Welcome to Banned Books, where we read and converse with the rebel children, the holy mischief-makers of God, who fight against the kind of useless religious, spiritual, and moral methods of life improvement that seek to smother the glory of God in Jesus Christ. We want to introduce you to those who forgot everything except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Welcome rebel children, holy mischief-makers, and fools for Christ.
Christmas? This Is Pretty Much The Whole Package. Gillespie and Riley read and so discuss Augustine’s sermon “Why Celebrate Christmas?” This episode, more rabbit trails, laughs, and discussion of Psalm 85 as the perfect Christmas sermon text.
Break the cycle. Rise above. Focus on Christ in the manger. In their monumental 100th episode, Gillespie and Riley read and discuss G.K. Chesterton’s “The Christmas Ballads.” This episode, it’s a lot of incarnation talk and a few rabbit trails…
Sometimes, the end is just the beginning. Gillespie and Riley conclude their reading of Martin Luther’s treatise on The Bondage of The Will. This episode, they discuss the relation of emotions to God’s Word and why Christians aren’t skeptics…
I’m sorry, but your opinion means very little to me. Gillespie and Riley start to wrap up their reading of Martin Luther’s Bondage of The Will with a discussion of the Bible’s clarity and why personal feelings and our need…
What about the reality we left behind? Gillespie and Riley wrap up (but, not really) their series on Martin Luther's treatise on The Bondage of the Will. This episode, Erasmus and Luther butt heads about how to interpret Scripture. Luther…
Free choice? It'll blow your mind and crush your soul. Gillespie and Riley start to wrap up their series on Martin Luther's treatise on The Bondage of the Will. This episode, what is free choice according to Erasmus? What's at…
Law and Gospel? Let us grab our whiteboard. This has been a long time coming, anyways. Gillespie and Riley talk about what happens when we fail to distinguish God's word of Law from Gospel. More talk about why grammar matters…
Worshipping the hidden God is basically a funeral with cake! Gillespie and Riley discuss the distinction between God hidden and revealed, and the consequences for how we read the Bible, preach, teach, and care for each other.
Break the cycle. Rise above. Focus on letting God be God. Gillespie and Riley read and discuss Martin Luther’s treatise on the Bondage of The Will. This episode, why Erasmus, deep down, doesn’t want to let God be God for…
C’mon. Free choice? It’s a thought we’ve all had. Gillespie and Riley discuss why free choice is nothing in relation to God and Satan. Why do we insist on participating in our salvation? What’s our end game in arguments for…
But, what about the reality we left behind? Gillespie and Riley discuss original sin and free choice as they continue to read Martin Luther's treatise on "The Bondage of The Will." In this episode, free choice, grace, and Paul paint…
Oh, wow... that's an intense line of questioning. Gillespie and Riley discuss the vital distinction between the righteousness of works and faith in Martin Luther's "The Bondage of The Will." In this episode, it's Abraham, Paul, and the destruction of…
Gotta rip the bandaid off now. You’ll thank us later. Gillespie and Riley continue to read and discuss Martin Luther’s work on The Bondage of The Will. This week, reading the Bible categorically, doing theology categorically, and why rejecting election…
Look: You’ve Got Two Choices, Well, Maybe One... Or None. Gillespie and Riley read and discuss Martin Luther’s work on The Bondage of The Will. This week, the discussion focuses on where there’s room for choice [as regards to our…
What I Choose Is My Choice! Gillespie and Riley continue their reading and discussion of Luther’s treatise on the bound will. This episode, what happens when God’s election of sinners in Christ Jesus is de-emphasized?
You Want The Truth? You Can’t Handle The Truth! Gillespie and Riley begin their series on "The Bondage of The Will," one of only two books Martin Luther wrote that he claimed were worth preserving. In this episode, we begin…
Sane People Would Pay Top Dollar for This Kind of Podcast. Gillespie, Riley, and special guest Chad Bird read from his book, "Your God is Too Glorious." They then discuss baptism, suffering, and vocation.
I’m spiritual, not Spiritual. Gillespie and Riley continue hijacking their podcast to honor their spiritual father, Norman Nagel. This week, we discuss how to sort out gifts we give ourselves and gifts given by God.
There was Gospel, and blood, and he killed a guy with a trident. Gillespie and Riley continue hijacking their podcast to honor their spiritual father, Norman Nagel, this time on the Lord's Supper from his “The Spirit’s Gifts in the…
He has a way of expressing himself that could make a wolverine purr. Gillespie and Riley hijack their own podcast to pay tribute to their theological hero, Norman Nagel, by reading his article, “The Spirit’s Gifts in the Confessions and…
What about the reality we left behind? Gillespie and Riley get to the last chapter of The Pilgrim's Progress. This episode, baptism, carrot on a stick Jesus, and why verbs matter.
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fu... wait, wrong story! Gillespie and Riley continue their discussion of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. This week, giants, good friends, and more cages.
Despite all my rage, I’m still just a baptized sinner in a cage. Gillespie and Riley respond to a listener request about The Pilgrim’s Progress. This week, we go back to the Interpreter’s House to see about a man in…
Get it all together and put it in a backpack, all your vanity, so it’s together. Gillespie and Riley read The Pilgrim's Progress and discuss the "both-and" of Vanity Fair for Christians.
