Ancient Jesus/Future Faith
Who is Jesus? What does the Bible actually say about…well, everything? Is there a future for faith beyond Evangelicalism? On this weekly podcast, pastor Don Schiewer, Sarah Mainardi, and Dr. Tana M. Schiewer consider these questions and ask many more. Each week, they use the tools of Biblical scholarship to deconstruct misinterpretations of Scripture, uncover the history and context of Jesus, and build a path forward for Christianity that creates safety and freedom for all.
Note: we are currently on hiatus, so we will not be posting any new episodes for the foreseeable future.
Episodes
41 episodes
306. Did God Create Evil?
Did God create evil? What is evil? If God didn't create evil, where did it come from? Don and Tana explore the origins of evil, concepts of justice, and what it means for the world to have both light and darkness.Previous podcast episod...
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47:45
305. What if God Could Retell Your Story?
What if God could retell your story? For today's episode, we are sharing a teaching of Don's from 2011 called The Great Reteller. This recording is from a guest speaking slot at Genesis Church in Toledo. It is a simple yet profound message abou...
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31:17
304. Do We Need the Church?
Do Christians need the church? What should the church be today? Don and Tana discuss the status of the Church in the U.S., what it is, what it isn't, and what it could be.
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52:33
303. Why Do Christians Hate Social Justice?
Why do Christians seem to hate social justice? Why does it feel like they'd dislike Jesus if they met him in real life? In this episode, Don and Tana explore the "warnings" against social justice language in churches, starting with Glenn Beck i...
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54:49
302. Evangelism vs. Discipleship: Understanding the Great Commission
Is the Great Commission about evangelism or discipleship? What does it truly mean to be a disciple? Don and Tana discuss the meaning of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and explore the difference between evangelism and discipleship. ...
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54:49
301. Did Jesus Really Abolish the Law?
Did Jesus really abolish the law? What does it mean that he "fulfilled" it? And what does that mean for us? Tana and Don the example of Jesus and what it means to keep an active faith.
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51:38
211. Did Judas Really Betray Jesus?
Did Judas really betray Jesus? Or was he trying to accomplish something else? Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss how the traditional explanation of Judas' betrayal doesn't quite make sense, uncover Judas' true motivations, and reconsider his place in...
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58:52
210. What is Biblical Marriage?
What is a "biblical marriage?" What do people mean by that NOW, and what did it mean THEN? Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss the economic system of marriage in the bible, Paul's desire for singleness, and how many of the directives of God about marr...
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1:01:28
209. Sabbath as Protest
What is the best way to keep the Sabbath? Are "Sabbath" and "The Lord's Day" the same thing? Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss the true definition of Sabbath and how it has been changed over the years. By exploring it in context and contemplating th...
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58:43
208. Why aren't Christians Moving More Mountains? (Faith vs. Faithfulness)
What does it mean to have faith the size of a mustard seed? What does it mean to be faithful? Don, Sarah, and Tana explore the idea of "faith" vs. "faithfulness," the missed potential of "faithful Christians," and the question that plagues many...
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59:34
BONUS! Matt Nightingale on LGBTQ+ Christians and the Church
This bonus episode is the audio from our March 9th live stream with Matt Nightingale. We had a terrific time talking about what it's like being queer and Christian, how to respond to fundamentalists, embracing ambiguity in faith, and what is ne...
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1:10:46
207. The Real Proverbs 31 Woman
Will the real Proverbs 31 woman please stand up?We read the Proverbs 31 passage every Mother's Day, with the implication that the "virtuous wife" is not only a wife, but a mother too. But is that really what Proverbs 31 says? Over the y...
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56:57
206. The Parable of the Sower (is NOT about Evangelism)
Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss various ways of looking at the parable of the sower, which is often - and incorrectly - interpreted as a parable about evangelism.Passages discussed: Matthew 13
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50:46
BONUS! Preserving Black History with Christopher Boniface Sanchez
This bonus episode is the audio from a Faith Uncensored interview with Christopher Boniface Sanchez. Chris talks about preserving black history through his work with Christiansburg Institute, Inc. in Virginia, shares a bit about his advocacy ...
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1:20:50
205. Bringing Heaven to Earth: Jacob Part 2
We continue our exploration of Jacob's story. Picking up after the stolen blessing, we discuss his fractured relationship with Esau, Jacob's Ladder, additional blessings from God, Rachel and Leah, and how Jacob's story is kind of like a...Hallm...
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55:36
204. The Parable of the Lost Sheep Explained: An Alternate Reading
We discuss an alternative understanding of the parable of the lost sheep. Is the sheep "lost" or is the shepherd irresponsible? What lessons can we draw from this (and the parables of the coin and son) and apply to how we treat those we conside...
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56:33
203. Mobile Sanctuaries: Creating Salvation and Safety for Others
Sarah shares a powerful teaching with us, starting with the details of the ark of the covenant and then relating them to the power of all of us living and studying in community. Together, we explore what it means to create salvation and safety ...
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55:56
202. Jacob the Wrestler and Esau the Hunter
In this episode, we continue our discussion of the family of Rebekah by exploring the life of Jacob. From Jacob wrestling in the womb with Esau to wrestling with God, we discuss Jacob's consistent struggles through life as well as his relations...
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56:04
BONUS! Faith Under De/Re-Construction: Racial Justice and the Church
This is a recording of our Faith Under De/Re-Construction live stream on January 16, 2023, in which we discuss racial justice and the Church - and question what is a good way to recognize (and not anesthetize) the legacy of Martin Luther King J...
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1:11:35
BONUS: Let's Talk About Deconstruction!
In this bonus episode of the podcast, we're providing the audio from our livestream conversation on deconstruction. We talk a little bit about Don and Tana's deconstruction journey, reconstruction, and the messiness of it all.
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1:20:05
201. Rebekah the Strong
We're back for season two, and we're kicking off the new year by celebrating women's strength. Join Don, Tana, and Sarah as we explore the strength of Rebekah, her relationships with the men around her, and some gender-bending truths about her ...
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51:01
BONUS! Faith Uncensored with David P. Gushee
Today we're sharing the audio from our YouTube live stream with David P. Gushee. Rev. Prof. Dr. David P. Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University, Chair of Christian Social Ethics at Vrije Universite...
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1:23:03
119. Why is Jesus' Birth Story Important?
Was Jesus really born in December? What holiday traditions are based on Christianity vs. paganism? How do we limit Jesus when we try to keep him in "baby" form? In this episode, Don, Sarah, and Tana discuss the similarities of Jesus' birth stor...
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54:25
118. How do we handle grief? (Emotions pt. 3)
How should we grieve? How should we handle other people's grief? In this episode, Don, Sarah, and Tana talk about how most Christians don't handle grief well and how we can do better.Passage mentioned: Psalm 30: 5Authors mentioned: ...
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59:30
117. Does God Want Me To Be Happy? (Emotions Part 2)
What does the bible say about happiness? Does God want us to be happy? In this part two of our series on emotions, we explore the concept of "happiness" and how it is often seen as a negative in some Christian circles. We explore the difference...
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59:11