The Biblical Mind

Faith, Innovation, and the Church's Future: Rethinking Tech and Ministry (Kevin Kim) Ep. #231

What happens when the tech elite of Silicon Valley use their skills to serve the church?
In this episode, Kevin Kim, executive director of Crazy Love Ministries and founder of Basil Tech, joins Dr. Dru Johnson to explore a radical idea: that technology, creativity, and innovation can be spiritual gifts to build up the Body of Christ. Drawing from his experiences with venture capitalists, Stanford designers, and software engineers from Apple and Google, Kevin explains how Basil Tech mobilizes volunteers to serve ministries with world-class digital tools.
But this isn’t just about flashy apps or slick design. Kevin critiques the tech industry’s isolating, consumeristic culture—and shares how discipleship must involve “laying down your non-fungible gift” for the good of others. From reimagining the sermon to redesigning urban ministry in East Palo Alto, his work shows that thoughtful innovation, when grounded in Scripture and humility, can fuel mission and foster true community.
“We don’t make anything better—we’ve made things worse at Basil,” Kevin jokes, “but we try to help amazing people do amazing things.” This conversation invites listeners to rethink what tech can do—not as an idol, but as a tool in God’s hands.
Connect with Kevin Kim's Basil Tech here:
https://www.basiltech.org/
We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:https://hebraicthought.org/give
For more articles:https://thebiblicalmind.org/
Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThoughtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthoughtThreads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthoughtX: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThoughtBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org
Chapters:
00:00 Journey into Tech and Faith02:44 Innovation in the Church06:08 Understanding Innovation vs. Technology08:56 Reimagining Ministry Practices11:52 The Role of Technology in Modern Missions15:00 Bazel Tech: Bridging Faith and Technology17:55 Discipleship in the Tech World

Getting Egypt Out of Israel: The Exodus Plagues as Spiritual Formation (Avery & Wadholm) Ep. #230

Are the ten plagues just divine punishment? Or are they intended to form a people?
In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson sits down with Dr. Rick Wadholm and Pastor Dalton Avery, co-authors of Plagued by Faith, to explore a more layered vision of the plague narratives in Exodus. Rather than merely acts of judgment, the plagues are portrayed as formative, disruptive events that unmake Egypt’s religious, political, and economic worldview—and detach Israel from it.
The Nile River, Egypt’s source of life, is turned to blood not only to confront Pharaoh, but to sever Israel’s spiritual dependence on Egypt. The calendar is reset at Passover, reorienting the people’s very sense of time and community. These acts weren’t random—they were theological statements shaping Israel’s identity, even while challenging Egypt’s gods .
As Dalton notes, “The Lord is not out here just doing violence for no reason, but there’s redemptive heart, there’s redemptive intent in every action of the Living God” . Rick adds, “Behold the face of God who sends plagues… somehow to offer a re-visioning of these stories as revealing this God”.
We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:https://hebraicthought.org/give
For more articles:https://thebiblicalmind.org/
Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThoughtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthoughtThreads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthoughtX: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThoughtBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org
Chapters:
00:00 The Genesis of the Book03:22 God vs. The Gods: Understanding the Plagues06:17 Deconstruction and Identity: The Plagues' Purpose09:27 The River: A Symbol of Life and Security18:26 Calendar and Community: Redefining Time for Israel21:51 Lessons from Egypt: What to Keep and What to Leave Behind23:38 The River's Dual Role: Life and Death25:22 Corporate Responsibility and Divine Justice27:02 Women of Courage: Midwives and Prophetic Resistance30:49 Jesus and the Exodus: Parallels and Fulfillment35:47 The Ongoing Plagues: Lessons from Israel's Journey39:48 Plagued by Faith: Understanding God's Intentions

Hebraic Thought On The Big Screen? Biblical Themes in Non-Biblical Movies (Dru Johnson) Ep. #229

What makes a movie biblical—even if it’s not about the Bible?
In this episode, Dr. Dru Johnson explores that question with a curated list of films that reflect deep biblical structures—movies that “get what’s going on in Scripture” better than many that explicitly reference the Bible. These aren’t Sunday School adaptations—they’re gritty, layered, and emotionally raw.
Dru walks through Tree of Life (a meditation on Job and Genesis 1), A Serious Man (Job again, but existential and tragic), East of Eden (sibling rivalry and human depravity), Magnolia and The Breakfast Club (portraits of generational sin), American History X (a dark inversion of Proverbs 1–9), and Memento and Coco (explorations of memory against the backdrop of Deuteronomy). Even No Country for Old Men gets a nod for evoking the lawless chaos of Genesis 6.
Throughout, Dru challenges listeners to rethink what it means to portray biblical themes—not by surface references, but by engaging with the deep moral, literary, and theological structures that Scripture unveils.
If you’ve ever wondered whether “secular” films can teach us something profoundly biblical, this is your list.
We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:https://hebraicthought.org/give
For more articles:https://thebiblicalmind.org/
Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThoughtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthoughtThreads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthoughtX: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThoughtBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org
Chapters:
00:00 Exploring Biblical Themes in Film02:47 The Tree of Life and Job's Perspective06:02 Noah: Misinterpretation of Divine Signs07:07 East of Eden: Human Depravity and Sibling Rivalry09:19 Magnolia: Generational Sin and Its Consequences11:52 No Country For Old Men13:46 Breakfast Club: The Impact of Parenting17:13 American History X: The Search for Guidance20:28 Memory and Identity in Film23:01 Coco: The Importance of Remembrance

Equip the Church to Think Biblically: How Your Church Can Fuel This Work

In this special message to church leaders, Dr. Dru Johnson speaks directly to pastors, elders, and ministry teams preparing next year’s budget. As someone who has served as a full-time pastor, he knows how critical and crowded those budget conversations can be—and he makes a case for why the Center for Hebraic Thought deserves a place in your missions giving line.
“If you’ve passed along our articles, if you’ve listened regularly to our podcast or shared it with others,” Dru says, “then you’ve already seen the value.” The Center doesn’t just produce The Biblical Mind podcast—it also creates Biblical Thinks workshops, a scholar-guided book series for lay readers, and the Hebraic Thought Community for shared reading, discussion, and formation.
These resources are built to equip the Church to think along the grain of Scripture and extend its wisdom into everyday life. But that mission depends on ministry partners who believe in the vision—and are willing to give.
Whether it’s $100/month or more, churches can help sustain this growing movement by adding the Center for Hebraic Thought to their missions budget. As Dru says, “Whatever you can do will help, and we thank you very much for partnering with us.”
 
Follow This Link to Become A Church Partner:
https://hebraicthought.org/church-partners/

Fueling Hebraic Thought: How You Can Help

In this candid and heartfelt message, Dr. Dru Johnson steps out from behind the mic to speak directly to you—the listener, the learner, the potential donor.
“I’m a recurring giver. I actually pay to do this work.” That’s how strongly he believes in the mission of the Center for Hebraic Thought. In this short but powerful donor appeal, Dru explains how the Center’s podcast, public resources, book series, and workshops are made possible—not by salaries or institutional budgets—but by the generous support of people like you.
He outlines the unique work of the Center: promoting a biblical way of thinking that’s structurally rich, theologically grounded, and practically wise. From the top-20-ranked Biblical Mind Podcast, to a growing Hebraic Thought Community, to partnerships with publishers and institutions, this movement is growing—but it needs your help to continue.
“I used to be embarrassed to ask,” Dru says, “but I’m not anymore.” Whether you’re a scholar, pastor, teacher, or lifelong learner, you can become part of the team by giving a one-time gift—or becoming a recurring donor like Dru.
If you’ve ever benefited from the work of the Center, now’s the time to give back.
One Time Gifts:https://hebraicthought.org/give
Recurring Donations (and the gift of the Donor Book Series):https://hebraicthought.org/donor-book-series

Why Scholars Gather: A Tour Through the Wild World of Biblical Academia (Dru Johnson) Ep. #228

What actually happens when thousands of biblical scholars descend on a single convention center?
In this unusual and behind-the-scenes episode, Dru Johnson roams the floor of the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting in Boston to ask a range of publishers and scholars—from Langham Publishing to Prairie College—what these conferences are really like. From the excitement of free books to the dread of reading papers aloud in monotone, this episode reveals both the inspiring and ridiculous sides of academic gatherings.
Dr. Cindy Parker shares the joy of “seeing people from Australia and Israel and just Europe all over the place,” while also admitting, “there’s a lot of ego in the room.” Megan Roberts, a professor in Canada, offers a more practical critique: “Just Google how many words is a 20-minute presentation. Then do it.”
Meanwhile, publisher reps express their weariness with “sweaty” scholars who show up on the final day asking, “What here is free?” And Dr. Chris Skinner offers a thoughtful defense of the format: “The only way you can become better is by being around people who are already better than you.”
This episode is honest, occasionally surprising, and always hilarious —your personal audio tour of biblical scholarship in the wild.
We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:https://hebraicthought.org/give
For more articles:https://thebiblicalmind.org/
Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThoughtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthoughtThreads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthoughtX: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThoughtBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org
Chapters:
00:00 Langham Publishing's Mission and Focus05:56 Scholarly Behavior and Conference Dynamics08:56 Presentation Skills and Audience Engagement11:56 The Value of Academic Conferences14:52 Endorsements and Marketing in Academic Publishing17:46 The Psychology of Scholarly Interactions

Where Is God? Eucharist, Trauma, and Divine Presence in Poland (Ela Wyrzykowska) Ep. #227

Where is God present—and how do believers describe it?
In this thoughtful and poetic episode, Polish theologian Dr. Elżbieta Łazarewicz-Wyrzykowska joins Dru Johnson to reflect on theology, trauma, and spiritual presence. From her childhood in Warsaw—where bullet holes and tanks marked the legacy of war—to her academic path through Hebrew Bible, literary theory, and empirical psychology, Elżbieta has never stopped asking difficult questions.
They discuss her research into the Book of Amos using the philosophical insights of Mikhail Bakhtin, seeing God as the “author” of Israel and disobedience as a form of anti-creation. They also explore her current interdisciplinary work in the psychology of religion: “We tried to measure where people locate God’s presence. Eucharist was the one thing people named first.”
She reflects on the tension between empirical categories and theological meaning: “God is present in special objects” didn’t resonate. But “God is present in the Eucharist”? That made sense. “I still wanted to be faithful to what the community told me.”
This episode is a masterclass in humility, scholarship, and the quiet brilliance of a scholar working at the intersection of Scripture, philosophy, trauma, and pastoral care.
We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:https://hebraicthought.org/give
For more articles:https://thebiblicalmind.org/
Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThoughtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthoughtThreads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthoughtX: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThoughtBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Personal Background02:49 Warsaw: A City of Resilience06:06 The Impact of Historical Trauma08:41 Academic Journey in Hebrew Bible Studies11:49 Literary and Philosophical Approaches to the Hebrew Bible14:35 Interdisciplinary Work and Its Challenges17:38 Exploring Bakhtin's Influence20:31 The Book of Amos: A Case Study23:42 Theological Measures and Empirical Research26:35 The Role of Practical Theology29:45 Conclusion and Future Directions

On Biblical Masculinity, The Boy Crisis, And The Church's Missed Mission (Anthony Bradley) Ep. #226

For decades, churches have built youth ministries around entertainment and behavior management. But what if all the data says that’s the wrong approach?
In this powerful episode, Dr. Anthony Bradley joins Dru Johnson to reflect on 25 years of experience working with youth, revisiting the PBS documentary Raising Cain and what it reveals about the neglected emotional lives of boys. He shares stories from his time as a high school teacher, where the boys most emotionally adrift weren’t from broken homes—but from Christian families.
Bradley argues that youth ministry has largely failed, citing data showing a 50–60% dropout rate among church youth group kids. “What the data shows is that spiritual formation happens at home,” he says. “And instead of churches focusing on the youth, they need to be focusing on Malachi 4:6.”
He calls for churches to replace youth isolation with intergenerational community. “They need to physically experience almost in a sacramental sort of sense what a godly family is.” Boys don’t just need Bible studies—they need fathers, mentors, uncles, and grandfathers.
This episode is an urgent wake-up call to rethink how we raise boys, how we disciple families, and how the church can once again become the place for forming whole people.
For Anthony's Substack, click this link:https://anthonybbradley.substack.com/
We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:https://hebraicthought.org/give
For more articles:https://thebiblicalmind.org/
Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThoughtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthoughtThreads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthoughtX: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThoughtBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org
Chapters
00:00 The Impact of 'Raising Cain' on Understanding Boys02:59 Cultural Shifts in Masculinity and Education05:43 The Emotional Lives of Boys08:39 The Crisis of Boys in Education11:34 Masculinity and Emotional Expression14:38 The Role of Culture in Defining Masculinity17:39 Christian Perspectives on Masculinity20:24 Historical Context of Masculinity in Christianity25:44 The Shift in Youth Ministry Focus28:29 The Role of Parents in Faith Formation32:21 Creating Family-Centric Church Activities35:18 The Importance of Intergenerational Relationships40:16 Integrating Youth into Family Life45:07 The Need for Community and Mentorship50:52 Long-Term Faith Development and Patience

What The Chosen Gets Right (And Wrong): Archaeology, Pharisees, and Color (Jeffrey Garcia) Ep. #225

Was Peter’s hometown ever really lost—and have we just found it?
In this episode, archaeologist and scholar Dr. Jeffrey Arroyo García joins Dru Johnson to explore how archaeology reshapes our understanding of the Gospels, popular media like The Chosen, and the portrayal of first-century Judaism. Drawing on his years excavating at El-Araj—the site increasingly believed to be biblical Bethsaida—Jeff walks us through how ancient inscriptions, Crusader-era churches, and Roman bathhouses reveal the story beneath the shoreline.
But the episode takes a provocative turn when they discuss the show The Chosen. Jeff praises its storytelling and vibrancy but calls attention to a visual pattern with troubling roots: “The Pharisees are generally in black… And when they come into contact with Jesus… they wear lighter colors.” He explains how this “othering” of Pharisees—even subtly—echoes centuries of Christian anti-Jewish tropes.The conversation is honest, layered, and generous—balancing artistic license with historical clarity. “If you are interested in Jesus or a follower of Jesus,” Jeff warns, “then you can’t be a Pharisee—just from clothing alone.”
We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:https://hebraicthought.org/give
For more articles:https://thebiblicalmind.org/
Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought
Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought
X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org
 
Chapters:00:00 Exploring Archaeology and the Galilee02:48 Pharisees and Their Presence in Galilee05:40 The Search for Bethsaida08:48 Significant Discoveries at El-Araj11:30 Cultural Context and New Testament Insights14:21 The Chosen: Storytelling and Historical Accuracy17:31 Creative Speculation in Biblical Portrayals20:37 The Role of Pharisees in the New Testament23:23 Touring Israel: Insights and Experiences

Creation, Rest, and Reign: What Genesis Meant to the Ancient World (Rachel Booth Smith) Ep. #224

What if Genesis 1 wasn’t about the origin of matter—but the enthronement of God? And what if “rest” wasn’t the end of work, but the beginning of reign?
In this episode, Rachel Booth Smith, author of Rest Assured, joins Dru Johnson to explore how the Genesis creation story contrasts with other ancient Near Eastern accounts. With a storyteller’s gift and a pastor’s heart, Smith explains how comparing biblical cosmogony to Egyptian or Hittite myths can actually strengthen, not weaken, our faith in the text. “Sometimes the campfire would get very upset,” she says, imagining ancient neighbors reacting to Genesis’ claim that the sun and moon are just objects—not gods.
She also unpacks the significance of Sabbath as sacred reign, not divine nap time. “Rest is like saying sitting down at a throne because everything is operating correctly,” she explains. The seven-day structure wasn’t arbitrary—it was holy, “marked out,” signaling both the order of creation and the rhythm of life.
Most importantly, Rachel shows how this re-reading of Genesis leads us to trust. “If I can get to the end of a Sabbath and realize you are God and I am not, I feel like that was a win.”
For Rachel's book "Rest Assured," head here:
https://www.moodypublishers.com/rest-assured/
We are listener supported. Give to the cause here:https://hebraicthought.org/give
For more articles:https://thebiblicalmind.org/
Social Links:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThoughtInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthoughtThreads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthoughtX: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThoughtBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction01:08 The Genesis of Understanding Creation03:55 Bridging Ancient and Modern Perspectives07:08 The Concept of Rest in Creation10:18 Sabbath: A Rhythm of Work and Rest13:22 The Nature of God’s Power and Authority16:01 Cultural Contexts and Creation Narratives19:23 The Role of the Sun and Other Deities22:07 The Significance of Seven in Creation25:14 The Uniqueness of Genesis' Creation Account28:06 The Implications of a Non-Conflict Creation31:16 The Importance of Trusting God34:09 Conclusion: Insights from Ancient Near Eastern Literature