The Unexpected Divine: Rethinking God in John's Gospel – In the Spaces Between Us, Perspectives FUMCSD Pastors Podcast (S3E21)
Feb 08, 2026
Summary
What are the 8 most scandalous words in the Bible? Revs. Trudy and Hannah share their thoughts on that and more in this episode of Perspectives FUMCSD Pastors Podcast. The female pastors continue investigating The Unexpected Divine. This time looking at “the spaces between us” – a progressive Christian reflection on John 1:14. Together, they answer why the first half of the verse (“the Word became flesh and lived among us”) continues to unsettle faith communities.
Detail
What are the 8 most scandalous words in the Bible? Revs. Trudy and Hannah share their thoughts on that and more in this episode of Perspectives FUMCSD Pastors Podcast.
The female pastors continue investigating The Unexpected Divine. This time looking at “the spaces between us” – a progressive Christian reflection on John 1:14. Together, they answer why the first half of the verse (“the Word became flesh and lived among us”) continues to unsettle faith communities.
Through biblical study, lived experience, theology, and culture, the pastors wrestle with Jesus’ full humanity, the scandal of divine nearness, and what it means to glimpse God’s glory in ordinary life. This episode opens space for reflection and conversation about:
- The tension between panentheism, traditional doctrine, and lived faith
- Reshaping how we see ourselves and the world
- Why God dwelling among us is so scandalous
- How Jesus’ humanity challenges the way we live
We invite you to continue the discussion with these reflection questions:
- How does the idea that Jesus lived a life just like us humans change the way you think about Jesus?
- How does this understanding impact your everydayness?
- With whom have you felt the Spirit of God?
Join the conversation by sharing this episode, reflecting with someone you trust, or connecting with the Perspectives community online through Patreon and in person at the weekly Convergence Discussion Group.
Limited on time? Jump ahead to these pivotal moments.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome & Introduction
01:06 John 1 verse 14 & “the Word became flesh”
03:36 “What if God were one of us?”
07:11 Relating to Jesus’ humanity
18:09 Panentheism – God within and beyond the world
27:43 Reflection Questions & Closing
