Like Stars The Podcast

In this 3rd and final bonus episodes recorded during my summer RiseU class series, I discuss some of the key cultural values that distinguished people in the Greco-Roman world from how so many of us think today, shedding light on how those different values shaped how they heard and understood the message of Jesus and His followers. Specifically, we focus on the nature of a Group-Based culture (verse our current Individualistic one), an Honor & Shame driven community, and a highly stratified society that separated and distinguished between social classes and made life difficult for the poor (who were the majority of people Jesus spoke to and live among.)

In this 2nd of 3 special bonus episodes recorded during my summer RiseU class series, I discuss the religion of the Jewish people, what their core beliefs were and how that related to their interaction with their pagan neighbors, as well as how they would have perceived (and often disagreed) with Jesus and His teachings. We also discuss some of the different religious sects among the Jewish people, like the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Zealots, and how the common, average Jewish person fit into all the simmering tensions in 1st Century Palestine.

In this 1st of 3 special bonus episodes recorded during my summer RiseU class series, I walk through the history of the Jewish people all the way throughout the Old Testament as well as what is known as the Inter-Testamental period - the 450 years between Malachi and the arrival of Jesus. The goal of this first class is to set the stage for understanding what the first hearers of the Gospel message would have been awaiting and expecting in a coming Messiah (if some were at all).

It's been a while since I've been able to do a new Like Stars Episode, but I thought this discussion on reading and interpreting the book of Revelation and how that applies to the way Christians approach politics might be a fun listen for you. Enjoy!

Among the most difficult issues people often have with the Bible is the way in which is appears to support the of institution of slavery. The Old Testament Law makes clear allowances for it, Jesus often spoke about slaves without ever condemning the practice, and some New Testament authors, like Paul even seemed to go as far as to encourage the behavior, blatantly calling for slaves to submit to their masters and forcing a runaway slave to return to the very household that held him in bondage.   So what are we to make of this apparent contradiction, an evil, dehumanizing institution being not only present, but openly discussed and referred to in the Scriptures without ever once blatantly calling it out for the sin and wickedness we all know it to be today? Isn’t this all the proofanyone needs to simply reject any and all claims of the Bible being the inspired word of a truly good and moral God?  In this episode of the Like Stars Podcast, I continue on with another in a short mini-series of topics covering some of these most difficult issues that arise within the teaching and life of Jesus. Specifically, why didn’t Jesus condemn slavery when he clearly knew it was going on all around him? Join me as I discuss some of the ways in which we SHOULDN’T try to answer this question, including making the claim that ancient slavery wasn’t really that bad, nor simply accepting that the Bible is in fact just in favor of the institution. Rather, that the Biblical authors mostly accepted it as a part of their broken world and instead of immediate change, planted the seeds that would one day grow into abolishment. It’s not an easy topic to cover, but it is an important one so check it out! If you have any questions or would like to discuss this issue further, leave a comment or shoot me an email pete@risecitychurch.com And don’t forget to pick up your copy of LIKE STARS on Amazon today!

Should Jesus have been cancelled for being racist when calling a Canaanite woman a dog? This is just one more example of some the more “difficult” aspects of Jesus’ words and ministry that can sometimes lead people to think he wasn’t always a very good or nice person…at least, until we dig deeper and explore more of what’s happening behind the scenes.  In this second of a 4 part series looking at some of the most problematic teachings of Jesus, I break down the concept of race and ethnicity in the ancient world of the Greco-Roman Empire, the extent to which similar ideas pervaded even the Jewish people themselves, and how Jesus was most likely using this situation in order to turn the social expectations of “keep others out” on its head.  As you will see, Jesus did not come to make everyone look, talk, and act the same. But it did come to bring down all the walls and social/ethnic barriers humans want to keep building up between each other. Jesus’ disciples and later followers would be marked by a radical commitment to love one another, regardless of where they came from, what they looked like, or how much money they had. I also leave us all asking, how is the church doing with that today? Like Stars the book – exploring the way God’s wisdom brings about true life to the fullest as we trust and follow Jesus – is available now on Amazon AND as an audiobook on Audible. Check it out today! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNWTQRZX You can also find more on my website www.likestars.us

For some people, the picture of Jesus they have in their head is of a super nice, friendly guy who smiled all the time and went around hugging everyone. He would never say anything harsh, critical, or offensive and would most certainly never hurt anyone’s feelings … and then they actually read the Bible. Suddenly they read Jesus saying some pretty harsh stuff and aren’t sure quite what to do with it? Did he really just say I have to hate my parents to follow him? Did he really tell someone they couldn’t even go to their father’s funeral or that we can’t even say goodbye to our parents if we want to follow him? And what should we make of all that fire he was spitting at the Jewish religious leaders? Was Jesus actually kind of a mean person? In this episode of the Like Stars Podcast, I am kicking off a 4 part “mini-series” looking at some of the hard and difficult aspects of the picture the Gospels paint of Jesus - including race relations, slavery, being wrong about his own return, and in this case, not always speaking in what we would think of as a kind and compassionate manner. I also introduce the first of 4 free ebook/audiobook giveaways to my YouTube Subscribers. Make sure and check that out! And if you have any questions or comments for a future episode, email me at pete@risecitychurch.com or leave them in the comments section.

Is going to church a necessary, required part of being a Christian? Church attendance has been in a steady decline over the past decade (and even more so following COVID) but surprisingly this isn't necessarily a reflection of people's beliefs. In fact, a vast majority of those who no longer regularly attend a church continue to say they still "believe" and generally think of themselves as Christians. They aren't giving up on Jesus per se, just regular church attendance. So what are we to think of this phenomena? Is it a requirement of what it means to actually be a Christian? Or was the idea that one had to regularly attend a church service to be a Christian something to be challenged and re-examined, possibly one more passe idea that needs to be deconstructed? In this episode, I tackle the question by examining the differences between a destination (the goal and purpose of Christianity) and the journey itself (things we do and engage in to help us reach the goal.) Church attendance, as you'll hear, should most likely be considered part of the journey, more than what it actually means to be a Christian. However, that doesn't mean there isn't still a strong case to made for why it's an important part of the journey that we should be extremely wary of removing from our lives. Something may not be "necessary" but can still be extremely beneficial. I also discuss the release of my new book, aptly titled Like Stars, available for purchase now on Amazon. https://a.co/d/asc4n4A Find more content on the Like Stars YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/@likestarspodcast Got a question for a future episode? Leave it in the comments section!

My friend Michael joins me again with some of his questions from the Old Testament prophets - why did they do and say some of the odd and strange things we read about and sometimes ask others to as well? We also dive back into the question of signs from God and spend some time discussing what Isaiah and others meant when referring to the "Day of the Lord".

The book of Job is one of the more complex, confusing, and often misunderstood writings in the entire Bible. Because of it's poetic style, flowery language, and use of multiple voices it can be hard to decipher exactly what the story is trying to communicate. In this bonus episode from a recent message I gave at Rise City Church, I unpack the book's main theme regarding the Retribution Principle (Karma) and how that relates to the way we see and understand how God works in our lives and world.

Why does God allow so much evil and suffering in our world? If he is all powerful, all knowing, and as good as the Bible claims why doesn’t he put a stop to it? This is a serious problem that many people of faith struggle to make sense of and those outside of Christianity use as ammunition against it. Is there a logical way forward that doesn’t turn God into either an indifferent landlord who doesn’t care enough or worse, a bit of a moral monster who actually uses evil as a tool for his own confusing means?   In this episode of the Like Stars Podcast, we talk through the intellectual/logical problems associated with evil, some of the less than perfect responses people sometimes give to it, and a better way forward that takes into serious consideration the necessity of freedom and an open world governed by natural laws in order to support life as God intends. We also pay special attention to the way in which God does intervene, especially in giving us wisdom and direction in our to find goodness and avoid evil, and in his promise to use our suffering for good if we continue to trust and follow him. Got a comment or a question for a future podcast? I would love to hear from you. Email me at pete@risecitychurch.com Want to hear the entire Rise City Church worship album ALL THE PRAISE? Find links here: www.linktr.ee/risecityworship  

Paul's letter to the church in Rome is my favorite book of the entire Bible, one I have deeply enjoyed studying over the years. It's a book many - including myself - have struggled to make sense of as Paul's language and arguments are extremely deep and nuanced. As a bonus episode this week, I am sharing my overview of Romans as part of my New Testament Survey video series. Don't forget you can find the entire series, with video/audio for each book of the New Testament on the like stars YouTube page or by going to my website www.likestars.us

Do people only believe in a religion because it's what they were born into? Does something like Christianity only continue because it gets indoctrinated into children, who then mostly abandon it once they are old enough to think for themselves? And how should one respond to the claim that believing in God is just a form of wish fulfillment. We just "want" it to be true that we are not alone and death isn't the end, so we create a God in our minds to make ourselves feel better? Questions like these seek to undermine the truth of Christianity and require an answer. And so in this episode I unpack the logic and reasoning behind both claims and show how neither is really an effective undermining of faith when fully thought through. I also respond to a question of why the Bible often seems to celebrate and look forward to God's judgement, even though that seems like something bad we should we be more worried and afraid of. I show how the concept of God bringing judgement is actually salvation to those who are oppressed and seeking justice in a world that often lacks it. Please rate and review this episode and feel free to send in any questions you may have for future episodes to pete@risecitychurch.com You can also find the video version of this episode, my entire New Testament survey class, and other Bible-based content on my website LIKESTARS.US

My New Testament Survey Course covering is now available! Join me as I take a brief walk through every book of the New Testament, offering important background information and keys for reading, main themes and big ideas, and a short chapter by chapter outline to help you in your reading. Starting with this special preview on the Gospel of Matthew. Each episode in the series is available in audio on Apple and Spotify or as a full video with notes to help you follow along on the Like Stars You Tube channel. Follow these links: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-testament-survey/id1708518637 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSemcXmJ-9uG5r86M3UAgOWRnBUL2_f4P You can also find it all on my website: LIKESTARS.US

Is the possible existence of aliens a problem for Christianity and something followers of Jesus should choose not to believe in? What about ghosts or other paranormal activity? Is there a “magic bullet” argument that works to prove the existence of God? And do all people even receive and think through evidence the same way, or does making a case for God require many different ideas, often specific to the individual? And are all sins capable of being forgiven or are some things just too horrible? What about Jesus’s statement concerning the “unforgivable sin” of blaspheming the Holy Spirit? In this episode of the Like Stars Podcast, I work through each of these questions, seeking to make sense of what God’s word has to say, as well as how wisdom can help us navigate through difficult topics. In doing so we discover that, while the existence of aliens isn’t necessarily a problem for Christians, ghosts present a much bigger issue. That there is not one perfect argument capable of convincing everyone God exists and that the only unforgivable sin is rejecting the one who offers us forgiveness. Be sure to like and subscribe and, if you enjoyed this issue or have more questions let me know! Comment, rate or send me an email pete@risecitychurch.com And for more Like Stars Podcast episodes and as well as other Bible-based content, check out my website LIKESTARS.US.  

Reading the Old Testament raises a LOT of questions for us. And often times, they are the kinds we’re almost uncomfortable even talking about because of how strange and unclear they seem. From the very high-level questions like does God cause evil? Does he change his mind, or has he himself changed over time? To more specific and out there ones like – did he really talk through a donkey, or did the ghost of the prophet Samuel really come back and speak to king Saul? Fortunately for you, my friend Michael LOVES asking these kinds of questions and so on this episode of the Like Stars Podcast I invited him to join me in person and ask away. It’s definitely the most raw and spontaneous episode, and quite a bit longer than normal, but we cover a lot of ground with Old Testament questions that I think you’ll enjoy. As always, if you have questions for a future podcast (or maybe want to come on live and ask away!) email me pete@risecitychurch.com or leave them in the comments section. And please take a moment to rate and review as well as share on social.

Why are priests required to be celibate and not marry? Are children of Christian parents automatically saved? Is God male or female..or both... or neither? And is ignorance bliss or should we always strive to be informed and get answers?In this episode of Like Stars, Pete works through some of your questions regarding faith and the Scripture, seeking God's wisdom for our lives. He examine the Catholic church's long history of requiring its priests to remain celibate and not start families and whether that's a Scriptural command or just a tradition. He also looks at Paul's somewhat confusing words in 1 Corinthians 7:14 about unbelieving spouses and children being "sanctified" by the believing spouse. What did Paul mean...does being married to a Christian or having a Christian parent automatically make you one? Finally, he responds to a question regarding God's gender and how to respond to claims by some supposed "Christians" that there is a female god, as well whether or not ignorance is bliss and if we should or shouldn't always strive to know and understand everything or just being ok being uninformed sometimes. For more from Pete, check out likestars.us Got a question for a future podcast? Leave a comment or email him at pete@risecitychurch.com

Can we trust the message of the Bible? How do we know that the people who wrote it were actually telling us the truth? In many ways, the answer to these questions all rise and fall on one pivotal issue - the resurrection of Jesus. For if it's not true that Jesus rose from the dead, the answer is plainly and unquestionably "no", we cannot - and should not - put any stock in the Bible whatsoever. It's entire premise is built upon a lie and cannot be trusted. On the other hand, if Jesus, who claimed to be God in the flesh, did indeed confirm that by defeating death itself and rising from the dead then everything he said and did, and all his disciples claim and taught should absolutely be trusted and followed. In this episode, we thus explore the claims made against the resurrection that perhaps Jesus wasn't actually dead, the tomb wasn't really empty, or maybe the followers of Jesus just made the whole thing up, offering responses to show how each of those ideas fall short of likely and that the most reasonable explanation for the historical evidence is the Jesus did in fact raise from the dead and therefore the Bible is a trustworthy message we should be basing our lives upon. * This is also the second part to a larger discussion on the Bible's trustworthiness that began with the bonus episode "Is the Bible Historically Reliable" * Got a question or comment for the podcast? I would love to hear from you: pete@risecitychurch.om or in the comments section. And don't forget to rate and review the podcast!

Can we trust the Bible? This is a hugely important question as it contains some pretty serious claims about the nature of truth, reality, and what is expected of our lives. It’s no wonder so much time and attention has been devoted to trying to argue that the Bible either is or is not historically reliable. So, which is it? In this Bonus Episode of a message I gave at Rise City Church, I tackle some of the biggest claims denouncing the accuracy of our modern Bibles. Specifically, that it has been copied and translated far too many times over the past 2000 years to possibly still be a reliable picture of what was originally written. And, that the books that make our modern Bible were not the only ones written and there’s no way to trust that some weren’t ignored or kept out by people in power. So, there’s no way we could we possibly trust our modern Bibles are true to the original author’s words. Listen in as I unpack some of the flaws and problems behind these claims and why the Bible is in fact an incredible accurate copy of those original writings, due to the immense number of early copies available to us. I will also be picking up this conversation in the next episode of the Like Stars Podcast by examining the question of whether the original authors should be considered trustworthy themselves. Stay tuned!

Most Christians tend to agree that swearing is on the “shalt not” list, but why does God seem to make such a big deal of the take-his-name-in-vain one? Of all the terrible things someone can say, why is that so offensive it got put into the top 3 of the 10 commandments? In this episode of the Like Stars Podcast, I show how this command actually has nothing to do with what we today refer to as cursing or swearing when we’re angry.  Rather, I explore the way it was connected to how the ancient world understood calling upon the name of their gods, why and when they did it, and how the one true God wanted his people to behave and act very differently towards him and one another. He was not some magic genie that you could simply recite the correct language to work magic or curse your enemy, nor were his people to be seen as liars, cheats, or promise breakers. His name would be honored when his people lived with integrity, sought to love and bless one another, and came to him as a father rather than a magical slot machine. We also read some of your “very real and not at all made up” podcast reviews. Just a warning, a few of them did make me cry afterwards. But I’m ok! Got a question for the podcast? I would love to hear it! Email me pete@risecitychurch.com. And be sure to rate and review the show!