Jesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of Faith – Details, episodes & analysis

In our study of the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation we arrive at the anointing of King Saul – the first king of Israel – an occasion of very mixed emotions. For Israel, at least at the beginning, it's moment of great joy, as they think having a king is the cure for what ails them. And, as we'll see, Saul absolutely looks the part of royalty. But when it comes to actually ruling in obedience to YHWH, that will be a different story. Which is going to be the problem with the monarchy in Israel for centuries. For Israel's desire to "be like the other nations" is going to be far-too-fulfilled. And that's a problem that we will trace in future weeks.

For now, we focus on Saul and the manner of his calling – which ultimately reveals a God who despite Israel's efforts to self-sabotage - will not abandon his people to their fate. So this story is ultimately a lesson in hope.

And, as always, I'd love to know what you think about it – about the sermon, the series…the podcast as a whole. Or I'd love to have you come and just say "hi!" If you're up for it, you can reach me anytime via the contact link at jesusat2am.com, by sending me email, chatting with me on BlueSky, or finding me on Facebook or Instagram. 

And while you're at it, might you be up for supporting the podcast? You're tax-deductible gift to Canvas is a major help. As are your prayers, your online reviews, telling a friend or two!

Want to follow along with the biblical texts for this sermon? Here's the link: 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 9:25-10:16 (NRSV). 

As Israel's sufferings grow, she thinks she has struck upon a solution: a king! If only God would grant Israel a king, she would finally be "like the other nations" (and therefore suffer less?). 

It is an impulse literally as old as the Garden of Eden - to imagine that if only we could wrest more control of our lives from the universe (i.e., God), we would know how to cure what ails us. If God would only give us a king (...a particular political party, a charismatic leader, a ...?) we would have the means by which to achieve virtue and therefore peace and love, right???

In this episode we examine Israel's desire for a monarch, as well as God's surprising, somewhat heartbreaking, capitulation (God grants Israel's wish, albeit with warnings!). It's a story filled with political longing, spiritual amnesia, and that seemingly eternal human tendency to give our allegiance to the wrong thing, at the wrong time, for all the wrong reasons. Which is why it is a story that fits us perfectly today, as we struggle once again to know how best to govern humans in a broken world.

And, as always, I'd love to know what you think about it – about the sermon, the series…the podcast as a whole. Or I'd love to have you come and just say "hi!" If you're up for it, you can reach me anytime via the contact link at jesusat2am.com, by sending me email, chatting with me on BlueSky, or finding me on Facebook or Instagram. 

And while you're at it, might you be up for supporting the podcast? You're tax-deductible gift to Canvas is a major help. As are your prayers, your online reviews, telling a friend or two!

Want to follow along with the biblical texts for this sermon? Here's the link: 1 Samuel 8:1-22 (NRSV). 

In this episode in our journey through the biblical story we come to the beginning of the book of Exodus where we find Israel in a very unexpected place - enslaved in Egypt. It's a circumstance that begs the question: What has gone wrong??? For, as we have discussed in previous episodes, Israel is God's elect – a people set apart for priestly office in the larger project of the salvation of the world. So how is it that God's beloved community suffers such oppression (as Israel will be slaves in Egypt for 400 years!)? Has the covenant of election been annulled? Has God turned his back on the Abrahamic promise?

In a word, no. And this is an essential lesson of the life of faith: to be set apart to join with God in the project of salvation is not a license to escape hardship, but rather a call to live the fullness of the human experience.

Up for getting in touch? You can reach me anytime via the contact link at jesusat2am.com, by sending me email, chatting with me on BlueSky, or finding me on Facebook or Instagram. I'd love to hear from you.

And while you're at it, might you be up for supporting the podcast? You're tax-deductible gift to Canvas is a major help. As are your prayers, your online reviews, telling a friend or two!

Want to follow along with the biblical texts for this sermon? Here's the link: Exodus 1:1-22 (NRSV).

Here we come to a question that every Christian has, at some point, asked: If we have been saved by grace, forgiven in a manner that can never be revoked, why not continue in sin??? I mean, if sin is where all the fun is, can't I have the good times free of the consequences?

It's a tempting proposition. And Paul's response may not be what we expected...

The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is: 

• Romans 6:1-11 (NRSV)

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How did sin enter the world? And how is grace sin's antidote? In this episode we arrive at Paul's great declaration of ultimate hope: "where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more." And we see how Adam's sin - while affecting all creation - is overcome by Jesus's faithfulness. In short, here is where we see most clearly that love is the name of the game.

The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is: 

• Romans 5:12-21 (NRSV)

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What is the source of our hope? Not hope in the sense of optimism, but hope as in the certainty of the salvation of the world.

Rome offered a version of hope, one that empires continue to promise to this day. But it is a hope that can never be fulfilled, because it is rooted in the false belief that power brings security.

In this episode we examine Paul's vision of hope - one rooted in the goodness of God - against the backdrop of the Roman Empire and discover how we can even hope amidst suffering.

The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is: 

• Romans 5:1-11 (NRSV)

The images referenced are here:

1. Ara Pacis
2. Roman Justice (statue)
3. Coin (front)
4. Coin (back)
5. Herodian Temple
6. Pyramids of Giza

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That salvation comes to us by grace alone is extraordinarily difficult to comprehend. One way or another, we humans find a work we think we can perform to turn God's rescue into something we can control.

It's a dynamic Paul understands all too well. And to snap us out of it, he returns to his example of Abraham - saved simply by the sovereign will of God. And what results from election is faith - a faith that transforms Abraham and can transform us.

This episode is intellectually thick but worth the effort.

The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is: 

• Romans 4:9-25 (NRSV)

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For Paul there has only ever been one means of salvation: election. And to make his case, he appeals to the story of Abraham (Israel's patriarch), who received salvation as a promise, and for who responded in faith.

In this episode we further examine the relationship between election and faith and what it means to have faith "reckoned as righteousness." It is also a look at God intent to include all creation in his plan of redemption.

The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is: 

• Romans 4:1-8 (NRSV)

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Salvation by faith alone is one of the central pillars of Reformed theology - a doctrine based in no small measure on Paul's declaration in 3:28 "that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law." (This, of course, has only led to endless debates about what, then, constitutes "saving faith").

But what Paul meant and what the Reformers thought he meant don't totally align. In this episode we re-examine what, precisely Paul intended to communicate about the means of salvation.

The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is: 

• Romans 3:27-31 (NRSV)

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The central claim of Christianity is that, in Jesus, God has accomplished all that is required for the salvation of the world. And, in particular, that this was accomplished through the cross and resurrection. It was there that Christ made atonement for this sins of the world.

In this episode we look at the Paul's understanding of the atonement and do our best to explain how the death of one man accomplishes the the salvation of us all.

The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is: 

• Romans 3:21-26 (NRSV)

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