Mission Upside Down

The gospel-writer Matthew gives us one story about King Herod the Great. It’s in connection with Jesus’ earliest days on earth. In that story we can see ourselves and can understand why Jesus came to this earth years ago.

The gospel writer, Luke, records many of the details surrounding Jesus’ birth. Among those details, is the decree of Caesar Augustus. We a closer look at that ruler and some of those who later ruled from ancient Rome.

Continuing the conversation, Jeff and Randal focus on the future. What would the future be for us, if Jesus has not been raised from the dead?

In this episode Randal and Pastor Jeff talk about the crucial importance of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Focusing on 1 Corinthians 15, they discuss how the resurrection gives believers great hope.

In Acts 8, a church leader named Philip helped a man understand what he was reading from the Old Testament. To help us properly interpret certain verses in the Bible, we need extra help.

While the basic teachings of the Bible are clear, some verses require extra care in interpreting them. Here are some rules to help us do just that.

More than 500 years ago, the authority and sufficiency of the Bible was up for debate in a famous public meeting. To this very day, evangelical Protestants come down on one side of that debate.

The Bible, as the Word of God, is fully true and without error in its teachings. This doctrine is known as the “infallibility” or “inerrancy” of the Scriptures.

Having learned about God’s general revelation, we now learn about His special revelation. What, exactly, is so “special” about it?

Following the previous episode, we’re focusing on one signal from God, a signal that indicates His existence and His character. It’s the universal sense of right and wrong. Listen to what C.S. Lewis and others have said about this signal.

God is continually sending out signals to all people on the earth. By “tuning in,” everyone should be able to know something about God. In this episode we explore the idea of “general revelation” and what it means for us today.

Two other objections to believing in the God of the Bible are these: a) the Church has caused injustice and violence in the world, and b) science makes belief in God and miracles impossible. How shall we respond?

In his New York Times bestselling book, Dr. Timothy Keller replies to objections to Christianity. In this episode, we’re looking at three of the most common objections raised by sceptics today.

We’ve now completed our third season of “Mission Upside Down.” We’re listing the most popular episodes among our listeners. If you’ve missed any of them, you might want to catch up during the summer.

As we’ve learned in this series on the Beatitudes, it’s not easy to follow Jesus consistently. But by God’s grace we are enabled to do that. And in the doing, we are blessed and rewarded.

In the fifth and sixth Beatitudes, Jesus shows us more about the kind of people belonging to Him and His kingdom. Literally, we are “blessed” as we live in this kingdom.

Continuing with the Beatitudes of Jesus, we consider how the Kingdom of God is so very different from the kingdoms of this earth. Radically different, in fact. Life with Jesus turns everything upside down.

People speak about being “blessed” whenever something good comes their way. Jesus teaches that believers are blessed, blessed by God, as they display certain characteristics in their lives.

In the final episode of a three-part series, we focus on the older son in Jesus’ parable. We explore his underlying attitudes and motivations which led him to reject the Father’s invitation.

Continuing with the parable, we look at both sons in that household. Each of them showed their own type of rebellion. The father moved toward both sons in love and mercy. One responded, the other did not.

The parables that Jesus taught are stories intended to teach us. They teach us important things about God and about life within His kingdom. Today we look at one of Jesus’ best-known parables.

There are many good reasons for attending church worship services. One of those reasons is that at church we can encourage other believers, and that they can encourage us.

A recent survey shows that 4 out of 10 pastors are considering quitting. How would you know if one of those is your pastor? And how could you and your church encourage him in his ministry?

Continuing the conversation, Darnell reflects on the legitimate authority of the government and on the abuses of this authority. He also shares his personal experiences as a black man living in the greater Toronto area.

In a two-part interview, Randal speaks with Darnell, a committed follower of Jesus. He’s also a black man in his 30s. Darnell reflects on his past and on current racial issues.