The Reign of the Judges   The book of Judges presents a hodgepodge of redemption and anarchy, all leading up to theme of the need for a king in Israel (kind of a teaser for the King David sequel). This portion of the episode covers: Judges in historical context The problem with God delivering Israel… Continue Reading

The Reign of the Judges   The book of Judges presents a hodgepodge of redemption and anarchy, all leading up to theme of the need for a king in Israel (kind of a teaser for the King David sequel). This portion of the episode covers: Lessons we learn from Judges (cycles of apostasy and return… Continue Reading

The Reign of the Judges Judges is one of the most memorable books of the Bible, but also one of the darkest. We must first grapple with the moral ambiguity of these stories before we can learn from the power and courage of Deborah, the vulnerability and trust of Gideon, and appreciate Samson for the… Continue Reading

“Be Strong and of a Good Courage”   Most of us know the story of Joshua from childhood. The walls came tumbling down, remember? Upon closer examination however, the book of Joshua is very much a mixed bag, offering both inspiration and difficulty. This portion covers: Joshua and history, focusing on the archaeological excavation of… Continue Reading

“Be Strong and of a Good Courage”   Most of us know the story of Joshua from childhood. The walls came tumbling down, remember? Upon closer examination however, the book of Joshua is very much a mixed bag, offering both inspiration and difficulty. This portion covers: What it means to “be strong and of good… Continue Reading

“Be Strong and of a Good Courage”   Joshua teaches us some important lessons about courageously choosing and cultivating our relationship with God. Unfortunately, these lessons are set within a story of how Joshua and the Israelites followed commands to commit genocide. This update briefly highlights a few of these issues as an introduction to… Continue Reading

“Beware Lest Thou Forget”   This episode continues by discussing the historical background of Deuteronomy and then exploring the science of memory, importance of commemoration, and the way stories can change us. The class also addresses the distinctions between law, commandment, and morality.   Recurring Donation: $5   $10   $25   $50 One Time Donation: $25    … Continue Reading

“Beware Lest Thou Forget”   In this lesson we bid farewell to one of the Bible greats–the prophet Moses. His speech covers themes of remembrance and obedience. The discussion covers ways we can remember our covenants and commitments to be our best selves and serve each other.   Recurring Donation: $5   $10   $25   $50 One… Continue Reading

“Beware Lest Thou Forget”   Moses’ final speech emphasizes the themes of remembrance and covenants. When we remember, we are entering into a relationship with our past selves. Covenants provide us the opportunity to connect our past, present, and future selves as we seek to become better, more like our Savior and Heavenly Parents.  … Continue Reading

“I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord”   This portion covers: Scholarship Balaam in and out of the Bible (including a literary history of Balaam stories) Prophecy in the Ancient Near East Study Notes Return to the reading Decision making and “hesitation”. Healthy and unhealthy hesitation. In order to act without hesitation, how… Continue Reading