Podcast: Biblical Deja Vu

Podcast episode featuring Callie Holland, Kent Bateman, and Eric Freemon. Part of our Year of the Bible series.

Show Notes

This is a podcast episode from City Church explores several recurring patterns in Scripture, particularly focusing on narrative patterns like water imagery, sibling rivalries, and the significance of the number 40.

Key Topics and Timestamps:

0:00-4:30

• Introduction to the Year of the Bible reading initiative

• Personal experiences with following the reading plan

• Discussion of Kent's 9-year-old son joining the reading initiative unprompted

4:30-12:00

• Discussion of recurring patterns in Biblical narratives

• Pattern of judgment, rescue, and moral failure (examples from Adam/Eve, Noah, Lot)

• How these patterns reveal themes throughout Scripture

12:00-20:00

• Water imagery pattern throughout Scripture

• Examples from Creation, Noah's flood, Red Sea crossing, Jordan River

• Connection to Jesus's baptism and water-related miracles

20:00-28:00

• Pattern of sibling rivalries in Scripture

• Discussion of primogeniture and God subverting cultural norms

• Examples: Cain/Abel, Ishmael/Isaac, Jacob/Esau, Joseph and his brothers

28:00-35:00

• The significance of the number 40 in Scripture

• Examples: Noah's flood, Moses's life periods, Israel's wilderness wandering

• Culmination in Jesus's 40 days in the wilderness

35:00-42:00

• Discussion of why these patterns matter

• Unity of Scripture despite multiple authors across centuries

• Circular vs. linear views of history

42:00-48:00

• Advice for reading challenging parts of the Bible

• Tips for reading genealogies

• Importance of perseverance in Bible reading

• Preview of next episode topics

Note: This podcast is part of City Church's year-long initiative to read through the Bible together.