God‘s Story Podcast

Brent and Reido continue their study of Mark’s gospel.  We meet the lost and lonely and see how Jesus restores their humanity. (1:10) Jesus and ‘outsiders’; (3:23) Religious leaders and their opposition to Jesus; (4:20) A tax collector; (6:33) Jesus and the sea; (9:59) The Pharisees; (12:00) The social outcasts become the insiders; (15:15) Bridegroom and wedding imagery in Mark; (17:38) Jesus as L...

Brent and Reido continue their exploration of Mark’s gospel.  In this episode, we see echoes of the Creation account in Genesis and how Jesus has total authority over sin and sickness. (1:40) Mark and the Kingdom of God; (3:25) Jesus and the wilderness; (7:25) Mark’s gospel and evil; (9:51) Leprosy; (13:45) What sort of king is Jesus going to be? (18:10) Mark as a detective novel? Who is Jesus? Li...

Brent talks with James Salladin, the rector of Emmanuel Anglican Church in New York about the great 18th century theologian and preacher Jonathan Edwards. Who was Edwards and what did he believe about grace? James Salladin’s book ‘Jonathan Edwards and Deification – Reconciling Theosis and the Reformed Tradition’ is published by IVP America. (0:52) Who was Jonathan Edwards? (1:40) Edwards and reviv...

How well do arguments for atheism stand up in a courtroom? Do atheistic frameworks give a satisfactory answer for understanding human existence? Brent talks with Mark Lanier a trial lawyer and founder of the Lanier Law Firm.  Mark was voted 2013 Top Class Action Attorney in America by US News and World Report’s Best Lawyers. Mark’s book ‘Atheism on Trial: A Lawyer Examines the Case for Unbelief’ i...

How do the Old and New Testaments relate to one another? What’s the relationship between the biblical covenants? How does Israel relate to the church? Brent Parker is assistant editor of the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology and the co-editor of ‘Progressive Covenantalism: Charting a Course between Dispensational and Covenantal Theologies’.  He is also is the co-editor of a new book from IVP Am...

Brent is joined again by Dr Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss Daniel 4. What does Nebuchadnezzar learn about God in this chapter and a discussion of trees and tree imagery in Scripture.  (0:21) What happens in chapter 4.  Another dream. (2:00) Significant numbers in the chapter – 4 and 7; (3:30) The law of the leprous person; ((4:20) We find out who the true king...

Brent talks to Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States. How is Nebuchadnezzar’s worship a parody of God’s Temple worship and who is the fourth man?  (0:26) The conflict of Empires in Daniel; (4:10) What happens in chapter 3; (5:50) Nebuchadnezzar’s image and what it represents (8:17) Nebuchadnezzar’s confusion between God’s reign and human rule; (9:19) Nebuchadnezzar’s religious...

Brent talks to Harriet Connor, the content editor of ‘Growing Faith’ in Sydney, Australia. What does the Bible have to say about families and what’s a covenantal view of family life? Harriet’s book ‘Families in God’s Plan’ is out from Youthworks Media, Sydney. (0:50) Growing Faith magazine; (2:35) Harriet’s biography and interest in languages; (3:40) A biblical theology of the family; (10:27) The...

What shaped the mind of C.S. Lewis? Many of us know Lewis only through his ‘Narnia’ Chronicles but we might not know his work as a professor of medieval literature. Brent talks with Jason Baxter, the associate professor of fine arts and humanities at Wyoming Catholic College. Jason’s book ‘The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis – How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind’ is published by IVP America. (0:50) Le...

Who is Jesus and what is the Kingdom of God? Ian and Brent continue their exploration of Mark chapter 1.  (1:50) The culmination of God’s story of creation; (2:30) Jesus as the culmination of the universe; (4:40) What is the Kingdom of God? (6:40) The Kingdom of God is being built through the church and God’s people; (8:23) Why were the first disciples fishermen? (9:00) Fishing imagery in the Old...

Mark 1 Part 1 Ian and Brent begin a new series on the gospel of Mark beginning with chapter 1:1-13. How does Mark allude back to the creation account in Genesis and why is Jesus a new Adam and Joshua? (0:35) What is a gospel? (1:00) Who was Mark? (2:10) The date of the gospel.  Possibly the earliest gospel? (8:40) How Mark’s gospel picks up the whole Old Testament; (10:35) The title ‘Christ’; (12:...

Do you want to be part of a church that’s faithful to the gospel but isn’t judgemental or legalistic? Brent talks with Mark Baker, a professor of mission and theology at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California. Mark’s book ‘Centered-Set Church-Discipleship and Community Without Judgementalism’ is published by IVP America.   (0:42) Why judgementalism is such a problem in the church;...

What is Postmodernism? Is it a threat to Christianity and can Christians learn from postmodern thinkers and their critique of modernism? Dr Crystal Downing is Co-Director of the Marion E. Wade Center and co-holder of the Marion E. Wade Chair in Christian Thought at Wheaton College, Illinois in the States. ‘How Postmodernism Serves (My) Faith: Questioning Truth in Language, Philosophy and Art’ is p...

Stressed by the business of life? Do you want to switch off? Do you want to take your prayer life deeper? Rick Hamlin is an editor and contributor to ‘Guideposts’ magazine in the States and the author of 'Even Silence Is Praise: Quiet Your Mind and Awaken Your Soul with Christian Meditation’ is published by Thomas Nelson, a division of Harper Collins in the States.     (0:51) What is silent prayer...

How do we best do mission in the 21st century? How can our churches partner with communities in the world in co-development? Hunter Farrell is the director of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s World Mission Initiative and co-author with Bala Khyllep of a new book from IVP America called ‘Freeing Congregational Mission – A Practical Vision for Companionship, Cultural Humility and Co-Development’. (...

What makes people lonely and what we can do about it? Susan Mettes is a behavioural scientist with extensive experience conducting research for faith-based organizations including Barna Group, Thrivent Financial and World Vision. ‘The Loneliness Epidemic – Why So Many of Us Feel Alone – and How Leaders Can Respond’ is published by Brazos Press, a division of the Baker Publishing Group. . (1:30) Ha...

Is the God of the Old Testament angry, sexist and racist? David Lamb is the Allan A. MacRae Professor of Old Testament and Dean of Faculty at Missio Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His book, ‘God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist?' is published by IVP America. (0:57) Is the God of the Old Testament really angry, sexist and racist? (2:01) Some of the n...

Brent and Ian discuss the three main topics in Hebrews 13: Sex, money and acceptance.   (2:10) Hebrews as a warning; (3:12) Chapter 13 as a summary; (3:59) Brotherly love, hospitality and the suffering church; (4:15) Sex, money and acceptance; (6:20) Sex as an idol; (7:06) How money can divert our attention; (8:34) Contentment; (10:51) How we should treat our church leaders; (13:37) Acceptance.  T...

Have you ever wondered how God is present and working in ordinary, everyday places? Tim Muehlhoff is a Professor of Communication at Biola University in La Mirada, California, and his book, ’Eyes to See: Recognizing God's Common Grace in an Unsettled World' is published by IVP America.  (0’56) What common grace is; (1:59) Why we don’t recognize common grace; (4:11) Why God doesn’t always answer ou...

Brent talks with Chantal Giorgini about her new book from Castle Publishing in New Zealand called ‘Hope in the Storms – When Faith Can Move Mountains’. Do the storms of life threaten to overtake you? Whereabouts is God in the storm? (0:41) How Chantal’s life has been characterised by storms; (2:15) How God is faithful through our storms; (3:57) How God is busy in the background of our lives; (6:00...

Brent talks to John Norsworthy, an Adjunct Lecturer at Faith Bible College, NZ about his new book from Castle Publishing called ‘Why Humility Matters – The radical idea of the practice of humility’.  (1:10) Why humility is such a radical idea. Definition of humility; (4:30) Is the practice of humility distinctively Christian? (5:30) Was humility valued in ancient society? (6:30) Modern political l...

Brent talks to Tom Nelson, the president of ‘Made to Flourish’ a network that seeks to empower pastors to lead churches that produce human flourishing for the common good. Tom’s new book from IVP America is called ‘The Flourishing Pastor: Recovering the Lost Art of Shepherd Leadership’.  (0:55) What makes a flourishing pastor; (1:13) Is the art of pastoral leadership a lost art? (2:30) Why so many...

Brent talks to Kelly Kapic, a professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia about his new book from Brazos Press, ‘You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News’. We find out how our limits reflect God’s design and why that’s good news!  (0:45) Why should we reflect on our human limitations? (1:30) Ways we’re not in control; (2...

Brent and Ian discuss Hebrews chapter 12 verses 14-29 How do we live out the truth of the gospel and persevere in faith? (2:00) Living at peace with people. How do we do it? (3:25) Is it always possible to live at peace with everyone? (4:30) Difficult people in churches; (5:30) Holiness is God’s goal for our lives; (7:30) Why it’s important to become more like Jesus; (9:00) Exercising appropriate...

Brent and Ian discuss Hebrews 12:1-13 Are you struggling to keep believing in Jesus? Are you having trouble keeping going in the Christian faith?   (1:03) Hebrews is addressed to Christians who are struggling to persevere; (3:54) What the writer advises us to do to put our eyes on Jesus; (4:30) Running and race imagery in the passage; (4:55) What to do with things that are keeping us from Jesus; (...