Slow Theology: Simple Faith for Chaotic Times

AJ and Nijay dig into Revelation 2-3, and the seven letters (or messages) to the seven churches of Asia Minor. The first church addressed is in ancient Ephesus, listen in.Support the show

AJ and Nijay kick off a new podcast formation series, this time on the book of Revelation. They will focus in on the so-called Seven Letters to the Seven Churches (Rev 2-3). These powerful messages to real-life first century churches offer insight into true discipleship and undying devotion to Jesus Christ in a world of hostilities and temptations. Listen in on AJ and Nijay's #100th episode of Slow Theology—Thank you to faithful listeners of Slow Theology!Support the show

AJ and Nijay discuss how bringing together young and old in Christian community is necessary for the church's health.Support the show

AJ and Nijay have an honest conversation about why we are here on earth and why we should be passionate about growing in our faith and maturity in Christ.Support the show

Have you ever felt like you have lost sight of Jesus in your life? How do you rediscover him? We learn from Luke 2:41-52 that Jesus' parents LITERALLY lost him when he was a young boy. AJ and Nijay use this story to process how to seek and find Jesus today, just like Mary and Joseph did then. Support the show

AJ and Nijay close out the Beatitudes series with vv. 5:10-13: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."AJ and Nijay say: "thanks for listening in on this series, we hope you have been challenged and encouraged. Seek first the kingdom and God's righteousness by following Jesus!"Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their beatitudes series with Matt 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers,for they will be called children of God."Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their Beatitudes series with Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their Beatitudes series. Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their discussions of the Beatitudes; this time Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."Support the show

AJ and Nijay explore the third beatitude, "blessed are the meek." In modern American culture, "meekness is weakness," but somehow in Christ's kingdom it is blessed. How can that be? Listen in to learn more. Please rate, like, and subscribe to Slow Theology on your favorite app.Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their series with Jesus' Beatitude #2.Support the show

AJ and Nijay discuss the first beatitude (Matt 5:3; Luke 6:20).Support the show

AJ and Nijay kick off a **brand new** podcast series on the Beatitudes (Matt 5:3-10). In this first episode they talk about Jesus as teacher and why the Sermon on the Mount in general and the Beatitudes in particular are so important for every Christian to study.Support the show

In this episode, Nijay and A.J. address a great listener question: if God is for the poor, why did God mandate that the temple be decorated with so much gold and high-value materials? Listen in. (Related texts: Exodus 25-28; 35-40; 1 Kings 6-7; 2 Chron 2-4).Support the show

AJ and Nijay explore the amazing doctrine of the Incarnation, God coming into a very particular human form at a particular time to a particular place. God becomes like us to know us and love us and save us face-to-face and heart-to-heart. Simply amazing.Support the show

It is clear that we live in an increasing violent and hostile world. AJ and Nijay turn to Scripture and the Christian tradition to bring a "slow theology" mindset and long-obedience lifestyle to peacemaking and reconciliation in our relationships today. Support the show

Are you feeling spiritually dry? Restless? Mercurial? AJ and Nijay talk about how the biblical Psalter has helped steady the spiritual rhythm of the church for centuries. The Psalms were the prayer and worship language of Israel and of Jesus—and we can find renewal in these ancient words as well. Support the show

There was a recent prediction that the Rapture would happen Sept 23, 2025. It came and went, apparently no Rapture. But every time there is a major Rapture prediction, enthusiasts sell their worldly possessions to prepare themselves for the Great Beyond. In this episode, AJ and Nijay talk about what the Bible teaches about our posture towards the earth we live in now. Does the Bible teach that this world is our home, or is it just a place we happen to be passing through? It appears that our answer to this questions matters greatly. Listen in.Support the show

*Check out AJ and Nijay's newly released book, SLOW THEOLOGY: 8 Practices for Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World (Brazos Press).In this ep., they talk about the benefits of getting what we want ultrafast, but also how it shapes our spirituality. What are the dangers and drawbacks to "speed privilege"?Support the show

Today (Sept 23) is the release day for AJ and Nijay's new book entitled SLOW THEOLOGY (Brazos Press). Please check out the book and listen to this launch day conversation about slow theology and the meaning, challenge, and grace in faith-filled wandering in this world as part of the journey of our formation in Christ.Support the show

AJ and Nijay have a frank and honest conversation about the current difficult moment we are living in. *Warning*: this episode includes brief discussions of violence and murder.Support the show

AJ and Nijay wrap up their popular Holy Spirit topical series. This episode engages with the matter of balancing our expectations for "new" from the Spirit with how the Spirit reinforces what we already have in Scripture and tradition.Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their Holy Spirit series on Slow Theology. This time around they discuss what spiritual warfare is, how to think about it, and some extremes to avoid.Support the show

Nijay and AJ continue their Holy Spirit series with this discussion of whether the Spirit can speak truth outside of the covenant community. Listen in.Support the show

AJ and Nijay are back, baby! After a bit of an early summer hiatus, they resume their Holy Spirit series with the question: does the Holy Spirit work differently now compared to back then? They use the unusual but important story of Paul and Eutychus (Acts 20) to touch upon the "cessationism/continuationism" debate. Listen in. Support the show

AJ and Nijay finally get to the Spirit's Gift of Tongues in their Holy Spirit series. This is one where there is a lot of theological discussion and sometimes heated debate. And a lot of confusion about what speaking in tongues is all about. Slow Theology offers an accessible discussion to an often perplexing issue and difficult conversation. Check it out.Support the show

AJ and Nijay talk about AJ's brand new book: A TEACHABLE SPIRIT: The Virtue of Learning from Strangers, Enemies, and Absolutely Anyone (Zondervan Reflective, 2025).Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their Holy Spirit series with a frequently asked question from students and church folks: "Can you lose the Holy Spirit"? Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their Holy Spirit series. In this ep. they discuss "Spiritual Gifts," what they are and what they are for. They emphasize that the gifts from the Spirit are not "no strings attached." They come with a calling to serve one another and build up the church. Support the show

Nijay and AJ continue the Holy Spirit series, focusing on the question: What does it mean to walk with the Spirit? You'll have to listen in to answer the questions: (1) Who is the "Speedo Guy" and (2) What does he have to do with walking in the Spirit versus the flesh?Support the show

AJ and Nijay kick off a series on the Holy Spirit. Do you find yourself confused by the second person of the Trinity? Can you pray to the Spirit? What do you call the Spirit? What exactly is the Spirit? In this first episode AJ and Nijay introduce the conversation and talk about how we talk about the Spirit, and why it matters. Subscribe to make sure you are up to date on all the episodes. Support the show

Does God speak to us through prophets and prophecy today? Or is that a thing of the past? And how can you discern false prophecy from true prophecy? AJ and Nijay have an important conversation.Support the show

AJ and Nijay talk about Nijay's brand new book: THE AFFECTIONS OF CHRIST JESUS: LOVE AT THE HEART OF PAUL'S THEOLOGY (Eerdmans): released Feb 20, 2025. Support the show

Nijay and AJ reflect on Scripture's emphasis on attending to the quartet of the vulnerable (orphans, widows, foreigners, the poor; see Zech 7:9-10). Support the show

Are some parts of the Bible inherently more important than others? AJ and Nijay reflect on this important question. Listen in.Support the show

What can the earthly life of Jesus teach us about healthy relationships? Nijay and AJ explore this important question thinking about Jesus as a prophet sent from God the Father with an urgent mission.Support the show

Nijay and AJ cap off their series on the Ten Commandments with "Do Not Covet." Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their Ten Commandments series: Do Not Bear False Witness/Do Not Lie. Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their Ten Commandments series with "Do Not Steal."Support the show

*Explicit Conversation Warning*AJ and Nijay continue their conversation about the Ten Commandments and practicing Slow Theology. They use the language of sex and lust frequently in this episode, so be mindful of who is listening. Support the show

Nijay and AJ interrupt their Ten Commandments series to offer a one-off discussion of the problem of spiritual pride; Western Christians today need to cultivate a "poverty of spirit," a deep realization and ownership of our personal neediness, incompleteness, and brokenness. Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue with the sixth commandment, "Do not murder." Now, at first glance that seems like an easy thing, but Scripture and Christian theology have a lot to say, not only about the evil of ending life, but also about the responsibility of protecting and blessing life. Explore this important subject further and listen in.Support the show

AJ and Nijay dive into the commandment to "honor your father and your mother." What does this mean? Not just for children, but for adults as well? In a time where there is generational conflict over politics, this could be a very urgent message for healing divides today. Support the show

AJ and Nijay continue their Ten Commandments series; this time: Remember the Sabbath. Much of their discussion derives from insights from AJs bestselling book SUBVERSIVE SABBATH.Support the show

We often think that not taking the Lord's name in vain means not blurting out "Jesus Christ!" Or "God d*** it!" It's good to respect God's name, but this commandment is far deeper and more pervasively important than watching your tongue when you stub your toe. Check out AJ and Nijay's discussion about what it means to honor God's name in our words and our whole lives.Support the show

AJ and Nijay get into the the first set of commandments, which form the fountainhead for the rest: singular allegiance to YHWH and rejection of idols.  The Ten Commandments is much more than a list of don'ts, it is a mini-theology, pointing to a rich life within the healthy boundaries God has established for image-bearing creatures.Support the show

Slow Theology is excited to introduce a new series on the Ten Commandments (10C). Join AJ and Nijay as they process this foundation text in Scripture and how it forms our spirituality, theology, ethics, and life together. In this first episode they introduce the background and context of the 10C, and discuss the prescript statement, "I am YHWH, your God, who brought you out of Egypt" (Ex 20:2).Support the show

It's all too easy to doomscroll news about "church evil," the harrowing revelations regarding issues of abuse and corruption in Christian communities. In the past, AJ and Nijay have discussed the theological, moral, and philosophical implications of this dark reality coming to light, but in this new episode they discuss the emotional textures of facing this disheartening and horrifying news on a constant basis.Support the show

Do you have people in your life that you can share your darker struggles with, and confess your sins to? AJ and Nijay talk about being very selective and careful about finding your "confessors" and confidants; people that are not only safe, but also wise and care about your faith and relationship with Jesus.Support the show