Donavon Riley

  1. 263: Dostoyevsky - The Devil—Ivan's Nightmare pt. 2

    book
    08/22/22
    4 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    You Silver-tongues Devil... We conclude our discussion of Dostoevsky’s dialogue between Ivan Karamazov and the devil from the Brothers Karamazov.
    263: Dostoyevsky - The Devil—Ivan's Nightmare pt. 2

  2. 262: Dostoyevsky - The Devil—Ivan's Nightmare pt. 1

    book
    08/14/22
    4 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Speak if The Devil… In this episode, we discuss Ivan Karamazov’s argument with the devil from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel, The Brothers Karamazov. How do we recognize the evil one when he comes to us, mainly when he portrays himself as someone who wants what’s best for us?
    262: Dostoyevsky - The Devil—Ivan's Nightmare pt. 1

  3. 261: Herman Melville - Moby Dick

    book
    08/06/22
    5 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Welcome to The Terrordome. In this episode, we read and discuss “The Sermon” from Moby Dick. What is a preacher's responsibility to his congregation in his preaching? What happens when the Gospel is talked about but never preached? What happens when Jonah is preached without Christ at the conclusion of the sermon?
    261: Herman Melville - Moby Dick

  4. 260: Hawthorne - Young Goodman Brown pt. 2

    book
    07/30/22
    5 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Was It Only A Dream? We conclude our reading and discussion of "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathanial Hawthorne. What happens when sin, death, and Satan are unaddressed by Christians, and especially the churches? What kind of damage does hypocrisy do to a community, congregation, and our Christian relationships?
    260: Hawthorne - Young Goodman Brown pt. 2

  5. 259: Hawthorne - Young Goodman Brown pt. 1

    book
    07/28/22
    6 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Good Christian People? In this episode, we read and discuss the parable of Young Goodman Brown, a short story by Nathanial Hawthorne. What happens when Christians don’t have a Gospel preacher? What happens when we carry our guilt and are tempted by the devil? How do we distinguish between God and the devil?
    259: Hawthorne - Young Goodman Brown pt. 1

  6. 258: Dostoyevsky - The Grand Inquisitor pt. 3

    book
    07/17/22
    5 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    It’s For Your Own Good. We conclude our reading and discussion of Dostoevsky’s, The Grand Inquisitor. What are we willing to sacrifice to accept the devil’s offer of miracles, mystery, and authority? Why do we surrender to temptation, and what do we expect are the consequences? What can we learn from Jesus’ rejection of the devil’s temptations, and what does that mean for Christians today?
    258: Dostoyevsky - The Grand Inquisitor pt. 3

  7. 257: Dostoyevsky - The Grand Inquisitor pt. 2

    book
    07/09/22
    5 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Happiness in Slavery. We continue to read and discuss the parable of the Grand Inquisitor, in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s, The Brothers Karamazov. In this episode, the Grand Inquisitor details why Jesus’ rejection of Satan’s temptations in the wilderness doomed humanity.
    257: Dostoyevsky - The Grand Inquisitor pt. 2

  8. 256: Dostoyevsky - The Grand Inquisitor pt. 1

    book
    07/03/22
    4 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Why? Why? Why? We read and discuss Dostoevsky’s parable of the Grand Inquisitor. What happens when we discuss evil and the work of the evil one apart from God’s Word, his preacher, and Christ’s cross?
    256: Dostoyevsky - The Grand Inquisitor pt. 1

  9. 255: Parables of Kafka & Nietzsche

    book
    06/12/22
    7 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Gatekeepers & Madmen. We read and discuss two parables, by Franz Kafka and Friedrich Nietzsche. What happens when people don’t have a preacher sent by the Holy Spirit to declare forgiveness? Without the Gospel, where does the law end?
    255: Parables of Kafka & Nietzsche

  10. 254: Kierkegaard - Parable of the Geese & the King and Maiden

    book
    06/07/22
    6 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Humble Kings & Flightless Geese. We read and discuss two parables by Soren Kierkegaard. In this episode, the purpose of parables, the condescension of God, and why there’s no forgiveness in Kierkegaard’s parables.
    254: Kierkegaard - Parable of the Geese & the King and Maiden

  11. 253: Nathaniel Hawthorne - The Minister's Black Veil

    book
    05/29/22
    5 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    The God Behind The Veil. In this episode, we read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Minister’s Black Veil, and discuss the hidden God, divination, and the mirror of the law.
    253: Nathaniel Hawthorne - The Minister's Black Veil

  12. 252: Hamann - We Hear the Blood of the Redeemer Crying Out in Our Heart

    book
    05/24/22
    6 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Killer-Comforter-Praying Spirit. We conclude our reading and discussion of Johan Hamman’s London Writings. In this episode, we focus particularly on the Advocate and prayer.
    252: Hamann - We Hear the Blood of the Redeemer Crying Out in Our Heart