God‘s Story Podcast

‘Race complicates our relationships, even when we reject racism and seek to walk a better path together.  How can we get our thinking – and our conversations – unstuck from entrenched patterns?’ Brent talks with Veola Vazquez, Joshua Knabb, Charles Lee-Johnson and Krystal Hays about their new IVP book ‘Healing Conversations On Race – Four Key Practices from Scripture and Psychology’. Veola Vazquez...

‘Can you sing songs shaped by the truest truths of the universe in language the whole world can understand’? Brent talks with Steven Garber, Senior Fellow for Vocation and the Common Good for the M.J. Murdoch Charitable Trust about ‘A Hidden Life’ (2019) and the films of Terrence Malick. Steven has recently served as Professor of Marketplace Theology and Director of the Masters in Leadership, Theo...

What do we do with a God who sanctions violence? Brent talks with Matthew Lynch, associate professor of Old Testament at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada about his new IVP book ‘Flood and Fury – Old Testament Violence and the Shalom of God’. Matthew is the author of a number of books and the co-founder of the OnScript podcast, a podcast focused on providing engaging conversations on Bible and t...

Mark 11:27-12:34 Difficult questions and the parable of the tenants.  Brent and Ian continue their deep dive into Mark with Mark 11:27-12:34. (1:35) The religious authorities and Jesus; (3:44) The parable of the tenants; (7:23) More questions; (16:00) How Jesus cuts through the rule keeping. Links mentioned in this episode: Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand Leave some feedback: What should...

Mark 11:1-26 How are donkeys associated with kingship in the Bible and what’s the significance of the fig tree? Brent and Ian look at Mark 11:1-26. (1:05) Expectations of Jesus; (3:05) The donkey’s colt. Genesis 49; (5:17) What sort of king is Jesus? (6:56) The palm branches; (10:20) Jesus and the Temple. The fig tree; (16:20) The mountain; (18:40) Forgiving others. Links mentioned in this episode...

In the first of an occasional series of movie and TV reviews Brent and Ian take a deep dive into the BBC/Netflix series ‘Inside Man’ starring David Tennant and Stanley Tucci. What really lurks in the vicar’s cellar and are we really all capable of murder? (0:37) ‘Inside Man’. What is it? (1:45) Steven Moffat; (2:15) Reviews; (3:45) David Tennant; (4:42) Why the title? Jefferson Grieff; (6:45) Encl...

Why is Jesus presented as a living Tabernacle and Temple in Revelation 1? Brent and Ian talk with Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute about Revelation 1 verses 9-20. (0:35) Verses 9-20 and how they relate to verses 1-8; (3:30) The Lord’s Day; (4:50) Why is endurance important in Revelation? (6:30) Tabernacle and Temple imagery in the passage; (9:30) Jesus as a living Tabernacle and Tem...

What’s the significance of the number 7 in the book of Revelation and why is Jubilee a prominent theme? Brent and Ian are joined by Dr. Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss Revelation 1:1-8. (0:55) What is the book of Revelation? (3:00) Apocalyptic literature; (5:00) Signs and symbols; (7:20) ‘Speediness’ in Revelation; (13:15) Witness in Revelation; (16:00) 7 in Jo...

Brent and Ian talk with Zac Hicks, adjunct lecturer in music and worship at Samford University, Alabama, in the States.  Previously, he served as the Canon for Worship and Liturgy at Advent Cathedral in Birmingham, Alabama. Zac’s new IVP book is about the great 16th century Protestant Reformer, Thomas Cranmer, the architect of the Church of England’s ‘Book of Common Prayer’. Zac’s book is called ‘...

What does it mean to be human? What is a person? Where did we come from? Brent talks with Joshua Rasmussen about his new IVP book ‘Who Are You, Really?: A Philosopher’s Enquiry into the Nature and Origin of Persons’. Joshua is associate professor of philosophy at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California in the States. (1:05) Who are we? (2:05) Why do we exist? (4:00) Why should we exist? (6:3...

What’s the significance of numbers in the gospel of John and the book of Ezra? In fact, what’s the significance of numbers in the Bible generally? Brent and Ian talk with Tyndale House Researcher in Cambridge, James Bejon. James has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and an MA in Hebrew and Jewish Studies and is currently studying for another MA at Cambridge University in Asian and Middle Easter...

How do we serve in ministry in multicultural contexts both inside and outside our congregations? Brent talks with Mark Lau Branson and Juan Martinez about the second edition of their IVP book ‘Churches, Cultures and Leadership. A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities’. Mark is the Homer L. Goddard Senior Professor of the Ministry of the Laity at Fuller Theological Seminary in the Sta...

Brent talks to Kyle Meyaard Schaap, vice president of the Evangelical Environmental Network. Previously, he was the national organizer and spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, and he’s been featured in news outlets such as CNN, PBS, NPR and NBC News. Kyle talks about his new IVP book ‘Following Jesus in a Warming World.  A Christian Call to Climate Action’.  During many years of...

At what point do you leave your church or denomination? Is it ever appropriate to leave a church or a denomination? What if you’re a pastor and you feel you need to leave? How do you go about doing it? Brent and Ian talk with Bishop Jay Behan of the Church of Confessing Anglicans Aotearoa NZ. It was in 2019 that Jay, a vicar in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, NZ and Polynesia finally made the dec...

Fundraising can be one of the most stressful parts of ministry. How do we get off the treadmill of crisis-driven fundraising to more sustainable ministry funding? Brent talks with Brad Layland about his new IVP book ‘Turning Donors Into Partners – Principles for Fundraising You’ll Actually Enjoy’. Brad is the CEO of the Focus Group, which provides fundraising counsel to non profit organizations in...

God wants to bless us! Brent and Ian talk with Terry Smith, lead pastor of the Life Christian Church in West Orange, New Jersey in the States about his new book from Chosen Books called ‘The Lord Bless You: A 28 Day Journey to Experience God’s Extravagant Blessings’. (1:05) How does God want to bless us? (2:15) Scripture and God’s blessing; (3:15) Humanity falls ill in the Garden; (5:50) How God’s...

‘This is the seamless life – to see the truest truths of the universe woven into the very meaning of life, labour, learning and liturgy’. Brent talks with Steven Garber, Senior Fellow for Vocation and the Common Good for the M.J. Murdoch Charitable Trust.  Steven has recently served as Professor of Marketplace Theology and Director of the Masters in Leadership, Theology, and Society at Regent Coll...

Today we encounter a dizzying array of religious options.  How do we know what is true? Is one faith just as good as another? Brent and Ian talk with Mark Lanier, who’s just published a new book with IVP America called ‘Religions On Trial – A Lawyer Examines Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and More’. Mark is an attorney, author, teacher, pastor and expert story teller.  He founded the Lanier Law Firm a...

What’s been the experience of the New Zealand church during the lockdowns and events of the past 2 years and how are New Zealand pastors feeling about the state of the church today? Brent and Ian are joined by Mark Smith, pastor of Grace Napier and Rob Morton, pastor of Heretaunga Community Church and Course Director of the TIM Training Course in Christchurch. (1:00) The pandemic and church planti...

‘The beginning of the 20th century evolved out of an era of Freethinking atheists and agnostics who challenged the Protestant hegemony of the day.  Key among these mavericks was author and film maker Rupert Hughes, uncle to Howard Hughes.  In 1932, Hughes published Souls for Sale, his wickedly playful satire of the Bible belt and Hollywood.  Souls for Sale offers a glimpse into the emerging jazz a...

How should we read the book of Revelation? Brent talks with Brandon Smith, assistant professor of theology and New Testament at Cedarville University in Ohio in the States.  He’s also a co-founder of the Center for Baptist Renewal and host of the ‘Church Grammar’ podcast. Brandon’s new book from IVP America is called ‘The Trinity in the Book of Revelation – Seeing Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in J...

‘Deconstruction is a hot topic these days as more and more people leave behind the rigid Christianity they were raised in or have experienced’.  Brent and Ian talk with Joshua Porter, pastor of teaching and creative vision at Van City Church in Vancouver, Washington. He’s also a former member of the experimental punk band, Showbread, and the author of the novel ‘Punk Rock vs The Lizard People’. Jo...

Why the Kingdom is not about power and position. Ian and Brent continue their exploration of Mark chapter 10 with verses 32-52. (1:40) Jesus and Jerusalem; (3:15) Power and position. The need for service; (10:30) Jesus’ life as a ransom; (12:24) A blind beggar. A model disciple? Links mentioned in this episode: Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand Leave some feedback: What should we talk about...

How do we see that the Kingdom is something to be given and not taken? Brent and Ian continue looking at Mark chapter 10 verses 1-31. (2:00) Herod’s tricky situation. Jesus on divorce; (10:00) The Kingdom is something to be given not taken. We are all called to be ’childlike’ in receiving the Kingdom; (12:00) Can small children be saved? (12:45) The rich young man. Links mentioned in this episode:...

How should we treat children and vulnerable people? Brent and Ian continue their exploration of Mark’s gospel with chapter 9 verses 38-50. (5:30) Don’t try and stop people doing things in Jesus’ name; (7:30) Stumbling. How we should treat children and vulnerable believers; (10:45) How we should be careful not to cause a vulnerable believer to stumble; (14:00) How Jesus suggests we deal with sin. L...