God‘s Story Podcast

Life is filled with challenges.  Does God care? How can we carry on? Brent talks with Bruce Strom about his new IVP book ‘Persevering Power: Encouragement for When You’re Oppressed by Life’. Bruce is the founder and CEO of Administer Justice, a national legal aid ministry, where he invites attorneys, pastors, and God’s people to do practical justice in their community through church based gospel j...

Brent talks with Jay Payleitner about grandparents and grandparenting and his book from Chronicle Books in the States called ‘Hooray for Grandparents: 40 Joys, Surprises, and Cautionary Tales’. Jay is one of the top freelance producers for Christian radio in the States, having worked on Josh McDowell Radio, Today’s Father and Project Angel Tree with Chuck Colson.  Jay is a longtime affiliate of th...

Brent is joined once again by Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss chapter 19 of Revelation. How does Revelation 19 concern itself with the destruction of the rest of God’s enemies? The significance of the number 5, more thoughts about music and the Lord Jesus as a greater Dionysius. (1:50) Chapter 19 and the structure of Revelation; (3:20) Another throne room w...

Brent is joined once again by Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss chapter 18 of Revelation. Who or what is Babylon? More numbers and animals… What do birds represent in the Bible? (1:30) Who or what is Babylon? (3:40) The 3 speakers; (5:40) The fall of Babel; (8:50) More animals; (11:30) The wine and the cup; (12:40) The list of 28 items and the Temple; (19:30)...

Who are we? Why do we exist? In what ways are we creatures and in what sense do we partake of the divine? Brent talks with Joshua Farris about his Baker Academic Book ‘An Introduction to Theological Anthropology: Humans, Both Creaturely and Divine’. Joshua is a teacher, pastor, editor, author, blogger and podcaster.  He’s currently the Humboldt Experienced Researcher Fellow at the University of Bo...

Telling people about Jesus can be hard – especially for newer Christians. Brent talks with John Hopper of Search Ministries about his new book ‘Giving Jesus Away: Finding Joy in Sharing the Gospel’. John serves as Executive Director for Reach, the evangelism training arm of Search Ministries and regularly encourages and facilitates gatherings and conversations aimed at helping people think more de...

Brent talks with Naghmeh Abedini Panahi about her new Whitaker House book written with Eugene Bach called ‘I Didn’t Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution, and Hidden Abuse’. Naghmeh first made national news when she publicly advocated for the release of her then husband, Saeed Abedini, who was imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith.  Naghmeh brought worldwide attention to the pl...

We’ve lost the practice of lament.  We need to rediscover lament in order to heal and hope again. Brent talks with Terra McDaniel the author of a new IVP America book called ‘Hopeful Lament: Tending Our Grief Through Spiritual Practices’.  Terra is a spiritual director for adults and children.  She spend two decades as a pastor and ministry leader and earned her Masters in Divinity at Portland Sem...

Women now have professional opportunities beyond what previous generations ever imagined. ‘But as our roles in public life have grown, the church’s vision for women’s work and calling has not grown with us, leaving us feeling isolated and under resourced’. Brent talks with Joanna Meyer, director of public engagement at the Denver Institute for Faith and Work.  Joanna leads public events, hosts the...

What makes human beings unique? Do we, in fact, have a soul? Brent talks with Joshua Farris, a philosopher, teacher, pastor, editor, author, blogger and podcaster.  Joshua is currrently the Humboldt Experienced Researcher Fellow at the University of Bochum.  He was a previous fellow at the Creation Project, Carl F.H Henry Center and the University of London among other places.  Joshua’s recent boo...

Brent is joined once again by Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss chapter 17 of Revelation. A red dragon and a dodgy dame! (1:00) Revelation 17; (2:15) The woman and Zechariah 5; (6:10) Babylon and Daniel; (9:30) The woman and water; (10:45) The gemstones; (13:00) The cup; (15:30) Who or what is the scarlet beast? (18:15) Who or what are the ten horns? (21:20)...

Brent is joined once again by Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss the seven bowls in chapter 16. (0:35) The number 7; (2:15) The bowls and the horsemen; (4:45) The first bowl; (6:15) The sea; (8:10) The third bowl; (10:40) The fourth angel; (12:10) The fifth angel and the throne of the beast; (13:15) The sixth bowl; (15:30) A new Exodus; (16:45) The frog demons...

Sometimes the world knocks us flat.  So we pretend that everything is fine even though it’s not. Brent talks with Katie Schnack about her new IVP book ‘Everything is (Not) Fine: Finding Strength When Life Gets Annoyingly Difficult’. Katie is a writer and book publicist.  She’s the author of a number of books and her articles have appeared in such places as ‘Relevant’, ’Today.com’, ‘Hello Giggles’,...

What does Paul mean by ‘saved through childbearing’ in 1 Timothy 2:15? Could it be a reference to the mysterious goddess Artemis who haunts the letter? Brent talks with Sandra Glahn, professor of media, arts and worship at Dallas Theological Seminary, where her emphases are first century backgrounds related to women, culture, gender and the arts.  She has authored or edited more than 20 books.  Sa...

Does what we do at work matter? How do we go from being defined by what we do to having our work become an expression of who we are? Brent talks with Barry Rowan about his new IVP book ‘The Spiritual Art of Business: Connecting the Daily with the Divine’. Barry is a Harvard Business School graduate who spent his entire career serving in C-Suite Roles.  He’s been instrumental in building and transf...

How can we be free from religiosity and judgmentalism in the church? Brent talks with Mark Baker, professor of mission and theology at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California in the States.  Mark served as a missionary in Honduras for ten years and has written a number of books including this new one from Crossway called ‘Freedom from Religiosity and Judgmentalism: Studies in Paul’s...

How is the whole Bible in the Pentateuch? Brent talks with Ian Vaillancourt, associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Heritage Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Ontario.  He’s the author of a number of books  including ‘The Dawning of Redemption: The Story of the Pentateuch and the Hope of the Gospel’ which is published by Crossway. (0:57) What is the Pentateuch? (1:30) The grand drama...

What do we do when our culture doesn’t allow us the time and space to grieve well? Brent talks with Natasha Smith a wife, mother and writer from North Carolina.  Her new book from IVP is ‘Can You Just Sit With Me?: Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life’. Natasha’s work has appeared at ‘Her View From Home’, ‘Focus on the Family’ and ‘TODAY parents’.  (0:55) How we can all comfort those who grieve...

How do we live truthfully in a post truth world? Why are we in a post truth world and what is a post truth world anyway? Brent and Ian talk with Lionel Windsor about his forthcoming Matthias Media book 'Truth be Told:Living truthfully in a post-truth world'. Lionel is a minister in the Anglican Church in Sydney, Australia and he teaches New Testament at Moore College in Sydney. (1:05) What is a po...

Ian and Brent explore Series One of Peacock’s comedy murder mystery series ‘Poker Face’ starring Natasha Lyonne and created by Rian Johnson. (0:40) What is ‘Poker Face’? Time; (6:15) Natasha Lyonne and the cast; (8:00) Truth in the series; (11:00) The concept of time and time ‘replays’; (14:10) The photography. Links mentioned in this episode: www.kingsgrace.nz/resources Leave some feedback: What...

Brent is joined once again by Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss the first part of the Seven Bowls (chapter 15). Do the seven angels with bowls represent astral signs? The 4 cherubim (again!) and the Day of Atonement. (1:40) What does John see? (2:30) The 7 angels and astral signs; (3:15) Exodus and Revelation 15; (4:30) The 7 bowls and creation week! 7 again;...

Brent is joined once again by Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss chapter 14. Who or what is Babylon, in what sense is God a God of music and is the Lord Jesus a greater Dionysius? (oh, and there’s some more mathematics...) (1:10) The events of chapter 14; (3:15) The 144,000 – who or what are they? More mathematics…. (6:30) The Music! In what ways is God a God...

How do we create a space for our children to get to know God in a way that focuses on trust instead of rigid rules? Brent talks with Meredith Miller about her new book from Worthy Publishing called ‘Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From’. Meredith has over 20 years experience in children’s ministry and curriculum. In 2019 she and her husband Curtis started Pomona Valley Churc...

What do we make of Pilate? Brent and Ian take a deep dive into Mark 14:66-15:15. (2:20) Jesus’ prophecy about Peter; (3:10) Peter and the fire; (4:30) Peter’s denial; (5:40) Grace; (6:25) What do we make of Pilate? (8:35) How Pilate deals with Jesus; (9:20) Isaiah 53; (12:40) Barabbas. Links mentioned in this episode: www.kingsgrace.nz/resources godsstorypodcast.com Become a Supporter: If you’d li...

Brent and Ian continue their exploration of Mark’s gospel with chapter 14 verses 32-65. (0:45) Jesus in this account; (2:10) The symbolism of the garden; (3:00) The cup and hour; (3:50) Abba; (5:50) Sleep; (6:46) The number 3; (9:00) The cutting off of the servant’s ear; (10:00) The young man; (12:10) The trail. Looking for evidence…. (14:40) The ‘I am’ statements. Links mentioned in this episode:...