Character in Context

Episode 184: The Gospel of Matthew #3—The ‘Greater Than’ Motif/Second Moses

A huge early theme of the Gospel of Matthew that carries throughout is the portrayal of Yeshua as the latter and greater Moses. In addition to this, He also declares Himself to be greater than the Temple and a whole lot of other sacred cows of the first century. This week we will investigate these claims and find out why they are so important to Matthew’s particular audience.

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/11/episode-184-the-gospel-of-matthew-3-the-greater-than-motif-second-moses/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/6zimKlSuW0k

Episode 183: Gospel of Matthew #2--Honor and Shame in the Kingdom of Heaven

What is the Kingdom of Heaven and how does it differ (if at all) from the Kingdom of God spoken of by Mark and Luke? How is it to be compared with the Kingdom of the Beast and the worldly systems of honor and shame culture?

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/11/episode-183-gospel-of-matthew-2-honor-and-shame-in-the-kingdom-of-heaven/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/RYrRBigIdo0

Episode 182: Matthew #1—The who, what, why and when of the “first” Gospel.

Why is the Gospel of Matthew called a biography when it looks absolutely nothing like our modern biographies? What were the rules of writing an ancient life story and how did Matthew use this genre to communicate the story of the Messiah to his very unique audience at a very tumultuous time in history?

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/10/episode-182-matthew-1-the-who-what-why-and-when-of-the-first-gospel/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/_RMRv0sxLRI

Episode 181: Privilege--what it is, isn’t, and why it matters

When I teach the kids, they call me Miss Tyler, but today I am Auntie Tyler. Privilege is a concept that appears all over the Bible and in every sort of literature within it. Privilege is incredibly important within the Biblical narrative--but why? I want to peel back a lot of the rhetoric, talking points, and misinformation out there to take a hard look at how Christians should view privilege and what it should mean in the life of the Body of Christ.

 

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/10/episode-181-privilege-what-it-is-isnt-and-why-it-matters/

 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Omp1KQJaJ1c

Episode 180: Help Me C4K! My Kids Need to Learn about Circumcision!

Or maybe you think they don’t need to learn about Circumcision. Fair enough, but I can’t teach them anything about Genesis 17 and the foundation of the Land Grant Covenant without dealing with it. Neither of us can teach them about the important Scriptural meta-narrative of the circumcision of the heart that they will need to understand in order to live as disciples in the New Creation life we want for them. I will also be talking frankly about the importance of being open and honest with our kids about body parts and sex because if we can’t do that, then they won’t have adequate guides in us for learning the Bible. And when they do have questions, they will find someone else. In addition, I also talk about the importance of calling things what they are, without shame, and how it prevents sexual abuse. 

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/09/episode-180-help-me-c4k-my-kids-need-to-learn-about-circumcision/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/iYhEwnr0uJE

Episode 179: What Yom Kippur Can’t Fix

There are many misconceptions about Yom Kippur but the most grievous is the lack of understanding of exactly what is cleansed and what is forgiven and what is not. Yom Kippur was good news for the community but not necessarily for the individual so this week we will talk about why.

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/09/episode-179-what-yom-kippur-cant-fix/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/G46UG2EHPm8

Episode 178: Psalm 4: What on Earth Is Going on Here??

There is so much debate about this Psalm. Not only does it contain two words that we don’t know what the heck they mean, but the context is quite the mystery. Is the Psalmist (David?) being lied about? Are the Kingdom elites resorting to Ba’al worship in order to bring an end to a famine? Is this Psalm 3 part 2 where David’s advisors are defecting to Absalom? Lots of questions and lots of debate.

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/09/episode-178-psalm-4-what-on-earth-is-going-on-here/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/42lW87CiS08

Episode 177: Psalm 3-- ”Mimzor l’David?”

What is a Psalm of David? Or is it a Psalm by David? A Psalm in the style of David or about him? This week we will talk about irritating Hebrew conjunctions and why context is incredibly important—and sometimes unknowable. And what about the fourteen titled Psalms? How do we read this one in light of David and Absalom? The Bible is a messy book about messy people and messy situations and so this Psalm is going to be really messy too.

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/09/episode-177-psalm-3-mimzor-ldavid/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/IXKgCjbL4DA

Episode 176 Psalm 2: More than Messianic

Psalm 2 is one of the most famous “Messianic” psalms out there but it also pairs with Psalm 1 to teach the readers how to view the entire collection of hymns, laments, and royal tributes. How do Psalm1 and Psalm 2 work as a team in introducing the rest of the psalter? Why is it important for wisdom and kingship to dwell side by side in Covenant relations?

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/08/episode-176-psalm-2-more-than-messianic/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/fyonTJg9AjM

Episode 175: Psalm 1--A Proverb in the Psalms?

This is the beginning of a new series exploring the Psalms. I am going to alternate between the Psalms and the Gospel of Matthew because knowing the Psalms will help with understanding this Gospel and Yeshua’s/Jesus’s role as the Greater Moses as well as the Greater David. It won’t be obvious at first, but after a while it really will begin to make sense.

Transcript: https://theancientbridge.com/2023/07/episode-175-psalm-1/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/05Vnl-DvsgU