A podcast about the Bible, theology, and all things related to the Christian faith. Hosted by Ryan Sarver and Brian Johnson..
Ryan and Brian's Bible Bistro
Claim This Podcastby Ryan Sarver
5.0(22 reviews)
201 episodes
Updated Weekly
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Podcast Overview
A podcast about the Bible, theology, and all things related to the Christian faith. Hosted by Ryan Sarver and Brian Johnson..
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/9/2021
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Recent Episodes
May 28, 2026
Oaths, Vows, and Letting Your Yes Be Yes
<p>Ryan and Brian reunite in person at "Bistro East" (Ryan's home in Indianapolis) to celebrate Ryan's 45th birthday and dive back into their ongoing Sermon on the Mount series. This episode covers Jesus' teaching on oaths and vows — what the Old Testament commanded, where things went wrong, and what Jesus calls his followers to instead.</p><p><strong>In This Episode</strong></p><ul><li>A birthday dinner recommendation: <strong>Bodhi</strong> Thai restaurant in Indianapolis (reservations required — book 7 days ahead!)</li><li>Milestone: Episode 202 of the podcast</li><li>Main text: <strong>Matthew 5:33–37</strong> — Jesus on oaths and swearing</li></ul><br/><p><strong>Key Scripture References</strong></p><ul><li>Leviticus 19:12 — Do not swear falsely by God's name</li><li>Numbers 30:1–2 — A man must fulfill every vow made to the Lord</li><li>Deuteronomy 23 — Do not delay fulfilling a vow; silence is better than a broken promise</li><li>Judges 11:29–31 — Jephthah's hasty vow and its tragic consequences</li><li>Judges 21:1 — Israel's rash oath regarding Benjamin, leading to further tragedy</li><li>Matthew 5:33–37 — Jesus: "Do not swear at all... let your yes be yes and your no be no"</li><li>James 5 — "Let your yes be yes and your no be no" (parallel teaching from Jesus' brother)</li><li>Matthew 23:16 — Jesus rebukes the Pharisees as "blind guides"</li><li>Numbers 15:26 — Unintentional sins and forgiveness for the community</li></ul><br/><p><strong>Main Takeaways</strong></p><p>The Old Testament law was clear: if you make a vow, you must keep it. Breaking an oath meant profaning God's name and incurring serious consequences. But the stories of Jephthah and the tribe of Benjamin illustrate the danger of <strong>hasty vows</strong> — rushed promises that lead to devastating outcomes.</p><p>Jesus cuts through all of this with a radical simplification: <strong>don't swear at all.</strong> His point isn't legalistic — it's about the kind of people his followers should be. Kingdom people should have such consistent integrity that oaths become unnecessary. When your word is always good, there's no need to back it up with a sworn guarantee.</p><p>The deeper issue: swearing an oath implies your normal words can't be trusted. If your yes always means yes and your no always means no, the whole system of oath-taking becomes redundant.</p><p><strong>Interesting Side Note: The Kol Nidre</strong></p><p>Brian discusses the Kol Nidre, a prayer chanted at the opening of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) in Jewish tradition. Rooted in Aramaic for "all vows," it essentially declares any inadvertent oaths made in the coming year null and void — a fascinating reflection of how seriously Jewish tradition has wrestled with the problem of broken vows.</p><p><strong>Coming Up</strong></p><p>Next, Ryan and Brian will continue in Matthew 5 with Jesus' teaching on <strong>turning the other cheek</strong>.</p><p><strong>Find More Episodes & Series</strong> Visit the Bible Bistro website for full series archives including studies on Zechariah, Daniel, and more — useful for personal study, teaching, and preaching.</p>
May 5, 2026
Don't Burn the Eggs (and Other Ways to Prevent Divorce)
<p>In this episode of Ryan and Brian’s Bible Bistro, Ryan and Brian continue their walk through the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 about adultery and divorce. What does Jesus mean when He says lust begins in the heart? Is He making the law stricter, or restoring its original intent? The conversation explores how desire, temptation, and the “lust of the eyes” work together, tracing those themes from Genesis and David & Bathsheba all the way to modern life with phones, advertising, and social media.</p><p></p><p>The discussion also dives into the difficult topic of divorce, unpacking the Old Testament background from Deuteronomy, the debates between the Pharisees, and why Jesus points back to creation and God’s design for marriage. Ryan and Brian talk honestly about the ways these passages have sometimes been used harmfully in church contexts, while emphasizing the importance of understanding both the historical setting and the high view of marriage Jesus presents. Along the way, they touch on rabbinic teachings, the meaning of the Greek word porneia, Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7, and how both singleness and marriage can be understood as gifts from God.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways:</p><ul><li>The podcast discusses the significance of the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Jesus' teachings regarding the law and moral conduct.</li><li>The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding Jesus' interpretation of the law, particularly regarding issues like adultery and divorce.</li><li>Listeners are encouraged to consider the heart of the law, as Jesus seeks to redirect the focus from mere legalism to the underlying intentions of God's commandments.</li><li>The speakers highlight the complexities surrounding divorce in biblical context, stressing that the focus should not solely be on legalism but on the sanctity of marriage and God's design.</li></ul><br/>
April 21, 2026
Jesus and the Law
<p>Ryan and Brian hit their 200th episode while continuing their deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount. In this episode, they tackle one of Jesus’ most misunderstood statements: His relationship to the Law.</p><p>Did Jesus do away with the Old Testament—or deepen it?</p><p>Walking through Matthew 5:17–26, they explore how Jesus fulfills the Law by revealing its true purpose: not just external obedience, but transformation of the heart. From Sabbath controversies to anger and reconciliation, the conversation shows how the Law points beyond rule-keeping to mercy, relationships, and the Kingdom of God.</p><p>Key takeaway: Jesus doesn’t lower the bar or raise it—He redirects it to the heart.</p><p><strong>Scripture:</strong> Matthew 5:17–26</p><p><strong>Topics:</strong> Sermon on the Mount, Law & Grace, Pharisees, Heart vs. Behavior</p>
201 total episodes available
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This podcast updates weekly.
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