TEN FOOT POLE Pastor A.J. Houseman

Pastor A.J. and Rabbi Evan dive into the “fall” of humanity.  What are the different perspectives and theological meanings to this story in Judaism and Christianity?  What are the differences? We talk about how this story affects our understanding of good and evil and our very relationship with our creator God.  For those that follow the RCL this episode talks about Genesis 3:8-15 for Sunday, June 9th, 2024.

Discussion Questions:

1. What’s your working definition of sin?

2. Where does sin come from?

3. How does the perspective that Rabbi gives challenge your traditional beliefs?

4. Does God need humanity?

5. Do you do good things to “make up” for sin or something else?

6. How do you feel about the concept that God may have lied to them?



Other notes:


Correction: *Jesus’ genealogy is taken back all the way to Adam in the Gospel of Luke not Matthew. 

Is the Sabbath for us or are we for the Sabbath? Jesus challenges us once again by breaking the rules and paves the way for us to evaluate how we do church.  Who is church for? How important are your giant stained glass windows? Pastor Andrea and Pastor A.J. dive into the gospel lesson, Mark 2:23-3:6, for Sunday, June 2nd, 2024. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Does your church have very strong feelings about where things are located in the church?

2. What would happen if you moved stuff around?

3. How does this challenge our communities?

4. What would it say to the world around us to make changes?

5. Where is the Good News?

What’s it like to be heirs to the kingdom? Or have you been told that your “sins of the flesh” keep you out?  Well, my friends, Pastor Jon and Pastor A.J. talk about what it means to be a part of the body of Christ, a member of the second part of the Trinity, and who it’s for.  Guess what, it’s you!  This episode talks about Romans 8:12-17 for Trinity Sunday, May 26, 2024 with some Galatians 5 scattered in there. 

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to you to be seen as part of the Trinity body?

2. What have you been told about the “sins of the flesh”? 

3. How have you internalized this?

4. What does it mean to be heirs of the promise?

5. What theological ideas have you been engrained with in your life that you have had to un-learn?

6. What embodied experiences do you experience God?

Live Recording Event Info:


“Unclobber: Rethinking our misuse of the Bible on homosexuality” by Pastor Colby Martin. https://a.co/d/axRhIYV


Live Recording Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/476139701613332/

“Maybe that’s the real gift of the Spirit: to hear and discern God’s Good News.” Is Pentecost really just the disciples' graduation from disciple school? Or is it more like their “confirmation”? Where it’s really the beginning of the next chapter of their faith and ministry. All glitter ashes aside, Pastor A.J. and Pastor Joe dive into some Pentecost, graduation, new wine, and confirmation based conversation about Acts 2:1-21 for Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2024.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is linguistic diversity a curse from God or a gift?

2. What does Pentecost share with us about diversity?

3. We hear that God breaks down barriers. What is to prevent you (anyone) from hearing the good news?

4. When is change in our faith good? Or when should we push back at change?

5. As we discuss diversity of language and culture, what are church culture differences that are good?

Is Judas a bad guy? Why or why not?  Pastor Kyle and Pastor A.J. dive into all the possibilities and offer some grace for our faith’s biggest villain. Judas Iscariot is the guy who sells out Jesus, but he also was included as a chosen disciple.  What does it mean that Jesus chose him? Is it a mistake? Or is he just a part of the story because we need a villain? Let’s talk about it.  Pastor Kyle and Pastor A.J. dive into Acts 1:15-26 for Sunday, May 12, 2024. 

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think Judas is bad? Why or Why Not?

2. Is there a need to have a bad guy in the story of Jesus?

3. Who do we scapegoat in our faith?

4. The super hard question: who deserves grace?

5. Is there anyone outside of God’s grace?

6. What does it mean to “cloak them in our own honor” to you?

7. What does it mean that God chooses to partner with us? Even as flawed people that we are?

8. How does it reframe the story of Judas reco

Other Notes:

The Nonviolent Atonement - J. Denny Weaver https://www.amazon.com/Nonviolent-Atonement-J-Denny-Weaver/dp/0802849083

Down the rabbit hole we go!  We finally found a topic that makes Pastor A.J. uncomfortable! What if Jesus’ last commandment to the disciples is not what it seems? What does that mean for us? Is there a Johannine "messianic secret commandment" that we missed? Does it mean anything to us a couple thousand years later? Join Pastor A.J. and Brother Ryan as we venture down the rabbit hole where things may not be what they seem, but maybe we still come out beloved and renewed on the other side.  This episode talks about John 15:9-17 for Sunday, May 5th, 2024.



Discussion Questions:

1. “I give you a new commandment that you love one another” or “I give you a new commandment in order that you love one another.”  Do you think this translation difference changes the meaning?

2. If it does change the meaning, what does that mean to you?

3. What does it mean to love as Jesus asks?

4. What does this commandment mean in light of Jesus fulfilling God’s commandments on our behalf?

5. How are we to live knowing that we cannot be perfect and that God will make up the difference no matter what?

6. What is the good news?



Other notes:


Greek text notes referenced by the Rev. D. Mark Davis: https://leftbehindandlovingit.blogspot.com/2015/05/in-order-that-you-love.html
Learn more about the Lutheran Franciscans at https://www.lutheranfranciscans.org/