Outlaw God

The Outlaw God podcast is about moving from theological speculation to proclamation. Featuring Dr. Steven Paulson and co-hosted by Caleb Keith.

Struggle in the Belly of the Whale 11/14/2024

Struggle in the Belly of the Whale The whale has swallowed Jonah. Paulson emphasizes Luther's analysis of this text, asserting that this is not a metaphorical pilgrim's journey. Instead, this trial brings on tentatio or the struggle between man and God. Here in the whale, Jonah is confronted with the reality that he cannot escape God's law by means of his own works or even his sacrifice. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33932152

Jonah Can't Satisfy the Law 11/07/2024

Jonah Can't Satisfy the Law Dr. Paulson discusses the events that follow the sailor's discovery that Jonah is responsible for the perils of their voyage. He suggests that Jonah being sacrificed to the sea is an attempt to alleviate the Law of God and restore balance to the trespass. However, Jonah is unable to satisfy the Law through his own death, and instead, God swallows him up in the belly of the fish. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33841692

An Outlaw God For The Church 10/24/2024

An Outlaw God For The Church This episode of the Outlaw God podcast was recorded live at Here We Still Stand 2024. The theme of the conference was Long live the church. Paulson answers the question, what does it mean for the church to have an outlaw God? Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33603642

Sleeping Jonah 10/21/2024

Sleeping Jonah As the Storm rages on, how can Jonah remain asleep? Paulson explains how Jonah continues to attempt to hide from God. First Jonah belives he can run from God and then tries sleep as a form of silencing the law. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33548652

Sacrificing Jonah 10/11/2024

Sacrificing Jonah The Sailors and Jonah decide that the wrath of the Law deserves a sacrifice. Jonah comes clean in an attempt to earn redemption before the Law. However, a sacrificial death will not be the last word. Dr. Paulson helps navigate the significant theological implications of this sacrifice. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33420547

Worship and Idolatry 10/04/2024

Worship and Idolatry The Law of God accuses Jonah, and everyone around him is affected. Yet, as the sailors try to appease God, they are met with silence. In this episode, Dr. Paulson talks about the worship produced out of men's hearts when God remains silent. This worship is nothing short of idolatry. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33333787

Reverting to an Ancient Religion 09/23/2024

Reverting to an Ancient Religion Dr. Pauslon continues to examine the book of Jonah. This week, we observe the sailors' behavior and their reversion to a religion of making sacrifices. The sailors identify that the law of God is judging them but do not know how to silence its accusation. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/33171817

God Hurled A Great Wind 09/10/2024

God Hurled A Great Wind The wrath of God is thrown upon Jonah and all those around him as he attempts to run from God. These events allow Dr. Paulson to analyze the response of sailors to demonstrate how one approaches the wrath of God when all they have is the law and not the gospel. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32992927

Jonah Runs Away 08/31/2024

Jonah Runs Away Dr. Paulson focuses on Jonah's runaway response when God calls him to preach. As Jonah is called to Ninevah, he attempts to escape God. Paulson walks through the text to show how Jonah cannot escape the Word of God. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32817862

God Calls a Preacher 08/23/2024

God Calls a Preacher God calls Jonah to preach the Gospel, but Jonah attempts to hide from God and his call. Dr. Paulson opens this episode by giving us a brief overview of how the distinction between law and the Gospel is worked out in the preacher's call. That is, the demand on the preacher to proclaim is a law, but the particular word they are sent to deliver is the promise of the Gospel. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32713662

God Calls Jonah 08/16/2024

God Calls Jonah Dr. Paulson introduces the story of Jonah by focusing on what it means to get a call from God to preach. Dr. Paulson and Caleb Keith discuss the distinction between an internal and external call to ministry and then examine Jonah's frightful response to God. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32615227

Incomprehensible Wrath and Suffering 08/07/2024

Incomprehensible Wrath and Suffering Dr. Paulson discusses the need for preachers to preach in a world that experiences suffering and war. That is, for the comfort of souls, preaching often requires an address to specific and particular problems in our world. However, this preaching regularly goes sideways by turning into pure advice or situation analysis rather than a proclamation of the Gospel. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32484292

The Last Stand 07/31/2024

The Last Stand Erasmus takes his last stand against Luther. Paulson concludes chapter one of Luther's Outlaw God Volume 2. In this episode, Paulson summarizes Luther's textual arguments against Erasmsus while preparing the audience for the coming chapters, which focus on the proclamation of the Law and Gospel. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32371207

God Clothed or Unclothed 07/25/2024

God Clothed or Unclothed No one can genuinely avoid God. Thus, we don't ask if someone has found or possesses God but whether or not one has God clothed in Christ. To have God unclothed is to be solely an object of the Law and wrath, while to possess God in Christ means that the full force of God's power is for you and your redemption. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32296502

Distinguishing God's Word 07/15/2024

Distinguishing God's Word Dr. Paulson discusses the accusation that Luther is not dividing God's two words of law and gospel but instead dividing God into two competing beings. Dr. Paulson demonstrates that Luther followed the scriptures regarding law and the gospel and that this distinction is fundamental for hearing and preaching. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32148992

Erasmus and the Absurd 07/11/2024

Erasmus and the Absurd Dr. Paulson dives deeper into the disagreement between Erasmus and Luther when reading Scripture. He highlights how the distinction between law and the Gospel is breathed from Scripture and is necessary for understanding. Erasmus responds that this distinction is absurd. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/32101667

The Preacher's Question 07/02/2024

The Preacher's Question Dr. Paulson brings up a question that haunts preachers. How come when I preach, some or most don't listen? Am I an ineffective preacher? Dr. Paulson explains how this age-old question acts as an assault on the Gospel. The particular power of the Gospel isn't attraction but salvation. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31985907

Preaching Elects 07/01/2024

Preaching Elects In this episode, Dr. Paulson discusses the electing power that God places in preaching. That is, preaching is not mere description or analysis but has been given power by God to create saving faith. Emphasis on election via preaching is a distinguishing feature of Lutheranism. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31963857

Preaching vs Giving Advice 06/21/2024

Preaching vs Giving Advice Dr. Paulson dives further into the difference between preaching the text of scripture and turning all scripture into personal advice. Here, we see that God is not giving the Law to neutral people but is using his law to accomplish something. That is the death of the sinner. Likewise, the Gospel is not new advice to holy people but the Word God uses to accomplish new life. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31843197

Starting Backwards 06/13/2024

Starting Backwards In this episode, Dr. Paulson outlines how knowledge of the gospel becomes the starting point for reading scripture. The gospel replaces natural knowledge and allegory as the primary textual framework for reading scripture. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31734582

Allegorizing Scripture 06/08/2024

Allegorizing Scripture In this episode, Paulson explains how allegory turns all Scripture into moral or legal lessons. He demonstrates how this habit erodes the distinction between law and gospel. Erasmus utilizes this form of allegory to prop up his "free will" theory. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31661002

Preaching Letter and Spirit 05/29/2024

Preaching Letter and Spirit Dr. Paulson begins an important conversation about distinguishing law and gospel. This distinction is central to Luther's refutation of free will. With the distinction that the letter or law kills, Scripture ends the idea that the law is given to empower free will to choose God. Likewise, the distinction that the spirit or gospel gives life emphasizes that Christ's work is total and complete and does not wait for sinners to choose life over death. Show Notes: Fundraiser! What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31517162

The Attraction of Suffering 05/20/2024

The Attraction of Suffering In this episode, Paulson discusses modern issues with the theology of the cross. A progressive form of theology attempts to attract human will by describing Christ's suffering on the cross as similar to ours. However, the suffering of the cross is not about attraction or the value of your suffering but the end of sin and the law. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31387327

Christ the Hated God 05/13/2024

Christ the Hated God Dr. Paulson is back to give commentary on his Luther's Outlaw God series of books. This time, he and Caleb Keith introduce volume two. The title of this introduction is "Christ the Hated God." This introduction picks up on the themes of desire and the human will from volume one and puts a pointed focus on the cross of Christ. The primary emphasis is that the cross does not make Christ attractive to human desires but is a "folly and stumbling block." Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31279497

Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ 05/07/2024

Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ God accomplishes great things through the Lord's Supper. Here, our Lord delivers the forgiveness of sins not as a generic doctrinal statement but through a physical means delivered particularly to you. The Supper is accomplished not by works but, as Luther states, "for the words “For you” require nothing but believing hearts." Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31177277

The Lord's Supper 04/26/2024

The Lord's Supper Caleb and Dr. Paulson continue their read through Luther's Small Catechism. This time, Dr. Paulson teaches about the institution of the Lord's Supper. In the Supper, Christ joins his Word to physical elements to give us the gift of life and forgiveness. The show focuses on the power of the sacraments and how this gift is not a mere ritual. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/31007943

Water and the Word 04/21/2024

Water and the Word How can water do such great things? This episode of The Outlaw God focuses on the power of Baptism. In Baptism, God joins his powerful and creative word with the physical means of water to deliver His sure promise of life and salvation. Dr. Paulson emphasizes the confident nature of Baptism and our ability to cling to its physical application individually to believers. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/30923143

What is Baptism? 04/14/2024

What is Baptism? Dr. Paulson and Caleb Keith continue teaching from the Small Catechism. This week, they discuss the sacrament of Baptism. This opens an ongoing proclamation regarding God joining his promises to means to deliver salvation to us. Baptism is not an abstract ritual but an applied promise. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/30818033

Saying Amen to the Lord's Prayer 04/05/2024

Saying Amen to the Lord's Prayer Dr. Paulson concludes the lessons on the Lord's Prayer. Here, we are given an Amen to God's gifts of body and soul. This amen is our great encouragement that God's gifts are not probabilities but certain promises he gracefully delivers to us. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/30705568

Deliver Us From Evil 03/28/2024

Deliver Us From Evil In this episode, Dr. Paulson discusses how the pure comfort of the Gospel overcomes evil. This petition reminds us that God has not left us alone, powerless in the face of sin and death. That is, we have the benefits of Christ and his resurrection, and death is not a master over us but has been overcome. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517 More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/outlawgod/id/30580208

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