The Eikon Podcast

Jeff, Gianna, and Michael explore the challenges and responsibilities of living as a Christian community in today's world. They discuss the importance of embodying the teachings of Jesus, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, and the need to focus on community engagement rather than just individual conversion. They highlight the tension between political power and the cross-shaped life that Jesus exemplified, urging listeners ...

S7E209 – Exilic Gospel: Subversive Witness

Gianna, Jeff, and Michael explore the complex relationship between the kingdom of God and the dynamics of empire, particularly in the context of exile. They discuss the importance of understanding one's identity as an exile, the instructions given in Jeremiah 29 for those in Babylon, and the call to seek shalom in a foreign land. The conversation also delves into the various responses...

The Eikon team explores the themes of exile, identity, and leadership in the context of the gospel and the Old Testament. They delve into the concept of exile as a central theme in the Bible, and examine God's design for kingship, militarism, the economy and status in Israel's history. They consider this as a clarifying metric for the embodied gospel and a conundrum for claims of any country that wishes to claim the statu...

In this episode, Michael Burns and Thabani welcome special guest, Alfredo Valentin, the BK apologist. They delve into the complex world of urban apologetics, focusing on the Black Hebrew Israelite movement. They explore the theological implications, historical context, and appeal of this ideology, particularly among marginalized communities. The conversation also touches on strategies for engaging with Hebrew Israelites and the imp...

In this conversation, the Eikon team explores the themes of allegiance, exile, and the nature of the church in relation to the kingdom of God. They discuss how the early church navigated political subversion and the implications of living as exiles in a world that often contradicts the values of the kingdom. The conversation emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of what it means to pledge allegiance to Jesus and the challe...

The Eikon team continues to analyze the whole gospel, which differs from incomplete versions in its formation of community, the role of baptism, and especially what we understand as the primary mission of the church. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections

8:38 The Whole Gospel: Understanding Community and Individuality

13:36 The Challenge of Individualism in the Gospel

19:48 Baptism and the Role of the Church

23:00 The Ro...

S7E203 – Giants and the Bible

Thabani and Michael delve into the complex interpretations of Genesis 6 and explore the supernatural view of the Nephilim, discussing how early Jewish and Christian beliefs shaped the understanding of these figures as giants and their implications in biblical narratives. The discussion also touches on the cultural memory of giants across civilizations and the language used in ancient texts, emphasizing...

The Eikon team examines the gospel story, highlighting aspects often left out or missed altogether. Through the lens of the narrative, they explore the concept of image bearers and their rebellion against God, the role of Elohim, and the significance of the Tower of Babel. They discuss Israel's purpose as a light to the nations and how Jesus embodies the fulfillment of God's plan. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and banter

06...

S7E201: Christian Nationalism and the Role Gospel

The Eikon Team delves into the concept of role gospels, discussing how identity and roles play a crucial part in understanding the gospel message. They examine variations of the role gospel including Christian Nationalism, the anti-immorality gospel, and distorted justice. They discuss historical parallels with Rome, the importance of humility and critique within the church, and the...

Michael and Gianna welcome Jeff Hickman as the newest member of the Eikon team. They continue their series on the story of the gospel by exploring the ‘soul gospel and the implications of viewing the gospel primarily as a means of saving souls. They discuss the invention of the Great Commission as the primary mission and substance of discipleship, emphasizing the need for a more holistic understanding of the whole gospel. 

Chapters

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In this episode of The Other Realm, Michael and Thabani delve into the intriguing topics of aliens and UFOs, exploring cultural beliefs, scientific perspectives, and biblical connections. They discuss the varying beliefs about extraterrestrial life in Western and African cultures, the phenomenon of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and the overlap between alien encounters and spiritual experiences. 

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction ...

Michael and Jason discuss the impact of the gospel on community versus individualism and how individualism shapes our understanding of spirituality and the church. They explore the themes of community, the role of Israel and Jesus in God's plan, and the importance of understanding scripture from a collective perspective. They discuss the concept of election, the display of God's love through Israel, and the significance o...

In this episode of the Icon Podcast, hosts Gianna, Michael, and Jason start a journey of exploring the gospel of Jesus the King. The conversation delves into the importance of storytelling in understanding the Gospel and how different starting points can shape one's perception of faith. They emphasize the importance of context and the narrative preceding the New Testament while addressing alternative interpretations of the Gos...

The Eikon Team explores themes of personal growth, spirituality, and the importance of community, as they share their favorite resources and moments of the year. Michael reveals his five favorite reads of 2024 and recommends several helpful online resources. Gianna shares her personal growth and spiritual reflections by looking at her favorite moments of the year.  Finally, they look ahead to what is in store for 2025 with Season 7...

In this end-of-season-six episode, Michael, Gianna, and Jason discuss the concept of new creation and the importance of keeping Christ at the center of our lives. They explore how different passions within the church can sometimes lead to division and how to navigate that in a loving and Christ-centered way. They also touch on the dangers of becoming too focused on one aspect of the gospel and losing sight of the bigger picture. Th...

Special Episode: We are making the season finale of our special Patreon series, The Misfits, available this week for everyone to enjoy. This is the eleventh episode in the series so far. If you would like to hear the rest of the series, please help support this podcast by signing up at www.patreon.com/eikonpodcast.com.

Summary: In this episode, the hosts discuss the balance between the church's responsibility to accom...

Gianna, Jason, and Michael discuss the challenges and misconceptions of marriage and parenting within the context of new creation theology. They emphasize the importance of power-with rather than power-over in parenting and the need for vulnerability and authenticity in marriage. They also highlight the significance of modeling Jesus in both parenting and marriage, rather than just teaching about Jesus. The team then explores the i...

In this episode, Michael, Gianna, and Jason discuss the danger of placing too much emphasis on specific spiritual practices and judging others based on their level of engagement in those practices. They also highlight the significance of work, leisure, and everyday activities as acts of worship. The conversation concludes by acknowledging that everyone's journey of worship is unique and that there is no one-size-fits-all appro...