God‘s Story Podcast

Are you feeling lonely and disconnected? We live in an increasingly isolated world. How can we reconnect? Todd Hall is Professor of Psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University in the States where he teaches courses on the integration of psychology and theology.  He is a faculty affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and a founding partner at Fl...

Brent and Ian take a look at the ‘turning point’ in Mark’s gospel. (2:00) The ‘turning point’ in Mark’s gospel; (5:00) The blind man.  Spit and walking trees; (8:20) The man’s blindness and the spiritual blindness of the disciples; (10:00) Peter’s confession in Gentile territory; (11:41) Meaning of ‘the Christ’; (14:40) Peter’s understanding of the Messiah at this point; (15:30) What sort of king...

What am I meant to be and what am I called to do?  Brent and Ian talk about calling and vocation with Gordon Smith, the President of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Alberta where he also serves as Professor of Systematic and Spiritual Theology. Gordon Smith’s new book from IVP America is ‘Your Calling Here and Now – Making Sense of Vocation’. (1:20) Why vocation is always specific and...

Brent and Ian talk with Kirk Farney, Vice President for advancement, vocation and alumni engagement and a member of the History Faculty at Wheaton College, Illinois in the States. In Kirk’s new book from IVP America ‘Ministers of a New Medium’ he explores the work of Fulton J. Sheen of Catholic Hour and Walter A. Maier of ‘The Lutheran Hour’, two groundbreaking leaders in Christian broadcasting. ...

Brent is joined once again by Louis Markos, Professor of English at Houston Christian University in the States.  What is Greek tragedy? What is ‘The Oresteia’ and how does it point to Christ? ‘From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics’ is published by IVP America.  (1:31) What is Greek tragedy? (3:30) The goat and Greek festivals.  Song of the scapegoat.  ‘The Oresteia...

Brent and Ian continue their exploration of Mark’s gospel. The feeding of the 4000 and some more Pharisees. What’s the significance of the numbers 4 and 7 in the passage? (1:35) Why it's important not to get Jesus wrong; (1:53) Three scenes; (3:00) The Jewish and Gentile feedings contrasted; (5:10) 7 days; (5:45) The 7 loaves and the numbers 4 and 7; (6:38) What the feeding tells us about Jesus; (...

What’s the connection between a Gentile woman and the prophet Elijah? Ian and Brent continue their exploration of Mark’s gospel. (1:20) How is legalism a problem in the church today? (3:30) The Gentile woman and ‘dogs’; (4:30) The Gentile woman and the authorities; (5:45) The Gentile woman’s faith; (6:40) The significance of Tyre and Sidon; (7:40) Jesus and Elijah; (8:30) Jezebel; (9:50) Jesus’ re...

Brent and Ian continue their deep dive into the gospel of Mark. (1:40) A confrontation.  Claim and counterclaim; (2:30) The claim; (6:00) Ceremonial cleansing; (6:37) The motivation for the accusations; (9:17) Jesus’ counterclaim; (10:50) The Pharisees’ problem; (11:50) What Jesus reveals about all of us.  The problem of legalism; (16:00) The problem of the human heart. (18:00) The human condition...

Who was the great 16th century reformer John Calvin and what did he believe and teach? Brent talks with Yudha Thianto, professor of the history of Christianity and Reformed Theology At Calvin Theological Seminary in the States. Yudha’s book ‘An Explorer’s Guide to John Calvin’ is published by IVP America.  (1:00) The idea behind the book; (3:50) Who was Calvin? (9:10) How Calvin went into exile; (...

Why is the Victorian period so like our own? How does Tennyson’s poetry embody all of the struggle and grief of the Victorian period? Brent Is joined by Louis Markos, professor in English at Houston Christian University in the States.  ‘Pressing Forward – Alfred, Lord Tennyson and the Victorian Age’ is published by Sapientia Press.  (1:05) The Victorian period so like our own; (2:20) What the Vict...

How might film reveal God? Do movies put people in a place of heightened receptivity to God’s revelation? Brent talks with Richard Vance Goodwin about his new book from IVP America called ‘Seeing Is Believing: The Revelation of God Through Film’. (0:45) How Richard’s interest in film developed; (3:17) Why Christians have been so reluctant to engage with arts and the cinema; (5:30) A good theology...

How can we discover and develop our gifts? Brent’s guest is Don Everts, Senior Pastor of First and Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Missouri and a writer for Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Hopeful Neighborhood Project. Don’s new IVP America book is called ‘Discover Your Gifts- Celebrating How God Made You and Everyone You Know’.  (1:00) Everyone has gifts; (2:05) How Don’s stepfather...

How can Christians influence every sphere of life and become agents of flourishing? Brent talks with Amy Sherman, director of the Sagamore Institute’s Center on Faith in Communities, which trains and consults with faith based social service providers and religious congregations desiring to invest more effectively in their neighborhoods. Amy’s book ‘Agents of Flourishing – Pursuing Shalom in Every...

How do the Psalms see right through us? Brent talks with David Taylor, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary in the States and the producer of a short film on the Psalms with Bono and Eugene Peterson. David’s book ‘Open And Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life’ is published by Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson in the States.   (0:50) How the film abo...

Brent and Ian talk to Jennifer Rosner who takes us on a personal journey into the Jewish roots of Christianity Jennifer is Affiliate Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, where she completed her PhD on the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. Jennifer’s new book from IVP America is ‘Finding Messiah – A Journey into the Jewishne...

How does the American (and the global) church decenter itself from its idols? Can people in the margins of life help us achieve this? Brent and Ian talk with Eric Costanzo, a pastor and teacher from Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Eric is executive director for Rising Village. Org, an organization with initiatives to help marginalized people. Eric is the author (with Daniel Yang and Matthew Soerens) of a new IV...

Brent is joined once again by Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States for a discussion on Daniel 12.  What’s the significance of the 1290 days and 1335 days? (0:25) How chapter 12 completes the book of Daniel? (1:50) Who is Michael? (3:05) The resurrection of v 2; (7:06) The time of distress in v 1; (8:00) The sleepers who will awaken; (8:34) The skilled; (9:19) The book that...

Brent talks with Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States about Daniel 11. What do the events of Daniel 11 allude to and how do the Herods fulfill the Amalek pattern in the Bible?  (0:34) Alastair’s very brief overview! The Ptolemies in the South and the Seleucids in the North; (1:45) The end of Persia and the coming of Greece and the Greek kingdoms; (2:30) Alexander the Great...

Brent and Ian continue their exploration of Mark's gospel. Who is Jesus and what's the significance of the number of loaves and fish? (3:33) Jesus’ banquet and Herod’s banquet; (4:10) The wilderness background in the Old Testament; (5:00) Who is Jesus? Jesus feeds Israel in the wilderness; (5:35) The connection with Israel’s wilderness journey; (6:30) Jesus’ compassion; (7:41) The significance of...

Brent and Ian explore Mark 6:1-31.  What happens when the power comes home? (1:41) The spiritual state of Israel in Mark 5; (2:35) Jesus’ hometown.  What happens when the power comes home: (5:11) Why the people take offence at Jesus; (6:05) Lack of miracles in Nazareth; (7:56) The power goes out; (11:26) A very strange drinking party; (14:14) The power of authority and violence; (16:35) The Herod’...

Brent is joined once again by the Rev. Ian Reid of King’s Grace Presbyterian Church, Palmerston North, NZ to take a deep dive into Mark 5:21-43. (0:35) Jesus’ power in Mark; (1:00)  A Mark ‘sandwich’; (1:48) The Quest; (4:30) Jairus and his daughter; (6:12) 2 daughters of Israel and the number 12; (9:15) Impurity; (12:00) Jesus the ultimate priest and Temple; (13:10) Fear and faith in the story; (...

Calling all engineers, computer scientists, web designers, architects and all those involved with technology! Are you a Christian who is passionate about developing technology? How do faith and technology intersect? Brent talks with Ethan Brue, one of the authors (with Derek Schuurman and Steven VanderLeest) of a new book from IVP America called ‘A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers...

How do different generations communicate differently? We need to understand how different generations hear. Brent talks with Darrell Hall, campus pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Conyers, Georgia in the States where he preaches and teaches across five generations. Darrell’s book ‘Speaking Across Generations: Messages That Satisfy Boomers, Xers, Millennials, Gen Z, and Beyond’ is published by...

Brent talks with Shayne Moore about human trafficking and how we can become human trafficking literate. Shayne is one of the authors (with Sandra Morgan and Kimberly Mac Owen Yim) of a new IVP book called ‘Ending Human Trafficking: A Handbook of Strategies for the Church Today’. Shayne is an author, editor and activist.  She’s the co-founder of Redbud Writers Guild, former director of operations a...

Brent is joined by T. Desmond Alexander to discuss his new IVP book ‘Face to Face with God – A Biblical Theology of Christ as Priest and Mediator’. How does the letter to the Hebrews present Jesus as our priest and mediator? Desmond Alexander is senior lecturer in biblical studies and director of postgraduate studies at Union Theological College in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (1:03) How Jesus is ou...