Theologian and chiropractor Kayla Jentes joins Dave and Mike to discuss Genesis 18. We talk about the 3 strangers that came to visit Abraham and Sarah where the couple performs radical acts of hospitality. We also chat about Sarah's famous laugh from the tent and everything that means given what we know about her from the Biblical text.

Finally, we dive deep into Abraham bargaining with God over the looming judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. What can we learn about God and the nature of humanity?

Follow and read Kayla Jentes' writings: https://thenerdychiro.substack.com/

Sources used for this episode:

*The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis by Dr. John Walton

*Word Biblical Commentary: Genesis 16-50 by Gordon J. Wenham

*The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament by John H. Walton, Victor H Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas

*The New International Commentary: The Book of Genesis: Chapters 18-50 by Victor P. Hamilton

*Come Out My People: God's Call Out of Empire in the Bible and Beyond by Wes Howard-Brook

*Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne By Wilda C. Gafney

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Everything you wanted to know about circumcision but were afraid to ask. Co-hosts Dave Lester and Mike Mason welcome guest, Pastor Jeffrey Prager, to walk through perhaps the pinnacle of the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 17. God says the sign of the covenant will be circumcision for the males. While visiting Abram (who changes to Abraham), God promises a son with Sarai (who changes to Sarah) named Isaac. Lots of rich theology in this passage that is discussed in depth.

Sources used for this episode:

*The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis by Dr. John Walton

*Word Biblical Commentary: Genesis 16-50 by Gordon J. Wenham

*The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament by John H. Walton, Victor H Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas

*The New International Commentary: The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17 by Victor P. Hamilton

*The JPS Torah Commentary by Dr. Nahum Sarna

*Come Out My People: God's Call Out of Empire in the BIble and Beyond by Wes Howard-Brook

*Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

In this special episode, host Dave Lester preaches a sermon on Revelation 3:7-13 (the church of Philadelphia) walking through the passage and reminding listeners that Jesus holds the key of David and is the exclusive One that can open and close the door.

Church website: https://ckpres.org/

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Author Liz Charlotte Grant joins the podcast to discuss the account of Hagar in Genesis 16. We dive deep into Hagar's abuse at the hands of Abram and Sarai, her fleeing into the desert and her encounter with the Angel of the Lord. Liz Charlotte Grant also talks about her debut book "Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible".

Get a copy of Liz Charlotte Grant's book "Knock at the Sky" right here: https://www.amazon.com/Knock-Sky-Seeking-Genesis-Losing/dp/0802883753

Read the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy right here: https://reformation.net/uploads/1/1/7/6/117618790/the_chicago_statement_on_biblical_inerrancy.pdf

Read Liz Charlotte Grant's perspective on the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy right here: https://www.christiancentury.org/features/certainty-summit

Sources used for this episode:

*The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis by Dr. John Walton

*Word Biblical Commentary: Genesis 1-15 by Gordon J. Wenham

*The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament by John H. Walton, Victor H Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas

*The New International Commentary: The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17 by Victor P. Hamilton

*Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible" by Liz Charlotte Grant

*Reading Genesis by Marilynn Robinson

*Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne by Wilda Gafney

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Reuben Lester returns! Host Dave Lester and his son talk about Christmas memories, their favorites Christmas songs and movies and the birth of Jesus. They read from the Gospel of Matthew and Luke.

Sources used for this Episode:

*The NIrV Adventure Bible for Early Readers. Published by ZonderKidz

Opening Music: Holly Jolly Christmas by Burt Ives

Other Music Used: He Shall Reign Forevermore by Matt Maher (from the album: The Advent of Christmas)

This is a sermon host Dave Lester preached at Central Valley Presbyterian Church on November 23rd, 2025. He speaks on the closing credits of Philippians 4:10-20 including the Apostle Paul's contentment in all circumstances and his statement about how believers can do all things through Him who strengthens us- a profound verse that has been abused.

Website for the church: https://ckpres.org/

Sources used for this message:

*The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Paul's Letter to the Philippians By Gordon D. Fee

*St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians by JB Lightfoot

*The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament By Craig S Keener

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Host Dave Lester and his friend Mike Mason are joined by Laura Pugh- a wife, a mother, a teacher and an advocate for the least of these- to talk about Genesis 15:12-21. The first half of Genesis 15 involved a beautiful vision of Abram's descendants being as numerous as the night time sky. Now comes a disturbing prophetic dream of Abram's descendants being enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. On this episode, we talk slavery, the problem of suffering, views of the afterlife, ancestors and more.

Sources for this episode:

*The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis by Dr. John Walton

*Word Biblical Commentary: Genesis 1-15 by Gordon J. Wenham

*The JPS Torah Commentary by Dr. Nahum Sarna

*Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife by Bart Ehrman

*"Who Were the Kenites in the Bible?" Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/q/who_were_the_kenites_in_the_bible.htm

*"Kenizzites" Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/topical/k/kenizzites.htm

*"Kadmonites" Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/topical/k/kadmonites.htm

*Hittites" Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/topical/naves/h/hittites--the_descendants_of_heth.htm

*"Who Were the Rephaites?" Gotquestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/Rephaim.html

*"Amorites" wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorites

*"Who Were the Canaanites and Why Did God Order Their Destruction?" by Mike Leake. biblestudytools.com. https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/who-were-the-canaanites-and-why-did-god-order-their-destruction.html

*"Who Were the Girgashites in the Bible?" biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/q/who_were_the_girgashites_in_the_bible.htm

*"Who Were the Jebusites in the Bible?" biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/q/who_were_the_jebusites_in_the_bible.htm

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong

Dave Lester is joined by authors Billie Hoard (a previous guest on the "Drunk and Naked Noah" episode) and Dr. Paul Hoard (his literal neighbor down the street) to chat about their new book: "Eucontamination: Digust Theology and the Christian Life". The book is an intersection between theological and psychological ideas and is super fascinating, contains many CS Lewis quotes and contains relevant challenges for the church in our present age. We also relate a recent news story involving Rev David Black being shot in the face with a pepper ball while protesting the government's treatment of immigrants to disgust theology and eucontamination.

**Buy the book "Eucontamination: Disgust Theology and the Christian Life" right here: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385213726/eucontamination/

References for this episode:

*Read Dr. Paul Hoard's Substack: https://paulhoard.substack.com/

*Read Billie Hoard's Substack: https://substack.com/@billieiswriting

*"Freud's Last Session: Finding the Other in the Question of God" by Dr. Paul R. Hoard and Billie Hoard. The Other Journal. https://theotherjournal.com/2024/04/freuds-last-session/

**The Integrative Mindset by Brad D. Strawn and Earl D. Bland. https://www.amazon.com/Integrative-Mindset-Practicing-Association-Psychological/dp/1514002205

Opening Music: Struttin With Some Barbeque by Louis Armstrong