It's spooky season, so Patrick and Elise jump into Horror movies and ask "Why do so many of them contain religious themes?" It doesn't matter if you're a sacredy cat or a hardcore horror affeciando you'll enjoy this Fang-tastic episode.

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Empathy. Do you know what it means? Do you think its a sin? Patrick and Pastor David challenge a teaching that floats on the periphery of our modern church that empathy is actually a sin and a trap of the devil. Instead, they offer a vision of empathy that allows us to care for ourselves and others in the name of Jesus.

We’ve talked a lot about God’s view of justice on previous episodes of the podcast. This week, we’re taking a closer look at the criminal justice system in the United States. Is it a reflection of God’s justice? Should Christians be seeking reform or status quo? We’ll be guided by an article by David French as we explore justice, vengeance, mercy, and standing in the gap.

The Wisdom Literature. Are we supposed to walk away with pithy sayings for how to live perfectly? Or are we supposed to realize that nothing matters at all? This week Pastor David and Elise walk us through the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and search for a third way to read these often overlooked and misunderstood pieces of scripture.

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We all know to watch out for false teachers. The people who tell us Jesus wants to be rich. The pastors who proclaim God’s love for a select group of 100 people who go and live at a commune in the middle of no where. The guy on the street corner holding a sign that says “Satan is the True God.” We know to steer clear. But what about pastors who have incredibly effective ministry but whose actions and choices in life fall outside the bounds of their or our shared understanding of how God is at work? Today we’re tackling this question and more as we try to understand why we idolize charisma over faithfulness.

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Are atheists more moral than Christians? We’ll break down this questions and try to look for some clarity in this week’s episode of Beyond Sunday!

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This week Pastor David and Elise are playing everyone’s favorite game: Holy or Hollywood? We’ll give you a plot summary and you get to play along from home as we figure out if your favorite stories are from the Bible or creations of Hollywood. Along the way we’ll talk about why these stories are often overlooked and how they might change our perception of the Bible

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Starting off the new month by diving into the longest book of the Bible: Psalms. You probably know about the Psalms. Maybe you’ve heard one read at a funeral? Or maybe you’ve heard a song that you didn’t realize was quoting a psalm? The book of Psalms falls in the middle of our modern Bibles and opens up a world of joy, sorrow, celebration, anger and the desire to destroy our enemies. We hope you enjoy this installment of our Books of the Bible Series.

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Listen, it’s not rocket science to say that men and women are different. But does that mean that God only desires for women to do certain things and men to do others? The Beyond Sunday team is coming back to the topic of Complementarianism and offering some new (and a few old) perspectives on the roles that we play as individuals and within the church.

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“A watched pot never boils.” “The tortoise will always beat the hare.” Some times the best things come slowly. This week we’re using two stories from a recent episode of the TED Radio Hour to launch our conversation around parts of our faith that just take time. We can’t rush to the finish line and many times hurt ourselves and our communities more when we try. So, join us as we slow down and experience the world in a new way.

You can listen to the full TED Radio Hour episode here. Look for “It Takes Time” from February 5, 2021.

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We all know the feeling. You’re preparing for a difficult conversation and the stress and anxiety are building inside of you. How will they react? What if I say the wrong thing? What if I can’t express myself clearly? Especially in today’s divided climate, these conversations can be seen not just as difficult but downright threatening. Today the Beyond Sunday team will walk through some questions to ask yourself before and during these hard but critical conversations.

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As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics come to a close one of the foci of media coverage has been Simone Biles and her decision to remove herself from much of the competition. This week, Beyond Sunday is taking a look at the culture that pushes us to “play through the pain” and what happens when we apply that culture to our faith.

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This month we’re moving back in time, and then forward again, to take a look at the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah’s writings come alongside the people from the time before the exile all the way to their return. Through the entire process Isaiah tells of God’s intention and ultimate redemption for all of creation. Join Patrick and Pastor David as they walk through this powerful story and see how its ancient words shape our faith even today.

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Patrick and Elise talk look at how men and women are experiencing less and less friendship these days. We’ll explore reasons why that’s happening and how intentional friendship can our communities.

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We are passing judgment on other people and events every day of our lives. It helps us protect our selves, define our values, and even offer guidance for the next generation. But what is the role of judgment for a follower of Jesus? And how do we know when we are judging on behalf of God and when we’re just judging on our own preferences?

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Can you have hope with out optimism? Do we even understand what Christian hope is intended to look like? Patrick and Pastor David are back this week to tackle all these questions and more as we try to understand “hope.”

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The chronology of the Old Testament comes to a close as we hear the stories of Ezra and Nehemiah. God’s people return to the promised land but their final redemption is not achieved. What does this mean for Israel? And what does God have in store for humanity?

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Beyond Sunday is a product of Lord of Life Lutheran Church a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. But why does that matter? There are hundreds of Christian denominations in the United States and even more congregations that claim no affiliation to any denomination. Today, the Beyond Sunday Team wants to know why. What purpose do denominations serve? Do denominations fit in with God’s ultimate vision? What is the future of denominations in the United States? All this and more on this week’s episode of Beyond Sunday.

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When we have been doing something for years we can begin to think of ourselves as professionals. And as professionals we sometime forget the fundamentals of what we are doing. Those little mistakes can pile up into big problems. This week, Pastor David and Elise McCarter help us to get back to the Fundamentals of Faith with a little help from Vince Lombardi.

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The last in our “Modern Faith” series asks “How should we feel when we are leaving church? Comforted? Or convicted? We’re not talking about the padding on your church’s pews (though, we agree they could be more comfortable) but want to know how our spiritual life should be feeling when we walk back into the world after worship. Be sure to write in and let us know what you think! beyondsundaypodcast@gmail.com

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