Jesus At 2am - A Humorous, Intelligent Look At The Bible, Church History & The Life Of Faith

Isaiah presents us with another poetic glimpse into God's salvation, this time describing the people of God on pilgrimage home from exile. As they travel through the desert, the redeemed of God find both themselves and the very desert around them being transformed with and by new life. It's a vision of sovereign grace, and one clearly foreshadowing the ministry of Jesus. And thus this text gives us a moment to discuss the sensus plenior (fuller meaning) of a text - a tool of great importance in biblical study, esp. in interpreting the prophets. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Isaiah 35:1-10 (NRSV) To see the map of the divided kingdom to which Kirk refers, click here. What to listen to Kirk's Advent/Christmas playlist? Check out Christmas at 2AM on Spotify! Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

How far can we dream of a world set right? What can we imagine of creation on the other side of salvation? In this episode we continue our look at the vision of salvation that God provides through the prophet Isaiah. And what we see is a coming king of such justice can compassion that his reign leads to a complete transformation of creation. Enmities that we'd never dream could be healed will be reconciled. And hostilities we think are simply facts of life will be turned to life-giving friendships. In short, we get a glimpse of what life looks like when love wins. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Isaiah 11:1-10 (NRSV) What to listen to Kirk's Advent/Christmas playlist? Check out Christmas at 2AM on Spotify! Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

That God intends to save the world from the curse of sin has been clear from the very beginning of the biblical story. But it is through the 8th-century BC prophet Isaiah that God begins to reveal the specifics of how this salvation will unfold. What emerges is a vision of a coming messiah (anointed one) who will bring a radical transformation to history. And in this first of four sermons on Isaiah, we look at the peace God will establish - a peace so complete that humanity will choose to forever turn their swords and spears into the instruments of harvest and abundance! The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Luke 24:13-27 (NRSV) Isaiah 2:1-5 (NRSV) What to listen to Kirk's Advent/Christmas playlist? Check out Christmas at 2AM on Spotify! Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What more appropriate end to a letter such as Romans than a prayer, particularly a prayer in praise of God's goodness and glory? In this episode we examine Paul's closing doxology in detail and in the process review all that we have learned from him about the saving work of God. If it has the effect Paul intends, our ultimate response will be one of thankful worship expressed in carrying on the work of Jesus to the ends of the earth.   The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 16:25-27 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

As Paul approaches the conclusion of his letter, he extends personal greetings individuals in Rome. It's a list of mostly Greek names that we know little about, struggle to pronounce and are very much inclined to skip. BUT...if we take the time to examine the details, we discover a great deal about the structure of the Roman church (and the early church in general), not least the prominence of women in leadership (named apostles!) - a role that was sadly lost for centuries and needs to be reestablished! The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 16:1-(24?) (NRSV)   Want to see the very first Jesus at 2AM video: Essentials of Church History, Part 01?  Click here! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

As he approaches the end of his letter, Paul turns his attention to immediate and personal matters, most particularly his plans for the future - plans for trips to Jerusalem (to deliver a financial offering) and to Spain (to proclaim the gospel). In doing so, Paul opens an important window into himself and the world of the 1st century church. But he also allows us to see - in retrospect - how God was at work in ways that even Paul did not foresee. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 15:14-16:2 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The followers of Jesus are tragically prone to argue with each other. We bicker about theology, about worship, about piety and morality, sometimes to the point of church schism (the undoing of the very community we are called to create). So it is now, and so it was for the first century Roman church. In this episode, we look at Paul's instruction to the Roman congregation regarding church unity amidst conflict, and his insistence that the mature in faith be patient, and the immature be humble. A lesson we all need! The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 14:1-15:13 (NRSV) Love beer? Going to be anywhere near Spokane, WA? You have to visit Lumberbeard Brewing Co.! Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The call to love the other - the neighbor, the stranger, even the enemy - is foundational to the Christian life. But why are we to love them? And perhaps even more importantly, how? Where do we find the mean to love those with whom we have no natural bond or affection, or perhaps those who would do us harm? In this episode we examine Paul's instruction on the love of other and how it is to be achieved. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 13:8-14 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The foundational confession of Christianity is that Jesus is Lord (and thus Caesar is not). So what are Christian to do with Caesar? What role has the civil government? In this episode Paul takes up the question of the relationship between the church and the state and arrives - as you might expect - at a very nuanced answer. Civil government is ordained by God, but that does not mean every governor is a divine appointee. How Christians are to navigate the distinction is the subject of this sermon. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 13:1-7 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sometimes life hands us the worst case scenario. This is a sermon about those moments and where we can find hope. It is not a sermon of platitude or cheap advice, but a deep look at scripture's own articulation of hope as found in Psalm 46. It's a poem none of us wants to need. But when we need it, we are so grateful for its presence. If you'd like to read the poem, you can find it here: Psalm 46 (NRSV)     Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

It will come as no surprise that, as Paul turns his attention to daily Christian living, love once again takes center stage. Having allowed our minds to be shaped by the Holy Spirit, now we are to live out the love of God toward others in some very specific ways. In this episode Paul details the manner of love that befits the Christian life - a manner which turns out to mirror the very love of Christ. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 12:9-21 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Having revolutionized Hebrew theology, Paul now turns his attention to practice - how we are to live as the people of God for whom future salvation is breaking into the present, people who possess the Holy Spirit in our individual and collective center. And Paul's answer begins with nothing less than the very transformations of our minds. In this episode, guest preacher Joe Haley takes us through the passage that begins Paul's new section on Christian living in the real world. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 12:1-8 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

At last we arrive at the ultimate question: Who is saved? We know by now that the answer is "the elect" (those whom God chooses to save). But who are the elect? Does God simply pick some for salvation (and either actively or passively choose others for damnation)? Does God turn the question back on us and let us determine for ourselves? Or is there a way in which God saves...everyone? In this episode we examine the conclusion to Paul's explanation of the salvation of the world and who is included. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 11:25-36 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The last piece in the puzzle of the salvation of the world is answering the question of who constitutes "the saved." For most of biblical history, the assumed answer was: Israel. But now, on the other side of the resurrection, a strange thing is happening: Gentiles are coming to faith (Paul's surest sign of salvation) en masse, while most of Israel is not. What are we to make of it all? In this episode Paul continues his explanation of God's saving intent with the analogy of an olive tree... The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 11:13-24 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

So, has God rejected his covenant people (thereby calling his faithfulness into question)??? Today we begin to see that the answer is no. And to explain what is happening with Israel's seeming rejecting of Jesus, Paul turns to the Hebrew scripture's theme of a "saved remnant." There is, says Paul, a subset of Israel set apart for faith. And through that remnant God is working out the salvation of us all. It is a brilliant piece of biblical interpretation and sensitivity to God that will inspire you. The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 11:1-12 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For those of us who’ve spent years in Christianity, the connection between the promises of God to Israel, the visions of the prophets, the ministry of Jesus and the mission of the church may seem (somewhat) clear. But that is only because Paul has made them clear! In this episode we look at an example of biblical interpretation par excellence, as Paul weave together strands of the scriptures never connected before, but once seen, reveal God's coherent plan for the salvation of the world.  The biblical passages referenced in this sermon are:  Romans 10:14-21 (NRSV) Isaiah 52 (NRSV) Isaiah 53 (NRSV) Psalm 19 (NRSV) Deuteronomy 32 (NRSV) Isaiah 65 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

As Paul continues his discussion of salvation by election, it seems there has come a tremendous reversal: Gentiles (non-Jews) are coming to faith (the sign of election) in Christ, while most of ethnic Israel (heirs of the covenant promise of salvation) is not. What explains this turn of events? What mistake (if any) is Israel making? And does it all boil down to the classical Protestant debate between "faith" and "works"? Or is there still more to understand about the breath of God's redemptive purposes?  The biblical passages referenced in this sermon are:  Romans 9:30-10:13 (NRSV) Deuteronomy 30:1-14 (NRSV) Ezekiel 36:24-28 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Paul now turns to the seeming contradiction between justice and election. If one is saved only by God's sovereign choice, where is the justice in divine condemnation? It is a debate as old as theology and pivotal in the development of Western Christianity. While reminding humans of the need for humility before the divine will, Paul develops the analogy of a potter and his clay: Does clay have a claim to justice before a potter? The short answer is no, but perhaps there is a story behind the story...   The biblical passages referenced in this sermon are:  Romans 9:19-29 (NRSV) Job 38:1-7 (NRSV) Jeremiah 18:1-11 (NRSV) Isaiah 45:9-13 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

From soaring heights of hope, Paul plunges dramatically to near despair as he now turns his attention to Israel and her collective lack of faith. After all, if, as Paul has argued, faith is the ultimate sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit at one's center, and the Spirit the sign and seal of our inclusion in the community of God's salvation, what is to be made of Israel's rejection of Jesus? Can it mean that Israel has been cut off from the covenant? And if so what does is say about their election???   The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 9:1-18 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you are looking for hope, you have come to the right place! In this episode we arrive at Paul's unequivocal declaration that there is nothing, truly nothing, that can separate God's people from his love. Nothing in life, nothing in death, nothing of any earthly ruler or spiritual power...nothing. Indeed so sovereign the God of love, that he can make all things work together for our ultimate good. Amen! It has been deep intellectual work to get here, but now we see the payoff: utter confidence in grace! The biblical passage referenced in this sermon is:  Romans 8:28-39 (NRSV) Want more content from Jesus at 2AM?? Learn how to become a patron! Want to connect? You can send e-mail here. Or find Jesus at 2AM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.