Faith Improvised

Tim Gombis

Exploring what it means to be faithfully Christian in our always-changing world with its challenges and opportunities. I like to think out loud and talk with friends about biblical texts, books, politics, sports, music, films, and basically anything that interests me. This is all an attempt to be fully alive in God’s good world and to enjoy the liberating reality of the Christian gospel.

Play

Open in

22 episodes
weekly
Avg 58 min
English

Episodes 22

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

S6 · E23
Wednesday · 55 min
Divine Combat in Ephesians 1-2, Pt. 4
In this episode, I finish talking about the second cycle of divine combat Paul narrates in Ephesians 2:11-22.
S6 · E22
August 19 · 54 min
Divine Combat in Ephesians 1-2, Pt. 3
In this episode, I talk about the second half of Ephesians 2 and the second cycle of conflict-victory Paul elaborates there.
S6 · E21
August 12 · 1 hr 8 min
Divine Combat in Ephesians 1-2, Pt. 2
In this episode, I talk about Eph 2:1-10, the first cycle of divine warfare Paul elaborates after writing about God's victory in Christ in 1:20-23.
S6 · E20
August 5 · 45 min
Divine Combat in Ephesians 1-2
In this episode I talk about a few books I've read recently, and I begin talking about how Paul unfolds God's triumphs in terms of divine combat in Ephesians 1-2.
S6 · E19
July 29 · 1 hr 1 min
The Gospel Has A Grammar
In this episode, I share some thoughts, especially about the relationship of vocabulary and grammar, in thinking well about the gospel.
S6 · E15
July 22 · 1 hr
Concluding Thoughts on "Toxic Empathy"
In this episode, I offer some further thoughts in assessing the notion of "toxic empathy," which I began talking about in the previous episode.
S6 · E17
July 15 · 1 hr 36 min
Taking "Toxic Empathy" Seriously . . . Seriously
In this episode, I talk about reading Allie Beth Stuckey's Washington Post opinion piece about the novel, "Yesteryear," and about my reading of her book, "Toxic Empathy." I mention the May 7 episode of the Radio Atlantic podcast, "The Tragedy of the Tradwife."
S6 · E16
July 8 · 57 min
Thinking Critically About How We Talk
In this episode I share some thoughts, especially about thinking critically about how we use certain words.
S6 · E15
July 2 · 57 min
The Audiences of Ephesians
In this episode, I talk about the audiences of Ephesians and why it's important to keep them in mind while interpreting the letter.
S6 · E14
June 24 · 1 hr 2 min
Back To It!
In this episode I talk about what I've been up to over the last several months since I produced an episode, and I mention the following books: Scott Anderson, King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation Caro Claire Burke, Yesteryear: A Novel Laura Field, Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right C. Thi Nguyen, The Score: How to Stop Playing Someone Else's Game Helen Lewis, The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea Kaveh Akbar, Martyr! A Novel Frederic Gros, A Philosophy of Walking Andrew McCarthy, Who Needs Friends? Mustafa Aksakal, The War That Made the Middle East Monica Datta, Nebraska: A Novel
S6 · E13
Oct 14, 2025 · 25 min
Dark Passions & Other Thoughts
In this episode I talk about William Galston's book, Anger, Fear, Domination: Dark Passions and the Power of Political Speech, and Mark Edmundson's book, The Age of Guilt: The Super-Ego in the Online World, and share some other thoughts from the past few weeks.
S6 · E12
Sep 30, 2025 · 39 min
Paul's Thesis Statement in Ephesians 1, Pt. 2
In this episode, I continue talking about how Ephesians 1:19-23 functions in the argument of this letter.
S6 · E11
Sep 23, 2025 · 59 min
Paul's Thesis Statement in Ephesians 1
In this episode I talk about how Eph 1:19-23 functions within his overall presentation in this letter.
S6 · E10
Sep 16, 2025 · 50 min
Summer's End
In this episode, I give an update of what I've been up to the last several months, and mention a bunch of books I've been reading or am about to jump into. Books mentioned: They Poisoned the World: Life and Death inthe Age of Forever Chemicals, by Mariah Blake Pushback: The 2,500 Year Fight To ThwartWomen By Restricting Abortion, by Mary Fissell Long Island Compromise, byTaffy Brodesser-Akner Big Dumb Eyes, by Nate Bargatze Attack from Within: How Disinformation isSabotaging America, by Barbara McQuade The Age of Guilt: The Super-Ego in the OnlineWorld, by Mark Edmundsen We the People: A History of the U.S.Constitution, Jill Lepore
S6 · E9
May 13, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
Paul's Prayer Report in Ephesians 1
In this episode, I talk about how Paul reports he is praying for his audiences at the end of Ephesians 1.
S6 · E8
Apr 29, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
Identity Formation in Ephesians 1, Pt. 3
In this episode, I talk about Timothy Snyder's chapter on solidarity, from his book On Freedom, and about Paul's literary and rhetorical strategy in Ephesians 1.
S6 · E7
Apr 22, 2025 · 58 min
Identity Formation in Ephesians 1, Pt. 2
In this episode, I talk a bit more about Timothy Snyder's book, On Freedom, and about Paul's literary strategy in Ephesians 1.
S6 · E6
Apr 16, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
An Epic Golf Tournament & National Political Shenanigans
In this episode, Steve Watkins and I reflect on Rory McIlroy's Masters win, and talk about staying sane and humane in the midst of national political madness.
S6 · E5
Apr 8, 2025 · 51 min
Identity Formation In Ephesians 1
In this episode, I keep talking about Timothy Snyder's book, On Freedom, and I talk about Paul's identity formation strategy in the opening of Ephesians.
S6 · E4
Apr 1, 2025 · 42 min
Ephesians As A Letter
In this episode, I continue talking about Timothy Snyder's book, On Freedom, and I introduce other aspects of Paul's letter called Ephesians.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes