Christopher Gillespie

  1. 346: Irenaeus - On the Passion

    book
    03/30/24
    10 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Passion. In this episode, we read Irenaeus on Christ’s passion and discuss Holy Week, the consequences of following Christ, what happens when things lack clear definition, and the consequences for the Church.
    346: Irenaeus - On the Passion

  2. 345: Peterson - We Live in a World Filtered Through the Imagination

    book
    03/23/24
    10 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Just My Imagination. In this episode, we read Eugene Peterson’s book, Under the Unpredictable Plant, and discuss theological imagination at length. What are the consequences when the church takes its cues from a culture with no imagination? Can Christians tell biblical stories without a theological imagination? What happens when the earthly and heavenly are divided by a lack of imagination into merely rationalized explanations?
    345: Peterson - We Live in a World Filtered Through the Imagination

  3. 344: Ambrose - The mystical feast of the altar of the Lord

    book
    03/17/24
    10 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Plug In, Baby. In this episode, we read St. Ambrose’s work, On the Mysteries, enjoying his exegesis and defense of the body and blood of Jesus. We also discuss recognizing patterns in the Bible, testing the spirits who want to separate out the heavenly from the earthly, and the importance of symbol and meaning for Christian comfort.
    344: Ambrose - The mystical feast of the altar of the Lord

  4. 343: Cyril of Jerusalem - Mystagogical Catechesis

    book
    03/09/24
    9 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Let’s Get Weird. This episode discusses Cyril of Jerusalem’s mystagogical catechesis, especially the Lord’s Supper. We converse about the biblical patterns of the sacraments, anointing, and the higher truth about Jesus as bread from heaven.
    343: Cyril of Jerusalem - Mystagogical Catechesis

  5. 342: Luther - Now the Works of the Flesh are Plain

    book
    03/03/24
    10 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Everybody’s Working for the Weekend. In this episode, we continue our Lenten tradition of reading Luther’s Galatians commentary in March, discussing past and present idolatry and why we keep falling for the same sales pitches from the same gods.
    342: Luther - Now the Works of the Flesh are Plain

  6. 341: John Cassian - The Spirit of Acedia

    book
    02/24/24
    10 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Hey, You Guys! In this episode, we discuss the dominant spirit of our age, acedia, by reading and discussing St. John Cassian’s exposition of acedia in The Institutes.
    341: John Cassian - The Spirit of Acedia

  7. 340: St. John Chrysostom - Homily on the Gospel of St. John Chapter Six

    book
    02/18/24
    9 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    There’s Power in the Blood. In this episode, we read a homily on John’s Gospel, the power of Christ’s blood, and a whole lot of symbolism in John Chrysostom’s exegesis.
    340: St. John Chrysostom - Homily on the Gospel of St. John Chapter Six

  8. 339: Rosenbladt - Christ Died for the Sins of Christians Too

    book
    02/09/24
    9 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Sure Shot. In this episode of Banned Books, we read Rod Rosenbladt’s essay, Christ Died for the Sins of Christians Too. We talk about theological mentors, the Reformation, law and Gospel, justification, sanctification, the Church, and where we find our comfort at all times, in all places.
    339: Rosenbladt - Christ Died for the Sins of Christians Too

  9. 338: Kleinig - Rituals and the Enactment of the Gospel

    book
    02/02/24
    10 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    The Chairman’s Intent. In this episode of Banned Books, we converse about the Gospel, ritual, and how and why God embodies his grace while reading John Kleinig’s article, Rituals and the Enactment of the Gospel.
    338: Kleinig - Rituals and the Enactment of the Gospel

  10. 337: Chesterton - Heretics: On Sandals and Simplicity

    book
    01/26/24
    9 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Simple Man. In this episode, we read G.K. Chesterton and discuss everything from simple living to the death and resurrection of Christ as the foundation of reality, the higher meaning of cups, and why a tomato is just a tomato.
    337: Chesterton - Heretics: On Sandals and Simplicity

  11. 336: Tolkien - On Christian Preaching

    book
    01/20/24
    9 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Keep The Beat. In this episode, we converse about good and bad sermons as defined by J.R.R. Tolkien. We discuss cosmology, truth, love, and why how we use words matters.
    336: Tolkien - On Christian Preaching

  12. 335: Gregory the Great - Pastoral Rule

    book
    01/12/24
    9 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    The Art of Noise. In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of pastoral care — the art, the discipline, and the experience of pastoral care — while reading The Rule of Gregory the Great. It’s all about church leadership and pastoral ministry in this week’s episode of Banned Books.
    335: Gregory the Great - Pastoral Rule