The Berean Manifesto

By: Pastor Bill Shea
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  • Summary

  • We encourage a Berean lifestyle of self-study of the Scriptures at home.
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Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
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Episodes
  • S4EP12 - On the Seventh Day

    S4EP12 - On the Seventh Day
    Mar 20 2023
      Summary Pastor Bill and Pastor Newms discuss the chapter breakdown of the bible, stating that it is often split up like bad television, with no real reason for it. They acknowledged the need for it in order to make it easier for churches and groups to talk about, but were still frustrated by it. They then moved on to discuss Genesis two, which Pastor Bill noted should technically be the end of chapter one. They then discuss the poetic implications and deeper meanings behind the words of Genesis one, before moving on to talk about the start of chapter two. Pastor Bill and Pastor Newms discuss the translation of Genesis 2:1-3, which states that God completed His work on the seventh day and rested, declaring it holy. Pastor Newms mentioned the Greek Old Testament, which is the one Paul used when he wrote the New Testament, reads that God had completed His work on the sixth day and rested on the seventh day. However, the majority of manuscripts say that God completed His work on the seventh day and rested on the seventh day. Pastor Newms suggested that the NASB translation bridges the gap between the two translations. Pastors Bill and Newms discussed the idea of God resting on the seventh day. They looked at two different manuscripts that present the idea differently, but are not contradictory. The first one Sez that God finished his work on the sixth day and then rested on the seventh day, while the other one Sez that he completed his work by resting on the seventh day. They also discussed a conversation they had with a Muslim gentleman who scoffed at the idea that God would need to rest. Pastor Bill explained that the Bible does not say that God needed to rest, but that he chose to rest. The conversation discusses God resting on the seventh day, as described in Exodus 30:17. Pastor Bill explains that the Sabbath is not a legalistic observance, but rather a day of rest and refreshment to help people reset and refocus after six days of work. He further explains that research has shown that a day of rest is essential for the human mind in order to prevent it from schisming. The day of rest is an opportunity to reset and recharge in order to do one's best work. Timestamps 0:21:29 Conversation Summary: Exploring the Meaning Behind Genesis One and Two   0:25:20 Conversation on Genesis 2:1-3: God's Rest on the Seventh Day   0:26:42 Heading: Exploring the Meaning of the Sabbath in the Bible   0:30:22 Conversation on the Significance of the Sabbath Day   0:33:54 Conversation on the Importance of Rest and Self-Care   0:40:34 Conversation on Self-Care and Rest: Taking Time for Yourself   0:43:10 Conversation between Pastor Bill and Pastor Newms on the Importance of Resting and Manual Clocks   0:45:14 Conversation between Pastor Newms and Pastor Bill on the Brian Manifesto Podcast   0:48:53 Heading: Podcast Discussion on Meeting Over a Meal and Feeding People   0:50:14 Conversation on Tennessee's Political Climate and Drag Queen Story Time   Transcript [0:00:00]  Pastor Bill: He's got a roll of toilet paper on top of his head with the sheets draped down over top of his face. [0:00:07]  Pastor Newms: You haven't said hello and welcome. This is going to get edited out. [0:00:12]  Pastor Bill: Oh, man. Hello, and welcome to season four, episode twelve of the Berean Manifesto; Faith, Hope, and Love for the Modern Christian. I'm Pastor Bill, and Pastor Newms with a roll of toilet paper on top of his head has joined, as always. [0:00:30]  Pastor Newms: Lies. Go back and watch the Twitch. There is not a toilet paper roll on my head. [0:00:34]  Pastor Bill: He took it off as I was doing the intro because he was like, you haven't done the intro yet, so I'm cutting this part out where they're not going to hear you telling them, I've got a toilet paper roll on top of my head. [0:00:44]  Pastor Newms: I never said most of that. [0:00:50]  Pastor Bill: All right, maybe you didn't use all those words exactly. [0:00:54]  Pastor Newms: That's why I said most of that. Some of those words were words I used. All right, Pastor Bill. [0:01:02]  Pastor Bill: All right, pastor Newms, how was starting with your week? [0:01:05]  Pastor Newms: No, I already said it. [0:01:11]  Pastor Bill: How was my week? This was spring break for our kids. [0:01:15]  Pastor Newms: Well, two weeks, really, because we didn't do last week because it was yo mama's birthday and Sez, his birthday, and Groggy's birthday. [0:01:30]  Pastor Bill: I don't remember the week before this last one that we just had. I don't remember it. [0:01:38]  Pastor Newms: I just turned your face off. I didn't turn your face off. No one saw that. [0:01:43]  Pastor Bill: Um, the Gergs Theater competition, they got perfect marks all across the board. All three judges in all categories. [0:01:59]  Pastor Newms: Yay. [0:02:00]  Pastor Bill: They're moving on to what's called bi-district. [0:02:03]  Pastor Newms: Bi-district. [0:02:05]  Pastor Bill: That's...
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    53 mins
  • S4EP13 - Out of Dust

    S4EP13 - Out of Dust
    Mar 30 2023
    Summary In this conversation, Pastor Bill and Pastor Newms discuss their study of Genesis chapter two, verses four through seven. They started their study from the beginning of Genesis and talked about how it wasn't a Jewish text initially. They also discussed how the Scriptures were the beginning of the story for the Jews before they went into captivity in Babylon. Pastor Bill reads from the Christian Standard Bible, not because he thinks it's perfect, but because no translation could be perfect as it's impossible to know the intentions of someone when they were writing the scriptures. They go through the verses word by word, looking for words that are different and could indicate that something deeper or more is being said. They discuss the creation of the earth and the heavens, the absence of shrubs and plants, and the mist that watered the ground before the creation of man. They then talk about how the Lord God formed the man out of dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, making him a living being. Overall, their discussion focuses on the deeper meanings and insights that can be gained from studying the Scriptures in detail. The speaker discusses the significance of the phrase these are the records of the heavens and the earth concerning their creation at the time that the Lord God made the earth and heavens in Genesis chapter two, verse four. They explain that while the first part of the phrase is not particularly noteworthy, the second half - which refers to Jehovah and Elohim - is significant as it defines Jehovah as a specific, divine being. This, in turn, gives us an idea of when the text may have been written, as Jehovah is not identified by name until Exodus chapter three. The speaker goes on to mention that this chapter describes the story of Moses and the burning bush, which is where God first refers to himself as Jehovah. The conversation revolves around the book of Genesis in the Bible, specifically the story of Moses and God's revelation of his name, Jehovah. The discussion touches on the idea that Moses might not have existed but the point is that God shared his name with humanity at a certain time. This is significant as it is the first time that God identified himself by name to mankind. The conversation also touches on the structure of Genesis, which follows a pattern of recording human interactions with God and tracking the genealogies of specific individuals such as Adam, Noah, and Abraham. It is noted that Genesis is not a history book but a religious text useful for teaching, correcting, and building up faith. The discussion concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding that Genesis is a record of oral histories and human interactions with God, rather than a book of direct descendantship or religious clubs. In a conversation between two pastors, they discuss the significance of the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis. They note that Abraham was found faithful and God chose to favor his bloodline, which is why his lineage is blessed and why the scriptures still exist. The pastors also point out that before God whispered to Abraham in the desert, the whole world had forgotten the name of God. They emphasize that Genesis chapter two has ties that are connected to future scriptures and that people refer back to these scriptures frequently. Both pastors agree on the importance of understanding the context of the Bible and how it informs our understanding of God's plan for humanity. Chapters 0:00:00 "Transcript: Season 4, Episode 13 of The Berean Manifesto - Faith, Hope, and Love for the Modern Christian"  0:02:58 Weekly Update: Quizzing Competition and Gaming Beta Testing  0:05:26 Discussion and State Event Anecdote  0:10:21 Transcript of a Podcast Episode: Messing with Children for Fun with a Professional Writer  0:14:44 A Casual Conversation with a Pastor.  0:16:50 A Conversation on Favorite Movie Scenes and Coping Strategies for Bad Days  0:19:52 A Casual Conversation on Coping with Bad Days and Humorous Jokes about Jesus 0:22:54 A Discussion on Genesis 2:4-7: Word by Word Analysis with Pastors Bill and Newms  Analysis of Genesis and Exodus: The Use of Names for God  0:30:02 Analysis of Genesis: The Naming of God and the Cycle of Genealogies  0:37:51 A Discussion on the Significance of Abraham and Genesis Chapter Two in Biblical History  0:39:13 A Discussion on the Cultural and Linguistic Context of the Word "Jehovah" in the Bible  0:41:01 A Casual Conversation between Pastors on Genesis 25  0:46:28 A Discussion on Genesis 2:6-7: The Creation of Man and the Importance of God's Personal Involvement  0:48:46 Analysis of Genesis 2:7: The Formation of Human Beings from Dust  0:59:18 Discussion on the Concept of God's Breath and the Human Soul  1:00:15 A Discussion on the Spiritual Significance of Breath and the Beginning of Life in Different Faiths  1:09:13 "The Berean Manifesto: A Weekly Podcast on Faith, Hop, and Love ...
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • S4EP11 - To Sum 1 Up

    S4EP11 - To Sum 1 Up
    Mar 9 2023
    Summary Pastor Bill and Pastor Newms were discussing Genesis 1 and the history of how it became included as part of the book of Genesis. They discussed how during the captivity in Babylon, stories from Babylon were added to the existing Genesis 2, as they provided more detail to the creation story. Pastor Newms then reminded Pastor Bill that the Judeans, ancestors of the Jews, were originally a polytheistic people. In summary, the conversation revolved around the history of Genesis 1 and the Judeans. The conversation discussed the ancient Israelites and their belief in multiple gods and their worship of Ashra, a female deity who was believed to be the wife of Yahweh. Yahweh is mentioned in both Sumerian mythology and in the Mosaic Law. Despite this, the Israelites continued to worship other gods, so God punished them by sending them into captivity. The descendants of these captives went on to become the Samaritans, who still held onto some of their beliefs and were expecting the Messiah. Despite their own experiences with God, they eventually gave up the worship of Asherah. Pastor Bill and Pastor Newms discussed the origin of the story of Genesis 1. They noted that it was likely adapted from Sumerian myth by the Babylonians, who wanted the Jewish people to worship their king as a monotheistic god. However, the Jewish people saw similarities between the Sumerian myth and their own history, and made changes to make it more palatable to their own culture. They read Genesis 1, noting the broader strokes of the story, as compared to the more detailed account of Genesis 2. Ultimately, the conversation concluded with an invitation to read Genesis 1. God began the creation of the world by separating light from darkness and creating an expanse between the waters. He then caused the earth to produce vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees. He made the two great lights to rule over the day and night and placed stars in the sky. He also caused the waters to swarm with living creatures and the earth to produce livestock, creatures that crawl, and wildlife. On the fifth day, God looked on His creation and saw that it was good.   The topic according to AI In the religious reflection being discussed, the authors believe that the creation story in the book of Genesis is a historical truth and has a significant impact on our relationship with God as our creator. They argue that the form of the document, its position at the beginning of the book of Genesis, and historical evidence all support the idea that the creation of the heavens, the earth, and all living things is a work of God and an objective fact. The authors critique the limitations of science in establishing the periods of creation and argue that the conclusions about fossiliferous formations and the plants and animals they contain are not established truths and have not been confirmed by continued research. The author summarizes the creation story in Genesis 1:1-13, which describes the creation of heaven and earth, including the creation of light, the firmament, the sea, the earth and its fruits, the lights of heaven, fish and fowl, beasts, man, and food for both. The text stresses the importance of recognizing God's presence in our lives and putting Him first in all things. Humans were created in God's image and given the ability to have dominion over the earth, but it is important to ask God to control the evil in our hearts. The authors also emphasize the importance of examining one's daily work and making improvements, as well as the divine proportioning of day and night, with light symbolizing God, truth, heaven, and decency. The beauty of nature is seen as evidence of the existence of God, and the darkness in the book of Genesis is a symbol of the ongoing struggle between light and darkness. The authors’ central belief is that God is the creator of all things and that creation serves to reveal the truth about His nature and character. They see the relationship between science and God as complementary, with design being at the core of both, and believe that the concept of light and darkness in the book of Genesis is a symbol of the ongoing struggle between good and evil. The author encourages us to live in the Spirit and serve the common good, putting God first in all things, as they believe this is the greatest honor and safety for all. The authors also focus on two specific Hebrew words in the creation story, "nephesh" and "tannin," and offer alternative interpretations to gain a deeper understanding of their significance. They assert that the universe and all its elements were created for a purpose, as an expression of God's love and grace for humanity, and that everything in creation is imbued with a Divine Blessing that serves to preserve the community and support all life. The author presents a comprehensive view of the creation of the sea and air creatures in the Bible, as they see it as a demonstration of God's wisdom, power, and love...
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    1 hr and 10 mins

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