Jesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of Faith

About Jesus at 2AM - A Humorous, Intelligent Look at the Bible, Church History & the Life of Faith

Where intellectual integrity meets an honest quest for faith. Humorous and sincere, this is one pastor's attempt at late-night-level honesty about the Bible, church history, theological scholarship, spiritual practice and...God. And how it might just turn out that love is the name of the game.

Publisher

Kirk Winslow | Canvas | Irvine, CA

Category

religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Nov 2011

Latest episode

10 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

352 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Dec 2025

   Healing Eden, Part 18: Saul's Foolish Sacrifice

   Today we arrive at a pivotal moment in Israel's young monarchy as King Saul faces battle against the vastly superior Philistine army. So great is the Philistine advantage that fear begins to grip the Israel ranks – to the point that Saul fears his troops may disintegrate before the first arrow is fired. And thus, Saul is confronted with a choice: wait (as he has been strictly instructed to do), or act of his own accord. Saul acts…, in what feels to us a very understandable way. And yet that action brings the severe judgment of the Lord. Indeed, Saul's decision will cost him a dynasty (an especially troubling punishment in light of a crime that feels far lesser than crimes later committed by David, to whom God will pledge a covenant of perpetual reign!). And with Saul's fate, we are confronted with the fundamental question of: why??? Why is Saul treated so harshly? And what does such treatment say about God and about justice and about the whole concept of earthly kingship…? They are questions hardly limited to the 11th century BC as we might ask them of ourselves today. And, as always, I'd love to know what you think about it – about the sermon, the series…the podcast as a whole. Or I'd love to have you come and just say "hi!" If you're up for it, you can reach me anytime via the contact link at jesusat2am.com (https://jesusat2am.com/), by sending me email (mailto:%20mail@jesusat2am.com), chatting with me on BlueSky, or finding me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jesusat2am) or Instagram. And while you're at it, might you be up for supporting the podcast? You're tax-deductible gift to Canvas (https://canvas.breezechms.com/give/online) is a major help. As are your prayers, your online reviews, telling a friend or two! Want to follow along with the biblical texts for this sermon? Here's the link: 1 Samuel 13:1-15 (NRSV).

2. 

   3 Dec 2025

   Healing Eden, Part 17: Saul Anointed King

   In our study of the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation we arrive at the anointing of King Saul – the first king of Israel – an occasion of very mixed emotions. For Israel, at least at the beginning, it's moment of great joy, as they think having a king is the cure for what ails them. And, as we'll see, Saul absolutely looks the part of royalty. But when it comes to actually ruling in obedience to YHWH, that will be a different story. Which is going to be the problem with the monarchy in Israel for centuries. For Israel's desire to "be like the other nations" is going to be far-too-fulfilled. And that's a problem that we will trace in future weeks. For now, we focus on Saul and the manner of his calling – which ultimately reveals a God who despite Israel's efforts to self-sabotage - will not abandon his people to their fate. So this story is ultimately a lesson in hope. And, as always, I'd love to know what you think about it – about the sermon, the series…the podcast as a whole. Or I'd love to have you come and just say "hi!" If you're up for it, you can reach me anytime via the contact link at jesusat2am.com (https://jesusat2am.com/), by sending me email (mailto:%20mail@jesusat2am.com), chatting with me on BlueSky, or finding me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jesusat2am) or Instagram. And while you're at it, might you be up for supporting the podcast? You're tax-deductible gift to Canvas (https://canvas.breezechms.com/give/online) is a major help. As are your prayers, your online reviews, telling a friend or two! Want to follow along with the biblical texts for this sermon? Here's the link: 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 9:25-10:16 (NRSV).

3. 

   26 Nov 2025

   Healing Eden, Part 16: Israel Demands a King

   As Israel's sufferings grow, she thinks she has struck upon a solution: a king! If only God would grant Israel a king, she would finally be "like the other nations" (and therefore suffer less?). It is an impulse literally as old as the Garden of Eden - to imagine that if only we could wrest more control of our lives from the universe (i.e., God), we would know how to cure what ails us. If God would only give us a king (...a particular political party, a charismatic leader, a ...?) we would have the means by which to achieve virtue and therefore peace and love, right??? In this episode we examine Israel's desire for a monarch, as well as God's surprising, somewhat heartbreaking, capitulation (God grants Israel's wish, albeit with warnings!). It's a story filled with political longing, spiritual amnesia, and that seemingly eternal human tendency to give our allegiance to the wrong thing, at the wrong time, for all the wrong reasons. Which is why it is a story that fits us perfectly today, as we struggle once again to know how best to govern humans in a broken world. And, as always, I'd love to know what you think about it – about the sermon, the series…the podcast as a whole. Or I'd love to have you come and just say "hi!" If you're up for it, you can reach me anytime via the contact link at jesusat2am.com (https://jesusat2am.com/), by sending me email (mailto:%20mail@jesusat2am.com), chatting with me on BlueSky, or finding me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jesusat2am) or Instagram. And while you're at it, might you be up for supporting the podcast? You're tax-deductible gift to Canvas (https://canvas.breezechms.com/give/online) is a major help. As are your prayers, your online reviews, telling a friend or two! Want to follow along with the biblical texts for this sermon? Here's the link: 1 Samuel 8:1-22 (NRSV).

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

339 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

84

Social presence

91

YouTube

0

Engagement

67

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Guest appearances

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