Beyond Sunday School

Daniel Rose
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Many of us grew up hearing the good old stories. Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, and the like. But how do we go beyond those? How do we engage the Bible as adults beyond the Sunday School lessons?

  1. 3d ago

    Grace, Drunk Straight

    This week in Beyond Sunday School we dove into the first two chapters of Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel — "Something Is Radically Wrong" and "The Magnificent Monotony." (And yes, I deeply appreciate a preacher who can nail the alliteration.) I opened the session with a question, and I want to ask it of you too: When you hear the word grace, what do you know is true — and what is still hard to trust? Here's where we went: Why "dead means dead" changes everything about how you hear grace (Ephesians 2)Manning's diagnosis: the church as a Wall Street exchange of works, and too many Christians living in the house of fear instead of the house of loveWhy we'd rather post the Ten Commandments in classrooms than the Beatitudes — and what that fear says about usThe vineyard workers and the unforgiving debtor: we get millions forgiven and go beat up people who owe us penniesRobert Farrar Capon's line I can't stop quoting: "Grace has to be drunk straight — no water, no ice, and certainly no ginger ale"Why it's okay to be an ordinary Christian who received a radical graceThe difference between believing to avoid hell and living in relationship — you're not sinning, you're just missing outManning's own story of alcoholism after conversion, and his line that justification by grace means God set us in relationship with him, not turned us into "a patient etherized on a table"The sinner at the church door, and God's answer: "What are you complaining about? They won't let me in either."Quotes from the episode: "Love is stifled, freedom shackled, self-righteousness fastened. The institutional church has become a wounder of the healers rather than a healer of the wounded." — Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, ch. 1 "We grow squeamish and skittish before God's love." — Manning, ch. 2 "Never confuse your perception of yourself with the mystery that you really are." — Manning "God's butt is always a good one." — me, apparently, to a room that needed a half-second to get it The reading — Ephesians 2:8–10 (NIV): For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Go deeper: The book: Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel (originally published 1990)Companion blog post: "Grace, Drunk Straight" at danielmrose.comSession 1 of this series: "What's So Amazing About Grace?"Beyond Sunday School is my year-long series on grace for the 2026–27 school year. New sessions drop weekly. If this one met you where you are, share it with a fellow glorious mess.

    Grace, Drunk Straight

  2. Sep 16

    What's So Amazing About Grace?

    Welcome back to Beyond Sunday School! This season, we are shifting gears from our deep dive into Revelation to focus an entire year on a single, transformative topic: Grace. To kick off our journey, Dan introduces the book that will guide our initial conversations—Brennan Manning’s classic, The Ragamuffin Gospel. Before opening Manning’s book, we start in the Scriptures with Ephesians 2:1–10 to lay a foundation for what grace actually is, why we desperately need it, and how it transforms the way we live in the world. Key Takeaways & Discussion Points Not by Works: Why human culture leans toward performance and rules (and why Christianity presents a radical, unearned reversal). The Reality of Spiritual Death: Understanding Paul’s stark description in Ephesians 2:1–3—why facing our spiritual "deadness" is essential to keeping grace amazing. Mechanics vs. The Master: Moving past getting stuck on the exact formulas or "how-to" mechanics of faith and focusing on Who saves us. Saved FOR Good Works: Verse 10 reminds us that grace isn't passive; good works are the natural, grateful response of a heart transformed by undeserved love. Who Is a Ragamuffin? A reading of Brennan Manning’s "A Word Before"—reminding us that grace is meant for the weary, broken, wobbly, and beat-up, not the spiritually polished. Key Scripture "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." — Ephesians 2:8–9 Resources Mentioned Book: The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning Scripture Focus: Ephesians 2:1–10 Next Week's Reading: Read Chapters 1 & 2 of The Ragamuffin Gospel as we begin working through the text together!

    What's So Amazing About Grace?

  3. Jul 2

    Revelation 15 - Home at Last

    We close out our journey through Revelation with chapters 20, 21, and 22 — the final judgment, the new heaven and new earth, and the garden-city of Revelation 22. Along the way: why our hope isn't heaven but the new creation, what the "thousand years" actually means (and doesn't), the already-but-not-yet nature of Christ's victory over Satan, what really happens when we die, and why trying to read the end of Revelation literally is exactly how people get it wrong. Why the hope of Revelation is the new heavens and new earth — not "going to heaven" — and how that reshapes the whole bookThe "thousand years" of Revelation 20 as symbol, not a literal countdownAlready-but-not-yet: Christ's decisive victory at the cross vs. the ongoing fight, illustrated with V-E Day, V-J Day, and (yes) Michael Scott declaring bankruptcyThe final collapse of evil in Revelation 20:7–15 — and why there's no actual battleWhat "Hades" really means in Scripture, and why it's not a synonym for hellWhat happens the moment we die: stepping out of time into eternityWhy the parable of Lazarus and the rich man can't carry the theological weight we usually put on itTrusting God's justice instead of trying to determine it ourselvesRevelation 21: God comes down to dwell with us — the reversal of the fall and the bookend to John 1The city as a cube: Holy of Holies imagery and what it means that there's no temple in the new JerusalemRevelation 22: Eden upgraded — the garden and the city woven togetherThe open gates, the closing charge to "let the holy still be holy," and what that means for how we live nowRevelation 20:1–15; 21:1–22:21; referenced: John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14; Luke 16:19–31; Hebrews 11; 1 Peter 3:18–20 N.T. Wright on the symbolic meaning of the thousand yearsPlowing in Hope - David Bruce HegemanHow does picturing our hope as "new heavens and new earth" instead of "going to heaven when we die" change the way you think about the Christian life right now?Where in your own life do you feel the tension of already-but-not-yet — victory that's real but not yet fully realized?Revelation 22 pictures gates that never close because there's nothing left to fear. What would it look like for you to live with that kind of settled peace today?John tells the churches to focus on their own holiness rather than trying to control the culture around them. Where are you tempted to do the opposite?Beyond Sunday School is a theological teaching podcast. Find more episodes on Spotify. Episode SummaryWhat We CoverScriptureMentioned in This EpisodeDiscussion Questions

    Revelation 15 - Home at Last

  4. Jun 11

    Revelation 14 - The Ultimate Victory

    We dive into Revelation 19, marking the end of a major teaching loop in the book. This chapter gives us a breathtaking glimpse of God’s ultimate victory through the cross and the second coming. From a roaring heavenly throne room to the stark contrast between a wedding feast and a battlefield scavenger hunt, we explore how the world is ultimately won not by violence, but by the true Word of God. Key Takeaways: Promises Kept: Returning to the heavenly throne room, the long-awaited cry of the martyrs from early in the book is finally answered. The scene reminded persecuted first-century Christians—and us today—that a righteous God will bring true justice in His perfect timing. The Gift of Good Works: We examine the metaphor of the Church as the Bride of Christ. Clothed in fine linen representing "the righteous deeds of God's holy people," we discuss the beautiful gospel paradox: our good deeds are actually gifts of grace prepared beforehand for us to walk in. The Idol Factory: Even John accidentally falls down to worship the angel delivering the message, prompting an immediate reminder to only worship God. We discuss how easily the human heart turns good things—like family, pastors, or even the physical pages of Scripture—into objects of worship. Victory by the Word: When Christ returns on a white horse, His weapon is a sharp sword coming out of His mouth. This imagery underscores that broken cultural systems and evil empires are not defeated by military dominance, but by the absolute truth of God's Word. Honor vs. Shame: We contrast the joyful Marriage Supper of the Lamb with the graphic "great feast of God" where birds scavenger the battlefield. In an ancient honor-shame culture, being left unburied was the ultimate public humiliation. Culture promises that chasing raw power leads to glory, but Revelation exposes it as the path to ultimate shame. What's Next: Our next episode releases after June 30th. It will be our final installment in the Beyond Sunday School series as we cover Chapters 20 through 22 and conclude our journey through Revelation. See you then!

    Revelation 14 - The Ultimate Victory

  5. Jun 2

    Revelation 13 - Seduction, Symbols, and Self-Destruction

    We are heading into the home stretch of our Revelation study! In this episode, we dive into the wild, graphic, and highly symbolic world of Revelation 17. From multi-headed monsters to the shocking imagery of "Babylon the Great," we move past the urge to treat this text like a literal decoding ring and instead uncover its deep historical and modern truths. How do we recognize the corrupt "empires" of our own day? And how can the church remain a faithful, alternative society without losing its call to be a peacemaker? Grab a cup of coffee and join us as we unpack one of the most challenging chapters in the New Testament. Beyond the Literal Timelines: Why we must stick to our intentional interpretive process of reading these texts as signs and symbols rather than literal chronological roadmaps. The Shock Factor of the Greek Text: A look at why the original Greek uses intentionally jarring language like "whore"—and why modern translations often sanitize it to make it more palatable. Why the Whore Imagery? Breaking down the four theological reasons for this imagery, highlighting its role as a parody of the Bride of Christ and its roots in Old Testament prophecy. Decoding Babylon: Exploring how Babylon represented Rome in the first century, while serving as a universal symbol for any dominating, oppressive imperial system across human history. The Danger of a "Little Bit" of Compromise: Why imperial systems are never satisfied with partial allegiance once you drink from their cup. The Monster Eats Its Own Tail: How institutional evil naturally turns inward and cannibalizes itself, illustrated by historical examples like the American Civil War. The Church as an Alternate Society: How followers of Jesus can publicly and respectfully push back against corrupt cultures without resorting to self-righteousness. "Once you take the golden cup offered by Babylon, you have to drink it down to its dregs. The world and its systems are never satisfied with just a little bit; they want it all. You cannot straddle the fence." We will be taking a short two-week break before diving into Chapters 18 and 19. Until then, hit subscribe, leave us a review, and remember to stand firm in the faith while extending grace and mercy to those around you!

    Revelation 13 - Seduction, Symbols, and Self-Destruction

  6. May 14

    Revelation 12 - Purity, Justice, and the Purpose of God's Wrath

    Talking about the wrath of God isn't exactly the most popular topic for a Tuesday afternoon. To our modern sensibilities, the heavy imagery of judgment, plagues, and cosmic shaking can feel incredibly uncomfortable. But what if we've been looking at God's wrath all wrong? In this episode, we dive deep into Revelation 16 to unpack the seven bowls of judgment. We discuss why it is absolutely vital to maintain our symbolic framework, how true love actually demands justice, and why the ultimate goal of God’s wrath isn't punishment—it’s purification. Pull up a chair as we challenge popular cultural ideas of an "angry deity," look at the deceptive "frogs" of modern propaganda, and discover how to live alert and attentive lives in step with the Spirit today. The "25-Cent Word" of the Day: Why keeping a consistent interpretive framework is the key to reading Revelation without losing your mind. The Incredible Hulk vs. The Living God: Deconstructing the myth of a capricious, "snapping" God. God's wrath is measured, full of grace, and slow to anger. Punishment vs. Purification: Why the Old Testament sacrificial system and the Cross of Christ were never about making an angry God happy, but about making a broken people holy. Bouncing Frogs & Ideologies: A look at the "unclean spirits" of Revelation 16 and how the deceptive "isms" and propaganda of our world try to capture our hearts and minds. The Battle of Armageddon (Mount Megiddo): Why this isn't a Hollywood action movie scene, but a powerful symbolic promise that God has chosen the ground and already secured the ultimate advantage over evil. Living "Awake": What it actually means to look for the second coming of Christ by watching our souls rather than charting out historical timelines. "The purpose of God's wrath is not punishment. The purpose of God's wrath is purification. It is to make things holy." "If a parent always stops a child from experiencing the consequences of their actions, that child is never gonna actually learn... This is the global order of God saying, 'Don't put your hand on the stove.'" "True love demands justice. It demands things to be set right." Revelation 16:1-21 Amos 9 (The sifting of the remnant) Galatians & Romans (Keeping in step with the Spirit / Christ coming at just the right time) Revelation for Everyone by N.T. Wright H. Richard Niebuhr (The famous critique of ultra-liberal theology) If this episode challenged you or brought you peace, make sure to Follow the podcast on Spotify, tap the 5-star review button, and share it with a friend who is trying to make sense of Revelation! 🎧 What We Cover in This Episode:💬 Key Quotes From the Episode:📖 Scripture & Resources Mentioned:📱 Connect With Us!

    Revelation 12 - Purity, Justice, and the Purpose of God's Wrath

  7. May 14

    Revelation 11 - Finding Victory in the "Already But Not Yet" (Revelation 15)

    Welcome back to the podcast! Today, we are diving deep into the imagery of Revelation chapter 15. While it's a shorter passage, it packs a massive punch as we enter a brand-new rotation of the story. Before the next wave of plagues and judgment bowls even begin, John takes us into a stunning scene of total triumph. We explore the profound spiritual tension of living in the "already but not yet" of God's kingdom—where the ultimate victory over evil is guaranteed, but we are still navigating the broken, messy reality of a fallen world. We also challenge popular culture's diaper-wearing, cloud-floating imagery of heaven, and unpack a paradigm-shifting question: Why do the nations actually celebrate and worship God's judgment? (Hint: It’s not the terrifying "fire and brimstone" message you might have grown up with). Finally, we break down the critical difference between guilt and shame, and how Jesus permanently short-circuits the enemy's attempt to ruin our identity. Grab a Bible, settle in, and let's go further up and further into Revelation. The Zoom-Out Effect: Revelation isn't a strict chronological timeline; it’s a series of recapitulations (retellings) that zoom out further and further to show us the grand scale of spiritual realities rather than exacting physical details. The "Upside Down" of the Not Yet: Like the creepy alternate dimension in Stranger Things, living in the "not yet" means we still experience the painful effects of sin while we wait for the final Second Coming. But we persevere because the war has already been won. Reimagining Judgment: Drawing from a beautiful analogy by theologian N.T. Wright, we look at biblical judgment not as capricious punishment, but as a holy circuit judge setting a broken town to rights. Judgment is worth worshipping because it is the ultimate arrival of justice and restoration. Guilt vs. Shame: Guilt is a healthy, behavior-focused recognition of wrongdoing that leads to restoration. Shame is an identity-crushing trap that tells you you are the mistake. Through the cross, Jesus absorbs our judgment and completely severs the link to shame. Revelation 15 (The Sea of Glass, the Song of Moses and the Lamb, and the Seven Bowls of Wrath) Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to Follow the podcast on Spotify, leave us a 5-star rating, and share this episode with a friend who is trying to make sense of Revelation! Next week, we face the plagues of Chapter 16—so grab some vitamin C and we'll see you then! Key Takeaways From This EpisodeScripture ReferencesConnect With Us

    Revelation 11 - Finding Victory in the "Already But Not Yet" (Revelation 15)

  8. Apr 14

    Revelation 10 - Following the Lamb: Hope, Harvest, and the Gospel — Revelation 14

    What does it actually mean to follow Jesus? In this episode, we continue our series through Revelation with chapter 14 — and discover that what looks like a terrifying passage is actually one of the most hopeful in the entire book. We explore the 144,000 who bear the Lamb's name, why their celibacy is a military image rather than a spiritual hierarchy, and what it means that no lie is found on their lips. We unpack the "eternal gospel" — and why the gospel was never meant to be reduced to a transaction. And we wrestle honestly with the blood, the winepress, and the harvest, asking why N.T. Wright insists this passage should be read as "uninhibited joy." The thread running through all of it: the call to persevere. To fight the dragon not on the dragon's terms, but by following Jesus — in truth, in love, and outside the city gates if that's where he leads. Grapes are good. But wine is better. And that only comes through the press. Beyond Sunday School is a podcast for people who want to go deeper in their faith. New episodes drop regularly.

    Revelation 10 - Following the Lamb: Hope, Harvest, and the Gospel — Revelation 14
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About

Many of us grew up hearing the good old stories. Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, and the like. But how do we go beyond those? How do we engage the Bible as adults beyond the Sunday School lessons?

Information

  • Creator
    Daniel Rose
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Daniel Rose
  • Show Website
    Beyond Sunday School

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