but we struggle sometimes with who decided which 66 books are the Word of God. Why and how do we trust the people who canonized (or decided which books should be in the Bible), and why do we say that these books are true but the other books not included in the Bible are not?[00:00]Q2: Why is the Bible so difficult to understand?[00:00]Q3: On Translation: If none of the Bible is written in English, but our Bibles are English Bibles, how can we know that what we’re reading in English isn’t missing something really significant in translation, or that our inability to read the original texts means we aren’t accessing the Bible in its purest form?II. Questions about the Old Testament [00:00]Q4: How do you explain the difference between the violent, vengeful God of the Old Testament and the loving, accepting, and healing Jesus (and therefore God) of the New Testament?[00:00]Q5: Why Deuteronomy?[00:00]Q6: Is the story of Jonah literal in the way it’s told, or is it a fantastical comedy of a more realistic story about Jonah avoiding God’s to Ninevah? [00:00]Q7: Was there a creation before Genesis 1 opens up? The Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters, but it describes the layout of the creation of the earth, animals, etc.Final General Questions[00:00]Q8: Why can’t we all somewhat agree to a *few* interpretations of the Bible?[00:00]Q9: If you’ve never read the Bible all the way through, where is the best place to start?

Rev. Matt Rossi introduces the Gospel narratives, pointing to Jesus as the culmination of the Old Testament.

Rev. Jordan Griesbeck walks us through the wisdom literature in the Old Testament, considering a definition of biblical wisdom and tracing it through each book.