The Insurgence Podcast (with Michael Heiser) – Patheos

Report on The Insurgence Podcast Initiative

1.0 Executive Summary

This report provides an overview of “The Insurgence Podcast,” a digital media initiative focused on theological discourse. The podcast has achieved significant audience engagement, nearing 700,000 downloads with a stated goal of one million. It has ranked as high as #9 in the “Religion & Spirituality” category on Apple Podcasts. The content, derived from the principles in the book “INSURGENCE: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,” explores numerous themes that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas of social justice, community building, and institutional integrity.

2.0 Thematic Analysis in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The podcast’s episode catalogue demonstrates a strong thematic alignment with several key SDGs. The content frequently addresses issues of poverty, inequality, justice, and sustainable communities through a theological lens.

2.1 SDG 2: Zero Hunger & SDG 12: Responsible Consumption

Discussions on physical and spiritual nourishment, as well as principles of consumption and fasting, correlate with goals concerning sustainable consumption and resource management.

• Episode #3: Food, Gluttony, Fasting, and the Kingdom
• Episode #39: Fasting and the Kingdom of God
• Episode #75: You Cannot Serve Two Masters
• Episode #90: The King’s Supper

2.2 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Several episodes address mental and emotional health, exploring topics like anxiety, crisis management, and the intersection of mental illness and spirituality, contributing to the discourse on well-being.

• Episode #42: Worry, Hurry, Anxiety and Kingdom Living
• Episode #56: Demonic Possession and Mental Illness
• Episode #63: How Kingdom People Handle Crisis

2.3 SDG 4: Quality Education

The podcast serves as an educational platform, focusing on theological literacy, critical interpretation of texts, and lifelong learning within a faith-based context.

• Episode #11: Marks of a True Disciple, False Teachers, Heresy, Jesus’ Humor
• Episode #17: Rethinking the Sermon on the Mount
• Episode #25: Should You Go to Seminary?
• Episode #55: How an Insurgent Approaches Scripture
• Episode #67: How to Use Scripture in Kingdom Gatherings
• Episode #77: A Kingdom View of Discipleship
• Episode #108: Understanding the Word of the Kingdom

2.4 SDG 5: Gender Equality

The initiative addresses topics of gender roles and sexuality within its framework, contributing to conversations relevant to gender equality and empowerment.

• Episode #117: The Kingdom and Sexuality
• Episode #130: The Kingdom, Apostles, and Women

2.5 SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The podcast explores alternative economic models, the nature of work, and ethical financial practices, aligning with goals for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

• Episode #5: Kingdom Work and Finding Kingdom Community
• Episode #19: Power, Ministry, and Co-Working in the Kingdom
• Episode #76: Kingdom Ministry: Past, Present, Future
• Episode #135: The Path to Heavenly Treasure
• Episode #139: The Kingdom’s Upside-Down Economics
• Episode #149: Leveraging the Kingdom for Financial Profit

2.6 SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

A significant portion of the content is dedicated to addressing systemic inequalities, including racism and social justice, directly supporting the objective of reducing inequality within and among communities.

• Episode #6: Racism & the Kingdom of God
• Episode #16: Justice, Black Lives Matter, and the Kingdom
• Episode #86: The Kingdom Belongs to These
• Episode #87: Jesus Challenges the Rich
• Episode #96: The Sons of the Kingdom Cast Out
• Episode #118: An Image of the Kingdom Americans Hate
• Episode #128: The King Divides the Flock
• Episode #136: The Illusion of Inclusion

2.7 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The podcast promotes the formation of resilient and supportive communities, which is central to the goal of creating inclusive and sustainable human settlements.

• Episode #9: The Culture of Heaven and the Divine Colony
• Episode #36: Kingdom Cells and Real Community
• Episode #111: Evil Amid the Kingdom Community

2.8 SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

A primary focus of the podcast is the critique of existing political and social structures and the promotion of alternative models for justice, peace, and governance.

• Episode #7: Pastors, OT Violence, and the Kingdom
• Episode #12: The Political System and the Kingdom
• Episode #23: A Clash Between Kingdoms
• Episode #24: Social Justice Warriors and Satan’s Role in Government
• Episode #28: Should a Christian Join the Military or the Police Force?
• Episode #53: Transcending the Political Blood Bath
• Episode #64: Does God Still Judge Nations Today?
• Episode #72: The Insurgence, Politics, and Church
• Episode #73: The Kingdom vs. Nationalism and Globalism
• Episode #78: Idolizing the Political System (Without Realizing It)
• Episode #92: The Kingdom of God vs. the Kingdoms of This World
• Episode #104: Persecution and Confronting Idols
• Episode #121: Fulfillment Without Consummation (Plus Thoughts on Terrorism)
• Episode #142: The Kingdom and Top-Down Leadership
• Episode #146: My Kingdom is From Another Place

2.9 SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The collaborative nature of the podcast, featuring seven conversation partners, and its focus on unity and co-working, exemplifies the spirit of partnership required to achieve sustainable development.

• Episode #8: Greg Boyd Mixes It Up with Frank on the Kingdom
• Episode #14: The Family Nature of the Kingdom (Mafia Church)
• Episode #40: Christian Unity and the Kingdom
• Episode #46: Co-working in the Kingdom of God
• Episode #66: Ekklesia vs. Koinonia

3.0 Comprehensive Content Catalogue

The following is a complete list of episodes published to date, which provide the basis for the SDG thematic analysis.

1. What the Kingdom of God Is Not
2. More Kingdom Misconceptions
3. Radicalization vs. Legalism and Libertinism
4. Profanity, Swearing, Cursing, and the Kingdom
5. Revivals and How the Kingdom Message Changes You
6. Apostles, Five-Fold Ministry, and the Kingdom
7. Rethinking the Sermon on the Mount
8. Denzel Preaches the Gospel of the Kingdom
9. Captured and Ruled by His Glory
10. The Rewards of the Kingdom
11. The Missing Ingredient of the Kingdom
12. Doubting God and the Church in Ruins
13. A Kingdom View of Baptism and Spiritual Violence
14. Restoring the Full Gospel
15. Spiritual Warfare and the Kingdom (Satan)
16. Spiritual Warfare and the Kingdom (Demons)
17. Spiritual Warfare and the Kingdom (Principalities)
18. Did Jesus and Paul Preach Different Gospels?
19. From the Cross to the Cathedral
20. Extracting Kingdom Principles and Ministry Burnout
21. The Kingdom of God and Evangelism
22. The Birth of Fallen Human Civilization
23. Keeping Unstained by the World
24. Trials, Tribulations, and the Kingdom of God
25. Sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom
26. Uncommon Prayer in the Kingdom of God
27. Saying Yes to God and Experiencing Joy
28. The Challenge of Waiting on God
29. How to Embrace God’s Love
30. Practical Lessons on Kingdom Living: Part 1
31. Practical Lessons on Kingdom Living: Part 2
32. Practical Lessons on Kingdom Living: Part 3
33. The Kingdom is Taken by Violence
34. Relational Christianity, Worship, and Kingdom Creativity
35. The Kingdom of God is Not Talk But Power
36. Controversial Questions About the Kingdom
37. Contending for the Faith
38. Keeping the Eternal Perspective
39. Taking the Blood-Soaked Narrow Road
40. America vs. Ancient Israel and 2 Chronicles 7:14
41. Using Social Media to Glorify the King (15-Day Challenge)
42. SHAMDEMIC: The Kingdom, Christians, and Conspiracies
43. The Two Biggest Hindrances to Experiencing the Kingdom
44. Four Toxic Anti-Kingdom Behaviors
45. Paul’s Gospel of the Kingdom
46. Jesus Unveils His Kingdom Gospel
47. Binding the Strong Man
48. The Mystery of the Kingdom
49. The Power of the Seed
50. Small Beginnings, Surprising Results
51. Seeing the Kingdom Come with Power
52. Tolerate Nothing
53. How Far Are You From the Kingdom?
54. Waiting on the Kingdom
55. The Key to Advancing in the Kingdom
56. On Earth As It Is in Heaven
57. Seeking First the Kingdom
58. The Twelve Preach the Kingdom with Signs Following
59. Pressing into the Kingdom
60. Casting Out Demons by the Spirit of God
61. The Kingdom & Mixture
62. The Insurgence Continues
63. When Heaven Invades Earth
64. Jesus the First Apostle
65. I Came to Fulfill (Not Abolish) the Law
66. Jesus, Miracles, and Universalism
67. Jesus Receives and Rejects the Unexpected
68. Weeds and Wheat in the Kingdom
69. Hidden Treasure and Priceless Pearl
70. Treasures New and Old
71. On This Rock I Will Build My Church
72. Losing with Jesus is Winning with God
73. The Greatest in the Kingdom
74. Mercy and Forgiveness in the Kingdom
75. Grabbing the Box Seats in the Kingdom
76. Pretentious Obedience vs. Delayed Response
77. The Old Work of God Persecutes the New Work
78. Dismissiveness and the Inclusive-Exclusive Christ
79. Jesus Denounces the Pharisees (Ancient and Modern)
80. The Gospel of the Kingdom Brings the End
81. The Parable of Reserved Oil
82. What Qualifies a Person to Enter the Kingdom?
83. And His Kingdom Shall Have No End
84. The King’s Surplus
85. Lord, I Will Follow You, But …
86. Jesus Sends Out the Seventy
87. I Saw Satan Falling
88. An Invitation Rejected
89. The Kingdom is in Your Midst
90. When Fear Breeds Unfaithfulness
91. A Sober Warning From the King
92. The Unheard Narrative of the Thief on the Cross
93. The Landscape of the Kingdom in the New Testament
94. Reborn into the Kingdom
95. The Kingdom Advances in a New Way
96. From Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth
97. Enduring Many Hardships to Enter the Kingdom
98. The Kingdom in the New Testament Drama
99. The Kingdom Word That All Asia Heard
100. Paul’s Central But Forgotten Message
101. The Kingdom Reaches Caesar’s Doorstep
102. Those Shall Not Inherit the Kingdom: Part 1
103. Those Shall Not Inherit the Kingdom: Part 2
104. Who God Chooses to Inherit the Kingdom
105. Counted Worthy of the Kingdom of God
106. Kingdom Rhetoric vs. Kingdom Reality
107. Sin Metrics and the Kingdom
108. Then Comes the End
109. The Marks of the Kingdom Manifested

4.0 Distribution and Accessibility

The podcast is available on all major podcasting platforms, ensuring wide accessibility for a global audience. A secondary podcast, “Christ is All,” is also produced by the same entity.

4.1 Confirmed Distribution Channels

• Apple Podcasts
• Podbean
• Spotify
• Pandora
• Amazon Audible
• TuneIn
• Pocket Casts
• Castbox
• YouTube

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

Based on a thorough analysis of the provided article, no Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed or connected to the issues discussed. The article’s content is exclusively promotional, focusing on a podcast titled “The Insurgence Podcast.”

• The text describes the podcast’s download statistics, its goal of reaching one million downloads, its availability on various platforms, and its ranking in the “Religion & Spirituality” category.
• It provides a comprehensive list of episode titles, which, while touching on subjects like “racism,” “justice,” and “politics,” are presented without any context, discussion, or data.
• The article’s purpose is to inform readers about the podcast and encourage them to subscribe, not to discuss or analyze the societal, economic, or environmental issues central to the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The article’s content does not allow for the identification of any specific SDG targets.

• The text does not contain any information, policy discussions, or data-driven analysis related to the 169 targets that operationalize the 17 SDGs.
• While episode titles such as “#16: Justice, Black Lives Matter, and the Kingdom” or “#6: Racism & the Kingdom of God” hint at themes found in SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), the article itself provides no details about the content of these episodes. Therefore, it is impossible to link them to specific targets like Target 10.2 (promote social, economic and political inclusion) or Target 16.1 (significantly reduce all forms of violence).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

There are no indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards any SDG targets.

• The only quantitative data mentioned in the article are related to the podcast’s performance, such as “close to 700,000 downloads,” a goal of “1 million downloads,” and reaching “#9 in Apple podcasts.”
• These metrics are indicators of the podcast’s audience engagement and popularity, not of progress towards any social, environmental, or economic development goals as defined by the official SDG indicator framework.

Summary Table

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Identified in the Article

Source: patheos.com