Religion & SpiritualityChristianityEducation

After Class Podcast

Ronald D. Peters, John C. Nugent, Samuel C. Long

What happens when you lock an Old Testament, New Testament, and Theology professor in a room to discuss provocative topics related to bible and theology? Find out as you listen to the podcast of three professors from Great Lakes Christian College engage the sorts of questions students ask ... after class.
Featuring (from left to right in the logo) Samuel C. Long, Ronald D. Peters, John C. Nugent

Play

Open in

20 episodes
weekly
Avg 49 min
English

Episodes 20

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

S9 · E39
Yesterday · 48 min
9.39 – 10 Commandments Countdown: #6 No Murder
Do not murder! Easy enough. Or is it? The biblical worldview just might stand in contrast to how we view hunting, justice, revenge, self-defense, and more. Today, the guys dig into the distinction between authorized and unauthorized killing and the sanctity of blood. Tune in to today's episode to gain some key insights into the sanctity of life and worship in warfare. How, in Christ, does this commandment apply to our lives today? You just might be surprised. Tune in to find out, because the best conversations happen After Class!
S9 · E38
September 21 · 49 min
9.38 – 10 Commandments Countdown: No Adultery
In a culture that embraces a wide expression of sexual ethics, the prohibition against adultery is more than simply a call not to cheat on a spouse. It is a call to a kind of relationship that promotes human flourishing and becomes a source of blessing that reflects God's Kingdom. Breaking this command can open the door to a host of consequences—not only personally, but socially and even societally. There is something about sexual intimacy that goes far beyond carnal pleasure. If marriage is a gift from God, what does Jesus have to say about the command, "Do not commit adultery" and how can we encourage our brothers and sisters to live out their sexual ethics in a way that reflects the Kingdom of God? Tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast to find out, because the best conversations happen After Class!
S9 · E37
September 14 · 46 min
9.37 – 10 Commandments Countdown: Do Not Steal
Do not steal. Simple enough, right? But what if stealing meant feeding your family? Surely that is understandable… But what if you lived in a community where you never had to steal in the first place? When it comes to theft, God's people are called to a higher standard—not only in how we treat what belongs to others, but also in how we uphold justice in our communities. Tune in to today's episode to hear how the cultural idiom "finders keepers" is at odds with God's kingdom ethic, and how the rich may actually steal more from the poor than Robin Hood would have you think! Because the best conversations happen After Class!
S9 · E36
September 7 · 52 min
9.36 - 10 Commandments Countdown: #9 — Bearing False Witness
Have you ever asked someone to lie on your behalf? Have you ever lied on behalf of another? Have you ever let the masses dictate how you act, even when you knew it was wrong? Today, the guys dig into commandment number nine: "Do not bear false witness." Has God called us to a higher standard of truth than we might apply in our day-to-day lives? Tune in to today's episode to hear the guys discuss how deeply the commandment not to bear false witness goes and how to apply it to our lives today. Because the best conversations happen After Class
S9 · E35
August 31 · 47 min
9.35 - 10 Commandments Countdown: #10 Coveting
God has given you everything you need, and He is all you need. If you said "Amen," then why do you covet? The Ten Commandments are more than a generic law code that anyone can live by. They are the reference point to a wider, set-apart way of life, and that set-apartness comes with a few rules on how to conduct oneself in a new identity as a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. Today, the guys begin their new series unpacking the Ten Commandments, beginning with coveting. Tune in to hear how pervasive and destructive this seemingly simple attitude can be. Because the best conversations happen after class!
S9 · E34
August 24 · 55 min
9.34 - Politics and Faith: Respectful Disentanglement
How do we present the very political biblical worldview without doing it in a worldly political way? Do Moses, Joseph, Daniel and company, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther prove that Christians should seek top political positions to influence policy? Does God call us to be on the right or the left of the political aisle? What level of involvement with the governing authorities is appropriate? Today, the guys answer listener questions regarding how Christians should relate to governing authorities as they wrap up the series. Are you okay to have no say? Tune in today to find out, because the best conversations happen, After Class!
S9 · E33
August 17 · 49 min
9.33 - Politics and Faith: Relating to the Powers
Do you believe Christians should control the outcome of political and state decisions? Should Christians fear governing authorities? How do Christians engage and interact with the wider political culture and the powers of the age? Today, the guys engage with some of the most cited passages as they wind down their series on politics and faith, focusing on the Christian's relationship with governing authorities. Tune in to hear how passages like Romans 13:1–5, Matthew 22:15–22, Titus 3:1–5, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Timothy 2:1–4, and Matthew 10:28 fit into the conversation and inform our ultimate posture.
S9 · E32
August 10 · 48 min
9.32 - Politics and Faith: A Different Way
Do Christians have dual citizenship? Are Christians called to utilize their earthly citizenship as leverage? Is the Christian expression of a new Kingdom reality one that seeks to take control of worldly politics and policies? If you said yes, your vision of the Kingdom might be too small… Are you spending your time and energy on inferior conflicts, fights, and weaponry? Maybe there really is a different way. Tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast to hear the guys bring a timely word for Christians of all nations. Because the best conversations happen After Class!
S9 · E31
August 3 · 47 min
9.31 - Politics and Faith - Greater Tension
Are you removing tension from your life by sacrificing the way of the Kingdom of God? Today the guys conclude their series by exploring the final seven tensions between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. By nature, the State is myopic, but the Kingdom of God is cosmopolitan. It is not enough to partner with the world in a Christian way. We are called to a separate way of life that intentionally puts us in tension with the governing world around us. Are we easing the tension by compromising our allegiance? Do we seek influence through power, or faithfulness through obedience? Are we citizens who happen to be Christians, or ambassadors of another Kingdom who happen to live under earthly governments? Are you ready to be challenged today? Then tune in to today's episode of The After Class Podcast, because the best conversations happen after class.
S9 · E30
July 27 · 46 min
9.30 - Politics and Faith: Tension Continues
As we continue exploring the contrast between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the World, we begin asking the practical questions that expose where our true allegiance lies. How do we speak about ourselves? Do we seek recognition, status, and influence—or do we quietly point others to Christ? How do we treat the undeserving, the overlooked, and the downcast? Do we show the same honor to the poor that we readily give to the wealthy? Is wealth a prerequisite for influence, respect, or significance in our eyes? Do we seek to lord our authority over others, or do we pursue greatness by becoming servants—even in the lowest and least visible places? Do we follow the world's pattern of self-promotion, boasting, and ambition? Or do we follow the humble example of Christ, who emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, and laid down His life for others? Join us as we continue examining the radically different values of the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the World—and discover how the Gospel challenges not only what we believe, but how we live. Because the best conversations happen after class.
S9 · E29
July 20 · 47 min
9.29 - Politics and Faith: Tension
Jesus commands us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. But how should citizens of the Kingdom of God engage with the kingdoms of this world? In today's episode, the guys explore the tension between the Kingdom of God and earthly kingdoms. Are you ready for some tension? Growth rarely comes without resistance. Just as perseverance strengthens our character, wrestling with difficult questions strengthens our faith. Join us as we work through the challenging—but essential—relationship between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God. Because the best conversations happen after class.
S9 · E28
July 13 · 48 min
9.28 - Politics and Faith - Allegiance Continued
Is the world ultimately transformed through the voting booth, or through a people who faithfully live out the "strange" teachings of Christ? Do Christians need governments to enforce God's standards, or is a holy, set-apart life sufficient? What comes to people's minds when they think about you? Your politics? Your opinions? Your accomplishments? Or do they think of Christ? If your life points more clearly to a kingdom other than to the Kingdom of God, it may be time to ask where your true priorities—and your true allegiance—lie. Join the guys as they explore what it means to pursue holiness, redefine success, and faithfully represent Christ in a world with very different values. Because the best conversations happen after class.
S9 · E27
July 6 · 48 min
9.27 - Politics and Faith: The Pledge Of Allegiance
Who Has Your Allegiance? Your Nation... or the Kingdom of God? Can a Christian faithfully serve both their country and the Kingdom of God? Or, when push comes to shove, must one always come first? Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters." But what if your nation's values appear to align with God's? Can patriotism and discipleship coexist? Where does your ultimate allegiance belong? Building on last week's discussion, the guys explore one of the most challenging questions Christians face today: the Kingdom of God versus the kingdoms of this world. Scripture teaches that followers of Christ are citizens of another Kingdom—one that often stands in tension with every earthly nation. How should Christians think about nationalism, patriotism, political identity, and loyalty to Jesus? Join us as we wrestle with this timely and thought-provoking conversation. Because the best conversations happen after class.
S9 · E26
June 29 · 47 min
9.26 - Politics and Faith: Distinct Christian Influence
Continuing last week's conversation, we explore how God's set-apart people are to relate to the nations. Israel was forbidden from making alliances with the nations, and its way of life stood in stark contrast to the surrounding cultures. Kings, prophets, and priests each served a unique role in advancing God's purposes. But that was then. This is now. Did Christ's fulfillment of the prophecies overturn the Old Testament trajectory? Under the lordship of Jesus, what has changed, and what has remained the same, and what does that mean for us today? Did Jesus walk the hard road so we could have an easy one? Or are we called to follow the example of our King? Tune in today to find out. Because the best conversations happen After Class.
S9 · E25
June 22 · 53 min
9.25 - Politics and Faith: Unique Politics
Up to this point, we've identified who the powers and principalities are and the role they play. Today, the guys shift the conversation to how God's set-apart people should relate to them. Who are we? What is our role in the world in relation to the nations? How did God begin with His covenant people and shape them for a fundamentally different purpose? And how does that purpose grow into our calling today? Tune in to today's episode to find out. Because the best conversations happen After Class.
S9 · E24
June 15 · 53 min
9.24 - Politics and Faith: Judgement of the Nations
If God holds the nations accountable, shouldn't we, in the spirit of the prophets, join Him in calling the nations to account for their actions? But what does God actually hold the nations accountable for? The answer may not be what you think. Join the guys as they explore the prophetic witness of Scripture and examine how God judges nations, rulers, and empires— Is your nation at risk of God's judgement? Tune in to today's episode to find out. Because the best conversations happen after class.
S9 · E23
June 8 · 52 min
9.23 – Politics and Faith: Christ Above All Powers
All things were created through Him and for Him. Above all creation, this includes the powers and principalities of this world. Christians proclaim a God who is above all governors, governments, nations, rulers, and even angelic beings. This is a deeply subversive message—and a dangerous one. Throughout history, earthly powers have demanded ultimate allegiance, loyalty, and recognition. The early Christians refused. Empires attempted to silence this message through force, persecution, and their ultimate threat: death itself. Yet Christ overcame death, exposing the weakness and fraudulent claims of every power that seeks to rival His authority. So how do we balance honoring the authorities Christ has established to govern the world without diminishing our allegiance and obedience to the exalted Christ? What are powers and principalities? Why are they so important to understanding the biblical story? And what does any of this have to do with how Christians relate to governments today? Tune in today to find out, because the best conversations happen after class.
June 1 · 50 min
9.22 – Politics and Faith: The Powers Behind the Powers
Who really rules the nations? God, governments, or something else entirely? Today, the guys continue their discussion on governing authorities by looking at one of the Bible's most intriguing and often misunderstood themes: powers and principalities. Are earthly governments merely human institutions, or is there something deeper at work behind the scenes? What did Paul mean when he spoke of rulers, authorities, and powers in the heavenly realms? Why was Satan able to offer Jesus the kingdoms of the world? And what do these passages have to do with how Christians understand governing authorities today? Join Sam, John, and Ron as they trace this theme through Scripture and explore how the biblical worldview challenges many of our modern assumptions about power, authority, and the kingdoms of this world. Tune in today, because the best conversations happen, After Class.
S9 · E21
May 25 · 49 min
9.21 - Politics and Faith: Spiritual Reality
Is God on your political side? Scripture may say otherwise. Sam, John, and Ron continue their series on governing authorities by challenging one of the most common assumptions Christians make: that God automatically supports "our" nation, party, or political tribe. From Isaiah's shocking blessing of Egypt and Assyria, to Nahum's judgment against violent empires, to Daniel's warning that even admired superpowers can become beastly, the guys explore the Bible's deeply unsettling view of political power. Then Revelation raises the stakes. Rome is portrayed as a beast empowered by Satan itself, tempting believers to exchange allegiance to Jesus for security, prosperity, and survival. (Sound familiar?) Finally, the conversation turns toward the New Testament's provocative language about Satan as the "god" and "ruler" of this world—setting the stage for next week's deep dive into powers and principalities. Are Christians placing too much hope in earthly kingdoms? Tune in to find out.
S9 · E20
May 18 · 48 min
9.20 - The Government, the Gospel, and the Christian: Pick a Side?
What if the nation you despise most is actually on God's payroll? In this episode of The After Class Podcast, John, Ron, and Sam trace what the Bible really says about God and governing authorities — from Babylon and Assyria to Cyrus the Great — and why the "lesser of two evils" argument might be more sub-Christian than you think. If politics has been messing with your faith, this one's for you! Tune in to today's episode of The After Class Podcast. Because the best conversations happen... after class.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes