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Season 3 kicks off with the return of our Resident Comic Theologians, Abby Evans and Erick Williams, as we dive straight into Matthew 11—the part where John the Baptist is in prison, Jesus sounds like Columbo, and nobody can agree how many Highlander films are canon.

Along the way we cover:

• Advent, aka the spiciest, wokest liturgical calendar season
• Why some churches still have a lone pink candle and whether that makes them heretics
• Macduff, belly buttons, Adam’s abdominal scars, and other things absolutely not in the text
• Jesus’s whole “go tell John what you see and hear” approach to evangelism
• Whether calling Jesus a capitalist or a socialist would make him flip a table (spoiler: yes)

And in a surprisingly heartfelt turn, we explore what it means that John doubts, Jesus doesn’t shame him, and the kingdom of heaven keeps turning everything upside-down anyway.

It’s theology, comedy, riddles, crickets, camel hair, and Erick insisting Jesus is basically the Riddler. (Will that preach? No. No it will not.)

Season 3 is here, and we’re already off the rails in the best possible way.

Matthew 11:2–11 (NRSVue)

[2] When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples [3] and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” [4] Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: [5] the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. [6] And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” [7] As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? [8] What, then, did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. [9] What, then, did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. [10] This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ [11] “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Hosted by Pastor Eric Damon and Pastor Bob Schaefer.

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Email us at cptbpod@gmail.com.
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Music: Trickster by Phat Sounds
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10864-trickster
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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In the Comedians with Pastors Talking Bible Season 2 finale, we start with bidets and end with Bob in wedge heels. In between, comedians Harriet Riley (@harrietrileycomedy) and Cassi Bruno (@cassi_dicci) bring stories of improv, sarcasm, and church-gone-sideways as we dive into Luke 13 and a Jesus who heals on the Sabbath like a first-century chiropractor.

• Eric insults the guests (twice).
• Harriet tries to become a bishop.
• Jesus breaks social norms.

It all builds to Bob’s unforgettable youth gathering tale that ends in a full teen-movie slow clap (see the photo evidence for yourself). Along the way we wrestle with what’s proper versus what’s right, why Sabbath is about freedom not fussiness, and how comedy and faith both thrive in the unscripted moments.

Season 3 will be here after a short breather, but don’t worry — we’ve got great stuff lined up during the hiatus, including a (FREE!) live comedy showcase at the Monroeville Public Library on Wednesday, September 17 (watch for clips and full content here and on YouTube all fall), and maybe even an unexpectedly spicy sit-down with a bishop emeritus.

This Week's Reading:

Luke 13:10–17 (NRSVue)

[10] Now [Jesus] was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. [11] And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. [12] When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” [13] When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. [14] But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured and not on the Sabbath day.” [15] But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it to water? [16] And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?” [17] When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame, and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things being done by him.

Hosted by Pastor Eric Damon and Pastor Bob Schaefer.

Join the community!
Email us at cptbpod@gmail.com.
Find us at @cptbpod on most social media platforms.
More at linktr.ee/cptbpod

Music: Trickster by Phat Sounds
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10864-trickster
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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It’s our last Short Take of the season, and Luke 12:49–56 is bringing the heat — literally. Jesus says he came to bring fire to the earth and division to households, not peace. We unpack what that means without sliding into persecution cosplay, and why this isn’t just a “Buddy Jesus” moment but a glimpse of a stressed-out, fully human Messiah.

Along the way, the conversation zigs: Strawberry Shortcake hair, Kim Possible vs. Wednesday Addams, Snickers ads for Jesus, and the cursed fig tree. Then it zigs again: Hebrew poetic parallelism meets the comedy “rule of threes,” Buddy Jesus meets the executed one, NOAA forecasts meet red skies at night.

And finally, the zag: political scenic routes, the real work of reading “the signs of the times,” and why following Jesus’ way will always create some friction. It’s absurd banter up front, deep biblical wrestling in the middle, and a few good puns at the end — classic CPTB.

This Week's Reading:

Luke 12:49–56 (NRSVue)

[49] [Jesus said,] “I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze! [50] I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! [51] Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! [52] From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; [53] they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” [54] He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain,’ and so it happens. [55] And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. [56] You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Hosted by Pastor Eric Damon and Pastor Bob Schaefer.

Join the community!
Email us at cptbpod@gmail.com.
Find us at @cptbpod on most social media platforms.
More at linktr.ee/cptbpod

Music: Trickster by Phat Sounds
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10864-trickster
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.