Explore every episode of the podcast Slow Theology: Simple Faith for Chaotic Times
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST82: The Spiritual Danger of "Speed Privilege" | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:32:55 | |
*Check out AJ and Nijay's newly released book, SLOW THEOLOGY: 8 Practices for Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World (Brazos Press). In this ep., they talk about the benefits of getting what we want ultrafast, but also how it shapes our spirituality. What are the dangers and drawbacks to "speed privilege"? | |||
| ST81: Slow Theology and the Wandering People of God | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:26:17 | |
Today (Sept 23) is the release day for AJ and Nijay's new book entitled SLOW THEOLOGY (Brazos Press). Please check out the book and listen to this launch day conversation about slow theology and the meaning, challenge, and grace in faith-filled wandering in this world as part of the journey of our formation in Christ. | |||
| ST80: A Raw Conversation about the Fragile State of our Country and the American Church | 19 Sep 2025 | 00:27:58 | |
AJ and Nijay have a frank and honest conversation about the current difficult moment we are living in. *Warning*: this episode includes brief discussions of violence and murder. | |||
| ST79: "The Divine Archaeologist": The Spirit of Both Innovation and Tradition (Holy Spirit Series) | 11 Sep 2025 | 00:30:17 | |
AJ and Nijay wrap up their popular Holy Spirit topical series. This episode engages with the matter of balancing our expectations for "new" from the Spirit with how the Spirit reinforces what we already have in Scripture and tradition. | |||
| ST78: How Concerned Should I Be About Spiritual Warfare? (Holy Spirit Series) | 22 Aug 2025 | 00:30:49 | |
AJ and Nijay continue their Holy Spirit series on Slow Theology. This time around they discuss what spiritual warfare is, how to think about it, and some extremes to avoid. | |||
| ST77: Does the Spirit Work through Unbelievers? The Holy Spirit and Common Grace (Holy Spirit Series) | 14 Aug 2025 | 00:32:23 | |
Nijay and AJ continue their Holy Spirit series with this discussion of whether the Spirit can speak truth outside of the covenant community. Listen in. | |||
| ST76: Reviving Eutychus: Does the Spirit Work the Same Now as Then? (Holy Spirit Series) | 19 Jul 2025 | 00:25:23 | |
AJ and Nijay are back, baby! After a bit of an early summer hiatus, they resume their Holy Spirit series with the question: does the Holy Spirit work differently now compared to back then? They use the unusual but important story of Paul and Eutychus (Acts 20) to touch upon the "cessationism/continuationism" debate. Listen in. | |||
| ST75: Tongues—The Weirdest Gift of the Spirit? (Holy Spirit Series) | 16 May 2025 | 00:31:11 | |
AJ and Nijay finally get to the Spirit's Gift of Tongues in their Holy Spirit series. This is one where there is a lot of theological discussion and sometimes heated debate. And a lot of confusion about what speaking in tongues is all about. Slow Theology offers an accessible discussion to an often perplexing issue and difficult conversation. Check it out. | |||
| ST74: A Teachable Spirit (Nijay Interviews AJ about his *new book*) | 08 May 2025 | 00:32:39 | |
AJ and Nijay talk about AJ's brand new book: A TEACHABLE SPIRIT: The Virtue of Learning from Strangers, Enemies, and Absolutely Anyone (Zondervan Reflective, 2025). | |||
| ST73: "Can You Lose the Holy Spirit?" (The Holy Spirit Series) | 02 May 2025 | 00:29:39 | |
AJ and Nijay continue their Holy Spirit series with a frequently asked question from students and church folks: "Can you lose the Holy Spirit"? | |||
| ST72: The Gifts the Spirit Gives—And What the Spirit Expects (The Holy Spirit Series) | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:32:03 | |
AJ and Nijay continue their Holy Spirit series. In this ep. they discuss "Spiritual Gifts," what they are and what they are for. They emphasize that the gifts from the Spirit are not "no strings attached." They come with a calling to serve one another and build up the church. | |||
| ST71: On the Spirit and the Speedo Guy (OR: "Walking with the Spirit") (The Holy Spirit Series) | 03 Apr 2025 | 00:31:20 | |
Nijay and AJ continue the Holy Spirit series, focusing on the question: What does it mean to walk with the Spirit? You'll have to listen in to answer the questions: (1) Who is the "Speedo Guy" and (2) What does he have to do with walking in the Spirit versus the flesh? | |||
| ST70: Naming the Spirit: Introducing our "Holy Spirit Series" | 25 Mar 2025 | 00:32:00 | |
AJ and Nijay kick off a series on the Holy Spirit. Do you find yourself confused by the second person of the Trinity? Can you pray to the Spirit? What do you call the Spirit? What exactly is the Spirit? In this first episode AJ and Nijay introduce the conversation and talk about how we talk about the Spirit, and why it matters. Subscribe to make sure you are up to date on all the episodes. | |||
| ST69: The School of the Prophets: What Do We Do With Prophecy Today? | 01 Mar 2025 | 00:32:12 | |
Does God speak to us through prophets and prophecy today? Or is that a thing of the past? And how can you discern false prophecy from true prophecy? AJ and Nijay have an important conversation. | |||
| ST68: Love at the Heart of Paul's Theology | 20 Feb 2025 | 00:28:07 | |
AJ and Nijay talk about Nijay's brand new book: THE AFFECTIONS OF CHRIST JESUS: LOVE AT THE HEART OF PAUL'S THEOLOGY (Eerdmans): released Feb 20, 2025. | |||
| ST67: The Quartet of the Vulnerable (Orphans, Widows, Foreigners, the Poor) | 31 Jan 2025 | 00:32:49 | |
Nijay and AJ reflect on Scripture's emphasis on attending to the quartet of the vulnerable (orphans, widows, foreigners, the poor; see Zech 7:9-10). | |||
| ST66: Beyond the Red Letters of Scripture | 22 Jan 2025 | 00:32:21 | |
Are some parts of the Bible inherently more important than others? AJ and Nijay reflect on this important question. Listen in. | |||
| ST65: The Prophetic Boundaries of Jesus | 15 Jan 2025 | 00:31:49 | |
What can the earthly life of Jesus teach us about healthy relationships? Nijay and AJ explore this important question thinking about Jesus as a prophet sent from God the Father with an urgent mission. | |||
| ST64: Do Not Covet (Ten Commandments Series) | 03 Jan 2025 | 00:31:28 | |
Nijay and AJ cap off their series on the Ten Commandments with "Do Not Covet." | |||
| ST63: Do Not Bear False Witness (Ten Commandments Series) | 18 Dec 2024 | 00:27:07 | |
AJ and Nijay continue their Ten Commandments series: Do Not Bear False Witness/Do Not Lie. | |||
| ST62: Do Not Steal (Ten Commandments Series) | 15 Dec 2024 | 00:29:18 | |
AJ and Nijay continue their Ten Commandments series with "Do Not Steal." | |||
| ST61: Do Not Commit Adultery (Ten Commandments Series) | 20 Nov 2024 | 00:29:52 | |
*Explicit Conversation Warning* | |||
| ST60: Cultivating Poverty of Spirit | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:30:54 | |
Nijay and AJ interrupt their Ten Commandments series to offer a one-off discussion of the problem of spiritual pride; Western Christians today need to cultivate a "poverty of spirit," a deep realization and ownership of our personal neediness, incompleteness, and brokenness. | |||
| ST59: Do Not Murder (Ten Commandments Series) | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:30:54 | |
AJ and Nijay continue with the sixth commandment, "Do not murder." Now, at first glance that seems like an easy thing, but Scripture and Christian theology have a lot to say, not only about the evil of ending life, but also about the responsibility of protecting and blessing life. Explore this important subject further and listen in. | |||
| ST58: Honoring Your Father and Your Mother (Ten Commandments Series) | 20 Sep 2024 | 00:23:06 | |
AJ and Nijay dive into the commandment to "honor your father and your mother." What does this mean? Not just for children, but for adults as well? In a time where there is generational conflict over politics, this could be a very urgent message for healing divides today. | |||
| ST57: Remembering the Sabbath (Ten Commandments Series) | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:36:04 | |
AJ and Nijay continue their Ten Commandments series; this time: Remember the Sabbath. Much of their discussion derives from insights from AJs bestselling book SUBVERSIVE SABBATH. | |||
| ST56: Honoring God's Name (A Ten Commandments Podcast Series) | 22 Aug 2024 | 00:27:03 | |
We often think that not taking the Lord's name in vain means not blurting out "Jesus Christ!" Or "God d*** it!" It's good to respect God's name, but this commandment is far deeper and more pervasively important than watching your tongue when you stub your toe. Check out AJ and Nijay's discussion about what it means to honor God's name in our words and our whole lives. | |||
| ST55: No Other God, No Idols (A Ten Commandments Podcast Series) | 16 Aug 2024 | 00:35:23 | |
AJ and Nijay get into the the first set of commandments, which form the fountainhead for the rest: singular allegiance to YHWH and rejection of idols. The Ten Commandments is much more than a list of don'ts, it is a mini-theology, pointing to a rich life within the healthy boundaries God has established for image-bearing creatures. | |||
| ST54: "I am YHWH, your God...": Introducing a Ten Commandments Podcast Series | 29 Jul 2024 | 00:26:34 | |
Slow Theology is excited to introduce a new series on the Ten Commandments (10C). Join AJ and Nijay as they process this foundation text in Scripture and how it forms our spirituality, theology, ethics, and life together. In this first episode they introduce the background and context of the 10C, and discuss the prescript statement, "I am YHWH, your God, who brought you out of Egypt" (Ex 20:2). | |||
| ST53: Emotionally Navigating News about "Church Evil" | 22 Jul 2024 | 00:29:16 | |
It's all too easy to doomscroll news about "church evil," the harrowing revelations regarding issues of abuse and corruption in Christian communities. In the past, AJ and Nijay have discussed the theological, moral, and philosophical implications of this dark reality coming to light, but in this new episode they discuss the emotional textures of facing this disheartening and horrifying news on a constant basis. | |||
| ST52: Choosing Carefully Your "Confessors" and Confidants | 11 Jul 2024 | 00:22:18 | |
Do you have people in your life that you can share your darker struggles with, and confess your sins to? AJ and Nijay talk about being very selective and careful about finding your "confessors" and confidants; people that are not only safe, but also wise and care about your faith and relationship with Jesus. | |||
| ST51: Ways We Can't Be Like Jesus | 03 Jul 2024 | 00:27:06 | |
**Possible Trigger Warning** | |||
| ST50: "Work Out Your Salvation"—What is Paul Talking About? (Philippians 2:12) | 04 Jun 2024 | 00:29:51 | |
In Philippians 2:12, Paul writes, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..." This verse has perplexed many readers, because on the surface it appears that Paul is talking about earning salvation, so what happened to justification by grace?? AJ and Nijay love talking about reading the Bible well in context, check it out. | |||
| ST49: What the Questions Jesus Asked Teaches Us | 31 May 2024 | 00:27:57 | |
Jesus is remembered as a great teacher, but he also had many conversations with people he met and he asked a lot of questions (well over 100 questions from the lips of Jesus in the Gospels). What can we learn about Jesus from his questions? What can we learn about the Gospel? What can we learn about our faith? AJ and Nijay reflect on these questions. | |||
| ST48: What's the Best Bible Translation? (Hint: It's a Trick Question) | 23 May 2024 | 00:24:37 | |
AJ and Nijay talk about a common question they get in the church and classroom: What's the best Bible translation? If you're curious, listen in on their conversation. | |||
| ST47: From Spiritual Pride to Humility and Love | 20 May 2024 | 00:30:48 | |
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves" (Rom 15:1) | |||
| ST46: Nurturing a Non-Reactive Theology | 08 May 2024 | 00:28:27 | |
What happens when your theological heroes change their mind, let you down, or leave the faith? It can be uncomfortable, sometimes devastating. In keeping with the theme of "slow theology," AJ and Nijay address this struggle and encourage a non-reactive theology. | |||
| ST45: Strange Religion (AJ Interviews Nijay) | 01 May 2024 | 00:31:16 | |
In the previous episode, Nijay interviewed AJ about his latest book, The Gift of Thorns (ST44). This time around, AJ and Nijay chat about Nijay's latest, Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling (Brazos Press, 2024). | |||
| ST44: The Gift of Thorns (Nijay Interviews AJ) | 25 Apr 2024 | 00:31:22 | |
AJ has written an important new book called THE GIFT OF THORNS. Nijay and AJ discuss why AJ wrote this, a bit of his own story, and how unfulfilled wants can lead us into deeper spiritual life with Christ. This is a raw and vulnerable conversation. (WARNING: adult content is briefly discussed) | |||
| ST43: Praying "Deliver Us from Evil" (Slow Prayer) | 16 Apr 2024 | 00:23:52 | |
AJ and Nijay finish out their series on the Lord's Prayer and how to process the prayer Jesus taught us and learn how to pray slowly and authentically before God. Can we (smarty-pants moderns) really believe in evil? Should we fear evil? What does deliverance/rescue look like? Listen in—and please give Slow Theology and rating on your preferred listening app. | |||
| ST42: Praying "Lead Us Not Into Temptation" (Slow Prayer) | 25 Mar 2024 | 00:29:45 | |
AJ and Nijay continue their series on prayer. They get into theological questions like "what is temptation?" and "Does God influence temptation, if so why?" But they also talk about how this prayer shapes our Christian lives. | |||
| ST41: Praying "Forgive Us" (Slow Prayer) | 12 Mar 2024 | 00:30:16 | |
AJ and Nijay continue to journey slowly through the Lord's Prayer. They reckon with the challenge of forgiving one another, and how important this is as a spiritual practice and an act of trust in God. | |||
| ST40: Praying "Give Us Daily Bread" (Slow Prayer) | 28 Feb 2024 | 00:28:42 | |
AJ and Nijay continue with their Slow Prayer series focusing on the Lord's Prayer. How does it shape our prayer life to pray "Give us this day our daily bread"? | |||
| ST39: Praying "Your Kingdom Come" (Slow Prayer) | 20 Feb 2024 | 00:29:09 | |
AJ and Nijay continue the "Slow Prayer" series, journeying through the Lord's Prayer line by line. In this ep. they discuss the "cry for the kingdom" (as theologian Stanley Grenz puts it). | |||
| ST38: Praying "Our Father in Heaven..." (Slow Prayer) | 14 Feb 2024 | 00:29:49 | |
Why does it matter how we address God? Why "Our Father"? What does it mean that He lives "in Heaven?" And what does it mean to "hallow" God's Name? AJ and Nijay discuss the beginning of the prayer Jesus gave us. (Remember, you don't pray alone, you pray with Jesus) | |||
| ST37: Slow Prayer (Introducing a Lord's Prayer Series) | 06 Feb 2024 | 00:31:05 | |
Nijay and AJ are kicking off a multi-episode series about prayer, with a focus on the Lord's Prayer. Join them for this introductory episode where they chat about why this short prayer from Jesus has been so important in the history of the Church—and how it can shape our spiritual lives today. | |||
| ST36: Walking with a Spouse through their Deconstruction | 30 Jan 2024 | 00:32:44 | |
What happens when your spouse (or close relative/friend) is going through deconstruction and you aren't? It can be a jarring and disheartening experience, and it comes with lots of possible and normal emotions like anger, fear, sadness, compassion, or uncertainty. AJ and Nijay process this together based on insights from Scripture and personal experiences. | |||
| ST35: What Children Can Teach Us About Theology and Faith | 18 Jan 2024 | 00:29:20 | |
AJ and Nijay dialogue about an important question: How would our faith be transformed if we learned with and from children? Too often children are hidden in the church, treated as distractions or underformed community members. But maybe we adults have something to learn FROM children. Listen in to this important conversation. | |||
| ST34: End of Year '23 Episode: Book Recommendations & More! (Podcast Short) | 28 Dec 2023 | 00:09:53 | |
AJ and Nijay wish everyone a happy new year! This Podcast Short is a brief chat about their favorite reads of the year, but also that it is okay not to read everything and sometimes its the best thing to kick back and listen to podcasts! | |||
| ST33: The Christmas Episode! | 21 Dec 2023 | 00:23:26 | |
Christmas can be the best of times, but it can also be lonely, stressful, and exhausting. Nijay and AJ have some fun in this episode, but also talk about some of the hard stuff about the holidays too. Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas! | |||