After Class Podcast

Up to this point, we've identified who the powers and principalities are and the role they play. Today, the guys shift the conversation to how God's set-apart people should relate to them. Who are we? What is our role in the world in relation to the nations? How did God begin with His covenant people and shape them for a fundamentally different purpose? And how does that purpose grow into our calling today? Tune in to today's episode to find out. Because the best conversations happen After Class.

All things were created through Him and for Him. Above all creation, this includes the powers and principalities of this world. Christians proclaim a God who is above all governors, governments, nations, rulers, and even angelic beings. This is a deeply subversive message—and a dangerous one. Throughout history, earthly powers have demanded ultimate allegiance, loyalty, and recognition. The early Christians refused. Empires attempted to silence this message through force, persecution, and their ultimate threat: death itself. Yet Christ overcame death, exposing the weakness and fraudulent claims of every power that seeks to rival His authority. So how do we balance honoring the authorities Christ has established to govern the world without diminishing our allegiance and obedience to the exalted Christ? What are powers and principalities? Why are they so important to understanding the biblical story? And what does any of this have to do with how Christians relate to governments today? Tune in today to find out, because the best conversations happen after class.

Is God on your political side? Scripture may say otherwise. Sam, John, and Ron continue their series on governing authorities by challenging one of the most common assumptions Christians make: that God automatically supports "our" nation, party, or political tribe. From Isaiah's shocking blessing of Egypt and Assyria, to Nahum's judgment against violent empires, to Daniel's warning that even admired superpowers can become beastly, the guys explore the Bible's deeply unsettling view of political power. Then Revelation raises the stakes. Rome is portrayed as a beast empowered by Satan itself, tempting believers to exchange allegiance to Jesus for security, prosperity, and survival. (Sound familiar?) Finally, the conversation turns toward the New Testament's provocative language about Satan as the "god" and "ruler" of this world—setting the stage for next week's deep dive into powers and principalities. Are Christians placing too much hope in earthly kingdoms? Tune in to find out.

How does the language of the Bible talk about how God's people should relate to governing authorities and the level of our engagement with them? What do we do when differing groups of Christians land on different sides regarding the same administration? Split? μὴ γένοιτο ("May it never be!"). Today the guys begin investigating different approaches Christians take when approaching government and politics. But to what extent is it okay to participate in the system; endorse certain styles of government, parties, candidates, or policies; or preach and teach on government policies? To what extent should these things occupy our minds, and to what extent should we hold a position? Will you join the conversation, or land on an opposing side? Tune in to find out.

We have a duty to reflect God's truth to the world. If truth is something worth living — and dying — for, do Christians have a duty to correct error throughout the world, in legislation, governance, and social policy? God calls us to align with truth, yet that sometimes places us at odds with the powers that be. And when Scripture speaks of God sending a "powerful delusion," are we hearing divine action… or Pauline rhetoric? If the empire is delusional and corrupt, are we still called to pray for it? Tune in to today's episode to find out!

Truth defined by God stands in contrast to truth claims grounded primarily in experience. In this episode, Ron rides confidently through his home terrain in the New Testament, while John drifts into theological questions that reveal just how complex "truth" becomes in the biblical writings. As we move through the New Testament, the guys explore the tension: the closer we get to the truth, are we more likely to disagree? And if truth is something we are called to walk in, how do we remain united in faithful action rather than fractured by interpretation? Bundle up and tune in to today's episode of the After Class Podcast.

If you are not committed to the truth, your witness is compromised. If truth has an agenda, how does the Bible weigh in on truth in a world where it may be twisted? We need a revelation from God, lest we spiral into despair as we sift through the conflicting worldviews of subjective truth. So what is God's truth agenda? Definitions, hot takes, and a call to truth all await you in this episode. Unpack biblical truth with us today on the After Class Podcast as we prepare to walk—and stand—firm in truth in our towns, cities, and nations.

AI is changing how people think about truth and how they fact-check information. While AI has immense access to information and processing power, someone with a bias had to train it—and someone with a bias uses it. Grok, ChatGPT, and others may not be as reliable as one might think, but of course, you were thinking that already. But is scholarly consensus any more reliable? In today's episode, Sam, John, and Ron begin a new series on truth—its ability to be defined, discovered, and known—and how AI enters into that conversation. So welcome to 2026 and the quest for truth on the After Class Podcast. Can you handle the truth, eh?!