Beards & Bible Podcast

Melchizedek: The King, The Priest, The Mystery

In today’s episode, we take a deep dive into one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible: Melchizedek. Mentioned only briefly in Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews 7, Melchizedek is described as both a king and a priest, with no recorded genealogy. Who was he, and why does the book of Hebrews compare him to Jesus?
We'll explore key biblical passages that reference Melchizedek, breaking down their significance and tracing his role from Abraham’s encounter in Genesis to the theological implications found in Hebrews. We’ll also summarize the major interpretations of Melchizedek’s identity: was he a historical high priest, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (Christophany), or a symbolic figure pointing to Jesus as our eternal High Priest?

The Faith of Gen Z, Evangelism’s decline, and other Disruptive Church Trends of 2025

The world is changing, and so is the church. What challenges are we facing in 2025? What opportunities lie ahead? From the shifting faith landscape of Gen Z to the decline of evangelism, church closures, and the mental health crisis among pastors, we’re diving into the biggest disruptive trends shaping the future of the church.
 
How should we respond? What does it mean to stay faithful in a rapidly changing culture? In this episode, we’ll break down an article by Carey Nieuwhof on 5 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2025 and explore what it means to lead, serve, and share the gospel in this new era.
 

Forgiveness, Boundaries, and Loving our Enemies.

A topic that’s at the heart of the Christian life but is often misunderstood is the idea of forgiveness.
 
Jesus teaches us to forgive seventy times seven and to love our enemies, but does that mean we have to put up with abuse, mistreatment, or harm? Is forgiveness the same as enabling someone to continually hurt us? And what does it look like to set healthy, Christ-honoring boundaries while still walking in grace and mercy?
 
In this episode, we’ll explore what the Bible says about forgiveness and how it intersects with wisdom, justice, and self-respect. We’ll talk about what forgiveness really means—and what it doesn’t—and how we can honor God by forgiving others without sacrificing the boundaries that protect our hearts, minds, and well-being.

From the Mailbag, Vol. 5 (Does the ending of Mark’s gospel belong in the Bible?, the bitter drink of Numbers 5, tips for daily devotions, the apocrypha, etc.)

Happy new year Beards and Bible listeners! We are so excited to open up our inbox and do our best to answer some super interesting questions that were all sent in by you as the listener. We've got questions about Numbers 5 and “the bitter drink” (the jealousy offering), the apocrypha, tips to establish a daily devotional routine, and whether Mark 16:9-20 belongs in the Bible.

The Problem of Evil and the Theodicy Apologetic

“How can an all-powerful, all-good God exist in a world filled with suffering?"
 
It's one of the toughest questions Christians face. In this episode, we dive into the problem of evil and the powerful apologetic responses of something called, theodicy. Let’s get equipped to address our doubts, engage in meaningful conversations, and deepen your own faith as we tackle one of philosophy's biggest challenges—head-on. Let’s explore how our God is still good, even when suffering is still a reality.

Generation Rising: Bridging the Gap to Reach the Next Generation within the Church

Right now, there are roughly five generations alive today have been labeled here in the U.S.- the Silent Generation (those born around 1945 or before, 78-96 years old), the Baby Boomers (1946-1964, 59-77 years old), Generation X (1965-1976, 44-59 years old) Millennials (1977-1995, between 28-43 years old), and Gen Z- 1996-2015 (between 9-27 years old).
It’s no secret that often the younger generations are misunderstood, mischaracterized, and subjected to negative stereotypes within the church. It’s no different now with the youngest active generation, Gen Z.  
In spite of the often bad and unfair characterizations Gen Z receives, we as Church leaders are called not just to love this generation, but to reach them, guide them, and disciple them into the next wave of leaders within the body of Christ. 
How do we do that? How can we engage them if we don’t understand how they think, what they value, and what makes them tick?

Post-Election Day Hangover and America’s Road Ahead

Well, Beards and Bible listeners, we made it. Well, kind of. The ballots are counted (or are being counted), but questions still linger. Will the results be accepted? And as the dust settles, how do we, as a nation, move forward together despite the deep divides that remain? Join us as we unpack the uncertainty, the challenges, and the hope for unity after Election Day, 2024.

The Protestant Reformation and Its Impact on the Church Today

The Protestant Reformation was a major religious movement that began in the early 16th century, fundamentally altering the landscape of Christianity in Europe and laying the groundwork for the modern church and Western civilization. The reformation was essentially a movement against perceived corruptions and excesses in the Roman Catholic Church. It sought to reform church practices and doctrines and ultimately led to the establishment of various Protestant denominations.
So why was the church in the 16th century in such need of reformation? Who were the key figures of this reformation? What were the major events of this pivotal movement and what was its legacy? 
Join us as we unpack Martin Luther’s revolutionary Ninety-Five Theses, discover the profound changes in worship and governance, and examine the lasting impact on modern Christianity. We’ll discuss key figures like John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli, explore the rise of various denominations, and see how this movement laid the groundwork for some of the ideas we still cherish today.

Six Reasons to Believe in Biblical Inerrancy, and what Christianity becomes when we Deny the Bible’s Authority

“What is truth?” This is the question Pontius Pilate famously asked Jesus in the gospel of John. In our day and age, truth is defined as relative and open to subjective opinions, perspectives, and interpretations that vary based on someone’s experiences, contexts, or social class.
 
It’s no wonder that in a context like ours, many Christians have begun to question if the Bible is trustworthy. After all, it was written by human authors. How can we be certain that it’s actually been inspired by God? Surely it must be imperfect, full of error, and open to interpretation.
 
But what happens to the Christian faith when we begin to undermine and question the Bible’s authority? How does it affect our faith, our churches, and our witness? Today on the podcast, we’ll talk about just what’s at stake when we let go of the foundation of God’s Word, and how that changes everything about we define the Christian faith.

Dangerous Political Rhetoric and Being Peacemakers in the age of Division and Polarization

Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Words carry the power to divide, distort, and destroy, and in our divided and polarized society, the stakes have never been higher. Political rhetoric today inflames tensions, breaks down relationships, and spreads anger and fear. But as followers of Christ, we are called to something different—something higher.
As Christians, how do we speak truth and engage with the issues of our time without getting swept up in dangerous and hateful language that divides? How can we be peacemakers, even when we passionately disagree? In today’s episode, we’ll explore how we, as people of faith, can become critical thinkers, careful speakers, and living examples of Christ in a polarized world.