Sermon on the Mount Q+R 5 (E39) – Should we judge abusive behavior in others? Do we need faith in Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be righteous? And how can we discern who is a true or false prophet? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from episodes 30-38 in the Sermon on the Mount series, where we explored Matthew 7:1-27. Plus, we share more of the Lord’s Prayer song submissions. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions to this episode!

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: “Are the opening and closing of the sermon at odds with each other?” (00:00-12:50)
• Chapter 2: “What about judging abusive behavior?” (15:52-27:04)
• Chapter 3: “How can we be peacemakers but avoid throwing pearls before swine?” (29:43-33:55)
• Chapter 4: “Is there a pattern in the Bible of angels guarding significant doorways?” (33:55-40:37)
• Chapter 5: “How can we discern who is a true or false prophet?” (43:40-59:46)
• Chapter 6: “How do you think Jesus connects the Spirit’s power with living righteously?” (1:01:41-1:11:44)

Referenced Resources

• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “The Lord’s Prayer 3” by Poor Bishop Hooper
• “Thine Is the Kingdom” by Aryn Michelle
• “Creator of the Cosmos” by Andrew Eoff
• “The Lord’s Prayer” by Wes Crawford
• “Our Father (Lord’s Prayer)” by Peter Assad
• Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Jon Collins is the creative producer for today’s show, and Tim Mackie is the lead scholar. Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; Colin Wilson, producer. Aaron Olsen edited today's episode and also provided our sound design and mix. Tyler Bailey was supervising engineer. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app.

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The Mountain E3 — The biblical authors portray Eden as a cosmic mountain—an overlapping Heaven and Earth space in God’s presence. Humans are placed on the Eden mountain and given a choice: Will they trust God’s voice and wisdom, or will they seize the knowledge of good and bad on their own terms? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss the drama that plays out on the first cosmic mountain and how it becomes the pattern for every future mountaintop story in the Bible.

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Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Recap of What We’ve Learned So Far (0:00-12:33)
• Chapter 2: The Cosmic Eden Mountain (12:33-33:27)
• Chapter 3: The First Humans Fail the Mountain Test (33:27-58:50)

Referenced Resources

• The Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus by L.M. Morales (Link to PDF, since book is not available for sale)
• The Symbolism of the Biblical World: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the Book of Psalms by Othmar Keel
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Dreamscape Lagoon” by Enzalla
• “Rain or Shine” by Birocratic & Middle School
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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The Mountain E2 — Ancient Israel’s neighbors believed that the world originated as a mountain rising up out of the chaos waters. The gods ruled from this great cosmic mountain, fighting battles with nature and issuing decrees that kept the world in order. So how did this surrounding culture impact the cosmology of the Bible? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss what the cosmic mountain meant in the Ancient Near Eastern context and how the biblical authors adapted and subverted this symbol in surprising ways.

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Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Recap and Intro to Cosmic Mountains in the Ancient Near East (0:00-6:52)
• Chapter 2: Egyptian and Mesopotamian Cosmic Mountains (6:52-17:54)
• Chapter 3: Canaanite and Phoenician Cosmic Mountains (17:54-28:17)
• Chapter 4: Psalm 48: The True Cosmic Mountain (28:17-38:40)

Referenced Resources

• The Cosmic Mountain in Canaan and the Old Testament by Richard J. Clifford
• “The Common Temple Ideology of the Ancient Near East” by John M. Lundquist
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Are We There Yet?” by The Bridge, Efechto & D. Steele
• “Lozari” by L’indécis
• “Lily (Floriana)” by Timothy Brindle
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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The Mountain E1 — What comes to mind when you think of mountains? Is it a strenuous climb or a feeling of smallness as you gaze on the majesty of nature? The biblical authors had similar connotations with mountains, presenting them as sublime, in-between spaces—that are also treacherous! This tension between majesty and danger led ancient Israel and their surrounding neighbors to connect real mountains to “The Mountain,” a cosmic place where Heaven and Earth overlap and the divine and human realms become one. In this episode, Jon and Tim introduce our new theme series, The Mountain.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Introduction to Biblical Mountains (0:00-7:13)
• Chapter 2: What Is a Mountain in the Bible? (7:13-19:22)
• Chapter 3: What Do Mountains Mean in the Bible? (19:22-40:43)

Referenced Resources

• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Astér” by Kissamilé
• “Soulangeana, ft. Dom R” by Illiterate
• “Twins” by Rose Noir
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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How is God’s generosity meant to change us? In the Bible, God’s gifts are intended to bring about transformation in our lives. This generosity challenges our natural tendencies toward selfishness, calling us to live in a community that freely shares and truly loves one another. In this re-released episode from 2019, Tim and Jon explore the teachings of Jesus and the apostles on generosity and ponder the centrality of generosity to the Gospel itself.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Indiscriminate Gifting (0:00-16:32)
• Chapter 2: Give to Your Enemies (16:32-33:35)
• Chapter 3: Grace and Gifts (33:35-45:01)
• Chapter 4: A Blank Checkbook from Jesus (45:01-56:21)

Referenced Resources

• Paul and the Gift by John M. G. Barclay
• You can find our Generosity theme video here.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Clouded Thoughts” by goosetaf
• “Reminisce (feat. HM Surf)” by goosetaf
• “Murmuration” by Blue Wednesday & Shopan
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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What happens when humans misuse the gifts God gives them? From Eve’s attitude toward the births of Cain and Seth, to the Tower of Babel, to Abraham’s response to the promised land, the stories in Genesis reveal a tension between God’s abundant generosity and humanity’s selfish responses. This tension continues when the people of Israel reside in the promised land—a gift they repeatedly misuse. In this re-released episode from 2019, Tim and Jon trace the theme of generosity and scarcity from Genesis to Deuteronomy, uncovering what it means for us today.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: First-Born and Second-Born (00:00-20:05)
• Chapter 2: God Chooses the Unlikely One + TheTower of Babel (20:05-32:21)
• Chapter 3: Abraham Gets the Ultimate Gift (32:21-44:00)
• Chapter 4: Rescued Slaves (44:00-1:02:51)

Referenced Resources

• A Commentary on the Book of Genesis: Part I - From Adam to Noah by Umberto Cassuto
• Created Equal: How the Bible Broke with Ancient Political Thought by Joshua A. Berman
• You can find our Generosity theme video here.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Quietly” by blnkspc_
• “Mind Your Time” by Me.So
• “Cruising” by Evil Needle
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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The Bible begins with a portrait of God as an amazing and generous host to humanity, an image that is on full display in the Genesis creation narrative. But the humans ruin the party in Eden by believing the lies that God is stingy and withholding. In this re-released episode from 2019, Jon and Tim start at the beginning of the Bible, where God seeks to be generous and gracious, and where humans respond with suspicion, greed, jealousy, and murder.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: Always One Horrible Choice From Ruining the Party (00:00-15:04)
• Chapter 2: A Noble-Looking Way to Ruin Abundance (15:04-26:47)
• Chapter 3: The Chosen and the Onlookers (26:47-39:17)

Referenced Resources

• You can find our Generosity theme video here.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Spiral” by KV Twin
• “Leche 005” by Matthew Halbert-Howen
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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What comes to mind when you think of generosity? Is it sharing your money, resources, or even time with others? For the biblical authors, generosity is much more than an act of kindness—it’s a reality woven into the universe, starting with the generous Creator. In this re-released of our 2019 series on generosity, Jon and Tim start by exploring Jesus’ perspective on resources and the Hebrew Bible’s portrayal of God’s gracious abundance.

View more resources on our website →

Timestamps

• Chapter 1: The Theme of Generosity in the Bible (00:00-7:58)
• Chapter 2: Generosity for the Poor, Anxiety About Life, and Birdwatching (7:58-36:25)
• Chapter 3: The Story of Generosity in the Hebrew Bible (36:25-53:06)
• Chapter 4: The Corruption of Abundance (53:06-1:07:04)

Referenced Resources

• You can find our Generosity theme video here.
• Check out Tim’s library here.
• You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

• “Conquer” by Beautiful Eulogy
• “Shot in the Back of the Head” by Moby
• “Scream Pilots” by Moby
• “Analogs” by Moby
• BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Production of today's episode is by Dan Gummel, producer; Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer and remixed this episode for re-release. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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