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Heather Gorman, Professor of New Testament at Abilene Christian University and a guest speaker during Restoration Week at Great Lakes Christian College, makes a guest appearance on ACP to talk about unity.  What exactly is Jesus praying for in John 17 when he speaks about us being one, and how do we live out a unity that is rooted in the unity of the father and the son? Are we achieving this or do we sacrifice our unity for political partisanship?  Today's episode promises fresh sarcasm as the guys welcome Heather to share her thoughts and convictions about the body of Christ and our need for unity among congregations and denominations. Who knows more about the New Testament, Ron or Heather?  Tune in to find out, because the best conversations happen After Class!

Is profanity just about curse words, or is there something more to it? Does an oath taken in the name of the Lord elevate our words or degrade His reputation? Should we avoid using the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) out of reverence, or does the common name "Lord" fail to honor the Creator of the heavens and the earth? In today's episode, the guys examine Commandment #3: "Do not take the Lord's name in vain." They explore its history and application to give us a deeper understanding of what it means. Tune in to today's episode as the guys unpack Commandment #3 and share their hot take on ICE! This is an episode you don't want to miss. Because the best conversations happen After Class!

Take one day off a week to do no work and such… Done! Wait, is the Sabbath just about a day? Does Sabbath rest get in the way of our ability to thrive, or is the practice itself the basis of our thriving? Tune in to today's episode to explore the wider implications of Sabbath rest for our lives, the lives of animals, and all of creation. Ritualistically resting on Sunday may be more in line with the practices of the Pharisees than with what God had in mind.  So how does Sabbath apply to Christians today?  Join us for today's episode and discover the restorative rest offered in the command to remember the Sabbath. Because the best conversations happen After Class!

When it comes to disciplining a child, there is debate over how effective spanking is. But what about death as a punishment for dishonoring your parents? Today, the guys dig into the command to honor your parents—the first commandment with a promise. How far-reaching is the promise that "it may go well with you," and how severe are the consequences? Tune in to today's episode to find out how we might honor our parents, even more so as adults, because the best conversations happen After Class!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.