Exploring My Strange Bible

Psalms E3 — How do we talk to God when we’re feeling ashamed and guilty? In this third of a four-part series, Tim explores ways of talking to God when we’ve really messed up, hurt other people and ourselves, and dishonored God. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on July 14, 2013.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Psalms E2 — The book of Psalms follows a wide diversity of people with different emotional journeys and life experiences. Their prayers teach us what it means to talk to God through the whole range of life experiences, from good to horrible. In this second teaching of a four-part series, Tim explores Psalm 22, reflecting on the poet's experience of extreme suffering and pain, alongside his conviction that God is good and has redemptive purposes for the world. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on May 26, 2013.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers By Anne Lamott
• Lamentations and the Tears of the World by Kathleen M. O'Connor
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Psalms E1 —The book of Psalms has played a significant role in Jewish and Christian history for thousands of years. Observant Jews have always memorized and prayed the Psalms. At multiple points in Jesus’ life, he used the language of the Psalms to express his own thoughts. And Jesus models for us what it can look like to use the Psalms as the language of our own prayers. In this first teaching of a four-part series, Tim explores Psalm 3 as a way to pray when we're in the midst of great fear and anxiety. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on May 19, 2013.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• The Meaning of Anxiety by Rollo May
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Language of Faith E4 — This is the final episode of a four-part series looking at foundational words and concepts in the Bible and Christian faith. These words rarely come up in modern culture, and when they do, they’re often used very differently. In this teaching, Tim explores the controversial word and concept of atonement by diving into the biblical story and letting it speak for itself. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Ore., on October 16, 2016.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Language of Faith E3 — This four-part series looks at some of the most common and important words in the Bible and Christian faith that are often misunderstood and underused in modern culture. In this teaching, Tim explores the word covenant and how it's crucial for understanding the storyline and architecture of the whole biblical story. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on November 20, 2016.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Language of Faith E2 — In this short series, we’re looking at three foundational words and concepts in the Bible and Christian faith. These words rarely come up in modern culture, and when they do, they’re often used very differently. In this teaching, Tim explores the biblical word of glory, which is commonly used and misunderstood among Christians but crucially important in the biblical story.

Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on October 30, 2016.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Tim references this statue of Joan of Arc in Portland, Oregon.
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Language of Faith E1 —- Some of the most important vocabulary words in the Bible and Christian faith are rarely used in modern Western culture, or they’re used in ways totally different from how the Bible uses them. This short series qualifies, resurrects, and gives new meaning to three of these old terms. In this teaching, Tim explores the biblical word and concept of holiness, as it applies to God and people in the story of the Bible. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on October 2, 2016.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Resurrection as a Way of Life E5 — In this final teaching of a five-part series, Tim explores the depiction of new creation in the book of Revelation. These final pages of the Bible talk about this future universe as new because many aspects of our current world will not carry over. At the same time, we will experience some points of continuity. So what do we make of all this and why is it important? Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on August 21, 2016.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Resurrection as a Way of Life E4 — In this fourth teaching of a five-part series, Tim explores 1 Corinthians 15, one of the most important chapters on the resurrection in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul expounds on the importance of resurrection hope, as well as what the resurrection body is (and what’s it’s not). Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on August 7, 2016.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Resurrection as a Way of Life E3 — In this third teaching of a five-part series, Tim dives into one of the most exhilarating and beautiful chapters in all of the Apostle Paul’s writings. In Romans 8, Paul retells the whole story of the Bible with imagery from Exodus, which is all about people groaning in slavery, being liberated by God, and stepping into freedom in the promised land. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on July 24, 2016.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Resurrection as a Way of Life E2 — In this second episode of a five-part series, Tim explores 1 Peter’s opening paragraph and its themes of new birth and living hope, both made possible by Jesus’ resurrection. Tim also reflects on what he learned about human psychology and hope from the Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl. He gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Oregon, on July 10, 2016.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Resurrection as a Way of Life E1 — The topics of resurrection and new creation in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles are crucial for how followers of Jesus view the world, the future, and themselves. In this first episode of a five-part series, Tim teaches from Luke 24 on the story of Jesus offering a new vision of the messiah to two disillusioned disciples on the road to Emmaus. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Ore., on July 3, 2016.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Tim references Warner Sallman’s popular painting Head of Christ.
• In contrast to the above painting, Tim references the 3D model produced by Richard Neave and other forensics experts that depicts what an average Galilean man from the first century would have looked like. The model was produced for the BBC documentary series Son of God. The model and image are most commonly referred to as “The Forensic Face of Jesus” or “Popular Mechanics Jesus” due to its feature on the cover of Popular Mechanics Magazine.
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill Instrumental” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why Church Matters E2 — Why is sharing our stuff so hard? And how does church play a critical role in helping us form this habit? In this second episode of a two-part series, Tim explores the portrait of the first church community in Acts 2, who committed to sharing their resources with each other. This demonstrates a core habit of the Church from the beginning: crossing over boundary lines to freely release our time and resources to other people. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Ore., on January 11, 2014.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why Church Matters E1 — When people think of Christians, openness to new ideas is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. That's because we've lost a key part of the mindset of a “disciple,” a word that actually means “learner.” In this first episode of a two-part series, Tim explores the earliest depiction of the Church in Acts 2, where a group of people commit to each other and to Jesus so they can learn new ideas and form new habits of living and thinking together, all centered around Jesus. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Ore., on January 4, 2014.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Heaven & Hell E4 — Everything we learn in the Bible about heaven and hell comes from a series of complex, ancient images, and it’s easy to misunderstand them. What do images of eternal death and everlasting fire refer to in their original context? And what do images of new creation and resurrection actually mean? In this final episode of a four-part lecture series, Tim brings everything together. He explores Jesus’ teaching on God’s final justice, as well as the apostles’ hopes for a renewed creation, which closes out the grand story of the Bible. Tim gave this message at Blackhawk Church in Madison, Wisc., on September 30, 2011.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode's official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Find Tim’s study notes for this series here.
• Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson
• The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
• Heaven by Randy Alcorn
• The Journey of Desire by John Eldredge
• The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians by Gordon Fee
• Theology for the Community of God by Stanley J. Grenz
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Heaven & Hell E3 — The definitions of human life and death on pages 1-3 of the Bible are based on the idea that humans can live in a state of death. But the goal of God’s rescue mission is to take people out of “living death” and transfer them into a mode of “eternal life” here in the present. In this third episode of a four-part lecture series, Tim moves onto a new part of the story, which is the Old Testament vision of final justice. Why does God bring divine justice into human history, and what comes after it? Tim gave this message at Blackhawk Church in Madison, Wisc., on September 30, 2011.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
View this episode's official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Find Tim’s study notes for this series here.
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill Instrumental” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Heaven & Hell E2 — The biblical authors didn’t see death as something that just happens to you at the end of your physical life. Rather, both life and death are present realities, starting on page three of the Bible. (And believe it or not, zombies are a biblical idea!) In this second episode of a four-part lecture series, Tim tackles the biblical word for “heaven,” exploring what it does and does not mean, and then unpacks the language of life and death throughout the rest of the Bible. Tim gave this message at Blackhawk Church in Madison, Wisc., on September 30, 2011.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Find Tim’s study notes for this series here.
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Heaven & Hell E1 — Popular culture and the media show us many misconceptions about heaven and hell. For example, it may be surprising to learn that, in the Bible, the opposite of heaven is not hell, but Earth! In this first episode of a four-part lecture series, Tim explores the popular misunderstandings and distortions of the concepts of heaven and hell in Western culture. Starting on page one of the Bible, he looks at the themes of life, death, the grave, eternal life, and eternal death. Tim gave this message at Blackhawk Church in Madison, Wisc., on September 30, 2011.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Find Tim’s study notes for this series here.
• Themes in Old Testament Theology by William Dyrness
• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty does our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The phrase “Come, Holy Spirit” has deep roots in the Christian Church, across many centuries and traditions. It’s a phrase regularly used both in communal worship and personal prayer, but what does it actually mean? In this message, Tim teaches from a variety of biblical passages to identify what followers of Jesus are actually saying (and not saying) when they pray, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Tim gave this message at the 2025 Holy Spirit Conference in Portland, Ore., on February 8th, 2025.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill (Instrumental)” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Practicing Faith E3 — In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus models for us how to daily bring our requests to God. But implied in its words are ways of being and acting that will align with our words. In this final of three teachings on Christian practices, Tim explores the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Prayer, which has incredible potential to change our lives. Tim gave this message at Door of Hope Church in Portland, Ore., on August 24, 2014.

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

• Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

• “Nob Hill Instrumental” by Drexler

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Aaron Olsen edited and remastered today's episode. JB Witty writes our show notes.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.