The Bible
Daily Bible Readings
The Bible: Old and New Testaments
Delighting in the Biblical Narrative and Finding Our Place in It (Part 1)
Delighting in the Biblical Narrative and Finding Our Place in It (Part 2)
Delighting in the Biblical Narrative (3): Angels
Delighting in the Biblical Narrative (4): Satan, the Devil, and Demons
Delighting in the Biblical Narrative (5): Biblical Cosmology
Once upon a Time
Once upon a Time (annotated)
Genesis
1-2 Creation as Ordered Good
1:1-31 Creation as Perfect Context through Limits
Respecting Vital Limits: Other Species and Their Habitats
First Step away from Electricity: Abandoning the Gods for Jesus
Vital Limit: Carrying Capacity
Vital Limit: Solar Income
3 Our Good Creation and Evil Break with God
Powers of Evil: Not God, Not Creatures, Just Absurd
Powers of Evil: Evil Parodies of the Trinity
Powers of Evil: Ends and Means
4 Yahweh vs. Vulcan: Cain
Cain: First Builder of Cities
9:18-11:9 The City: Nimrod to Babel
12-39 The City: Abraham to Moses
12 God's Response to Our Break with Him
18-19 Sodom: The City Condemned
Exodus
1-15 Yahweh vs. Jupiter: Moses vs. Ramses
3:13-15 What's in a Name?
Names of God in the Old and New Testaments
16:1-3 The Unbearable Challenge of Freedom
20:2-3 Yahweh: Liberator not Tyrant
20:8 Wondrous Time
The Old Testament
Genesis
1-2 Creation as Ordered Good
1:1-31 Creation as Perfect Context through Limits
Respecting Vital Limits: Other Species and Their Habitats
First Step away from Electricity: Abandoning the Gods for Jesus
Vital Limit: Carrying Capacity
Vital Limit: Solar Income
3 Our Good Creation and Evil Break with God
Powers of Evil: Not God, Not Creatures, Just Absurd
Powers of Evil: Evil Parodies of the Trinity
Powers of Evil: Ends and Means
4 Yahweh vs. Vulcan: Cain
Cain: First Builder of Cities
9:18-11:9 The City: Nimrod to Babel
12-39 The City: Abraham to Moses
12 God's Response to Our Break with Him
18-19 Sodom: The City Condemned
Exodus
1-15 Yahweh vs. Jupiter: Moses vs. Ramses
3:13-15 What's in a Name?
Names of God in the Old and New Testaments
16:1-3 The Unbearable Challenge of Freedom
20:2-3 Yahweh: Liberator not Tyrant
20:8 Wondrous Time
Leviticus
25:8-55 Yahweh vs. Pluto: Jubilee
Numbers
35:9-15 Cities of Refuge (cf. Deuteronomy 19:10, Joshua 20:1-9, Matthew 5:21-22)
Deuteronomy
6:4-12 Meaningfully Remembering Yahweh
30:15-20 Truth and Life, Choose Life
Joshua
1:5-9 Be Strong and Courageous
3-6 Jericho (Exodus 12-14, 1 Kings 16-19)
Judges
2 Strange Behavior Then and Now
6:1-24 The Call of Gideon: Surprising Words
6:25-35 The Call of Gideon: Unexpected Adventures
6:36-7:23 The Call of Gideon: Startling Leadership, Stunning Reversals
7 Yahweh vs. Mars: Gideon vs. Midianites
Ruth
1 Fierce Loyalty
Loyalty
25:8-55 Yahweh vs. Pluto: Jubilee
Numbers
35:9-15 Cities of Refuge (cf. Deuteronomy 19:10, Joshua 20:1-9, Matthew 5:21-22)
Deuteronomy
6:4-12 Meaningfully Remembering Yahweh
30:15-20 Truth and Life, Choose Life
Joshua
1:5-9 Be Strong and Courageous
3-6 Jericho (Exodus 12-14, 1 Kings 16-19)
Judges
2 Strange Behavior Then and Now
6:1-24 The Call of Gideon: Surprising Words
6:25-35 The Call of Gideon: Unexpected Adventures
6:36-7:23 The Call of Gideon: Startling Leadership, Stunning Reversals
7 Yahweh vs. Mars: Gideon vs. Midianites
Ruth
1 Fierce Loyalty
Loyalty
1 Samuel
4:2-6:16 Signs Negative and Positive
8:1-22 God's People Reject God in Favor of a Human Ruler
17 David and Goliath
18-31 Why Did David Not Kill Murderous Saul When He Had the Chance?
2 Samuel
7:1-17 Jerusalem: Olympian City Becomes Righteous Too (cf. 1 Kings 8:10-11)
11 Yahweh vs. Venus: David and Bathsheba
11 Jesus Puts No One above the Law
15-19 The Mysterious Intertwining of Our Lives with Jesus
18:14-15 Sin Has Destructive Reciprocal Consequences
1 Kings
1-11 Solomon: First Israelite Builder of Cities
12: 25-33 Making Religion Serve Politics
12:34 The Sin of Jeroboam
4:2-6:16 Signs Negative and Positive
8:1-22 God's People Reject God in Favor of a Human Ruler
17 David and Goliath
18-31 Why Did David Not Kill Murderous Saul When He Had the Chance?
2 Samuel
7:1-17 Jerusalem: Olympian City Becomes Righteous Too (cf. 1 Kings 8:10-11)
11 Yahweh vs. Venus: David and Bathsheba
11 Jesus Puts No One above the Law
15-19 The Mysterious Intertwining of Our Lives with Jesus
18:14-15 Sin Has Destructive Reciprocal Consequences
1 Kings
1-11 Solomon: First Israelite Builder of Cities
12: 25-33 Making Religion Serve Politics
12:34 The Sin of Jeroboam
2 Chronicles
10-12 Rehoboam and the Vanity of Cities and Sons
Job
19:25-26 Contrasting Hope and Faith
29: 7, 11-17 Job as Faithful Witness
Psalms
1:1-2 The Importance of Daily Bible Reading
2 Olympians Rage in Vain
12 Pluto's Smile, Yahweh's Plan
Psalms
1:1-2 The Importance of Daily Bible Reading
2 Olympians Rage in Vain
12 Pluto's Smile, Yahweh's Plan
88 Gethsemane: Three Aspects of Death
90:10-12 Making Each Day Densely Meaningful
96 Hallowing God's Name in Song
96 Hallowing God's Name in Song
98 Being a People of Hope
130 Waiting in Hope as Forgiven Sinners
Galatians
130 Waiting in Hope as Forgiven Sinners
Ecclesiastes
9:7-10, 11:13 Attitude of Gratitude
Isaiah
14:4-23 Babylon: Quintessential City
43:12-15 Accurate Predictions
43:19 Yahweh: The Always Unexpectedly New
Jeremiah
7:3-11 When Going to Church Is Good but Not Enough
25-27 Babylon: Chosen City (to punish Jerusalem; cf. Isaiah 47:1-10)
9:7-10, 11:13 Attitude of Gratitude
Isaiah
14:4-23 Babylon: Quintessential City
43:12-15 Accurate Predictions
43:19 Yahweh: The Always Unexpectedly New
Jeremiah
7:3-11 When Going to Church Is Good but Not Enough
25-27 Babylon: Chosen City (to punish Jerusalem; cf. Isaiah 47:1-10)
36:1-26 False Appearances, True Words
Ezekiel
18 Truth and Life
22:23-31 God's People Gone Conventional
33 Prophetic Witnesses as Watchmen
Blind Watchmen: How Did We Miss the Disaster of Suburbia?
37:1-2 Dry Bones
Ezekiel
18 Truth and Life
22:23-31 God's People Gone Conventional
33 Prophetic Witnesses as Watchmen
Blind Watchmen: How Did We Miss the Disaster of Suburbia?
37:1-2 Dry Bones
Daniel
2:21 God Has Chosen to Transition Us to a New Age
3:1-18 A Hope-filled Response to Conformity
Amos
The Book of Amos
2:21 God Has Chosen to Transition Us to a New Age
3:1-18 A Hope-filled Response to Conformity
Amos
The Book of Amos
7:7-9 Gone!
8:11 Faucet Theology
Jonah
1:1-2 Yahweh's Call
1:3-6 Running away from Yahweh
1:7-17 Taking Responsibility
3 Nineveh: The City Repentant (cf. Nahum 3:1-5)
Micah
3:9-10 Jerusalem: Olympian City Becomes Righteous Too (cf. Jeremiah 21:8-10, 33:7-9; Ezekiel 16:20-21, 48-51)
1 Maccabees
Jerusalem as Eschatological City
1:3-6 Running away from Yahweh
1:7-17 Taking Responsibility
3 Nineveh: The City Repentant (cf. Nahum 3:1-5)
Micah
3:9-10 Jerusalem: Olympian City Becomes Righteous Too (cf. Jeremiah 21:8-10, 33:7-9; Ezekiel 16:20-21, 48-51)
1 Maccabees
Jerusalem as Eschatological City
The New Testament
Matthew
2:1-18 King Herod, Wise Men, and Jupiter
3:1-6 Getting Ready for Great Truth and Freedom Soon!
2:1-18 King Herod, Wise Men, and Jupiter
3:1-6 Getting Ready for Great Truth and Freedom Soon!
5:3-6 Sermon on the Mount: First Four Beatitudes
5:4 Joyful Mourning
6:7-8 Freedom for Abba: Prayer to the Point
6:9-10 Freedom for Abba: Putting His Cause First
6:11-14 Freedom for Abba: Asking for What We Need to Live as Faithful Witnesses
6:25-34 Considering Lilies
6:9-10 Freedom for Abba: Putting His Cause First
6:11-14 Freedom for Abba: Asking for What We Need to Live as Faithful Witnesses
6:25-34 Considering Lilies
7:13-23 Narrow and Wide Gates
7:13-14 Narrow Gate, Hard Road
9:1-8 Who Can Forgive and Heal?
9:35-38 Jesus and the Crowd (cf. Matthew 4:23-25; 11:7-9, 16-19; Mark 5:36-40)
Jesus as Our Liberator from the Crowd
The City as Parasite
10 On a Mission
Jesus as Our Liberator from the Crowd
The City as Parasite
10 On a Mission
10:14-23 Christian Witness to the City
11:20-24 Jesus in the City (cf. Matthew 2:1-18, Luke 9:57-58)
11:25-30 True Wisdom? Two Schools of Thought
11:20-24 Jesus in the City (cf. Matthew 2:1-18, Luke 9:57-58)
11:25-30 True Wisdom? Two Schools of Thought
12:1-14 Moral-code Thinking
12:15 Healing
12:36 Freedom for Yahweh: Meaning What We Pray
13:1-9, 18-23 Sowing Seeds of Truth Today
22:1-14 Witnessing to Profound Meaning and Great Joy
22:15-22 Taxes? Jesus Avoids Jupiter's Politicization, Polarization, and Purging
13:1-9, 18-23 Sowing Seeds of Truth Today
22:1-14 Witnessing to Profound Meaning and Great Joy
22:15-22 Taxes? Jesus Avoids Jupiter's Politicization, Polarization, and Purging
Mark
3:19-35 Jesus, Family, Satan, and Freedom
4:3-9, 14-20 Parable of the Sower
4:35-41 Getting to Know Jesus Better
3:19-35 Jesus, Family, Satan, and Freedom
4:3-9, 14-20 Parable of the Sower
4:35-41 Getting to Know Jesus Better
5:1-15 Demonic Possession and Theories of Personality: Introduction
Demonic Possession and Theories of Personality: Conclusion
6:30-44 5,000 with 5 Loaves: God's Work and Ours
7:24-30 Mission to a Reluctant Savior
Demonic Possession and Theories of Personality: Conclusion
6:30-44 5,000 with 5 Loaves: God's Work and Ours
7:24-30 Mission to a Reluctant Savior
9:14-29 Help Our Unbelief
10:2-9 Marriage: An End in Itself
11:15-18 When Going to Church Is a Disastrous Distraction: cleansing of the Temple
12:28-34 Loving God and Neighbor
14:27-42 Gethsemane: Three Aspects of Death
12:28-34 Loving God and Neighbor
14:27-42 Gethsemane: Three Aspects of Death
Luke
4:1-13 Meaning of Life: Freedom!
5:12-16 Pardoned Sinners
6:27-38 Loving Our Enemies
6:27-38 Loving Our Enemies
9:51-62 Nowhere to Lay Our Heads
12:13-22 Hoarding and Self-indulgence or Sharing?
18:8 Will Faithfulness Follow Collapse, Denial, Idolatry, and Indifference?
How Many Thousands of Churches and Seminaries Will Soon Go Bankrupt?
18:18-25 Possessions Bind Us To Pluto
19:37-47, 21:37-38, 22:2-5 Jerusalem, Jupiter, Judas, and Jesus
20:45-47 Truth and Appearances (on leadership)
12:13-22 Hoarding and Self-indulgence or Sharing?
18:8 Will Faithfulness Follow Collapse, Denial, Idolatry, and Indifference?
How Many Thousands of Churches and Seminaries Will Soon Go Bankrupt?
18:18-25 Possessions Bind Us To Pluto
19:37-47, 21:37-38, 22:2-5 Jerusalem, Jupiter, Judas, and Jesus
20:45-47 Truth and Appearances (on leadership)
John
2:19-21 Jesus Replaces Jerusalem (cf. Matthew 23:37-39, 24:1-2; Luke 13:33-3, 21:20-22; 19:41-44; Revelation 11:7-8)
6:25-35 Jesus: Intrinsically Important
8:2-11 Go, and Sin No More
8:31-32 Living Words of Truth
Acts
2:44-45, 4:32-35 Desacralizing Money by Using it to Support Christ's Alternative Society
2, 4 Taking Care of Our Own
5:12-16 Signs Negative and Positive
5:33-39 Jerusalem, Jupiter, Judas, and Jesus
16:16-40 No Longer Victims of Circumstance
2:44-45, 4:32-35 Desacralizing Money by Using it to Support Christ's Alternative Society
2, 4 Taking Care of Our Own
5:12-16 Signs Negative and Positive
5:33-39 Jerusalem, Jupiter, Judas, and Jesus
16:16-40 No Longer Victims of Circumstance
Romans
5:18 How Crowded Is Hell?
13:1-7 What Do We Owe the State? Eller on Romans 13
What Do We Owe the State? Eller on Romans 13 (Part 2)
15:13 The Joy and Peace of Hope
5:18 How Crowded Is Hell?
13:1-7 What Do We Owe the State? Eller on Romans 13
What Do We Owe the State? Eller on Romans 13 (Part 2)
15:13 The Joy and Peace of Hope
1 Corinthians
3:11-15 Wondrous Judgment
Galatians
5:1 Freedom vs. Moralism
5:16-26 Holy Spirit, Olympian Flesh
5:22-23 Dying Churches: Olympian Works, Christian Fruit
Ephesians
5:21-33 Mutual Subordination
6:10-20 Weapons of the Spirit
6:10-20 Weapons of the Spirit
Philippians
1:27, 2:12-13 Setting Standards of Excellence for Christian Discipleship
2:5-8 Close Identification Brings Fullness of Life
2 Thessalonians
2:1-10 False Saviors and Final Rebellions
Hebrews
2:14-15 Freed from the Devil by Jesus
Revelation
12 Saints: Witnesses to Christ's Victory
14, 18 Infernal Power with No Future
18:4 Moving Now into the Future
21:1-4 The City as Our Future (New Jerusalem)
12 Saints: Witnesses to Christ's Victory
14, 18 Infernal Power with No Future
18:4 Moving Now into the Future
21:1-4 The City as Our Future (New Jerusalem)