Chad Bird

Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at ⁠1517⁠ and is the author of several books. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master's degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College.

In this episode we have a conversation around the impact of individualism on the church and the need for a shift from self-focus to serving others. Cultural narratives in the church often differ from the cultural narratives of society, and this difference is usually a good thing.

Key Takeaways From Conversation:

• Chad Bird's journey from a cowboy upbringing in Texas to becoming a scholar in residence for a Christian nonprofit.

• The impact of individualism on the church and the need for a shift from self-focus to serving others. Cultural narratives in the church often differ from the cultural narratives of society, and this difference is usually a good thing.

• Confession and repentance are important, but they are not the grounds for God's forgiveness; it is the sacrifice of Jesus that is the source of our hope and forgiveness.

• The Old Testament presents a God who is both merciful and just, and the narratives in the Bible should be read with a focus on what God is doing rather than self-centered interpretations.

• The use of technology in the digital age can be a tool for spreading the gospel and encouraging the body of Christ, but it should not replace the concrete gathering of local congregations.

• The desire for self-salvation and the human need to be the hero in our own stories can lead to a distorted understanding of the gospel and our relationship with God.

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Read the episode transcript here

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