Lunch on The Way

In this conversation, Dr. Donald Wallenfang explains the philosophical style of phenomenology and how getting to universal reality beginning with experience is important for Christian knowledge of truth, but not totalising. Dr. Wallenfang, OCDS, Emmanuel Mary of the Cross, is a Secular Discalced Carmelite and Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. He received his M.T....

Dr. Andrew Root from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, joins us again to discuss his new book called "Baal and the gods of More: Rescuing Church Growth from Idolatry." 00:00 Introduction 02:34 how modern church growth is Baal worship 09:14 How yahweh and Baal are different 14:28 The human desire for security 16:03 Why church growth is burdensome 22:33 Techno optimism and political activis...

In this conversation, Joey sat down with Brad Haami and Sam Carpenter to discussion the Māori prophetic movement of the 19/20th centuries and how God communicates in the world through his created order. 00:00 Introduction 02:29 Māori 19/20th century prophets 13:11 Key Māori prophets and Ratana 25:16 The Spirituality of the Land 35:01 Ratana's Whales 44:11 Brad's Ministry and Butterflies...

In this conversation, Graeme and Joey sit down with Dr. Ben MacDonald from Apologetics Canada to determine what the One True Church is. Catholicism vs Orthodoxy vs Protestantism. Which one is true? Find out, here! 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Academic Preamble 8:10 Who is Ben MacDonald? 16:19 What's the One True Church? 23:58 Why are people NOW interested in EO & Catholicism? 29:49 A case for...

In this conversation, Joey Millington and Jon Hoskin sit down with Sam Burrows to discuss what knowledge is and how teachers should approach knowledge within a Christian sacramentality of the world. 00:00 Introduction 01:32 A theological account of reality 5:52 Christian education needs to start with theological reality 10:47 T. F. Torrence and theological reality 20:50 Knowledge is a relationship...

In this conversation, Joey and Graeme discuss how metaphors help us encounter a sacramental world. All of language is metaphorical, and it is the epicentre of meaning. Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington. The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations...

In this conversation, Graeme and Joey speak with Lindy from the Olive Leaf Network about the rise of Shincheonji and World Mission Society Church of God in New Zealand.  00:00 Introduction 02:44 Shincheonji cult targets churches 05:09 Lindy's Story of Leaving PBCC 14:32 Defining "cult" and "high demand religious group" 26:49 Shincheonji's deceitful recruitment strateg...

In this conversation, Joey sat down with Fiona Rush of C3 Church Auckland to talk about discipleship—how to make better disciples and the need for more difficulty, suffering, and risk for formation to happen. 00:00 Introduction 02:20 Fiona Rush's Story and Calling 13:50 Bryce Crawford reaches young people 17:00 Discipleship and Education Principles 32:45 Discipleship though suffering Podcast...

In this conversation, Graeme and Joey interview Dr. Malcolm Falloon as they discuss secular societies' misunderstanding of The Treaty of Waitangi and its Christian influence. Malcolm also helps Christians navigate the contentious Treaty space with practical and wise advice. Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington. The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely...

In this conversation, Graeme Flett and Joey Millington discuss the importance of Marshall McLuhan's statement, "the medium is the message," for churches and preaching the gospel.  00:00 Intro 02:22 Marshall McLuhan's scholarly influences and critics 12:54 Defining the "figure" and "ground" 18:19 Oral-Writing-Print 24:54 New tech amplifies and diminishes 26:4...

In this conversation, "For the Life of the World," by Easter Orthodox Priest, Alexander Schmemann, is examined for how secularism is a myth and the sacramentality of the world is a Christian truth and counter to secularism. This is likely the best conversation Graeme, Joey, and Jonathan ever had, and it might be their last. 00:00 Introduction 01:58 Who is Alexander Schmemann? 09:58 Litur...

In this conversation, Graeme and Joey sit down with Dr Sam Bloore who has completed considerable research in emerging adulthood. He has spoken widely on the topic to help churches disciple this group better. After graduating from medicine and bioethics at Otago University, Sam Bloore worked as a doctor for five years before a gradual career change saw him join the staff of his church and complete...

This is the last episode of 2025, taking a look back at why the podcast looked so different from the previous 2 years. I also venture into why Jonathan only appeared in 3 episodes and what 2026 might look like. Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington. The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions a...

In this conversation, Graeme and Joey sit down with Dr Greg Liston to discuss Lesslie Newbigin's 5 big ways churches should approach cultural and be distinct through creating plausibility structures. Dr. Greg Liston is a Senior Lecturer at Laidlaw College specialising in ecclesiology and systematic theology. He was the Lead Pastor of Mt Albert Baptist Church in Auckland, New Zealand. He also...

On this episode, Jonathan, Graeme, and Joey discuss what biblical wisdom is and how "the fear of the Lord" might not mean what we think. We disagree, agree, argue, meet in the middle, and much more. 00:00 Introduction 02:01 Answering listener's questions 10:07 Why "the fear of the Lord" and wisdom? 16:26 The OT and wisdom 26:31 How wisdom became incarnational 32:31 From fe...

In this episode, Jonathan Hoskin rejoins Graeme and Joey as they look at the physical world and rediscover a re-enchantment or sacramental nature to the world through visiting Iain McGilChrist's, "The Matter With Things" (2021). They explore how the Western world became flat and secular, who Iain McGilchrist is and what he gets right and wrong about the world and God, how the world...

In this conversation, Graeme and Joey sit down with Rev. Louise Wernich to talk about business strategy and leadership helping churches. Pastors have become increasingly suspicious of business practices distorting the purpose of the church, but Louise addresses how we can go too far in the other direction. Rev. Louise Wernich is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of South Africa and has...

In this conversation, Joey sits down with Treaty of Waitangi expert and scholar, Dr. Sam Carpenter. They talk about the Treaty of Waitangi history and how early missionaries were pivotal in its construction, translation, and acceptance. They also discuss how the current discourse around the Treaty needs a biblical worldview to be interpreted correctly. Sam teaches into Laidlaw’s Church History cou...

In this episode, Graeme and Joey interview Dr. Maja Whitaker about Pentecostalism—the good, great, and not so great. We look at what make Pentecostal churches tick, like their unique take on mission, their need to be culturally relevant, and their obsession with pragmatism and why they have a PR problem. Dr. Maja Whitaker is the Academic Dean at Laidlaw College; she oversees all programme developm...

In this episode, Graeme and Joey sit down with Rev. Dr. Sarah Penwarden to discuss why our experience matters for theology and understanding God, why emotions matters, how to integrate experience and faith, how stories help us creating meaning, and why people receive counselling. Sarah Penwarden (Pākehā) has a doctorate in counselling, is a practicing counsellor, supervisor, and an Anglican priest...

On this conversation, Graeme and Joey discuss 4 ways AI will change churches, Christians, and society. They don't predict the future as much as explain how the future might play out as AI in adopted by society and churches and people grapple with what it means to be human. Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington. The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely t...

This is a rebroadcasted episode because it's worth posting again. This conversation with Dr. Karen Kemp about pastoral leadership, trends, and identity is still relevant, even though it was originally published 2 years ago! It's worth a full listen. Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington. The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individ...

This is a bonus episode that was original recorded in July of 2024 as Jonathan, Graeme, and Joey prepared to lead a discussion in Tauranga on what it means to be fully human and how churches/pastor can help with that. 00:00 Teaser 02:12 Explaining on trip to Tauranga 04:55 Efficient causality vs being human 07:35 Schedule of event and questions to consider 09:30 Why collective wisdom matters 10:45...

In this conversation, Graeme and Joey sit down with Ps. Dan Sheed of Central Vineyard Church, Auckland. They discuss prayer as posture and invitation, Dan's book "Drift No More," and Dan's story of entering ministry and planting Central Vineyard. Dan Sheed is the founding co-leader of Central Vineyard Church in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. The son of pastors, he was raised in the...

In this episode, Graeme and Joey have a conversation with Sam Burrows about how meaning is back in the West, how the cultural left helped Christianity, the growing influence of the right in politics, what biblical critical theory is, and much more! Makerspace Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/1DklD6kT4wEWUaF64y8pRh Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington. The opini...