Episodes

  • Primitive Christian Mission: The Assention

    Primitive Christian Mission: The Assention
    Feb 10 2026
    Rethink Mission is a historically grounded podcast hosted by Dr. Mike Brown that reexamines early Christianity by beginning with lived communities, shared memory, and received tradition rather than later institutions or isolated texts. Focusing on what the series calls primitive Christian mission, the podcast challenges popular skeptical narratives that portray Christianity as a late textual invention or a belief system fabricated through copying and doctrinal manipulation. Drawing on early Christian writings, archaeological evidence, and historical method, the series argues that Christian belief and worship preceded the New Testament texts and that these writings functioned as occasional documents addressing real communities that already shared a coherent faith. Episodes explore the role of communal memory, apostolic authority, early creeds, and high Christology, showing that core Christian convictions—such as the worship of Jesus as Lord, belief in the resurrection, and continuity with Jewish Scripture—were established very early and received rather than invented by figures like Paul. By integrating theology, history, and philosophy, Rethink Mission offers listeners a disciplined alternative to both naïve faith and reductionist skepticism, inviting a deeper understanding of how Christianity emerged, spread, and sustained itself in the ancient world.
    Episode 3: The Ascension of Jesus as King
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Primitive Christian Mission : Synoptics

    Primitive Christian Mission : Synoptics
    Feb 3 2026
    Rethink Mission is a historically grounded podcast hosted by Dr. Mike Brown that reexamines early Christianity by beginning with lived communities, shared memory, and received tradition rather than later institutions or isolated texts. Focusing on what the series calls primitive Christian mission, the podcast challenges popular skeptical narratives that portray Christianity as a late textual invention or a belief system fabricated through copying and doctrinal manipulation. Drawing on early Christian writings, archaeological evidence, and historical method, the series argues that Christian belief and worship preceded the New Testament texts and that these writings functioned as occasional documents addressing real communities that already shared a coherent faith. Episodes explore the role of communal memory, apostolic authority, early creeds, and high Christology, showing that core Christian convictions—such as the worship of Jesus as Lord, belief in the resurrection, and continuity with Jewish Scripture—were established very early and received rather than invented by figures like Paul. By integrating theology, history, and philosophy, Rethink Mission offers listeners a disciplined alternative to both naïve faith and reductionist skepticism, inviting a deeper understanding of how Christianity emerged, spread, and sustained itself in the ancient world.
    Episode 2: A look at the Synoptic Gospels.
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    45 mins
  • Primitive Christian Mission : Community and History

    Primitive Christian Mission : Community and History
    Jan 30 2026
    Rethink Mission is a historically grounded podcast hosted by Dr. Mike Brown that reexamines early Christianity by beginning with lived communities, shared memory, and received tradition rather than later institutions or isolated texts. Focusing on what the series calls primitive Christian mission, the podcast challenges popular skeptical narratives that portray Christianity as a late textual invention or a belief system fabricated through copying and doctrinal manipulation. Drawing on early Christian writings, archaeological evidence, and historical method, the series argues that Christian belief and worship preceded the New Testament texts and that these writings functioned as occasional documents addressing real communities that already shared a coherent faith. Episodes explore the role of communal memory, apostolic authority, early creeds, and high Christology, showing that core Christian convictions—such as the worship of Jesus as Lord, belief in the resurrection, and continuity with Jewish Scripture—were established very early and received rather than invented by figures like Paul. By integrating theology, history, and philosophy, Rethink Mission offers listeners a disciplined alternative to both naïve faith and reductionist skepticism, inviting a deeper understanding of how Christianity emerged, spread, and sustained itself in the ancient world.

    Episode 1: The life in the Community of Faith and the role of history
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Identity 13 Wrapping up.

    Identity 13 Wrapping up.
    Apr 7 2024
    In this final episode of Identity we wrap up the discussion by presenting the ancient Christian concept of identity formation and what it looked like in the Early Church.
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    37 mins
  • 12 Review

    12 Review
    Mar 24 2024
    In this episode we review the major topics that were covered in the last 11 weeks. We push in on the social basis for our identities and recognize that our identities are not formed singularly but rather collectively.
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    52 mins
  • Identity 11 Teleology

    Identity 11 Teleology
    Mar 10 2024
    In this episode of Teleology we unpack the four causes by Aristotle and examine the role of final causality in our search for meaning. Briefly unpacking the scientific progress that resulted from ignoring final causes and focusing upon material, formal, and effecient causality we discover the roots of our mechanical understanding. Then we explore how this has resulted in a loss of meaning and purpose in our lives.
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    55 mins
  • Identity 10 Nationalism

    Identity 10 Nationalism
    Feb 25 2024
    In this episode we discuss the history of Nationalism and the idea of a nation state. What does it mean to be an American? What is an american? To whom should we be loyal? How should a government relate to its people?
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    46 mins
  • Identity 9 Universal Humanism

    Identity 9 Universal Humanism
    Feb 11 2024
    Universal Humanism is the idea that a person should be loyal to the human race. In this episode we uncover the complex history of different cultures and ideas that believe in Universal Humanism.
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    53 mins