God‘s Story Podcast

Brent is joined once again by Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss Daniel chapter 10. Who is the figure who appears to Daniel? Who is Michael? (0:28) The events of Daniel 10.  A theophany; (2:31) Daniel and Belshazzar? (2:50) The 24th day of the first month; (3:40) The theophany.  Who do we see? (6:00) Why the Lord Jesus is dressed like the High Priest of Israel.  A...

Brent is joined by Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States for another in depth look at the book of Daniel. Do all the prophecies described in the book of Daniel come to pass by AD 70? (0:12) The events of chapter 9; (1:38) How does the number 70 relate to the symbolism of 7 and the 7 days of creation; (7:55) The 70 weeks of years; (11:46) What do we date the 490 years from? (17:...

Who are the ram and goat and what is the apostasy that causes desolation? Brent is joined by Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to talk about Daniel 8. (1:26) What happens in chapter 8; (2:25) The significance of the location; (3:10) The significance of the ram and goat; (5:00) A connection with the sacrificial system? (6:33) The little horn; (9:52) The Continual; (11:00) Th...

Brent is joined once again by Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States for a deep dive into Daniel 7. Who or what are the four beasts and how do they relate to the four cherubim? (0:30) How chapters 7-12 relate to chapters 1-6 of the book; (1:55) The story of Daniel 7; (3:14) The symbolism of the horns and horn imagery; (5:10) Significance of the sea; (6:03) The four Gentile beast...

Why are we here and what is life all about anyway? Brent's guest on this podcast is Dominic Done, a founder of 'Pursuing Faith' and a Professor of Applied Theology at George Fox University in Oregon in the States. Dominic's latest book from Thomas Nelson is 'Your Longing Has A Name: Come Alive to the Story You Were Made For' (1:55) The story we’re made for; (3:35) ‘The magic of our world has been...

What's the connection between Christianity and the arts? How is the relationship between creation and new creation informed by and related to the arts? 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 is one of the editors (with Jeremy Begbie an...

Brent talks with Dirk Smith, the Vice President of Eastern European Mission.  More than $2 million has recently been given to provide Bibles as the war continues.  (1:00) What God is doing in Eastern Europe; (2:15) How the war in Ukraine is displacing children and people; (3:15) Christians in Ukraine.  Bible in schools; (4:15) The courage of Christians; (6:55) How the war is increasing spiritual h...

Why is prayer depicted so often in Hollywood movies? Brent talks with Terry Lindvall, a film historian who occupies the C.S. Lewis Chair of Communication and Christian Thought at Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia in the States. We look at the ways prayer is depicted in Hollywood movies from the silent era to today. 'God on the Big Screen - A History of Hollywood Prayer from the Silent Era t...

What is neighborliness? Brent talks with David Docusen about the Neighborliness Center, a nonprofit hub that provides equitable access to education, employment, healthcare and housing to neighbors in Winston Salem, North Carolina in the States. David has spent 20 years investing into communities as a pastor, speaker, teacher, advocate and speaker. David’s book ‘Neighborliness: Love Like Jesus. Cro...

What are Christians for? What does a Christian political witness look like? Brent talks to Jake Meador, the editor in chief of ‘Mere Orthodoxy’, an online magazine covering the Christian faith in the public sphere and a contributing editor with ‘Plough’. Jake’s book ‘What Are Christians For?: Life Together at the End of the World’ is published by IVP America.  (1:10) What sort of metallic fantasie...

Brent talks to Dr Garry Williams, director of the Pastors' Academy in London about the Cross and the Atonement.  What happened when Jesus died on the Cross? (1:00) Ideas about the Cross and the Atonement; (2:35) Why people are critical of the doctrine of penal substitution; (4:45) Criticisms of penal substitution; (6:28) The Son has one will with the Father; (7:15) How the Bible speaks of the Aton...

Brent and Ian continue their exploration of Mark’s gospel.  How does Jesus deal with evil and restore our true humanity?  (0:54) A matchup between two people who are going to have a fight; (2:45) An unclean area; (7:00) A demon possessed Gentile – subhuman? (7:12) How Jesus demonstrates power and control over creation; (9:20) The unclean pigs. Legion and the Roman army; (14:05) How fear leads to f...

Who is Jesus? What do our fears show us about ourselves and how can Jesus deal with our fears? (1:18) The purpose of Jesus’ parables; (3:01) Rembrandt’s painting of this scene; (7:08) The crossing of the sea and Gentiles; (9:24) Echoes of Creation; (9:54) Who is Jesus? (11:43) What our fears show us about ourselves; (12:30) Why God needs to point out our idols; (13:02) What can we learn from our f...

What were Jesus’ parables for? What is the Kingdom of God and is the Lord Jesus Christ a new Adam? Brent and Ian explore Mark 4:1-34. (2:45) What is a parable? (3:16) Jesus tells parables so that some people won’t understand them; (6:10) The farmer and the seed; (11:40) The purpose of the parables.  Judgement; (14:00) Who or what is the lamp? (15:30) The measure and judgement; (16:50) Jesus judges...

How well do we know the Holy Spirit? How can we come to know God better? Brent talks with Becky Thompson, the author of ‘God So Close: Experience a Life Awakened to His Spirit’ published by Thomas Nelson. Becky is a bestselling author and the creator of the Midnight Mom Devotional Community gathering more than a million moms in nightly prayer.   (0:51) How we can come to know God better; (1:30) Wh...

Are Christianity and modern science opposed to each other? Can you be a Christian and also a scientist? Brent and Ian are joined by John Norsworthy, an Adjunct Lecturer at Faith Bible College, NZ and the author of ‘Why Science Matters – What DOES the Bible say about things scientific?’   (1:15) Why some Christians are jittery about science; (2:00) Is science neutral? (3:05) The biblical worldview...

Are we troubled by lions in our life or work? Brent is joined again by Dr Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States to discuss Daniel chapter 6.  (0:40) Who was Darius the Mede? (4:10) The Empire Statue; (5:54) What happens in chapter 6.  An internal coup. (8:00) Darius and the set-up; (11:46) The importance of writing good laws.  Do we really control our laws? (14:00) The symbolis...

Brent speaks to Alastair Roberts of the Theopolis Institute in the States about Daniel chapter 5. What is Belshazzar’s Feast? What is the writing on the wall and who does the writing? We meet a lampstand ‘watcher tree’ and find out about the numbers 62, 3 and 4!  (0:33) The conflict of Empires and Babel; (1:49) Who was Belshazzar? (3:00) The events of chapter 5; ((5:50) Belshazzar’s attempt to reb...

Do you feel you have a calling from God? What role does each of our backgrounds play in shaping our vocational calling? How does God lead us across the whole of our lifetime? Susan Maros joins Brent to talk about her new IVP America book called ‘Calling in Context: Social Location and Vocational Formation’. Susan is an affiliate assistant professor of Christian leadership at Fuller Theological Sem...

Sick and tired of struggling in a toxic workplace? How can we best create flourishing workplaces where people thrive and love what they do? Brent and Ian talk with Al Lopus, the author of ‘Road to Flourishing – Eight Keys To Boost Employee Engagement and Well-Being’ published by IVP America. Al is the CEO and co-founder of the Best Christian Workplaces Institute which provides research-based measu...

What is the heavenly rose? How does Dante present heaven as a sort of cosmic symphony? We find out about the great medieval poet and his greatest work ‘The Divine Comedy’. Jason Baxter is associate professor of fine arts and humanities at Wyoming Catholic College in the States. His book, ‘A Beginner’s Guide To Dante’s Divine Comedy’ is published by Baker Academic, a division of Baker books in the...

Does life have a meaning? If so, where do we find it? Os Guinness is the author or editor of more than 30 books.  He’s a frequent speaker and prominent social critic and has addressed audiences worldwide from the British House of Commons to the US Congress to the St. Petersburg Parliament.  He is a senior fellow at the Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics and was the founder of the Trinity Foru...

We’re often told that the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 was a sinner and an adulteress. But what are we missing in the story? And what difference does our interpretation of this passage make for women and men in the church?    Caryn Reeder is Professor of New Testament and coordinator of the Gender Studies Program at Westmont College in California. ‘The Samaritan Woman’s Story – Reconsider...

Who was Abraham Kuyper and why are his Stone Lectures so important? The gospel in the whole of life. Robert is associate professor of politics and international studies and the founding director of the Center for Christian Scholarship at Redeemer University College in Canada. Robert is the co-editor with Jessica Joustra of a new book from IVP America called ‘Calvinism for a Secular Age: A Twenty-F...

Was Jesus Mad, Bad or Lord? What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Brent and Reido examine Mark 3:20-35. (1:30) Jesus – Mad or Bad? (4:00) An investigation; (5:55) A delegation. Jesus accused of being evil; (7:00) What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? (8:50) The family of God. Links mentioned in this episode: Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand Leave some feedback: What shoul...