The BEMA Podcast

Episode 496: Session 10 Intro

Release Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: Marty Solomon and Brent Billings

Episode Overview

This episode marks the beginning of Session 10 (also referred to as "Season 10") of The BEMA Podcast. Marty Solomon and Brent Billings share an honest and heartfelt conversation about the changes coming to the podcast in the wake of co-host Joshua Bosse’s passing. The episode introduces a slower, more intentional pace and outlines plans for new teaching series, upcoming interviews, resource updates, and ongoing community engagement, all while honoring Josh’s legacy.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Entering a Season of Mourning and Change

• The hosts begin by acknowledging the fresh grief and transition after the loss of co-host Josh Bosse.
• Marty shares the Jewish tradition of mourning:

  “In the Jewish world, when you have somebody that passes away, there’s an immediate seven day period that they call sitting shiva… And then for the next 33 days… you’re in a period of mourning. …What it does is it creates a space, like a formal space where you get to be in that weird, awkward space of grief and lament.”
  — Marty (01:02)

• The team is treating all of Session 10 as a communal “season of mourning,” intentionally slowing the podcast rhythm.

Honoring Josh Bosse’s Legacy

• The hosts recount a story from a leadership retreat and prayer labyrinth, illustrating Josh’s unique and intentional approach to life:

  “He was going to do what the moment was inviting us to do, and he got it. And that is just a beautiful picture of what we’re going to do this season. We’re going to slow down…”
  — Marty (05:04) “He was walking so slow. So slow, it’s almost unimaginable…”
  — Brent (04:53)

• The plan is to publish new episodes every other Thursday rather than weekly for Session 10, in honor of Josh’s pace and priorities.

What’s Coming in Session 10

Scheduled Interviews

• Upcoming conversations include:
  • Brad Gray and Brad Nelson discussing their Lord’s Prayer project (06:31)
  • David Rudolph on Passover-themed content

Long-Form Teaching Series for Each Host

• Marty: "Four Pillars of BEMA" series – 12 episodes (07:18)
• Elle: "Women of Joshua and Judges" – about 11 episodes
• Reid: "Book of Samuel" – approximately 16 episodes (order to be determined)
• Occasional additional episodes, such as movie discussions by Brent.

Memorial Episode for Josh

• Planning an extensive, special episode (possibly the longest ever) to memorialize Josh, to be released later in Session 10:

  “We may honor him by making his memorial episode the longest episode that we’ve ever released, because it would be fitting.”
  — Marty (13:31)

Rebooting Earlier Sessions

• The team is actively recording a Session 2 reboot, updating and deepening the original teaching, and integrating additional co-host voices.
• This follows the successful “Session One Reboot,” which replaced older episodes in the main feed.

Resource and Community Updates

YouVersion Bible App Reading Plans (19:24)

• Multiple BEMA reading plans now available:
  • “Binge” plans for quick progress aligned with episodes
  • “Deep Dive” plans for more thorough study
  • A 450-day “Whole Bible plan” (20:20):

    “Everybody’s whole Bible plan is approximately 365 days. And ours, I think, is like 450.”
    — Brent (20:33)

New Resources: The Companion Guide and Amber Miller’s Work

• Amber Miller has joined the team, contributing creative, curated resources including group guides, Spotify playlists, written prayers, and running BEMA’s social media accounts.

  “If you’ve been a part of the reboot, you’ve noticed this new resource … a wonderful little guide for walking through the episode with your group or with yourself…”
  — Marty (21:13)

• Listener prayers (written by Amber) are now voiced by the BEMA community in episode endings.

Website and Group Facilitation

• The BEMA website offers extensive resources, searchable content, news on upcoming events, and a map of discussion groups:

  “We’re not running those groups. They’re all independent, they look a hundred different ways. But that map is there.”
  — Brent (27:16)

Listener Guidance: Where to Start

• For new listeners: Start at Season 1, Episode 0—not with the current episode or latest season.

  “This is not where you should start. You should go back to season one. Start at episode zero… That’s the core content that will take you through the full narrative arc of the Bible.”
  — Brent (23:15) “Don’t skip session five. We are not church history experts… But even more so, Brent, to your point, we wrap up the BEMA stream of consciousness at the end of session five. That’s where we pull it all together. That’s the good stuff.”
  — Marty (25:13)

Financial Update and the Heart of BEMA’s Ministry

• BEMA’s non-profit funding model: Supported entirely by donors; no advertising (29:06)
• End-of-year giving successfully met fundraising goals; most supporters give modest, recurring amounts ($22/month average).

  “Our team continues to grow in healthy ways because people are giving in that way and playing a critical role.”
  — Marty (32:26)

• Emphasis on college student ministry origins and vision for a mentored network of BEMA-aligned professionals.

  “Our entire vision is that when they leave our college campus, we have equipped them with the tools to go make a difference… as you listen to this podcast, we’re planting seeds and we’re dripping that vision.”
  — Marty (36:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Marty on mourning tradition:

  “What it does is it creates a space, like a formal space, where you get to be in that weird, awkward space of grief and lament.” (01:31)

• Brent on Josh’s slow labyrinth pace:

  “He was walking so slow. So slow, it’s almost unimaginable…” (04:53)

• Marty on slowing down the podcast:

  “This is a chance for you to binge what you can and then go back and revisit some of those favorite portions of your podcast… or join us in a slow, steady pace and join us in that as well.” (11:29)

• On the BEMA website resource map:

  “That map has blue pins and that map has green pins and that map has orange pins… So that map has Seattle Seahawks colors, Cincinnati Bengal colors, but no red or yellow pins on that map.”
  — Marty (28:20)
  “No, no, I don’t… red and yellow is like McDonald’s colors.”
  — Brent (28:38)

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:02 | Marty introduces Jewish mourning practices and relates relevance to BEMA team | | 04:33 | Story about Josh at the prayer labyrinth | | 06:31 | Brent outlines upcoming interviews | | 07:18 | Introduction of new long-form teaching series per host | | 12:01 | Josh’s memorial service and details about forthcoming memorial episode | | 15:06 | Session 2 reboot and reasoning behind reboots | | 19:24 | YouVersion Bible App reading plans announced | | 21:13 | Introduction and praise for Amber Miller’s contributions | | 23:15 | Guidance for new listeners—Where to start BEMA | | 29:06 | Financial update and non-profit funding policies | | 36:00 | College ministry origins and future vision for BEMA |

Final Takeaways

• Session 10 is a transitional and contemplative season for the podcast, intentionally moving at a slower, more reflective pace in honor of Josh Bosse.
• Listeners can expect new long-form teaching series, special interviews, and rich new resources—as well as a focus on community and sustainability.
• The deep heart of BEMA remains its commitment to contextual biblical study, discipleship, and practical community engagement, especially for students and young adults.
• Listeners, especially new ones, are encouraged to start at the beginning for the full transformative experience.
• The BEMA team continues to value and thank their community for ongoing support, participation, and generosity.

For further exploration, resources, group connections, and to support BEMA, visit:
baymadiscipleship.com/496

“We want people to engage. We want to live this out. We don’t want to just be consumers of a podcast. We want to make a difference in the world.”
— Brent (38:14)