The Called Out Cafe Podcast

Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus, Episode 17: Paul’s Letters to the Ekklesia Part 5

In this episode we finish up with what the Apostle Paul had to say to the Ekklesias about how to conduct themselves when they get together. We will be looking at the letters from Philippians to Hebrews where Paul addresses topics such as Elders and Deacons, how he was down on religion, and the importance of getting together with other Called-Out Ones, and what that means. 

Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus, Episode 16: Paul’s Letters to the Ekklesia, Part 4

In this episode we look at what Paul had to say to the Ekklesia in Ephesus regarding how they should function when they gathered. Paul covers the topics of "good works," how God is making "the mystery" known to the leaders of the unseen spirit realm through the Ekklesia, and how Jesus is the only "head" of the Ekklesia. 

Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus Episode 15: Paul’s Letters to the Ekklesias Part 3

In this episode our survey of the New Testament again finds us in the book of 1 Corinthians. The topics of spiritual gifts within the Ekklesia, the role of the Holy Spirit, and whether or not gatherings of the Ekklesia are appropriate for unbelievers to attend are discussed.  

Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus. Episode 14: Paul’s Letters to the Ekklesias Part II

As we continue to see what the New Testament has to say about the gathering together of those who are Called-Out of the world to follow Jesus, in this episode we are looking at Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. At least the first letter that was preserved and made a part of the Bible.  

We will see what Paul had to say about how to maintain the integrity of a local community of believers. While that may involve what we think of as “judging others” within the community of believers, we will then see how Paul teaches the followers of Jesus that our role in this world is not to judge those outside of the Ekklesia (the Church).  

Then, I tackle a sensitive topic head on: what does the New Testament really have to say about paying pastors and other members of the clergy? Why would I risk alienating every pastor who most Christians look at as having some sort of extra pull with God? Why would I want to take on an industry whose payroll is about three billion dollars annually? Especially in Oregon, where according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, we have over twice as many compensated clergy members per 1000 employed residents than any other state. And, they are the third highest paid clergy members on average in the nation. The truth is, I personally don’t want to take the issue on, so I won’t. I have friends who are pastors and have had pastors who are no longer with us that I have loved dearly that significantly impacted my life. So instead, we will look at what scripture has to say about the topic.  

I hope to “see you” on the podcast!

Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus, Episode 13: Paul’s Letter to the Romans

The Apostle Paul is the guy that churches all go to, to get church done right. The church loves using Paul's letters like they are a sort of a formulaic check list for making sure that church leaders color within the lines. But Paul's letters to the different Ekklesias (churches) were most often in response to some problem or issue those churches were having. Although Paul solved their problems by using the foundational principles of Faith, Hope, and Love, which transcend space and time, the problems they were each having were not all necessarily universal and the individual specific solutions he had for them, did not all necessarily transcend the geography of the day, or the centuries since he wrote the letters.  The principles are what we should pay attention to. Countries, cultures, and problems like eating meat sacrificed to idols will come and go, but Faith, hope, and love will endure until Jesus returns and beyond.

In this episode, we will take a look at the issues of the importance of (or not) doing good works, the unbiblicalness of the Church replacing Israel, the importance of each individual within the Ekklesia to participate and use their personal gifts and abilities, the importance of watching out for a weaker Called-Out brother or sister, how one day is no more holy than the next day, the importance of unity among the Ekklesia and all the ways it is not possible and the one way it is possible, and everyone's favorite topic: giving money.   JUST A FEW MINOR ISSUES!!!

I hope you will join me.

The Days Following Pentecost in Acts

Many today attempt to use what happened in the early New Testament Church, as seen in the book of Acts, as a model for how to do church. In this episode of the Called-Out Cafe we will take a look at why that might not be the best use of the information contained in Acts.  What God accomplished at Pentecost and the days following was fantastic and unique. It was what we call a "one off." What took place there has never been successfully reproduced in history. 

Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus Episode 11: The Ekklesia in the Book of Acts

Moving on from the Gospels into the book of Acts, we will talk a little bit about the difference between parts of the Bible being descriptive about the history of the Ekklesia, rather than prescriptive about what the Ekklesia should do. We will look at a couple specific issues such as the basis, or lack thereof, of meeting on Sundays, and what it means to appoint elders in a group of Called-Out Ones.

Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus, Episode 10: What the Other Gospels Say About the Ekklesia

Moving on from the book of Matthew in this latest episode of the Called-Out Cafe we talk about more extremely important components of the Biblical Ekklesia: like if it is not all about spreading the gospel, or service and works in the Church, what is it God expects us to be doing? Among other things, we will also talk about how the church's popularity in our communities is not a measure of success, and how loving one another within the Ekklesia is one of the three main principles and purposes of the Ekklesia. 

Can we all stop playing church now and move ahead with being the Ekklesia? Please join me in this latest episode.

Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus, Episode 9: The So Called, ”Great Commission”

Many in the Evangelical Church today believe that the primary mission of the Church is to “make disciples,” and spread the gospel to the entire earth. Those things are found in the “mission statements” of countless churches. Yet, you will never find the words “great commission” in the New Testament. Nor will you find Jesus saying anywhere in the original Greek documents used to translate the English New Testament to “make disciples.”  Nor will you find any reason to believe he was commissioning anyone beyond His original Apostles, who were the only ones qualified to fulfill their commission, because they alone witnessed the things Jesus said and did. And, likely you have not been told that based on the original language used in scripture, what He commanded the Apostles to do, was not to teach everyone to obey or "observe" the commands that Jesus had given the Apostles, but rather to instruct them to treasure and hold onto all that Jesus had said.  You probably have also not heard the case to be made that the Apostles had fulfilled their commission within days after being given it by Jesus, and that the Bible, is the perpetual written fulfillment of their commission.  

Please join me in this episode as I attempt to remove the burden of saving the world from your shoulders. That job has already been taken.  

Leaving the Church to Follow Jesus Episode 8: Why Matthew Would Have a Problem with Churches Today

 

Warning: If you love church traditions and have high blood pressure, please consult your physician before listening to this episode of the Called-Out Cafe.

The Apostle Matthew, writer of the gospel by the same name, would have a large problem with what is taking place in most modern churches today. Among other things, in this episode we will talk about why money is given such prominence in todays churches given Jesus’ attitude towards it. We will look at one of the most misused passages of scripture in the gospel: that of the “Sheep and Goats” judgment. It is often used to motivate Christians to do good works, when this future judgement only sets out the criteria that unbelievers will be judged by. The last bomb Matthew will drop in this episode will be how the view of communion in the Church today is so far off from what took place during the Last Supper.