Podcast
The BEMA Podcast
The BEMA Podcast is a walk-through of the context of the Bible and the Text itself, as well as surrounding history. We deconstruct our common readings of the Bible and attempt to reconstruct them through the lens of historical context. The main body of work is contained in Seasons 1–5, and we encourage you to start with episode 0 (or even -1) and continue in order through episode 204. Beyond that, we explore new topics, revisit old topics, and dive deeper into practical ways of living out the things we have learned together. BEMA Discipleship is a ministry of Impact Campus Ministries.
- Christianity chart
- #28
- Episodes
- 522
- Releases
- Every two weeks
- Typical length
- 53 min
- On air since
- 2016
- Latest episode
- 6 days ago
Episodes
522 episodes, from the first
Season 1
-
43 min
-1: What Is BEMA?
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about how BEMA came to be, what it is, and how it works.
That the World May Know with Ray Vander Laan
The BEMA Story — Impact Campus Ministries
Study Tools
• The Companion for BEMA -1
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA -1Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 2 December 2024
• Original audio from 25 August 2016
• Transcript for BEMA -1 of 25 August 2016 -
48 min
0: Introductory Lesson
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings have an introductory conversation about the world of the Bible, investigating the differences between Eastern and Western perspectives.
Presentation for Introductory Lesson (PDF)
Study Tools
• The Companion for BEMA 0
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 0Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 30 December 2024
• Original audio from 1 September 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 0 of 1 September 2016Special music by Logan Daily
-
53 min
1: Trust the Story
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about the creation story in Genesis 1 and the foundation it lays for understanding the scriptural narrative correctly.
Presentation for Trust the Story (PDF)
Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann
The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
BEMA Discipleship on Twitter/X
BEMA Discipleship on Instagram
BEMA Discipleship — Subscribe (Recommended Apps)
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 1
• The Companion for BEMA 1
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 1Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 6 January 2025
• Original audio from 8 September 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 1 of 8 September 2016 -
53 min
2: Knowing When to Say “Enough”
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings discuss the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and what the story might really be getting at.
The Exodus You Almost Passed Over by Rabbi David Fohrman
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 2
• The Companion for BEMA 2
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 2Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 13 January 2025
• Original audio from 15 September 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 2 of 15 September 2016 -
26 min
3: Master the Beast
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about Cain and Abel and the idea of how fear and shame ruin the story.
BEMA FAQ: Bibles, Translations, Resources
The Beast that Crouches at the Door by Rabbi David Fohrman
Subscribe to Aleph Beta Academy
BEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 3
• The Companion for BEMA 3
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 3Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 20 January 2025
• Original audio from 22 September 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 3 of 22 September 2016 -
34 min
4: His Bow in the Clouds
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Elle Grover Fricks to talk about the story of Noah and the Flood and how we have a wide variety of buried treasure from the author.
BEMA 232: Introducing the Team — Jephthah’s Daughter w/ Elle Grover Fricks
The Lost World of the Flood by Tremper Longman III & John H. Walton
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 4
• The Companion for BEMA 4
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 4Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 27 January 2025
• Original audio from 6 October 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 4 of 6 October 2016 -
37 min
5: A Misplaced Curse
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Reed Dent to talk about Noah’s departure from the ark and the tragedy that ensues.
Campus Christian Fellowship, Truman State University
BEMA 231: Introducing the Team — Deconstruction w/ Reed Dent
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 5
• The Companion for BEMA 5
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 5Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 3 February 2025
• Original audio from 20 October 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 5 of 20 October 2016 -
40 min
6: A Tale of a Tower
Show notes
Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Josh Bossé talk about the tower of Babel and some of the observations we can take away from the story.
BEMA 233: Introducing the Team — Striking the Rock w/ Josh Bossé
A Brief History of the World from Adam to Abraham: Babel Tower — Aleph Beta
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 6
• The Companion for BEMA 6
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 6Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 10 February 2025
• Original audio from 27 October 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 6 of 27 October 2016 -
19 min
7: The Preface
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look back over the first eleven chapters of Genesis and work to understand their significance to the greater narrative of the scriptures.
Presentation for The Preface (PDF)
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 7
• The Companion for BEMA 7
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 7Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 17 February 2025
• Original audio from 3 November 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 7 of 3 November 2016 -
44 min
8: Buried in a Genealogy
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings are joined by Elle Grover Fricks to ask the question the Rabbis have asked over the centuries: Why did God choose Abraham?
Presentation for Buried in a Genealogy (PDF)
The Epic of Eden by Sandra L. Richter
“Sarah: Midrash and Aggadah” by Tamar Kadari — Jewish Women’s Archive
[Legacy] Follow-up 1: BEMA 208: Midrash — Iscah, Sarai, and Birth Orders
[Legacy] Follow-up 2: BEMA FAQ: Abram, Sarai & Iscah — Marty Solomon, YouTube
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 8
• The Companion for BEMA 8
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 8Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 24 February 2025
• Original audio from 10 November 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 8 of 10 November 2016 -
45 min
9: Letting Go
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings talk about Genesis 12–14, covering the call of Abram and his initial adventures in the land of Canaan.
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 9
• The Companion for BEMA 9
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 9Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 3 March 2025
• Original audio from 17 November 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 9 of 17 November 2016 -
45 min
10: Walking the Blood Path
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings work through Genesis 15–17, continuing to look at the evolving partnership between God and Abram.
Presentation for Walking the Blood Path (PDF)
Subscribe to Aleph Beta Academy
BEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.
History of male circumcision — Wikipedia
The Epic of Eden by Sandra L. Richter
George DeJong, Under the Fig Tree
The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Volume I
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 10
• The Companion for BEMA 10
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 10Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 10 March 2025
• Original audio from 1 December 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 10 of 1 December 2016 -
59 min
11: Here I Am
Show notes
Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Josh Bossé continue to look at the kind of partner God has chosen in Abraham.
Presentation for Here I Am (PDF)
BEMA 210: Midrash — The Man in the Fur Coat
And They Walked Together: More Than Blind Loyalty — Aleph Beta
Subscribe to Aleph Beta Academy
BEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 11
• The Companion for BEMA 11
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 11Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 17 March 2025
• Original audio from 8 December 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 11 of 8 December 2016 -
40 min
12: A Mission Realized
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings cover the life of Isaac as told in Genesis 24 and 26, where we begin to see the initial realization of God’s promise to Abraham.
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 12
• The Companion for BEMA 12
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 12Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 24 March 2025
• Original audio from 15 December 2016
• Transcript for BEMA 12 of 15 December 2016 -
42 min
13: Grappling with God, Part 1
Show notes
Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Reed Dent begin our look at the life of Jacob, starting with Genesis 25 and moving through Chapter 31.
Subscribe to Aleph Beta Academy
BEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.
God Was in This Place & I, I Did Not Know by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner
Genesis: A Parsha Companion by Rabbi David Fohrman
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 13
• The Companion for BEMA 13
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 13Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 31 March 2025
• Original audio from 5 January 2017
• Transcript for BEMA 13 of 5 January 2017 -
42 min
14: Grappling with God, Part 2
Show notes
Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Reed Dent continue to look at the life of Jacob, covering Genesis 32–35.
Uncut Gems (2019 film) — JustWatch
Subscribe to Aleph Beta Academy
BEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 14
• The Companion for BEMA 14
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 14Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 7 April 2025
• Original audio from 12 January 2017
• Transcript for BEMA 14 of 12 January 2017 -
56 min
15: Into the Pit
Show notes
Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Elle Grover Fricks begin our study of the life of Joseph, covering Genesis 37–40.
Presentation for Into the Pit (PDF)
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 15
• The Companion for BEMA 15
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 15Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 14 April 2025
• Original audio from 19 January 2017
• Transcript for BEMA 15 of 19 January 2017 -
47 min
16: Out of the Pit
Show notes
Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Elle Grover Fricks finish the study of the life of Joseph, covering Genesis 41–50.
Presentation for Out of the Pit (PDF)
Rabbi David Fohrman — TorahAnytime
The Joseph Story — Aleph Beta Academy
Subscribe to Aleph Beta Academy
BEMA listeners can use code friendsofbema for one month off of a monthly Premium membership.
Genesis: A Parsha Companion by Rabbi David Fohrman
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 16
• The Companion for BEMA 16
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 16Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 21 April 2025
• Original audio from 26 January 2017
• Transcript for BEMA 16 of 26 January 2017 -
41 min
17: A God Who Hears the Cry
Show notes
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings wrap up the introduction to God’s story and set up the narrative of the remainder of Scripture in an effort to understand what God is rescuing His people from.
Presentation for A God Who Hears the Cry (PDF)
Biblical Theme: Justice — BibleProject
Vocab Insight: Tse’aqah / Outcry — BibleProject
That the World May Know — Faith Lessons, Volumes 1–12 (Amazon)
God Heard Their Cry — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)
TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 17
• The Companion for BEMA 17
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 17Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 28 April 2025
• Original audio from 2 February 2017
• Transcript for BEMA 17 of 2 February 2017 -
45 min
18: A Tale of Two Kingdoms
Show notes
Marty Solomon, Brent Billings, and Josh Bossé set up the narrative of God’s story as a contrast between Empire and Shalom.
That the World May Know — Faith Lessons, Volumes 1–12 (Amazon)
God Heard Their Cry — Ray Vander Laan (Amazon)
TTWMK Faith Lessons on DVD and Digital (Focus on the Family)
Study Tools
• Discussion Video for BEMA 18
• The Companion for BEMA 18
• Take Your Own Notes
• Transcript for BEMA 18Legacy Episode Content
• Episode updated 5 May 2025
• Original audio from 9 February 2017
• Transcript for BEMA 18 of 9 February 2017
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