TEN FOOT POLE

Welcome to our first episode on the book of Revelation in our 5 week study.  This week, Dr. Lewis and Pastor A.J. lay out some of the context for what is to come.  The book of Revelation may not be even remotely what we have heard in popular culture.  It’s not about the end of the world, but rather a word of encouragement for the church.  Stay tuned for more on the visions from Revelation!

Discussion Questions

1. What have you learn...

Happy *almost* Easter everyone!  For this episode Pastor A.J. and Pastor Melissa dive into the Gospel lesson for Easter Sunday: Luke 24:1-12 and some death and resurrection theology.  What does it mean to be people of faith living in the wake of the resurrection? What is our focus?

Discussion Questions:

1.  What does it mean for your faith to live in the light of the resurrection?

2. What's at the front of your worship space? What...

Two ADHD pastors talk about the morals of Judas, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Jesus.  Everything from bad boyfriend behavior to some questions of sexuality.  Join for this fun and funny conversation on John 12:1-8 for Sunday, April 6t, 2025. 

Discussion Questions:

1.  What is your working resurrection theology around Jesus and Lazarus?

2. How have you thought about Jesus’ rebuke of using the expensive oil before?

3. Do you think Jesus is...

Pastor Colby is the author of Unclobber and The Shift. Check out Ep 3.26 for our conversation on Unclobber.  Today, Pastor Colby and Pastor A.J. unpack some differences between conservative evangelical perspectives and a more Lutheran one, some sacramental theology, and sin from different perspectives. Pastor Colby shares different perspectives on theology and what were things that were “shifted” in his discernment away from conser...

The Queer Bible Study group at the Jacksonville Campus Ministry unpack Paul.  They talk about different perspectives on Paul, his personality, his faith, and his potential queerness.  Dive into hear these amazing college students share their faith, theology, and perspectives on one of our Biblical writers! Episode guests include: Rev. Sarah Locke, Sam Rakita, Annaliese Trammel, & Geo Peterson.

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ev...

Pastor Carla and Pastor A.J. dive into Philippians 3:17—4:1 for Sunday, March 16, 2025. Paul is talking to Roman colonizers in Philippi and challenging them to look to Christ and the apostles for behavior guidance for living out their calling as followers of Christ.  What is their emphasis? Their nation? Their privileges? Or looking towards equity for all people in the body of Christ?

Discussion Questions:

1.  How can we use our priv...

Pastor Sarah and Pastor A.J. dive into the “Gospel according to Paul in a nutshell” from 1st Corinthians 15.  What does it mean to believe in vain? What does a faith that lives out the Gospel look like? Paul brings us into the word, speaking about how he was lifeless and in the promise of Jesus’ death and resurrection, he is given new life. 

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you understand Paul’s comment of being “lifelessly born”...

This week, we are diverging from the Bible to address the most uncomfortable conversation: Religion and Politics.  What’s going on right now in the religious state of the union? Seems like a lot, what do we listen to and what is even true?  I don’t know where you get your religious news, but let me introduce you to Jack Jenkins.  Here’s just a little interview with my favorite religion reporter in DC.  Jack has access to a lot of e...

The story of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers is filled with hope, despair, and lots of tears.  Dr. Chan and Pastor A.J. dive into this uncomfortable reunion and ask the big questions about God’s interventions in our midst.  We tackle everything from Divine Providence, theodicy, and even predestination theology. Join us for this deep conversation! We discuss Genesis 45:3-11, 15 for Sunday, February 23, 2025.

Discussion Questions:

1...

Good News? Pastor Jesse and Pastor A.J. dive into the Sermon on the Plain from the Gospel of Luke.  Blessed are you and woe to you! How does this compare to the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew? What is the author of Luke really getting at?  And for goodness sakes, where is the hope?!  Luke 6:17-26 for Sunday, February 16, 2025.

Discussion Questions:

1.  How do you hear the Blessings and Woes? Is it hope or warning?

2. How do you u...

Surprise episode! Hello from Athens! Pastor A.J. is on a Footsteps of Paul trip in Greece and Turkey this January. During this late night clergy chat episode we dive into what we are learning about Paul and our discernment with Pauline theology. We’ve got some good questions, nuggets of theology to share, and some VERY contagious laughter! Pastor A.J. is joined by the Rev. Samm Melton-Hill, the Revs. Sarah and Daniel Locke, and the...

It’s almost Christmas!  We dive into the Magnificat.  The story where a teenage girl who recently found out she’s pregnant runs to her bestie to share the news.  In the words of Debie Thomas, “let’s linger here for a minute.”  Linger with Pastor Allison and Pastor A.J. in this moment of dangerous hope for the world to come!  Advent 4, December 22, 2024. 

Discussion Questions:

1. What relationships do you have that are just lovin...

John the Baptist comes to share the good news of some fire and brimstone and pave the way for Jesus.  But is John really that harsh? Could it be that John is calling everyone into the kingdom of God rather than calling people out?  Check out this conversation with Pastor Becca Seely for Advent 3, December 15, 2024.

Discussion Questions:

1. What has been your working theology around John the Baptist’s purpose in the beginning of ...

Pastor Lori and Pastor A.J. talk about John the Baptist in our Advent 2 Gospel lesson. We dive into equity, our baptismal promises, and what repentance means in our lives today.  Join us for this conversation on Luke 3:1-6 for Sunday, December 8th, 2024.

Discussion Questions:

1. Where do we see God entering the world?
2. What is significant for our understanding of this text to understand “world” as the political, powerful realm?
...

We are diving into our Gospel lessons from Luke for the Advent Season.  It’s quite apocalypsy and we are challenged by what Jesus says.  Is it the end of everything? Maybe not.  Maybe Jesus is just calling for the end of the empire.  What is the hope in this? What are we supposed to do with this message?  Dive into Luke 21:25-36 with us for Sunday, December 1, 2024.

Discussion Questions:

1. What can we take from these words of ...

The pinnacle text of terror, buckle up.  Pastor Andrew and Pastor A.J. dive into our last installment of the Judges study with the hardest violence for us to wrestle with: violence where God does not show up.  What do we make of this in our faith and our lives? This discussion is about the Levite’s concubine in Judges 19.  Discussion guide is available at www.tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges

Discussion Questions:

1. Do we accept t...

In our 4th installment of our Judges Study, we take a look at the second part of Samson’s story: the part where Delilah tricks him, cuts his hair, and he commits mass murder with his own suicide.  Where does God fit into all of this? Join Pastor Bre and Pastor A.J. in this heavy conversation about Samson’s final vindictive act.  Discussion guide is available on our website: tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges

Discussion Questions:

1. ...

We are in week 3 of our special Judges study about God-Ordained Violence.  We pick up this week with Samson.  Samson is a figure that has been held in high regard as a hero of Israel… but is he? Tune into this conversation with Pastor Elise to learn more about his story and the violence that surrounds this iconic biblical figure. Study guide for this episode is available at tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges

Discussion Questions:

1. Wha...

In week 2 of our Judges: A Study of God-Ordained Violence, we pick up with the judge: Gideon.  Gideon has a large army to defeat their enemies but God wants them to do it with a smaller army to get all the glory.  Pastor Kyle gives us some great grace-filled insight into God and our relationship with the divine during troubled times.  Discussion guide at: www.tenfootpolepodcast.com/judges

Discussion Questions:

1. How have you exper...